Latest news with #Bhatt
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mahesh Bhatt says Mohit Suri is bright, but he doesn't see an original voice in 'Saiyaara'; lauds Anupam Kher for 'Tanvi The Great': ‘I'm awestruck by his courage'
'Saiyaara' directed by Mohit Suri , starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda released on Friday, July 18. It clashed with Anupam Kher 's directorial, 'Tanvi The Great' at the box office. Interestingly, both Suri and Kher are Mahesh Bhatt 's protégés. Kher made his debut with 'Saaransh' directed by Bhatt. In a recent interview, the 'Arth' director spoke about both of them as directors and largely lauded Kher to have the courage to make a film like 'Tanvi The Great'. 'There's another young filmmaker, who happens to be my nephew, Mohit Suri. He's made a film called Saiyaara, He made Aashiqui 2 (2013) for me. He's a bright, young boy. He has his own style, and he's coming into his own,' Bhatt shared on The Himanshu Mehta Show. However, Bhatt still sees a lack of originality in Hindi cinema. He added, 'But I don't see an original voice in the landscape today. The burden of an instant box office hit, this box office albatross is weighing down everybody. It makes people take plots and stories which titillate and cater to the senses. ' He pointed to a broader societal issue—technology-driven detachment—as part of the problem. 'The dopamine (on smartphones) has been numbing your senses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Comfortably: 60m2 prefabricated bungalow for the elderly in Bajubang Laut Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo Because you want to escape the reality of the world. Our filmmakers and singers of bygone days would throw you into yourself. Now, content is used as a way to escape yourself. Anything that takes you away from yourself is popcorn, like candy floss. I don't see filmmakers with great depth anymore,' he observed. On the other hand, he lauded Anupam Kher and said, 'It's a film which roots for the most vulnerable, an autistic child. And he's put in all his own money,' Bhatt said, calling Tanvi The Great 'entertainment for the soul.' He acknowledged his potential emotional bias and said, 'I'm awestruck by his courage. I'm so proud that what I ripped up in him, which was there in him, 41 years ago in Saaransh, is now coming into full bloom, and on his own. ' 'Saiyaara' has crossed Rs 250 crore now at the domestic box office. Anupam Kher also had congratulated the entire team despite the clash with his own film and he also congratulated himself and actress Shubhangi Dutta for 'Tanvi The Great'.
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Saiyaara director Mohit Suri is a ‘bright, young boy' but I don't see the ‘original voice' of Anupam Kher's Tanvi The Great, says Mahesh Bhatt: ‘It is entertainment for the soul'
Mahesh Bhatt's mentorship has proven to reap great benefits this year as several of his former associates and proteges have come into their own as directors yet again in July 2025. Firstly, Anurag Basu, whom he launched as a director in Saaya (2003), recently delivered the much-loved romantic musical Metro… In Dino. On July 18, two other talents that Bhatt launched have also come up with their directorials. Bhatt's nephew Mohit Suri, whom he launched with Zeher (2005), delivered Saiyaara, a blockbuster romantic drama starring Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, backed by Aditya Chopra's Yash Raj Films. But that's not the film Bhatt has his money on. 'There's another young filmmaker, who happens to be my nephew, Mohit Suri. He's made a film called Saiyaara, which is coming on 18th. He made Aashiqui 2 (2013) for me. He's a bright, young boy. He has his own style, and he's coming into his own,' said Bhatt on The Himanshu Mehta Show, but added that he doesn't see an original voice in the movies today. 'But I don't see an original voice in the landscape today. The burden of an instant box office hit, this box office albatross is weighing down everybody. It makes people take plots and stories which titillate and cater to the senses,' added Bhatt. Saiyaara has become the highest grossing Hindi film with newcomers, having collected over Rs 250 crore in 11 days at the domestic box office. 'The dopamine (on smartphones) has been numbing your senses. Because you want to escape the reality of the world. Our filmmakers and singers of bygone days would throw you into yourself. Now, content is used as a way to escape yourself. Anything that takes you away from yourself is popcorn, like candyfloss. I don't see filmmakers with great depth anymore,' argued Bhatt. He claimed the only film with an 'original voice' he's seen recently is Anupam Kher's coming-of-age drama Tanvi The Great. Kher was also launched by Bhatt as an actor in his 1984 family drama Saaransh. Bhatt admitted his choice could be out of 'emotional bias,' but he's a biased human being 'like anybody else.' 'It's a film which roots for the most vulnerable, an autistic child. And he's put in all his own money,' said Bhatt, calling Tanvi The Great 'entertainment for the soul.' 'I'm awestruck by his courage. I'm so proud that what I ripped up in him, which was there in him, 41 years ago in Saaransh, is now coming into full bloom, and on his own,' added Bhatt. Also Read — 'Alia Bhatt is self-made, ambitious unlike Ranbir Kapoor who is laidback,' says Mahesh Bhatt: 'She has matured after welcoming Raha' Tanvi The Great, inspired from Kher's real-life niece named Tanvi who's autistic, marks his return to direction 23 years after his 2002 directorial debut Om Jai Jagdish. It marks the debut of Shubhangi Sharma, and also stars Pallavi Joshi, Jackie Shroff, Karan Tacker, Prakash Raj, and Aravind Swamy among others.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Raj Kapoor was reduced to dust as he made ‘Mera Naam Joker', says Mahesh Bhatt: ‘The certainty of failure'
Veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt , known for delivering some of Hindi cinema's most memorable films like 'Arth', 'Aashiqui' among many more, is also known for his deep, philosophical views. This side of him is evident every time he speaks and also the depth in his movies. In a recent interview, he shared his perspective on the unpredictable nature of the film industry . With over five decades of experience behind him, Bhatt believes that failure is far more certain than success in showbiz. Bhatt used the example of legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor to drive home his point. He recalled how Kapoor went bankrupt after producing Mera Naam Joker in 1970 — a film that is now considered iconic, but had flopped at the box office upon release. Speaking on The Himanshu Mehta Show, he said, 'Raj Kapoor was reduced to dust when he made Mera Naam Joker, but the same Raj Kapoor when he made Bobby, the whole nation came to make him successful because they in a way felt guilty for seeing such a great filmmaker spiral into economic debt,' Bhatt said. 'Those were very trying times for him, and that is the same time I joined films. I have seen him in those vulnerable times. Failure is very difficult to take in our business. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Don't Pay For New Gutters. Get This 3-In-1 System Instead LeafFilter Gutter Protection Call Now Undo ' Bhatt further shared a conversation he once had with the late Yash Chopra about the importance of discussing failure, especially with newcomers. 'I was talking to Yash Chopra about what we need to talk to a junior about — the certainty of failure. If you want to be in this business, you have to be certain that you will fail more often than succeed. Success is a fluke, failure is guaranteed, and yet you have to keep on going.' Earlier veteran actor Raza Murad had also spoken about how Raj Kapoor faced debts post 'Mera Naam Joker'. In an earlier interview with Filmy Charcha, Murad said, 'After Mera Naam Joker, he was in tremendous debt. Things got so bad that distributors refused to buy Bobby without seeing it first. These were the same people who were once desperate to secure the rights to his movies. But after Mera Naam Joker, everything changed. He refused to show them the movie, but he agreed to show them the songs. '
The Print
a day ago
- The Print
Sharda University suicide case: Report in SC cites ‘delays, protocol violations, scene compromised'
Taking note of the rising number of student suicides, a Supreme Court bench of justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan appointed Bhatt as an amicus curiae after taking suo motu cognisance of news reports on the two instant cases. Senior advocate Aparna Bhatt also submitted a report Monday on a similar suicide incident reported from IIT Kharagpur the same day as the Sharda University case. In this case, her report said, there was no violation of legal procedures. New Delhi: A Supreme Court-appointed amicus curiae has flagged Sharda University's failure to promptly notify the police about the alleged suicide of a second-year dental student, noting it was the parents who registered the FIR. When Bhatt's report was placed before it, the bench enquired about the problems affecting these institutions and directed that investigations be expedited. It asked what the management at these institutes are doing to address such cases. ThePrint has reached Sharda University, located in Greater Noida, for comment via email. The report will be updated if and when a response is received. Also Read: Beyond ragging & stress, task force formed by SC to review policies aimed at curbing student suicides The report The amicus curiae's report stated that in the IIT Kharagpur case, where a fourth-year student died allegedly by suicide 18 July, the parents were immediately informed and an FIR was lodged by the institution. An ambulance was called, and after police permission, the room was forcibly opened for a doctor's examination, who declared the student dead. In contrast, the report says, in the Sharda University case, the parents were not informed promptly. Also, neither the wardens nor university authorities contacted the police or arranged for an ambulance. 'The body was brought down by security guards and carried on a bedsheet by four hostel staff members. The warden eventually called the parents, informing them that their daughter was in serious condition in the emergency room but did not mention suicide. It is assumed other students had already informed the parents. No call was made to the PCR,' the report said. It further noted that a 'hospital doctor' called the police. The body was taken to a government hospital in Noida for post-mortem and later released to the family for last rites. 'The FIR was registered by the parents, not the university. The family has not been in contact with either the university or police since,' the report added. While no one was named in the FIR in the IIT Kharagpur case, two individuals mentioned in the purported suicide note by the Sharda University student have been arrested. The post-mortem of the Sharda University student confirmed death by asphyxiation, and the investigation is ongoing, the report says. But, post-mortem details and investigation status in the IIT Kharagpur case remain unclear due to police non-responsiveness, the report added. The 21-year-old student's suicide was the fourth such case at IIT Kharagpur in the past five months. The report noted he had a good academic record (CGP 8.5) with only an insignificant dip in his last semester. He returned from holidays around 15-16 July. On the first day of college reopening, he stayed alone in his room as his roommates had not returned. Around 11 am, his father asked hostel staff to clean the room. When the staff checked, he found the student hanging from the ceiling fan. The report does not mention why did the father call the hostel staff. The police were informed within 20 minutes, an ambulance was called, and the parents were promptly notified, the report says, adding an FIR was registered. Sharda University's 'delayed' response According to the report, the police said they received a call past 10 pm from the parents/family and the family had reached the hospital before they could arrive. 'The parents were very agitated. The series of protocols to be followed in such cases were violated by the university staff. The body had to be moved by the police, but the university staff took it upon themselves to do that. The scene was thus compromised because the warden entered and multiple people left fingerprints in the room,' the report stated, quoting the police version. Secondly, the university hospital issued the medico-legal certificate (MLC) to the police, which is also against protocol. However, officers clarified that the MLC only mentioned that she had no pulse and so on, but no internal examination of the body was conducted by the university hospital, according to the report. The police said the room was locked when they arrived, and they remained present until the forensic team reached to assess the scene, according to the report. 'They (police) found the suicide note inside her notebook on her study table and even though the mother had identified the handwriting, the police had not yet verified if the handwriting was hers.' 'The police state that there was at least a 40-minute delay in taking the body to the hospital even though the hospital was just five minutes away,' the report stated. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: SC issues pan-India guidelines to protect mental health of students in colleges & coaching centres
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Mahesh Bhatt remembers his doomed love story with Parveen Babi, recalls how she 'collapsed': 'She sat in the corner like an animal...'
Synopsis Parveen Babi and Mahesh Bhatt shared a troubled romance. Parveen battled mental health issues amidst stardom. Bhatt recalls her struggle with fame's allure. He describes her simple nature behind the glamorous facade. He recounts her emotional episodes and paranoia. Their relationship ended painfully. Parveen Babi died in 2005, leaving behind a complex legacy. Agencies Parveen Babi's Tragic Struggles: Mahesh Bhatt Reflects on Her Final Years In the 1970s, actress Parveen Babi shared a romantic relationship with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. Their bond, however, unfolded under a shadow of deep emotional unrest. At the time, mental health awareness in India was minimal, and though Parveen displayed signs of psychological distress, she was never medically diagnosed. Mahesh Bhatt has since revisited those turbulent memories, revealing the heartbreaking decline he witnessed in her later years. He described her descent as an overwhelming and painful transformation, one that spiraled beyond control. According to Bhatt, despite the clear signs of mental health deterioration, Parveen was unable to detach from the demanding world of showbiz. Speaking during his appearance on The Himanshu Mehta Show , Mahesh Bhatt disclosed that shortly before the interview, he had been penning down thoughts about Parveen's final descent into what he termed a complete mental breakdown. He explained that numerous attempts were made to dissuade her from returning to the hyper-competitive world of films after her breakdown. Bhatt believed that given her mental vulnerability, she should have stepped away for her own well-being. However, the magnetic pull of fame, the adoration, and the spotlight had become a drug too potent for her to abandon. According to Bhatt, once someone experiences the euphoria of stardom, retreating from it becomes near impossible. Her persistence to remain in the public eye, despite her fragile mental state, led to an emotional collapse that he described as tragically unfathomable." All attempts were made to make her see that once she had that kind of breakdown, there's no way she should try and fit herself back into this fiercely competitive space. She should have withdrawn, as she had a physiological vulnerability. But I think once you have tasted this business, the high of the arc lights, it's very difficult to turn your back on it. But what happened to her was an unimaginable tragedy," he reminisced. Though the world saw a dazzling diva adorned in designer wear and exuding confidence, Bhatt shared that behind her glamorous persona, Parveen was deeply rooted in simplicity. According to him, she was a modest woman from Junagadh, Gujarat, who cherished quiet domestic joys—like oiling her hair or cooking at home. The glamorous image she projected on screen and at public events was merely a façade. Beneath it all, she longed for a life of peace and intimacy, not glitz and an earlier conversation with BBC News Hindi , Bhatt revealed witnessing Parveen suffer from severe emotional episodes. He remembered seeing her leave for shoots in the morning, only to return hours later trembling in fear, whispering delusions about imagined threats. According to him, she had schizophrenia—a condition that left her in constant fear and confusion."I saw her go through her collapse. I went through it with her. And when you see someone breaking down in front of you… I saw her leave in the morning for her shoot with her makeup on. But when I came back in the evening, she was shivering and sitting in a corner like an animal. She kept saying, 'Someone is going to kill me.' She was suffering from schizophrenia,' he said. He tried his best to support her, but the mental strain was immense. When their relationship ended, it did so painfully, leaving emotional scars. Parveen Babi passed away in 2005, leaving behind a legacy of brilliance haunted by inner Bhatt made two films based on his time with Parveen Babi. One was the 1982 drama film 'Arth,' which featured late actress Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. The second was the 2006 movie 'Woh Lamhe.' Although the film was directed by Mohit Suri, Bhatt wrote and produced it. Starring Kangana Ranaut and Shiney Ahuja, the film narrated the doomed love story between a struggling filmmaker named Aditya and a superstar, Sana Azim, who is battling her own demons.
