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Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Vivek Agnihotri slams John Abraham for ‘mediocre acting' in Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal: He couldn't say 5 lines of dialogue
Bollywood filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri once again talked about the problems he faced while making the 2007 film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. In an interview with Dainik Bhaskar, the filmmaker recalled how John Abraham came on board due to Anurag Kashyap and took a dig at his acting skills, calling it "mediocre". (Also Read: Vivek Agnihotri says Bollywood is in shambles: 'There's a mad rush to release old films') Vivek Agnihotri takes a dig at John Abraham's acting skills. Vivek Agnihotri recently spoke about the behind-the-scenes events during the making of the film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. He revealed that when he was working on the film, the production house UTV didn't consider him a capable writer. According to him, UTV was fascinated by the idea of working with Anurag Kashyap, even though the film's subject did not align with him. Citing industry chatter, Vivek dismissed Anurag's claim that he wasn't even taken along for the film's London schedule, stating that John had come on board primarily because of Anurag. Vivek said that Goal was still a good film for its time, with the film's songs becoming chartbusters. He added, "But there were many problems during that time. In the middle of it all, Bipasha Basu and John Abraham broke up during the making of the film. When you're in love, you have to deal with one set of issues, and after a breakup, a whole new set of problems arises. So, it became very difficult for me to manage everything. Even though I was the director of the film, the entire system was functioning based on the intelligence of a very mediocre actor." Vivek criticises John Abraham, praises Anurag Kashyap Vivek criticised John for his "mediocre acting" and said, "Everyone was like, 'Let's take John, he is a footballer. That's how he became a part of the film. But you tell me, if it's a film about football, what should an actor do? We called a premium league coach to train Arshad Warsi, Raj Joshi, and they all put their soul in preparing, but in all of John's scenes, we had to shoot his face and feet separately. And Arshad had given his all for that film. He questioned me on things, he didn't tell me, 'reduce my dialogues' Why? Because you can't say them at once? You can't say five lines of dialogues in rhythm at once. This is your problem. Then why should these actor be given so much money?" About Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal is a 2007 Indian sports drama film directed by Vivek Agnihotri. Set in the UK, the film revolves around a struggling South Asian football club, Southall United, and their journey to regain lost glory. Featuring an ensemble cast including John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, and Bipasha Basu, the story explores themes of identity, racism, and community spirit through the lens of football. Meanwhile, Vivek is now awaiting the release of his upcoming directorial, titled The Bengal Files: Right to Life. It is believed that Vivek's film will delve into the politics of 1940s in Bengal. The film stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, and Govind Namdev, among others, in key roles and is scheduled to release in theatres on 5 September 2025.
Mint
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Meet Bollywood's only billionaire with net worth of $1.5 billion who is richer than Shah Rukh, Salman, Aamir Khan
Bollywood may be ruled by superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and other big names. However, when it comes to wealth, one name towers above them all—and surprisingly, it's not even an actor. With a staggering net worth of $1.5 billion, this powerhouse of the Hindi film industry has quietly outpaced iconic figures like Amitabh Bachchan, Gulshan Kumar, Aditya Chopra, and more. According to the 2025 edition of the Forbes Billionaire List, Ronnie Screwvala is not only the richest man in Bollywood but also the only billionaire from the industry. The list featured 3,028 dollar billionaires worldwide, including 205 from India. Among them, Ronnie was the sole name from Bollywood to earn a spot on the prestigious list. With an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion, Screwvala has surpassed the industry's biggest stars. He beats even the richest actor Shah Rukh Khan (net worth: $770 million), as well as Salman Khan ($390 million) and Aamir Khan ($220 million). In fact, the combined net worth of all three Khans still falls short of Ronnie's fortune. He has also edged out other high-profile industry moguls like Gulshan Kumar (around $900 million) and Aditya Chopra ($800 million), making him wealthier than some of the most influential film families in India. But Ronnie Screwvala's road to success was far from easy. Long before the billion-dollar deals, he used to sell toothbrushes. Born in Bombay in 1956, Screwvala began his entrepreneurial journey in the late 1970s with a modest toothbrush manufacturing business. Everything changed in the early 1980s when colour televisions entered Indian homes during the Asian Games. Seeing a golden opportunity, he became one of the early pioneers of cable television in India's metro cities, which marked his first step into the media and entertainment world. In 1990, he founded UTV, which would go on to become one of India's most influential entertainment companies. Under UTV Motion Pictures, he produced several pathbreaking and successful films such as Swades, Rang De Basanti, Khosla Ka Ghosla, Jodhaa Akbar, Fashion, Delhi Belly, and Barfi!. Beyond films, he also left a lasting mark on Indian television with popular shows like Shanti, Hip Hip Hurray, Shaka Laka Boom Boom, Khichdi, and Shararat—all of which continue to hold nostalgic value for '90s kids. In 2012, Screwvala sold UTV to Disney in a landmark billion-dollar deal and stepped away from the company. After a brief hiatus, he returned in 2017 with RSVP Movies, reigniting his creative journey. Since then, he has backed critically acclaimed films like Kedarnath (starring Sushant Singh Rajput), Uri: The Surgical Strike (Vicky Kaushal), The Sky Is Pink (Priyanka Chopra), and Sam Bahadur (Vicky Kaushal). In 2024, Screwvala made his on-screen debut as one of the sharks on Shark Tank India, sharing his entrepreneurial wisdom with the next generation of innovators. But his empire isn't built on cinema alone. At 68, Ronnie is also a seasoned investor and entrepreneur. He has founded and invested in several successful ventures including ed-tech platform UpGrad, investment firm Unilazer Ventures, and sports enterprise USports. On the work front, his most recent release was Azaad, starring Ajay Devgn and Diana Penty. The film also marked the debut of Ajay's nephew Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani, daughter of Raveena Tandon.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vivek Agnihotri reveals John Abraham and Bipasha Basu's breakup made Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal shoot challenging: '... there were a lot of problems that happened'
Vivek Agnihotri revealed the troubled making of 'Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal,' citing creative clashes with Anurag Kashyap and UTV's team. He highlighted John Abraham's casting due to Kashyap's influence and the challenges of filming football scenes. Agnihotri also criticized the industry's star-driven system and actors' influence on decisions, questioning high fees for limited performance. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has opened up about the behind-the-scenes drama of his 2007 sports drama Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, revealing how a mix of personal conflicts, creative clashes, and casting challenges made the film's journey turbulent. From tensions with Anurag Kashyap to John Abraham and Bipasha Basu 's breakup during the shoot, Vivek didn't hold back as he revisited the hurdles that plagued the project—while also taking pointed digs at the Bollywood system and its over-reliance on star power. When asked by Dainik Bhaskar about what went wrong with Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, Vivek pointed to a lack of clarity around creative roles. He claimed that UTV, the film's producers, didn't fully recognize him as the writer, and that their team seemed more taken with Anurag Kashyap, despite it not being Anurag's project from the start. Vivek also suggested that Anurag was dealing with personal issues at the time and mentioned that writing had been underway in India for over a year before the film was shot in London. The filmmaker explained that John Abraham joined Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal primarily because of Anurag Kashyap, and throughout the project, John only discussed the script with Anurag, not with him. He also said that even UTV executives preferred communicating with Anurag. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo However, Vivek claimed that the writing team failed to deliver, prompting him to bring in someone else to rewrite and properly format the script, which he felt lacked structure. Despite the issues, he emphasized that he still holds respect for both Anurag and Vikramaditya Motwane as writers. He also took a dig at Anurag Kashyap, claiming that one of his biggest issues is that he talks excessively and often says things he doesn't remember later, especially when under the influence. He alleged that Anurag has apologized to him multiple times in the past and suggested that while both of them speak their truths, Anurag tends to retract his words later with an apology. Vivek reflected on Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, noting that although the film was well-received in 2007 and had popular music, it was plagued with challenges. He revealed that John Abraham and Bipasha Basu's breakup during the shoot made things especially tough for him. Without directly naming John, Vivek criticized the film industry's stardom-driven system, implying frustration with actors influencing key decisions despite what he called their limited competence—ranging from marketing to poster placements. The director further shared that John Abraham was cast in Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal largely because of his image as a football enthusiast, which everyone thought made him a natural fit for the role. While Vivek had no objection to John's casting, he noted that during the shoot, actors like Arshad Warsi and Raj Zutshi had visibly improved their football skills thanks to extensive training—something he felt John lacked. As a result, many of John's football scenes had to be filmed by separately capturing his face and feet to make the action look convincing. He also criticized actors who ask for their dialogues to be shortened, questioning why they accept high fees if they can't deliver basic performance requirements like speaking a few lines fluently. He argued that producers should reconsider paying crores to actors who fail to bring real value to a project. Vivek Agnihotri is currently promoting his next film The Bengal Files.
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Vivek Agnihotri SLAMS John Abraham's Acting In Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal: ‘Couldn't Say Five Lines'
Last Updated: Vivek Agnihotri slams John Abraham's performance in Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, claiming he couldn't deliver five lines and criticizing Bollywood's star-driven system. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, known for his fiery opinions and politically charged storytelling, has once again revisited the behind-the-scenes conflict surrounding his 2007 sports drama Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. In a recent interview with Dainik Bhaskar, the director candidly addressed his creative fallout with screenwriter Anurag Kashyap and expressed dissatisfaction with lead actor John Abraham's contribution to the film. Agnihotri's comments offer a window into the complex power dynamics of Bollywood's star-led machinery. The film, which starred John Abraham, Bipasha Basu, Arshad Warsi, and Boman Irani, was produced by UTV and scripted in collaboration with Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. According to Agnihotri, however, the writing process was riddled with confusion and misplaced credit. 'The producers didn't see me as a writer," he said. 'They were more impressed by Anurag. He had personal issues at the time and wasn't fully invested, yet everyone, including John and the UTV executives, would only speak to him." Agnihotri claimed he had to step in during post-production to fix what he described as poorly formatted and incomplete dialogues. 'The writing looked like someone had just scribbled with a pen. It wasn't even structured like a proper script," he said. 'Eventually, I brought someone in to rework it." Though his earlier remarks about Kashyap were more acerbic—he once called him a 'drunkard"—this time, Agnihotri tempered his tone, saying, 'I respect Anurag and Vikramaditya as writers." However, he couldn't resist adding, 'Anurag's problem is that he talks too much. He doesn't realise what he says when he's drunk. He has apologised to me multiple times for things he's said." Agnihotri also touched upon the challenges he faced with leading man John Abraham. While he didn't name the actor directly at first, his comments left little ambiguity. 'There's a systemic issue in Bollywood where the whole ecosystem revolves around the intelligence—or lack thereof—of a mediocre actor. They decide who goes on the poster, how the film is marketed, everything," he said. He revealed that despite being cast as a footballer, John's lack of comfort with the sport created logistical hurdles. 'Arshad Warsi and Raj Zutshi had trained rigorously and picked up the sport well. But with John, we had to shoot his close-ups and footwork separately," Agnihotri explained. He further criticised John's apparent struggle with dialogue delivery. 'If an actor asks for reduced lines because he can't deliver five sentences in rhythm, then why is he being paid crores?" The filmmaker also recalled that during the shoot of Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, John Abraham and then-girlfriend Bipasha Basu went through a breakup, which created an additional emotional burden on the set. 'That became very difficult for me to handle," Agnihotri said. Reflecting on the larger picture, Agnihotri stated that the film, despite its popular soundtrack and initial promise, was plagued by creative compromises and star-led interference. 'The project had potential. But when the focus shifts from the script and storytelling to managing egos and accommodating incompetence, something is lost." Currently, Agnihotri is gearing up for the release of his next film The Bengal Files, a follow-up to his critically debated but commercially successful The Kashmir Files. First Published:
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘John Abraham couldn't say five lines of dialogue,' Vivek Agnihotri on Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal shoot: ‘Everything depends on incompetent, mediocre, actor's intelligence'
Filmmakers Vivek Agnihotri and Anurag Kashyap are on the opposite ends of the political spectrum but there was a time when they worked together in the 2007 film Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, albeit it wasn't pleasant. In an earlier interview, when Vivek accused Anurag of being a 'drunkard' and passing off his work to Vikramaditya Motwane, Anurag retaliated by calling Vivek a 'jhootha aadmi (liar).' Now, Vivek was again asked about the same, and this time, he didn't criticise Anurag much but wondered out loud about Anurag's retaliation. He also implied that John Abraham, who starred in that film could not say longer dialogues at once. He also said in Bollywood, the 'entire ecosystem is dependent on an incompetent, very mediocre, actor's intelligence.' Vivek was asked by Dainik Bhaskar what went wrong with Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal and he said that UTV, the producers of the film, did not think of him as a writer and that the executives at their office were 'fascinated' by Anurag even though 'this wasn't Anurag's subject.' 'Anurag's life had personal issues going on at the time. I read somewhere that he wrote, 'He (Vivek) didn't take us to London, how are we the writers? We were shooting in London. The writing was done here for a year and a half,' he said. Vivek said that this wasn't 'possible' as John became a part of the film solely because of Anurag. 'He would only talk to Anurag about the script, not to me. Even the executives at UTV would speak to him. In the end, they could not deliver. Towards the end, I had to get someone to write everything properly because even the dialogues were not written properly. At least, the script should look like a script, should be in the correct format, and not look like a man has scribbled whatever with his pen,' he said and added that he 'really respects' Anurag and Vikramaditya as writers. ALSO READ | Sitaare Zameen Par movie review: Aamir Khan delivers fully committed performance in heart-winning comedy But, he also mentioned that Anurag's biggest problem is that he talks a lot. 'Anurag ka problem yahi hai ki bak-bak boht karta hai, bakwas boht karta hai. Aur kya bolta hai pee ke use pata hi nahi (Anurag's problem is that he talks nonsense. And he also doesn't realise what he says once he is drunk). He has apologised to me at least 3-4 times. If I say something now, he will apologise to me two days later. He tells the truth and I am telling the truth as well,' he said. Vivek said that while Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal was liked back in 2007, and had hit music, 'there were a lot of problems that happened.' He shared that it was during this film's shoot that John Abraham and Bipasha Basu broke up and that became 'very difficult for me to handle.' Vivek then criticised the system of stardom in the film industry without naming John but heavily implied that he was dissatisfied with his work. 'The entire ecosystem is dependent on an incompetent, very mediocre actor's intelligence. How the marketing should be done, who should be on the poster,' he said. 'Everyone was like, 'Let's take John, he is a footballer. That's how he became a part of the film,' he said and added that he had no problem with John's casting but by the time they shot the film, Vivek observed that actors like Arshad Warsi and Raj Zutshi had become very good at football because of the training they had received, but that wasn't the case for John. 'In all of John's scenes, we had to shoot his face and feet separately,' he said. 'If someone tells me 'reduce my dialogues' Why? Because you can't say them at once? You can't say five lines of dialogues in rhythm at once. This is your problem. Then why are you taking so much money?' he asked and said that producers should wonder why they are paying crores to an actor who is not bring value for the money being spent on him. Vivek Agnihotri is currently promoting his next film The Bengal Files.
