Latest news with #Sholay
Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
DYK: Not Aamir Khan, but Manoj Bajpayee was the first choice for cult classic Rang De Basanti
Can you imagine Rang De Basanti (2006) without Aamir Khan? Well that was the original vision, before Aamir heard of this film in the making and got himself involved in the project. The same was revealed by Kamlesh Pandey, one of the screenwriters on the film during a chat with Ravya Sarda for her YouTube show. Rang De Basanti was initially supposed to be a "small film", and Manoj Bajpayee had already been signed on for the role of DJ/Chandrashekhar Azad. Kamlesh recalled, "We had been roaming around with the script of the film for 6 years, and no one was ready to make that film. We had signed Manoj for the role that Aamir played finally. We thought we would make a small film; we didn't have a big budget. The moment Aamir heard the script, he told us that he wanted to do the film, and he even got AR Rahman to come on the project. UTV, who had rejected the film twice in the past, immediately said yes to it". The core issue on the film being consistently bypassed till it caught Aamir's eye, was that nobody was willing to put the time in to understand the script and the film's message. Kamlesh said, "Producers thought that this was a Sholay remake from the point of view of Basanti. They used to make fun of it and ask who was going to play her, and I used to tell them with a straight face that we were thinking of casting Esha Deol. They used to take it so seriously, and I didn't really know whether to slap these people or ignore them". While Manoj, given his acting prowess, would of course have done a stellar job of playing DJ in Rang De Basanti, given the film's legacy and the kind of cementing impact it has had on the audiences — over almost 2 decades now — it's tough to imagine anyone but Aamir leading the film. If reading about this switcheroo has got you feeling nostalgic, Rang De Basanti is available for streaming on OTT.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Sholay to Suraksha: A quiet revolution in suicide prevention starts in Karnataka's Ramanagara
Ramanagara: On a tranquil two-acre stretch of land in Ramanagara — once the cinematic backdrop for Sholay and Amitabh Bachchan's months-long shoot — a mental health initiative that could shape suicide prevention strategies across India and Asia is unfolding. Project Suraksha — short for surveillance system to track suicide and self-harm — is a community-based suicide prevention model, led by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) in collaboration with Karnataka govt and funded by Himalaya Wellness Company. The ancestral land of psychiatrist Dr CR Chandrashekar has been converted into a rural outreach centre, operational since Feb 2023. From this base, a multi-tiered response is being piloted in Channapatna across all 32 panchayats. The process of rolling it out across Ramanagara district has already begun. An official district-level centre operates at the zilla panchayat building about 3km away. Thirty residents per panchayat have been trained to form community surveillance teams. "They're the shoulder people cry on, the ones who notice distress before it becomes a tragedy," said Anish V Cherian, project lead and principal investigator. These teams include teachers, anganwadi workers, and autorickshaw drivers trained to intervene in emergencies. Agricultural shopkeepers are being asked to limit the sale of excess fertilisers, which are sometimes used in self-harm. Schools and health centres have identified gatekeepers to monitor distress. Newspapers are analysed for responsible suicide reporting, and families of those who died by suicide are offered grief counselling and support through mourning rituals. At the district-level coordination centre in the ZP office, a six-member team rotates duties to respond to emergencies. On Thursday, Suraksha received approval from the police department to access suicide data directly from station-level reports — bypassing delays associated with NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) data that typically emerges a year late. "This gives us timely data. Now we can respond while the window for intervention is still open," said Cherian. Ramanagara superintendent of police Srinivas Gowda acknowledged the initiative's novelty: "Data usually stays with hospitals or police, but this model actually uses trained mental health professionals to act." Data will be integrated with information from 68 primary health centres, urban PHCs, and community health centres, where ASHAs and medical officers help identify cases in a "self-harm registry". Anganwadi workers from various districts underwent training this week. "In village setups, no one wants to go to police. We're learning to respond within the community," said Pushpalatha, a worker from Channapatna. Anmol Jain, CEO of the zilla panchayat, told trainees: "Mental health isn't just for people who are 'mad'. Many suffer silently. We must help them." Arya Thirumeni, programme manager at Suraksha, outlined their interventions: Safety planning cards listing personal warning signs, coping methods, and emergency contacts; follow-ups over two years for those who attempted to die by suicide; and secure storage of lethal means such as pesticides or medication.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
I didn't want my memories to stay in my head, says Cop Shiva about his latest project
Photographer Cop Shiva steps in front of the camera to relive his childhood with his mother in his latest project called 'No Longer A Memory'. For most people, childhood memories and heritage are stored in family albums and stories passed down to several generations. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But Shiva never had a single photograph with his mother. In this project, he is attempting to fill that absence. 'I didn't want my memories to just stay in my head. I wanted to create something visual—to make sure they're no longer just memories', he says. 'The seeds of this project were always there' 'Everyone around me had family albums—photos with their parents, vacations, childhood memories. I didn't have even one. I'd see all these perfectly archived family moments in people's homes, and I realised I had nothing like that, and it stayed with me for a long time. In 2018, I decided to change that. I used to play so many roles as a child—God, goddess, police, robber. Growing up near Ramnagar, where Sholay was filmed, I was constantly surrounded by the energy of theatre and the magic of storytelling. Those memories never left me. The pandemic gave me the time to slow down, sit with my memories, and write them down. That's when I began to think about what I wanted to bring to life. I started recreating those missing memories with my mother. It turned into this fun, ongoing project—a way to build the photo album we never had,' explains Shiva. I've always hunted for happy humour, and it runs throughout my work. Today, more than ever, we need humour. The world is getting too serious—with wars, accidents and tragedies Cop Shiva 'My mom is my biggest supporter' For Shiva, this project is more than just recreating his memories; it is also about making people think about their memories with their mothers. 'When I first told my mom about the project, she just laughed and went along with it. She thought I was just having fun; she didn't realise it would become serious work. Without her energy, this project wouldn't have happened. I saw a whole new side of her—not just as my mom, but as my co-actor and collaborator. My mom is everything for me—my friend, my mentor, my biggest supporter,' he says. When I started photography, I became interested in masquerades, in people living as different characters. Those projects became workshops for me. When you want to place yourself as a character, you need preparation, dedication, and a deep connection to history, culture, and roots. I had all that from my grandfather Cop Shiva 'Without photographs, we lose those stories' Photography is not about capturing moments, it's about preserving life, believes Shiva. 'Growing up, I had just one photo of my grandfather,' he says. 'I don't have a single picture of him performing as an actor. I missed the chance to document his life. That's why I feel photography is so important. Even one old photo can spark a hundred stories and bring up questions you never thought to ask. Photos take you back to your family, your past, your village. They help you reconnect. Without photographs, we lose those stories,' he shares.
NDTV
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
How Aamir Khan Replaced Manoj Bajpayee In Rang De Basanti
New Delhi: Rang De Basanti screenwriter Kamlesh Pandey recently revealed that Manoj Bajpayee was cast in Aamir Khan's role as Daljeet 'DJ' in Rang De Basanti. In an exclusive conversation with Ravya Sarda on her YouTube show, the screenwriter revealed the many challenges faced in the making of the film. He also spoke about the casting changes that eventually led to Rang De Basanti becoming a big film. What's Happening New revelations have surfaced online, where Rang De Basanti screenwriter Kamlesh Pandey spoke about the sudden change in the casting of Rang De Basanti. He told Ravya Sarda on her YouTube show, "We had been roaming around with the script of the film for 6 years, and no one was ready to make that film. We had signed Manoj for the role that Aamir played finally. We thought we would make a small film; we didn't have a big budget. The moment Aamir heard the script, he told us that he wanted to do the film, and he even got AR Rahman to come on the project. UTV, who had rejected the film twice in the past, immediately said yes to it." Speaking about how the flashback and current scenarios in the film's screenplay initially confused the producers, Kamlesh Pandey added, "Producers thought that this was a Sholay remake from the point of view of Basanti. They used to make fun of it and ask who was going to play her, and I used to tell them with a straight face that we were thinking of casting Esha Deol. They used to take it so seriously, and I didn't really know whether to slap these people or ignore them." Earlier on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, Randeep Hooda had also spoken about how he lost his role as Karan R Singhania (later played by Siddharth) because he did not want to play second fiddle to Aamir Khan. About Rang De Basanti The plot of the film revolves around a gang of friends who graduate from Delhi University, but hang around in their old campus. Their paths cross with British filmmaker (Alice Patten), who plans to cast them in a film inspired by the sacrifices of Indian freedom fighters under British rule. In the beginning, the group of friends are largely apolitical, but when they lose a dear friend due to local government corruption, the patriotism in them comes to life. The story then unravels to showcase how they avenge the death of their friend. In A Nutshell
India.com
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Neither Baahubali, Pushpa, nor KGF, this is India's most watched film, sold 25 crore tickets, record still unbroken, earned Rs..., movie is...
Bollywood movies' profits are often measured by the revenue they generate at the box office. Today, we will tell you about a film that holds the title of the most-watched. While you may think it is Dangal, Pushpa 2, RRR, or KGF, let us tell you that this film was released 50 years ago. Initially, it was not a hit, but with the help of word of mouth, it became a huge success and a cult classic. The Most Watched Film is… One will be shocked to know that this film sold over 25 crore tickets. If you are wondering which film we are talking about, it is none other than the cult classic Sholay. Released in 1975, Sholay featured veteran actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, and Amjad Khan in lead roles. With such a stellar cast, makers and fans of the film expected to be a huge hit. However, after the release, it happened just the opposite. Sholay was directed by Ramesh Sippy, and the film wasn't an instant hit. Despite the passage of time, every scene, dialogue, song, and character from the film continues to live in the hearts of audiences. Sholay Broke All Records Interestingly, Amitabh Bachchan's film went on to run in theatres for a massive six years and even sold 15 crore tickets in India. Furthermore, 3 crore tickets were sold when the movie was re-released. Coming to the global front, the movie received rave reviews from countries like Russia, where it sold 6 crore tickets. Sholay's popularity even reached parts of Europe, North America, and the Middle East, bringing its total ticket sales to a staggering 25 crore worldwide. Despite being released 50 years ago, the movie still remains in the audience's hearts, and some of its songs and dialogues have become evergreen!
