Latest news with #Aag
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Salman Khan's behavior during 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' shoot made Sonali Bendre furious. 'Whenever I was giving close-ups...'
Sonali Bendre recently shared candid memories from the sets of Hum Saath Saath Hain , revealing the often playful yet frustrating moments she experienced while working with Salman Khan . Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, the actor recalled that her on-screen pairing with Salman, though cherished by audiences, masked a behind-the-scenes equation filled with light-hearted clashes. While shooting for close-up scenes, Sonali revealed that Salman would often distract her by making faces. Reflecting on those moments, she said, 'We were fighting all the time. I promise you, I mean, you know I should ask Salman about it then. Because whenever I was giving close-ups, Salman would be making faces at me. And I would get so pissed off that I would say, 'What the hell?'' This continuous disruption led to frequent quarrels, making it difficult for her to get along with him initially. Salman's Complex Persona Beneath the Surface As the shoot progressed, Sonali began to see a different side of Salman. She explained that while he maintains a tough and sometimes mischievous exterior, underneath it all he is kind-hearted. 'Actually, he puts on a really rough exterior, but he's a softy. But you know what it took me time because I was like, what the hell, but it took me a while actually to figure out that he's a nice guy,' she said. According to her, it was this contrast in his personality that initially made it hard to like him, but over time she came to appreciate his true nature. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Apart from her experience with Salman, Sonali also remembered the challenges posed by her costume in the film. The heavily embellished golden ghagra she wore weighed around 20 kilograms and caused her discomfort due to its intricate zari work. The artificial jewellery led to skin allergies and rashes, making the filming process physically taxing. The weight of the outfit even affected her dance performance, requiring choreography adjustments to accommodate the restricted movement. The Nose Ring Condition and Casting Choices Sonali also disclosed an interesting detail about her casting. Initially, her character, Dr. Preeti, was supposed to be styled in modern clothing. Coming from a traditional background, Sonali requested a more culturally grounded portrayal. Director Sooraj Barjatya agreed to her request, on the condition that she retain the nose ring she wore during her audition throughout the shoot—a condition she accepted. Hum Saath Saath Hain, directed by Sooraj Barjatya, released in 1999 and became one of the biggest box office hits of the year. With an ensemble cast including Salman Khan, Mohnish Behl, Tabu, Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, and others, the film continues to be celebrated for its depiction of traditional Indian family values. Sonali Bendre, who made her film debut with Aag in 1994, went on to star in several successful projects such as Diljale (1996), Major Saab (1998), and Sarfarosh (1999). She has also made a mark in television and streaming platforms with roles in shows like Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye and The Broken News. She will soon appear alongside Ali Fazal in an upcoming web series directed by Paatal Lok's Prosit Roy. The series, reportedly inspired by the infamous Ranga-Billa murder case, aims to explore one of Delhi's most high-profile crimes and its impact on the city.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Salman Khan makes it difficult to like him: Sonali Bendre shares how he made her angry during Hum Saath Saath Hain shoot
Actor Sonali Bendre opened up about her experience working with Salman Khan in their 1999 film Hum Saath Saath Hain. Speaking with Bollywood Bubble, Sonali shared that Salman would make faces at her while shooting, making her angry. She added that Salman "makes it very difficult to like him". (Also Read | Sonali Bendre recalls earlier linkups and gossips 'would be out there' only to promote a film) After working with Salman Khan for a while, Sonali revealed that she came to know his real nature, "a softy inside". Sonali said, 'We were fighting all the time. I promise you, I mean, you know I should ask Salman about it then. Because whenever I was giving close-ups, Salman would be making faces at me. And I would get so pissed off that I would say, 'What the hell?' But you know, yeah." Sonali said that Salman keeps a tough exterior but is actually a "nice guy". She added, "Through the making of this film, I got to know Salman. And you know, Salman makes it very difficult to like him. Because you grow to see that he hides what he is, a softy inside. Actually, he puts on a really rough exterior, but he's a softy. But you know what it took me time because I was like, what the hell, but it took me a while actually to figure out that he's a nice guy.' Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999) is a family drama film written and directed by Sooraj Barjatya. The film also stars Mohnish Behl, Tabu, Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Neelam, Mahesh Thakur, Reema Lagoo and Alok Nath. Hum Saath Saath Hain became the highest-grossing film of the year and one of biggest blockbusters. Sonali made her acting debut with Aag in 1994. She also featured in Diljale (1996), Major Saab (1998), Sarfarosh (1999), and Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000), among others. She has starred in the series Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Ye (2014) and The Broken News (2022). She will be seen with Ali Fazal in their upcoming web series, directed by Paatal Lok director Prosit Roy. The show is reportedly based on the Ranga-Billa murder case, which is one of the most shocking and high-profile crimes in Delhi's history. The upcoming series aims to capture the details of the crime and its impact on the people of Delhi at the time.
India.com
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Nargis suffered beatings from her brother, was betrayed by Raj Kapoor, was underpaid for 10 years, stopped working with RK films after...
Nargis suffered beatings from her brother, was betrayed by Raj Kapoor, was underpaid for 10 years, stopped working with RK films after... Raj Kapoor, the original showman of Indian cinema, left a lasting legacy of films that remain fresh in the audience's mind. Not just his professional life, but also his personal life marred by a tumultuous affair with actress Nargis grabbed many headlines, leaving his fans intrigued. Their professional relationship gradually turned into love and lasted for almost a decade. Although, they became inseparable but their tragic-lover affair had no future as Raj Kapoor was already married to Krishna. Nargis's family was impetuously against her relationship with Raj Kapoor, so much so that her brother Akhtar used to beat her up constantly for being with him. But madly in love she was, Nargis put her career on hold, let go of opportunities and money, so that she could stay around Raj Kapoor. Raj Kapoor was so keen to cast Nargis in Aag , which was the first film of RK banner. So, he approached Jaddanbai, Nargis' mom, and offered to pay Rs 5000 as fees. But Nargis' brother jumped in and renegotiated the deal as he knew that his sister was already a leading actress, and got Raj to pay Rs 40,000. Following Aag, Raj kept on working with Nargis and gave her many opportunities, but never paid her what she deserved. Her undeniable love for Raj made him settle for less, and as a result of this, the finances of her family affected badly. After Nargis lost his parents, the financial responsibilities of her siblings and their family fell on her shoulders. Since the whole responsibility of her family was on her, it became more important for her to take up projects that helped her monetarily. Slowly, she realised that her association with Raj Kapoor was taking an emotional and financial toll on her. Nargis was aware that he wouldn't leave his wife for her, and she was wasting her time on him. Moreover, she was also losing work opportunities as many felt that she is only working with RK films. Also, Raj Kapoor wasn't paying her nearly what she deserve, and falsely made her believe that she was part of RK films, with no authoritsation on paper. It was during Chori Chori that Nargis asked her brother, who was her manager at that time, to look for work beyond RK sphere. Chori Chori failed, and eventually it was her last association with Raj Kapoor. Her last appearance in RK films was in Jagte Raho, and from then on she starred in new lot of films like Adalat, Lajwanti and Miss India. However, it was Mehbbob Khan's Mother India that changed her career not just professionally but also personally. It was during the making of Mother India that she met her future husband Sunil Dutt and never looked back.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Nargis endured beatings from her brother, lost opportunities and money because Raj Kapoor kept her on the hook for 10 years
'Voh kisi pari se kam nahi thi (She was no less than an angel).' When Raj Kapoor first saw Nargis, time stood still. Music played in the background and even the most mundane things done by her in that moment, like moving her hair out of her face, became cinematic and romantic for him. Raj was just 22 then, and Nargis was 16 but he had fallen in love. 'I must have this girl in my film,' he thought and insisted that Nargis become a part of the first picture of RK Films, Aag (1948). The association between the two lasted for almost a decade but what started as a professional relationship turned into love even before they could put a label on it. The ill-fated romance did not have a future as Raj was already married to Krishna Raj Kapoor, and Nargis' family was vehemently against her relationship with him. So much so that her brother Akhtar even beat her up repeatedly for being with him, but Nargis was a woman in love who put her career on hold, let go of a lot of money and opportunities, just so she could be around Raj. It wasn't until Chori Chori (1956) that Nargis realised that this relationship had to end for her own good but until then, she was a woman who loved without any expectations. When Raj decided to cast Nargis in Aag as one of the three leading women, she had already been working as a leading heroine for a few years, but Raj was yet to establish himself. So he approached Jaddanbai, Nargis' mom, and offered to pay Rs 5,000 as her fees. But Nargis' brother renegotiated the deal because he knew that her sister was a star in the making, and got Raj to pay her Rs 40,000. This first exchange of money between them was the only time when Nargis signed on a project with Raj after some kind of negotiation because from here on, she worked with him for love. While she was paid for her work, it was nowhere close to what she would have made otherwise. Raj gave her opportunities but he didn't pay her her worth. Her generosity and love for Raj had her making some special adjustments for his films, which included ignoring work that did not include him, either as a co-star or a producer, and as a result of this, the finances of her family suffered badly. ALSO READ | If Raj Kapoor's Sangam was made in 2022, he would be the villain and not the hero. Here's why Aag launched Raj as a director. The plot of the film had him playing a man who intentionally disfigures his face by lighting it on fire because he wants to make a big gesture of sacrifice for his best friend, in trying to give up the woman he loves. But, he also ends up burning down his dreams in the form of his theatre. The plot of the film sounds childish and immature, but what else can one expect out of a 22-year-old? Aag starred three female actors but it was Raj and Nargis' on screen chemistry that left an impact. The film did not do as well as expected but Raj and Nargis had found each other as work partners and they were certain that this was a relationship for the keeps. Around this time, he started working on his next film Barsaat, and here too, he decided to cast Nargis. By this time, they were inseparable. Jaddanbai, of course, did not approve of their association so she tried to do her best to keep them apart. Around the same time, Raj and Nargis also shot for Mehboob Khan's Andaz. Professionally, both these films were quite pivotal in their careers. Barsaat established Raj Kapoor as a successful filmmaker, this was also the film that gave RK Films its iconic logo. And for Nargis, Andaz became the film that was considered to be her breakthrough role. Andaz also starred Dilip Kumar along with the duo and was a complex tale of relationships, directed by Mehboob Khan. For Barsaat, Raj wanted to take Nargis to Kashmir but Jaddanbai was strictly against the two travelling without any supervision so she refused to send Nargis. Instead, Raj took some exterior shots in Kashmir and travelled with Nargis and his unit to Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani so they could film some cheat shots. Here, Nargis was accompanied by her brothers Anwar and Akhtar and it became a game for Raj and Nargis to sneak out every day without getting caught by her brothers. Actor Nimmi became their collaborator in this game of hide and seek. Barsaat was Nimmi's debut film and Nargis had taken her under her wing. In the book, 'Darlingji: The True Love Story Of Nargis & Sunil Dutt' by Kishwar Desai, Nimmi shared that she and Nargis would sneak out of the hotel on the pretext of taking a walk and Raj would be waiting for them in his car up on the road. 'Nargis and Raj would put me in the backseat, put three-four overcoats on me and make me go to sleep, and say, 'Don't wake up'. And we would be there for hours, or we would go for a drive, and I could hear everything that they were saying. They would say, 'Nimmi, go to sleep'. But it was fun. They fought quite often and then would stop talking to each other,' she said and added that they would patch up just as easily. Nargis lost her father Mohan Babu when she was filming for Andaz, and by the time she finished Barsaat, Jaddanbai had passed away. Her time of grief brought them closer to each other and Raj stood by her all through this. The foundation of Nargis' family was shaken up after Jaddanbai's death and the financial responsibility of her siblings and their families now rested on her shoulders. Since Nargis became the sole provider for the entire family, it became more than necessary for her to pick up projects that aided them with their finances. The 1950s were not like the 2000s where actors are paid unheard of amounts for acting in films so even a hit star needed consecutive hits to maintain their lifestyle and pay for the family's expenses. ALSO READ | Raj Kapoor's Mera Naam Joker celebrates toxic work culture to the point that it's painful to watch After her mother's passing, Nargis' brother Akhtar became her manager and started negotiating on her behalf. He believed that her association with Raj was a loss making deal – both financially and emotionally. He knew that a married man like Raj would never leave his wife, and Nargis was wasting her time on him. He also felt that because of her association with him, she was losing opportunities in the film industry as others believed that she belonged to the 'RK camp'. Worse of all, Raj wasn't paying her nearly as much as she deserved, and led her into believing that she was a part of RK Films, even though nothing of this sort was ever formalised on paper. In a 1981 interview with Super magazine, Akhtar was quoted as admitting that Nargis' earnings fed the whole family but he insisted that he 'did not exploit her.' Talking about Raj and her association, he said, 'In fact, when Raj insisted on her giving up all other films except RK's I deferred to her wishes. Raj had told her, 'We will work together and build up RK Studio. You shouldn't expect payment from RK because I've made you a partner in the studio'. However, he didn't make it official. On the other hand, he stage-managed a contract which Baby (Nargis) asked me to sign, saying I should not object to her association with RK, in return for which I would be paid Rs 4,000 every month. I hated accepting the money but Baby insisted on it for my wife and children's sake.' Akhtar implied that Raj did not want Nargis to work with any other filmmaker, and limit her work opportunities. She was blinded by love, and complied. In fact, it was famously known that Raj's interference with her work led to her getting fired from Mehboob Khan's Aan, which also starred Dilip Kumar. Mehboob wanted a bulk of Nargis' dates but Raj wouldn't let her. Mehbbob, who later worked with her in Mother India, fired Nargis after the muhurat and cast Nadira in her place. ALSO READ | Nargis: The actor who breathed life into 'modern Indian woman' in the 1940s, will forever be 'Mother India' Akhtar, like Jaddanbai, did not approve of Nargis' association with Raj as well and on more than one occasion, he beat her up, thinking that this would put an end to the affair. Zahida Hussain, Akhtar's daughter, shared with Desai, that she saw her father beat up Nargis. 'I have literally seen my father beat up his sister over Raj Kapoor. There would be violent fights because of him, there was no other reason for them to fight except him. And the love that lady had in her heart for Raj Kapoor was tremendous. It was not easy for her. Here at home she had to face the wrath of her brother, go to the studios and work, and go through whatever she would go through,' she said. Late actor Shammi, who was close to Nargis and her mother, also shared that Akhtar would beat up Nargis because of her association with Raj. She insisted that her house made her 'unhappy' so she spent all day outside working. 'Akhtar used to beat her, and I would only look at her and ask, 'Did he do it again?' And she would say, 'Yes.' Raj Kapoor and she were working together, he was a very intelligent man, you get long with a man like that when you are very creative. He was very good-looking, hardworking, and later on, she started looking after the production work, she was spending all her time there,' she said. As Nargis was trying to balance her work life and her personal life, her finances went for a toss. During this time, she was getting paid Rs 2,000 a month from RK Films, and her interest in films outside of Raj's sphere was starting to dwindle. Their next film was going to be his magnum opus, Awaara, and this was to become the film that would establish Raj and Nargis as the 'it' couple outside of Bollywood's gossip spheres. Awaara's plot revolved around Raj and while Nargis' presence was important, she wasn't essential to the plot. The story revolved around a father-son relationship where Prithviraj Kapoor played Raj's father. From headlining films, and playing author backed roles, Nargis was now starting to appear in films where she wasn't the essential character. Nevertheless, the film was a global hit but Akhtar still did not approve. He was also desperately trying to prove his status in the family so he produced a film called Bewafa, with Nargis' savings. And in a rather funny yet filmy way, his plan was to cast Raj in the role of a heartbreaker in a love triangle with his sister playing the woman who gets wronged by his character. Raj and Nargis saw it as a professional commitment and did what was asked. ALSO READ | Rishi Kapoor-Dimple Kapadia's Bobby: The film that saved RK Studios, heralded the start of teenage love stories in India Bewafa did not make much money, and received rather underwhelming reviews, considering that the audience now expected them to star in films like Awaara. In this time, they also starred in Jan Pahechan, Anhonee, Aah and Dhoon. Aah was RK Films' first picture that wasn't directed by Raj, and it bombed. But, Nargis stuck by him. Raj saw Nargis as his 'muse' and they would spend all their time together. With the rising violence in her house, and in a bid to get some space away from her family, Nargis had now moved out of her family home and started living in an apartment building next door. Zahida recalled that Nargis started refusing a lot of work outside of RK in the early 1950s. From having nine pictures in 1950, five in 1951 and 1952, and four in 1953, Nargis went down to just one release in 1954 – Angarey, and in 1955, it was just Shree 420. 'When she got into RK films, she started refusing a lot of work. That was a phase of life when she did not want to listen to reason at all. My father was totally against this RK episode to begin with. He did not approve of it, he disliked it. He kept telling her that when she could have got the best man on earth, why should she waste her time with this much-married Raj Kapoor. But I guess when you are young and in love, reason takes a backseat,' she shared. The reduced amount of films left the family in a dire state and they had to start selling their cars, jewellery but, Nargis was committed to building a life with Raj, and their RK Films. Shree 420, which released in 1955, proved to be a global hit for RK Films. Centered around Raj's character, which was inspired by Charlie Chaplin, the film followed a naive man who gets seduced by the idea of dishonesty and starts defrauding people. Nargis played the traditional, idealistic woman here, and Nadira played the vamp. The film was a huge hit in India, and internationally as well, but for Nargis, the film did not open any doors because by then, she had shut them all. Without even realising, she had gone from playing a short-haired modern woman, who lived life on her own terms and represented whatever feminism meant in those days, to playing an 'adarsh bhartiya naari' who appeared as a one-note character. Her filmography was shrinking and her finances were a mess. It was as if this realisation hit her like a rock and she snapped out of her dreams during the filming of Chori Chori, which released in 1956. Chori Chori became the last feature length film where Raj and Nargis shared screen space and as per Zahida, it was during this film that she told her brother Akhtar to look for work outside of the RK sphere. Chori Chori failed and it was if the gods were telling her, 'good riddance'. Nargis' last appearance in RK Films' was in the last frame of Jagte Raho and from then on, her association with Raj ended. The new lot of films that she did after Jagte Raho did not have the kind of roles that Nargis was used to. Films like Adalat, Lajwanti and Miss India all presented her as a traditional Indian woman who sacrifices at the feet of her husband. And it was ultimately Mehboob Khan's Mother India, that changed her life – personally as well as professionally. Her mentor Mehbbob, who had given her her first break, and helped her carve out her career in the initial years, gave her the role that she would always be remembered for. It was also on the set of Mother India that Nargis met her future-husband, Sunil Dutt, and they never looked back. The love saga of Raj and Nargis did not have a dramatic ending, and while Nargis never looked back, Raj held on to her memories for a long time. He immortalised their first meeting in the film Bobby, he spoke about her in interviews and wrote about her in books, but for Nargis, he was a part of her past that she never revisited as she rebuilt her life with her husband and three children. Sampada Sharma has been the Copy Editor in the entertainment section at Indian Express Online since 2017. ... Read More
News18
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Ram Gopal Varma Says Indian Directors Want To 'Dumb' Down Audience; Netizens Name His Films
Last Updated: Ram Gopal Varma praised Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning as the franchise's best. He criticised Indian filmmakers for dumbing down audiences. Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has been raving about Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible- The Final Reckoning ever since its release in India on May 17. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), RGV, as he is popularly called, lauded Hollywood directors and called out Indian filmmakers, accusing them of 'dumbing" down the audience with their content. The Internet took RGV's post seriously and pointed to his films such as Department, Aag, and others. On May 17, RGV watched Mission: Impossible 8 and wrote, 'Just saw #MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning and it's MindF**kkaBlowing ! The BEST of the FRANCHISE (sic)." Just saw #MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning and it's MindFuckkaBlowing ! The BEST of the FRANCHISE 😘😘😘🔥🔥🔥😍😍😍— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) May 17, 2025 Seems like the film was reeling on his mind a day later, too. On Sunday, he penned another note on X, pointing out the contrast in filmmaking between Hollywood and Bollywood directors. He wrote, 'The difference between them and us is they assume the audience to be intelligent and push their intelligence further up, by making films like #MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning." 'On the contrary we assume the audience to be dumb and we push their dumbness further down in the hope of even reaching the dumbest of the audience by making films like…," wrote RGV, letting the audience fill up the blank spaces. Take a look: The difference between them and us is they assume the audience to be intelligent and push their intelligence further up, by making films like #MissionImpossibleTheFinalReckoning On the contrary we assume the audience to be dumb and we push their dumbness further down in the hope…— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) May 18, 2025 Ram Gopal Varma's followers sprang into action, with many naming his films as examples of him dumbing down the audience. 'RGV ki aag", wrote a majority of X users. 'Making films like … all your films for the past 25 years," posted another user. Some also named films like Himesh Reshmmiya's Badass Ravi Kumar, Ram Charan's Game Changer and Nani's HIT 3. However, another section of fans did agree to RGV's post. On the work front, Ram Gopal Varma last directed Telugu film, Vyuham, in 2024. First Published:
