IIFA Flashback
This past June, the city of Toronto was the epicentre of all things Bollywood as stars and starlets from Mumbai descended upon our fair city for the North American debut of the Indian International Film Academy — IIFA Weekend & Awards.
We break it down for you, with our best and worst dressed, exclusive interviews, as well as backstage fashion and beauty reportage, all in all, taking you behind the scenes of the glitz and glamour that only Bollywood can bring!
BY HINA P. ANSARI
HPA: IIFA is here. I can’t believe that the last time you were here was in January, and now here we are the night before the IIFA Weekend & Awards. You must be very excited about it all starting tomorrow.
AK: Very excited! Honestly, it’s one of the biggest shows I have ever done down here. It’s one of the biggest Indian shows ever.
HPA: Really? How so?
AK: In terms of scale, the production, the support from the Canadian government. What happens when you get this kind of support is that you get encouraged. It’s two countries coming together that make the difference. You get the support, things become easier and better, and then you can really do a lot, so the scale can be bigger.
HPA: It’s interesting you mentioned two countries coming together because you’ve really been able to balance east and west with respect to filmmaking. How would you compare making a film in India as opposed to working on an American television show like 24?
AK: Making 24 was great. It was one of the finest moments of my life. It was wonderful, absolutely tremendous and it was very educating, very enriching, I made some great friends and learned a lot. So it was fun.
HPA: And it’s all because of Slumdog MillionaIre!
AK: Yes, because of Slumdog!
HPA: Tell us about your current projects.
AK: Mission: Impossible 4 and I’m doing another Indian film called Tezz.
HPA: With Boman Irani? He talked about that with me when we spoke yesterday!
AK: Oh really! [Laughs], What did he say? Is he excited about it?
HPA: Yeah, he is totally thrilled about it!
AK: I try to balance both worlds. So I start with an international project again sometime in October or November, then I start another Indian film.
HPA: Your daughter, Sonam, is now a star for the next generation. How does it feel being a proud father of a daughter who is following in your footsteps?
AK: I think she is blessed; she’s wonderful and a very fine actress. She is making us proud.
HPA: What advice did you give her when it was clear that she wanted to be an actress?
AK: I said that it’s going to be a rough ride; it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be more difficult for you than it was for me. Because you know when I came, I came with no expectations. And nobody knew who I was. So I did what I could do. You are watched and judged constantly. The media have changed, people have changed and things have changed now. So it’s going to be a tougher ride. She’s been a tough girl. She has done pretty well for herself.
HPA: Oh, absolutely; it has changed tremendously. People are on various social-media outlets and blogs, which are immediate news as opposed to the 24-hour version. One has to have a thick skin now when entering this sort of public domain.
AK: I have, as you said, thick skin. I can anticipate things and I know what’s coming, you know? And I get wound up in the moment in great things. It doesn’t bother me what people write about me. It wouldn’t matter. I don’t get carried away when they write good things about me; I don’t get depressed if they write bad things about me. She’s young and she’s sensitive. It’ll take time to toughen herself. So in that way, yes.
HPA: How do you feel about the new generation – your daughter aside – of actors and actresses who want to take that leap of faith? Is there any advice that you would give them?
AK: What I feel is not something I can say in one line. I feel anybody can make it if you dream. Dream big! Dream and you can do it. You just have to go for it. Go for your goals and you can achieve whatever you want to achieve.
BY SANA TAHIR
ST: How has your stay been in Toronto with the IIFA madness?
MAK: It has been great, fun. Every time you go to a new place and stay there for a couple of days, you get to see so much and you get to interact with the [film] fraternity. I cannot believe the crowds over here; it has been completely overwhelming. Even when you come back at 3 or 4 in the morning they are still cheering, screaming and shouting, which I think is pretty amazing.
ST: Before you made your mark as a model, as an actor and, now, as a producer, were you planning on exploring another career path?
MAK: I was studying child psychology and that was it. Obviously if I had to pursue that then I would have done something related to that. I think destiny had different plans for me, I started modelling and one thing led to another. No regrets. I love it. I love being part of this business. Of course, I married into a film family, which brought me closer to films. Now, we are producing films and we’re completely immersed in that whole aspect of our jobs, which I love.
ST: How was your experience being a first-time producer with Dabaang?
MAK: Great! It’s a whole new ball game, a whole new feeling. It feels nice to know that our first venture in doing something different paid off. It opened up opportunities for me and everyone took notice of our films, which made the Dabaang team feel really good.
ST: Is Dabaang 2 on the way?
MAK: Yes, we are hoping to start by the end of the year.
ST: Will we see you in front of the camera or are we looking at you more as the producer of Dabaang 2?
MAK: I will definitely be co-producer of the film. This time, Arbaaz [Khan] will be directing the film and this is the first time for him as a director.
ST: What about you being onscreen?
MAK: I think that only Arbaaz will be able to answer this in due course because I think they are still in the scripting stages. If he feels that I need to return, then I can be squeezed in somewhere. [Laughter] I don’t know; it will all depend on the script.
ST: Is there anything else out there that you would like to try?
MAK: I’ve always said that I would love to do a talk show in India. So, if ever I have the opportunity and I think we have the time to put it all together, I would love to do a talk show. It could be anything. Covering relevant topics and just talking about different things and getting different people on the show — a variety. Someone else who I think is really good and has got the gift of the gab is Farah Khan. She is very good with all the shows that she does; I think she would do a great job.
ST: Tell us about your upcoming projects?
MAK: I have a television show coming up, a dance show, but [currently] we are neck deep with our film Dabaang 2. That’s completely taking up all our time. My biggest plan is hopefully by the end of the year, beginning of next year, I can get my restaurant going.
ST: Oh lovely, and what type of cuisine should we look forward to?
MAK: Fusion and world cuisine. I like a variety of different flavours, such as Japanese, Mexican and Asian. It’s a fusion of food that I would like to do so that’s why I am hoping I can get going soon enough.
ST: I’m assuming this restaurant will be opening in Mumbai.
MAK: Yes, that’s right.
ST: Where else would you like to open a restaurant?
MAK: Definitely London, New York and Dubai. Food is something that is so universal. It’s a language that everybody understands. Everybody connects with food, so I would love to open up restaurants in as many places as possible.
ST: Let’s talk a bit about fashion. I hear you are a big fan of Cavalli.
MAK: I love Cavalli!
ST: Are we going to be seeing you in Cavalli at the IIFAs?
MAK: I did bring a Cavalli dress, but I think I will eventually go with an Indian designer, and that is Monisha Jaising. I love her clothes. I’m going to wear her, but I do love Cavalli, Gucci, Vikram Phadnis…the list is endless.
ST: What is your beauty routine and do you have any tips to share with our readers?
MAK: In terms of what type of products to use, I think everyone is different. Everyone’s skin is different; the way they react to things is very different. For me, I’m someone who believes in three steps of cleansing, toning and moisturizing. I drink a lot of water. I think, for me, my water therapy starts from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed. There’s always a bottle of water beside my bed. I believe in a holistic lifestyle. I always say "Don’t smoke." I’m somebody who is pretty anti-smoking so I don’t smoke. Drinking, again, I think the odd glass here and there is fine. Just stay healthy and eat healthy. Don’t diet unnecessarily. For exercise, yoga is a great way to stay healthy and I’m sure a lot of people hit the gym and work out. However, I think at some stage in your life, you have to incorporate a bit of yoga because I think it is just a little more of a holistic approach. I think that’s how I am. I am very regimented as a person: I wake up on time, sleep on time, eat on time. I am pretty good about those things. Due to my work and other commitments, things can tend to get a little erratic at times, but I try to keep it as systematic as possible.
BY HINA P. ANSARI
HPA: You were a photographer first. How did you make the transition to film?
BI: I used to be a shopkeeper. In the city of Mumbai, we had a little shop where we sold snacks and potato chips. We used to manufacture potato chips and sell them fresh. That was the family business. I became a professional photographer at 32 and three years later, I started [acting] in amateur theatre and I turned professional immediately. My first play, luckily for me, was a huge success. Then, people started considering me as a half-decent actor so I got more and more roles in theatre. By the time I was 44, the film roles started coming in. I refused a few film roles before finally taking up Munna Bhai MBBS.
HPA: So what made you decide on Munna Bhai MBBS?
BI: India. We read scripts but also the director narrates the story for you, the way he sees the film. Raj Kumar Hirani narrated the story in the most astounding way. It was with so much passion and humour and he got emotional while telling the story. It was very close to his heart. And I said, "Here’s a man who can tell a story and make me laugh and cry with words, without pictures or sound or music." Plus, the story was very interesting, and the man turned out to be a real gem and I wasn’t wrong, as the world soon discovered.
HPA: It was such a great story, so I can see why you were absolutely enthralled by just the description.
BI: In minutes… Minutes! I mean, I was just enthralled! The moment he started the second half, I said, ‘Look, you don’t need to read me the second half. I’m going to do your film.’ It was as simple as that.
HPA: So as a former photographer, how did you balance the mentality of once being behind the lens to being in front of the lens?
BI: You know, it’s an advantage for me. What I know is how to filter out — I know how much of my photography skills I’m supposed to take with me to the studio floor and how much to leave at the door. For example, framing and lighting is not my domain anymore. It’s not my concern. But once the framing and lighting is done, what helps me is knowing how to take the light on my face, to make sure which lens is being used so how much of me is being seen and how much of my performance has to be magnified or diluted according to the magnification of the lens. So if you understand lensing and lighting, you’ll know how to use it to your advantage. I leave the rest of it at the door so I’m not treading on someone else’s toes saying, "Wouldn’t this frame look better than that frame?" They’ll tell you to shut up.
HPA: What are your future projects?
BI: Last year, we shot Don 2 in Berlin and we finished shooting the rest of the film in Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur this year. I did a film called Tezz, which we shot in London and Mumbai, so that’s complete. Stand by Me, which is a film we shot in Las Vegas, is a Karan Johar Production. That has a few days to go. I also started two more films just before coming to Toronto.
HPA: Hosting a show of this magnitude is like trying to control a three-ring circus. What’s your secret?
BI: This is my fifth year. I did my first IIFAs in Leeds, England, and then we went to Bangkok, Macau, Sri Lanka, and now Toronto. There has to be a great amount of energy, plus I think my co-host, Ritesh [Deshmukh], is a wonderful guy and we get along together like a house on fire. Also, it can’t be really difficult because every time we announce a big name, even if you just say it under your breath — "And the next performer will be Hrithik Roshan,’" — the crowds just go crazy, right? So that can’t be too difficult. You just mention Shah Rukh Khan’s name and people are going to go bananas. We put in a lot of hard work with scripting ourselves and we rehearse a lot because nothing is to be taken for granted.
HPA: Is there a difference in terms of energy or obsession with respect to international fans as opposed to the fans in India?
BI: I think fans are fans. They’re going to be with you unconditionally. Everyone has a different way of showing it. In Canada, people are far more polite — they come smile at you and request a photograph, whereas some other places they may not ask and they yank at you and start taking pictures. That’s the only difference. The people here in Canada are intrinsically very, very polite and it’s nice; it’s wonderful. People here are very, very warm. Otherwise, fans are fans and they’re going to behave the way they are and we don’t want them to change in any way.
HPA: Since you got into the film industry, like you said, in your 40s, what advice would you give for those who thinking about entering it at a similar stage in life?
BI: I look at acting as a craft. I think it’s more important to be successful than popular because popularity is just a byproduct of you being successful at what you do. As far as I’m concerned, I didn’t come here with good looks so I can’t quite depend on that, right? [Laughs] So I’ve got to work on my craft. And I invite anyone who wants to be an actor, even one who looks like Adonis himself, to work on the craft, to work on preparing himself as an actor and preparing his character in a very regimented way. Just like he’s doing any other job, because the moment we are struck with popularity and stardom, everything else gets forgotten and your craft diminishes in the background. I think that is a great mistake. If you’re looking at longevity and want to stay, then you have to work at it as if you’re training yourself to be a doctor or a technician or anything else. Don’t be fooled by the razzle-dazzle because that razzle-dazzle can just disappear then you have nothing — you have no craft and you have no fans. So fans come to you because you’re a performer.
Check out our complete IIFA 2011 coverage on anokhimagazine.com/iifa2011
PUBLISHED IN THE FASHION, STYLE & HOLIDAY ISSUE, OCTOBER 2011
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAAD KHAN
SAADKHAN.CA
We break it down for you, with our best and worst dressed, exclusive interviews, as well as backstage fashion and beauty reportage, all in all, taking you behind the scenes of the glitz and glamour that only Bollywood can bring!
Q&A with Anil, Malaika & Boman
ANIL KAPOOR
BY HINA P. ANSARIHPA: IIFA is here. I can’t believe that the last time you were here was in January, and now here we are the night before the IIFA Weekend & Awards. You must be very excited about it all starting tomorrow.
AK: Very excited! Honestly, it’s one of the biggest shows I have ever done down here. It’s one of the biggest Indian shows ever.
HPA: Really? How so?
AK: In terms of scale, the production, the support from the Canadian government. What happens when you get this kind of support is that you get encouraged. It’s two countries coming together that make the difference. You get the support, things become easier and better, and then you can really do a lot, so the scale can be bigger.
HPA: It’s interesting you mentioned two countries coming together because you’ve really been able to balance east and west with respect to filmmaking. How would you compare making a film in India as opposed to working on an American television show like 24?
AK: Making 24 was great. It was one of the finest moments of my life. It was wonderful, absolutely tremendous and it was very educating, very enriching, I made some great friends and learned a lot. So it was fun.
HPA: And it’s all because of Slumdog MillionaIre!
AK: Yes, because of Slumdog!
HPA: Tell us about your current projects.
AK: Mission: Impossible 4 and I’m doing another Indian film called Tezz.
HPA: With Boman Irani? He talked about that with me when we spoke yesterday!
AK: Oh really! [Laughs], What did he say? Is he excited about it?
HPA: Yeah, he is totally thrilled about it!
AK: I try to balance both worlds. So I start with an international project again sometime in October or November, then I start another Indian film.
HPA: Your daughter, Sonam, is now a star for the next generation. How does it feel being a proud father of a daughter who is following in your footsteps?
AK: I think she is blessed; she’s wonderful and a very fine actress. She is making us proud.
HPA: What advice did you give her when it was clear that she wanted to be an actress?
AK: I said that it’s going to be a rough ride; it’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be more difficult for you than it was for me. Because you know when I came, I came with no expectations. And nobody knew who I was. So I did what I could do. You are watched and judged constantly. The media have changed, people have changed and things have changed now. So it’s going to be a tougher ride. She’s been a tough girl. She has done pretty well for herself.
HPA: Oh, absolutely; it has changed tremendously. People are on various social-media outlets and blogs, which are immediate news as opposed to the 24-hour version. One has to have a thick skin now when entering this sort of public domain.
AK: I have, as you said, thick skin. I can anticipate things and I know what’s coming, you know? And I get wound up in the moment in great things. It doesn’t bother me what people write about me. It wouldn’t matter. I don’t get carried away when they write good things about me; I don’t get depressed if they write bad things about me. She’s young and she’s sensitive. It’ll take time to toughen herself. So in that way, yes.
HPA: How do you feel about the new generation – your daughter aside – of actors and actresses who want to take that leap of faith? Is there any advice that you would give them?
AK: What I feel is not something I can say in one line. I feel anybody can make it if you dream. Dream big! Dream and you can do it. You just have to go for it. Go for your goals and you can achieve whatever you want to achieve.
MALAIKA ARORA KHAN
ST: How has your stay been in Toronto with the IIFA madness?
MAK: It has been great, fun. Every time you go to a new place and stay there for a couple of days, you get to see so much and you get to interact with the [film] fraternity. I cannot believe the crowds over here; it has been completely overwhelming. Even when you come back at 3 or 4 in the morning they are still cheering, screaming and shouting, which I think is pretty amazing.
ST: Before you made your mark as a model, as an actor and, now, as a producer, were you planning on exploring another career path?
MAK: I was studying child psychology and that was it. Obviously if I had to pursue that then I would have done something related to that. I think destiny had different plans for me, I started modelling and one thing led to another. No regrets. I love it. I love being part of this business. Of course, I married into a film family, which brought me closer to films. Now, we are producing films and we’re completely immersed in that whole aspect of our jobs, which I love.
ST: How was your experience being a first-time producer with Dabaang?
MAK: Great! It’s a whole new ball game, a whole new feeling. It feels nice to know that our first venture in doing something different paid off. It opened up opportunities for me and everyone took notice of our films, which made the Dabaang team feel really good.
ST: Is Dabaang 2 on the way?
MAK: Yes, we are hoping to start by the end of the year.
ST: Will we see you in front of the camera or are we looking at you more as the producer of Dabaang 2?
MAK: I will definitely be co-producer of the film. This time, Arbaaz [Khan] will be directing the film and this is the first time for him as a director.
ST: What about you being onscreen?
MAK: I think that only Arbaaz will be able to answer this in due course because I think they are still in the scripting stages. If he feels that I need to return, then I can be squeezed in somewhere. [Laughter] I don’t know; it will all depend on the script.
ST: Is there anything else out there that you would like to try?
MAK: I’ve always said that I would love to do a talk show in India. So, if ever I have the opportunity and I think we have the time to put it all together, I would love to do a talk show. It could be anything. Covering relevant topics and just talking about different things and getting different people on the show — a variety. Someone else who I think is really good and has got the gift of the gab is Farah Khan. She is very good with all the shows that she does; I think she would do a great job.
ST: Tell us about your upcoming projects?
MAK: I have a television show coming up, a dance show, but [currently] we are neck deep with our film Dabaang 2. That’s completely taking up all our time. My biggest plan is hopefully by the end of the year, beginning of next year, I can get my restaurant going.
ST: Oh lovely, and what type of cuisine should we look forward to?
MAK: Fusion and world cuisine. I like a variety of different flavours, such as Japanese, Mexican and Asian. It’s a fusion of food that I would like to do so that’s why I am hoping I can get going soon enough.
ST: I’m assuming this restaurant will be opening in Mumbai.
MAK: Yes, that’s right.
ST: Where else would you like to open a restaurant?
MAK: Definitely London, New York and Dubai. Food is something that is so universal. It’s a language that everybody understands. Everybody connects with food, so I would love to open up restaurants in as many places as possible.
ST: Let’s talk a bit about fashion. I hear you are a big fan of Cavalli.
MAK: I love Cavalli!
ST: Are we going to be seeing you in Cavalli at the IIFAs?
MAK: I did bring a Cavalli dress, but I think I will eventually go with an Indian designer, and that is Monisha Jaising. I love her clothes. I’m going to wear her, but I do love Cavalli, Gucci, Vikram Phadnis…the list is endless.
ST: What is your beauty routine and do you have any tips to share with our readers?
MAK: In terms of what type of products to use, I think everyone is different. Everyone’s skin is different; the way they react to things is very different. For me, I’m someone who believes in three steps of cleansing, toning and moisturizing. I drink a lot of water. I think, for me, my water therapy starts from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed. There’s always a bottle of water beside my bed. I believe in a holistic lifestyle. I always say "Don’t smoke." I’m somebody who is pretty anti-smoking so I don’t smoke. Drinking, again, I think the odd glass here and there is fine. Just stay healthy and eat healthy. Don’t diet unnecessarily. For exercise, yoga is a great way to stay healthy and I’m sure a lot of people hit the gym and work out. However, I think at some stage in your life, you have to incorporate a bit of yoga because I think it is just a little more of a holistic approach. I think that’s how I am. I am very regimented as a person: I wake up on time, sleep on time, eat on time. I am pretty good about those things. Due to my work and other commitments, things can tend to get a little erratic at times, but I try to keep it as systematic as possible.
BOMAN IRANI
HPA: You were a photographer first. How did you make the transition to film?
BI: I used to be a shopkeeper. In the city of Mumbai, we had a little shop where we sold snacks and potato chips. We used to manufacture potato chips and sell them fresh. That was the family business. I became a professional photographer at 32 and three years later, I started [acting] in amateur theatre and I turned professional immediately. My first play, luckily for me, was a huge success. Then, people started considering me as a half-decent actor so I got more and more roles in theatre. By the time I was 44, the film roles started coming in. I refused a few film roles before finally taking up Munna Bhai MBBS.
HPA: So what made you decide on Munna Bhai MBBS?
BI: India. We read scripts but also the director narrates the story for you, the way he sees the film. Raj Kumar Hirani narrated the story in the most astounding way. It was with so much passion and humour and he got emotional while telling the story. It was very close to his heart. And I said, "Here’s a man who can tell a story and make me laugh and cry with words, without pictures or sound or music." Plus, the story was very interesting, and the man turned out to be a real gem and I wasn’t wrong, as the world soon discovered.
HPA: It was such a great story, so I can see why you were absolutely enthralled by just the description.
BI: In minutes… Minutes! I mean, I was just enthralled! The moment he started the second half, I said, ‘Look, you don’t need to read me the second half. I’m going to do your film.’ It was as simple as that.
HPA: So as a former photographer, how did you balance the mentality of once being behind the lens to being in front of the lens?
BI: You know, it’s an advantage for me. What I know is how to filter out — I know how much of my photography skills I’m supposed to take with me to the studio floor and how much to leave at the door. For example, framing and lighting is not my domain anymore. It’s not my concern. But once the framing and lighting is done, what helps me is knowing how to take the light on my face, to make sure which lens is being used so how much of me is being seen and how much of my performance has to be magnified or diluted according to the magnification of the lens. So if you understand lensing and lighting, you’ll know how to use it to your advantage. I leave the rest of it at the door so I’m not treading on someone else’s toes saying, "Wouldn’t this frame look better than that frame?" They’ll tell you to shut up.
HPA: What are your future projects?
BI: Last year, we shot Don 2 in Berlin and we finished shooting the rest of the film in Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur this year. I did a film called Tezz, which we shot in London and Mumbai, so that’s complete. Stand by Me, which is a film we shot in Las Vegas, is a Karan Johar Production. That has a few days to go. I also started two more films just before coming to Toronto.
HPA: Hosting a show of this magnitude is like trying to control a three-ring circus. What’s your secret?
BI: This is my fifth year. I did my first IIFAs in Leeds, England, and then we went to Bangkok, Macau, Sri Lanka, and now Toronto. There has to be a great amount of energy, plus I think my co-host, Ritesh [Deshmukh], is a wonderful guy and we get along together like a house on fire. Also, it can’t be really difficult because every time we announce a big name, even if you just say it under your breath — "And the next performer will be Hrithik Roshan,’" — the crowds just go crazy, right? So that can’t be too difficult. You just mention Shah Rukh Khan’s name and people are going to go bananas. We put in a lot of hard work with scripting ourselves and we rehearse a lot because nothing is to be taken for granted.
HPA: Is there a difference in terms of energy or obsession with respect to international fans as opposed to the fans in India?
BI: I think fans are fans. They’re going to be with you unconditionally. Everyone has a different way of showing it. In Canada, people are far more polite — they come smile at you and request a photograph, whereas some other places they may not ask and they yank at you and start taking pictures. That’s the only difference. The people here in Canada are intrinsically very, very polite and it’s nice; it’s wonderful. People here are very, very warm. Otherwise, fans are fans and they’re going to behave the way they are and we don’t want them to change in any way.
HPA: Since you got into the film industry, like you said, in your 40s, what advice would you give for those who thinking about entering it at a similar stage in life?
BI: I look at acting as a craft. I think it’s more important to be successful than popular because popularity is just a byproduct of you being successful at what you do. As far as I’m concerned, I didn’t come here with good looks so I can’t quite depend on that, right? [Laughs] So I’ve got to work on my craft. And I invite anyone who wants to be an actor, even one who looks like Adonis himself, to work on the craft, to work on preparing himself as an actor and preparing his character in a very regimented way. Just like he’s doing any other job, because the moment we are struck with popularity and stardom, everything else gets forgotten and your craft diminishes in the background. I think that is a great mistake. If you’re looking at longevity and want to stay, then you have to work at it as if you’re training yourself to be a doctor or a technician or anything else. Don’t be fooled by the razzle-dazzle because that razzle-dazzle can just disappear then you have nothing — you have no craft and you have no fans. So fans come to you because you’re a performer.
Check out our complete IIFA 2011 coverage on anokhimagazine.com/iifa2011
PUBLISHED IN THE FASHION, STYLE & HOLIDAY ISSUE, OCTOBER 2011
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAAD KHAN
SAADKHAN.CA
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