Vivek Agnihotri slams John Abraham for ‘mediocre acting' in Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal: He couldn't say 5 lines of dialogue
Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri once again talked about the problems he faced while making the 2007 film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. In an interview with Dainik Bhaskar, the filmmaker recalled how John Abraham came on board due to Anurag Kashyap and took a dig at his acting skills, calling it "mediocre". (Also Read: Vivek Agnihotri says Bollywood is in shambles: 'There's a mad rush to release old films') Vivek Agnihotri takes a dig at John Abraham's acting skills.
Vivek Agnihotri recently spoke about the behind-the-scenes events during the making of the film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. He revealed that when he was working on the film, the production house UTV didn't consider him a capable writer. According to him, UTV was fascinated by the idea of working with Anurag Kashyap, even though the film's subject did not align with him. Citing industry chatter, Vivek dismissed Anurag's claim that he wasn't even taken along for the film's London schedule, stating that John had come on board primarily because of Anurag.
Vivek said that Goal was still a good film for its time, with the film's songs becoming chartbusters. He added, "But there were many problems during that time. In the middle of it all, Bipasha Basu and John Abraham broke up during the making of the film. When you're in love, you have to deal with one set of issues, and after a breakup, a whole new set of problems arises. So, it became very difficult for me to manage everything. Even though I was the director of the film, the entire system was functioning based on the intelligence of a very mediocre actor." Vivek criticises John Abraham, praises Anurag Kashyap
Vivek criticised John for his "mediocre acting" and said, "Everyone was like, 'Let's take John, he is a footballer. That's how he became a part of the film. But you tell me, if it's a film about football, what should an actor do? We called a premium league coach to train Arshad Warsi, Raj Joshi, and they all put their soul in preparing, but in all of John's scenes, we had to shoot his face and feet separately. And Arshad had given his all for that film. He questioned me on things, he didn't tell me, 'reduce my dialogues' Why? Because you can't say them at once? You can't say five lines of dialogues in rhythm at once. This is your problem. Then why should these actor be given so much money?" About Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal
Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal is a 2007 Indian sports drama film directed by Vivek Agnihotri. Set in the UK, the film revolves around a struggling South Asian football club, Southall United, and their journey to regain lost glory. Featuring an ensemble cast including John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, and Bipasha Basu, the story explores themes of identity, racism, and community spirit through the lens of football.
Meanwhile, Vivek is now awaiting the release of his upcoming directorial, titled The Bengal Files: Right to Life. It is believed that Vivek's film will delve into the politics of 1940s in Bengal. The film stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Govind Namdev, among others, in key roles and is scheduled to release in theatres on 5 September 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Maar na': Shubman Gill tells Rishabh Pant to hook bouncer for six, his reply: ‘Respect karna pada tagda'
Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant's stump mic chatter was as entertaining as their batting during the India vs England first Test at Headingley. In between their solid defence and attractive boundary that made England's bowling attack appear ordinary, Pant and Gill constantly chatted while standing at the striker's and the non-striker's positions. Sometimes, it was teasing each other, sometimes related to what the bowler was trying to do, and sometimes it was just pure fun. And all of that was in Hindi. India's Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill(Action Images via Reuters) They were so entertaining that they also caught the attention of legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who termed it a strategy to confuse the English fielders. Among many episodes between Gill and Pant during their mammoth 209-run partnership for the fourth wicket, Gill teasing Pant to go after Brydon Carse was perhaps the best. It happened in the first session of Day 2. The over number was 94. Carse was trying to test Pant's backfoot play by banging the ball in. In the fourth ball of that over, Carse bowled a well-directed bumper at Pant's body. The Indian keeper-batter ducked under it. As Carse was going back to his mark, Gill told Pant "maar na," which translates to "Hit ma, no." Pant generally likes to take on the short ball, but this one from Carse was a bit too short. His reply to Gill was pure gold. "Bada ball daal dia yaar. Respect karna pad gaya bohut tagdaa. (He bowled a good one, man! I had to give him a lot of respect)." Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill's remarkable 209-run partnership was the highlight of India's first innings in the opening Test against England. Resuming on 359-3, with Gill unbeaten on 127 and Pant on 65, the pair displayed a compelling mix of composure and aggression that pushed India firmly towards a commanding position before an unexpected collapse. Gill, captaining India for the first time after Rohit Sharma's retirement, played with maturity beyond his years. He brought up his highest Test score of 147 with elegant strokeplay, surpassing his previous best of 128. His innings, laced with 19 boundaries and a six, was a masterclass in timing and placement. His off-drive against Chris Woakes to reach the milestone was particularly memorable, showcasing his growing stature as a leader and batsman. At the other end, Pant unleashed his trademark attacking style. Resuming on 65, he brought up his seventh Test century—and fourth against England—in thrilling fashion, lofting Shoaib Bashir for a one-handed six. The celebration that followed, a somersault, was as energetic as his 134-run knock. His 146-ball innings featured 10 fours and four sixes and kept the scoreboard ticking briskly. Together, Gill and Pant added 209 runs in just 49 overs, steering India to 430-4 and seemingly toward a total in excess of 500. Their contrasting styles complemented each other perfectly: Gill anchored the innings with finesse while Pant injected momentum with his fearless hitting. However, the end of their partnership triggered a dramatic collapse, with India losing their final seven wickets for just 41 runs. Still, the stand between Gill and Pant stood out as a blend of flair and focus, a vital foundation in India's innings that showcased the next generation of Indian batting brilliance.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
India's most expensive literary award — the JCB Prize for Literature — is officially discontinued; everything to know
In a move that has left the Indian literary world stunned, the JCB Prize for Literature — once the country's most lucrative book award — has officially been discontinued. The ₹ 25-lakh award, which honoured the best work of fiction by an Indian author each year, has been shut down, with no future editions planned. JCB Prize for Literature The confirmation came on June 21 from Mita Kapur, Literary Director of the JCB Prize, who said, 'The prize has been shut down. I am not going to deny something that is evident. But for everything else, 'no comment'.' The last winner of the award was Upamanyu Chatterjee in 2024, for his novel Lorenzo Searches for the Meaning of Life. While the reasons for the shutdown remain unclear, the decision closely follows the cancellation of the JCB Literature Foundation's licence. A notice dated March 12 on the award's official website stated that the foundation had applied to the Registrar of Companies, Delhi & Haryana, seeking to revoke its Section 8(5) license under the Companies Act, 2013. It added that the organisation would now be reclassified as a 'Private Limited' company, no longer functioning as a foundation. The award was given by the 'foundation', which was established to promote the 'art of literature in India'. About the JCB Prize for Literature Founded in 2018, the JCB Prize was widely celebrated not just for its generous cash prize, but for its commitment to promoting Indian fiction across languages. Five out of the seven winning books were translations — a reflection of the prize's dedication to linguistic diversity. Landmark winners included Jasmine Days by Benyamin (translated from Malayalam), Delhi: A Soliloquy by M Mukundan (Malayalam), The Paradise of Food by Khalid Jawed (Urdu), and Fire Bird by Perumal Murugan (Tamil). Each shortlisted author received ₹ 1 lakh, and in the case of a translated work, the translator was awarded ₹ 50,000. When a translated novel won, the translator took home an impressive ₹ 10 lakh alongside the author's ₹ 25 lakh. As tributes pour in from authors, publishers, and translators across the country, the loss of the JCB Prize marks the end of a short yet impactful chapter in Indian literary history.
Economic Times
an hour ago
- Economic Times
Rashmika Mandanna's steep pay cut after Pushpa 2 raises eyebrows. What is going on behind the scenes?
Agencies Despite delivering back-to-back box office hits like Pushpa 2, Animal, and Kuberaa, Rashmika Mandanna's remuneration reportedly has seen a surprising drop—from ₹10 crore in Pushpa 2 to ₹4 crore in her latest films. She's been the darling of the box office, the face behind some of India's biggest pan-Indian hits, and hailed as one of the most versatile actresses of her generation. Yet, Rashmika Mandanna, who reportedly charged a jaw-dropping ₹10 crore for Pushpa 2 , seems to be witnessing a sharp and curious decline in her remuneration. The revelation, first reported by Pinkvilla, has left fans and industry watchers equally puzzled. Rashmika's rise has been meteoric—from the phenomenal success of Pushpa: The Rise to Animal , and most recently, Kuberaa . However, despite the star power and consistent box office triumphs, her paycheck hasn't followed the expected upward trajectory. According to a report in Siasat , Rashmika was paid ₹4 crore for her role in Chhaava opposite Vicky Kaushal—a steep drop from her Pushpa 2 fee. She earned ₹5 crore for the upcoming Salman Khan-starrer Sikander , and ₹4 crore again for Kuberaa , according to Filmibeat . — scenesthetic (@scenesthetic) In Kuberaa , which hit theatres on June 20, Rashmika plays Sameera alongside acting stalwarts Dhanush and Nagarjuna Akkineni. While the social thriller opened to positive reviews and promising numbers at the box office, the actress' compensation reportedly didn't reflect her previous record-breaking deal. This widening gap between her impact on screen and remuneration has sparked intense speculation online. — georgeviews (@georgeviews) Interestingly, Rashmika had earlier addressed similar rumours with a witty retort. After Animal 's success, some reports suggested she had hiked her fee to ₹4-4.5 crore. Taking to social media, she playfully responded: 'Says who I wonder.. after seeing all of this I think I should actually consider it.. and if my producers ask why.. then I'll just say 'media out there is saying this sir ..and I think I should live up to their words.. what do I do?'' The response, while humorous, hints at the complex realities behind celebrity contracts, market forces, and perceived value in a star-studded yet unpredictable industry. — iamRashmika (@iamRashmika) Despite the fee fluctuation, Rashmika shows no signs of slowing down. She's already gearing up for upcoming projects like Thaama with Ayushmann Khurrana, The Girlfriend , and Cocktail 2 . Buzz also suggests a reunion with her rumoured partner Vijay Deverakonda in Rahul Sankrityan's next. While the exact reason behind the drop in her fees remains under wraps, theories range from project-specific budgets to a shift in the industry's pay scale post-pandemic. Some fans speculate it may even be a conscious decision by the actress to take on more challenging, content-driven roles rather than chase commercial payouts. Whatever the case may be, Rashmika Mandanna remains one of the most bankable and talked-about stars of her time—proving that influence sometimes outweighs the invoice.
