Behind the Scenes Patiala House

Behind the Scenes: Patiala House

By Bollywood Hungama News Network, July 29, 2010 - 14:47 IST

One of the eagerly awaited films is the Akshay Kumar - Anushka Sharma starrer Patiala House directed by Nikhil Advani. The film, which was earlier scheduled to release in the latter half of this year, is now arriving on Feb 10 2011. Nikhil Advani and his team have been working round-the-clock to ensure that they have a winner on hands. The team has also created a special Patiala House page on popular networking site Facebook which features interesting trivia, photos and videos from all the action that happened behind the scenes of this film. We bring you a few snapshots of the same.

Patiala House features an ensemble cast comprising of Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Akshay Kumar and Anushka Sharma.

The mahurat clap of the film was given by none other than Karan Johar who gave Nikhil Advani his first break with Kal Ho Naa Ho. Commenting on this pic, Nikhil says, "Karan claps...hopefully the audience will too."

After the super-success of Singh Is Kinng, Akshay will once again be seen as a Sardar in this flick. This alone will be good enough reason for Akki fans to flock to the theatres when Patiala House opens early next year.

The film has been extra-special for Nikhil Advani as he got a chance to direct one of his favourite actors Rishi Kapoor. Commenting on this pic, Nikhil says, "Me directing Mr. Kapoor. Truly one of the greatest experiences of my career."

Akshay gets his make-up and hair done before the final take.

Akshay doesn't look too happy wearing a flower on his head for this particular song sequence.

The production team has worked extra hard in creating a rather lavish set in Mumbai's film city. In director Nikhil Advani's words, "This is Santosh our DOP's ingenious invention - the Chinese ball chandeliers..."

A look at the Patiala Mini Cab fully coloured and well lit.

Patiala House deals with a large Punjabi family based in Southall, London. One of the first things which Nikhil Advani and his team did was to create a family tree depicting the various members of the family. Says Nikhil, "I thought that it would be quite something to put out the Patiala House family tree. This was made before even the script was completed. A list of characters and how they are all connected to each other. This family tree has been modified, slashed, revised several times over the past year. But it was the beginning of Patiala House."

Khatta Meetha Movie First Look

New Movie Khatta Meetha Action Replay Thank You Patiala House

--
Mahi

After Akshay Kumar Trisha to star opposite Prateik Babbar

After Akshay, Trisha to star opposite Prateik Babbar (Lead)  

By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, July 25 (IANS) Age difference doesn't bother south Indian actress Trisha Krishnan who entered Bollywood with "Khatta Meetha" opposite 43-year-old Akshay Kumar and is currently shooting a Tamil film opposite 55-plus Kamal Haasan. But for her second Hindi film, she will be seen with 24-year-old Prateik Babbar.

"The second Hindi film is a love story with just me and the guy in central roles. It's a subject that can't go wrong. I've already done the Tamil version of this film 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya'. Now the same director, Gautham Menon, is remaking it in Hindi with Prateik and me," Trisha, 27, said. 

"I think we should be kick-starting it in August. I am excited because unlike 'Khatta Meetha', where I don't have a central part, this one has a central role for me." 

"It was important for me to line up a second Hindi film before the first was released," she said. 

Speaking excitedly from Europe, where she is shooting with Kamal Haasan, Trisha said: "I've been away from home for almost 40 days. Though I've my mom with me I do miss home. But the shooting with Kamal sir and Maddy (Madhavan) is great fun." 

Trisha confesses she had her lines in Hindi dubbed in her first film. When you tell her that Akshay said she spoke Hindi well, Trisha laughs it off. 

"Did he say that? I must thank him. The truth is I was a bit nervous about doing my own lines in Hindi. I've done so many Telugu films. But I don't know the language at all. I know the grammar in Hindi but I can barely manage to speak it." 

"In Chennai no one talks in Hindi. I was a little worried about my Hindi since my character in 'Khatta Meetha' is from a fluent Hindi-speaking belt. So both Priyan and I decided I wouldn't dub my own lines. But it's not a problem. I know I'll soon master it. It's simpler than the south Indian languages," the actress said. 

Trisha had got Hindi film offers earlier but didn't jump on to the Bollywood bandwagon until Priyadarshan's offer came along. 

"I was so busy doing Tamil and Telugu films that I didn't get time to consider Hindi films although offers did come. Also I wanted to do something that would give me a wide audience. I chose Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar... Their combination always works." 

Trisha is candid to admit she didn't have that much to do in "Khatta Meetha". 

"It isn't a heroine-centric role. But I felt it would give me visibility. Look, I may be known in the south. But in Bollywood no one knows me... not yet. When I started in the south I did smaller parts with big heroes. That always worked for me. One needs to be a part of hit films specially at the start," she reasoned. 

Priyadarshan is Trisha's mentor. "He launched me in the south seven years ago. He had promised he'd launch me in the right vehicle. In five minutes I knew I wanted to do 'Khatta Meetha'. I want to first make sure I establish myself in Hindi before I do more experimental roles. This is the trend I followed in the south as well." 

On working with Akshay, she said: "In the 'Khatta Meetha' unit Akshay was the only person I didn't know. And he wasn't just my co-star, he was also my producer. He was really sweet. Priyan and Akshay are by now like family to one another. They made sure I was comfortable. This was one of the most professional units I've worked with." 

Trisha is open to shifting base to Mumbai. "It would depend on the offers. I've always had relatives in Mumbai. I've also done a lot of ads in Mumbai. Though my family won't move out of Chennai, I am hardly in one city any way," she said. 

--
Mahi

Twitter has caused problems to people Akshay Kumar

Twitter has caused problems to people" - Akshay Kumar

By Joginder Tuteja, July 23, 2010 - 10:38 IST

Khatta Meetha releases today and Akshay Kumar is sounding as calm as he has ever been. No pre-release blues, no anxiety, no worried lines on face. Even as he battles mini controversies around his visit to RK Laxman, Priyadarshan's apparent displeasure around the film being totally sold as a comedy and detractors not quite giving him or his film Housefull the due credit of being one of the biggest successes of 2010 so far, Akshay is merrily smiling it all away. In the second part of an exclusive conversation with Joginder Tuteja, Akshay Kumar calmly comments on all the controversies surrounding him and how he is happy to leave them all behind and cherish a life which, in his own words, couldn't have been more beautiful.

Priyadarshan, in a recent interview, said that the film is more of a drama rather than a comedy. Is that a fact?
Absolutely. There is a lot of drama as this is no happy-go-lucky slapstick comedy. This film has more emotions than I have performed in a long time. Priyadarshan has made a wonderful movie and people from all walks of life will be able to appreciate it. Well, as long as they have a heart that is and a funny bone (smiles). 

Not every film that Priyan or I do is a comedy

He also seemed to be upset about the fact that the film is being sold entirely as a comedy. Did you have a discussion with him around this? 
It's very hard to make people understand that not every movie that either I do or Priyadarshan does has to be a comedy. He has every right to feel upset. This is his movie and he wants people to walk in knowing what they are going in for. Everyone knows that there is nothing more disappointing than paying to see a movie that doesn't fulfil you. When I want to see an action packed film, I expect to see some action and not come out crying without knowing. Believe me, Khatta Meetha is deep and funny and common and dramatic. 

From the economics standpoint, there is a belief that Khatta Meetha has been made at a very reasonable budget and also sold at a price lesser than regular Akshay starrers. Also, because you are also the producer of the film, the film looks like a winner commercially. Do you wish to detail on the economics part here? 
There was no need to make a high budget movie. It's about a common man and common everyday problems. It's not an Avatar or Blue kind of a film. We are not trying to change cinema with this one; we just want to tell a story and make you feel things that you haven't felt for a while. The economics of the film are simple. What we needed visually, we got and paid for. We sold it for what was right and the rest isn't written yet. 

On a different note, even though Housefull turned out to be a good earner for all, not many have still been giving credit to the film for what it deserves. Isn't it disheartening? 
Oh how I love your different notes (winks). To be honest, nothing is a shock to me anymore. It doesn't matter what you do or what you prove, it is never enough, so why fight the inevitable. I witnessed the rapture inside theatres all over Mumbai, London and Canada. I had proof enough of how much people enjoyed Housefull; that's all I need. And that's all Sajid Khan needed. People will never let you walk up the mountain of Bollywood without the impossible struggle. It's what we call human nature unfortunately and I'm incredibly used to it by now. 

Life couldn't have been better

Of course one can guess so. After all there is this entire controversy around the RK Laxman visit as well. Really, that seems to be in a really bad taste, isn't it? After all it seemed like a harmless visit. 
I really don't want to get into it. What was said was extremely distasteful. Yes, you are right, but I am not going to delve into it. I was officially invited to visit Mr RK Laxman by his wife and the Times Of India. Even they feel bad for the outcome of such an innocent visit. But as always I can't, in fact no one can stop people from saying or writing what they want. Also, it's not the first time that Twitter has been the cause of problems. All one can do is deal with it, and move on. 

In such a situation, it was none other than Amitabh Bachchan who supported you. That must have been a humbling experience? 
I know. You couldn't imagine how very touched and humbled I was. I was actually shooting in Manali at that time and wasn't really in touch with the world. I had to be told about the situation. Still, for Mr. Bachchan to stand his ground and support our fraternity yet again is just inspiring. I have said this for years that our entire industry actors/media/reporters/producers - everyone would be so much better off if we all had a touch of Mr Bachchan's dignity. He is one of India's greatest role models and no one can deny that fact. 

Finally, is life beautiful for Akshay Kumar? 
Life couldn't have been better (smiles). I just had a wonderful month long holiday with my wife Tina and my son Aarav with our good friends from New York. I have one of my favourite movies releasing today, my son was just awarded his green belt in karate, me and my wife have just opened our office together in the very building we live in, and I've just wrapped Action Replayy. I am a very happy man right now.

--
Mahi

Akshay Aishwarya to light up screens this Diwali

Akshay-Aishwarya to light up screens this Diwali (Film Snippets)  

New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai hope to brighten Diwali this year as their film "Action Replayy" will release on the festive occasion.

The film's shooting was completed in Manali July 15 and is set to hit screens Nov 5 alongside Ajay Devgn-starrer "Golmaal 3". 

While "Action Replayy" is a time-travel caper weaved around a story that progresses backwards in time, "Golmaal 3" follows the hit outings "Golmaal" (2006) and "Golmaal Returns" (2008). 

Produced and directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, "Action Replayy" also stars Aditya Roy Kapoor, Rannvijay Singh, Neha Dhupia, Kirron Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Om Puri and Randhir Kapoor.

"Golmaal 3" on the other hand also features Mithun Chakraborty, Arshad Warsi, Kareena Kapoor, Tusshar Kapoor and Kunal Khemu. 

--
Mahi

Akshay finds solution to Action Replayy Patiala House clash

Akshay finds solution to Action Replayy Patiala House clash

By Taran Adarsh, July 22, 2010 - 08:18 IST The showdown has been averted! ACTION REPLAYY and PATIALA HOUSE, both starring Akshay Kumar, were supposed to release in the same month - November. While Vipul Shah had confirmed ACTION REPLAYY for 5th November, Nikhil Advani and Mukesh Talreja were keen on bringing PATIALA HOUSE on 19th November. However, the film-makers of these two films had left the decision on Akshay Kumar, who was supposed to take a call after completing his shoot in Manali. Well, the suspense is finally over. While ACTION REPLAYY is confirmed for Diwali [5th November], thus clashing with GOLMAAL 3, PATIALA HOUSE has been shifted to next year. The film will now hit the screens on 11th February 2011.

--
Mahi