Latest news with #Ajit
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Today, audiences don't have patience to sit through a film with a long runtime: Arul Ajit
Arul Ajit is making his directorial debut with an investigative thriller, titled Kayilan. The film, which was previously titled Idumbankaari , is led by , who plays an NIA officer, and Ramya Paandiyan, whose role is that of a news channel's editor. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Explaining why the film's title was changed, Ajit says, ' Kayilan means a person with zero errors. We started the film three years ago and the audience's taste changes every year. So, we thought the title had to be catchy and easy to pronounce,' the filmmaker shares. 'MANOBALA SIR COULD PLAY A HUMOROUS ROLE AND ALSO CONVEY A SERIOUS MESSAGE' Apart from the leads, a prominent actor who will be seen in the film is late actor Manobala. 'He dubbed for the film one week before his passing. He knew the pulse of directors because he himself was one and a producer, too. Even though he played a small role, his guidance was of great help to us. His death was a big loss for the industry,' he shares, adding, 'No one can take his place because he could play a humorous role and also convey a serious message through his character. ' 'THE CONCEPT OF SPOON-FEEDING ISN'T THERE IN FILMS ANYMORE' Delving into how different investigative thrillers have become over time, Ajit says, 'I really like modern investigative thrillers like Por Thozhil and Irumbu Thirai . They are fastpaced, unlike erstwhile films of this genre. The concept of spoon-feeding isn't there anymore. Today, audiences are interested in what happens next and don't have the patience to sit through a film with a long runtime. So, the faster the film, the better.' 'A VERY EDGE-OF-THESEAT THRILLER CANNOT CATER TO ALL CENTRES' Ajit says he was clear about the kind of a film he was setting out to make and its target audience. 'The production house said we could do a commercial film that also has a message. But it shouldn't come across as preachy. When we make an edge-of-the-seat thriller, it cannot cater to A, B and C centres. So, our target audience is a certain age bracket,' he reveals.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Reason why legendary actor Ajit told his son to hide their bond: Shehzad Khan REVEALS!
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Actor Shehzad Khan has shared the hard truth about his father — the legendary villain Ajit — and how he was discouraged from using family ties to advance his acting career. Known for his suave menace and unforgettable 'Lion' persona in 1970s Hindi cinema, Ajit (born Hamid Ali Khan) ruled the silver screen. But at home, he set strict boundaries for his son's ambitions. This stands in stark contrast to today's widespread debate on nepotism, where star kids often benefit from insider access. 'Don't tell them I'm your father' Speaking to Lehren Retro, Shehzad candidly admitted, 'I never got any support from my father regarding my acting career.' Ajit, despite his towering influence, made it clear he wouldn't open industry doors for Shehzad — no recommendations, no introductions, and certainly no production offers. In fact, he even suggested Shehzad hide their father-son relationship. 'He told me he would never produce a film for me, nor refer me to any director or producer,' Shehzad recalled. A father's insecurity over legacy Why would a father with such clout refuse to help his own son? Shehzad offered an honest assessment: 'I think my father was a little insecure. He must have feared that if I didn't live up to his standards, it might tarnish his legacy.' Despite the absence of shortcuts, Shehzad persevered, eventually winning hearts with comic roles in 'Andaz Apna Apna' as Bhalla and appearing in films like 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak' and 'Bharat'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Killer New Toyota 4Runner Is Utter Perfection (Take A Look) MorninJoy Undo Kartik Aaryan: 'SRK Always Talks About My Films' 'Today, a director has to answer to a hundred people…' Beyond family, Shehzad also criticized the current state of Bollywood, pointing to corporate interference as the reason behind its creative slump. 'Today, a director has to answer to a hundred people before making a single decision,' he said. Praising the South Indian industry, Shehzad highlighted how their filmmakers retain creative freedom, allowing them to thrive without the burdens of bureaucracy. 'That's why they're succeeding — they haven't let corporate thinking take over filmmaking,' he concluded. On the other hand, Shehzad's previous outing was in the TV series 'Jassi King - The FAKR'. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Forget Bollywood nepotism: Why this legendary film villain told his son to hide their bond?
In a world where star kids are often launched with grandeur and connections, one legendary Bollywood villain chose a completely different path. Ajit, the suave and sharp-tongued villain of 1970s cinema, who made 'Lion' a menacing nickname and captivated audiences with his trademark style, flat-out refused to help his own son enter the film industry. In a surprising revelation, Shehzad Khan — known for his comic timing in Andaz Apna Apna and presence in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak — shared how his father discouraged him from leveraging their relationship for a career in films. "Don't Tell Them I'm Your Father" Speaking to Lehren Retro , Shehzad revealed the hard truth behind his early struggle: 'I never got any support from my father regarding my acting career.' Ajit, born Hamid Ali Khan, was a towering figure in Bollywood's golden era, but when his son expressed a desire to follow suit, he laid down clear terms — no recommendations, no special introductions, not even an acknowledgment of their familial bond. 'He told me he would never produce a film for me, nor refer me to any director or producer. In fact, he preferred I hide our relationship altogether,' Shehzad recalled. In a time when nepotism dominates the debate around new talent, Ajit's decision stands as a rare act of professional detachment — or perhaps, paternal insecurity. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Alerta: Você tem zumbido no ouvido? Dica de ouro pode aliviar! Zumbido no ouvido Undo A Father's Fear: Legacy Over Lineage Why would a father with immense clout in the industry choose silence over support? Shehzad has a theory. 'I think my father was a little insecure,' he said. 'He must have feared that if I didn't live up to his standards, it might tarnish his legacy.' That fear didn't stop Shehzad from carving his own path. Despite the odds — and the absence of the usual star kid privileges — he made a name with memorable roles, including the comically clueless Bhalla in Andaz Apna Apna , and later, appearances in Bharat and other films. You Might Also Like: Is Salman Khan's loyalty to jobless friends costing the superstar his hits? 'Andaz Apna Apna' co-star Shehzad Khan speaks out Of Films and Freedom: A Stark Industry Divide Beyond family tales, Shehzad also offered sharp insights into the changing dynamics of Indian cinema. In his view, Bollywood's creative decay stems from corporate interference. 'Today, a director in Bollywood has to answer to a hundred people before making a single decision,' he lamented. 'These are people who haven't even attended film school or worked on a set. It's no longer about storytelling, it's about spreadsheets.' In contrast, Shehzad lauded filmmakers from the South Indian industry, attributing their growing success to creative freedom and lack of bureaucratic chains. 'Directors there are free to tell the stories they believe in. That's why they're succeeding — they haven't let corporate thinking take over filmmaking.' You Might Also Like: Samantha Ruth Prabhu's new glamorous look breaks the internet. What diet does she follow for her weight loss and glowing looks?
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
This Bollywood villain warned son not to tell people they were related, refused to help him become an actor: ‘He was insecure that…'
Born Hamid Ali Khan, actor Ajit is one of the most well-known villains from the golden period of Bollywood. Appearing in films like Kalicharan (1976), Zanjeer (1973), and Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973), he was famously the 'Lion' who was the bad guy in many films of the era. Soon it was his son Shehzad Khan's turn to walk in the footsteps of his father, who even mimicked his father's unique cadence in a couple of roles. But according to Shehzad, his father was not very supportive of his decision to become an actor and refused to help him in any way. One can only imagine the sway an actor like Ajit must have in the industry, yet he was determined that his son would have to make it on his own. While talking to Lehren Retro, Shehzad talked about his father's decision and said, 'I never got any support from my father regarding my acting career. When I told him that I want to be an actor, he told me that he is never going to make a film in order to launch me. He also told me that he was never going to refer me to any producer or director and would prefer if I kept my relationship with him under wraps.' ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan's bungalow Prateeksha didn't have windows or curtains when he first moved in with Jaya Bachchan: 'He was hardly ever there' He added, 'I think my father was a little insecure about me becoming an actor. He must have been afraid that if I don't perform to the standards set by him, it might ruin his name in the industry.' Shehzad said that he respected his father's wishes and would keep his relation with him a secret, unless someone guessed it from his name and address. He ultimately broke through the barrier and worked in films like Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Qayamat se Qayamat tak (1988) and Bharat (2019). The actor also talked about the boom of the southern films and shared his two cents about why Bollywood wasn't working as well as them. He said, 'It's all because of this corporate culture. It has seeped deep into the industry, and people are only concerned with the economics of a project rather than the story. A director in Bollywood has to answer to 100 people before making a decision, people who have never gone to a film school or assisted someone on the set. It's sad, but it is the truth.' He appreciated filmmakers and producers from the south and credited their recent success to the amount of freedom they have while working on a project. 'Directors from the south are free to do whatever they want. The corporate thinking has not cemented itself in the filmmaking process over there, and though we are all part of the same country, they are doing much better than us.'
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Uneasy truce between Ajit Pawar and Bhujbal
Senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal is finally back in the state cabinet. Even after taking oath, he is not mincing his words as he has been speaking of how unhappy he was ever since he was left out of the cabinet post last year's assembly elections. He has also indicated that party chief Ajit Pawar was not keen on inducting him earlier but with changed circumstances and a nudge from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, he is back in Mantralaya. While Fadnavis and BJP leaders have expressed happiness over his return to the cabinet, most NCP leaders have remained silent. That Ajit Pawar and Bhujbal never really got along is well-known in political circles. The Ajit camp had strongly opposed Bhujbal's selection as deputy chief minister after Congress-NCP returned to power for a third term in 2009. Ajit succeeded in removing Bhujbal from the post a year later when Ashok Chavan stepped down as chief minister due to the Adarsh scam. Since then, the duo have rarely seen eye to eye. It was surprising for many when Bhujbal joined Ajit when the party split in 2023. Some think it was Fadnavis who advised Bhujbal to join Ajit. During Manoj Jarange-Patil's agitation seeking inclusion of Maratha community in the OBC category, Fadnavis had become a prime target. Bhujbal stepped in and did what most leaders from ruling Mahayuti did not do: Take on Jarange-Patil openly. Little wonder Fadnavis was keen on getting Bhujbal back in the cabinet. The ruling Mahayuti's focus on the OBCs and resignation of another OBC leader Dhananjay Munde from the cabinet probably left Ajit Pawar with no choice. People in the NCP are however wondering how long the Ajit-Bhujbal truce will last. A major reason why Ajit Pawar kept Bhujbal out of the cabinet was the latter's anti-Jarange image as Maratha voters are a strong base for his party. Bhujbal being Bhujbal, is likely to remain aggressive on the issues of OBCs. A friction is unavoidable, feel many in the NCP. Mohite Patil, Deshmukh on radar? There is a buzz in the Opposition camp that some prominent leaders from the opposition parties could be on the radar of investigating agencies in the coming days. The Mohite-Patil clan, comprising former deputy chief minister Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, his nephew and NCP (SP) MP Dhairyasheel Mohite-Patil and son Ranjitsinh (who is a BJP MLC), stood by Sharad Pawar in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. The MVA won Madha and Solapur Lok Sabha seats due to the clan's support. A case related to Solapur district cooperative bank is haunting Mohite-Patil. In neighbouring Latur, Congress legislator Amit Deshmukh too seems to be treading cautiously. He played a significant role in Congress winning the Latur Lok Sabha seat. Following Ashok Chavan's joining the BJP, he has emerged as the party's face in Marathwada. Amit, son of former chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, is also to be a good organiser. There is also a feeling in the MVA camp that the ruling parties will try to poach some of its (remaining) leaders ahead of the crucial local body polls due in September-October. Time for ethics committee The seizure of ₹1.84 crore cash from a suite of a government rest house at Dhule during the visit of the state legislature's estimates committee has come as an embarrassment for the legislature. Police have begun investigation after Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders found the cash and alleged that it was meant for the committee members. Both the presiding officers of state legislature—legislative council chairman Ram Shinde and legislative assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar—have taken a serious cognisance of the incident. Shinde suspended Kishor Patil, the staffer of the legislature who was working for the ethics committee as the cash was found in his suite. Narwekar on Saturday said he would speak with leaders of all parties and form an ethics committee of the legislature. Several senior legislators feel the need to form the ethics committee which would draw guidelines and code of conduct for the legislators. About two decades ago, there was a move to form such a panel but nothing much happened. Maybe, this is the time for the legislature to take a hard look at the functioning of some of their own. Setback for Pawar Sr Satyajit, son of former minister Vikramsinh Patankar who is considered a close aide of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, joined the BJP last week. For over two decades, senior Patankar was the MLA from Patan in Satara and has also served as a minister in the Congress-NCP government. He is also a respected figure in Satara. Since 2014, his son Satyajit contested two assembly elections in his place but lost to Shambhuraj Desai of Shiv Sena. Patankar and Desai families have a long-standing feud. Satyajit was unhappy as Pawar conceded the seat to Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in last year's assembly elections. Significantly, BJP scored over Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which was also wooing Satyajit to join its fold.
