Latest news with #GuruDutt
Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
From the archives: How Raj Khosla and Guru Dutt struck up an instant friendship
In the late 1980s, I had the privilege of meeting Raj Khosla. I was introduced to him by Guru Dutt's sister, the artist Lalitha Lajmi, who took me to see him in Marina Apartments in Pali Hill in Bandra, Mumbai. His apartment was later bought by Aamir Khan's family, and it is where they still live today. At that time, I was researching material for a documentary I later made called In Search of Guru Dutt (Channel 4 TV, UK, 1989) and meeting Raj Khosla was most memorable. His love for cinema, warmth of personality and generosity of heart were so evident. Following are excerpts from two conversations, the first an audio interview recorded on November 5, 1986, and the second filmed on September 22, 1988. Raj Khosla: In those days [late 1940s, early 1950s], I wanted to be a playback singer. Dev [Anand] was trying to help me, but things weren't working out. So, one day he told me, 'There's a friend of mine, Guru Dutt, and he's going to direct my next picture. Why don't you become his assistant?' 'I don't want to do filmmaking; I want to sing.' He said, 'Come on! Get together, things will gradually fall into place.' That's how I met Guru Dutt. He asked me, 'Do you have any experience in being an assistant in films? Dev has recommended you.' 'Yes, I have, I'm studying filmmaking.' The second thing he asks, 'Do you know Hindi?' 'Of course I know Hindi.' I didn't write in Hindi. I wrote in Urdu and Persian. In the 1940s, most Punjabis knew Urdu well, and some, even Farsi. But I didn't know how to write in Devanagari. He said, 'Fine, join duty from tomorrow.' So I ran from there and the first thing I did was learn to read Hindi, ka, kha, ga. Sure enough, after six or seven days, he said, 'Just copy out these scenes.' By that time, I had picked up some Hindi. When I wrote the scenes, he asked, 'One second, when did you start learning?' I said, 'The day you asked me if I knew Hindi.' He smiled. We struck up a friendship instantly. Nasreen Munni Kabir: What was your relationship with the Anands? Raj Khosla: The Anand family and my family were from the Punjab. We had generational relations. Their father and mine were college mates and friends. So, we were the second generation of friends. When I was looking to work, Chetan Anand said, 'Why don't you work at Navketan?' Since they were producing Baazi at that time, my destiny was kind to me. I opted to work as Guru Dutt's assistant. Nasreen Munni Kabir: You told me you were very fond of Sahir Ludhianvi. Raj Khosla: I was a college student when I heard the work of Sahir sahab. I told my father that Sahir Ludhianvi was going to be a fantastic success. In my college days, I used to know a poem written by Sahir, Sanaa-khvaan-e taqdis-e mashriq kahaan hain. This poem became Jinhen naaz hai hind par woh kahaan hain. The lines were changed for Pyaasa, because who would understand the Persianised original lines? One day we were sitting in the Navketan office, and I sang the whole song to Guru Dutt. I had composed the tune myself, and he said, 'Raj, this is it! This is Pyaasa!' By chance, Sahir was already writing for him in Baazi. So, there was no problem of copyright or anything. Guru Dutt had a great gift of understanding emotion. But the relationship between Sahir and Guru Dutt was a little distant, I would say. In art, they were very close but personally they were not very close. I was personally much closer to Sahir. Nasreen Munni Kabir: You said you wanted to be a singer. Did you record any songs? RK: No, I didn't. In Jaal, we had this song, Sun Ja Dil Ki Dastaan. Guru Dutt recorded me singing it, but I failed the test. SD Burman said, 'Raj is good, but...' The song was later re-recorded in Hemant Kumar's voice. It was a tremendous hit. Raj Khosla: My first film was Milap, I made it for the same producer, TR Fatehchand, who also made Jaal. Many people thought C.I. D. was my first film, because Milap was not a hit. It was C.I.D. that got me noticed as a director. There's an amusing incident that happened when C.I.D. was released in Calcutta in 1957. We had very heavy rains that year and all the flights were cancelled, so we went to Calcutta by train. We took a box of beer and drank in the compartment. Remember Bombay-Calcutta was 46 hours in those days. We got thoroughly bored with each other. As the train ultimately entered the train station, the distributor, who was a very fat man, I don't remember his name, had garlands ready for us and he said, 'Raj, it's a hit. Ho gaya kaam!' (The work is done!) The garlands told us things were okay. Nevertheless, we went to the theatre to see for ourselves how C.I.D. was doing. Twenty minutes into the film, Guru Dutt says, 'Raj, you've made a super-hit film, come on, let's celebrate.' The next morning, I didn't find him in the hotel suite. I searched everywhere for him. Where is he? Fully dressed, with bowtie and all, lying in the bathtub. He must have been drinking all night. He was very sweet. Nasreen Munni Kabir: Why didn't you carry on directing under Guru Dutt's banner? Raj Khosla: As a matter of fact, after C. I. D., he offered me a lakh of rupees for the next film, which was a lot of money in 1957. I said, 'No, Guru Dutt, I will not work with you anymore.' 'Why? What's the problem?' 'You don't grow under a big tree. I'm a small plant. If I work with you, it'll always be Guru Dutt made this film.' He said, 'Go your way. Whenever you want to come and make a film for me...' Nasreen Munni Kabir: Can you talk about the C.I.D. song Leke Pehla Pehla Pyaar, featuring Dev Anand and Shakila? It was filmed on the pedestrian promenade on the Worli Sea Face [now part of the Coastal Road]. Raj Khosla: Dev Anand was a very disciplined person. He still is one of the most disciplined actors we ever had. The only thing I remember about that song is that Dev Anand tells me, 'Raj, what am I doing in this song?' 'The song is doing everything, you just walk.' So we started shooting. It was quite a long walk down the promenade, you know. The song goes through its entirety for about three minutes or so and he keeps walking. So after a few shots, he said, 'You want me to walk a mile or two or something? What am I doing in this song?' I said, 'You're walking. You're not going to sing.' 'Okay, you're the boss.' Typical of Dev, you know, he always wants to be active. Then the second thing I remembered is that while walking he had this habit of always using his hands somewhere. 'You don't move your hands.' He says, 'I can't sing, I can't move my hands, I'm supposed to walk.' 'That's it, you're just supposed to walk and look handsome!'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
SRK's son AbRam celebrates 12th birthday, Fans debate why Anushka Sharma is blamed in defeat but forgotten in victory, Vicky Kaushal to play Guru Dutt in biopic: Top 5 news
AbRam Khan celebrated his 12th birthday with family, while Vicky Kaushal is in talks to portray Guru Dutt in a biopic. Anushka Sharma faced online criticism during RCB's losses but received praise after their victory. Navjot Singh Sidhu shared an anecdote about warning Shah Rukh Khan about Bollywood, highlighting SRK's self-assuredness and drive to succeed. Whether it's a much-awaited teaser drop, a heartwarming throwback, or a big update from the industry's favourites — we've rounded up the biggest stories that had fans talking non-stop. From Shah Rukh Khan 's son AbRam ringing in his 12th birthday with Gauri Khan and Suhana Khan, Fans debating why Anushka Sharma is blamed in defeat but forgotten in victory to Vicky Kaushal being reportedly in talks to play Guru Dutt in biopic; dive in to catch up on all the glam, drama, and breaking updates from the world of entertainment! Shah Rukh Khan's son AbRam rings in his 12th birthday with Gauri Khan and Suhana Khan Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan's youngest son, AbRam, celebrated his 12th birthday on May 27, 2025, with an intimate gathering in Mumbai. The cozy celebration included his mother Gauri, sister Suhana, and maternal grandmother. The event featured pizza, a chocolate cake, and heartfelt moments, though Shah Rukh and Aryan Khan were notably absent. Vicky Kaushal in talks to play Guru Dutt in biopic? Vicky Kaushal is reportedly in discussions to portray the legendary filmmaker and actor Guru Dutt in an upcoming biopic. Known for his emotionally nuanced performances, Kaushal is seen as a fitting choice to embody Dutt's complex persona. Guru Dutt, celebrated for classics like Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool, remains an iconic figure in Indian cinema. The company holding the rights to Dutt's films is planning both web series adaptations and this biographical film. While official confirmation is pending, the prospect of Kaushal taking on this role has generated significant excitement among fans and film enthusiasts. Ajay Devgn confirms Drishyam 3 Shah Rukh Khan's son, AbRam, celebrated his 12th birthday with a family gathering attended by his mother, Gauri Khan, and sister, Suhana Khan. The intimate celebration featured a chocolate cake and a heartfelt note from Gauri, who shared a photo of AbRam on Instagram, expressing her love and pride. Why is Anushka Sharma blamed in defeat but forgotten in victory? Anushka Sharma faced trolling during RCB's losses but was praised after their win against Punjab, as fans called out the double standards. She was seen cheering joyfully in the stands. A recent viral moment shows her hugging a friend, while Kohli's birthday post for her also made headlines. Navjot Singh Sidhu warned SRK about Bollywood; actor REACTS Navjot Singh Sidhu recalled warning a young Shah Rukh Khan that Bollywood would "eat him like a sausage." SRK's confident reply? 'I don't compete with others, only with myself.' The anecdote highlights the fearless mindset that helped him rise to become one of India's biggest and most enduring superstars. 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
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vicky Kaushal in talks to play Guru Dutt in biopic? Here's what we know
Vicky Kaushal is one of Bollywood's finest actors today. He has won many hearts with his strong and powerful acting. After playing the brave Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in 'Chhatrapati Sambhaji', fans are curious to know what exciting role he will take on next. Vicky Kaushal in Guru Dutt Biopic? According to a recent report by Mid-day, Vicky is in talks to play the legendary filmmaker and actor Guru Dutt in a new biopic. Guru Dutt is famous for his classic films such as 'Pyaasa', 'Kaagaz Ke Phool', and 'Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam'. These movies are still loved by many and have made a lasting impact on Indian cinema . The company that owns the rights to Guru Dutt's films is planning to turn some of his best movies into web series. Along with this, the group is also thinking about making a biopic on the life of Guru Dutt. Rajat Agrawal, COO of the company, spoke about the project. He said, 'While biopics are always challenging because they need to emulate an individual's greatness and achievements, we would be happy to collaborate with producers and a modern-day director, who is a fanatic of Guru Dutt, and see where the project goes." He also mentioned that he has started talks with two well-known directors who want to recreate Guru Dutt's movies as web series and also make a film about his life. 'Once we have something definite, we can talk about it in detail. We are in touch with his family members,' he added. Could Vicky Kaushal be the right choice? When asked if there is an actor in mind for the role, Agrawal said, 'Naming one actor would be difficult as there is a plethora of talent, but I feel Vicky Kaushal can bring Guru Duttji's emotional depth.' This shows that Vicky Kaushal is seen as a strong candidate to capture the emotional and artistic spirit of Guru Dutt on screen. What's next for Vicky Kaushal? If this biopic happens, it will be a big step in Kaushal's career. Playing Guru Dutt means portraying a man whose life was full of great success but also personal struggles. It will be a challenging and exciting role for the actor. Besides this, Vicky is also set to star in Sanjay Leela Bhansali 's much-awaited film 'Love & War', alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt . Vicky Kaushal Turns 37, Celebs React 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
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From the front of the camera to behind it: What makes actors turn filmmakers?
We have seen actors going to great lengths to transform for a character; however, in this ever-evolving landscape of Bollywood, some of the most amazing and captivating transformations are not the ones that happen behind the camera. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now One such notable trend is the transition of actors to filmmakers. Sometimes fueled by passion, sometimes by the desire to control the narratives, the yearning for freedom, this shift represents a transformation that is both personal and professional. However, what prompts a well-known and accomplished star, who has already enjoyed success in front of the camera, to embrace the challenging responsibilities of filmmaking? From veterans like Guru Dutt and to contemporary stars like Kangana Ranaut, Farhan Akhtar, Konkona Sen Sharma, and , the list of actor-filmmakers is growing steadily. Kangana Ranaut - The queen, both front and behind the camera One of Bollywood's most loved and versatile stars, Kangana Ranaut, put on the director's hat for her movie 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi.' It all began with her first being the co-pilot, and well, when it had its fair share of controversies around it. Speaking about the same in an old interview with us, Kangana shared, 'There was no controversy even when I took it as a director. I took over sometime in June-July 2018, there was no controversy. There were several articles when the producer clarified that the director is busy with another film. No controversy at all. It's only when the film became a huge success, it had a weekend, even big heroes don't have sometimes of Rs. 45 cr. Then on a Monday, the director started to go all out, and with him, many people joined in. Everybody seemed to want more than they got or what they deserved. It just became so weird that just when everybody thought that the film was in the dumps, nobody wanted to touch it or nobody wanted to be associated with it. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now When we all worked on it and made it a glorious film, which is one of the best-reviewed films of 2019, everybody just went for me that I snatched the film and whatnot. That's where the controversy started.' Kangana Ranaut's multiple looks from 'Manikarnika' Further, while weighing on the fact why she took the role of a director, Kangana Ranaut shared, 'I think as a director, I wanted to be doing something which I do from scratch. It is very difficult to fit into somebody's vision and especially when you have committed to all the budget has gone into taking all the wide shots, and the money shots have been taken, and you are doing 60-70% of the work. But still, everything is committed from the look of the film to visual language, clothes, everything is done. I would like to believe that when I come with my solo director film, people would say that I have a great sense of aesthetics. Whether you see my houses or fashion sense, I am one of those people who have been yield by her sense of aesthetics. The idea was to do justice to the Manikarnika story, and even with a lot of obstacles, I still had a lot of people on my side.' Kangana on being a producer After being the co-director, Kangana stepped into the world of production as well. Her recent movie as a director and producer was Emergency, and while promoting the same, Kangana very gracefully shared how she no longer identifies herself as three separate entities—an actor, director, and producer—but rather as a cohesive whole. "I never became a producer to earn money. In my 20 years of career, I've seen that producers often put undue pressure on directors. Sometimes there's animosity, sometimes they become friends with them, and both situations can be harmful. Either you completely lose your mind, or you're caught in a dilemma," she said. Kangana Ranaut UNCENSORED Interview I Real Reason Why She Wore PRODUCER Hat | EMERGENCY She continued, 'I became a producer so that I can give myself wings to fly when I direct. It wasn't about the money at all. For me, it is a beautiful dance between every element that surrounds me—light, fabrics, colors, combinations, people, expressions, stories, fantasy, life, paradox, catharsis, subtext." She sees filmmaking as encompassing "poetry, beauty, humanity, destiny, and even God." She described it as an addiction. "I was always a filmmaker. I don't know how much justice I did to each role," concluded the actress-turned-filmmaker. Ritiesh Deshmukh - The actor who acknowledged being a filmmaker is no cake walk The 'Houseful 5' fame Ritesh Deshmukh turned director with the Marathi film Ved, and during one of our conversations, he shared, 'The most difficult decision for an actor is to decide he wants to direct.' 'You always end up dilly-dallying. Stepping out of your comfort zone and moving behind the camera isn't easy. On top of that, I am not a film student; I've learnt everything on the job. Working with different directors reshaped my perspective on cinema,' he continued. In addition to direction, Ritiesh dipped his toes in production as well. Talking about it, he said, 'Once you turn producer, you definitely have more respect for producers because you realise production is a thankless job. It's like puraani filmon mein main ladki ka baap hoon and you ask others ki aap bataao main kya kar sakta hoon (laughs!). You have to manage everything, be cordial with everyone, and ensure the work gets done. ' 'As an actor, you can own a part of the film with your performance, but as a producer or a director, you own the film in totality,' he concluded. Farhan Akhtar - The artist who feels 'lucky' to be a filmmaker Farhan Akhtar is one of the actors turned filmmakers who knows how to turn stories into cinematic gems. His debut directorial 'Dil Chahta Hai' starring him, Akshaye Khanna, and Aamir Khan helped him earn a National Award. Since then, he has never looked back, and as a filmmaker, he has films like Lakshya, Don, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do, and more under his belt. Bring different tales to the big screen brings him joy and expressing the same in a social media post, Farhan wrote, "Every once in a while I stop and think about how lucky we film makers are .. to think up a story and then connect with like minded dreamers to bring that story to life .. to get to share what once lived just in the mind with the world and hopefully .. hopefully.. elicit the intended emotional response." He added, "There's no other place I'd rather be. Behind a camera or in front of a camera. Doesn't matter. As long as it's telling stories. See you at the movies." In conclusion… The journey from being in front of the camera to stepping behind it as a director or producer represents a profound evolution for many actors in Bollywood. As more actors embrace the dual roles of filmmaker and performer, they enrich the industry with fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, ultimately contributing to the vibrant tapestry of cinema.
India.com
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This ‘haunted' bungalow ruined lives of 2 superstars, the actor suffered sleepless nights, his wife used to heart loud noises, later they…, the bungalow is now…, Not Rajesh Khanna
The film Industry is filled with many mysterious stories, whether they have a somber ending or no conclusion at all. Today, we are going to discuss one of the most famous stories from the Journal of Indian Cinema that not only devastated two lives but also created a huge impact on the industry. So, without any further ado, let's start. The Devastating Tragedy of Guru Dutt-Geeta Dutt Here we are talking about the veteran actor-director Guru Dutt who created the biggest impact on the film industry with his stellar masterpieces. But, those who know him by their hearts know what a devastating phase this legendary actor had especially when he was living in a Pali Hill Bungalow with his wife Geeta Dutt. In a book titled 'Guru Dutt: An Unfinished Story' the author Yaseer Usman mentioned the tragic incident that completely changed Guru Dutt's life. The Mystery of the Pali Hill Bungalow Earlier, during the conversation with the author, Geeta Dutt's sister Lalita Lazmi stated that her sister felt that there was some kind of entity in their bungalow that lives on the tree and is continuously trying to ruin her happy marriage with Guru Dutt. She also stated that there was a statue of Lord Buddha in their drawing from which Geeta was also frightened all the time. After a while, she told to her husband and asked him to leave the bungalow as soon as possible and after knowing this Guru Dutt got devastated by knowing the fact that this house was one of the most ambitious and wonderful things that he had ever accomplished. The Fights & The End Of Guru Dutt's Dreamy Mansion In the book, the author further stated that due to Geeta's fear their marriage started falling apart. Geeta had an intuition that this bungalow was the sole reason for all the chaos in her life which later turned Guru Dutt's life into many sleepless nights. As per the book, whenever Guru Dutt went to his studio for the shoot schedule, he took some time off and took a little bit of sleep for a while in a small room. One day, when Geeta was sleeping in her bungalow she heard some noises from the outside that made her worried as they were breaking into their house. She then instantly telephoned Guru Dutt who was in his studio at that time he answered in a breaking voice and said to Geeta 'Please let them… I've asked them to break it off.' After this Guru Dutt's dreamy mansion was demolished and later subsequently redeveloped, becoming a building called 'Imperial Heights.'
