Latest news with #ShipofTheseus
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ahaan Panday lived in a ‘corridor' till he was 14, tried smoking at 15 with sister Alanna: ‘I was the least pampered member in the family'
After the release of Mohit Suri's Saiyaara, actor Ahaan Panday is enjoying the kind of stardom that has been unprecedented for a newcomer in recent years. Ahaan is the nephew of popular 1980s actor Chunky Panday and while this is his first appearance in the movies, Ahaan has been a constant presence on social media for many years now and has appeared on his sister Alanna's YouTube channel numerous times. It was during one of these appearances that Ahaan opened up about his childhood as he grew up in a joint family, and also recalled how his sister Alanna, and cousins Ananya Panday and Rysa Panday, often got him into trouble. While Ahaan now lives in a four-floor mansion made by dad Chikki Panday in the heart of Mumbai, which has a game room and separate flats for staff members, there was a time when Ahaan was allotted the least likable room in the house. Ahaan shared in a video on Alanna & Ivor's YouTube channel that he lived in a corridor in his house till the age of 14. During the video, when he was asked about the 'most pampered' person in his house, he said that he was the 'least pampered' member of the family. He shared, 'I can't give you a specific one but I do know that I was the least pampered. I know that because I lived in a corridor for 7 years of my life.' As soon as Ahaan said this, Alanna interrupted him and said, 'It was not a corridor. It was a room built.' And he finished her sentence, 'It was a room built in a corridor. It was a corridor first. One side was the exit, and the other side were my dad and Dadi's bedrooms. I was in the passageway. Everyone would see me in my towel everyday.' ALSO READ | Ship of Theseus director Anand Gandhi reveals he directed Tumbbad, not Rahi Anil Barve: 'I scrapped what had been shot, reshot it' Alanna recalled that back then, they lived in a joint family which meant that they shared their living space with Chunky and his wife Bhavana, of Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives fame, and their daughters Ananya and Rysa. Their parents – Chikki and Deanna Pandey were also in the same house, along with their paternal grandparents. Chikki and his family continue to live in the same house. Alanna recalled her childhood and said, 'We lived in a joint family. There's limited space. Would you rather live in a joint family full of love than have your own space and live separately?' Ahaan agreed and shared that he too cherishes his childhood memories.. 'It was great. I won't have it any other way,' he said. In the same video, Ahaan also recalled that he tried his first cigarette when he was 15-16, and it was his sister Alanna who first made him try smoking. 'When I was 16, Alanna called me into her bathroom and she made me try my first cigarette,' he said as Alanna got visibly embarassed. 'You can't say this sh*t man. He's lying. I am telling you,' she tried to interrupt. Ahaan further recalled the details of the kind of cigarette that he tried and Alanna tried to stop him from divulging more. 'He's making me sound like such a bad sister,' she said and added, 'I was just excited that I had discovered something and I wanted to share it with him.' He snarkily commented, 'I was 15. I had underdeveloped lungs and you are giving me cigarettes, all out of love.' Ahaan's debut film has made over Rs 105 crore in the first four days at the box office. This year, this feat has only been achieved by Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava, which made Rs 140 crore in the first four days, and earned over Rs 600 crore through its run in theatres. Films of superstars like Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Sunny Deol haven't seen the kind of success that Saiyaara has experienced in the cinemas.
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ship of Theseus director Anand Gandhi reveals he directed Tumbbad, not Rahi Anil Barve: ‘I scrapped what had been shot, reshot it'
As Ship of Theseus clocks 12 years, director Anand Gandhi talks about the film, how difficult it was to release the film and how he was the one who actually directed Tumbbad. Your Ship Of Theseus clocks 12 years. How do you explain its enduring resonance? I believe Ship of Theseus endures because the fundamental human questions it explores have remained unchanged for millennia and will likely persist for millennia more: Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I headed? What remains of me after death? How do I find or create meaning? These are questions we ask instinctively as children, yet spend lifetimes as philosophers, scientists, and scholars attempting to answer, often without definitive success. With Ship of Theseus, I aimed to engage rigorously with these timeless questions, drawing from the latest insights in cognitive neurobiology, evolutionary biology, ethology, ontology, and epistemology, while synthesizing these disciplines through my own lived experiences. This combination of disciplined inquiry and personal reflection perhaps explains why the film continues to resonate deeply. Was it very difficult releasing a film so complex and non-massy? Initially, releasing the film was challenging. Convincing distributors proved difficult until Kiran Rao came on board, subsequently bringing Disney on board. Aamir Khan also lent his support to the film. Disney needed reassurance that India was ready—not merely for an international arthouse film, but specifically for a film rooted in philosophical and scientific exploration. I was convinced that Indian audiences, historically steeped in metaphysics, rational inquiry, and philosophical traditions, were more than ready. Their maturity surpassed distributor expectations. A community-driven social media campaign demonstrated this readiness, with audiences actively demanding the film's release in their cities. This resulted in screenings across 89 cities and towns throughout India, a truly grassroots triumph. What was the impetus behind this allegory on life, death, and everything in between? It emerged from a confluence of my personal philosophical journey and pivotal life experiences. Profoundly influenced by my mentor Abhay Mehta and all those who had sought before me, my inquiries became urgently real during my twenties while nursing my grandparents in the hospital. I felt like the philosopher in that old parable: one who spends the boat ride questioning the boatman about literature and scriptures, only to discover he cannot swim when the boat springs a leak. My philosophical knowledge had not equipped me for life's immediate demands. This realization compelled me to test whether profound questions could yield not just meaningful answers, but purposeful, utilitarian ones that serve people in their actual lives. Do you think Ship Of Theseus would have done better if released now with so many democratic outlets? I'm not convinced the film would necessarily perform better or worse now. Ship of Theseus was among the first Indian films Netflix acquired, so we didn't miss that digital wave, we rode its crest. We later converted significant portions of the film's rights to copyleft licensing, enabling community sharing with proper real issue isn't the number of platforms available, but their understanding of Indian audiences. A post shared by Anand Gandhi (@memewala) Please explain? Many contemporary outlets systematically underestimate viewers here, defaulting to western remakes or simplified narratives reverse-engineered from old television ratings. This represents a profound misreading of what Indian audiences actually want and deserve. Indians have centuries-deep traditions of philosophical inquiry, metaphysical exploration, and narrative sophistication. Yet these platforms often treat them as if they're incapable of engaging with complex ideas. The result is a self-fulfilling prophecy where diminished expectation leads to diminished commercial returns. These outlets aren't producing a hundredth of the variety their global counterparts do, precisely because they've underestimated the market's actual appetite for substantive cinema and shows. Why have you not to directed any feature film after Ship Of Theseus, we did see you name as 'Creative Director in Tumbbad? The big thing I want to clarify about Tumbbad is that I directed the film and this is something that's well known within the industry. My credit on the film says creative director and that's just basically a way to respect the fact that Rahi Anil Barve had started working on the film as a director first before I had to take over as a director. Are you saying you have ghost-directed the entire Tumbbad? Yes, I had to scrap the work that had been done and I had to reshoot the film from the beginning and hence I took a 'creative director credit' which is, as you know in films, a credit that does not pre-exist, it does not exist before or after Tumbbad. So in the case of Tumbbad, I said that we'll make up a credit called creative director, a director's job is all obviously the same as that of a creative director but because in this case we had to make a distinction between the role that was committed to Rahi, I took on the title of a creative director which was legally supposed to always come along with Rahi as per the contracts. But that didn't happen? But that contract was not honoured on several occasions in the press and in other places by Tumbbad producer Soham Shah. So far I tried to not make that the main key point about the conversation because I try not to get into too much of press about the negative experiences of making a film. I always try to stick to talking about how I made the film, what I was thinking, what my intentions are and that's the kind of thing that always excites me but since you pointedly asked, this needed clarification so I'm clarifying it. When I started the film, when I started Tumbbad, I started as a writer and producer with Rahi supposed to direct it but eventually I directed the film. I had to make the whole film.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Ghost map, zombified regulations': Redditor warns why Bangalore's housing market is a ticking time bomb
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Bangalore's real estate market is heading toward a full-blown crisis, and it's not just due to soaring demand. According to a Redditor 's viral post, a cocktail of outdated planning, chaotic regulations, bureaucratic red tape, and government inaction is about to send property prices into the stratosphere. And, they warn, the worst is yet to come.'If you're trying to buy a home, or even just rent a decent place without selling a kidney, you've felt it. The squeeze. The insane prices for tiny spaces,' the post begins. 'We all know the demand is crazy, but what nobody is talking about is the massive, man-made supply crisis. And the fuse was lit years ago.'The Redditor outlined five key reasons why the housing supply is being throttled:According to the Redditor, the city "is running on a Ghost Map from 2005"."Bangalore is literally being built based on a plan that expired years ago. The Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) 2015 is what dictates zoning and land use. We are a global tech hub operating on a city plan that doesn't account for the last decade of explosive growth. The new Master Plan? It's been "in the works" for years, with no end in sight. We are building a future-forward city on the back of a fossil," the post Redditor also slammed 'zombified regulations' for the uncertaininty plagying the housing market of the city. "The Rules are a "Ship of Theseus" Nightmare. Developers and even individual home builders are trapped in a maze of "zombified" regulations. There are so many notifications, amendments, and clarifications to the building bye-laws that it's nearly impossible to know what's legal anymore. Rules change midway through projects. What was permitted yesterday is illegal today. This constant uncertainty makes builders terrified to start new projects, choking the supply of new homes," the post post also slammed political parties for inaction in the matter. "They've (the state govt) been taken to court by developers over a circular demanding exorbitant fees for project approvals. This standoff means fewer projects are getting the green light, and the ones that do will pass those costs directly on to us, the buyers," the Redditor Redditor also claimed rampant corruption in the sector. "Every single real estate transaction, big or small, has to go through the black hole of the land records and survey department. Want to get your land surveyed? Good luck. Need a file to move from the surveyor to the Assistant Commissioner to the Deputy Commissioner? Be prepared for "speed money" to become part of your vocabulary. This systemic corruption and intentional slowdown means land that could be used for housing is tied up in red tape for years," the post Redditor warned that due to fewer new projects along with insane demand and rising construction costs could lead to a situation "where the only new housing available will be for the ultra-rich. The rental market will become even more of a bloodbath. The dream of owning a home in Bangalore will be just that - a dream.""This isn't a natural market correction. This is a crisis fueled by incompetence and apathy," it added.
Pink Villa
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
"Aamir Sir is one of the biggest superstars this country has ever seen,' says Sohum Shah as he praises Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par
Sohum Shah recently took to Instagram to express admiration for Bollywood's Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan, following the success of his recently released film, Sitaare Zameen Par. The heartfelt story, which has struck a chord with audiences across the country, has reignited conversations around the power of emotionally resonant and meaningful storytelling in mainstream cinema. In his Instagram story, Sohum wrote, "Aamir Sir is one of the biggest superstars this country has ever seen, yet he chooses to lead with stories instead of just his stardom. The success of Sitaare Zameen Par gave me immense hope as a filmmaker — a reminder that stories with heart do matter. Thank you, Aamir Khan, for inspiring us to believe in meaningful cinema." Sitaare Zameen Par, a spiritual sequel to the 2007 cult classic Taare Zameen Par, has received critical acclaim for its sensitive portrayal of children with learning disabilities and its emphasis on empathy, education, and emotional well-being. Aamir Khan, who starred in both films, has long been known for choosing scripts that push cinematic boundaries while delivering powerful social messages. He is also someone who has proved through the decades that standing by the stories he believes should be told, stories with heart matter, and cinema can be an inclusive, emotional, and commercial experience. Sohum Shah immensely admires Aamir Khan Sohum has previously expressed admiration for Aamir Khan's approach of making one film at a time, but with complete dedication, whilst backing stories with all his heart, and that one should have the humility and courage to tell these stories. His ideology closely aligns with that of the 'Perfectionist' Aamir Khan. A prime example of this is representation of the differently abled in mainstream cinema - While Sitaare Zameen Par explores the world of individuals with learning disabilities and tells us a story of hope, inclusivity and equality, Sohum has also delved into a similar space with his film Crazxy - wherein the lens of telling the story was more layered in a thriller, but the heart was empathy, love and acceptance of children with disabilities. This is undoubtedly a courageous step, bringing such narratives into mainstream cinema. It reflects an inclusive approach, one that believes everyone should have representation, and offers an empathetic lens through which we view their stories. Sohum Shah, best known for his roles in films like Tumbbad, Ship of Theseus and Crazxy, the new in the list, is himself a champion of offbeat, content-driven cinema. His words of appreciation for Khan reflects a broader shift in the Indian film industry, where audiences are increasingly valuing substance over spectacle.
India.com
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet man who sold his home and car to make film, movie went on to...., movie is...., lead actors are...
There have been many artists in the film industry who never dreamed of stardom, yet fate had other plans. These individuals began their journey far from film sets as doctors, businessmen, service employees, engineers, or real estate agents, but deep passion for cinema slowly pulled them toward the spotlight. Today, we are talking about one such artist who struggled to start as a producer but has now become talk of the tinsel town. The Producer Who Refined Cinema With His Passion. Here we are talking about actor-producer Sohum Shah who is best known for his film Tumbbad. The actor started as producer after leaving his quite established real estate business. He then started his production company, Recyclewala Films and produced his first feature in 2012, Ship of Theseus, which earned high accolades from reviewers and won the National Award for Feature Film as well. Sohum Shah's Hardwork For… After 7 years of hiatus, Sohum decided to bring his next innovation to the screen, which became a game changer for him in this industry. The film name was Tumbbad, which revolves around village named Tumbbad in Maharashtra, where an age-old treasure is hidden with shocking twist buried beneath its layers. The film featured Sohum Shah, Jyoti Malshe, Anita Date-Kelkar, Ronjini Chakraborty and Mohammad Samad in crucial roles. After its release in 2018, film did not receive a good response from audience but was praised by critics for its amazing visual storytelling and tight screenplay. In the same year, Tumbbad won National Film Award for Best Feature Film. The film earned its due recognition after its re-release in 2024 as the film, which had budget of Rs 15 crore, earned Rs 31.65 crore and was declared a box office success is now considered as one of most celebrated horror films in the history of Indian Cinema. Sohum's Financial Condition While Making Tumbbad During a conversation with Aaj Tak, Sohum talked about the financial crisis he was facing while production of Tumbbad. He said, ''My film has got It got a tremendous response from the audience, but, it was very difficult for me to make it. While making it, many times I felt like stopping it, then I felt that if I don't make it, then who will, because no one was coming on board to buy and make this film so I took it on my shoulders.'' He further said, ''Due to this, it took 7 years to make the film and because of this, I had to leave many projects. While making this film, I was financially ruined in 7 years, I had to sell my house and property. Gradually, the situation became such that I had to sell even the car.''
