Latest news with #RonnieScrewvala
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Interview with Jehan Manekshaw of Drama Schools Foundation Mumbai
From studying theatre at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and Birkbeck College in London to working as an associate executive producer with Zarina Mehta and Ronnie Screwvala at UTV, to becoming the Director (Strategy and Vision) at Drama Schools Foundation Mumbai (DSFM), Jehan Manekshaw has come a long way. DSFM is the parent organisation under which thrives a drama school, an e-learning initiative for aspiring theatre makers, a theatre education initiative in schools, a corporate training initiative and more. Having been an integral part of Mumbai's theatre ecosystem for over 25 years, Manekshaw is now channelising his energy towards building 'Mumbai Theatre District' — a dream project to 'revitalise South Mumbai as a cultural hub for theatre', like Broadway in New York or London's West End. 'Corporates need to understand the role of art and culture in societal well-being,' he says. 'And the government needs to get behind the enabling of spaces where art and culture can be supported.' Edited excerpts from an interview: Q: How is theatre reinventing itself in the age of Instagram, when audiences seem to have short attention spans? A: Storytelling has changed from the listenership side or the viewership side because we have to accept the reality of mobile phones. We cannot do a three-hour play anymore. On the other hand, live entertainment does have its place now because people are looking for ways to reinfuse their senses that have become captive to digital devices. Theatre is allowing people to connect deeply. It is the root form or medium of storytelling. It came much before cinema arrived. Think of how much smarter and more enabled a content creator would be if they had a theatre background with strong foundations in the fundamentals of scene, emotion, acting, and performance. I have been thinking of bringing some really good theatre makers and content creators to jam and see what comes out of it. People have been saying that theatre is dead, but it just won't die. It could take on a new avatar, but it won't die. Q: People who do not come from wealthy families usually find it very hard to sustain themselves doing theatre. How does the Drama School Mumbai, of which you are the co-founder, equip students to be financially secure? What kind of opportunities open up after they graduate? A: I'll be honest. It's not easy paying for the course itself. It costs around ₹6 lakh per student. We try and find as many benefactors as possible to give student scholarships. Additionally, the drama school itself gives bursaries and discounts to help students bridge the gap. It is not an MBA programme, so there is no immediate campus placement at the end. They have to go out and freelance, so it is a struggle. But, in Mumbai, they find all kinds of jobs alongside pursuing theatre. They do ad films, they become assistant directors on movie sets. Some take up writing gigs and digital assignments. We have alumni leading corporate training workshops using theatre. We also have alumni who become poets, storytellers and spoken word artists. Many go back to their hometowns and launch their own initiatives. One of our students has become a theatre godfather in Mysuru. Another has started an evening drama school in Ahmedabad. The ripple effect is lovely. We hope these students enrich society in their own way. Q: Psychologists often speak of urban loneliness as an epidemic where people feel disconnected from themselves and each other. What role can theatre play in this scenario? A: Theatre is about connection, about not feeling alone. The theatre-making and rehearsal process is about holding space and allowing people to be themselves. In this, there is safety and healing. Theatre is also used in arts-based therapy. The work of Brazilian theatreperson Augusto Boal, in particular, has been quite powerful. His theatre is the kind where people get to express what they feel and think, and share why they are making certain decisions. They feel both seen and heard. Training as a theatre-maker also teaches you to be resilient, to go with the flow, and to adapt to change. For example, if you are on stage, and something doesn't go quite as planned, you have to carry on with the show. I feel these life skills are much more important than making a play. Q: What are the new directions that theatre is taking in India, in terms of spaces where audiences can come and watch a play? A: Theatre-makers are saying that I want to tell a story and I want a bunch of people to watch. You are getting to experience theatre in small studio spaces in the suburbs. That's where these stories can be told. Instead of telling makers what kind of stories to tell, we help them discover what they really care about so that they can tell their own stories in an authentic way. We teach them craft. We also have a production grant for alumni in the name of the late Niloufer Sagar, who taught at Drama School Mumbai. Thanks to her family, alumni get funding to write, direct and produce plays. Many of these have been staged in smaller studio spaces. The interviewer is a journalist, educator and literary critic.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
6 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Not Ajay Devgn's nephew Aaman, this Salman Khan co-star was to debut in 'Azaad,' actor's mother reveals shocking details: 'For the first time in my life, I felt bad'
Produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Pragya Kapoor, this cinematic journey promised an intense tale of love and loyalty. But it failed at the box-office. read more Abhishek Kapoor's Azaad marked the debut of Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani, alongside Ajay Devgn and Diana Penty. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Pragya Kapoor, this cinematic journey promised an intense tale of love and loyalty. But it failed at the box-office. Dhoom 3 and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan actor Siddharth Nigam's mother has now revealed shocking details about how her son was supposed to be a part of it. 'I took him along for the meeting. The entire script was narrated, and we waited for a year. I was happy because the film was good, and Siddharth would have had a strong launch in Bollywood. I really loved the script. But suddenly, after two years, Siddharth showed me the poster of Azaad,' she revealed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She added, 'He said, 'Mum, this has been released, and these are the people in the film.' Then we saw that the film starred Ajay Devgn's nephew and Rasha. For the first time in my life, I felt bad. When things like this happen, as a mother, it hurts. Then I realised both of them were star kids, and that made all the difference.' Nigam's mother continued, 'There's no one to blame. This is the business industry, so there's no point in asking why they did it — they must have had their own reasons. It's more of a personal realisation and pain. You get your hopes up thinking something might work out. We wait for an entire year, and then we see the teaser. So after watching it, we just thought, 'Oh, okay. Let's move on.'
India.com
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
8 Hard-Hitting Bollywood Films Based On Real-Life Terror Attacks: Uri, Black Friday To Neerja
photoDetails english 2903712 Updated:May 21, 2025, 08:16 AM IST Bollywood Films Based On Real-Life Terror Attacks 1 / 9 Bollywood Films Based On Real-Life Terror Attacks: Today, let's go back in time and revisit some of the most impressive and talked about movies which were based on the plot of real-life terror attacks, leaving a lasting impact. Neerja 2 / 9 Neerja is a 2016 biographical thriller film directed by Ram Madhvani and written by Saiwyn Quadras and Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh. The film stars Sonam Kapoor as the eponymous lead, with Shekhar Ravjiani, Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku, Kavi Shastri and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles. It was based on a real-life event of attempted hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan by Libyan-backed Abu Nidal Organization on 5 September 1986. The film shows how head purser of the flight, Neerja Bhanot died trying to help save the passengers and crew, of whom 359 of the 379 on board survived. Uri: The Surgical Strike 3 / 9 Uri: The Surgical Strike is a war action film written and directed by debutant Aditya Dhar and produced by Ronnie Screwvala under the RSVP Movies banner. An account based on the real story of the retaliation to the 2016 Uri attack, the film stars Vicky Kaushal along with Yami Gautam, Paresh Rawal, Kirti Kulhari and Mohit Raina in pivotal roles. The Attacks Of Mumbai 26/11 4 / 9 The Attacks of 26/11 is a 2013 action thriller film directed by Ram Gopal Varma, based on the book Kasab: The Face of 26/11 by Rommel Rodrigues about Ajmal Kasab, then sole surviving perpetrator of the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The film stars Sanjeev Jaiswal in his film debut and Nana Patekar. Mumbai Meri Jaan 5 / 9 Mumbai Meri Jaan is a 2008 film directed by Nishikant Kamat and produced by Ronnie Screwvala. It stars R Madhavan, Irrfan Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Paresh Rawal and Kay Kay Menon. It deals with the aftermath of the 11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings, where 209 people lost their lives and over 700 were injured. Hotel Mumbai 6 / 9 Hotel Mumbai is a 2018 independent action thriller film directed by Anthony Maras and co-written by Maras and John Collee. It is inspired by the 2009 documentary Surviving Mumbai about the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India. The film stars Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Anupam Kher, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Jason Isaacs, Suhail Nayyar, Nagesh Bhosle, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo. Black Friday 7 / 9 Black Friday is a 2004 crime film written and directed by Anurag Kashyap. Based on Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts, a book by Hussain Zaidi about the 1993 Bombay bombings, it chronicles the events that led to the blasts and the subsequent police investigation. Produced by Arindam Mitra of Mid-Day, the film stars Pawan Malhotra, Kay Kay Menon, Aditya Srivastava, Kishor Kadam and Zakir Hussain. Bell Bottom 8 / 9 Bell Bottom is a 2021 action thriller film directed by Ranjit M Tewari. The film is written by Aseem Arrora and Parveez Sheikh. It stars Akshay Kumar as the lead character, with Vaani Kapoor, Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi in an extended cameo appearance. Bell Bottom is inspired from real life hijacking events in India by Khalistani terrorists during the 1980s, such as the Indian Airlines Flight 423, 405 and 421 hijackings. Batla House 9 / 9 Batla House is a 2019 action thriller film written by Ritesh Shah, and directed by Nikkhil Advani. Inspired by the Batla House encounter case that took place on 19 September 2008, the film stars John Abraham portraying the titular protagonist. The film showcases the encounter, and in its aftermath.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
VCs should understand that AI is a ‘product', not a ‘company': Ronnie Screwvala
Live Events The use of genAI tools in education must not be viewed as a 'cheat sheet' to bypass the efforts, said Ronnie Screwvala , co-founder and chairperson of edtech firm UpGrad tells Himanshi Lohchab .While AI can solve reasoning-heavy questions for students of IITs and PHDs, he cautioned against using AI merely as a shortcut. 'We shouldn't repeat the mistake we did with K-12,' he warned. 'Look at Chegg in the US; once a $14 billion company, now worth less than the cash they have on hand. That model fell apart because students weren't learning; they were just bypassing effort.''There was a moment where everyone thought doubt solving was the next big thing. At one point, Byju's was looking to acquire DoubtNut for $100 million. But very quickly, it became clear that it's not as unique anymore; AI can handle that task easily, and at scale,' noted veteran filmmaker, investor and first generation entrepreneur believes that soon, 'AI will become our cofounders.''In the workplace, you need pragmatism. And that's what AI offers—less emotion, more transparency. Of course, to some people, the idea of an AI cofounder might sound scary. But imagine this, no work-life balance debates, no emotional conflicts, no sulking cofounder drama. Just pure clarity and decision-making support. That's a huge advantage,' he clarified that AI is a 'product' and not a 'company'. So, while venture capitalists chase the next unicorn, several may lose money since they are still trying to understand what exactly they're investing in, he said.'The problem is, in the startup world, ambitions get mixed. People think AI needs to be a company. But in most cases, it's not ready for that yet. And developing that product without the pressure of setting up a company can be liberating. But in India, the mindset is still 'I need to register a company, raise funding, and show scale.''He also projected that AI would disrupt career paths by making workforces multidimensional. 'I genuinely believe people will start having dual roles, not necessarily two paid jobs, but engagements with different ideas, companies, or industries.''The old question used to be, 'What happens if I don't have domain expertise and want to switch fields?' That fear is slowly fading. You'll still need expertise, but AI is now enabling people to straddle domains, making that leap more accessible.' He added that UpGrad's U&AI certification program which aims to make 1 million professionals AI-ready by 2025 is a strong example of this demand. The `499 course fetched 6000 enrolments within days, he however, highlighted that large organisations are still unwilling to accept the shift. 'HR teams in most companies are built to harmonise, keep things smooth. They're not built to encourage chaos or experimentation. If you suggest someone go out, take a sabbatical, explore a creative path, the answer is usually no.'Asked about the threat to the entertainment industry with AI now being able to write lyrics, compose music and generate visuals, Screwvala said, 'AI can't inject emotion, which is the heart of storytelling. But it can prompt, polish, and help you be more efficient.' He added that creators can now write for 20 languages at once. 'AI helps with localisation without sounding dubbed. Although voice artists may be worried, their voice will now have premium value. Instead of charging `1,000 per hour, they could charge `10,000 for the source training,' he said.
