Latest news with #Chhaava
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Chhaava' director Laxman Utekar says he was selling eggs, opened a 'wada pav' stall at Shivaji Park during his struggling days
Laxman Utekar's journey from selling eggs and washing cars to directing the Rs 800 crore blockbuster 'Chhaava' is truly inspiring. Starting as a studio sweeper, he persevered through odd jobs and eventually became a successful filmmaker with hits like 'Luka Chuppi' and 'Mimi'. Although 'Chhaava' received mixed feedback from critics, it went on to smash box office records by earning over Rs 800 crore at the worldwide box office. Director Laxman Utekar , who has directed only six films so far, struck gold with this blockbuster. However, his journey to success began humbly—he once earned a mere Rs 2 working during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and used to wash cars before he could afford to drive one. In a recent interview, Utekar opened up about his inspiring rise from modest beginnings to major success. Early Life and Struggles in Mumbai Laxman 's journey began in a small village in Maharashtra's Raigad district before moving to Mumbai with his uncle at a young age. On the Mama's Couch podcast, he recounted how he took on every possible job to survive in the bustling city. Reflecting on his entry into the film industry, Utekar said, 'I came into the industry by chance, and I had no backing. I was maybe 4 when my uncle brought me to Mumbai. I started selling boiled eggs outside a bar when I was 6 years old, and later I opened a vadapao stand in Shivaji Park, but that got seized by BMC. ' He also shared a unique way he earned money during the Ganapati festival, explaining how many wealthy people preferred not to leave their cars to immerse their idols. To help, Utekar and a friend offered to carry and immerse the idols for a fee of Rs 5, which they split. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best website creation site | Build your store in minutes Shopify Shop Now Undo He humorously noted that he would even chase after cars of affluent devotees to offer this service. First Break in the Film Industry He revealed that his initial break into the film industry came after he applied to a job advertisement in the newspaper and was hired as a sweeper at a studio. Reflecting on those early days, he said, 'I started working as a sweeper for them, and I didn't really understand what work they were doing. I would clean the floors and the washrooms, after which I would get tea for the people working in the sound and editing studio. I looked at their work and realised that whatever work they were doing was very interesting, and I wouldn't leave for several days sometimes; I was never bored.' He added, 'Since that day, I have never left the industry or looked back.' Utekar also spoke about his dedication to every task, mentioning that he washed cars with complete sincerity and was even praised by his boss for his thorough toilet cleaning. To make ends meet, he took on various odd jobs such as selling popcorn and newspapers. Persistence and Opportunity Utekar shared that upon learning about Sahara's plan to establish a studio in the city, he made it a point to visit the location daily, patiently waiting by the gate. After three months of this routine, a man finally stopped his car and asked why he was lingering there. 'I was waiting for someone to get of their car and ask me this question,' Utekar recalled. When he requested to begin work the following day, the man surprised him by saying, 'Can you start today?' Career Growth and Directorial Success Laxman launched his career assisting acclaimed cinematographer Binod Pradhan , working on notable films like 'Dear Zindagi', 'Hindi Medium', and '102 Not Out'. He made his directorial debut with the Marathi film 'Taapal' in 2014 and has since directed successful Bollywood movies including 'Luka Chuppi', 'Mimi', and 'Zara Hatke Zara Bachke'. 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 .
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Laxman Utekar says nobody is stopping Anurag Kashyap from leaving Bollywood: ‘Unki sensibility nahi hai'
Filmmaker Laxman Utekar recently tasted success with the movie Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal. In a recent interview with Mama's Couch, Laxman reacted to Anurag Kashyap's decision to leave Bollywood and also took a dig at his criticism of Hindi cinema. (Also Read: Anurag Kashyap says Bollywood lacks the 'brains' to make a film like Pushpa: 'Everyone is trying to create a universe') Laxman criticised filmmakers who claimed that the audience didn't understand their films and suggested that they shouldn't make such films in the first place. He advised them to write a book on their story instead of avoiding criticism. He also pointed out that no one had asked these filmmakers to bring about a revolution or change the government with their films, and urged them not to act like 'gyanis' but to simply entertain the audience. Laxman then responded to Anurag Kashyap's decision to quit Bollywood and said, "Chale jao chod kar, beshak chale jao, jisko nahi rehna, chale jao koi zabadasti nahi kar raha hai. See, ye industry aisi hai ki you have to be mentally and creatively happy, then only we can make a great… agar aapka mann nahi hai yahan rehne ka toh aap great film kaise banaoge? Aap chale jao, isse acha (Leave if you want to, nobody is forcing you to stay. You can only make movies if you are creatively happy, and there's no point in forcing yourself if you can't put your heart in it. You should leave).' He also addressed Anurag's claim that audiences lack the sensibility to appreciate the kind of cinema he makes, saying, "Woh galat bol rahe hai jab woh kehte hai ki audience ko sensibilities nahi hai unki film accept karne ki… balki unki sensibility nahi hai audience ka taste accept karne ki. Aaj 700-800 crore tak business kar rahi hai films… how can you say cinema is dying? Aap collection toh dekho Baahubali ka, RRR ka, Pushpa ka—1200 crore tak ka collection tha. Ya phir Chhaava ka ₹800 crore ka collection hai. Sensibility aapki change honi chahiye kyunki aap wahin par aatke huye ho. (How can you say cinema is dying when movies are doing business of over ₹1000 crore? You should change your sensibilities instead of telling the audience to change themselves).' He further noted how cinema is constantly evolving every three years, and that filmmakers need to adapt rather than remain fixated on one approach. He emphasised that films should at least connect with middle- and lower-class audiences who come to watch them in theatres. Earlier, in an interview with The Hindu, Anurag expressed his disappointment with Hindi cinema and said, "I want to stay away from film people. The industry has become too toxic. Everyone is chasing unrealistic targets, trying to make the next ₹500 or ₹800 crore film. The creative atmosphere is gone." In the same interview, Anurag also revealed that he has moved out of Mumbai and is now working on establishing himself in the South. Meanwhile, Laxman's Chhaava turned out to be a massive success at the box office. The movie, starring Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, Rashmika Mandanna as Maharani Yasubai, and Akshaye Khanna as Emperor Aurangzeb, collected ₹807 crore worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Bollywood film of the year.
Pink Villa
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Chhaava director Laxman Utekar SLAMS Anurag Kashyap's 'cinema is dying' remark with stirring reality check: ‘Unki sensibility…'
Famous filmmaker and actor Anurag Kashyap has given several good films to the industry. He was recently in the news for his remark on the industry. He told The Hindu that he has left Mumbai and he wants to stay away from the 'toxic' film industry. He also added that the cinema now is dying. Now, Chhaava director Laxman Utekar hit back at his remarks and claimed that he doesn't have the sensibility to accept audiences' tastes. In an interview with Mama's Couch, Laxman Utekar criticized Anurag Kashyap and shared that he is wrong in saying that audiences don't have the sensibility to accept his film. He further added, 'Balki unki sensibility nahi hai audience ka taste accept karne ki.' The Chhaava director further gave examples of films's record breaking collections of 700-800 crore that doesn't signify cinema is dying. He asked Anurag to take a look at the box office collection of Bahubali, RRR, Pushpa and even his film Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal in the lead role. Laxman said the filmmaker should change his sensibility as he is stuck in the same place. He also talked about it in detail and admitted that in today's time audiences have more knowledge about films and are more updated as they have cinema in their phones. He further revealed that every three years cinema changes and now as filmmakers they have to update themselves as well. They cannot be stuck in the past blaming the audiences for not having sensibility. Earlier, in a conversation with The Hindu, Anurag Kashyap opened up on moving away from Mumbai to distance himself from the industry. He called it 'toxic' and cited the loss of creativity and rising pressure from unrealistic expectations. Now, in the same interview, Laxman Utekar opened up about it and asked Anurag to leave if he wants to as nobody is forcing him to stay. He added that one can make films if they are creatively happy, and cannot put their heart in it if being forced.
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Director of Rs 800 crore blockbuster used to sell eggs outside a bar when he was 6; washed toilets, had a vadapao stand, swept floors of film studio
Despite mixed reviews, the film Chhaava broke box office records, earning more than Rs 800 crore. And, at just six films old, director Laxman Utekar had a mega-hit on his hands. But before being in charge of hundreds of crores, he'd work for Rs 2 on Ganesh Chaturthi; before driving a fancy car, he would wash them. Utekar had very humble beginnings, and he discussed his rags-to-riches story in a new interview. Born in a small village in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, Utekar relocated to Mumbai as a kid with his uncle. He shared on the Mama's Couch podcast how he did everything under the sun in order to earn money in the city. Utekar said, 'I came into the industry by chance, and I had no backing. I was maybe 4 when my uncle brought me to Mumbai. I started selling boiled eggs outside a bar when I was 6 years old, and later I opened a vadapao stand in Shivaji Park, but that got seized by BMC.' He added that during the Ganapati festival, many rich people did not want to get out of their cars and immerse the idol in the water themselves. Utekar and his friend provided them with the useful service of carrying their idols and immersing them on their behalf to earn money. They would split the Rs 5 they'd charge for this service; Utekar said that he'd chase down cars of rich people and offer to immerse their idols. ALSO READ: Chhaava director Laxman Utekar tells Anurag Kashyap to get lost, says nobody is forcing him to stay in Bollywood: 'Gyaani mat bano' He then shared how his first exposure to the industry came to be when he responded to a job listing in the newspaper, which led to him being hired as a sweeper at a film studio. 'I started working as a sweeper for them, and I didn't really understand what work they were doing. I would clean the floors and the washrooms, after which I would get tea for the people working in the sound and editing studio. I looked at their work and realised that whatever work they were doing was very interesting, and I wouldn't leave for several days sometimes; I was never bored.' He added, 'Since that day, I have never left the industry or looked back.' He said that he washed cars with absolute sincerity; in fact, he was so diligent at cleaning toilets that he got a compliment from his boss. Utekar said that he also sold popcorn, newspapers, and did other odd-jobs to get by. Utekar said that he heard that Sahara was setting up a studio in the city, and so, he went to the site every day and stood at the gate. He did this for three months before someone stopped their car and asked why he'd been hanging around. 'I was waiting for someone to get of their car and ask me this question,' he said. When he asked the man if he could start working the next day, the man replied, 'Can you start today?' Utekar began his career as an assistant to cinematographer Binod Pradhan; he shot several movies such as 102 Not Out (2018), Hindi Medium (2017), and Dear Zindagi (2016). His directorial debut came with the Marathi film Taapal (2014), and he has since then helmed movies such as Luka Chippi (2019), Mimi (2021), and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023).
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Chhaava' director Laxman Utekar tells 'Chale Jao Beshak, koi zabardasti nahi hai,' as he reacts to Anurag Kashyap's statement about leaving Bollywood: 'Aap wahin atke huye ho'
A while ago, Anurag Kashyap had said in an interview that he wants to leave Bollywood and Bombay as he's fed up of it. He had criticised the industry for making the same kind of movies and not wanting to experiment. He had also slammed OTT platforms for the same. Earlier, in an interview with The Hindu, he said, "I've left Mumbai. I want to stay away from film people. The industry has become too toxic. Everyone is chasing unrealistic targets, trying to make the next Rs 500 or Rs 800 crore film. The creative atmosphere is gone.' Now 'Chhaava' director Laxman Utekar has reacted to Kashyap's statement. When asked about it in an interview, he told Mama's Couch, "Chale jao chod kar, beshak chale jao, koi zabadasti nahi kar raha hai. See, ye industry aisi hai ki you have to be mentally and creatively happy, then only we can make a great… agar aapka mann nahi hai yahan rehne ka toh aap great film kaise banaoge? Aap chale jao, isse acha (Leave if you want to, nobody is forcing you to stay. You can only make movies if you are creatively happy, and there's no point in forcing yourself if you can't put your heart in it). ' He further said that Kashyap is wrong in saying that the audience has no sensibility. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Campanha (consulte o preço) Alarmes Saiba Mais Undo He added, "Woh galat bol rahe hai jab woh kehte hai ki audience ko sensibilities nahi hai unki film accept karne ki… balki unki sensibility nahi hai audience ka taste accept karne ki. Aaj 700-800 crore tak business kar rahi hai films… how can you say cinema is dying? Aap collection toh dekho Baahubali ka, RRR ka, Pushpa ka—1200 crore tak ka collection tha. Ya phir in fact Chhaava ka. Sensibility aapki change honi chahiye kyunki aap wahin par aatke huye ho (How can you say cinema is dying when movies are doing business of over Rs 1000 crore? You should change your sensibilities instead of telling the audience to change themselves).' Laxman said that film-makers will have to evolve with time as the audience is constantly evolving. "Aaj audience ke paas apne phone mein duniya bhar ka cinema hai. They are more updated than you. They know what to watch and what not to. And after every three years, cinema is changing. cinematography is changing, editing is changing, storytelling, costume… everything is changing. As a filmmaker, you have to change. You can't be stuck in the past and say the audience doesn't have sensibility. You have to change," he said. The director also criticised some film-makers who just make movies for a certain kind of audience from Bandra to Juhu. He said, "Unko pata hi nahi hai logon ko kya dekhna hai… kyunki woh rehte hai aise Juhu-Bandra jaise posh areas mein. Wahan rehna bura nahi hai, main bhi chahta hoon wahan rahun. Inn logon ka holiday hota hai London, New York, Dubai mein… unko Bandra ke aage Parel, Thane, Chembur jaise areas pata hi nahi. They don't even know these areas exist. Jab aap apna desh ghume hi nahi ho… aap apne desh ko jaante hi nahi ho… aap apne brands mein busy ho… toh unko kaise pata chalega ki log kya dekhna chahte hai (These people have no idea that there is a world beyond Juhu and Bandra. They need to open their eyes and travel around the country. Instead, they are busy with their brands).' 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 .
