1,500 Bhopal residents on Jha’s 'Satyagraha'!

Forthcoming movie "Satyagraha" will see as many as 1,500 Bhopal residents in the movie and director Prakash Jha tells a two-month special workshop was held to train them. 

"Yes, we held workshops for the locals for about two months. These acting workshops were necessary. I'm really happy with how they have been contributing to my 'Satyagraha'. It's fantastic to see their energy and enthusiasm for the film," told Jha, who previously shot "Raajneeti" and "Aarakshan" in the city. 

For full story: http://www.gossipsadda.com/garam_gossips/2013/03/1,500-Bhopal-residents-on-Jha-Satyagraha/1,500-Bhopal-residents-on-Jha-Satyagraha.html

Katrina Kaif’s discussion with Prakash Jha for next Raajneeti!

Prakash Jha, Katrina Kaif

Prakash Jha, Katrina Kaif

Actress Katrina Kaif, who won critical acclaim for her role in the 2010 movie "Raajneeti", is thrilled to be part of the movie's sequel. She has a hint of the script, and is looking forward to working with director Prakash Jha again.

"There are very few scripts that are genuinely entertaining.’Raajneeti' is a script which has been worked on for years. I did hear the idea; I think it's a genius and brilliant idea. I really hope everything falls in place. The only thing is most of the characters have been killed in the first part," told Katrina.

"Raajneeti", a political thriller, also featured Ajay Devgn, Nana Patekar, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpayee and Naseeruddin Shah in pivotal roles.

The 28-year-old actress reveals that Jha is currently busy working on another film with Amitabh Bachchan, but she has had several discussions with him on the sequel.

"It is genuinely a good idea. I find it exciting and I really like the character. Right now, he (Jha) is working on another film called 'Satyagraha' with Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan), but I would love to work with him again. With Prakash we had many discussions on the scripts. He has told me the basic story of the film, but not the entire script, so we have time for that," she told.

'Aarakshan' Team Promotes Their Film On UTV Bindass

Bib B, Prakash Jha, Deepika Padukone, Manoj Bajpaiyee

Big B and Deepika Padukone

Prakash Jha and Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone

Prakash Jha says, 'Aarkshan' is a therapeutic story

National award-winning director Prakash Jha isn't sure whether his movie 'Aarakhsan' about caste-based reservations in educational institutions would be able to throw up any stable solution to the problem, but he is sure that it would have salutary value.

'If through a wider and keener understanding, some kind of solution comes out of it, then we will take the pride in that. We have tried to assimilate every kind of feeling. We have tried to understand the equation that works in a fast-paced society,' Jha said in an interview.

'We have tried to tell a story which is kind of therapeutic because it is intended to heal. If it can somehow give everybody his or her solution... but we have not tried to preach through the film,' added Jha.

'Aarakshan' is a high voltage socio-political drama featuring Saif Ali Khan, megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Manoj Bajpai, Deepika Padukone, Pratieik Babbar and Tanvi Azmi, who play key roles in the movie. It is set to hit the theatres Aug 12.

'I don't think the film supports, contradicts or supplements any ideology. So, probably it won't fall into the category of politics. As education has the same value for everyone, you can call it a social or an issue-based film. It's very contemporary as every family is concerned about the education and job their child will get,' further added Jha.

An inclusive society with equal economic affluence would be able to minimize or remove the need for reservations, Jha considers.

'It's difficult to eradicate it from our society - gender bias or caste are two paramount problems of our society and not easy to handle. What we can try to do is to make a more equitable society. To remove this bias, there has to be inclusive growth,' said the director.

He is in awe at the way Saif Ali Khan played a Dalit in 'Aarakshan' and believes that the industry has failed to utilize his potential as an actor.

'Saif is a fantastic actor but underrated in the industry. You can't imagine what he can do. It was not easy to play a Dalit. He worked very hard on their language and mannerisms. I didn't add anything except a moustache in his look and that also he grew. He portrayed the role so convincingly,' told Jha.

Saif playing a Dalit agitated some groups of socially backward classes, but Jha pacified them.

'I have politely given them my explanation. I hope I could satisfy them. I can't change the fact that Saif Ali Khan being a nawab has played the role of a Dalit. I have told them that the kind of discrimination you have suffered so long, the same discrimination you want to do with Saif, which is not right,' he told.

The filmmaker, who had failed stints in politics in the 2004 and 2009 parliamentary elections, has mostly made issue-based movies like 'Damul' (1986), 'Gangaajal' (2004), 'Apaharan' (2006) and 'Raajneeti' (2010).

'I always try to be careful of what I am doing in terms of product and acceptance. I always keep myself alert so that my narrative can communicate an engaging story with characters with whom audiences could relate to. This is the constant battle that I have and keep hoping that these stories will work. Fortunately they have worked,' told Jha.

Directors complain about lack of good scriptwriters while no dearth of writers!

Prakash Jha

Karan Johar

Ashutosh Gowariker

Imtiaz Ali

Farhan Akhtar

Abhinay Deo

Vikramaditya Motwane

Rajkumar Gupta

A battle over words - that's what it is between Bollywood directors and scriptwriters! Directors, tired of complaining about lack of good scriptwriters, are readily picking up the pen to script their own movies, while scriptwriters crib about lack of opportunity and insufficient pay.

Directors like Aditya Chopra, Prakash Jha, Karan Johar, Ashutosh Gowariker, Imtiaz Ali and Farhan Akhtar are a few directors who prefer writing their own scripts.

Adman-turned-movie director Abhinay Deo, who has helmed movies like 'Game' and the yet to release 'Delhi Belly' - both based on someone else's story, notes that the reason for directors to write is 'a dearth of good writers'.

'The fact is that because of the dearth of writers, directors are taking to writing, and that is not the healthiest of things for the industry. But I won't deny there are some directors like Ashutosh Gowariker, Rensil D'Silva, Mani Ratnam, who are fantastic at writing,' Deo said.

If Deo blames the lack of writing talent in the country, other directors feel they can do complete justice to their movie only when they write and direct it themselves.

'There are good scriptwriters in India...but they don't take time and don't work hard,' tells acclaimed filmmaker Prakash Jha, known for his realistic treatment in movies like 'Damul', 'Gangaajal', 'Apaharan' and 'Raajneeti'.

'For the kind of cinema I make, for the kind of observations that I have to make, the kind of people I meet, the way I store knowledge and information, I think I'm the only guy who can write my stories. If a writer's script comes to me, I will definitely see it. But I am a little different in my style of filmmaking. I've already started work on films that I might make seven years later, so which writer will I be able to get?' he included.

Kunal Kohli, who often writes his scripts, yearns to direct somebody else's story, but so far he hasn't come across anything interesting.

'Why do we directors have to write our own scripts? Adi (Aditya Chopra), Karan (Johar), Imtiaz (Ali), Farhan (Akhtar), me - we all write ourselves. Wish I could read many and choose one. I want a ready script I can just shoot. Like the ones Salim-Javed used to write. Perfect screenplays. Kahaan hai (Where are they)?' Kohli once wrote on micro-blogging site.

Even Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has felt a lack of quality writing in the Hindi film industry in current times.

'I personally feel that the same kind of writing is not happening as it used to in the past. I just feel that content is not as poetic or lyrical. Some of the language has the use of expletives,' Amitabh told.

But scriptwriters have a diverse story to tell.

According to industry estimates, a new scriptwriter's pay would start Rs.500, 000 and for experienced writers, it can go up to Rs.4 million-Rs.5 million. But that's not similar to the amount that producers shell out for the shooting, the stars, or even the publicity these days.

'Filmmakers often compare Indian writers with those in Hollywood. But they need to understand that the ball game is different here. The roles of scriptwriters are earmarked abroad. But in India, roles are not clear, the pay scale is not up to the mark, and credit becomes an issue sometimes...so it is unfair to compare,' told Kanika Dhillon, who has contributed her writing talent to movies like 'Billu' and Shah Rukh Khan's much-awaited 'RA.One'.

Even if writers have good ideas, it is a problem for newcomers to reach producers, directors and actors.

Vikramaditya Motwane told who scripted 'Udaan', 'Once the script was done, I had a tough time finding someone to produce the movie. Many producers came and went, but nobody was ready to commit to the movie.'

Filmmaker Rajkumar Gupta, who has made movies like 'Aamir' and 'No One Killed Jessica', told, 'Biggest hindrance for any scriptwriter is to convince a director and an actor.'

Dhillon feels 'India does not lack writing talent. We lack the right backing and support.'