Latest news with #ReturnofJewelThief
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Amitabh Bachchan once apologised to Aashiqui actress Anu Agarwal on set
Why was Amitabh Bachchan late? Anu Agarwal's work When Aashiqui hit theatres in 1990, it didn't just break box office records—it created a cultural storm. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt , the film not only redefined romantic musicals in Bollywood but also catapulted its debutant stars to instant fame. But even before the film's release, one mysterious poster had already turned heads across Mumbai—and quite literally, brought the city to a halt, including superstar Amitabh Bachchan Anu Aggarwal , the former model-turned-actor who starred in Aashiqui, recently reflected on the unusual buzz around the film's marketing. In an interview with Pinkvilla , she shared that even before audiences saw her on screen, Anu's close-up was plastered across Mumbai on giant hoardings. One particular campaign featured her face with a bold tagline: 'This face can stop a crowd.' And apparently, it did. The frenzy around these posters caused such intense curiosity and distraction that they disrupted traffic across the city. It even made the famously punctual Amitabh Bachchan late for a a magazine cover shoot with the legendary actor, Anu recalled how she arrived on time, but Amitabh arrived 20 minutes late, an unusual delay for the superstar. The reason? He had been caught in the traffic jams caused by hoardings featuring Anu's iconic image. It was a surreal moment of validation for the young actor, who had already gained massive recognition from her modelling career and was on the verge of cinematic stardom at that went on to become a cult classic, known not only for its evergreen music but also for redefining how new faces could dominate the screen and even the streets. She later starred in films like King Uncle, Khal-Naaikaa and Janam Kundli. She was last seen in the film Return of Jewel Thief.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bollywood's Dawood connection: ‘Aashiqui' star Anu Aggarwal reveals 'underworld' secrets of movie industry. 'It was ruled by...'
Anu Aggarwal, who gained nationwide fame with her debut in the 1990 romantic film Aashiqui, has made candid revelations about the shadowy underworld influence in Bollywood during the 1990s. Speaking in a recent interview, she described the film industry of that period as a 'dirty business,' highlighting how much of the financing came from illicit sources. Aggarwal pointed out that during her time in the industry, Bollywood was essentially controlled by underworld figures, including Dawood Ibrahim. In her conversation with Pinkvilla, she recalled that most of the money flowing into films came through under-the-table deals. According to her, 'It was ruled by people like Dawood Ibrahim. All the money that was coming into the film industry came from the underworld. It was a completely different scenario.' The Heavy Burden of Sudden Stardom Anu's rise to fame was swift. Aashiqui's massive success turned her into a household name overnight, but the adoration soon became overwhelming. The constant public attention affected her deeply, leading her to retreat from the spotlight. She spoke about the level of obsession fans had, with some even traveling internationally just to get a glimpse of her residence. She noted, 'For me to walk around alone and live alone at that time… I had fans standing under my building. Luckily, it was an MLA-MP building, so we had police protection. It was madness. People would fly from countries just to see my building, just like how it is for Shah Rukh Khan today. Shah Rukh is my neighbour, and that's what used to happen to me, and I ran away from it.' This period of fame, rather than being a time of celebration, became suffocating. Anu eventually chose to walk away from films, not because of bitterness or disillusionment, but because the intensity of fame was too much to handle. She explained that she had already accomplished her dreams and wanted to pursue personal growth outside of the industry. Aashiqui Success Did Not Bring Full Compensation Despite the commercial triumph of Aashiqui, Anu Aggarwal revealed she was never fully paid for her role in the film. She claimed that she only received 60 percent of the remuneration promised to her and that the remaining amount remains unpaid even decades later. 'I haven't gotten the full fees for Aashiqui till today. I've only been paid 60% of the full fees. They still owe me the 40%,' she said. Following her breakthrough, she acted in other films such as Ghazab Tamasha, King Uncle, and Ram Shastra, among others. However, her rising career came to a sudden halt after a devastating car accident in 1999. The crash left her in a coma for 29 days, and she never returned to acting after recovering. Her final film appearance was in the 1996 thriller Return of Jewel Thief. While the industry's dark associations and the pressures of fame could have been enough to push anyone out, Anu clarified that her decision to leave was personal. She emphasized that she had no regrets and simply wanted to explore a life beyond cinema.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Anu Aggarwal says she was never fully paid for Aashiqui: 'They still owe me 40 per cent'
It's been 35 years since Aashiqui made Anu Aggarwal a household name, but the actor claims she has still not been paid her full dues for the 1990 musical blockbuster. The film, co-produced by T-Series founder Gulshan Kumar and Vishesh Films (headed by Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt ), was a turning point in Aggarwal's career, but one that, according to her, came with financial injustice. Speaking to Pinkvilla, Anu revealed that she was only paid 60% of the fees she was promised for Aashiqui. 'They still owe me the 40%,' she said. Despite this, she clarified that she never reached out to the filmmakers to recover the remaining amount. 'It's okay, I earned a lot,' she added, explaining that her income from modelling far exceeded what she made from films. Anu, who also starred in King Uncle and Mani Ratnam's Thiruda Thiruda, reflected on how she became one of the earliest actors, male or female, to endorse brands in India. She claimed that before her, only cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar were seen as brand ambassadors. 'There wasn't even a male actor who was a brand ambassador back then,' she said. Accepting her unpaid dues with grace, she remarked, 'Theek hai yaar. Ye meri gift hai unko (It's okay. This is my gift to them).' Anu Aggarwal shares her casting couch experience: A top director came to my house with a bottle of liquor by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kardiolog: Bukfett efter 50? Sätt det i dina skor Hälsotips Undo However, the former actor didn't shy away from commenting on the murky financial practices in the film industry of the '90s. She recalled how artists who demanded their rightful payments were often subjected to malpractices. 'It was a dirty business,' she said, adding that the film world was heavily influenced by underworld figures like Dawood Ibrahim during that era. According to her, much of the money flowing into Bollywood at the time came from illicit sources and transactions were often 'under the table.' Anu Aggarwal stepped away from acting after Return of Jewel Thief in 1996.
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Anu Aggarwal reveals she hasn't been paid 40% of her dues for Aashiqui yet: ‘That's my gift to them, I earned more from modelling'
Anu Aggarwal broke out 35 years ago with Mahesh Bhatt's blockbuster musical romance Aashiqui in 1990. While she became a household name after that, the actor says she still hasn't been paid her full fees for the film. Aashiqui was co-produced by the late Gulshan Kumar's T-Series and Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt's banner Vishesh Films. 'I haven't gotten the full fees for Aashiqui till today. I've only been paid 60% of the full fees. They still owe me the 40%,' said Aggarwal. However, she denied ever approaching the makers to settle her dues. 'It's okay, I earned a lot. I earned much more in modelling. I became a brand ambassador,' she added. In the interview with Pinkvilla, Anu Aggarwal claimed that she was the first actor to become a brand ambassador. 'There wasn't even a male actor who was a brand ambassador back then. Only cricket heroes were brand ambassadors then, like Sunil Gavaskar and all,' said Aggarwal. 'Theek hai yaar. Ye meri gift hai unko (It's okay. This is my gift to them),' she added, referring to the makers of Aashiqui on her unpaid dues. Agarwal, however, recalled that a lot of actors who came up to producers to ask for their dues back then were subjected to malpractices. 'It was a dirty business. Today, I'm not in it. If I do a film now, I can tell you how dirty it is compared to back then. At that time, it was all under the table. It was ruled by people like Dawood Ibrahim. All the money that came into the industry came from the underworld. So it was a completely different scenario,' added Aggarwal. The actor said that she didn't have to face any casting couch experiences either. 'My first film was with Mahesh Bhatt. He's a personality, a filmmaker in his own right. I learnt so much from him. I had close relationships with all my directors. And there was no hanky-panky. There was no casting couch. My agent, two years down the line, was laughing and saying, 'Anu's got her own casting couch. When the director comes in, she says lie down.' It's just a joke (laughs),' said Aggarwal. However, she admitted casting couch was a reality, just like in any other industry. 'Where does casting couch not exist? What are you saying? Is there no casting couch in banks and corporate houses? Why are we pretending,' asked Aggarwal, adding, 'At the end of the day, you should make it. It's not bad. What's bad is if you don't use your full potential.' Also Read — Anu Aggarwal recalls slapping Mehmood so hard that he started crying: 'My character was a psycho' Anu Aggarwal went on to do films like Mani Ratnam's Tamil black comedy caper Thiruda Thiruda and Rakesh Roshan's action comedy King Uncle in 1993. Her last film was Return of Jewel Thief in 1996.
