Latest news with #TheInvincibles
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Sunil Dutt saw Waheeda Rehman's white hair in the ICU and asked, 'What have you done?'
Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman , in a throwback shared on Arbaaz Khan 's chat show 'The Invincibles', recalled a memorable moment she shared with the late Sunil Dutt . She revealed that after Sunil had fallen unwell during his famous padayatra and was admitted to the hospital. On going to the hospital to visit him, she revealed that to her surprise, Sunil was taken aback seeing her natural white hair and expressed his shock in that light-hearted moment. Waheeda told Arbaaz that on going to visit him in the ICU, and check on his health, he saw her and looked shocked. Curious, she asked what happened, and Sunil immediately said, 'What have you done?' Dutt's surprise at Waheeda's white hair "I thought he was asking why I came in, so told him that I took permission and came. He said, 'I am not talking about that I am speaking about your hair'. Why did you colour your hair white? I replied, 'Sunil I have not coloured it white, instead stopped colouring it black' they are actually white'," she added. Waheeda Rehman's cinematic journey Waheeda Rehman began her acting career with the Telugu film 'Rojulu Marayi' in 1955. Over the decades, she went on to become one of Indian cinema 's most admired stars, delivering unforgettable performances in classics like 'Pyaasa' (1957), 'Guide' (1965), 'Khamoshi'(1969), 'Phagun' (1973), 'Kabhi Kabhie' (1976), among many others. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Sunil Dutt and Waheeda Rehman on-screen pairing Sunil Dutt and Waheeda Rehman shared a memorable on-screen chemistry and worked together in several films over the years. Their collaborations include 'Ek Phool Char Kante' (1960), 'Mujhe Jeene Do' (1963), 'Meri Bhabhi' (1969), 'Darpan' (1970), 'Reshma Aur Shera' (1971), and 'Zindagi Zindagi' (1972). Big B to play Sunil Dutt? "Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Frank Grimes obituary: Dublin breakthrough led to long career on stage and screen in Britain
When he burst on to the stage of the new Abbey theatre in Dublin in 1967, Frank Grimes, who has died aged 78, was acclaimed as the finest young actor of his generation. That first impact was made as a 19-year-old in a revival of Frank O'Connor's The Invincibles, a controversial piece about the assassination of the then chief secretary of Ireland Lord Frederick Cavendish and his deputy Thomas Burke, in 1882. But it was as the young Brendan Behan in Borstal Boy (1967) that Grimes hit the big time. Behan's rollicking autobiographical novel was adapted by Frank McMahon, with Niall Toibín as the older Behan relating the story of the renegade roisterer on a bare stage. Frank Grimes and Sorcha Cusack as Barry and Helen Connor in 'Coronation Street' in 2008. Picture: ITV/Shutterstock It was a smash hit in Dublin and Paris, and then on Broadway in 1970, where Tomás Mac Anna's production won the Tony award and Grimes was voted most promising actor by 20 New York critics. In a sense, his subsequent stage career, mainly in London in the 1980s, was something of a deflation, though he invariably cleaned up the best reviews in plays by David Storey and Chekhov, and, in 1984, as a mercurial Christy Mahon in JM Synge's Playboy of the Western World on the Edinburgh fringe — all of these directed by Lindsay Anderson, who was Grimes's mentor when he first moved to London in the 1970s. Fair City and Coronation Street Latterly, Grimes was best known for his roles as Fr Lawlor in Fair City, and as the unpredictable Barry Connor on ITV's Coronation Street. Between 2008 and 2015, Grimes appeared in 55 episodes of the ITV soap opera, with his wife, Helen, played in the first season by Sorcha Cusack and in later episodes by Dearbhla Molloy. Frank Grimes as Fr Lawlor and TP McKenna as Tom Mitchell in RTÉ's 'Fair City' in 2004. Picture: RTÉ Photographic Archive He also appeared in episodes of Casualty, The Bill, Doctors and Mrs Brown's Boys. Grimes's best performance on television, however, came in RTÉ's Strumpet City (1980), adapted by Hugh Leonard from James Plunkett's novel, in which he played a beautifully-modulated, mild-mannered Fr O'Connor, a Catholic curate in a chaotic Dublin under British rule around the time of the 1913 Dublin lockout. The wonderful cast included Donal McCann, Cyril Cusack, David Kelly, and Peter O'Toole. Dublin upbringing Born in Dublin, the youngest and seventh child of Evelyn (nee Manscier) and Joseph Grimes, a train driver, Frank was educated at St Declan's secondary school by the Christian Brothers, where he excelled at basketball, algebra, and geometry. He trained at the Abbey and, after his success there, moved to London. He began his collaboration with Lindsay Anderson and David Storey in two plays at the Royal Court — The Farm (1973), as the feckless only son returning to an outraged family gathering with news of his impending marriage to a divorced, middle-aged woman; and as an art student in Life Class (1974), with Alan Bates as the art teacher and Rosemary Martin the model. Frank Grimes won a Jacob's Award for his portrayal of Fr O'Connor in RTÉ's acclaimed television 1980 adaptation of James Plunkett's 1969 novel, 'Strumpet City'. Both of Grimes's performances were luminous, truthful and technically adroit. He played the young Seán O'Casey for RTÉ in The Rebel (1973), a documentary drama by John Arden and Margaretta D'Arcy, and made his only appearance at the Royal Shakespeare Company in O'Casey's masterpiece, Juno and the Paycock; Trevor Nunn's 1980 revival at the Aldwych featured a mostly Irish cast headed by Judi Dench and Norman Rodway as Juno and Captain Boyle. Shakespeare and Chekhov Grimes's Hamlet in 1981, directed by Anderson, was the first Shakespeare at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, since 1957, but it seemed tame and tight-lipped after Jonathan Pryce's electrifying Royal Court version in the previous year. He was back on track, though, in Anderson's all-star cast in The Cherry Orchard at the Haymarket in 1983 (with Joan Plowright as Ranevskaya, Leslie Phillips as Gaev), stuttering out Trofimov's revolutionary rhetoric before apologetically concluding that, when the day dawns, he would be there — 'or … I shall show others the way'. In 1987 at the Old Vic, in Anderson's revival of a 1928 American comedy, Holiday, by Philip Barry, with Malcolm McDowell and his then wife Mary Steenburgen alongside, Grimes was another memorably reluctant rabble-rouser, drunkenly excoriating the American rich, said Michael Billington, with 'a felt-tipped dagger'. Two years later, at the National Theatre, he was a friendless academic in psychological meltdown as Colin Pasmore in The March on Russia, David Storey's adaptation of his 1972 novel, Pasmore. Another minefield of a domestic drama, it was directed by Anderson in the manner of one of his and Storey's earlier family reunion collaborations, In Celebration (1969). In an impeccably-acted production, Grimes was both participant and observer at the celebratory rites of a family at odds, if not war. Supporting roles on the big screen Grimes played supporting roles in several notable films, including Richard Attenborough's A Bridge Too Far (1977), and in Anderson's The Whales of August (1987), starring Bette Davis and Lillian Gish as two elderly sisters on the Maine coast. He also appeared in Britannia Hospital (1982), the third of Anderson's blistering 'Mick Travis' trilogy. Grimes wrote several plays. Anderson directed his first, The Fishing Trip, at the Croydon Warehouse in 1991 and, before the director died in 1994, was helping him prepare his own one-man show, The He and the She of It, expressing a lifelong obsession with, and devotion to, James Joyce. Grimes married the actor Michele Lohan in 1968, and they had two sons, David and Andrew. After he and Michele divorced, he married the actor and art teacher Ginnette Clarke in 1984. Frank and Ginnette lived in New York from 1982 to 1987, after which they settled in Barnes, west London. His son David died in 2011. Grimes is survived by Ginnette and their daughter, Tilly, by Andrew, and by seven grandchildren, Emily, Hedy, Martha, Reuben, Toby, Monti and Oskar, and two siblings, Eva and Laura. Frank (Francis Patrick) Grimes, March 9, 1947 - August 1, 2025 The Guardian
Time of India
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
50 years of 'Sholay': When the screen went dark during its screening at Minerva theatre in Mumbai and how director Ramesh Sippy saved the day
Bollywood's timeless classic, 'Sholay,' is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The film, which was released on August 15, 1975, forever changed Indian cinema and remains a cultural touchstone. Director Ramesh Sippy recently shared some fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about the film's early days, including a near-disaster that he personally averted. The iconic movie, which was initially met with slow ticket sales before becoming a phenomenal success through word-of-mouth, faced an unexpected technical glitch on its opening day. H ere's a walk down the memory lane as 'Sholay' completes 50 years this year. Screen goes blank during screening of 'Sholay' In a throwback interview with NDTV, Sippy recalled the film's initial premiere at Mumbai's iconic Minerva Theatre. He recounted a day when the screen suddenly went dark, though the audio continued to play. Surprisingly, the audience remained completely engrossed, listening intently to the dialogues. Upon investigation, Sippy discovered that the projector's carbon wasn't being changed on time, causing the frequent blackouts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo To ensure uninterrupted screenings, Sippy took it upon himself to personally visit the theater daily to deliver fresh carbon. During an appearance on the chat show The Invincibles, the director also discussed the film's duration and box office performance. Sholay was released during the Emergency, when four-show schedules meant that the first screening had to start at 9 a.m. and night shows had to end by midnight. Sippy also shed light on the initial struggles of 'Sholay,' which was first considered a box office failure. However, it was positive word-of-mouth that turned the tide. Unauthorized cuts and backlash from the audience for 'Sholay' Sippy also revealed a little-known fact about the film's initial run. The director spoke about a tough decision to cut 20 minutes from the film to shorten its runtime, which was a common request at the time. Sippy revealed that comedy tracks featuring Asrani and Jagdeep were removed, a move that did not sit well with the audience. People who had seen the original cuts began demanding the scenes back. "We were told to chop out 20 minutes from the film, but we were perplexed as to what can be cut from the film," Sippy added in reference to the movie's length impacting collections. "We did decrease the length of the film by 20 minutes, as we were told to remove the comedy tracks of Asrani and Jagdeep." The runtime was reduced to 180 minutes after the edits. The changes, however, did not sit well with the audiences. According to Sippy, "There were some people in the audience who had seen these tracks in earlier shows." "When they discussed it with their friends, and the latter didn't see it in new shows, they started demanding those scenes," he continued. About 'Sholay' The film's ensemble cast, featuring cinematic legends like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, and Sanjeev Kumar, along with Amjad Khan in his career-defining role as the villain Gabbar Singh, created an unforgettable cinematic experience.
NDTV
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
During Sholay Screening At Minerva Theatre In Mumbai, The Screen Went Dark. What Director Ramesh Sippy Did
New Delhi: Bollywood's cult classic Sholay marks its 50th anniversary this year. Released on August 15, 1975, the film became a milestone in Indian cinema, with its characters remaining etched in audience memory. Nine years ago, on the film's 40th anniversary, director Ramesh Sippy, in an exclusive conversation with NDTV, recalled how Sholay was initially considered a flop. In the first few days, ticket sales were low, but word of mouth gradually turned it into a blockbuster. Sippy also shared an anecdote from the film's release at Mumbai's Minerva theatre. He said that when he visited the cinema one day, the screen kept going dark, with only the audio playing. Surprisingly, the audience stayed seated and listened to the dialogues. It was later discovered that the carbon in the projector was not being replaced on time, resulting in the blackout. Sippy decided to personally visit the theatre every day to supply fresh carbon to ensure uninterrupted screenings. The director also spoke about the film's runtime and box office journey during an appearance on the chat show The Invincibles. Sholay was released during the Emergency, when night shows had to end by midnight, and four-show schedules required the first screening to begin at 9 a.m. Ramesh also spoke about the film's length affecting collections and said, "We were told to chop out 20 minutes from the film, but we were perplexed as to what can be cut from the film. We did decrease the length of the film by 20 minutes as we were told to remove the comedy tracks of Asrani and Jagdeep." With the edits, the runtime came down to 180 minutes. However, audiences were unhappy with the changes. "There were some people in the audience who had seen these tracks in earlier shows," Ramesh said. "When they discussed it with their friends, and the latter didn't see it in new shows, they started demanding those scenes," he added. Sholay starred Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar and Amjad Khan as the iconic Gabbar Singh.
Daily Mail
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
THE MOUSE WHO ROARED! McLauchlan shone from Tarbolton to Dunedin... and back again
There was an added sense of poignancy that news of Ian 'Mighty Mouse' McLauchlan's sad passing should arrive just as the latest batch of British and Irish Lions were jetting off on this summer's adventure to Australia. McLauchlan, who died on Friday aged 83, was considered one of the toughest and feistiest players to ever pull on a Scotland jersey, something he did 43 times between 1969 and 1979. It was his performances for the Lions, however, that elevated the Ayrshire-born prop's reputation and brought him to wider recognition, something he did with distinction over two tours of duty. The first came in 1971 when a group that included Welsh great JPR Williams and Irish icon Willie John McBride won two games out of four and drew the final one to secure what remains the Lions' only series victory in New Zealand. McLauchlan played a pivotal role in the first Test in Dunedin, charging down an attempted All Blacks clearance to score the only try of the game. Perhaps surprisingly for a player who scored frequently in the club game, it also turned out to be the only Test try of his career. McLauchlan was back in the fold three years later when the touring party, now captained by McBride, won 21 of the 22 matches they played in South Africa and drew the last one to earn the nickname 'The Invincibles'. It was a physically bruising, often violent tour but the Lions proved too strong for their Springbok hosts as they clinched the Test series by three matches to one. McLauchlan was again pivotal, playing in every Test match just as he had done in New Zealand, making him one of just five players to be ever-present across the two victorious series. International rugby had come late to the man from the Ayrshire village of Tarbolton, not a renowned stronghold for the sport. When he made his Scotland debut a month short of his 27th birthday in an 8-3 Five Nations loss to England at Twickenham in March 1969, he became the first former pupil of Ayr Academy and ex-Jordanhill College student to be capped for his country. 'Much of that day is a haze but I remember sitting in the changing room at 2.50pm,' he wrote in his autobiography, Mighty Mouse. ''Open the doors', I thought. 'Let me get out there and at them'. I had waited all my life for that moment.' McLauchlan wasn't big for a loosehead at under 15 stone and just 5ft8 tall but what he lacked in physical stature he made up for with tenacity and determination, in the scrum especially where he would regularly give his tighthead opponent a difficult afternoon. His club performances for Jordanhill and West of Scotland brought him belatedly to the attention of the Scotland selectors — six years after his first trial — starting a decade-long period of international recognition where he'd go on to establish himself in the team before becoming captain in 1973. He would lead his country 19 times, an achievement that stood as a record until it was later surpassed by David Sole. On one of those occasions, another Calcutta Cup clash with the Auld Enemy, he captained the team despite having broken a bone in his leg against Ireland just a fortnight earlier. Although he came from a corner of the country where football, racing pigeons and whippets were the favoured pastimes, McLauchlan would become a rugby obsessive. 'I was hooked straight away,' he admitted. 'I loved the physicality, the brutality and the camaraderie of it. Before long, the game had become the be-all and end-all of my life. 'I never wanted to give up. I played every minute I could play. I used to go down to Wales mid-week and play. I'd go to Ireland at the weekends and play on the Sunday. At that time Scottish Rugby had a ban on Sunday rugby but it didn't seem to matter too much in Ireland. It was quite good. You'd play in Glasgow and get the six o'clock plane to Dublin and come back on the Sunday night.' The 1970s were not a hugely memorable period for Scottish rugby overall, with the unlikely five-way tie in 1973 the only championship Scotland celebrated throughout the decade. The feeling was, though, that it could have been even worse had McLauchlan not done his best to lift the level through both word and deed until his international retirement in 1979, again with another Test match against the All Blacks, this time at Murrayfield. He worked as a PE teacher at Broughton High School in Edinburgh, launched his own marketing firm and even had a brief spell in journalism but rugby remained in the blood, making it little surprise that he would continue to contribute to the sport later in life. He served as president of Scottish Rugby from 2010 to 2012 and remained on the board until 2019. 'I've always been involved in rugby in one way or another,' he said at the time. 'I suppose it kind of appealed to my sense of humour, the thought of being on the board. 'It's like everything else. I just wanted to do something to help rugby. It's a plain, simple fact: if you don't do anything, you don't get much from it — but if you try to do something you get a great deal of self-satisfaction and reward comes from effort.' McLauchlan would fill other rugby roles, too, chairing the British and Irish Lions Trust, becoming a director of European Professional Club Rugby, chair of the Murrayfield Injured Players Foundation and a director of the Hearts & Balls rugby charity. In 2013 he was inducted into Scottish Rugby's Hall of Fame and four years later received an OBE for services to rugby. Later in life he moved from the Corstorphine area of Edinburgh to settle on Islay where his wife Eileen, who died in 2023, hailed from. News of McLauchlan's sad passing prompted tributes from all across the rugby world, including from former team-mate — and another Lions and Scotland legend — Andy Irvine. 'He was some character and some player,' said Irvine. 'He was smaller than most props he came up against but I never saw anyone get the better of him. He was so tough, almost indestructible. What a fantastic career he had for Scotland and the Lions. It's very, very sad.' The sad news broke just as Lions head coach Andy Farrell and his players were boarding the plane to Australia ahead of their Test series against the Wallabies. They paid tribute to one of their own: 'Our thoughts are with the friends and family of former Scotland captain and Lions great Ian McLauchlan.'
