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<ul><li>In recent years, Bhumi has stepped onto a bigger stage – one where the spotlight shines on environmental and climate awareness. </li><li>Acknowledging her efforts, the <keyword id="19984049" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UNDP" source="keywords">UNDP</keyword> named her as India's first National Advocate for <keyword id="19950641" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainable-development-goals" source="keywords">Sustainable Development Goals</keyword> (SDGs).</li><li>In an exclusive interview with <keyword id="21390875" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Business Insider India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Business Insider India">Business Insider India</keyword>, <keyword id="19939209" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhumi-Pednekar" source="keywords">Bhumi Pednekar</keyword> spoke about her struggles with eco-anxiety and her take on the <keyword id="20000756" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-action" source="keywords">climate action</keyword>.</li></ul> Lights, camera, Earth! When we first saw Bhumi Pednekar in Dum Laga Ke Haisha in 2015, we witnessed her impressive acting skills and her ability to connect with the audience. With time, she grew into a formidable presence on the Indian cinema landscape, paving the way for socially-aware, yet entertaining filmography. In recent years, this Bollywood superstar has stepped onto a bigger stage – one where the spotlight shines on environmental and climate awareness. In a world where the spotlight often blinds stars to the sufferings of the planet and its people, Bhumi reminds us that every person on this planet needs to keep that spark for eco-consciousness alive. In an exclusive interview with Business Insider India, Bhumi Pednekar spoke about her struggles with eco-anxiety during her early years, her efforts to strike a balance between her professional career and environmental responsibilities, her advice for the younger audience, and her take on the climate action across the globe. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDxplE0_Os4" data-type="tilCustomLink">Catch the full interview here!</a> <div type="image" title="Actress Bhumi Pednekar" agency="Business Insider India" msid="109502773" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Actress Bhumi Pednekar&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “When I started my climate journey, it was a very lonely path for me, Every time I spoke about it, people made fun of me. Eventually, through the years, I met like-minded people, and I realised that this is a real problem. Even today, I get really worried, I have bouts of anxiety and go into a spiral that you know, what will happen now and so on. In such times, what truly helps me is to actually do something towards dealing with the problem,” says Bhumi. Acknowledging her efforts to spread awareness on these critical topics, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) named her as India's first National Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Just last month, the World Economic Forum (WEF) recognised her as a Young Global Leader (YGL). On <keyword id="21293562" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Earth-Day" source="keywords">Earth Day</keyword> 2024, she also joined UNDP’s global initiative called the ‘The Weather Kids’ — a global campaign to raise awareness about climate change and drive the world towards taking meaningful climate action. Talking about the campaign Bhumi Pednekar stated, "I’m deeply disturbed by Climate Change and the impact that it is having the world over. I have dedicated my life to working on this and helping raise awareness… I have always been committed to using my platform to raise awareness about the urgency of climate action and to empower individuals and communities to adopt sustainable practices. Together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable and resilient world for future generations.” Further, Bhumi’s role as a <keyword id="21390874" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-warrior" source="keywords">climate warrior</keyword> has also seen her collaborating with activists and institutions nationwide, amplifying their voices and supporting initiatives focused on environmental preservation and climate action. As an ardent advocate for environmental and climate action, she has effectively utilised her fame to champion causes like waste segregation, rainwater harvesting, recycling, and conscious fashion choices. <div type="image" title="Actress Bhumi Pednekar" agency="Business Insider India" msid="109503174" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Actress Bhumi Pednekar&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> “Climate Warrior, which is our nonprofit, is an advocacy platform I started in 2019. The idea was to bring all the work of creating awareness under one umbrella. And then we started the Bhumi Foundation, through which we are again just trying to streamline everything that we do, we have not opened it up for others to come in and work,” said Bhumi, encouraging younger generations to also find their own tribe to influence and drive change. The theme for today’s World Earth Day 2024 is Planet Vs Plastic, and it is time for all of us to gauge our individual and collective impact on our environment and try to reduce it. “One big thing that we can do is to look for and support businesses that are trying to go green and create a positive impact on our planet. If investors support such businesses, and consumers pick such products, our carbon footprint can be lesser,” explains Bhumi. “Every day is Earth Day. This is our only home, there is no alternative, and there is no plan B! The way we show empathy and sympathy towards our loved ones, we should show empathy towards everybody else that we share this planet with. It really breaks my heart when you see on the news that a major city like Bangalore is still witnessing a water crisis and our capital city Delhi has winter days where schools are canceled because of the pollution. We are all in this together, we all are a part of the problem. And we all need to be a part of the solution as well,” concludes Bhumi. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views of Business Insider India. The excerpts has been partly edited for length and clarity.

Earth Day 2024: Actress Bhumi talks about 'Pednekar ke ped', ostrich mentality, climate anxiety and more

<keyword id="2029832" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dum-Laga-Ke-Haisha">Dum Laga Ke Haisha</keyword>, starring <keyword id="6354535" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ayushmann-Khurrana">Ayushmann Khurrana</keyword> and <keyword id="2069863" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhumi-Pednekar">Bhumi Pednekar</keyword> releases today, and those who grew up in India in the ’90s couldn’t be happier. The reason for the celebration of music lovers is the music of this movie, which would make you relive the India of 1990s, more so because the movie is based in 1995. 
 What makes the music of this Yash Raj venture even more special is the fact that it marks the comeback of melody king <keyword id="35680" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kumar-Sanu">Kumar Sanu</keyword> with heart-touching and foot-tapping tracks, ‘Tu’ and ‘Dard Karaara’, respectively. 
 Talking of ‘Tu’, the song is bound to take you to the romantic music of Saajan, Aashiqui, Baazigar and Pardes. The use of orchestra, combined with a soothing whistle brings out the best of romantic music that people in the ’90s loved. Add to it the 90s style dance sequence in ‘Dard Karaara’ and you have the perfect album for whenever you feel nostalgic about the good old growing-up years; thanks to Kumar Sanu, Sadhna Sargam, and the music composer <keyword id="2225" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anu-Malik">Anu Malik</keyword>. 
 
Other than the music, the attraction of the movie is debutante Bhumi Pednekar, who used to work as the assistant of Shanoo, the casting director of Yash Raj films. To say the least, Bhumi Pednekar doesn’t look like a conventional actress, given her plain jane looks and healthy figure. However, she proved in the trailer itself what she has it in herself that bagged her three-film deal with Yash Raj, one of the most reputed production houses in the industry. 
 
Kumar Sanu plays an important part not only in the music but also the script of the story, given that Ayushmann Khurrana’s character is a huge Kumar Sanu fan. The singer would also be seen doing a cameo in the film. 
 
Let’s hope that other music composers and film makers learn from the album and offer some great music and not blaring noises that is served in the name of music these days.

Relive the ’90s with Dum Laga Ke Haisha

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/topic/Bollywood">Bollywood</a>, the staple entertainment diet of thousand of Indians has often been criticized for churning out mindless movies wrapped in item songs placing little or no importance on sensitivity or storytelling; however 2015 has been a year of change for the Hindi film industry. 
 This year, <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> showed us its true potential and demonstrated that it could grow up too by producing movies which ditched the age-old formula of item songs, revealing outfits and over-the-top acting and instead delved into territories unknown. 
 
To sum up, this year Bollywood surprised us and how! 
 
Here’s giving up to the six movies that dared to think out of the box and earned a place in our hearts 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

BI Year Roundup: Six Bollywood movies that dared to
think out of the box

The most coveted film awards in India, the <keyword id="6429912" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="National-Film-Awards">National Film Awards</keyword>, were announced today for movies released in 2015, at the National Media Centre, New Delhi. The panel, headed by film director Ramesh Sippy, handed over the list to Information and Broadcast Minister Arun Jaitley. 
 
Here is the list of the Hindi movies that were chosen for the honour.

Hindi films that won the National Film Awards this year

Whenever <keyword id="2069863" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bhumi-Pednekar" source="Orion">Bhumi Pednekar</keyword> is mentioned, the image of strong female characters inevitably springs to mind. She has made her mark in films like 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha', 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' and 'Bhakshak', earning acclaim for her portrayals tackling social issues. It turns out her dedication to impactful roles extends beyond the silver screen — a commitment that has now earned her recognition as a <keyword id="120368" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Young-Global-Leader" source="Orion">Young Global Leader</keyword> (YGL) by the <keyword id="69007" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Economic-Forum" source="Orion">World Economic Forum</keyword> (WEF)! The Young Global Leaders community celebrates individuals under 40 who are actively addressing pressing global challenges. The program aims to empower these exceptional leaders shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future. The Bollywood star will join the prestigious YGL's class of 2024 in Geneva later this year, acknowledged for her efforts in promoting awareness of <keyword id="49089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sustainability" source="Orion">sustainability</keyword>, and climate change, and her significant contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. As an ardent advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable living, Bhumi has effectively utilised her fame to champion causes like waste segregation, rainwater harvesting, recycling, and conscious fashion choices. Her role as a climate warrior has also seen her collaborating with activists nationwide, amplifying their voices and supporting initiatives focused on environmental preservation and <keyword id="299722" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="climate-action" source="Orion">climate action</keyword>. Expressing gratitude for being named a Young Global Leader, Bhumi shared: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be recognised by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. Through my work, I have strived to ignite conversations, inspire action, and foster tangible change in the realm of sustainability and climate change. “I aspire to cultivate a diverse portfolio as both an actor and entrepreneur, and I look forward to realising these ambitions through the World Economic Forum's YGL program. This validation also reaffirms my belief in the power of collective action. I am committed to continuing my efforts and I look forward to collaborating with fellow Young Global Leaders to drive positive change.” In addition to Bhumi, the WEF has also acknowledged four other Indians for their significant contributions in their respective fields and their commitment to effecting positive change. These individuals, including <keyword id="2422251" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Adwaita-Nayar" source="Orion">Adwaita Nayar</keyword> (CEO of Nykaa), <keyword id="4976567" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arjun-Bhartia" source="Orion">Arjun Bhartia</keyword> (Director at Jubilant Group), <keyword id="8656479" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Priya-Agarwal-Hebbar" source="Orion">Priya Agarwal Hebbar</keyword> (Non-Executive Director at Vedanta Limited) and <keyword id="1011865" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sharad-Vivek-Sagar" source="Orion">Sharad Vivek Sagar</keyword> (Founder and CEO of Dexterity Global), join nearly 90 changemakers from various sectors in this year's YGL cohort. Together, they are dedicated to leaving a lasting impact on their communities and beyond.

Young Global Leader: World Economic Forum recognises Bhumi Pednekar for her role in promoting sustainability

Mumbai, Actor <keyword id="2069863" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="bhumi-pednekar" source="Orion">Bhumi Pednekar</keyword> says the coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdown led to cost cutting and thus affected the budget of women-centric films. The actor currently features in buddy comedy "Thank You For Coming", which has a predominantly female cast. Also starring <keyword id="7903367" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shehnaaz-gill" source="Orion">Shehnaaz Gill</keyword>, <keyword id="573702" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dolly-singh" source="Orion">Dolly Singh</keyword>, <keyword id="8251961" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kusha-kapila" source="Orion">Kusha Kapila</keyword>, and <keyword id="4477193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shibani-bedi" source="Orion">Shibani Bedi</keyword>, the film will hit the screens Friday. According to Pednekar, "Veere Di Wedding" was the last female-led movie that did well at the box office with earnings of around Rs 130 crore. Its producers Rhea Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor have reunited for "Thank You For Coming". "'Veere Di Wedding' is the last female story that worked and the same producers are making this film. After 'Veere Di Wedding' we had more such stories. Then lockdown (due to COVID-19) happened and then obviously there was cost cutting on female-centric films. Then again, we saw Rhea Kapoor, who made this kind of film again," the Mumbai-born actor told PTI in an interview here. Citing the example of her 2019 film "Saand Ki Aankh", Pednekar said the box office collections are not in anyone's control. "It is all about whether the film is good or bad. I remember when I had done 'Saand Ki Aankh', which is a female-led film, compared to another film, which released on the same day, and it did overall business of Rs 350 crore. While my film did Rs 45 crore but our film was running in theatres for 100 days," she added. The beauty of cinema is that good work will always "be remembered and watched for generations", the actor said. "Films earn money but we hope people will come and watch our films. We don't take the pressure because certain things are not in our hands." "Thank You For Coming" is a coming-of-age comedy which follows the story of Kanika Kapoor (Pednekar), a single woman in her 30s, and her quest for true love and pleasure. It is written by Radhika Anand and Prashasti Singh and directed by Karan Boolani. The 34-year-old actor said the film's story uses female desire to explore the theme of patriarchy in society. "Orgasm is a metaphor for a larger scheme of things that the film talks about. The film is against patriarchy, it is not about man versus woman, because patriarchy is not gender specific. "Women and men both are patriarchal. That's the thought of the film. The film is about sisterhood, womanhood... Every film has a thought or a premise, so this is the premise of the film," she said. Pednekar, known for films such as "Dum Laga Ke Haisha", "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha", and "Shubh Mangal Saavdhan", said the cast stuck to the light-hearted tone of the story of "Thank You For Coming". "If we had not kept this tone of the film... We would not have been honest to what we have made. If we are making a film about female pleasure and if we are only shying to talk about it, then what's the point?" She hopes "Thank You For Coming" helps diminish the stigma around sexual liberation of women. "Till the time, 'Shubh Mangal Saavdhan' had not been released people would shy to talk about the topic of erectile dysfunction. It was an issue in families but one would not be able to talk about it, I believe that film eased the conservation. "I feel with this film ('Thank You For Coming'), female orgasm, female desire, and all this is one part of the film, these are small themes in the film, but there are more important things that the film comments about. It is a normal thing," she added.

Pandemic put a break on female-led movies, says Bhumi Pednekar

By Komal Panchamatia Mumbai, May 10 () It has taken Seema Pahwa close to three decades to climb the success ladder as an actor and she believes she might have to start all over again after the nationwide lockdown is lifted. The actor made her debut in 1984 with the landmark television series "Hum Log" and appeared in few films and TV shows. Her performance in recent films like "Dum Laga Ke Haisha", "Bareilly Ki Barfi" and "Shubh Mangal Saavdhan" won her acceptance from the young audiences."Audience had started welcoming content-driven cinema but now one might think twice before paying money and risking their lives to go to theatres. So the struggle has come back in life about how to bring the audience to theatres," Seema told in an interview.Citing the examples of actors Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao and Vicky Kaushal, the 58-year-old actor said while they have redefined the Indian film hero and enjoy a huge fan following, it would be tough for even them to pull the audience to the cinema halls. "They all had just come in and they had given a new turn to the cinema as a hero, who is not a chocolate boy but a boy next-door. These faces had achieved so much and created an audience for themselves and the struggle to start it again will be difficult," she said. Seema added that the fear induced by the pandemic may stop people from coming to cinema halls, which will make it tough for the artistes to sustain."For every actor, their work will be zero if the audience is not coming to see their performances. All we want is people to see our work and appreciate it." The actor, who is spending the lockdown with her husband, actor Manoj Pahwa, and two children, said she is happy being at home with her family."In this lockdown I am cooking delicious recipes for the family… We are all in the same field so we are watching movies, plays or reading stories. We end up discussing cinema for hours," she said. KKP SHD RDSRDS

Seema Pahwa worried about acceptance from audience post lockdown

Remember Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar, who gained massive 21-30 kilos for the movie ‘Dum laga ke haisha’, and later on shed it off like a boss? 
 She was in news for her <keyword id="6358794" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Weight-loss">weight loss</keyword> and Bhumi really did inspire many people to go from fat to fit. 
 
Bhumi managed to lose 21 kilos in just four months and stunned everyone with her new avatar. 
 
Revealing her secret behind the amazing transformation, Bhumi had said everything happens slowly and steadily. 
 
To lose weight, she controlled her carbs, sugar and fat intake and relied heavily on detox water. “I have always been content with my body type and that comes from self-acceptance. Self-acceptance and healthy eating habits are the tricks to feel good and look even better. Don’t judge others by weight,” she had said. 
 
Here’s Bhumi’s complete diet plan that led to the wonderful transformation

Bhumi Pednekar lost 21 kgs in 4 months. Here’s her complete diet plan

<ul><li>Ayushmann Khurrana has been listed as one of the top 100 Influential People in the world by TIME today. </li><li>With his rising popularity and influential power, the actor seems to be on a winning streak in the advertising world. </li><li>He has bagged marquee brands like KitKat, Peter England, The Man Company, Bajaj Allianz, to name a few, in the past few months amid a global pandemic. </li><li>We speak to experts to find out what are some of the qualities that make him influential in the brandverse. </li></ul>Ayushmann Khurrana, the only Indian actor to be featured on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the World list, is also becoming India’s favourite brand endorser. Even during the on-going pandemic -- when brands have tightened their purse strings -- Ayushmann has managed to grab more attention from brands and bag endorsement deals from marquee brands such as JSW India, Nestle, Toyota, Bajaj Allianz, Sprite, The Man Company, UNICEF, to name a few. Despite not having done a single blockbuster movie this year, apart from Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan and the virtually-released Gulabo Sitabo, Ayushmann is on a winning streak in the branding world. 2020 is turning out to be a tipping point for his career as a brand endorser. Ayushmann has around 25 brands in his kitty and in Duff &amp; Phelps’ report released in 2019, Khurrana was a new entrant at rank 10 with a brand value of $40.3 million. In the times when everyone is talking about nepotism in Bollywood, associating with Ayushmann also seems like a safe and perfect bet for an Indian brand. He is the boy-next-door from Chandigarh who has made it on his own in the industry. After his first appearance in MTV Roadies Season 2, Ayushmann found his ticket to Bollywood as Shoojit Sircar offered him a leading role in Vicky Donor. Since the beginning of his career, Ayushmann has been very picky with his choice of movies. He has made a conscious effort to increase representation of different kinds of Indians in his movies by playing a homosexual man in Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan, someone who suffers from erectile dysfunction in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan and a bald guy in Bala. He is also known for movies like Article 15, Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Dream Girl and Badhaai Ho that have started a conversation around different social issues. It is his choice of films that Vani Gupta Dandia, Founder of CherryPeachPlum Growth Partners - a marketing-led business consultancy thinks makes him the ideal fit for all challenger brands. She said, “AK is an actor who comes across as someone with a very, very strong personality. He's chosen to do films which stood out for the stands they took, for the very 'difficult to speak about' subjects in society. The most appealing thing about Ayushmann Khurrana is that while he has chosen to do very offbeat films he still has a very mainstream appeal. His brand endorsements have also been in line with the offbeat actor he comes across as.” On what qualities does he stand for and which brands should he choose, Vani Gupta Dandia added, “Brands that are looking for halo values like intelligence, substance vs frivolous mass appeal, gumption to stand up for difficult causes, choose v/s be chosen, and strong-mindedness - are best suited for a tie-up with him. He must be careful to stay true to who he is and not fall into the trap of the typical bolly 'dance- around-the-trees' mould. His appeal is in being a 'deliberate' and intelligent actor. Not the mainstream hero. He should carefully nurture this positioning and associate with causes and brands that fortify his own imagery in the consumers’ mind.” Karthik Srinivasan, Independent Brand Consultant and Social Media Expert, calls Ayushmann the Amol Palekar of our times - a true 'everyman', but with extra panache. He explained, “Given his smart choice of film scripts where he plays 'everyman' without the extraordinary stunts that define our films' heroism, and convincingly pulls off seemingly 'normal' roles, and given the enormous success he has garnered in such narratives, he fits perfectly for any brand that wants a relatable super-celebrity.” Talking about what makes Ayushmann brands’ favourite, Harish Bijoor, Brand Guru &amp; Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc. said, “He is not the big-boots star of Bollywood. Neither is he a peripheral actor, many of whom come, survive and leave. He is someone in-between. And that's the beauty of his success today. As an actor, he is a method actor of repute. He has under his belt a series of hits that few can boast. In many ways, he is the small-budget star who takes the entire ecosystem of the film that is made to success. Today, viewers of Hindi cinema are bored to death by the big stars and the bigness they represent. In many ways, this is a David versus Goliath liking that comes to the fore. The big star is just too big, unapproachable and just too far away physically and metaphorically. The smaller star is that much closer, and that much more to emote with as a persona. This is Ayushman's touchstone of success.” Ayushmann also bagged a deal with Bajaj Allianz Life this month. On why the brand chose him as its face, Chandramohan Mehra, Chief Marketing Officer, Bajaj Allianz Life, said, "Ayushmann outscores his new age peers on the attributes of relatability and likeability, across consumer profiles. Also, in context of his rise on back of the smart, unconventional and consistent choices he has made, his marketability has enhanced. He is seen as a role model and hugely talented across profiles of age, gender and income groups." Ayushmann can act, sing and dance. He also writes poetry. His versatility and boy-next-door image make him brands’ sweetheart. N. Chandramouli, CEO, TRA said, “Ayushmann Khurrana is one of the multi-talented, multi-faceted actors who has a range of successes behind him in the movies. Without controversies, he is a stable bet for any brand. He has been considerably active in social media during the lockdown and combined with his earlier successes, this has increased his social media presence and salience. Ayushmann is versatile and he can endorse a range of categories, right from footwear to ice-creams, menswear to colas. His affable persona, boy-next-door looks gives him a wide range to choose from. Cost is a key driver for brands when choosing between endorsers, and his costs being lesser than superstar fees, makes him amenable to be the pick of brands, too.” Lately, we have seen endorsers who are more than a model but less than a nepotism-breed superstar like Vicky Kaushal and Ayushmann, get popular in the brandverse. With this, the definition of ‘superstar’ is also changing. Explaining what is driving this change in the industry, Srinivasan said, “Ayushmann is a bonafide superstar, by star value and films' success alone. As for the industry trend of more than a model, but less than a superstar, it could be mirroring the interest in tier-2 and tier-3 social media stars so that brands can tap into small user circles who are their followers. Similarly, given that mainstream, theater-led cinema was the only criteria to bill someone as a superstar at one point, there are now many other media platforms for someone to be called a budget-superstar or a different kind of superstar. Many actors have become big only by doing OTT shows, and many on TV alone. So there's a better range for that phrase 'superstar' now.”

Why Ayushmann Khurrana, the only Indian actor to feature on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list, is also the blue-eyed boy for brands

June is at the fag end and we almost have a mid-year report card of Bollywood. Though the year started on a dismal note, it picked up towards May and June. 
 
This year, January was like a drought month and even movies starring big names did not interest the audience. As Arjun Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha starrer-'Tevar'- failed to take off, even the Horrex (horror + sex) formula did not work out for ‘Alone’ and ‘Khamoshiyan’. 
 
Other movies that released in January and failed to make a mark included Sonam Kapoor-starrer ‘Dolly Ki Doli’, 'Sharafat Gayi Tel Lene', ‘Crazy Cukkad Family’, ‘Hawaizaada’ among others. 
 
The only respite that the Bollywood lovers got was from Akshay Kumar’s ‘Baby’, which also became the first movie of 2015 to enter the Rs 100 crore club. 
 
But the jinx did not end in January as February continued to bring more bad news for the industry. 
 
The big shocker came in the form of ‘Shamitabh’. The movie, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Dhanush, was directed by R Balki, the maker who has given us movies like Pa and Cheeni Kum. 
 
Later in the month, ‘Roy’ released, which recorded a good start but by weekend the movie fizzled out. Most trade pundits pegged the crucial India-Pakistan match at the World Cup as the reason for the drop of sales on Sunday but the movie could not recover much post this phase also because of negative word of mouth. 
 
Thankfully, later in the same month we had movies like ‘Badlapur’ and ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’. Both managed to gather decent collections at the Box Office. In fact, ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ was a complete surprise package and managed to pull crowds even in its third week . 
 
March threw a mixed bag as Anushka Sharma starrer 'NH-10' received critical acclaim. April again was a dry month as Bollywood had nothing to offer that could have clicked with the Bolly buffs. 
 
However, Bollywood saw a turnaround in May. It started on a high note with Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Gabbar is Back’, which went to collect Rs 86.55 crore at the Box Office. This was followed by Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan Khan’s 'Piku', which struck a right chord with the audience and collected Rs 111 crore worldwide. 
 
Later in the month, Kangana Ranaut wowed the audience with her spectacular acting in ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’. As per reports, the movie managed to collect Rs 190.87 crore worldwide. Given that the movie was made with Rs 31 crore budget, it stood out and is the most profitable movie of 2015 till date. 
 
But, the disappointment came from ‘Bombay Velvet’. Everybody had high hopes from Ranbir Kapoor’s flick but it fell flat. 
 
The momentum seems to continue with ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ and ‘ABCD 2’. ‘Dil Dhadakne Do’ has managed Rs 37.05 crore in the first weekend and is holding the fort well. Also ABCD 2, sequel of ABCD, managed to get the biggest opening for 2015 and continues to do a good business over the week. 
 
The later half will see a slew of big- starrer movies such as Salman Khan starrer ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, Vikas Bahl of Queen fame’s ‘Shaandaar’, ‘Singh is Bling’ featuring Akshay Kumar, Nikhil Advani’s ‘Katti Batti’, Aishwarya Rai’s comeback movie ‘Jazbaa’ and also ‘Dilwale’ in which fans will see Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol paired together. In addition, there will also be a third installment of ‘Hate Story’, ‘Hera Pheri’ and ‘Kya Kool Hai Hum’ to look forward to. 
 
Commenting on the movie sentiment of 2015, Komal Nahata, Trade Analyst shared, “It has been a good 2015 so far. Sure there were some upsets in the start of the year but May has been extremely kind and the rest of the year looks really promising." 
 
We hope that the forthcoming movies get the cash ringer buzzing for Bollywood and we continue to see some entertaining movies in the latter half of the year. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Mid-year assessment: It was a roller coaster ride for Bollywood

<keyword id="6354267" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sachin-Tendulkar">Sachin Tendulkar</keyword> once again proved he is more than cricket. The iconic Sachin Tendulkar today celebrated his 43rd birthday by playing cricket with children from the ‘Make-A-Wish India’ organisation in the city, even as the fraternity wished him and waxed eloquence. 

	Tendulkar spent some time with the children, teaching them the basics of batting, bowling and fielding at the MIG Club. He posted the same on his official Facebook page.
 

	Tendulkar retired from all forms of cricket in November 2013 during the Test match against West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium.
 

	Tendulkar is the leading run-scorer in Tests and ODIs. He is the only cricketer to have hit 100 international centuries, and the first to score a double century in ODIs.
 

	Tendulkar received India’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna from the President Pranav Mukherjee in 2014. He is the youngest recipient to date and the first ever sportsperson to receive the award.
 

	As he stepped into his 43rd year, wishes started to pour in on Twitter.
 “Many happy returns of the day champion @sachin_rt have a blessed year!” former India captain and long-time teammate <keyword id="6364325" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anil-Kumble">Anil Kumble</keyword> wrote on his Twitter handle. India opener <keyword id="17805" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shikhar-Dhawan">Shikhar Dhawan</keyword> said, “Happy Birthday Paaji! There never was, and never will be another Sachin!” <keyword id="6354756" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="BCCI">BCCI</keyword> bigwigs — secretary Anurag Thakur and IPL chairman <keyword id="13855" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajeev-Shukla">Rajeev Shukla</keyword> — were not to be left behind. 

	“Happy birthday to one and only @sachin_rt . Wishing you lots of happiness and good health,” Thakur said.
 

	Shukla wrote, “Happy birthday Sachin. May God give u more strength to serve cricket &amp; also duties of an mp.”
 <keyword id="14587" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Suresh-Raina">Suresh Raina</keyword> said, “Happy birthday @sachin_rt the best man I know on and off the field. Wishing you health and success always.” 

	Pacer S. Sreesanth said, “respected Sachin Paaji, may u have the best birthday ever, honour knowing you, love and respect alwys.”
 

	Former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq also wished the batting maestro who has amassed 15921 runs in 200 Tests and 18426 runs in 463 ODIs.
 

	“Have a wonderful day brother @sachin_rt. God bless you,” Saqlain said.
 

	The good wishes were not just restricted to cricket.
 

	“Happy Birthday to @sachin_rt #LivingLegend #respect #love God bless sir,” said star boxer Vijender Singh.
 All India Football Federation president <keyword id="6355497" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Praful-Patel">Praful Patel</keyword> wrote, “Wishing the cricket legend @sachin_rt a very Happy Birthday. May almighty bless him always.” 

	The Indian Super League said, “Best wishes to @KBFCOfficial owner and cricketing great, @sachin_rt on his birthday!”
 Celebrities like <keyword id="6357912" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="amitabh-bachchan">Amitabh Bachchan</keyword>, <keyword id="671" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Vir-das">Vir Das</keyword> and Dhanush took to social media to wish Tendulkar. 

	Bollywood’s megastar Amitabh shared that the cricketing icon “makes us so proud”.
 

	He tweeted: “Happy birthday Sachin...Our pride and our honour! Happy birthday Sachin...you make us so proud”.
 Actor <keyword id="6354700" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anil-Kapoor">Anil Kapoor</keyword> shared on Twitter: “He is a game changer, a creator of and a gem of a person. Happy birthday Sachin Tendulkar. You will always be a legend.” 

	Calling himself a “true fan”, the “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” star Ayushmann Khurrana tweeted: “It’s Sachin Tendulkar’s birthday. True fan! When he used to get out, I used to stop eating food.”
 

	Actor and comedian Vir Das not only wished the batting legend, but also highlighted how the star has taught the world about humanity. He posted: “There’s very few athletes who teach you as much about humanity as they do about the sport. Happy Birthday Sachin Tendulkar”.
 <keyword id="499" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="abhishek-bachchan">Abhishek Bachchan</keyword> tweeted: “Happy birthday legend! Sachin Tendulkar”, whereas singer Armaan Malik wished him “a lifetime of happiness and joy because that is what you have given us through your craft!”. 

	Dhanush, who has worked in southern film industry as well as Bollywood, also tweeted: “Happy birthday to the god of cricket Sachin Tendulkar... All hail the man who made and making our country proud”, and comedian Papa CJ shared: “Happy birthday Sachin Tendulkar — thanks for the memories and entertainment!”.
 

	After wrapping up stupendous innings on the cricket pitch, master blaster Tendulkar will be making a splash on the film scene with the upcoming film “Sachin The Film”. Mumbai-based production company 200 Not Out is making the film with London-based award-winning writer, director and producer James Erskine as the director.

	 
	 
	(Image credits: indiatimes)

Sachin Tendulkar imparts cricket training to children to celebrate his 43rd birthday

They say there is no business like the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Mid-year-assessment-It-was-a-roller-coaster-ride-for-Bollywood/articleshow/47830513.cms">movie business</a> and indeed every Friday we have at least one new movie tossed at the audience. And by Sunday, we get to know whether the movie will be a hit, a miss or just an average fare. 
	 
	So far, 2015 has been quite an interesting year from Bollywood’s perspective. Why I say so is because on one hand we had magnanimous opus like Baahubali achieving great success and on the other, there were small budget movies such as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Relive-the-90s-with-Dum-Laga-Ke-Haisha/articleshow/46395043.cms">Dum Laga Ke Haisha</a>, NH10 and Badlapur, that managed to swoon the audiences and the critics. 
	 
	Sequels like Tanu Weds Manu Returns managed to outshine their last offering and then we had Piku that conveyed human emotions in a brilliant way and also got the cash register ringing.
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
				Movie Name</td>
			<td>
				Budget</td>
			<td>
				Earning</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dum_Laga_Ke_Haisha">Dum Laga Ke Haisa</a></td>
			<td>
				Rs 15 Crore</td>
			<td>
				Rs 100 Crore</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badlapur_(film)">Badlapur</a></td>
			<td>
				Rs 25 Crore</td>
			<td>
				Rs 119 Crore</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NH10">NH10</a></td>
			<td>
				Rs 13 Crore</td>
			<td>
				Rs 32.1 Crore</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanu_Weds_Manu_Returns">Tanu Weds Manu Returns</a></td>
			<td>
				Rs 30 Crore</td>
			<td>
				Rs 252 Crore</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piku">Piku</a></td>
			<td>
				Rs 42 Crore</td>
			<td>
				Rs 141 Crore</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
				<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baahubali:_The_Beginning">Bahubali: The Beginning</a></td>
			<td>
				Rs 120 Crore</td>
			<td>
				Rs 600 Crore</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

	So should we conclude that the era for clichéd, formula-based movies, is coming to an end? 
	 
	Not really as in 2015, we had movies like Hero, Tevar, Roy, etc that banked on the predictable story line to woo the audience and managed to garner mixed acceptance. 
	 
	But, if we see a larger picture, new concepts with small budgets and strong script are doing well. 
	 
	The success of Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Tanu Weds Manu Returns and last year’s Queen hinted that directors and storytellers should venture with newer concepts to engage and entertain the audience. 
	 
	To this trend, Komal Nahata, trade analyst, said, “I would not like to say that there is a trend shift that is happening. From the past three-four years we have seen some small budget movies doing pretty well. The market for such films is also growing. Earlier they used to do well only in certain multiplexes, then it grew to few cities but now in pockets pan-India, they do well.” 
	 
	While it is true that there are quite a few experimental movies that are being screened, but multiple sources in the industry, on conditions of anonymity, told us that about 60-75% of the movies that go on the floor never see light of the day. 
	 
	 
	 
	A lot of these movies are actually finished products but fail to make it to cinema halls as the distributors are unwilling to buy them or the producer has lost confidence in the movie and does not want to spend more money in promoting them. 
	 
	Despite of the fact that some movies do well in global markets, they are not released in India. The movies that have found place in this list include Peddlers, The Coffin Maker, Dekh Indian Circus, etc. 
	 
	Mind you, not all of these shelved movies have lesser known faces as their star cast. The Coffin Maker stars Naseeruddin Shah while Nawazuddin Siddiqui features in Dekh India Circus. 
	 
	Siddiqui said, “It is rather unfortunate that a lot of content-oriented movies in India are still struggling to get funding in the country and there are a few completed projects that are not able to secure a release. Not just Dekh India Circus, there are a few more of my movies that are currently not released and I have started taking more commercial projects since last year with the hope that if I become a little more known face, it will be easier for my directors and producers to get the pending projects released.” 
	 
	And off-beat movies that managed to secure a release, had to face a tough time in the process. 
	 
	For instance, Shonali Bose’s “Margarita With a Straw”, which has Kalki Koechlin as the leading lady, garnered accolades at Toronto International Film Festival and Koechlin also bagged the best actress award at The Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in 2014. After much delays, the movie finally released to Indian audience on April 17, 2015.
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	Unfortunately, not all the movies are lucky as this one. There are quite a few of these Bollywoods' lost children that fail to get a screen space in the midst of high-brow glitterati. 
	 
	I managed to see the world premiere of one such movie in the very heart of London’s film world. Being a movie enthusiast, I had heard a lot about London’s prestigious Raindance Film Festival and it was quite a coincidence that I managed to see a Bollywood movie listed as an `official selection’. 
	 
	Curiosity got the better of me and I reached just in the nick of the time to see ‘Peter Gaya Kaam Se’ (PGKS) (aka The Goa Run). The super plush Vue Cinema in Piccadilly Circus was almost full and the first theatrical screening for this lost Bollywood baby was a complete entertainment package. 
	 
	John Owens' action packed adventure tells the story of a motorcycle taxi driver from Goa (Rajeev Khandelwal) who falls in love with Mira, a beautiful and beguiling drug smuggler from London (Lekha Washington). This out and out commercial flick was originally produced by UTV Spotboys but got shelved and largely forgotten during Disneys' protracted takeover of the company. 
	 
	Director John Owen, who has worked in India for many years as one of MTV and Channel [V]’s head honchos, had penned and directed this story. The movie was shot extensively in Goa and took about a month to complete. It turns out that, the Raindance founder Elliot Grove took a personal interest in the film. 
	 
	 
	 
	Says Owen, "Raindance loved the film and were determined to host the world premiere, especially as I am the first Brit to direct a Bollywood film. A fact that makes me very proud. So when Disney finally gave permission I flew over to Mumbai, finished the sound work we had pending at my cost, did the subtitles myself and had a high end digital print made. The quality of the screening was just superb.” 
	 
	Raindance is in its 22nd year and has become one of the world’s premiere film festivals and very highly thought of by the industry itself. 
	 
	Owen adds, "We didn’t have any money to promote the screening so it was all word of mouth and the buzz of social media. People came from all over the country, it was amazing." 
	 
	Ironically, on the very same weekend Disney's Khoobsurat was premiering in the UK and I could see a theatre just across the street in London's Leicester Square showing it. 
	 
	When I put this point across to Owen, he chuckled and said, "It's funny because Shashanka Ghosh and I have been friends since our MTV days. I stayed with him when I was over in Mumbai fixing up the film in September and we joked about him being Disney's loved and me being their unloved child.” 
	 
	Given the response this movie managed to get sans any promotion and that too in London, I was curious to know what plans Owen or Disney have for this movie. Owen shared that some high-flying industry folks were amongst the excited audience and they saw real potential for the film in the UK and the US. 
	 
	No wonder, UK distributors are showing interest in the movie. Even in India PGKS is well-liked amongst industry insiders who were given personal screenings by the director. After all, the film does come with some pedigree. Anurag and Abhinav Kashyap were `creative producers' and UTV’s top producer on the job at the time was the visionary Vikas Bahl (who has given movies such as Chiller Party and Queen). So, what happens now to Peter Gaya Kaam Se? 
	 
	Owen picks on a philosophical note and shares, "It's all about love and timing. PGKS came along at the wrong time in the marriage of UTV and Disney. So, it’s the unwanted child. A bit like how Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire was for Warner Brothers. Warners’ just didn’t like the film so they let Danny go off and find a new home with Fox Searchlight. Fox loved the film, supported Danny, and made Slumdog a massive box office success. The film industry does not work like a science. Sometimes it comes down to personal taste. When I get depressed about the whole thing I think of Danny and Slumdog and get inspired all over again.” 
	 
	While Owen never had the resources or connections to find buyers for PGKS, on its own, he is looking to crowd funding and other ways to get this movie to be released.
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	It is noteworthy, that UTV Spotboys was the pioneer of small budget, content-oriented movies in India. 
	 
	Khosla Ka Ghosla was one of the first movies in this genre that was produced under UTV Motion Pictures. Later between 2008 and 2009, under the UTV Spotboys banner, they released movies such as Dev D, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Welcome to Sajjanpur, A Wednesday, Mumbai Meri Jaan and Aamir. All these movies managed to get a fair share of success at the ticket window. 
	 
	 
	 
	Another coincidence worth pointing out in the case of Peter Gaya Kaam Se is that it went on floor almost at the same time as Paan Singh Tomar. 
	 
	The latter, too, was produced by UTV Spotboys and managed to get a release on March 2, 2012, almost four years after it was complete and it managed to be a box office success largely due to word of mouth. 
	 
	The bigger coincidence is that Paan Singh Tomar, too, was premiered at the 2010 British Film Institute London, almost two years before its domestic release. 
	 
	We spoke to Rucha Pathak on why it was such a challenge to make a movie like Paan Singh Tomar. 
	 
	Pathak was the associate producer of Paan Singh Tomar and Sr. Creative Director at UTV (now Disney India) when this film was being made and is now Head of Creative &amp; Development at Fox Star Studios. 
	 
	“The main challenges we faced while trying to make Paan Singh Tomar was that because it was probably the first time a film like this was being made people did not realise what it was going to be like and it was therefore completely against the trend in those days,” she said. 
	 
	Also we could not help ask her if is it really possible to get any small budget movie out there in the market to which she answered, “It is difficult to release small and medium budget films these days but not impossible. I think if one can find the right marketing budget and the right target audience that you want to reach out to, then it’s possible to release a film. It is really critical these days to make films at the right budget and market films at the right budget. Once that is under control then I believe one can get a film out to reach an audience that it is meant for.” 
	 
	While Pathak emphasised on the budgeting bit, Nahata feels, “Exhibition or the release strategy is very detrimental to the business of content driven movies. The moment there is a big movie coming in, they are thrown out. Most such movies need time for the word of mouth to pick up.” 
	 
	
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The distributors today are looking for instant gratification. They would expect the movie to have 80 to 90% occupancy rates for its release Friday itself. If the movie does not show results by Sunday, then on Monday it is thrown out. This was not really the case earlier. I still remember when Maine Pyaar Kiya released, it had just one cinema hall in Mumbai, later when the word of mouth spread, the movie was given more space and it was a such a huge hit,” shares Ami Shah, co-founder and creative director of IntelliAssist (a company that has handled social media mandates for Bollywood movies). 
 
Indeed, distribution is one big challenge for small budget, content-oriented movies in India. However, Director Onir mentions that it is not the only one. Just to give you a perspective, Onir is an Indian film maker, who has churned out movies such as 'I AM, My Brother Nikhil’ and Bas Ek Pal. He had crowd funded his movie I AM, which released in 2010 and also bagged the national award for the same. 
 
Ask him if given a chance would he again crowd fund a movie or give any other director struggling for funds the same suggestion and he replies, “No it is one thing to make a movie and altogether another to get it to the cinema. Marketing a movie, especially a content-oriented one is a hard job.” 
 
I would agree with his point that it is tough nut to market a movie that does not have bankable stars. Like, Filmistaan, the 2014 movie was an endearing tale of wannabe actor, who gets kidnapped by terrorists and held in the home of a Pakistani who deals in pirated Hindi films. The tale captures how both of them bond over movies. 
 
The trailers of the movie looked very bland and I was not sure whether I would want to waste time watching this movie. Fortunately for me, one of my friend dragged me to this movie and I would admit that it was actually one of the best movies of 2014 that I managed to see and yes it did manage to win a national award as well. 
 
The cost of marketing in itself is quite high as well and it is not just important to buy ad space but also to connect right with your target audience. This is perhaps one lesson that the movie Queen managed to do well and of course the word of mouth helped it consolidate its position over a period of time. 
 
Onir also mentions that the government will have to play a greater role to help protect content-driven cinema in India. “The approach that our government takes is that they treat Bollywood as a business and not art. However, it will have to realize that like any art even movies need a bit of support”. In his opinion, there could be plenty of other avenues where movies can be showcased. 
 
Now talking about television, we have 24-hour movie channels that end up playing same movie almost every weekend. Most TV channels pick up movies that have done well on the box office, so that they don’t have to do much in terms of marketing and yet they can have good TRPs on their so-called “World Television Premiere”. It is a possibility that some of these movies that are left biting the dust, some might be ideal for the TV watching audience but so far these gems are not able to get any real support for this medium too. 
 
With the coming of 4G, it is expected that some of these movies might get a fresh lease of hope. There are producers and directors that are looking for alternative channels to monetize their movies via online ads and pay per view models. Currently none of them has been able to come out with a full proof plan and hence some great marvels of Hindi cinema continue to rot in their graves, while the others in the hands of resilient makers are fighting it hard to get to their audiences.

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