Celebrity gaze

Sky Force : a gripping action drama with brilliant performances by Akshay,Veer Pahadia  Rating: 4 stars  By Rajesh Ahuja  After wowing audiences with slick action thrillers like Sooryavanshi and Bell Bottom and the more recent rescue drama Mission Raniganj , Akshay Kumar is back with another emotionally charged performance in his latest release Sky Force , a film based on India’s attack on the Sargodha airbase of Pakistan during the India Pakistan war in 1965.  As Wing Commander Kumar Om Ahuja who led the attack by the Indian Air Force on the Sargodha airbase of Pakistan during the India Pakistan war in 1965, Akshay Kumar comes up with a virtuoso act that leaves the audience in tears and imbues them with a feeling of pride.  Sky Force is a gripping action drama with brilliant performances by Akshay and Veer Pahadia  Sky Force is based on a real life incident of India’s attack on the Sargodha airbase of Pakistan during the India Pakistan war in 1965. ...

When Pran refused Filmfare Award for Be-imaan in solidarity with Pakeezah Music director Ghulam Mohammad  By Rajesh Ahuja  In an industry where receiving a Filmfare award has, over the  years,  been considered as a big honour by people in the Mumbai  film industry,  legendary actor Pran,  in 1973,, declined a Filmfare Award bestowed to him in solidarity with late Music  director  Ghulam Mohammad.  At a time when winning a Filmfare Award every year was considered big news by the winners and refusing one would be absolutely unthinkable, Pran refused to accept in 1973 the Filmfare Award for Best  Supporting actor for his performance as a policeman in Beimaan as he felt that the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director should have gone to the late Ghulam Mohammad.  Pran  refused the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting actor for Be-imaan in  solidarity with late Music director Ghulam Mohammad  News of the Filmfare Award ...

 Pran almost did not do 'Johny Mera Naam' Pran initially turned down the film saying that he did not have the time  By Rajesh Ahuja   One of the significant milestones in the Bollywood career of legendary actor Pran is the 1970s action thriller Johny Mera Naam .  However, not many may be aware that Pran almost did not do the film, that was produced by Gulshan Rai and directed by Vijay Anand.  When he was first approached for the film,  Pran declined the role saying that he did not have the time. However,  impressed by director Vijay Anand's acceptance of his decision,  Pran had second thoughts and decided to accommodate the filmmakers.  Pran initially turned down Johny Mera Naam Writing in the biography of the legendary villain and character actor,  Bunny Reuben said, 'after Gulshan Rai decided to make his first film, he made up his mind to rope in Dev Anand and Pran for the two most important roles of the film'. '  According to the...

When Pran got pat on the back from former Prez Zakir Hussain for portrayal of 'Malang Chacha' in Upkar  Dr Zakir Hussain was astonished that the famous villain had played Malang Chacha's role with such finesse  By Rajesh Ahuja   His portrayal of ' Malang Chacha ' in Manoj Kumar’s Upkar won him the accolades and admiration of film lovers across the country as well as his industry colleagues.  However,  it was not just fans and industry colleagues who gave a resounding approval to Pran for his portrayal of Malang Chacha .  For the portrayal of the iconic role,  Pran got a pat on the back from no less a person than former President Zakir Hussain.  Pran got a pat on the back from President Zakir Hussain for his portrayal of Malang Chacha in Upkar  During the premiere show of Upkar ,  where the then President Zakir Hussain was the chief guest,  the producer and director Manoj Kumar presented the members of the cast to the President, it ...

Kishore Kumar's refusal to sing 'Kasme Vaade Pyar'  for Manoj Kumar’s Upkar paved way for Manna Dey  Kasme Vaade remains Manna Dey's most soulful rendition to date  By Rajesh Ahuja   Listening to the soulful melody ' Kasme Vaade Pyar Wafa ' from Manoj Kumar's classic film Upkaar ,  based on former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's slogan of ' Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan ' during the 1960s, leaves cinelovers teary eyed even today at the soulful rendition of the melody by iconic singer Manna Dey..  However, not many may be aware that Manna Dey was a last minute choice for the song, which was to be rendered by legendary playback singer Kishore Kumar.  According to the biography of legendary villain Pran,  written by Bunny Reuben,  Kishore Kumar was offered the song by Kalyanji Anandji, the music directors of Upkar . However,  Kishore Kumar refused to sing the song as it was to be picturised on Pran, who was popular for his villainous roles at ...

 When Pran charged just one rupee from Raj Kapoor for Bobby  By Rajesh Ahuja  He may have been one of the most dreaded villains of Hindi films but tales of Pran's magnanimity towards his friends and colleagues in the film industry form the folklore of Bollywood  One such story pertains to the casting of Pran for the classic R K Films love story Bobby , which propelled Rishi Kapoor into an overnight star in Bollywood .  After the huge debacle of his 'labour of love ' ' Mera Naam Joker , Raj Kapoor decided to make a teenage love story with Rishi Kapoor in the lead role to recoup the losses that he had incurred in Mera Naam Joker .  For the film,  Raj Kapoor wanted to cast Pran as the hero's(Rishi Kapoor) father, it has been revealed in the biography of Pran, penned by Bunny Reuben.  Since Raj Kapoor was not in a position to pay the prevailing price of Pran, the latter just charged one rupee from the former for doing the film.  Pran charged jus...

 When Manoj Kumar joined the cast of Aadmi after last minute exit of Dharmendra  Aadmi gave Manoj Kumar an opportunity to work with his idol Dilip Kumar  By Rajesh Ahuja  The 1968 emotional drama Aadmi is remembered by film lovers for the great performances by Manoj Kumar and Dilip Kumar .  However,  not many may be aware that Manoj Kumar’s was a last minute entry in the film after the sudden exit of Dharmendra,  who was to play the parallel lead in the film alongside Dilip Kumar.  Manoj Kumar joined the cast of Aadmi after last minute exit of Dharmendra  Writing about this in the biography of legendary actor Pran, Bunny Reuben said, 'the role that was played by Manoj Kumar in Aadmi ,  directed by A Bhimsingh, was to have been played by Dharmendra.  But he had backed out at the last minute. '  Talking about the turn of events that led to entry of Manoj Kumar in Aadmi in Pran's biography ' and Pran ',  Bunny Reuben said, ...

 Pran recommended Dev Anand to Prakash Mehra as hero  for Zanzeer  Dev Anand declined Zanzeer as it did not go well with his established image  By Rajesh Ahuja   Much has been said about how the action thriller Zanzeer ,  which turned Amitabh Bachchan into an overnight star in Bollywood and established him as the ' angry young man ' in Hindi films,  was first offered to the debonair star Dev Anand, among other actors.  However not many may be aware that it was the legendary Pran who recommended Dev Anand's name to Prakash Mehra as hero  for Zanzeer . Eventually,  it was Dev Anand's refusal to do the film that paved the entry of Amitabh Bachchan in the film.  The fact was revealed in the biography of legendary villain Pran, penned by Bunny Reuben.  Pran suggested to Prakash Mehra Dev Anand as hero for Zanzeer  Writing in the biography, titled ' and Pran ', Bunny Reuben said that Pran, who worked with Dev Anand in nine films...

 When Rishi Kapoor turned down offer to do a guest appearance in Koi Mil Gaya  Rishi was offered the role of Hrithik Roshan's father in Koi Mil Gaya  By Rajesh Ahuja  Much may have been said about the popular sci fi film Koi Mil Gaya , which firmly cemented Hrithi Roshan's position in the film industry after the super success of Kaho Na Pyar Hai but what is not much known is that Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor was offered a guest appearance in the movie.  Rishi Kapoor's friend Rakesh Roshan, lovingly referred by him as Guddu, offered him a guest appearance in Koi Mil Gaya (2003) ,  as Hrithik Roshan's father  However,  Rishi Kapoor turned down Guddu's offer to do the film as he felt that doing the role would be a bad career move on his part.  Rishi Kapoor was offered a guest appearance in sci fi film Koi Mil Gaya  Writing in his autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor uncensored ,  the late actor said, 'Guddu (Rakesh Roshan) wante...

 When RD Burman sought Rishi Kapoor's help to get work in his films in 90s  Pancham requested Rishi to put in a word with producers of his films for hiring  him as composer  By Rajesh Ahuja  Together,  the duo of actor Rishi Kapoor and music composer R D Burman associated with several popular musicals in the 70s and 80s , including Zehreela Insaan, Khel Khel Mein, Bade Dil Wala,  Rahi Badal Gaye,Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin and Zamane Ko Dikhana Hai , whose music remains popular to this day.  However,  not many people may know that in the evening of his life, Pancham,  as R D Burman was lovingly referred to in the film industry,  sought the help of Rishi Kapoor to get work in Hindi films.  In his autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor uncensored ,  Rishi Kapoor said that Pancham, the gifted genius with whom he had the opportunity to work quite early in his career,  had sought his help in the 90s to get work in films tha...