Aanand L Rai reveals the reason behind the failure of Raksha Bandhan!

The talented well-known filmmaker Aanand L Rai had a bumpy career with some huge successes and some big failures. Aanand L Rai's last outing Raksha Bandhan, which featured Akshay Kumar in the lead role, ended up as a commercial disaster. The film was criticised by the viewers for its outdated content and unreasonably melodramatic narrative.

In a latest media chat, Aanand L Rai specified that Raksha Bandhan failed because he tried to put the movie in a bracket. "I was wrong while making Raksha Bandhan when I thought let me give them something which is more of India and let me cater to the audience in the B and C tier cities. I was wrong in differentiating between the audiences. That is not my job. I should have focused more on the story rather than selecting the audience to whom I want to cater," revealed the well-known filmmaker.

"This is my learning from the film. We are trying to find out what story will engage the audience at this moment and in this phase. Post-pandemic we have failed the audience with that. Maybe, I went too smart with Raksha Bandhan. I was trying to put it in a bracket and that's what went wrong. It was my fastest film but I relished it. I never made this film in a rush. I had fun. I was always gutsy and never played safe. But I think subconsciously I tried to do that with Raksha Bandhan and failed miserably. I learned that I should keep on doing my work, without thinking of the box office." Further added Aanand L Rai.

The filmmaker is now set to release his forthcoming production venture An Action Hero, in December. The action thriller, which features Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead role, and Jaideep Ahlawat in a key role, is directed by newbie Anirudh Iyer.

 

Kat and Vidya sizzle together for a film!

There was a time when buddy films were almost always male-centric but of late it’s all about female bonding.

The latest is that Aanand L Rai is going to produce a women-driven action-comedy that might see Katrina Kaif and Vidya Balan joining forces. The movie will mark the directorial debut of Anand’s long-time AD Anirudh Ganapathy and I hear it’ll be loosely based on the Hollywood hit The Heat, which was about two lady cops who team up to solve a case. I think Kat and Vidya will kill it together on screen!

Katrina Kaif to introduce Zero director Aanand L Rai in a selfie!

Katrina Kaif, Aanand L Rai

Aanand L Rai

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif’s next is Aanand L Rai's Zero. The movie also stars Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma in the lead roles. The actors have wrapped the shoot of the movie. It is presently in the pre-production stage.

Recently, Katrina Kaif shared a photo of her Zero director on her Instagram story. She also uploaded a selfie with Rai and captioned it, "Hamare Nirdeshak' (Our director) in Devanagari font.

Two teasers of Zero are already out. Zero is slated to release on December 21, 2018.

SRK and Anushka to celebrate R Madhavan's birthday on the sets of Zero!

Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Aanand L Rai, Birthday boy R. Madhavan

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma are now in the US shooting for the movie Zero. The movie is being helmed by Aanand L Rai and also stars Katrina Kaif in the lead role.

Actor R Madhavan will have a special role in this Aanand L Rai film. Even he has accompanied the team to the US where they are presently shooting in Alabama.

Madhavan turned 40 on June 1. The actor celebrated his birthday with the team of Zero. He took to his Instagram page to share photographs of his birthday celebration from the sets of Zero.

In one of the photographs, SRK is feeding cake to the 3 Idiots actor.

Madhavan captioned the photos, "Crazyyy Funnnn Birthdays.. oh man .. Unforgetable..."

Along with Madhavan, actors like Sridevi, Karisma Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Kajol will also have a special cameo in the film.

Zero is scheduled to release on December 22, 2018.

Taapsee Pannu feels, Manmarziyan is lovely amalgam of Anurag Kashyap and Aanand L. Rai's world!

Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu, who will be seen in "Manmarziyan", tells the movie is a lovely mix of the different worlds of filmmakers Aanand L. Rai and Anurag Kashyap.

Taapsee revealed to a media source, "It's a very beautiful mix of Aanand L. Rai's world with Anurag Kashyap's world. That is why I am pretty excited about it." 

"It is a typical Anurag Kashyap style of love story, where you do not have black and white characters. Everyone has certain flaws. It is presented by Aanand L. Rai, who is known for these small time town beautiful (stories)," she further added. 

The movie, directed by Kashyap and presented by Rai, will go on floors in February. It also stars Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan. 

Katrina opens up about playing herself in SRK starrer film!

Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif has an exciting line-up of movies all leading superstars. She will next be seen in Thugs of Hindostan with Aamir and Aanand L Rai's directorial with SRK.

When questioned about the same, Katrina specified to a tabloid, "There wasn’t any sense of planning. These are films that happened organically. There were discussions and these are wonderful filmmakers, who were doing films I wanted to do. There’s no point in trying to recreate the past or trying to be nostalgic."

When questioned about Aanand's film, Katrina revealed, "It wasn’t about the space or the VFX. Honestly, Aanand sir has been discussing this film with me for the last two years. It was originally titled Katrina Meri Jaan, which is probably why people keep asking me if I’m playing myself in the film."

She further revealed, "But it’s a very different film now since there have been a lot of changes in it. Aanand sir is one of the finest directors we have and I believe in him. He really pushed me and fought for it. So I felt that if someone’s fighting so much for it and has that much belief, then let’s see where we go together."

I discovered a great human being in Shah Rukh Khan, reveals Aanand L. Rai!

Director Aanand L. Rai is presently engrossed in one of his most ambitious projects as he collaborates withShah Rukh Khan for the first time. The untitled movie which is based on a dwarf (Shah Rukh) also stars Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma.

As the filmmaker is working closely with Shah Rukh, when a famous tabloid questioned if he discovered a new side to the actor, he disclosed, "I discovered a great human being in Shah Rukh and a great friend who teaches you a lot, and then, it’s up to you to learn from him. I am really looking forward to this journey, as I have discovered somebody with whom my equation goes beyond films. I really enjoy being with him and learning from his experiences."

Salman Khan has a cameo in the film and lately shot for a song with Shah Rukh. On what it was like to direct both the megastars, Aanand specified, "That moment was pure magic. I didn’t know who was directing the sequence, because I was sitting there like a fan. And it was a big fan moment to see the two big superstars together. I really enjoyed and felt privileged that it happened in a film that I am a part of."

Aanand was also quizzed about whether he gets excited or nervous about a new release at this stage to which Rai responded, "I feel exactly the same the way I felt when I was making my first film. So, a film excites me as much as it used to. No film is a small film for me, as it’s made with same amount of passion and hard work by an entire team. A film takes away almost one-and-a-half years of yours. So when you invest that kind of time and love, it’s like having a new baby (laughs). You always develop a sense of attachment for your films, so, before its release, you feel a bit sad, as you know that it will go away from you."

Aanand's movie with Shah Rukh, Katrina and Anushka is scheduled for a Christman 2018 release.

Tigmanshu Dhulia to become a father of a superstar SRK!

Director Tigmanshu Dhulia, who will be depicting the role of megastar Shah Rukh Khan's father in Anand L Rai's next, where Shah Rukh is essaying a dwarf, tells he wanted to be part of the project to see how it is done.

"I do very few films as an actor but when a filmmaker friend feels that I can do justice to certain role and when I need some money then only I do a film. It's a very technical film in which Shah Rukh is playing a character of dwarf so I wanted to see how it is made because when Kamal Hassan (Appu Raja) did it, that time he did that with folded legs and VFX facility also wasn't available," told Tigmanshu at the trailer launch of his forthcoming movie "Raagdesh" on Thursday.

"So, to know that process, I did this film. It's a very time consuming film where you have to give the best effort because you have to shoot each shot with 3 to 4 different approaches and in each day they only used to complete only one scene so it's a hard film to make, but they are giving their best effort for that," he further added.

Speaking about the challenges that he faced while working on "Raagdesh" which is based on 1945 Red Fort Trials when the Indian National Army soldiers were court martialled by the British, Tigmanshu told, "When you are writing a fictional story, that time writer can use his imagination to write a story, but when you have real story, then you have to mould it into proper film script. Then it is challenging, especially when you don't have the permission to tamper with past facts."

"Each scene of this film is documented with the help of some or the other books, so I haven't had any opportunity to take cinematic liberty in this film," he further added.

"Raagdesh" features Kunal Kapoor, Amit Sadh and Mohit marwah in lead roles.

The movie is slated to release on July 28. 

Now Kareena Kapoor Khan for Aanand Rai's next?

Ever since Aanand Rai pronounced his next (starring Shah Rukh Khan), there has been much conjecture surrounding the leading ladies in the movie. Nearly every name in the business has been attached to the movie, from Katrina Kaif to most lately Alia Bhatt. A leading news portal news that Alia has declined the movie due to date issues, and her inspiration - Kareena Kapoor Khan has been asked to step in.

Reshma Shetty, who manages Kareena was seen lately having a meeting with SRK, to discuss the movie. It remains to be seen whether an offer will materialize from this. Last year it was rumored that she was offered the movie, but she quickly denied the same. Kareena and Shahrukh have previously worked together in Asoka, K3G, Ra. One and Don.

Presently Kareena is ready to commence Shashanka Ghosh's ''Veere Di Wedding'' with Sonam Kapoor in the next few weeks. She is also negotiating a heroine orientated project, which she has allegedly been offered a hefty sum for.

Casting Shah Rukh Khan is the demand of the role, says Aanand L. Rai!

Director-producer Aanand L. Rai, who is ready to start shooting for his next directorial venture starring actor Shah Rukh Khan, said that he did not cast Shah Rukh Khan because of his fame but for the demand of the role.

Rai, who visited 10th NFDC Film Bazaar here in Goa, told, "I always cast an actor based on the demand of the character. Casting Shah Rukh Khan is the demand of the role exactly the way it applied on Dhanush to play Kundan in 'Raanjhnaa' or Kangana Ranaut to play Tanu. It was never about making a film with a superstar."

Questioned about Shah Rukh Khan's character, Rai told, "All I can promise my audience is that it's a well-crafted story and after watching the film they will understand why Shah Rukh was suitable to play the role. As a director I always want my actor to discover something within, and I know it will happen to him as well."

Katrina Kaif’s big NO to share screen space with Deepika!

Shah Rukh Khan and Aanand L. Rai are teaming up for an untitled movie set to be released on December 21, 2018. There have been no information about what will be the plot of the movie. Furthermore, there have been a lot of rumors about the hunt for the main actress. 

News have it, the movie will be a love triangle with Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif been approached for their particular roles. Now, as per a famous tabloid, Katrina has made it clear that she would not be part of the movie if Deepika has been taken on board.

Abhay Deol is a lazy talented actor, reveals Anand L Rai!

Actor Abhay Deol, who was last seen in a short role in Aanand L Rai's Raanjhanaa', will be next seen in Rai's production endeavor Happy Bhag Jayegi and though Rai is quite fond of the actor, he also accused Abhay of being lazy during a media interaction lately.

Speaking about Abhay, Rai told that the Deol dude is a supremely talented actor, but is lazy in the sense that he does a film and then vanishes before making a comeback. Rai further stated that he always advices Abhay to keep working and to not take a long break between two projects as filmmakers need him in their ventures.

Happy Bhag Jayegi, which also stars Ali Fazal, is the story of a girl (Diana Penty), who runs away before her marriage and accidentally lands in Pakistan.

I was not offered Aanand L. Rai's next movie, says Alia Bhatt!

Dismissing the rumors that she is doing another film with megastar Shah Rukh Khan, young star Alia Bhatt told that she was not offered Aanand L. Rai's next movie.

Rai's forthcoming movie will have two heroines and Katrina Kaif has seemingly bagged one of the parts. There was a strong news that Alia was a top contender to get the other role, but she told that she was astonished to learn about the news from the media.

The Udta Punjab actress added that though she would love to work in a two-heroine project, she wasn't offered the movie opposite SRK. Bollywood's King Khan, who will be playing a dwarf in Rai's movie, has previously worked with Katrina in Yash Chopra's Jab Tak Hai Jaan.

Alia, who is lauded for her act in the drug drama Udta Punjab, will be seen with SRK in Gauri Shinde's next.

Aanand L Rai discloses his reasons for signing up SRK in his next!

The fact that Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan will be seen playing a dwarf in Aanand L Rai's forthcoming movie, is known by all. But, did you know what made Rai choose SRK to be his main lead?

Rai says that he chose the King Khan to play the lead role because no one understands ordinariness better than Khan. Rai further added that he also needed someone who would look confident and sure despite being a dwarf, so he cast SRK to play a person, who is just three feet one inch tall.

Khan will be next seen in Raees, in which he will play a bootlegger from Gujarat.

Shahrukh Khan is a dwarf for Director Aanand L Rai!

Previously, Salman Khan was supposed to play a dwarf in Aanand L Rai's forthcoming love story, but a few days later, it was being informed that Ranveer Singh will play the protagonist after Salman backed out and even Shah Rukh Khan did not sign the dotted line.

But, Rai lately verified that the King Khan will indeed play the protagonist in his movie, which is a love story set in a small town in North India. Rai further added that the role is quite challenging and that SRK was quite gung-ho about it when he heard the script. Rai also informed that though Khan plays a dwarf in the film, it is not just about his stature, but an engaging and entertaining love story.

Khan will be next seen in YRF film Fan and Rahul Dholakia's Raees.