Exploring Juhu with Randeep Hooda

Vi segnalo il delizioso video Exploring Juhu with Randeep Hooda, episodio della serie Tere Gully Mein diffusa da Curly Tales (salivazione in atto, in ogni senso).

Extraction: locandina e trailer

A partire dal prossimo 24 aprile Netflix proporrà il film d'azione Extraction, con Chris Hemsworth. Nel cast anche Randeep Hooda e Pankaj Tripathi. La versione italiana si intitola Tyler Rake. Trailer in italiano.

Le prime del 30 ottobre 2015: Main Aur Charles

Questo sì che è uno di quei ruoli per cui qualunque attore farebbe carte false. Avete letto la biografia in Wikipedia del serial killer di origini indiane Charles Sobhraj? Un noir da brivido, con tutte le carte in regola per suscitare l'interesse di romanzieri e sceneggiatori: alta società, glamour, località esotiche, donne avvenenti, gioielli preziosi, truffe, rocambolesche evasioni e brutali omicidi. E quale attore indiano potrebbe interpretare in un film un personaggio così fascinoso, carismatico e demoniaco? Facile: il conturbante Randeep Hooda. Ci ha pensato anche Prawaal Raman, il regista dell'acclamato thriller 404 del 2011. Il suo Main Aur Charles potrebbe essere la pellicola rivelazione dell'anno, considerando anche che il main (io in hindi - aur significa e) del titolo è l'ottimo Adil Hussain, nel ruolo di Amod Kanth, l'investigatore che si occupò del caso (nonché delle indagini sull'assassinio di Rajiv Gandhi e di Jessica Lal - ricordate il film No one killed Jessica?). Un'accoppiata davvero stellare. Trailer. La colonna sonora non è niente male. Ne sono prova i brani Neeli Bullet, Jab Chaye Mera Jadoo (quest'ultimo è una moderna versione di Jab Chaye Mera Jadoo, di Rajesh Roshan - zio di Hrithik Roshan -, tratto da Lootmaar, pellicola del 1980 diretta e interpretata da Dev Anand), Ya Rabba e Woh Tho Yahin Hai Lekin. Ne approfitto per offrirvi di seguito una serie di video, interviste, locandine e fotografie.

- Video: chat organizzata dal fascinoso Randeep Hooda nel suo profilo Facebook il 23 settembre 2015 (al minuto 10.50 l'attore parla di Roma - grazie a Monica per il link). Sopravvissute? A fatica, lo so.

- Video Bollywood Hungama: intervista congiunta concessa da Randeep e da Richa Chadha, 20 ottobre 2015

- Video: trasformazione di Hooda in Charles, 27 ottobre 2015

- Video India Today: partecipazione di Randeep al Mind Rocks Youth Summit 2015, 31 ottobre 2015

- Reel Charles Sobhraj - Randeep Hooda meets the real Charles in Kathmandu jail, Priya Gupta, The Times of India, 27 ottobre 2015. L'articolo contiene le controverse dichiarazioni rilasciate dall'attore all'indomani del suo incontro, in una prigione nepalese, con il vero Charles (Hooda, comunque, aveva incontrato anche il vero Kanth):

'Talk about the details of your meeting?

I had gone dressed looking myself and not dressed as Charles, so when he saw me he could not recognise till I told him, 'I am the guy who plays Charles.' He looked at me with a long silence and then gave me a thumbs up. I had heard from our sources that he had seen the trailer of our film on his TV there and had liked it. We wanted to present him the poster of the movie. But he had not only already seen the poster, but had already put it up on the wall of the jail. (...) He told us how seeing the trailer, he felt that the film was a great quality product and seeing it, he felt nostalgic about his young life. He told us how it needed guts for producers to make a film like this and he applauded Prawaal Raman for capturing it right. He was specially very high on the fact that I could portray him so correctly. He asked me, 'Where did you get my speech and mannerisms?' I said, 'Out of your available footage.' He said, 'Spot on.' (...) He requested for a screening of the movie after it releases not only for himself, but also for all his 3,000 inmates. He asked me whether it would be possible. I said, 'Yes. We will need to take permission but we will try our best.' (...)

How do you feel having met him?

I am so happy meeting him. It was such a surreal experience for me. He was everything larger than life that I had expected him to be. He was surrounded by security and a lot of his young boys that he pampers and he was all like enthusiastic about meeting us. I thought he was so full of life, almost virile. He is still such a handsome man. Even at the age of 72, he has his aura fully intact.

Has he sent any message?

He sent his salaam to Amod Kanth. He complimented us for choosing to portray this part of his life, which he said was very interesting. He also said that once he was out of jail, he would like to meet Prawaal and me to share more interesting stories about his life, which could mean more sequels to his story'.

- Adil Hussain: Charles Sobhraj like Hitler believed that what he did was correct, Priya Gupta, Bombay Times, 30 ottobre 2015:

'Talk about your journey of becoming an actor?

I come from a town of Assam called Goalpara. (...) I started acting (both in English and Assamese) from when I was seven and would participate in my school plays every year. It was when I was in Class VIII that I decided that I wanted to be an actor. (...) The most important part of acting for me was how I enjoyed acting. My father was a headmaster of a high secondary school and could not afford to pay for my learning to act. But then, I came to know about NSD [National School of Drama], possibly the only institution in the world that pays you to learn. (...) I was already doing regional television and films at the age of 17, post which I joined NSD. Post NSD, I got a scholarship to learn acting in England, post which I returned to India to train again for nine years before I did my first play In Othello. (...) The play was made into a film that was just released in Europe for the festivals. I then got my first big Hindi break in (...) Ishqiya. (...)

I think 1998 was both my lowest or you could say, my highest period. I met and fell in love with this woman in Amsterdam while I was studying there, who was half Dutch and half Indian. I was planning to move to India to train in acting with my teacher in a place that did not have electricity or running water. I knew it would be difficult for her to stay with me in such conditions but she insisted and we moved to India. She brought out the worst in me and while till then I had been this nice, friendly and helpful guy who never shouted at anybody ever, I got introduced and exposed to my other side, the mad, angry side. And while I am grateful to her for showing me that side of me that nobody likes of themselves, I went through an emotional turmoil to the point of almost losing my mind. (...)

Your wife Kristen too is half Indian. What makes you fall in love with half Indians?

Yes, my wife Kristen is half Jain and half American. I realised much later that I am a mixed Indian myself as my maternal grandfather was from Iraq and maternal grandmother, a mix of Assamese, English and Italian so may be somewhere that explains my attraction to women who were half Indians. (...)

Do you have friends in the film industry? (...)

Randeep Hooda is a friend who would stand by me. He is very honest and upfront and says what he feels within. He is not like me and would not care what people would think about it. That's an important quality as an actor, as a good actor is about being clean. He's a very good and sensitive actor. (...)

What made you play the role of Amod Kanth in Main Aur Charles? (...)

I have met Amod Kanth in real life and I love the conviction he has to do whatever he does. He is the most honest man I have ever met. (...) I love Amod Kanth's integrity, his conviction, his responsibility to society that is so inspiring and rare these days'.

#WorthDyingFor #MainAurCharles 

Vedi anche River to River Florence Indian Film Festival 2015, 9 novembre 2015.

Charles Sobhraj

Randeep e Salman Khan nel programma Bigg Boss

Evento promozionale a Kolkata

Evento promozionale a Delhi

Randeep e Prawaal Raman

Evento promozionale a Kolkata

Evento promozionale a Jaipur

Randeep e Richa: intervista Bollywood Hungama

Randeep, Adil e Prawaal Raman

Presentazione trailer

Randeep Hooda: I'm in touch with my exes

[Archivio] 

Com'è come non è, mi ero dimenticata di segnalarvi questa bella intervista (non lasciatevi ingannare dal titolo zuccheroso) concessa dal tenebroso Randeep Hooda ad Ashwini Deshmukh, pubblicata l'11 dicembre 2013 da Filmfare. I’m in touch with my exes:

'He’s the quintessential alpha male and he lets everyone know it. Best part is Randeep Hooda’s tongue-in-cheek humour and no-mincing-words attitude add an edge to his sex appeal. But the capricious actor is a transformed man today. The somewhat difficult nature is now replaced with a more accommodating attitude. Clearly, he’s a man amongst the boys who has seen much more than the fanfare of tinsel town. And just as casually he recalls those drunken nights when he’d get thrown out of house parties. But he’s moved on. To a career that’s alive and kicking. (...) 

Once the poster boy for middle-of-the-road cinema, Randeep now has a place on the rosters of A-list production houses. Banners like Dharma Productions and directors like Imtiaz Ali have placed their faith in the intense actor. “It’s flattering. I consider myself lucky. Not too many people have an outing and then a second outing,” he says of his earlier not-so-eventful stint in films. (...) “I don’t know if I’m a brand yet but I’m getting interesting work out of my comfort zone and that keeps me on my toes. I’m also putting in more effort. I’ve found a way to communicate with myself, thinking about pros and cons, rather than just being moody.” In a confessional mode he says, “I believed I was the centre of the Universe. I was young and brash. Not being from a film family, I did not follow the ‘pairi-pona’ (touching the feet of elders) tradition. I realised that people in the industry are too sensitive and their egos are fragile. All creative people are like that. I was like ‘I’m doing my thing and I am right’. But I realised everyone needs encouragement and respect. So it’s dangerous to be yourself - a brash Jatt,” he smiles adding, “In that way you end up bruising a few egos. I’m not going to make those mistakes again.” It must be mentioned that while his acting skills were never questioned his allegedly brash behaviour and people skills were. “You cannot blame your circumstances because they are somewhere created by your own actions. I blame myself for the bad spell. Also, maybe the timing wasn’t right. But now an actor like me is getting work because of the kind of films being made. Cinema is evolving, so I’m evolving as an actor.”

Also success has triggered a change in him. “I started saying ‘yes’ more than ‘no’. I started trusting people. I’m seeking work rather than being idealistic because unless you reach somewhere, you can’t be idealistic. Beggars can’t be choosers.” Earlier he’d say no to movies for ‘stupid reasons and whims’. “The whole thing about ‘I’m going to do only one movie at a time’ works for stars like Aamir Khan. I couldn’t afford that liberty. Today I’m doing double shifts, small roles, big roles, extreme roles... Basically, I’ve become more professional. I work a lot more, so you see more of me. I’m grateful to what you call ‘fate’. People are knocking at my door now to do their movies as opposed to when I was a nobody. When I step out people treat me with a newfound respect. I even enjoy some privileges here and there,” he smiles.

Bagging a film with Imtiaz Ali sure is a huge achievement. But Randeep thought someone was playing a prank when Imtiaz’s team called him up regarding the project. But eventually the actor did meet the director. “He’s a lovely guy. I’m glad that the ‘Randeep Hooda image’ will be broken. I’m playing a physically and mentally ugly character. So I’m pushing the envelope. It was stepping out of a certain quintessential, mature ‘deep voiced Hooda’ that people had started liking. I did that on purpose.”

He’s also kicked up about working with Salman Khan in the mega project Kick, which he says just ‘fell into his lap’. “I’ve always been inspired by Salman. He’s a real superstar. He doesn’t give a damn about anything. He is what he is, which is difficult to be. I consider him as a friend though we haven’t been in touch for long,” he smiles. Doesn’t he have a problem playing second fiddle to another actor, more so now? “To Salman Khan? Everyone should play second fiddle to him,” he grins.

He was always referred to as a sex symbol but with his homosexual character in Karan Johar’s short film in Bombay Talkies, he’s added an edge to his sensuality. About his lip lock with co-star Saqib Saleem he says, “I guess Saqib was a bit nervous. But when it happened, it just happened. I did not feel uncomfortable at all.” And no, his homosexual act has not made a dent in his female following. “In fact, women have started liking me more. Some even said, ‘You look hot in the movie’,” he says. His well-wishers dissuaded him from playing a gay character but Karan Johar’s conviction made him go ahead. “Karan delivered what was promised and it was not cheap or trivial. It was a deep character. I deliberately played a mature character, someone who has lived his life but there’s pent-up frustration and questions about his sexual orientation.”

Can we safely assume that he’s become the thinking woman’s sex symbol then? “Usually, the thinking woman’s sex symbol is one who’s not so good-looking. But I’d like to be pompous and say that I’m not that bad looking!” he laughs adding, “Actually, for me there’s no distinction between thinking and non-thinking women.” He goes on to add that all the attention has not affected him. “I make it a point to be oblivious to it. That’s the only way to deal with it. Because you’re the same person, just that the people around you change. I don’t get swayed by all this.” He attributes this level-headedness to his past experiences. That’s also got to do with the anonymity and failure he has faced. “I know what the ‘Almost famous syndrome’ is. It’s important to be human and not think that we are God’s gift to mankind... or womankind for that matter,” he grimaces adding, “That’s why I love horses and riding because they don’t know whether my movie is a hit or whether people are talking good or bad about me. They love me regardless.”

His busy schedules and travel leave him without any time for friends or loved ones. “I don’t intend to neglect people but they feel I do. I make an effort to make a phone call or meet them. I was never regular at parties. But when I do attend, I feel nice when people talk to me and compliment me. But you have to keep reminding yourself that, ‘Hey, they are saying all these things because of your work. So go back and work harder.” His career may have taken off but his lifestyle hasn’t. With the exception of a luxury car that he bought for his father, life hasn’t changed much. “My dad had liked this particular car with particular interiors, so when I got money that’s the first thing I bought. Though I now have a big house, I still enjoy sleeping in one corner. I’m not even particular about fancy clothes or eating out,” he says. “It’s hard not to get used to luxuries. But I indulge in what I love. Like I bought this polo team, which I’m going to take forward in a big way. I’m also thinking of buying horses from Germany or England for my show jumping. I’m already buying polo ponies from England.”

His relationship status as of now is ‘single’ courtesy his hectic schedules. “Everything is in a limbo for now because I’m so engrossed with my work.” He adds with a smile, “I’m sure you journalists hear this all the time!” Then on a serious note he explains, “It’s not good to be in a relationship if you can’t contribute. Being just a taker can never work out. Unless I have the time and mental space to enjoy togetherness, I don’t want to be in a relationship. I’ve had some wonderful people in my life. And I’m trying to keep that equation healthy. But I’m not in the frame of mind to have a spouse right now. I am honest about it.” The last time we met, things were different. He was keen on settling down. Remind him and he says, “Yes. I felt that way then and it was wonderful. But then due to work and erratic schedules my personal life took a beating. Sooner or later, someone will fit in. Even if someone doesn’t I won’t regret it. In that sense I’m quite detached.” He chooses not to speak about the much reported relationship with actress Nitu Chandra or anyone else due to the respect he accords to all his relationships. Ask him if he’s in touch with any of his previous girlfriends and it doesn’t take him a second to answer, “All of them. Because my biggest asset is that I am honest. Though it’s hard to be honest in a relationship!”.'  

Highway : Recensione

[Blog] Recensione di Highway (2014), nuovo lavoro di Imtiaz Ali. Con Alia Bhatt e Randeep Hooda. Colonna sonora di A.R. Rahman.

Randeep Hooda: I did not talk to Alia for the longest time

Ammettiamolo: è sempre un grande piacere ascoltare il suo timbro di voce e soprattutto ammirarlo in azione. Randeep Hooda forse non riuscirà a costruirsi una carriera sfolgorante come quella dei vari Khan, Kapoor o Kumar, ma la nicchia che si è ritagliato diventa ogni giorno più ampia, e lo stuolo delle sue fan ogni giorno più consistente. Come si può ignorare un uomo così? Perciò ecco qui, for your eyes only, il video del quarto episodio di Freaky Fridays dedicato a Randeep. E se non vi basta, segnalo anche l'intervista concessa dall'attore a Patcy N., pubblicata da Rediff il 21 febbraio 2014. I did not talk to Alia for the longest time: 

'You are quite a traveller and have travelled a lot for Highway.

I haven’t travelled extensively. For Highway, I travelled 2,500 kilometres by road. The experience was good. Every morning we would get up and travel to a new destination. The scenery was new, the clothing was different, the food was different, the feeling was different, and people were different in each place. When you travel by road, the etiquette of travel changes from state to state. Like people in Haryana and Punjab are very aggressive, people in Rajasthan are welcoming; people in Himachal Pradesh are so adjusting that they will wait for you to cross. I fell sick when I was in Himachal after I ate lots of pine nuts. A leader from Himachal came to meet us and she garlanded us with a pine-nut garland. I had not had lunch so I started eating it. I overate and was badly sick. I got altitude sickness too. Apart from that, the whole trip was well managed. (...) The stay and food arrangements were really good at all the places. Imtiaz himself is a foodie. He loves his food and still manages to stay so thin. Sometimes I would think that he selected a location to shoot because they served the food he likes (laughs).

Have you seen the telefilm on which the film is based?

I didn’t even know about it till much later, after the movie was shot. But I did get to see the picture of the two actors in the truck. The picture did not look the way the movie is. I didn’t think the male character in the picture looked anything like me, or what I played.

How different is your character from Alia’s?

When I read the script, I thought it was a requirement of the script that the two characters look poles apart. Alia and I both have a metropolitan upbringing. There is also a huge age gap. I think she is intellectually and emotionally more mature than me. It was very challenging to get the right look of the character that I play. I slept in the sun a lot to get the weather-beaten, leathery skin. I grew my moustache and beard, I stopped washing and combing my hair and applying any cream. I learnt the dialect of the Gujjar community, so when I speak it doesn’t sound like Hindi. I changed my voice a bit. When you see both the characters you should feel that they have nothing in common. That difference is very necessary for the script. India has two societies - of haves and have-nots. They are very different in every aspect - the way they deal with emotions is not the same. We have tried to get both these societies into Highway. Part of the film is about these two different classes of people, how they learn something from each other and get influenced by each other.

Alia Bhatt said you were a bit hard on her on the sets...

I did not talk to Alia for the longest time because in the film I don’t talk to her character and I am not very kind to her. I did not speak to her for 20-25 days. It’s only when we start interacting in the movie that I went and spoke to her. I did that because of two things: I was really trying to work on my character, and I wanted her to see me as Mahavir Bhatti (the character he plays in Highway) and not as Randeep Hooda.

What were your creative inputs in the film?

Every good director, when he casts an actor, writes the script or changes the script according to the actor. I am sure Imtiaz also did that. My character was well written. I didn’t improvise much. For all my movies I work on my character thoroughly, though sometimes I don’t get the script and sometimes I get the dialogues only on the sets. (...)

How come you are not typecast?

I don’t do conventional things like dancing and all. I pick things that are different and say no to scripts that are similar even if it’s for a big production house. It is important to keep filmmakers interested in you so they can offer you everything and anything. We actors are not given work on the basis of an audience poll; the filmmaker will cast you after seeing and liking your work. It is essential to do different kinds of films. There was a time in the past when I had no work. That time also I did not lose myself as an actor. (...)

Is your Polo team still functional? 

No, not yet. It is turning out to be far more expensive than I thought it would be. I have to do many more movies and still live in a rented house (to afford a functional polo team), which is not glamorous. But I have many horses. I cannot resist the temptation to buy a horse, that's where all my money goes'.

Vedi anche Berlin International Film Festival 2014

Berlin International Film Festival 2014

Da destra: Imtiaz Ali, Alia Bhatt e Randeep Hooda

Il Berlin International Film Festival 2014 si è svolto dal 6 al 16 febbraio. Come da tradizione, molti i titoli indiani in cartellone, fra i quali segnalo:

* Killa, di Avinash Arun, in lingua marathi, vincitore dell'Orso di cristallo per il miglior film nella sezione Generation Kplus;

* Papilio Buddha, sezione Panorama, di Jayan Cherian, in lingua malayalam. Trailer. PB tratta il controverso tema delle discriminazioni e violenze di cui sono vittime gli intoccabili e le donne, e la sceneggiatura si ispira a fatti realmente accaduti. PB ha subito clamorose pressioni da parte della censura indiana. Il regista ha respinto quasi tutte le richieste avanzate dall'organo governativo di censura, e la proiezione della pellicola è stata negata persino nei festival cinematografici. Nel marzo 2013 aveva però beneficiato di una magra distribuzione in alcune selezionate sale in Kerala;

* Highway, sezione Panorama Special, di Imtiaz Ali, con Randeep Hooda e Alia Bhatt, colonna sonora di A.R. Rahman. L'area del sito della Berlinale dedicata a Highway offre il video della conferenza stampa, nonché alcune succose fotografie. E quando si tratta del fascinoso Randeep Hooda c'è da lustrarsi gli occhi.

Vedi anche Randeep Hooda: I did not talk to Alia for the longest time, 9 marzo 2014

 

Randeep Hooda (ritratto ufficiale)

 

Da destra: I. Ali, A.R. Rahman, A. Bhatt e R. Hooda

 

Murder 3 : Recensione

[Blog] Recensione di Murder 3, thriller diretto da Vishesh Bhatt con Randeep Hooda, Aditi Rao Hydari e Sara Loren.

Le prime del 3 maggio 2013: Bombay Talkies

Il 3 maggio 2013 il cinema indiano festeggia i suoi primi 100 anni di vita. Per l'occasione, viene distribuito nelle sale Bombay Talkies, film suddiviso in quattro parti, ciascuna delle quali diretta da un regista diverso: Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee e Zoya Akhtar. Il cast è di tutto rispetto: Rani Mukherjee, Randeep Hooda, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vineet Kumar Singh, Ranvir Shorey. Ranbir Kapoor presta la voce narrante. La pellicola è stata proiettata in prima mondiale il 28 aprile a Delhi in occasione del Centenary Film Festival, e verrà presentata a Cannes, fuori concorso,  nell'evento Séance de gala en l'honneur de l'Inde. La colonna sonora è composta dal talentuoso Amit Trivedi. Vi propongo i video dei brani Bachchan, Akkad Bakkad, nonché il sensazionale Apna Bombay Talkies, che riunisce un nugolo di star (clicca qui). Trailer. 

Vedi anche:

- Festival di Cannes 2013

- Bombay Talkies: recensioni, 4 maggio 2013

Jism 2 - Recensione

[Blog] L'impertinente Gilda si lancia in una recensione scherzosa del film pseudo - erotico Jism 2. Sunny Leone non le sta simpatica affatto... vogliate perdonarla.

Randeep Hooda: I'm very secure with the man in me

In un mondo di eterni adolescenti, un *Uomo* è un esemplare raro, e merita dunque tutta la nostra attenzione. Randeep Hooda atterra schiere di ammiratrici con il suo sensualissimo timbro di voce, il sorriso letale, lo sguardo tenebroso, e con tutto il resto. Sarà la primavera o chissà cos'altro, ma il gorgoglio ormonale di fondo scatenato dall'attore stenta a spegnersi. L'intervista concessa da Randeep a Madhureeta Mukherjee, pubblicata oggi da The Times of India, certo non aiuta: I'm very secure with the man in me. Di seguito un estratto:

'Recently you said, “Every dog has its day!” Ready to bite, Randeep? 

I’ve had my share of struggle. I believe, never take success to your head or failure to your heart. All actors go through five stages - 1) Who is Randeep Hooda? 2) Get me Randeep Hooda. 3) Get me a Randeep Hooda type. 4) Get me a younger Randeep Hooda, and 5) Who is Randeep Hooda? So you know which stage I’ve to be in for the longest time to survive. (...)

What about your former mentor Ram Gopal Varma? He still says you’re a great actor. 

Sadly, it didn’t work out with him. RGV’s approach to cinema doesn’t agree with me anymore.

So far, Sunny Leone has been grabbing more eyeballs than you in Jism 2. 

True, but I’ve never seen her movies or videos. When people ask me too much about Sunny, I just tell them she’s not the only (s)expert. Haha!

You’re playing second fiddle to actresses in films like Heroine and Jism 2. Isn’t your machismo taking a hit? 

No it’s not, because I’m very secure with the man in me.

In an industry full of Khans, Kumars and Kapoors, did you ever feel like an outsider? 

It was undoubtedly hard for me; some actors get a platform because of their filmi families. Even the media shows interest in certain actors despite their failures. But after some years, it becomes a level playing field. Some of the biggest actors today haven’t come from filmi families.

This year, you’re sharing screen space with Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor and Sunny Leone. Lucky guy! 

It’s too bad I’m not a flirt. When I’m on the sets, I’m too busy working on my scenes to look at the ladies'.