Latest news with #Mughal-E-Azam
India.com
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actor worked in over 500 films, had no money to afford a car, lived in a house with no electricity, name was..., his son is...
This actor worked in over 500 films, had no money to afford a car, lived in a house with no electricity, name was..., his son is... Stories of yesteryear actors facing financial struggles later in their lives aren't rare. Many major movie stars who are very successful in 90s often found themselves penniless in their old age. This often happened because they didn't save enough money to prepare themselves financially during difficult times. Once such actor who acted in over 500 films, and shared screen space with superstars like Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna, found himself destitute in his old age. This Mughal-E-Azam actor struggled financially Recently, in an interview, actor Raza Murad cited his father, veteran actor Murad's example, to talk about the importance of saving money. His father was a character actor, who starred in some iconic films like D o Bigha Zamin, Mughal-E-Azam, Andaz, even did a Hollywood project, Tarzan Goes to India. In a candid chat with Filmy Charcha, Raza Murad recounted the financial difficulties his family faced, despite his father being a consistent actor. 'I have experienced poverty. Our house in Bhopal didn't have electricity. I would have to study for my exams under a lamp post. I would start at midnight and finish at 6 am.' He said. Raza Murad on why many yesteryear stars had no money in the end Raza Murad mentioned that many yesteryear actors were responsible for their own financial setbacks as they didn't plan better for the future. He stated, 'When you earn money, you should think about your old age. Even crew members in our industry have their own houses. They have savings. They know that income could stop any day, they know that their health could fail. Why should you beg before someone? I wouldn't want to take any names, but there were many actors who were extremely busy during their heyday. They earned a lot of money and fame, but they spent all of it. When they grew older, they were forced to live in rented accommodation even though they used to live in lavish bungalows. I saw them travelling by auto rickshaws.' Raza revealed that even though his father worked in several movies, but still it didn't save them from financial distress. 'A lot of people didn't save. There were many heroes from the 50s and 60s who were much in demand during their peak, but had tremendous difficulty in their old age. They should have planned for the future. It's so unfortunate, but such is life. You must think about your family's future as well. If you have children, then it is your responsibility to look after them. I've seen this personally. My father must have worked in over 500 films. But we never had a car, and we used to live in a rented house. The first thing I did after establishing myself was to buy a house. Sometimes, you learn what not to do in life from your elders. I don't want to disparage my father; he lived like he wanted to. But I established myself at the right time, otherwise…' The veteran actor said.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Golden era Mughal-E-Azam actor worked in over 500 films, but lived in a house without electricity, could never afford a car
Stories about yesteryear actors falling on hard times aren't uncommon. Major movie stars who ruled over the industry in the 1950s and 1960s often found themselves destitute in their old age, because they didn't have the foresight to save up for a rainy day. In a recent interview, actor Raza Murad cited his own father's example to make a point about the importance of saving money. His father was the famous character actor Murad, who worked in over 500 films over the course of his career, which began before India gained Independence. He went on to work in iconic films such as Do Bigha Zamin, Mughal-E-Azam, Andaz, and even a Hollywood project, Tarzan Goes to India. Chatting on the Filmy Charcha YouTube channel, Raza Murad said, 'I have witnessed difficulties in life. I have experienced poverty. Our house in Bhopal didn't have electricity. I would have to study for my exams under a lamp post. I would start at midnight and finish at 6 am.' When it was mentioned that several yesteryear performers in the film industry have experienced financial setbacks in the final years of their life, Raza Murad said that they are responsible for their own misfortunes, because they should have planned better. He continued, 'When you earn money, you should think about your old age. Even crew members in our industry have their own houses. They have savings. They know that income could stop any day, they know that their health could fail. Why should you beg before someone? I wouldn't want to take any names, but there were many actors who were extremely busy during their heyday. They earned a lot of money and fame, but they spent all of it. When they grew older, they were forced to live in rented accommodation even though they used to live in lavish bungalows. I saw them travelling by auto rickshaws.' Read more – Bollywood's greatest character actor died in abject poverty, was 'banned' by Shiv Sena, funeral went unattended by big Bollywood stars The veteran actor added, citing the example of his own father, 'A lot of people didn't save. There were many heroes from the 50s and 60s who were much in demand during their peak, but had tremendous difficulty in their old age. They should have planned for the future. It's so unfortunate, but such is life. You must think about your family's future as well. If you have children, then it is your responsibility to look after them. I've seen this personally. My father must have worked in over 500 films. But we never had a car, and we used to live in a rented house. The first thing I did after establishing myself was to buy a house. Sometimes, you learn what not to do in life from your elders. I don't want to disparage my father; he lived like he wanted to. But I established myself at the right time, otherwise…' In an earlier chat with the media, he spoke about his early days in the film business, and the teachings that he received from his father. 'In those days, we didn't have a car. I would travel by the bus or by train. He would tell me, 'Son, if you see a lady standing, offer your seat to her. And if a lady is sitting and there is an empty seat next to her, take her permission before sitting down'. He moved to Mumbai in 1938 because he had no option. He was banished from his home town because he had an altercation with Raza Ali Khan, the nawab of Rampur. He was given 24 hours to leave. He wanted to become a writer, but Mr Mehboob hired him as an actor. He worked in over 500 films, and he probably has a world record for playing judges. He played a judge in 300 films. He made Rampur world-famous, he was known as Murad Rampuri.' Also read – Star of Bollywood's Golden Era died penniless due to flamboyant lifestyle, influenced Amitabh Bachchan and won praise from Mahatma Gandhi Asked about the circumstances in which he started his acting journey, Raza Murad told Sadabahar Fankar, 'My father was getting on in age, and I knew that I had to start working to run the household. In 1968, my father told me that he would try and get me into FTII after I complete my higher education. I decided, while doing the course, that I would give acting five years. If it doesn't work out for me in five years, I would try another profession.' Raza Murad has established himself as a character actor of his father's calibre, with hundreds of movies on his resume. Murad died in 1997.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
NDTV Exclusive: Metro...In Dino Star Ali Fazal On His Favourite Couple From The Original Film And On-Set Memories
New Delhi: What is love? Ali Fazal finds himself in a spot right when the conversation begins with this question, because Dino offers to address one of the most complex of emotions. "First question, and I'm in sort of a pickle. Jokes apart, it (love) is so many things. But most of all, it is assistance and the belief that keeps it going," the actor tells NDTV. Today, the most common complaint by a section of cinegoers is how romantic films have become an extinct species. However, with Dino, Anurag Basu attempts to bring back the same charm of his 2007 musical Life In with new relationships under microscope set against the backdrop of the ever-bustling Mumbai. Poster Ali Fazal stars in the role of a vulnerable and dreamy musician named Akash in Anurag Basu's Dino. The actor is paired opposite Fatima Sana Shaikh in the movie, set to be released on Friday (July 4, 2025). In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, the actor talks about the Bollywood films he draws inspiration from for his characters, his favourite pair from the original film Life In and much more. "I Am An Absolute Admirer Of Dilip Kumar" With timeless classics such as Devdas and Mughal-E-Azam to his credit, a cinema lover can never not be in love with Dilip Kumar in his lover-boy era. Ali Fazal is no different. The actor talks about the reel-life heroes he looks up to, irrespective of the genre of the film. He says, "I am an absolute admirer of Dilip Kumar, who had managed to pull off all kinds of cinema. Then there was Raj Kapoor and Kishore Kumar's comedy. There's Hulchul and Chupke Chupke. But we have just stopped making good comedy films." Metro And Un Dino Considering Dino is the follow-up to the 2007 film Life In comparisons are but natural. Ali Fazal says the cast and crew used to have conversations about how the first Metro film and the latest Dino were different. He recalls, "Basu Da would always say, now and then, how a particular sequence reminded him of the first part. Also, (film's music composer) Pritam and the whole band who were seen in the (first) film, it kind of became a signature element, as they are very much a character in this entire saga." "The way it was filmed back then and now is very different. So those are kind of the conversations we would have about part one. Irrfan Khan was, of course, missed, lots of people who are not a part of this one, even on the crew. It was special." As for choosing his favourite couple from the first part, the actor says, "It has to be Konkona and Irrfan. Something interesting happened there." A still from the film Shruti (Konkona) and Monty's (Irrfan) pairing is remembered till today because it was a quintessential example of opposites-attract. Their chemistry was devoid of cliches and thus was portrayed as an authentic and relatable union. Konkona Sen Sharma is also the only returning cast member in Dino from the original film. "As for this film, I am very excited to see how the stories of every couple pan out," he adds. "Basu Da Is A Master Here" Filmmaker Anurag Basu possesses the art of effortlessly blending music with storytelling. Ali Fazal says, "Basu Da is known for projecting varied emotions and in different kinds of films. I think he is a master of his art. And then music that binds everything together, he's also done the same thing this time from that thread." Speaking of the most hard-hitting scenes from the film, he says, "One of the most consuming scenes, maybe, is the rain sequence that's often referenced in the trailer. That was a hectic day." "It's a scene where I'm sitting, I'm drunk, by some tapri (tea stall) by the roadside. But I also believe, it is one of the most cinematic moments in the film. You'll know when you see it." Speaking of carrying traits of his on-screen character into real life, Ali Fazal says there's not much similarity between him and his Dino's character. He says, "I'm just a little funnier than this guy. I think I have a bit of a sense of humour. You'll see."
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Mayuri Upadhya brings her Broadway experience to the Bengaluru stage
History shows that Indian classical music and spirituality go hand-in-hand. While Purandaradasa, Jayadeva and Tulsidas are known for the Bhakti Movement, classical dancers and singers too connect more to their art spiritually. In fact, bhakti is the dominant rasa of most concerts and dance performances. . Classical-contemporary dancer-choreographer Mayuri Upadhya's new work is no exception. Titled 'Bhakti - A Shared Longing', it will feature verses by Purandaradasa, Akkamahadevi, Kabir, Lal Ded, Tukaram, Andal, Tulsidas, Meerabai, Namdev, Sadasiva Brahmendral, Guru Nanak, Basavanna and Rabindranath Tagore. To be presented by her institution Nritarutya, which she founded in 2000 with her sister Madhrui Upadhya, 'Bhakti...' will be premiered in Bengaluru on June 13. Mayuri describes the production as 'a multilingual, multidisciplinary immersive dance-theatre presentation that weaves together the soulful legacies of 13 Indian saints and mystics from across India. The production includes texts, dialogues and different Indian languages.' She also says that dance, for her, 'is more than just movement — it is a language, a way of communicating with the world that transcends the limitations of words.' One of her most notable works is the broadway musical Mughal-E-Azam, inspired by the film of the same name, which has had 300 shows across the world. Mayuri, a recipient of the Best Original Choreographer Award (2018) by Broadway World for Mughal-e-Azam, returns to the Bengaluru stage with Bhakti... after a 14-year hiatus. She has also worked as the lead choreographer for The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation. This show, now into its third season, will soon premiere at Lincoln Center, New York, shares Mayuri. 'My last show in Bengaluru was in 2014, which is why I was craving to stage Bhakti… here. ' It is an exploration of the term 'Bhakti' and the spiritual quest of human beings. It is the anchor in today's time, irrespective of age, gender, and religion,' says Mayuri. About the works of poets and mystics she has used for her production, Mayuri says: 'They are more saints to me than mere poets as I believe they discovered a deeper inner truth that they revealed/shared with humanity. The more I read about them and their works, the more I found similarities in their concepts.' Each piece in Bhakti is centered around one evocative work by each mystic, interpreted by different dancers. The production features 10 dancers belonging to different styles, from across the country. Explaining the process of bringing the production to life, Mayuri says, 'The researchers (Pooja Kaushik and Nandana Gopal) brought different aspects to the table, each with their own versions of stories that correlated well. Post this, was the process of song selection. Next was to add movements to the texts, prose and music'. Talking about the creative process, Mayuri, who was joined by Madhuri in choreographing the dance, shares: 'The poetry dictated what the movement language should be. For instance, for poetry from Bengal, we drew inspiration from Uday Shankar's dance style, for Amir Khusro, we brought in Sufi-Kathak and so on. The dancers coming from different parts of the country lent their own cultural diversity to the production.' The production has a contemporary and minimalist approach in every aspect. This is my simple but powerful response to whatever is happening around us', says Mayuri. 'Bhakti - A Shared Longing' will premiere at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bengaluru, on June 13, 7.30 p.m. Tickets on BookMyShow.
India.com
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Dharmendra and Hema Malini rejected this most expensive film, Amitabh Bachchan got the role, Hema Malini was replaced by...
In Bollywood industry, there have been many big projects that became huge successes for directors and actors, which helped them in reshaping their careers. Some honourable mentions can be 'Zanjeer', 'Pratibandh', Mother India', 'Sholay' and the greatest of all time, 'Mughal-E-Azam'. But, did you know that there was this one film that became a huge multi-starrer project which was rejected by Superstar Dharmendra and Hema Malini that turned out to be their huge loss, but for someone it became a monstrous opportunity. The Big-Budget Project Here, we are talking about the 1980 action-thriller film 'Shaan', which has now become cult-classic for everyone. The 3-hour 2-minute revenge drama helmed by Ramesh Sippy is still considered one of the finest films from Bollywood, which was also one of the biggest-budgeted films from that era. However, there was a slight turn. For this multi-star movie, director Ramesh Sippy had selected Dharmendra to play Vijay and Hema Malini to play Renu. At the time, both were considered superstars, and the audience loved their combination. However, Dharmendra and Hema Malini withdrew from this movie because of various undisclosed disputes with Ramesh. The Onboarding Of Amitabh Bachchan and …. Interestingly, when the He-Man of Bollywood stepped away from the film, director Ramesh Sippy chose Amitabh Bachchan to step into the role of Vijay. However, during the initial stage, Sippy considered Amitabh for the character of Ravi, which later turned into Vijay for him. Meanwhile, the character of Renu in the film, which was given to Hema earlier, went to actress Bindiya Goswami, who was at that time known for her resemblance to dream girl herself and for her relationship with actor Vinod Mehra. The film became huge success on box office and made Bindiya a known face from industry but things took a huge turn for her as she decided to take a hiatus from acting after getting divorce from her failed marriage with the actor and later eloped with film-maker JP Dutta as their families were not ready for their relationship.
