Latest news with #Sooryavansham
India.com
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Who is this Indian actress who rejected working in Amitabh Bachchan's big-budget film, said ‘Bollywood is better than…'; is Hema Malini's…, her name is…
Actress Madhoo made a big name with several hit films like Phool Aur Kaante and Roja. However, in 1999, the actress married Anand Shah and left the industry. She made a comeback after 12 years and is now quite active in films. In an interview with Lehren Retro, Madhoo spoke openly about her break from films. Who is Hema Malini's niece, Madhoo? Madhoo talks about her break from films, she recalled working with all the A-listers in Bollywood and says, 'By 1997, I started feeling dissatisfied. I felt I wasn't doing a good job, and I was no longer excited about my work. After working with authentic, realistic directors down South, it felt weird to work with directors who would put up boards saying we were somewhere else, and cheat in the movies. As an artiste, I became unhappy going to sets. The thing I once wanted the most, being on a film set, started bothering me.' When Madhoo rejected Amitabh Bachchan's big-budget film Recalling turning down a film with Amitabh Bachchan for her wedding, Madhoo said, 'I call myself a child of destiny. What people call expression today, I experienced it then. Whenever I have felt something strongly, it has come true for me. When I realised I didn't want to work in films, love came into my life. I got married and I completely moved away from acting. Once I gave in to greed, I got a big film with Amitabh Bachchan, which eventually went to Soundarya. My wedding date was fixed, and I told my secretary that I didn't want to do it. She asked me to think again, but I was firm.' Let us tell you that this film starring Amitabh Bachchan and Soundarya was released in 1999, named Sooryavansham. In this film, Big B himself played a double role along with Jayasudha, Rachna Banerjee, Anupam Kher, and Kader Khan. This film failed at the box office, but later it won the hearts of the people.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ishaan Khatter's memory of Amitabh Bachchan from the sets of 'Sooryavansham' is pure gold: "I kept saying ‘Bade Miyan, Bade Miyan," shares the actor
Actor Ishaan Khatter recently took a trip down memory lane and shared an endearing childhood anecdote involving none other than Amitabh Bachchan . Speaking to Mid-Day, Ishaan recalled visiting the set of the 1999 cult classic Sooryavansham, where his mother Neelima Azeem played a pivotal role. What made the visit unforgettable was a playful moment between young Ishaan and Big B himself. 'She once took me to the sets of Sooryavansham, and apparently, I kept saying 'Bade Miyan, Bade Miyan' to Amitabh Bachchan, because I had seen Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,' Ishaan laughed Big B's warm gesture According to Ishaan, Amitabh Bachchan didn't just smile at the child's enthusiasm, but he picked him up. 'My mom later told me, 'You were the only kid he lifted, and you pulled his beard!' And he just smiled and said, 'It's okay.'' A silent helping hand This wasn't the only time Amitabh Bachchan left a mark on Ishaan's life. In a separate interview with Mashable India, Ishaan had earlier revealed that Big B had once helped his mother secure his school admission. 'She was trying to get me into Jamnabai Narsee School, and he very kindly spoke to the authorities himself,' he shared. While most people associate 'Sooryavansham' with countless TV re-runs, for Ishaan Khatter, the film is linked to something far more personal—a warm, formative memory of the cinema world and a gentle superstar who didn't mind a little tug on his beard. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mucus in Lungs? Do This if You Feel Breathlessness Neuracare Learn More Undo Amitabh Bachchan's upcoming projects On the work front, Amitabh Bachchan's previous successful outing was the Rajinikanth starrer 'Vettaiyan' which was directed by TJ Gnanavel who is best known for the Suriya starrer 'Jai Bhim'. Big B also teamed up with Prabhas for the film 'Kalki 2898 AD'. Rekha Reveals The Only Compliment Amitabh Bachchan Ever Gave Her | Silsila Memories Resurface
News18
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Ishaan Khatter Recalls Childhood Moment With Amitabh Bachchan On Sooryavansham Set: ‘I Pulled His Beard'
In a nostalgic interview, Ishaan Khatter fondly recalled visiting the set of Sooryavansham as a child and having a sweet moment with Amitabh Bachchan. If you've ever lazily flicked through TV channels on a weekend afternoon, chances are you've stumbled upon Sooryavansham—the cult classic that never seems to go off-air on Set Max. Though the film didn't fare well at the box office upon its 1999 release, it has since gained a loyal following. But for actor Ishaan Khatter, the film holds a more personal significance—he actually visited its set as a child, thanks to his actor-mother Neelima Azeem. In a recent chat with Mid-Day, Ishaan shared a delightful anecdote from his childhood. 'I think my mom once did a children's show called Nayantara, and I appeared on it too. It was a talk show where she spoke about parenting and motherhood. I've always been fascinated by film sets," he said. Recounting the moment he visited the sets of Sooryavansham, Ishaan added, 'She once took me to the sets of Sooryavansham, and apparently, I kept saying 'Bade Miyan, Bade Miyan' to Amitabh Bachchan, because I had seen Bade Miyan Chote Miyan," he laughed. What happened next has remained a cherished story in his family. 'He (Amitabh Bachchan) picked me up! And my mom later told me, 'You were the only kid he lifted, and you pulled his beard!' And he just smiled and said, 'It's okay.' These are the stories I've grown up hearing from my mom." In an earlier interview with Mashable India, Ishaan had also revealed how Amitabh Bachchan helped him get into school during his early years. 'At the time, she was trying to get me admitted into a school and Jamnabai was then one of the nicest schools. She was having trouble getting admission for me there and he very kindly, personally went and spoke to the authorities," he said. Neelima Azeem played Mrs. Varun Singh in Sooryavansham, while Ishaan's father, Rajesh Khattar, essayed her on-screen husband. For many, Sooryavansham may be just another film on a television loop. For Ishaan Khatter, though, it's a piece of childhood wrapped in warmth, wonder—and a beard-pulling incident with the Big B himself. First Published:
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ishaan Khatter recalls pulling Amitabh Bachchan's beard on the set of Sooryavansham: ‘I was calling Bade Miyan'
On a lazy afternoon, if you flip through TV channels and land on Set Max, chances are you'll find Amitabh Bachchan's Sooryavansham playing. Though the film didn't do well in theatres when it was released in 1999, it has gained a cult following over the years. Those who grew up in the early 2000s watched Big B in a double role in the movie, but for actor Ishaan Khatter, the experience was more personal. He actually visited the sets of the film as a child, thanks to his mother, Neelima Azeem, who was part of the film's cast. Neelima Azeem played Mrs Varun Singh in the movie, while Ishaan's father, Rajesh Khattar, played her on-screen husband. In a recent chat with Mid-Day, Ishaan shared a sweet story from his childhood. 'I think my mom once did a children's show called Nayantara, and I appeared on it too. It was a talk show where she spoke about parenting and motherhood. I've always been fascinated by film sets. She once took me to the sets of Sooryavansham, and apparently, I kept saying 'Bade Miyan, Bade Miyan' to Amitabh Bachchan, because I had seen Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,' he laughed. But what happened next made the memory unforgettable. Ishaan said, 'He (Amitabh Bachchan) picked me up! And my mom later told me, 'You were the only kid he lifted, and you pulled his beard!' And he just smiled and said, 'It's okay.' These are the stories I've grown up hearing from my mom.' ALSO READ | Filmistan Studios, founded by Kajol and Rani Mukerji's grandfather, sold for Rs 183 crore to real estate company In an earlier chat with Mashable India, Ishaan shared that it was because of Amitabh Bachchan that his mother could secure an admission for him in one of the best schools in the city. 'At the time, she was trying to get me admitted into a school and Jamnabai was then one of the nicest schools. She was having trouble getting admission for me there and he very kindly, personally went and spoke to the authorities,' he said.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Kaun Banega Crorepati turns 25: ‘Show endured because Amitabh Bachchan stayed loyal to it, Star cancelled it after Shah Rukh Khan's season,' recalls Sameer Nair
When Sameer Nair became the head of programming at StarPlus, it had just become a Hindi-language entertainment channel. After eight years of broadcasting international shows since the cusp of liberalization in 1992, StarPlus had decided to enter the new millennium with a new identity: become a Hindi General Entertainment Channel (GEC) and compete with what was hitherto its Hindi counterpart, Zee TV. 'We were partners with Zee before, then we'd gone independent so the mandate was: Fight back!,' recalls Nair, in an exclusive interview with SCREEN. However, that was an uphill battle since Zee TV dominated the TRPs, followed closely by Sony, and StarPlus at a distant third. 'For numbers' sake, let's say Zee was at 12 rating, Sony was at 11, and Star was at 1. That was the landscape then,' says Nair. Which is when Nair and his team officially acquired the adaptation rights of the popular British show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Amitabh Bachchan, once a tour de force at the movies, was a fading movie star at 58. He was delivering duds like Lal Baadshah, Sooryavansham, Hindustan Ki Kasam, and Kohram in 1999 before he was approached to host the quiz show Kaun Banega Crorepati. 'When we first went to him, it was a complicated because it was TV and he was a film star,' says Nair. The naysayers included Amitabh's wife and veteran actor Jaya Bachchan herself, who felt that 'it was somewhere not correct to shrink him to the small screen.' In order to convince himself, Amitabh even visited the sets of the original British show in London before finally giving his nod to host KBC. 'Once he took to the show, he stayed loyal to it. Mr. Bachchan is the only one who's been doing it since then, till now,' points out Nair, adding, 'The love of the audience for Mr. Bachchan has been really enduring. When we first did KBC, there was no Google. Which means you had to really wait through the break to get the correct answer. But even now, when he asks the question, you can Google it, yet you don't. Because you want to watch the show, the drama, and the playout the way it's intended.' The historic inaugural season of KBC not only catapulted StarPlus' dwindling ratings, but also reinstated Amitabh's film career. The quiz show made him reach every household again and lent his image a much-needed makeover. He went on to star in hits like Aditya Chopra's Mohabbatein (2000), Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham… (2001), Vipul Shah's Aankhen (2002), BR Chopra's Baghban (2003), Yash Chopra's Veer-Zaara (2004), Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black (2005), Shaad Ali's Bunty Aur Babli (2005), and Ram Gopal Varma's Sarkar (2005). Despite his extraordinarily remarkable second innings in the movies, Amitabh remained grateful and loyal to KBC by returning to host the second season of the quiz show in 2005. But Amitabh's sudden, prolonged illness in 2006 halted production as he couldn't shoot for the remainder of 24 episodes. There was no contestant who could thus win the top prize of Rs 2 crore that season. Bachchan reportedly declined the third season in 2007, prompting StarPlus to reach out to Shah Rukh Khan as the replacement. Khan, who had worked with Amitabh in Mohabbatein, K3G, and Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), had already filled in Amitabh's shoes by reprising the character made famous by him in Chandra Barot's Don (1978) in its 2006 official remake helmed by Farhan Akhtar. But even Khan couldn't summon the same interest as Amitabh did in the first two seasons of KBC. The show's ratings dropped significantly, forcing StarPlus to pull the plug on it after season 3. Three years later, Sony Entertainment Television revived the quiz show for its fourth season, with Amitabh returning as the host. The show has successfully run till its 16th season last year, and has been renewed for the 17th this year. Amitabh Bachchan has simultaneously maintained his stronghold both in films and on KBC as its recurring host ever since. Nair, whose tenure at StarPlus ended with the discontinuation of KBC in 2007, is now the Chief Executive Officer of Applause Entertainment. He lauds his then-competitor for keeping KBC alive at a time when its original home had given up on it. 'The credit also goes to Sony for reviving it. We did two seasons with Mr. Bachchan and one with Shah Rukh, and then we let go. They took it forward and really built it in the last 10 years so that we could get to the 25th anniversary,' he says.
