Ghajini Director to work with King Khan

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42 | February 18, 2009 at 8:34 pm | 54 views | NaachGaana Bol| Share

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Gabberniti- “Another high for King Khan and someone was saying that he is not offerred plum project…Ha! Looking forward to this project.”

With Ghajini breaking many records, one would expect more from the actor Aamir Khandirector AR Murugadoss jodi. But that’s not what’s happening. Murugadoss has moved on from one Khan superstar to the other. The Tamil-Telegu director is in talks with Shah Rukh Khan for his second Hindi film. Now, considering that there’s no love lost between Aamir and Shah Rukh, Murugadoss does appear to be going on the politically incorrect lane.

Murugadoss has been regularly meeting SRK since the last few months. It is reliably learnt that SRK has even agreed to do the Murugadoss film just before he left for the hospital for his shoulder surgery. Murugadoss admits that he was in Mumbai for negotiations with Shah Rukh. He says, “Things will materialise further only after Shah Rukh recovers from his surgery.”

Reveals our source, “It was cinematographer Ravi Chandran who suggested SRK’s name to Murugadoss. Ravi is currently shooting the SRK starrer My Name is Khan.” An out-and-out romance, the film will be Shah Rukh’s home production. One of the industry’s top actresses, Priyanka Chopra or Kareena Kapoor will play the lead, reportedly. Unlike in the case of Ghajini, this film won’t be a remake

KING KHAN returns to work in Bollywood

Is SRK working with Murugadoss?

Shah Rukh to do daring stunts in ‘Don 2′

Shah Rukh can be an outstanding director: Karan Johar

Aamir just qualifies intelligence. He can validate anything. You watch Ghajini, and even if you don’t like it, you feel that he’s saying something in Ghajini also, because he’s Aamir Khan. You know? ‘: Karan Johar

There Are 42 Responses So Far. »

utkal 18 February 2009
09:54:39 pm

“With Ghajini breaking many records, one would expect more from the actor Aamir Khandirector AR Murugadoss jodi. But that’s not what’s happening.Murugadoss has moved on from one Khan superstar to the other.”

What a joke!

It is well-known that Amir, since the last decade, does not believe in forming cliques or repeating himself with same directors. He hasnt worked with Gowarikar after Lagaan, with Farhan after Dil Chahta Hai, with Kunal Kohli after Fanaa, with Rakes Mehra after Rang De Basanti, or with himself after Taare Zameen Par. So what made anyone think that he will work with Muragadoss after Ghajini?

neelu 18 February 2009
10:03:58 pm

Utkal – another scenario could be that no one has ever wanted to work with him after one stint – that is possible too!

utkal 18 February 2009
10:13:35 pm

Even in that case, there would be no reason to expect Muragadoss and amir to work together.

But we know otherwise. Gowarikar dd want Amir for Swades and he turned it down. And Kunal Kohli has mantioned that he would like to work with amir again and again.

No, the facts are otherwise. Amir likes his films to be diverse and he does not need the comfort of a familiar set up the way Sahrukh does ( Aditya, Karan, Yash, Farah) ( by his own admission). You can bet Amir’s next after 3 Idiots is not going to be with Raju Hirani. That’s why amir’s films are so exciting and his films create so much anticipation( among genuine film-lovers , that is, not star fans.)

RAJ 18 February 2009
10:15:51 pm

Utkal,

What is a “”genuine film lover”" ???

lalsub 18 February 2009
10:41:49 pm

This article has a tone that is so typical of tabloid media. Actually Stardust came out with a similar article a few weeks back, saying essentially the same thing—that Murugadoss was planning a film with SRK, and it looked like he was shifting camps from Aamir to SRK.

Aamir has remained friends with directors like Ashutosh Gowarilkar(whom he has actually known since his early teens when they first met on tennis court at Khar Gymkhana–acc to a couple of Aamir-related books); with Kunal Kohli, with RDB director Rakyesh Mehra, with some directors of earlier films. He simply, obviously, prefers to work with newer people all the time. The only constant these days seems to be Prasoon Joshi.Actually Rakyesh Mehra, Prasoon and Aamir got together recently and made the two ad films for the Incredible India-Atithi Devo Bhava campaign.

utkal 18 February 2009
10:41:54 pm

Genuine Film lover : Who loves a film for its own sake as a piece of cinema than the presence of a star, or any other extraneous factors.

utkal 18 February 2009
10:52:39 pm

I am not saying Amir will never work with a director twice. But he prefers not to work with new ideas and fresh directors since that makes the process more exciting and the films look fresher. But if a really exciting script comes along I am sure he will work with a director with whom he has worked in the past.

neelu 18 February 2009
10:53:59 pm

Utkal – actually if you read Gowarikar’s interviews he says Swades was written with SRK in mind. I do not know what Aamir fans may say after that! Kunal Kohli had one decent hit – so I can understand his need to work with Aamir. Deepa clearly came out and said she did NOT want to work with Aamir. And I think in his early days he worked with Gowarikar (Baazi, Pehla Nasha, Lagaan), Mahesh Bhatt (HHRPK, DHKMN), couple of films with Indra Kumar and Dharmesh Darshan, and Mansoor Khan (QSQT, JJWS, AHAT). Too bad for him that his comfort man chose to retire from films! So I would not say he only worked onec with a director. Genuine film lover cannot consider Gahjini a genuine film to love – just saying!

RAJ 18 February 2009
10:54:21 pm

Utkal,

Got your point…

Coming back this article…even if the article is true that doesnt mean anything to either SRk or Aamir…

Tabloid media offlate has gained strentgh and every second article we come across do have a tone of Tabloid in it.

utkal 18 February 2009
11:21:32 pm

Neelu, none among Gowarikar, Indra Kumar or Djarmesh Darshan have retired. And you if you fail to recognise how Amir has changed and evolved and grown as a total cinema person since his early days in the last ten years no one can help you.

The fact is he is perhaps the only actor who hasn’t repeated a director in the last ten years. No matter what be the behind the scene reasons ( It is impossible to believe that Rakesh and Amir can work on an ad film and not in a feature film) the fact is we filmlovers have been treated to a wide gamut of films that me-too monotony from some other stars.

Ghajini was definitely the most fresh-looking commercial cinema last year, introducing the quality southern masala genre to Bollywood movie goers ( Isn’t that why King Khan doing a film with its director reason for so much celebration in the report? ) It was certainly preferable to another love story from the Chopra factory ( And as I have pointed pout earlier Ghajini recorded an Critic’s average of 68% vs Rab Ne’s 59%. And Rab Ne did not feature in the nomination for best film and best director in Screen Awards. without going into merit of such nominations, I can just point at perceptions about Ghajini as a quality film. )

Also association with Amir marks the highpoint of each of these directors with whom he hasn’t worked again, in terms of critical acclaim or box office returns.

Vikram Bhatt: Ghulami
George Matthan : Sarfarosh
Deepa Mehta: Earth
Ashutosh Gowrikar: Lagaan
Farhan Akhtar: Dil Chahta Hai
Ketan Mehta : Mangal Pandey
Kunal Kohli: Fanaa
Rakesh Mehra: Rang De Basanti
Amol Gupte ( Creative Director): Taare Zameen Par
Murugadoss: Ghajini
Their subsequent work with other actors has never bettered these.

neelu 18 February 2009
11:38:15 pm

Utkal: Gowarikar, Indra Kumar or Djarmesh Darshan have not retired – nor are they dead yet, so no one can tell the future. And Aamir already did 3 films with Ashu.

“if you fail to recognise how Amir has changed and evolved and grown as a total cinema person since his early days in the last ten years no one can help you.”

There is a saying – der aayad durust aayad – but that does not mean the past is erased for either Aamir or his contemporaries. What other did before he has woken up to now!

“The fact is he is perhaps the only actor who hasn’t repeated a director in the last ten years.”

Exclusive thanks to Jimmy Cliff from SB: 18 Feb 09, 23:28
Jimmy Cliff: http://satyamshot.wordpress.co.....rfarosh-2/
And we have heard a lot of talk on AAA sequel in the “I love Salman” phase!

“Ghajini was definitely the most fresh-looking commercial cinema last year, introducing the quality southern masala genre to Bollywood movie goers ( Isn’t that why King Khan doing a film with its director reason for so much celebration in the report? ) ”

That is wrong at so many levels! 1. It was not quality masala – even Tashan was better masala and it was not southern! 2. Gossip is not celebration of anything. Ghajini was a poor film – that is fact. I think you follow IMDb – so you could follow discussions and ratings there!

As for this:
Ashutosh Gowrikar: Lagaan

I much prefer the quieter Swades.

Ketan Mehta : Mangal Pandey
Surely yiu are not serious? Ketan made Mirch masala and the national award winning Maya.

Kunal Kohli: Fanaa
OMG – can anything be worse that KK tripe?

Rakesh Mehra: Rang De Basanti
Has he done anything subsequent?

Amol Gupte ( Creative Director): Taare Zameen Par
Ditto?

Murugadoss: Ghajini
Hahaha – the original was identical and Surya much better there.

lalsub 18 February 2009
11:54:52 pm

Well said Utkal. Vikram Bhatt did a great job with Ghulam.Vikram took over the project from a disinterested Mahesh Bhatt who apparently directed via telephone and sometimes read his books on sets, while supposedly directing.Aamir was gutsy enough to request for a director ‘who actually worked’–his own words; Mahesh Bhatt passed on directorial chair to nephew Vikram,and then started on his long cold war with Aamir! Vikram with Aamir’s help made a v good debut film, Ghulam, one of my fav Aamir films.

Sarfarosh was the first directorial effort of adman John Mathew Mathan. John and Rakyesh came together on a tv programme prior to release of TZP and spoke about their continuing friendship with Aamir, how they think alike, the works.Sarfarosh is my absolute top Aamir film. I wish Mathan & Aamir would get together and make a sequel to Sarfarosh. Mathan’s 2nd film Shikhar(on environment issue,*ng Ajay D & Shahid K)was good, but not gripping enough to become a hit. Mathan is now making a film with Himesh Reshmaiyya–the latter plays the lead in a film that’s supposed to be a take-off on Rangeela, apparently. Fans have continuously asked Aamir to do a Sarfarosh 2—and Aamir says he will if there’s a good script.

Rakyesh Mehra is writing a script based on Guru Dutt, but so is another writer Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, in collaboration with Guru Dutt’s son Arun Dutt. Both projects would like Aamir’s nod.
Here is a link:
http://movies.ndtv.com/newstor.....=bollywood

Aamir apparently had problems while playing Deepa Mehta’s Earth lead, the way she wanted it–but he did it her way, in any case. Aamir has however said that he learnt film-making discipline from Deepa.IMO, the book, which went beyond the film, was better; however Earth is still a good film, one of Aamir’s finest.

neelu 18 February 2009
11:59:18 pm

Bottom-line – he has either worked with many directors multiple times, or wants to (Sarfarosh and AAA sequel talks)! And some that he chooses to not work with have cited differences in opinion with him – either overtly or in subtle ways. So what was the point again?

utkal 18 February 2009
11:59:45 pm

See Neelu, suppose you say Tashan was the greatest film ever, you have the right to say that. Similarly you can prefer Swades over Lagaan, and some one else can prefer Baazi over Lagaan. And I am not interested in contesting that. I am talking about general perception and accepted fcats.

In case of Fanaa and Mangal Pandey , they are the respective director’s biggest hits. In my post I mentioned that films with Amir were the directors’ highpoint either critically or in BO terms. With Ghajini Murugadoss got the biggest grosser in Indian films to date. With Lagaan Gowarikar got an Oscar nominated film. I am talking of things like that. Obviously with people who haven’t made a subsequent film, we cannot talk about. But we can talk about their earlier films.

As to IMDB pl go back and check, Tashan: 3.8, RNBDJ: 6.8, Ghajini: 7. So pl stop your campaign of misinformation. any amount of ranting will not make Ghajini a bad film. As to your own opinion you surely are welcome to it.

neelu 19 February 2009
12:16:48 am

So the biggest hit is automatically a better film? Is that what makes a film better? I thought that all this while we were talking about quality! Therefore we have to declare Raja Hindustani and Ghajni as two of Aamir’s finest films. Case closed. The difference between 6.8 and 7 makes one a much better film? The Lagaan stands at 8 and Swades at 8.4!! If you star bringing in nominations then you cannot ignore national awards and the acclaim that Mirch Masala (8.1) got compared to Mangal Pandey (6.9)!! Sometimes it is good to try and be consistent in your arguments – right now you are arguing just for the heck of it! This is not my opinion but backed by facts.

lalsub 19 February 2009
12:32:06 am

Why am I not surprised that Lagaan stands at 8 and Swades at 8.4.IMDb is chock-full of SRK fans and Aamir-haters–could that be one reason. I actually like Swades a lot–but Lagaan I find marginally better, a whole package, a universal tale, a David vs Goliath story.Swades was slow at points; in Lagaan one never felt the length.Just my opinion.
Raja Hindustani and Ghajini have never been thought of as Aamir’s finest.Biggest hits, entertainers, bas.

BTW Neelu, thanks for the link to news about Sarfarosh sequel possibility. Made my day. Hope it happens.
Am a big fan of Paul Teroux–though I’ve yet to read his Naipaul bio.Will read your piece–and then plan to read the Naipaul book.

My name is Beld 19 February 2009
12:32:09 am

good points utkal and neelu. i dare say whatever utkal says about aamir applies to srk in a much bigger way – srk has not only made his movies the high points for his directors – but his directors (farah, karan, adi) are much bigger names in the industry. Having said that, i do believe this article is a joke. Farhan did his first movie with aamir, then with hrithik and then srk – so what does that prove? Ashutosh made his first with aamir, then srk then hrithik. Rakesh mehra did his first with amitabh then aamir and then abhishek. So imo none of these mean anything – but i do think srk is more prone to work with comfort level directors as compared to aamir

My name is Beld 19 February 2009
12:33:45 am

am with u lalsub. I would prefer lagaan over swades anyday – but swades over a cdi or rdb or tzp any day

neelu 19 February 2009
12:35:30 am

“Why am I not surprised that Lagaan stands at 8 and Swades at 8.4.IMDb is chock-full of SRK fans and Aamir-haters–could that be one reason.”

Is that why Ghajni is rated higher than Rab ne Bana di Jodi? I think IMDb is full of a handful of haters of all kinds and all actors in the forums but voters are different.

Naipaul book is a mesmerizing read.

Agree with Beld that this is likely fake news.

utkal 19 February 2009
12:48:21 am

I am not saying & is much better that 6.8, just better, ad 6.8 significantly better that 5.9. And I am not quoting just one source or one forum. So no way Ghajini is a bad film is what I ma saying. And I was pointing out the fact that your assertion that Ghajini had scored poorly in IMDB rating is simply misinformation. Yes Swades might have got *.4 over * for Lagaan , that’s in one forum. SWades has got 6.7 in critics rating in AllBollywood, then there is the Oscar nomination, the Filmfare and Screen Awards nad all put together Lagaan is a classic. Swades is a very good film but with a few flaws that pull it down.

And i did not saying the biggest hit means the best. I said the directors got either their most critically acclaimed Or their biggest hits with Amir. With Mangal Pandey Ketan was trying to make a big budget film that would score at the Bo, and he partially succeeded, and that’s as close to commercial success as he can ever get. and Amir’s big grossers have a minimum quality tag. ( Fanaa is 6.7 at IMDB and 6.0 at AllBollywood, same as Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.)

Raj Hindustani on the other hand is a genuinely bad film that is a big grosser. But that was in the early days of Amir. And as I said he is a much improved and evolved persona now. It’s like saying Amitabh had 14 flops in his 1st 5 years so you cannot call him a successful star, or that Sachin scored his first century after 18 matches or whatever so how can you call him great. Or how can you call Ambani wealthy when he was poor for the first 25 years of his life. It’s not what you start from, its where you have reached is hat matters.

neelu 19 February 2009
01:23:49 am

6.8 and 7 are practically the same. And Ghajini is just a poor film. I do not have time to go running all over the various forums cherry picking points – Allbollywood has no meaning as they often just plaster a number on a review and it does not even match the review. They are also linked to IBOS – and we know how favorably that site is to SRK films. An Osacr nomination is not a win, a National award is a win. Ketan’s best is Mirch masala, and MP a blot on his name.

“With Mangal Pandey Ketan was trying to make a big budget film that would score at the Bo, and he partially succeeded, and that’s as close to commercial success as he can ever get.”

So what? DCH was average, and Don was the closest to a commercial success that Farhan could get. How many ways do we have to argue this stuff?

Aamir fans can like Ghajini and Fanaa and Raja Hindustani – his three biggest successes but they do not compare in quality to SRK’s biggest successes. That is fact. And successes never did equal quality – so stop trying to conflate two issues.

utkal 19 February 2009
03:43:21 am

If 6.8 and 7 are practically the same, I don’t see how Ghajini is a poor film! ” I do not have time to go running all over the various forums cherry picking points – ” But you have time to pick numbers from IMDB. AllBollywood is very transparent and they list how many reviews are counted. And they put numbers only on reviews that don’t have stars. And how many such reviews are there today?

No one is denying Mirch Masala was a great film. But Mangal Pandey is not a blot or anything like that.

And Ghajini is featured in the nominated films of Scree and Filmfare,and Screen nominations are not decided by popular votes. So no way it can be a poor film. which poor film is i the nominated list? And they all can not bee wrong,Allbollywood, IMDB, Screen, Filmfare..Reminds of a story about a mother whose child was marching out of tune. and she exclaimed, ” Look, the whole class is marching out if tune, except my little baby.”

The point I was making is by working with diverse directorsAmir gave us a wider variety of films rather than Kabhi Khushi Kabhi gham, Kal Ho na Ho and Kabhi alvida na kahna.. ad naseum.

neelu 19 February 2009
09:18:38 am

IMDb is one source – I am not going back and picking anything! No one can deny the IBOS tie up with Allbollywood, and their making up numbers – the oldre the film the more egregious the offense.

“No one is denying Mirch Masala was a great film. But Mangal Pandey is not a blot or anything like that. ”

No? I thought you were by saying Mangal Pandey was the best film by Ketan mehta. Go back and check.

“And Ghajini is featured in the nominated films of Scree and Filmfare,and Screen nominations are not decided by popular votes. So no way it can be a poor film. which poor film is i the nominated list?”

So award nominations are a sign or good quality? Can we then list wards that both these actors and their films have garnered? Including “Kabhi Khushi Kabhi gham, Kal Ho na Ho and Kabhi alvida na kahna.. ad naseum”!!!!!!! Again – the way you jump from quality to BO to awards makes my head spin. If awards are an indicator of quality then I am happy – I think I have won the debate

NyKavi 19 February 2009
09:22:52 am

It is interesting to see film connoiseurs going at it about quality of cinema. In all honesty, most armchair enthusiasts over here in NG only find their own fav star movies to be “quality” cinema. We see all fancamps going ballistic on Ghajini/RBNDJ/SIK/Guru/ etc. Well to each his/her own. However, I would argue that a humble “IMO” in front of every armchair proclamation on quality would be more appropriate to reflect that “taste is a matter of personal preference”.

In the real world out there the verdict of the $ is universally respected, especially with all the producers releasing movies in bwood. As long as the stars can keep churning out movies that enable the public to get off their butt and walk into a theatre, they dont really care about armchair enthusiasts.

Tango 19 February 2009
09:27:49 am

Good to see some good discussions going.

Just dont make it personal please (not that you people are).

neelu 19 February 2009
09:28:03 am

NyKavi – then we should only talk about BO (or awards) as the case may be! This talk of who does quality cinema and who does not is useless. If someone acts in films that the public accepts – then he is successful and that is god enough. With that kind of definition of success there is not much of subjective bias. IMO

NyKavi 19 February 2009
09:49:35 am

Yes, there is too much bias in subjectivity.
Actually, after reading some of these debates, the mind grows numb and weary. The question I begin to ask is, who are we to insult the intelligence of the movie going public that ultimately decides the failure or success of a movie. Who are we to question their perception of quality. Obviously if a movie is successful, the larger the success, the more approval of quality it received from the masses.
But then the general perception or agrument made is that a massy superhit has played to the lowest common denominator. And so it is not a “quality” movie.
After all, quality belongs only to arthouses, and so relegated to very low commercial expectations. Maybe the true measure of “success” should be if a true arthouse movie went on to emerge as a sleeper hit. Only those movies would have succesfully sold their “quality” to the masses.

neelu 19 February 2009
09:58:07 am

You speak wisely as always! But then why do we talk with SUCH extreme denigration of CHORPA/JOHAR almost as though they shovel out garbage at us? They are the most successful film-makers out there, and more to their credit, they are consistently successful. Making art-house movies commercially successful would be the magic code and I do not think many have cracked that one yet! Some film can successfully straddle the divide and we have to happy with that for now.

S T R E E T 19 February 2009
10:25:51 am

Agree with you all ofyou… Ghajini wasn’t much of a film… Maybe SrK can do something better with Murugados

NyKavi 19 February 2009
11:38:25 am

For me personally, Chopra and Johar, with VZ and KANK produced 2 movies which remain very close to my heart. VZ is beautiful beyond words. Even though I have many complaints with KANK, its right up there.
But VZ-KANK were also not hugely succesful. And that just reflects the amount of massy “connection” these movies made.
So, those movies were defn quality for me, but were garbage for many people.

neelu 19 February 2009
11:44:48 am

Biut many many other of their films did connect exceptionally well. DDLJ remains closest to my heart and I have a special fondness for KANK – though it could have been so much more! Veer Zaara BO status cannot be doubted. SRK delivered a one two punch in 204 with VZ and Main hoon na. What else can a film do but be the biggest grosser of the year? I thought we were discussing BO success only and NOT WHAT perception armchair enthusiasts have !

neelu 19 February 2009
11:45:46 am

*2004*

Kanwal 19 February 2009
01:13:13 pm

VZ for me is top 3 srk movie this decade.
Actually top 2 , i only like VZ and swades from him this decade.

Yes it was top grosser and hit of 2004(probably best year of srk in bollywood), may be after 1995(DDLJ,KA and raam jaane combo)

My name is Beld 19 February 2009
06:35:03 pm

nyk – good to see u here after a while

>> For me personally, Chopra and Johar, with VZ and KANK produced 2 movies which remain very close to my heart. VZ is beautiful beyond words. Even though I have many complaints with KANK, its right up there.

Touche! Only thing i would change is to replace VZ with Lamhe. i do believe at some level – at least in Bollywood – box office and quality of movies as perceived by urban elite are somewhat inversely proportional. There are exceptions to this theory but in some ways that has been the essential difference between amitabh as a super star vs the super stars of today. Amitabh was probably the only star in India who universally rules the classes and masses. I think both SRK and Aamir fall in the middle…..

JasonF’nTodd 19 February 2009
07:46:33 pm

murgiwhateverthefuckhisnameis should work with Suniel Shetty
i’ll camp outside the theatre for the first sow

ritz 20 February 2009
12:19:40 am

“But then why do we talk with SUCH extreme denigration of CHORPA/JOHAR almost as though they shovel out garbage at us?”

Cause they DO shovel out garbage at us.

neelu 20 February 2009
01:45:14 am

And just like that we are back at square one. Now NyKavi will know why we go round and round in circles like gerbils on NG. Please speak for yourself – you may find Ghajni garbage more digestible then.

Som 20 February 2009
07:27:41 pm

“Their subsequent work with other actors has never bettered these.”

Works like Fanaa and Ghajini certainly can be bettered.

utkal 20 February 2009
09:54:27 pm

Som, Can be bettered is okay. hasn’t been bettered is my contention. Kunal has made Thoda Pyar Thoda Magic after Fanaa and it is nowhere near the former. and Murugadoss hasn’t made a film after Ghajini, so let’s wait and see.

RAJ 20 February 2009
09:59:46 pm

For me best of Kunals work is “”HUTUM”” although is it is inspired from “”Harry met Shally”"”…His worst is “”fanna”"

RAJ 20 February 2009
10:06:29 pm

Beld

“”Amitabh was probably the only star in India who universally rules the classes and masses. I think both SRK and Aamir fall in the middle…..”"

Agree here..The reason for this is due to change in demography,entertainment avenues ,general sensibility in India etc…

In anyways i dont think anybody except Sachin Tendulkar rules the heart of the entire nation cutting across caste,gender,religion and region…It is true to all most every spectrum of life..Be it movies,politician,sports …