Latest news with #VisheshFilms
News18
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Anu Aggarwal Defends Casting Couch, Says One Must Use Their 'Potential': 'Kya Bura Hai?'
Last Updated: Anu Aggarwal, known for Aashiqui, opened up on casting couch in Bollywood. Anu Aggarwal, known for her breakout role in the cult classic Aashiqui, has offered a candid take on the issue of casting couch in Bollywood. In an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla, the actress, who was a popular name in the 90s, didn't hold back while addressing the subject. While the casting couch remains a highly debated topic within the Hindi film industry — often either denied or reluctantly acknowledged — Anu questioned the general silence around it. 'Why are we pretending?" she asked. The actress reflected on her own experience in the industry, recalling that she maintained close yet professional relationships with all her directors, including Mahesh Bhatt. She clarified, 'There was no 'hanky-panky'," and confirmed she was never subjected to any casting couch situation. However, she didn't shy away from acknowledging the broader scope of the issue either. 'Kahan nahi hai casting couch?" she asked, adding that similar dynamics exist in other professional spaces like banks and corporate offices. She continued, 'Kya baat kar rahe ho aap? Why are we pretending? Everywhere there's casting couch. Since life has started, there's man and woman, and there are two energies, male and female, their union is something that everybody wants. That's what's entire history of Earth." The actress further challenged the moral panic surrounding the issue. 'So, what is 'Yeh bura hai' kya bura hai? So, at the end of the day, if you didn't make it, kya bura hai- when you don't use your potential, that is bura. What's the big deal being made about casting couch?" In the same interview, Anu also shared her thoughts on Aashiqui 2, which starred Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur. She admitted to having watched the film, commenting, 'Nice, nice, matlab you know I didn't want to like to judge it." Released in 1990, Aashiqui became a massive hit and is remembered as one of Bollywood's most iconic romantic musicals. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by T-Series' Gulshan Kumar along with Vishesh Films, the film starred newcomers Anu Aggarwal and Rahul Roy. While the story was simple, it struck a chord with audiences, largely thanks to its chart-topping soundtrack composed by Nadeem-Shravan. Songs like 'Dheere Dheere Se" and 'Nazar Ke Saamne" turned into instant classics and remain popular to this day. Watch CNN-News18 here. Stay updated with the latest news on Bollywood, Hollywood, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and regional cinema, movie reviews and K-dramas, web series , Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
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.
News18
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Aashiqui Star Anu Aggarwal Says Makers Owe Her 40 Percent Of Fees: ‘Meri Gift Hai Unko'
Last Updated: Anu Aggarwal revealed she only received 60% of her payment for Aashiqui (1990). More than 30 years after her iconic debut in Aashiqui (1990), Anu Aggarwal has opened up about the unfinished business behind the blockbuster, in a chat with Pinkvilla. While the film turned her into a national sensation, the actor revealed that she never received her full payment. Aashiqui was jointly produced by T-Series and 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. She also mentioned that she never followed up with the producers to recover the remaining payment. 'It's okay, I earned a lot. I earned much more in modelling. I became a brand ambassador," she said. In her interview with Pinkvilla, Anu Aggarwal said she was the first actor to become a brand ambassador, at a time when even male actors hadn't taken on such roles. '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. Theek hai yaar. Ye meri gift hai unko (It's okay. This is my gift to them)," she said, about the unpaid fees. Anu Aggarwal shared that in the past, actors who asked for their unpaid fees often faced unfair treatment. She said the film industry was heavily influenced by the underworld at the time.'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," she went on to add. Released in 1990, Aashiqui became a massive hit and is remembered as one of Bollywood's most iconic romantic musicals. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt and produced by T-Series' Gulshan Kumar along with Vishesh Films, the film starred newcomers Anu Aggarwal and Rahul Roy. While the story was simple, it struck a chord with audiences, largely thanks to its chart-topping soundtrack composed by Nadeem-Shravan. Songs like 'Dheere Dheere Se" and 'Nazar Ke Saamne" turned into instant classics and remain popular to this day. First Published:
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.
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
It's not like we parted ways, now is the right time: Emraan on working with Bhatts on ‘Awarapan 2'
Mumbai, When you do so many successful films together, it becomes tricky, says actor Emraan Hashmi, who doesn't view returning to the Bhatt camp with "Awarapan 2" as a reunion. Hashmi earlier this month announced the sequel to 2007's "Awarapan", produced by his uncle Mukesh Bhatt's banner Vishesh Films, on the occasion of his 46th birthday. He made his acting debut with the production house's "Footpath" in 2003. The actor, whose last project with the Bhatts was 2016's "Raaz: Reboot", said "Awarapan 2" is happening at just the right moment. 'I don't see this as reuniting at all. It's not like we parted ways. It's just that when we had this illustrious partnership, successes for almost 14 years, starting from 2003, all the way back to the last release was 2016, which was 'Raaz 4'. It's almost a 90-95 per cent success rate. When you do so many films together, it becomes tricky,' Hashmi told PTI in an interview here. After "Footpath", he continued working with the Bhatt family for nearly two decades, having starred in several successful films, such as 'Gangster', 'Raaz: The Mystery Continues', and 'Murder 2', among others. Later, the actor featured in films backed by different filmmakers like 'The Dirty Picture', 'Shanghai', 'Ghanchakkar', and 'Tiger 3'. Hashmi, 46, said the fan base of 'Awarapan' was the key reason for them to consider the sequel, adding they didn't rush into production without a solid story 'It's been in the talks for quite some time. We just didn't want to make a sequel for the sake of it. We had to zero in on a subject that would be right to take the movie forward. It's a film with a massive cult following. "It's got a following which is way more than the huge box office successes of mine. The kind of goodwill that it's got through satellite, Torrentz back in the day, YouTube, it's phenomenal. We just wanted to do it at the right time when we have the right script, and now is the right time,' he added. The actor said they want to ensure 'Awarapan 2' lives up to the legacy of its predecessor. 'How do you keep it new? Because you have been there, you've done pretty much everything. There's no point getting out films and starting to become debacles at the box office because the audience is like, 'We've already seen this before'. 'So, we took some time with that. Then COVID happened, and two years went by. A lot of recalibration happened.' 'Awarapan', directed by Mohit Suri and written by Mahesh Bhatt, followed Shivam , a hitman tasked with keeping an eye on his boss' mistress . However, Shivam's life takes a turn when he discovers the mistress's desire for freedom and love. The first part also starred Shriya Saran and Ashutosh Rana. Hashmi said the filming for 'Awarapan 2' will begin in two months and the sequel will arrive in theatres next April.
