ITV

Tag: Ajay Devgn

  • Learn acting on Tata Sky’s Adda for Rs 59 a month

    MUMBAI: Tata Sky, India’s innovative content distribution platform, HAS announced the launch of its latest interactive service ‘Tata Sky Acting Adda’ powered by FTheCouch (FTC).

    This service priced at Rs 59/- month will be available exclusively to Tata Sky subs on #111 & on Tata Sky Mobile app.

    This revolutionary service will not only offer acting lessons to all the Bollywood dreamers but also offer a platform where they can send auditions and try for their big break from the comfort of their homes. Tata Sky has partnered with FTheCouch (FTC), a Suniel Shetty and Mukesh Chhabra initiative, to create exclusive content with the best acting teachers and to source the best job opportunities across Movies, TV shows, Theatre, Advertising and more.

    Tata Sky Acting Adda had a star-studded launch with National Award winner Ajay Devgn, Bollywood stalwart Suniel Shetty, the leading casting director of Bollywood, Mukesh Chhabra along with Tata Sky’s Chief Commercial Officer, Pallavi Puri, at a press conference in Mumbai. Its tagline ‘Bade Break Ka Bada Manch’ came to life with an engaging live performance depicting the journey of a Bollywood aspirant and culminating with the launch of an ad campaign featuring the legendary superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

    Speaking at the launch, Pallavi Puri, Chief Commercial Officer, Tata Sky, said, “There is a hidden actor in many of us. But, not everyone has the means to hone their talent or the access to find the right opportunities. With Tata Sky Acting Adda, we have tried to bridge this gap. This service will help acting aspirants get a little closer to their dreams of acting on any platform. That too without leaving their homes and landing in Mumbai, the way thousands do today.”

    She further added, “For those not keen on facing the camera, there is a lot of exciting original content to keep them entertained like exclusive star interviews, behind the scenes & more.”

    An exclusive service for Tata Sky subscribers, Tata Sky Acting Adda is the first service on Indian television to offer acting lessons delivered by experts from FTII, NSD, Barry John School of Acting and more. A unique curriculum has been designed for this service where each day, one can learn different aspects of D.R.A.M.A. – Dialogue, Roleplay, Action & Dance, Makeover and Auditions. There’s even special content like acting workshops for kids and short films over the weekend.

    Speaking about his vision, Suniel Shetty says, “The media industry largely depends on new talent, which is the key word to unlock all doors for its growth. Having spent a quarter of a century in front of the camera, I strongly felt the need to streamline the behind-the-scenes processes, to provide new talent, the platform it deserves. Hence Acting Adda, powered by FTC was conceived and curated. To deliver this service, I couldn’t have found a better associate than Tata Sky, with whom we have already successfully partnered, for our ongoing Fitness service. Henceforth those in search of stardom, can start off by just clicking 111, rather than dashing off to Mumbai. From Acting to Auditions, we teach it all.”

    Mukesh Chhabra said, “In my professional capacity as a casting director, having given breaks to Sushant Singh Rajput, Richa Chaddha, Fatima Sheikh, Sanya Malhotra, child artiste Harshali Malhotra, amongst many others, it’s a privileged next stop, for me to be associated with AAA and FTC, two fully integrated digital platforms. They are both bound to expand the base of talent, at a click of a button.”

    The interactive segment of Tata Sky Acting Adda will offer audition details, a fun Bollywood quiz and exciting video based challenges to test acting skills and reward winners with gratification that may just take them one step closer to achieving their dreams of acting.

  • Big stars unaffordable for independent producers

    MUMBAI: Big films are getting scarce with some major studios pulling out from backing productions. Thanks to the corporate houses bankrolling films, the costs have escalated and the stars have become unaffordable for independent producers.

    Besides these factors, a majority of big stars such as Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn, etc. now prefer to work mainly for their home productions or in joint ventures with directors who have successful track record.

    In the circumstances, some independent producers are making a comeback, albeit, with films featuring lesser stars and relying more on different content, a story without props like action and special effects and such.

    Some such films do turn out to be good, win appreciation as well, the two recent examples being Mukti Bhawan and Anaarakli Of Aarah. However, the moviegoer does not find such films viable at the admission high rates that multiplexes charge which are same as big star films.

    *Begum Jaan, the new release of the week, is one such film that tries to tread a different trend, away from what its producers, the Bhatt Brothers, were known to make so far: mostly thrillers, romance laced with titillation backed by strong musical scores.

    Remade in Hindi from the Bengali film Rajkahini (2015), the film lacked purpose. There were major issues, massacres and millions were uprooted from their homes and became refuges during the partition. And as the film’s story goes, here is this woman brothel owner who wants to save her brothel from being dismantled in the cause of creating a border wedge! And, the film also shows some flashbacks of the violence of that happened during the partition!

    Begum Jaan opened to weak response, failed to find appreciation and, yet, thanks to some good promotion and expecting Vidya Balan to come up with another striking performance, it managed to rake in Rs 3.4 crore on the opening day. On Saturday and Sunday, the collections remained almost stagnant as the film collected Rs 10.6 crore for its opening weekend.

    *Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laaddoo Deewana has a disastrous opening week as the film manages to put together a meagre Rs 80 lakh.

    *Mirza Juuliet, an intercommunity romance with politics and violence as the background in UP, fails badly. The film collects about Rs 55 lakh for its first week.

    *Mukti Bhawan enjoys good word but not the moolah and collects just about Rs 50 lakh.

    *Blue Mountain remained very low at about Rs 10 lakh in its first week.

    *Bahubali: The Beginning (Re-run) collected Rs 3.1 crore in one week despite an extensive release.

    *Naam Shabana sustained well in its second week to add approx. Rs 5.6 crore to its first week collections taking its two week tally to Rs 28.1 crore.

    *Phillauri added Rs 40 lakh in its third week to take its three week total to Rs 24.6 crore.

    *Badrinath Ki Dulhania collected Rs 1.1 crore in its fifth week to take its five week total to Rs 114.2 crore.

  • FCB Interface crafts Blazo campaign

    MUMBAI: As a next leg to the campaign launched in 2016, harping on the never-before guarantee: Get more mileage or give the truck back, Mahindra Blazo and Ajay Devgn are continuing the campaign communication in yet another dramatic, hard hitting manner. The campaign has been crafted by FCB Interface with another emphatic communication that underlines the success of Mahindra Blazo and how its mileage has lived up to the company’s promise.

    The campaign is on air across leading television channels, supported by digital presence.

    USP of the campaign/ product: Mahindra Blazo comes with a ‘Get more mileage or give the truck back’ guarantee and not a single truck has come back.

    Film Description: The film opens dramatically with a shot that shows a pair of legs and the shadow they cast on the road. As the legs move, we see two trucks right behind and slowly it is revealed to be Ajay Devgn followed by two Mahindra Blazo trucks. As the film progresses, Ajay presents big facts about the Blazo and its FuelSmart CRDe engine and how it is living up to the guarantee that the company offers: Get more mileage or give the truck back. The biggest proof of performance is that ‘not a single truck has come back’! Delivered by Ajay Devgn in his own inimitable style, the film captures Mahindra’s confidence in its trucks in an emphatic manner.

    Excerpt from spokespersons: Ajay Devgn “Such a guarantee is a very big thing for a brand … and if not a single truck has come back then that says a lot.”

    FCB Interface CEO Joe Thaliath says “Our internal investigation said that the ‘mileage guarantee’ campaign delivered successfully in the market. The challenge was to now step up the game and bring alive the success of Blazo to the customers. The fact that the Blazo is BSIV-ready adds to the opportunity … And yes, Ajay Devgn continues to be our ‘Suthradhar’ as he has proven to be the best fit for the brand.”

    FCB Interface CCO Robby Mathew says “Some months ago, Mahindra made a claim that no other truck company in India would make. This film had but one objective. Tell the world what happened in the marketplace when the customer took Mahindra on their offer ….”

    Mahindra & Mahindra – truck & bus division sr. general manager – marketing Rajeev Malik says, “Our first campaign was a bold step. So we decided to extend the ‘mileage guarantee’ and at the same time bring alive the proof of performance of the FuelSmart-CRDe engine. That’s why our new film highlights the fact that ‘not a single truck was returned’ ….”

  • Actors Apply associates with Vijayta & Lakhia for projects

    MUMBAI: ActorsApply.com is helping cast key characters for Apoorva Lakhia’s next, a romantic-thriller web series to be shot partially in India and London. The online system is also on the lookout for a debutante to star in Vijayta Films’ next, a much-anticipated venture starring Sunny Deol’s son, Karan Deol.

    From helping to find for actors for Ajay Devgn’s ‘Shivaay’ in New York, to helping discover actors for casting director Bharat Jha for ‘Housefull 3’ to further assisting Parag Mehta find talented actors for his biopic venture ‘Sarabjit’ and upcoming Bollywood film. The company has also helped search for talented actors for Dev Patel starrer ‘Hotel Mumbai’, an American-Australian thriller film.

    ActorsApply.com guarantees a seamless and secure screening process for actors as well as casting directors and filmmakers. While the latter have the option to release castings to actors and receive preferential submissions directly from them, actors can use the platform to gain industry insights on casting, auditioning techniques, tutorials and other useful information that can help them kick-start their careers.

    The ActorsApply app is further made available on IOS and Android.

    ActorsApply.com director Kartikaye Jhalani said, “It is an honor to work for the prestigious Vijayta Films as well as to associate with Apoorva Lakhia for his web series venture.”

    About his experience, Ajay Devgn said, “We were searching for a child actor for the character of Gaura for Shivaay and I was amazed at how quickly they turned our enquiry into auditions.”

    Lakhia said, “I cast supporting characters for my upcoming feature with their help and now I am hunting for over 100 characters for my web series ‘Kab Ke Bichde’.”

  • Rama goes unnoticed; ‘Ae Dil…’ made Rs 78 cr, Shivaay Rs 28 cr in first week

    Rama goes unnoticed; ‘Ae Dil…’ made Rs 78 cr, Shivaay Rs 28 cr in first week

    This week had a solo release, Mahayoddha Rama (Animation); the week after Diwali saw two releases, namely, Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. However, the film, lying in cans for eight years now, failed to draw audience. Lacking in publicity and promotion, the film went unnoticed.

    Ae Dil Hai Mushkil had a below par opening and, as the reports that came out from the early audience went against the film, it deteriorated on Saturday and Sunday leading to a weak opening weekend of Rs 35.25 crore. However, after Diwali, the film peaked on Monday almost doubling its opening day figures. The collections remained strong even on Tuesday, being a holiday and a day of family outing. Wednesday onwards, the film found its own level to match its merit as the collections dropped for the film to close its first week with a tally of Rs 78.2crore.

    hivaay, Ajay Devgn’s second attempt at direction with this action adventure, did not generate the expected anxiety and faced a poor opening day response. The collections remained static on the lower side on Saturday and Sunday as the film could put together just Rs 27.8 crore for its first weekend braving dull Diwali days.

    However, the next two days into the new week, the film made the most of two holidays on Monday and Tuesday as the collections on both days took a massive leap. By then, Devgn had also deleted about 10 minutes of length from the film following reports of the 172 minute length affecting collections.

    Collections dropped thereafter on Wednesday and Thursday as the film collected Rs 65.1crore for its first week.

    Minor releases like 31st October (tax free in Punjab), My Father Iqbal, Ek Tera Saath, Gandhigiri rated as total loss projects.

    Motu Patlu (3-D; Animation) added about Rs 10 lakh in its third week to take its three week total to Rs 4.25 crore.

  • Rama goes unnoticed; ‘Ae Dil…’ made Rs 78 cr, Shivaay Rs 28 cr in first week

    Rama goes unnoticed; ‘Ae Dil…’ made Rs 78 cr, Shivaay Rs 28 cr in first week

    This week had a solo release, Mahayoddha Rama (Animation); the week after Diwali saw two releases, namely, Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. However, the film, lying in cans for eight years now, failed to draw audience. Lacking in publicity and promotion, the film went unnoticed.

    Ae Dil Hai Mushkil had a below par opening and, as the reports that came out from the early audience went against the film, it deteriorated on Saturday and Sunday leading to a weak opening weekend of Rs 35.25 crore. However, after Diwali, the film peaked on Monday almost doubling its opening day figures. The collections remained strong even on Tuesday, being a holiday and a day of family outing. Wednesday onwards, the film found its own level to match its merit as the collections dropped for the film to close its first week with a tally of Rs 78.2crore.

    hivaay, Ajay Devgn’s second attempt at direction with this action adventure, did not generate the expected anxiety and faced a poor opening day response. The collections remained static on the lower side on Saturday and Sunday as the film could put together just Rs 27.8 crore for its first weekend braving dull Diwali days.

    However, the next two days into the new week, the film made the most of two holidays on Monday and Tuesday as the collections on both days took a massive leap. By then, Devgn had also deleted about 10 minutes of length from the film following reports of the 172 minute length affecting collections.

    Collections dropped thereafter on Wednesday and Thursday as the film collected Rs 65.1crore for its first week.

    Minor releases like 31st October (tax free in Punjab), My Father Iqbal, Ek Tera Saath, Gandhigiri rated as total loss projects.

    Motu Patlu (3-D; Animation) added about Rs 10 lakh in its third week to take its three week total to Rs 4.25 crore.

  • Good content, not big banners, brings in revenue

    Good content, not big banners, brings in revenue

    MUMBAI: *The Diwali week saw two releases, both from major production houses.

    ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ had Karan Johar directing a home production after Bombay Talkies in 2013. Ajay Devgn, on the other hand, directs his second film, Shivaay, after his directorial debut in 2008 with ‘U Me Aur Hum.’ Starved of footfalls and collections, the exhibition trade held high expectations from both.

    Since the period till the Diwali day is considered dull at the box office, both the films rest their best hopes on Monday and Tuesday (in parts) being holidays.

    *Ae Dil Hai Mushkil met with highly mixed reports. Though a youth-oriented film, it lacked consistency even as Ranbir Kapoor continued to essay the role of a perpetual loser. While the first half was a time pass, the film dipped post interval.

    With an average opening response, with no good word of mouth, the film went on dropping through the weekend to end its opening weekend with figures of Rs 35.25 crore. However, the film emerged with its best figures on Monday, a holiday and added about Rs 16 crore for day four.

    *Shivaay had an indifferent opening response as, somehow, the film could not generate enough curiosity and, hence, draw the audience expected for its opening shows or over its day one. The film failed to generate positive word of mouth and the collections only dipped over next two days making it a very poor opening weekend performance for high budget film.

    With the first weekend of Rs 27.8 crore, however, the film derived some benefit from the Monday holiday adding another over 15 crore. Following reports of the film’s length/duration of 172 minutes affecting the collections, Ajay Devgn has carried out deletion of 10 minutes of running time from the film

    *31st October (tax exempt in Punjab), My Father Iqbal, Ek Tera Saath had a disastrous outcome as they could not collect beyond a few lakh during their first week.

    *Beiiman Love, a Sunny Leone film, collected Rs 5 lakh in its second week taking its two week total to Rs 1.95 crore.

    *Saat Uchakkey collected Rs 35 lakh in its second week to take its two-week tally to Rs 1.95 crore.

    *Motu Patlu: King Of Kings (3-D: animation) sustained reasonably well during the dull pre-Diwali period to add Rs 1.25 crore in its second week taking its two week total to Rs 4.15 crore.

  • Good content, not big banners, brings in revenue

    Good content, not big banners, brings in revenue

    MUMBAI: *The Diwali week saw two releases, both from major production houses.

    ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ had Karan Johar directing a home production after Bombay Talkies in 2013. Ajay Devgn, on the other hand, directs his second film, Shivaay, after his directorial debut in 2008 with ‘U Me Aur Hum.’ Starved of footfalls and collections, the exhibition trade held high expectations from both.

    Since the period till the Diwali day is considered dull at the box office, both the films rest their best hopes on Monday and Tuesday (in parts) being holidays.

    *Ae Dil Hai Mushkil met with highly mixed reports. Though a youth-oriented film, it lacked consistency even as Ranbir Kapoor continued to essay the role of a perpetual loser. While the first half was a time pass, the film dipped post interval.

    With an average opening response, with no good word of mouth, the film went on dropping through the weekend to end its opening weekend with figures of Rs 35.25 crore. However, the film emerged with its best figures on Monday, a holiday and added about Rs 16 crore for day four.

    *Shivaay had an indifferent opening response as, somehow, the film could not generate enough curiosity and, hence, draw the audience expected for its opening shows or over its day one. The film failed to generate positive word of mouth and the collections only dipped over next two days making it a very poor opening weekend performance for high budget film.

    With the first weekend of Rs 27.8 crore, however, the film derived some benefit from the Monday holiday adding another over 15 crore. Following reports of the film’s length/duration of 172 minutes affecting the collections, Ajay Devgn has carried out deletion of 10 minutes of running time from the film

    *31st October (tax exempt in Punjab), My Father Iqbal, Ek Tera Saath had a disastrous outcome as they could not collect beyond a few lakh during their first week.

    *Beiiman Love, a Sunny Leone film, collected Rs 5 lakh in its second week taking its two week total to Rs 1.95 crore.

    *Saat Uchakkey collected Rs 35 lakh in its second week to take its two-week tally to Rs 1.95 crore.

    *Motu Patlu: King Of Kings (3-D: animation) sustained reasonably well during the dull pre-Diwali period to add Rs 1.25 crore in its second week taking its two week total to Rs 4.15 crore.

  • Movies OK brings monsoon blockbuster festivals

    Movies OK brings monsoon blockbuster festivals

    MUMBAI : Monsoons are best spent with loved ones, a hot cup of coffee and your favorite movies on your home screen! This July, Movies OK is all set to make your monsoon a lot more exciting with two fantastic festivals, Kuch Kisse, Kuch Kahaniyan Aur Thodi Baarish and 8 Ka Thaat that promise to leave you enthralled and entertained.

    Kuch Kisse, Kuch Kahaniyan Aur Thodi Baarish, a festival perfect to watch with your loved ones, aims to make your monsoon afternoons magical. The festival will air movies including the superhit Aashiqui, Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan starrer Kal Ho Na Ho, Shahid Kapoor’s debut film Ishq Vishk, the romantic drama Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, Mann, I Hate Love Storys, Dil, Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji and Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye. This wonderful movie bonanza will culminate on 29th July with Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor starrer romcom, 2 States.

    8 Ka Thaat, the prime time action festival, will feature Bollywood’s biggest action heroes that are bound to get your adrenaline racing. Kick starting with Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi starrer Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, the festival will also feature Saif Ali Khan’s Bullet Raja and the dramatic tale of Amitabh Bachchan’s Agneepath amongst a host of others.

  • Movies OK brings monsoon blockbuster festivals

    Movies OK brings monsoon blockbuster festivals

    MUMBAI : Monsoons are best spent with loved ones, a hot cup of coffee and your favorite movies on your home screen! This July, Movies OK is all set to make your monsoon a lot more exciting with two fantastic festivals, Kuch Kisse, Kuch Kahaniyan Aur Thodi Baarish and 8 Ka Thaat that promise to leave you enthralled and entertained.

    Kuch Kisse, Kuch Kahaniyan Aur Thodi Baarish, a festival perfect to watch with your loved ones, aims to make your monsoon afternoons magical. The festival will air movies including the superhit Aashiqui, Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Saif Ali Khan starrer Kal Ho Na Ho, Shahid Kapoor’s debut film Ishq Vishk, the romantic drama Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, Mann, I Hate Love Storys, Dil, Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji and Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye. This wonderful movie bonanza will culminate on 29th July with Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor starrer romcom, 2 States.

    8 Ka Thaat, the prime time action festival, will feature Bollywood’s biggest action heroes that are bound to get your adrenaline racing. Kick starting with Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi starrer Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, the festival will also feature Saif Ali Khan’s Bullet Raja and the dramatic tale of Amitabh Bachchan’s Agneepath amongst a host of others.