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"Have I come up with an award winning act? Well, I won’t say that" – Saif Ali Khan
Kurbaan has released and while the film has seen wide critical acclaim coming its way; it has also been appreciated for its hard hitting theme and a thrilling narrative. However, there have also been murmurs around its similarities with New York. Saif Ali Khan, the film’s lead actor, has his own take on affairs though. With the release of Kurbaan, there are similarities been drawn with New York and to a lesser extent Fanaa. Were you prepared for the queries coming your way? Leave aside audiences, media or industry people thinking like this, even I as an actor asked the same question when Kurbaan came to me. Even I had New York and Fanaa at the back of my mind. However, once I heard the film’s script, all my doubts went out of the window. I know it is not Fanaa. Also, I have not seen New York but have read its script and I know for sure that you can’t compare the two films. I have not seen New York but have read its script and I know for sure that you can’t compare the two films The element of terror in a foreign land is similar though! This way even Ek Haseena Thi and Kill Bill could be considered the same as well. Why have Hollywood comparisons, even closer home my own Love Aaj Kal could be called similar to Hum Tum in that case. Both were conversational films around how two people come together after time once they have grown further in their life. But does that really make these films similar? Nahi naa! Each story has a different style in which is told and Kurbaan has its own narrative as well. It’s a totally different world and treatment out here. Do you think that the promotion, right from the revealing of the First Look poster, sent out the right messaging to the audiences? Absolutely, things have been going quite well for Kurbaan and I am of course glad about that. I always feel that it’s the First Look of the film which is equally important as the rest of the promotion for weeks to come. It is required to be so very correct because this is what starts sending out the right vibes to the audiences. Today’s audiences are quite demanding and so many times they make a decision around whether they would watch the film or not on the sheer basis of the first impression that it has managed to create. Kurbaan has released quite close to the 1st anniversary of infamous 26/11 episode. Is it really coincidental, considering the fact that the film raises questions around global terrorism? How can you even presume something like this? Karan had this idea for a while now and we had actually begun shooting for the film in US when 26/11 happened. It has been a regular course of movie making that normally spans a year. Now when the movie is releasing, it is sheer coincidence to have it so close to 26/11. Yes, the fact though is that terrorism is pretty much on our face till date and we continue to be affected by that. Have I come up with an award winning act? Well, I won’t say that While critics have appreciated your performance in the film, even audiences seem to have found a new Saif. Moreover, Kareena too says that due to the complexity in your character and the way you have handled it, you should be a strong contender for all major awards for 2009. Should we believe her? [Laughs] Have I come up with an award winning act? Well, I won’t say that. Really, I never thought of an award while shooting for Kurbaan. Yes, it’s a tough and a strong role but what I have done isn’t stupendous. Yes, the film is stupendous though. It is a deadly movie for sure. Regarding my performance, it’s for people to decide and let me know!
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"Have I come up with an award winning act? Well, I won’t say that" – Saif Ali Khan
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Subhash K. Jha talks about Hide & Seek
about 1 day ago - No comments
So whodunit? Put a bunch of assorted dysfunctional men and women into a shopping mall, not to shop, but to get bumped off. And voila, the whodunit takes the characters to shop until they drop, one by one. There’s a Santa Claus with a hatchet in hand running around the deathly-still, sparkling -clean, spotless and eerily blood-thirsty mall. By jove! The polished surfaces of the mall glisten with a glorious promise of gore. This, we’ve got to see. Luckily the unravelling of the mystery of the murderous mall is not a disappointment Hide & Seek packs in a punch. Srikant Saroj’s camera stalks the corridors with a restless energy. The whole project seems to have been conceived and designed so that an emptied-out shopping mall could be used as a venue for some hardcore scares. Hide & Seek offers a terrain of mild terror, more in the thought (dark empty mall, no exit) than execution. Once the sextet of helter-skelter friends-turned-enemies is clamped shut in the lap of shivery luxury the plot thickens in rapid fire motions. The characters include a North-Indian- hating Marathi politician (ahem) played rather loudly by Arjan Bajwa and a nerd turned beefy film star played by Ayaz Khan, who create a stifling circle of tension, some of it palpable, others, pale. On the whole, the mayhem-in-the-mall holds together, generating a mix of the hazy crazy and sometimes just the lazy. On occasions the characters are driven into postures of terror more by exterior forces (scared people running in an empty mall is a great turn-on) rather than by a genuine sense of plotting urgency. The most heart-in-the-mouth moments feature debutante Amruta Patki caught alone in a movie theatre and later cowering in a ladies toilet as Santa With The Axe(‘axe’ no questions he tells no lies) stalks her down the squeaky-cleanwashroom. So what’s Hide & Seek really about? Is it about 6 ‘high’ school friends (everyone is high on some unnamed drug or the other) who once got caught in a party plastered with jealousy intrigue rape and murder? Or is it just mayhem in a mall caught on camera that knows how to zig-zag through the serpentine corridors without knocking into hard surfaces? Either way the film offers interesting possibilities of high anxiety. Debutant director Shawn Arranha displays skill and control in a way the individually aggravated characters are kept in check when they come into contact with one another. The performances are enthusiastic, Purab Kohli being particularly interesting to watch as a mentally disturbed young man who thinks love is just a wish away. Some of the acting does get over-the-top although the director seems to avoid excess as much as he can in a film belonging to genre where gore is glory. Grant the film a few extra points for inventiveness. Also for a slasher movie the slash-and-maim quotient is minimal. And the end-game where we the audience are played with as much wicked relish as the characters, is the kind of twist amateur whodunits revel in. For an evening of chills this one is sufficiently equipped. But don’t look for much more in the haunted shopping mall than meets the eye.
"After Yuvvraaj…I need a big HIT" – Subhash Ghai
about 2 days ago - No comments
He is known as the ‘Showman of Bollywood’ and has been in this industry for over 3 decades. He is none other than Subhash Ghai, filmmaker of blockbusters such as Hero, Ram Lakhan, Karma, Saudagar, Khalnayak, Pardes and Taal to name a few. His production house Mukta Arts is now ready with its latest release Right Yaaa Wrong that stars the lethal combination of Sunny Deol and Irrfan Khan for the first time ever. As the film opens across cinema halls today, we caught up with Mr. Ghai and spoke to him about this edge of the seat thriller. Is Mukta Arts producing or presenting Right Yaaa Wrong? Mukta Arts has funded the movie as world right controller and are the distributors all over India. We are a public company and we do enter into joint ventures with various production houses. In the past too, we have had such deals with Anil Kapoor, Satish Kaushik etc. Right Yaaa Wrong is a thriller directed by debutant director Neerraj Pathak and it is presented by Mukta Arts. Right Yaaa Wrong is a permanent question in every human being’s life. We always question our actions whether it is right or wrong, be it legal, moral, ethical, or social. What is the significance of the title Right Yaaa Wrong to the context of the film? Right Yaaa Wrong is a permanent question in every human being’s life. We always question our actions whether it is right or wrong, be it legal, moral, ethical, or social. We all take Right and Wrong actions knowingly or unknowingly at some point or the other. Today this debate of Right Yaaa Wrong has taken a whole new meaning hence we thought it would be the apt title. This is the first time that Mukta Arts has worked with actors like Sunny Deol, Irrfan Khan and Konkona Sen Sharma. How has the experience been? The experience has been wonderful. They are real and natural actors and bring a new breeze in acting in Right Yaaa Wrong …You have to see it to believe it. What made you a fund a thriller like Right Yaaa Wrong considering comedies are the flavor of the season? I don’t think so. People love thrillers. Race was a thriller which did well, even Ghajini was an action thriller. Personally, I liked the script of Right Yaaa Wrong and had full faith in director Neerraj Pathak’s abilities since he has written some good films like Pardes and Apne. The bedroom scenes that you are referring to were always part of the script. Eesha had read the script and was fully aware of this. So there is no question of her being upset. Is it true that Eesha Koppikhar was upset about retaining some her steamy bedroom scenes in the film that she shot before her marriage? Both Eesha and Konkona have given a tremendous performance. The bedroom scenes that you are referring to were always part of the script. Eesha had read the script and was fully aware of this. So there is no question of her being upset. The film is releasing on March 12th – the day when the IPL commences. Do you think it will hamper the business? IPL will be there but people’s love for watching good films is never-ending. No IPL can stop a good film from running to packed houses. What are some of Mukta Arts’ future projects? We have Hello Darling releasing next, and there is also a romantic comedy called Paschim Express-With Love that is made by all the actors and technicians of Whistling Woods International. What about your next directorial venture? When does that start? I am still scripting. I just finished the first draft but have to make a few more changes. In my last film Yuvvraaj, I focused more on the visuals part of it which didn’t work with the audience. This time around I have to be extra careful. I need a Big Hit. It will take me around 6 months more to finish scripting. I plan to start sometime during Diwali this year On a closing note will you like to direct Sunny Deol in one of your films? Surely…If I have a right script for him then why not? Sunny has given a mature and intense performance in Right Yaaa Wrong and he is sure to surprise you with his acting.
Nandita Das in Kolkata to shoot for Onir’s film Afia
about 5 days ago - No comments
After winning multiple Filmfare awards for her directorial debut, it was a grand homecoming of sorts of Nandita Das in Kolkata which is not really her hometown. Nandita is an Oriya by parentage. But because of the number of films she has done in Bengali she’s often mistaken for a Bengali. So it was when she landed in Kolkata last Sunday. Armed ecstatically as she was with her 4 Filmfare awards for Firaaq, the city greeted her with open-armed ovation. “The last film I shot in Kolkata was Paddakhep (Footsteps) with Soumitra Chatterjee,” she says from the sets of Onir’s Afia. “We’re now shooting all over the city.” Nandita is naturally overjoyed with the Filmfare awards for Firaaq. “To be honest I was surprised to find Firaaq’s nomination in so many categories. It shows that even the popular space is acknowledging a film like Firaaq that tends to be slotted as a niche film. But getting 4 awards for costume, sound, editing and finally the Critic’s Choice Award for the best film of the year! It sure was a surprise.” This was the first time Filmfare award function that Nandita attended. And she’s impressed. “I had gone expecting nothing, had come to see the much talked- about spectacle, which is sure was.” Nandita feels Firaaq which was clumsily released would now get a new lease of life. “These awards are a big help to a film that was so badly released and so many people just didn’t get to see it. They create a curiosity in people’s mind. I met so many people from the fraternity who said the first DVD they were going to get is that of Firaaq!” The impact of Firaaq has stunned Nandita. “What matters to me is that people see the film as a story I keenly wanted to tell and wanted it to reach the audiences. Thankfully a film’s shelf life is much longer than a release. All those who have seen it, friends and strangers have championed the film and I am so grateful for that. I am really thankful to Filmfare and the critics who are known to be difficult to please, for helping spread Firaaq.” Nandita is now looking at directing another film. “Having won about 10 awards each internationally and in India, and getting an overwhelming reaction from those who have seen it, it is time I start my next project. I have begun thinking of a story, although the journey of bringing it to life is long.” In the meanwhile, there’s Onir’s Afia where she plays a wife desperate to be a mother. Nandita has done her own research on sperm banks before plunging into the part. “I did a bit of homework on the net and had a long chat with Onir who has done extensive research on the net…But it’s more about the space to make your own choice. And that’s a universal desire!”
Katrina improvises her Hindi for Raajneeti
about 6 days ago - No comments
Katrina Kaif has a point to prove in Raajneeti. It’s not just the National Award that she’s aiming to get with her performance. It’s the long-winded rhetorical dialogues that she wants to get tone-and-pitch-perfect so that once and for all no one would ever say she can’t speak Hindi fluently. Surrounded in the cast with stalwarts like Naseeruddin Shah, Manoj Bajpai and Nana Patekar who spoke super-fluent Hindi and Urdu and constantly ribbed about her chee-chee Hindi by her co-stars specially Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina has taken a vow to wow with her command over the desi language. In fact, every time director Prakash Jha wanted to get Katrina’s attention on location, he would jokingly threaten to get her lines dubbed by another artiste. Not only did she get herself a private Hindi-Urdu tutor, she also got her director Prakash Jha to work on her dialogues and their delivery for extra hours. And now moving away from conventional dubbing techniques, Katrina is actually doing her lines twice every day, once on her own and then in her director’s presence. Confirming this double-delivery duty that Katrina has taken on Prakash Jha says, “She once goes through the lines on her own the entire day. Then in the evening whatever words and lines I feel need improvement, she happily dubs them again. I’ve never seen such determination in anyone before. On location in Bhopal once when she had to do a sequence with Nana Patekar where she had to repeat the swearing-in oath- ceremony with Nana after winning an election, Katrina panicked about the long words and lines. She pleaded with me to cancel the shooting, prepared the whole day and then delivered perfect dialogues the next day.” The dubbing for Raajneeti is also very important for Katrina to be eligible for the National Award next year. When Prakash suggested that he might need to get a dubbing artiste to do Katrina’s intricate dubbing she had protested strongly pointing out her chances at the National Awards would be nixed. Predicts Prakash, “After Raajneeti no one would ever accuse of Katrina not knowing Hindi.” Adds Katrina, “It was a challenge I set for myself. I’ve always paid that extra attention to my dubbing. But Raajneeti is really tough. Was I challenged by other actors speaking such fluent Hindi in Raajneeti? No, I always look at only myself as competition.” Katrina admits her Hindi has improved considerably after working in Raajneeti. “None of my roles so far required any specific fluency in the way I spoke. When I got a chance I decided to work on it really hard.”
"I’m planning to direct Akad in 2011" – Arshad Warsi
about 6 days ago - No comments
From acting to producer to a director. If there is one name which hits your mind instantly after thinking of these three ingredients of filmmaking, you’ve got to get Aamir Khan in first. But the new name to enter the domain of three in one is Arshad Warsi. The actor turned producer reveals, “There is a friend of mine who is a journalist. He had a concept, an idea. So one day, we just started chatting about what he had thought. It was a nice little story. We wanted to make a very quirky action comedy. It’s a little bit on the Guy Ritchie side and the Tarantino side. That’s the fact and I have nothing to hide.” Yes, Arshad had nothing to hide and why should he? On further questioning, he opens up a few more cards. Warsi says, “There is humour with seriousness. I wouldn’t say that it is going to be like a Kaminey. The film starts with the last scene of the film, then goes here and there, then it jumps up and down. As a director, it is the most difficult script to work on. I’ve got the picture in my head and so I have decided to direct it. If I give it to someone else, and if he doesn’t get the clear picture, chances are there the film can go very wrong. It’s tough film to direct.” For a new entrant, we’re sure any film is a tough one to direct but knowing Arshad’s prowess in acting, we’re sure he’ll do a decent job behind the camera too. So before he ends his talk on his decided direction, we quiz him one last time on the title of his film. He smiles and says, “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this but I guess that’s how I am. At the moment, we’ve tentatively titled the film Akad. I’m planning to direct Akad in 2011.”
"The background score of Road Movie is non-Indian" – Michael Brooks
about 1 week ago - No comments
How many of us ever thought that a Bollywood film would have music by a complete foreigner? Well that’s exactly the case with the film Road, Movie. Famous Canadian Guitarist, Michael Brook has given background score for Dev Benegal’s Road, Movie. Michael has contributed to U2’s famous album The Joshua Tree in the form of his invention – the infinite guitar and was also nominated for Grammy Awards in 1996 for his production work and as co-artist on Pakistani singer Nusrat fateh Ali Khan’s album, Night Song. Apart from these, he has also contributed for the album Rock Paper Scissors. While for Hollywood, Michael has done a number of film sound tracks including the music for Albino Alligator, Mission Impossible 2, Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and Sean Penn’s critically acclaimed, Into The Wild. Bollywood Hungama spoke to Michael to find out more about his compositions and of course his experience of working in Bollywood. The first question on everyone’s mind is, how did Bollywood happen to you? I had some connection with the producers from the past, and I believe that Dev Benegal, the director was aware of my music. What made you sign Road, Movie? A combination of the beauty and emotional resonance of the film and Dev’s deep musical knowledge and creative ideas was enough cause and reason for me to say yes and sign the film. What according to you is unique about its background music? I’d say that the dominant aspect of the music is that it is quite distinctly non-Indian and strongly influenced by African music. This was Dev’s concept to try and create an exotic but non-specific atmosphere. So in a way yes this is some unique kind of music. The dominant aspect of the music is that it is quite distinctly non-Indian and strongly influenced by African music From making music for popular bands, creating breakthroughs like inventing the Infinite Guitar, to making music for Hollywood big wigs to Bollywood now, how has the journey been? Pretty good really. I’m extremely lucky to be able to do what I love to do and to earn a living. It’s a very privileged position and I appreciate it. Also having a 2 1/2 year old son is an equally rewarding experience. Tell us about your experience of Bollywood now that you have had a first hand taste of it? I’m not sure that I really experienced Bollywood as all of the work was done in my studio at home and we didn’t have the big dance and singing production numbers. Maybe my clichéd view of Bollywood is outdated. I have however played a concert in Chennai with Mandolin U. Srinivas and we did rehearse in some of the film studios, which was a very cool experience. How different is Bollywood from its western counterpart? My, again possibly not quite valid, impression is that Bollywood filmmaking is much more spontaneous and improvisatory than Hollywood. But I gather that Indian films are getting larger and more structured in their productions and that some film e.g. District 9, are being made more through an improvisatory process. What was the biggest challenge while doing the music for an Indian film? A big challenge was in trying to be other worldly without being unfocussed emotionally with the score. Was the language a barrier? The challenging part was that I don’t have the same cultural history as Dev, or probably most Indians, and so some aspects of the film had a different resonance for him e.g. Scherazade. You have also worked with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, how did that come about? I was asked by Peter Gabriel to work with Nusrat, probably based on what Peter heard in my first solo record Hybrid. When I was in Pakistan, about 12 years ago, I saw some really great singers at a concert, but I really don’t have much awareness of what is going on there now. So what are your future plans about Bollywood, does it look promising and would you like to do more work here? I don’t have plans, but certainly would love to do more projects with Bollywood. Certainly would love to do more projects with Bollywood Do you think there is now more interaction between the Asian and American / European markets than before or is it just the ‘Slumdog effect”? I think that there has been a gradual increase in awareness of the richness and depth of Indian culture over the last 40 years. Slumdog gave a kind of turbo boost to that process and I hope that it continues. I think that there has been a gradual increase in awareness of the richness and depth of Indian culture over the last 40 years You’ve composed scores for Mission Impossible 2 & Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth too. Can you share some special moments from these experiences? These two films are probably at opposite ends of the spectrum of my experiences. Both were good. On MI2, I was part of a very large team assembled by Hans Zimmer. It was great to work with so many people and I really enjoyed the kind of community of musicians and composers that I was part of. AIT was a much more delicate and solitary process, a great deal of which was trying to figure out where music should go. It turned out that we couldn’t really have music when AL Gore was lecturing as it made it seem propogandish. So there is only music when he is talking about his life or events outside the lecture. Having invented something like the Infinite Guitar, you must have a thing for instruments. What’s your favourite Indian instrument? My two favourite Indian instruments are the Shenai, particularly when played by Bismallah Khan, and the Veena. Which one (Indian instrument) have you used the most in Road, Movie? We didn’t use Indian instruments. The background score is one of the most important character of any film. Which film’s background score has impressed you the most till date? Recently I’ve come to appreciate the work of David Newman in his many scores, Wall-E, American Beauty, Cliff Martinez, Solaris, and of course the early work of the great Ennio Morricone. More recently, I thought that the score to Sherlock Holmes was really good You must have been one of the first people to see Road, Movie – what was your reaction? My first impression was of stunningly beautiful imagery and rich, intriguing characters. Did Abhay Deol impress you as much as Tom Cruise? Undoubtedly Which other Indian artist (Music or Films) have you been introduced to and like hearing or watching? I have been enjoying The Bombay Connection Volumes 1 and 2, collections of music from Bollywood films of the 60s and 70s
Live Chat: Abhay Deol on March 5 at 1545 Hrs IST
about 1 week ago - No comments
“Nobody can be exactly like me. Sometimes even I have trouble doing it.” Said hollywood’s most notorious and outspoken actress of the yesteryear Tallulah Bankhead, the same stays true for Abhay Deol in Bollywood. He surprises us with his versatility and courage to do away with the norms. A Deol no doubt, but still he went ahead and tread the lesser taken paths. His line of films are a clear picture of his talent and need for the unconventional, whether it was Manorama Six Feet Under, Dev D, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! or Ek Chalis Ki Last Local. He stayed away from being a typecast and went ahead and reinvented himself in each of his films. No wonder with his upcoming film Road Movie, his fans wait with bated breathe to see what he pulls out of his sleeve this time. Bollywood Hungama gives you an outlet for all those anxious questions you might have for the dimple faced Deol, chat with him live today, March 5 at 1545 Hrs IST and let the questions roll.
Live Chat: Abhay Deol on March 5 at 1530 Hrs IST
about 1 week ago - No comments
“Nobody can be exactly like me. Sometimes even I have trouble doing it.” Said hollywood’s most notorious and outspoken actress of the yesteryear Tallulah Bankhead, the same stays true for Abhay Deol in Bollywood. He surprises us with his versatility and courage to do away with the norms. A Deol no doubt, but still he went ahead and tread the lesser taken paths. His line of films are a clear picture of his talent and need for the unconventional, whether it was Manorama Six Feet Under, Dev D, Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! or Ek Chalis Ki Last Local. He stayed away from being a typecast and went ahead and reinvented himself in each of his films. No wonder with his upcoming film Road Movie, his fans wait with bated breathe to see what he pulls out of his sleeve this time. Bollywood Hungama gives you an outlet for all those anxious questions you might have for the dimple faced Deol, chat with him live on…at… and let the questions roll.
Ranbir Kapoor chases President’s Pepsi bottle in new commercial
about 1 week ago - No comments
Ranbir is the present face of Pepsi, which is perfect as Ranbir is the only guy in the industry who’s known to make it big in such a short time. His easy smile, youthfulness, charming persona, and lively spirit is famous with the ladies and the men alike. He projects Pepsi belief with conviction. The freshness and audacious self belief that the brand stands for is exactly what Ranbir is popular for. Presently shooting for his next film Anjaana Anjaani in Los Angeles, Ranbir was also required to do the upcoming commercial of Pepsi that has new tag line Youngistaan ka Wow! Not wanting to waste time, the crew flew down to L.A. to shoot the TVC with the young actor in a mansion there. The TVC that would be coming out shortly highlights the Wow factor of the youth. The film revolves around Ranbir, who’s playing a butler, chasing the Pepsi bottle that has been reserved for the President and how he uses his smartness to get it past the security… pretty audacious isn’t it? Ranbir says ”For me Youngistaan ka Wow reflects what we see around us, the youth making things happen, achieving things their own way and on their own terms like ‘Sid’ in the movie Wake Up Sid.” We think Ranbir couldn’t have put it aptly.
National Award winning child actor Shams Patel wants to meet Salman Khan
about 1 week ago - No comments
Shams Patel plays a Salman Khan fan in Thanks Maa. He also happens to be one in real life. The boy who has won this year’s National Award for Best Child Actor confesses he has made his parents relieved and proud. “I’m very average at my studies. So they feel at least I’ve made a name for myself in another field. My parents are very excited. I’m too. But nothing compared to them.” Shams belongs to a business family with no background in cinema. “I got the role in Thanks Maa because the director Irrfan Kamal is my mama (uncle),” Shams confessed candidly. “He asked me to audition along with many other hopefuls. I had no acting experience. My interests are football and cricket, not acting. But when my uncle told me try my luck, I decided, why not? I never thought I’d get the role. After I got the role, I attended workshops.” Even more of a surprise was the National Award. “I was thrilled with the award. If it wasn’t for Irrfan Sir (director Irrfan Kamal) and Abhay Sir (acting coach Abhay Joshi), I wouldn’t be here.” “Here” is of course a state of the mind, since no one close to Shams has seen Thanks Maa. “None of my friends in school have seen the film, or even know about it. They’re too young to watch it. So there’s no question of being treated special. Yeah, my two elder sisters saw the film. They started crying.” Shams admits that he wasn’t familiar with the slum setting of the film. “But 50 other kids from the slums came for the workshop. I observed them and their way of talking. I copied them. I saw their emotions and used them. I was very moved by the way the people live in the slums. The clothes they wear, food that they eat and the language they speak in the slums was all a new experience for me. I came away from the film as a different person.” Shams was 12 when they shot Thanks Maa. He gets guarded when asked about Danny Boyle’s slum saga. “I’ve seen Slumdog Millionaire. Thanks Maa is totally different. Of course the characters and clothings of us slum kids is the somewhat the same as their picture. But, our storyline is totally different.” Shams had a great time shooting with the five kids who play his friends in Thanks Maa. “While the shooting lasted, we were like brothers and sisters. But now I’m not in touch with them. Now I’m just concentrating on my studies.” Spoken like a true professional, Shams confesses, “I’m not much interested in acting. But I do watch films and am a huge fan of Salman Khan. After Thanks Maa, I’ll meet Salman for sure. I don’t know what will be the outcome of the film. Lekin kuch to hona chahiye.” Shams Patel, who has won the National Award for Best Child Actor in the film Thanks Maa, is upset because he hasn’t been allowed to watch his own film. “Will you please talk to the censor board?” requests the 13-year old National Award winner, now on the verge of exasperation as the day of his film’s release approaches. “Thanks Maa has been given an ‘A’ certificate. Wohi toh problem hai. I can’t watch my own film for the next five years. Will you ask them to change it to a ‘U/A’ certificate, so I could see my film accompanied by my parents? Ideally, I want to watch it with my friends.”