'I am still a struggling actor'

we all know that Shahid Kapoor is a terrific dancer but his dance has never been showcased well in the movies. Now, finally, comes a film that will show the world just how good a dancer this former dance teacher at Shaimak Davar's dance classes is.

Shahid plays a struggling actor in Ken Ghosh's Chance Pe Dance. The film co-stars Genelia.

He tells Patcy N how similar the film is to his own life.

What can we expect from Chance Pe Dance?

Chance Pe Dance is a young film. The story is very real. It is about people from a middle class family and their struggle to do something in an entertaining and simple way.

'Anybody who has struggled in life will relate to the film'

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Tell us about your character.

I play a struggling actor. I did not have to look at any other actor to prepare for the role, as I have struggled a lot. In many ways, I am still a struggling actor. I'm still struggling to be better as an actor, and land roles. Ken Ghosh had first rejected me (during Ishq Vishk). Later, he realised his mistake and now, we have worked in three films together.

Will audiences be able to relate to the film?

Anybody who has struggled in life will relate to it. Usually, the common man cannot relate to our films but here, we have tried our best to connect with people who have struggled -- like people who don't have money to pay their rent or electricity bills, people who have second-hand cars but no money for fuel, or people who cannot afford to go to restaurants and have vada pav.

Everyone has to face rejection at some point until you get that first big break. This film is a journey of that struggle before he lands his first break. We have showed this in an entertaining way.

'I have spend one night in a car in real life'

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You spent a night in a car with Genelia, in one of the marketting promotions of the film.

There is a portion in the film where my character Sunil lives in a car, as he does not have money to pay rent.

And this has happened to me in real life. Fortunately, it was just one night.

This idea came from the marketting team of the film. I thought it was a cute idea, so I did it.

'Ken Ghosh's greatest strength is that when he makes a film, it is very real'

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Patcy N in Mumbai

We all know that Shahid Kapoor is a terrific dancer but his dance has never been showcased well in the movies. Now, finally, comes a film that will show the world just how good a dancer this former dance teacher at Shaimak Davar's dance classes is.

Shahid plays a struggling actor in Ken Ghosh's Chance Pe Dance. The film co-stars Genelia.

He tells Patcy N how similar the film is to his own life.

What can we expect from Chance Pe Dance?

Chance Pe Dance is a young film. The story is very real. It is about people from a middle class family and their struggle to do something in an entertaining and simple way.

Image: A scene from Chance Pe Dance

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Tell us about your character.

I play a struggling actor. I did not have to look at any other actor to prepare for the role, as I have struggled a lot. In many ways, I am still a struggling actor. I'm still struggling to be better as an actor, and land roles. Ken Ghosh had first rejected me (during Ishq Vishk). Later, he realised his mistake and now, we have worked in three films together.

Will audiences be able to relate to the film?

Anybody who has struggled in life will relate to it. Usually, the common man cannot relate to our films but here, we have tried our best to connect with people who have struggled -- like people who don't have money to pay their rent or electricity bills, people who have second-hand cars but no money for fuel, or people who cannot afford to go to restaurants and have vada pav.

Everyone has to face rejection at some point until you get that first big break. This film is a journey of that struggle before he lands his first break. We have showed this in an entertaining way.

Image: A scene from Chance Pe Dance

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Even though you play a struggler, you wear designer clothes.

Today's youth -- whether they are rich or poor -- have a sense of style. Ten years ago, when I went to college, I felt that whatever I wore was the coolest outfit. And my budget then was Rs 200. So I don't think money has anything to do with style.

Tell us about your terrific dance moves in the film.

I love dancing. I think it is an expression of happiness, and being high on life.

In this film, we have tried to a new kind of dance called crumping, which is very famous abroad. Film choreographer Marty Kudelka, who has done two songs in the film, brought this dance to India. I have tried my best to do a good job.

Ahmed Khan has choreographed the other songs. He has introduced new dance styles too.

Image: A scene from Chance Pe Dance

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You spent a night in a car with Genelia, in one of the marketting promotions of the film.

There is a portion in the film where my character Sunil lives in a car, as he does not have money to pay rent.

And this has happened to me in real life. Fortunately, it was just one night.

This idea came from the marketting team of the film. I thought it was a cute idea, so I did it.

Image: A scene from Chance Pe Dance

Prev Next

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Why do you think the audience will be attracted to Chance Pe Dance?

I wish I can take my name (laughs) but nothing is sure these days. The film's simplicity should attract people.

Ken Ghosh's greatest strength is that when he makes a film, it is very real. Like when we made our first film Ishq Vishk, we shot it in a real college campus with real students. We spoke dialogues that we would normally use with our friends. Likewise, you can relate with this film too.

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Now Shahid in airport trouble

Shahid Kapoor has become the latest Indian celebrity to get a taste of the racial profiling prevalent at US airports. The Bollywood actor had to wait for one and a half hour at the New York airport while his Man Friday, Mohammad Manjoor Allam (Mamu), was detained by the authorities for having a ‘common name’.
Mamu, who’s been with Shahid ever since the latter was a child, was not comfortable answering the questions in English and Shahid sat with him through the ordeal. His manager Rajnigandha Shekhawat confirmed the incident and said, “Shahid is shooting in US and does not want to talk about it. Mamu was grilled for a long time by the authorities.”
HT City spoke to people for reactions. Singer Shibani Kashyap said, “Even I was harassed at NY airport. The US authorities are paranoid.” Writer Alka Lal said, “One shouldn’t mind getting checked. They are doing it for security. Even David Beckham was recently detained at an airport.”

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Shahid Kapoor: HADIPPA is a complete contrast to KAMINEY

Even though he has worked in films across varied genres, the lover boy image seems to be stuck around Shahid Kapoor, courtesy his recent successes like KISMAT KONNECTION, JAB WE MET and VIVAAH.

"Even when I was on the verge of signing KAMINEY, people discouraged me. Since on paper itself it sounded such a different film, I was advised that I should follow a conventional route and do more love stories. People felt that I was on a wrong path by signing on something experimental when I should have rather consolidated my image as a lover boy. I am glad I took a firm stand though because I sincerely believe that audiences today want a change", explains Shahid.

CHECK OUT: I have to continuously prove myself

He isn't turning his back away from romantic films though.

"They will also continue for sure", he smiles, "Now DIL BOLE HADIPPA is a complete contrast to KAMINEY with a lot of 'bhangra-shangra' and other related stuff. See, at the end of the day, I do want to do different kind of work and find acceptance in all spaces. It's just that I am not willing to restrict myself to a particular genre, especially in the times when change is the order of the day. Thankfully, audiences have become much more receptive to you being seen in a different avatar."

No wonder, in weeks to come, DIL BOLE HADIPPA would be followed by CHANCE PE DANCE.

"It's all fun though crazy situation to be in", says Shahid, "DIL BOLE HADIPPA will release on 18th September and a day after the film's release, I leave for USA. Then soon after I would be back to promote Ken's CHANCE PE DANCE. Meanwhile I am shooting for Parmeet Sethi film with Anushka Sharma. I don't really have time to breathe though honestly, it's a happy problem to be a pa

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Rani Mukherjee will not marry

The stories of her marriage has been doing the rounds for years now but Rani Mukherjee seems to be in no mood to tie the knot as yet. Recently the actress said the there was no marriage on the cards for her and she wasn't even getting engaged. The 31 year old actress took a dig at the media by saying that they have been trying to marry her off since the last three years but haven't been able to fix the day.

Making a strong statement the Bong babe said that she had no plans to marry even in the future. There has been a buzz around the tinsel town that she is involved with Aditya Chopra and has been the reason behind his divorce. Rani has time and again denied these stories and said Aditya Chopra was just her friend and there was nothing between them

Rani is desperate to revive her career with the upcoming movie Dil Bole Hadippa where she stars opposite Shahid Kapoor. It may not surprise many but her last three films Ta Ra Rum Pum , Laaga Chunari Mein Daag and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic have been under the Yash Raj Films banner. Perhaps, Rani only has the answer how does she make to a fourth YRF movie after delivering three duds.

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Bebo was my support system: Shahid

Itna reality check tha mujhe ki she was Raj Kapoor’s grand-daughter, her sister was Karisma Kapoor

. I had danced behind Karisma in Dil to Pagal hai. I knew ki yeh tho issue hone wala hai ... mujhe itni akal thi.”

Tere Mere Beach Mein host Farah asked if there were pressures on the relationship after his films flopped, “Lekin har flop ke baad, aur usmein kuch problem hiu ... ”

Shahid interrupted, “She had become my support system, yaar. I think emotionally she had become my support system to aisa koi chance nahin tha ... yeh life mein real cheezein toh relationships hi hoti hain, success failure sab kab aata hai, kab jaata hai pata bhi nahin chalta hai. Relationships aisi cheez hai, they stand by you with time so you have to give priority to your relationship.”

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Post Kareena, Shahid has earned the playboy image

After his relationship with Kareena Kapoor ended, Shahid Kapoor has earned himself a playboy image. He’s been linked with almost every heroine that he works with, including Vidya Balan, Amrita Rao, Priyanka Chopra and even Sania Mirza.

Recently at a press conference, the press went on with their usual questions about the numerous linkups. Shahid joked that since he had been supposedly serial-dating for the last three years, he was now an expert on all things romantic and hence was soon going to write a book and reveal all.

Shahid went home giggling about his joke but the comment reached some publishers who got in touch with his publicist, asking for the rights of this book.

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Rani faces the heat of the Sikhs

After Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, it is now Rani Mukherjee who is facing the heat of the Sikhs for donning imperfect turban in Yash Raj ‘Dil Bole Hadippa’. The Sikhs are annoyed with Rani's character in the film donning a patka instead of a pagdi, "Since she plays an adult Sikh who should ideally wear a turban". They are also raising objection for the use of a patka sign in place of a dot on letter 'I' in the title ‘Hadippa’.

Board chief Charan Singh Sapra met with the producer of the film Yash Chopra to discuss the issue. When contacted, Yash Raj Films' spokesperson said, "All concerns have been suitably addressed to the Board's satisfaction and as assured, necessary action will be taken.” Sikh community are miffed with repeated mistakes made by the Bollywood.

In the film, Rani is playing a Sikh muda opposite Shahid Kapu

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Kaminey | Good, bad and the sexy

Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey has been the most anticipated film of this year. And justifiably so. His earlier works are products of a ripe, evolved imagination—one that gives flight to the ugly, and revels in it. In his two most successful films—Maqbool and Omkara—lurks a thick texture of rot and violence. It is in the air that the bad, foul-mouthed goons and gangsters inhabit. It’s in the milieu, the story, the climate and the temper.

Kaminey is no different, although alongside the evil, there’s its equally riveting—and flawed—flipside, the good. The bad and good are intertwined by blood, hate and circumstances in this multi-plot story—a narrative circle of interconnecting, time-jumping episodes that involve gangsters, druglords, their flunkies and some ordinary people. As in all his films, Bhardwaj blurs the boundaries of morality.

Suffice it to say, it is indeed the year’s best film so far.It is everything you expected it to be: brutal, sexy, and not pretty. The song Dhan ta nan, which pulled off the film’s promotion, is, in fact, not one of the film’s best things. There’s much more happening here.

The story has too many strands for me to outline here. Essentially, it’s about Charlie and Guddu, twins separated after their father died a sudden, tragic death. They are each other’s diametric opposites: Guddu (Shahid Kapur) is an NGO worker who lives in a concrete Mumbai chawl; he stammers. He has planned his life: success in 2009, marriage in 2014, children in 2016, towards which he is earnestly working. Guddu is in love with Sweety (Priyanka Chopra), a feisty Maharashtrian girl, the sister of a gangster, Bhope (Amole Gupte). Charlie on the other hand, is only after money. He hedges bets in horse races and has no qualms about killing someone for a lakh of rupees. Fearless and gleefully self-destructive, he dreams of owning his own betting booth one day. Guddu and Charlie don’t see eye to eye.

These three characters are the story’s centre, but much of what makes Kaminey so engaging are the other characters propelling the story.

Bhardwaj uses the entire first half of the film in establishing the characters, but there’s hardly a dull moment because the scenes are bolstered by superb dialogues (written by Bhardwaj himself) and a humour that has his roots as much in the situations and the characters, as in the city in which the characters live. Gritty Mumbai, by the gutters, and in luxury hotel suites, gets its due. The entire film is visually enticing, filmed by Tassdduq Husain, who also shot Omkara.

You watch one potent scene after another, and then get to the climax. Kaminey has this effect: it psychs you up to accept everything it shows you. After I walked out of the theatre, I took time to absorb all that had happened. Which is not to say that the story is so intricately layered with meanings. It’s not. Kaminey is meant to be a thrilling ride; it is a smart and stylish potboiler.

Its calculated grunginess somewhat works against it. The cleverness of the writers (four people get credit: Vishal Bhardwaj, Abhishek Chaubey, Supratik Sen and Sabrina Dhawan) are evident is every scene. Although Bhardwaj never loses touch with the ordinary look of things, or the common touch, the style overpowers the film. The climax scene is a bizarrely funny episode that is meant to be ironic, but it gets drowned in all the noise.

Kaminey is in the genre of Pulp Fiction, Mean Streets, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Satya. In these films the multi-plot narrative is taken to the perfect pitch, where every character has a complete, satisfying graph. Here, it’s more a mosaic. Like one of its memorable characters, Kaminey is a tad too high on cocaine in parts.

Bhardwaj’s biggest achievement is in extracting performances out of Shahid Kapur and Priyanka Chopra. In two different roles, Kapur is always in character; the lisp and the stammer comes at just the right time. Kapur’s career should take a different turn after this performance, undoubtedly he can be one of the best actors we have. Chopra’s role as the mulgi (Maharashtrian for girl, that’s what her brother calls her) doesn’t seem laboured although the Maharashtrian accent doesn’t really have that raspy zing. The performance by Amole Gupte as the mean, hilarious gangster whose enemy is any outsider who comes to live in Mumbai is memorable.

Kaminey is a film of danger, hilarity and vibrant local colour. It is thrillingly alive; go get high.

Kaminey released in theatres across the country on Friday. In Mumbai, navi Mumbai and Thane, it is scheduled to release on 17 August, Monday.

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Priyanka got diamond ring for her b'day

Rumour-mongers were having hay day speculating why Priyanka Chopra looked so happy on her birthday in spite of the absence of her boyfriend (just good friend) Shahid Kapoor. Priyanka did have a reason to smile.She received a surprise special gift from her parents. Believe it or not, she was gifted a diamond belly button.“Hey tweeple got some rocking news… My parents got me a diamond belly button ring for my b’day. Guess what? Just got my piercing done! Yay!” posted Priyanka, a regular on Twitter.

It is said that Priyanka couldn’t believe her eyes when her parents gifted her a butterfly- shaped diamond belly button on her birthday, on 18th July, because she never expected such a gift. Priyanka had pierced her belly earlier and used to wear belly button until she was forced to part with it following the demand of her film roles.Well, Priyanka must be looking forward to show off her diamond- studded-belly the next time she appears in public. She also has a lot to look forward to this year with many promising projects in her kitty. Her film Kaminey, where she acts with Shahid Kapoor, is releasing this August and What’s Your Raashee with Hurman Baweja is scheduled for release in September.She also has another film titled Pyaar Impossible with Uday Chopra.

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Priyanka reuniting with Hurman?

Shahid Kapoor may be picking up fights for her but seems like Priyanka Chopra is more interested in getting cosy with ex beau Hurman Baweja. The stars who are shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker's Whats Your Rashee? were busy mingling with each other on the sets. The crew members were left amazed seeing this. They could not believe two exes were so comfortable in each others company as the case is always the other way around.

Priyanka and Hurman shot a sizzling rain dance which wrapped up the shooting for the movie. The cast and the crew decided to celebrate this by organising a party at a bungalow nearby in Khandala. Priyanka and Hurman who attended the party had their eyes locked on each other. The crew members could sense the sparks between the former couple and they didn't intend to hide it. Well it's a wake up call for Shahid to find some new actress to mingle with.

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