Anupam Kher all set to direct his second film

The film will star Ruslaan Mumtaz, of Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar fame; shooting begins next January:

By Subhash K Jha

Anupam Kher is all set to turn director again — and he has cast young Ruslaan Mumtaz, who recently made his debut in the teenybopper romance Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar.After directing the heavyweight cast of Waheeda Rehman, Urmila Matondkar, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan in Om Jai Jagdish, why is Anupam directing a one-film old youngster?Explains Anupam, "The industry needs at least three dozen new actors. There are just a handful of stars now ruling Bollywood. Most filmmakers cannot afford them. We sincerely need to cultivate new talent. That's where our acting school comes in. We're trying to create a bank of talent for Bollywood. And if I don't use my own students, why would other directors do the same?"Further elaborating his plans Anupam says, "It would be a romantic film featuring Ruslaan. He's an ex-student from my acting school and for my second attempt at direction I needed a face that was sensitive and vulnerable, which suits him perfectly." The veteran actor toyed with the idea of casting Ruslaan after the young actor's appearance in Mera Pehle Pehla Pyar got him encouraging reports."But the clincher for me was his second film Tere Sang which Satish Kaushik is directing for our production company. Ruslaan's confidence level, his dancing and emoting were just right for the character I've in mind," says Anupam.Anupam's untitled directorial venture goes on the floors in January-February. "All I can say right now is it's going to be a young film about youthful aspirations. And it will touch on contemporary issues," he signs off.<<>

LINK:http://epaper2.mid-day.com/midday/scripts/epaper/epapermain.aspx?queryed=12&getda=h&eddate=07/08/2007

Ruslaan all set to shake a leg

The newcomer regrets the fact that he couldn’t showcase his dancing skills in his debut film
By; SUBHASH K JHA
The Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar (MP3) kiddie heart-throb Ruslaan hates the fact that his debut film offered him no chance to dance. “Everyone from Hrithik Roshan to Shahid Kapur did a lot of dancing in their debut film. What about me? I’ve trained with Shiamak,” says Ruslaan who was spotted earlier this week watching his debut film at a downtown theatre. Ruslaan finally got to dance at a Bollywood event in Yorkshire. “I trained with Anupam Kherji for acting and with Shiamak Davar for dancing. Like every wannabe I wanted to dance on screen in my first film. Unfortunately my debut film MP3 has very little dancing… unless you count that bit of an improvised jig I do on the bed in one of the scenes.” Ruslaan performed an item with Sheena, his costar in his next film Tere Sang, the event in Yorkshire. “It was my first stage performance and I can’t say I wasn’t nervous. But I do enjoy dancing,and I do it reasonably well,” says the youngster. The level-headed 24-year old has his own take on stardom. “It’s not enough for kids to like me. The film has to work in totality. I feel MP3 isn’t the usual soppy and unbelievable love story. So many scenes have happened to me and to my director Robby,” he says. Being character-actress Anjana Mumtaz’s son didn’t help Ruslaan. “I discovered I had no advantage. I was always interested in acting I started from scratch. I auditioned for MP3. I wanted to start with something more mainstream. But the minute I read the MP3 script I knew that was what I wanted to do. As for my second film, I thought Satish Kaushikji would make a masala film. But Tere Sang has also turned out to be quite different from the conventional love story in Hindi.” Speaking on his two co-stars so far, Ruslaan says, “Hazel and I had done an ad together. I knew they were looking out for someone who was like Hazel. So I recommended her. In Tere Sang, I’ve Sheena who’s the daughter of my mother’s colleague (Sadhana Singh). Very frankly it makes no difference to me who my co-star is. I’m focused only on my work. I can be paired with anybody.” Any fears for the future? “I just don’t want to end up as an also-ran. And by the way, my surname Mumtaz doesn’t come from my mother. That’s my father’s surname,” he says.

LINK: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/archive/skins/pastissues2/navigator.asp?login=default

CONFIDENT

BY; Rachit Gupta
Inspired by his mother Anjana Mumtaz’s career, Ruslaan Mumtaz is all set for his first break in the film industry. This young actor is armed with self- belief and the will to learn something new. In a tete-a-tete he waxes eloquent about his life,career and upcoming films
Q:What inspired you to take up acting as a profession?
A:I was in the second year of my college, when Rajshri Productions approached me with a proposal. They were head-hunting for a new face for one of their films and thought that my looks were really good. I then met Rajkumar Barjatiya and although he wasn’t too impressed with my acting, he did ask me to brush-up my acting skills and make good use of my good looks. One of the biggest production companies of the industry considering me is what got me inspired.
Q:How significant was your mother’s influence in your choice of profession?
A:My mother was never in favour of my taking up a career in acting or any other performing art. She wanted me to do something more stable in life, like an orthodox blue-collar job. But I was clear about my passions and when I joined a theatre group it really irked her. She was very nervous and thought I was perhaps taking things too lightly. But once she saw me performing on stage and in Shiamak Davar’s Academy she took to it merrily. She’s had quite a career in this industry and she is my guiding light.
Q:How did Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar (MP3) happen?
A:The producers and director Robby Grewal were looking for a young and fresh face for MP3. Robby took note of me through my stint in TV advertisements and got in touch. I gave their audition a shot and after almost a month of auditioning with around 900 guys I was given the final nod.
Q:MP3 being your first film, did you go through any special preparation for getting your debut act right?
A:Well, to be honest I was actually ready and itching to get my first film going. I was already a part of amateur theatre while I was still in college and learnt quite a lot from it. I did a lot of plays based on Premchand stories, while The Dressing Room was one of my theatre highlights. My preparation was done with three exhaustive years on stage combined with Shiamak’s Academy’s performing experiences. All that, was enough to make me confident of my acting abilities.
Q:Tell us something about your role.
A:I play a 17-year old rich, spoilt and pampered brat named Rahul, in MP3. Rahul is the cream of his friends’ circle and adored by everyone. He takes everything in life for granted and when he falls in love with Aisha, played by Hazel, he takes her love for granted as well. Eventually, life teaches him an important lesson as he discovers a new meaning to love and relationships.

Q:Was the transition from performing on stage to acting in front of the camera difficult?
A:I would not call it difficult but it was definitely a challenge. Where stage allows you to be loud and bold, the camera asks for subtlety. In fact, while shooting for MP3 Robby asked me to keep a check on my emotions and expressions. Initially as an actor it was quite frustrating to be underplaying my role to such a degree , but once I saw myself on screen I realized it was necessary. In hindsight I also understood that being different is the key, I could not just emulate the style of known stars and expect to get noticed.
Q:Any upcoming films?
A:I’ve signed a Satish Kaushik film titled Tere Sang, a young love story with a twist. Satishji was looking for a newcomer and after our initial meeting he turned me down. Three months later he gave me a call and asked me to give the auditions a try. Interestingly, I auditioned almost 30 times and it was my sheer perseverance that impressed Kaushik ji and got me the part in the film.
LINK: http://www.screenindia.com/old/fullstory.php?content_id=16012

Ruslaan's pehla pehla pyaar

His pets Chirkut and Jimmy keep the actor busy

By: Tushar Joshi

Three years ago, Ruslaan found a stray dog hiding under his parked car during the monsoons. An animal lover, Ruslaan and the pup shared an instant bonding. "He started wagging his tail and even followed me up to my house," he says. About my petsRuslaan, however, had to abandon plans to keep him at home. "My mother (actress Anjana Mumtaz) has an asthama problem, so we decided to house the dog in my building's garage." The people in his building started calling the pup Jimmy to which he responded well. Talking about his other pet, Chirkut, Ruslaan says, "There was this really tiny pup that would steal food from Jimmy's plate when he wasn't looking. She was the most ugly looking pup! We would call her Chirkut and yell at her. But today she and Jimmy have become really good friends." He adds that his mom makes sure his pets are fed on time.My three lovesRuslaan also has a cat named Shah Rukh. "Shah Rukh is this tomcat who eats from the same plate as Jimmy and Chirkut. He's like a goonda and comes to my building with bruises and cuts. I can easily say that these three are the true loves of my life!" Ruslaan is presently working on Satish Kaushik's Tere Sang after the release of his debut film MP3.

LINK: http://epaper2.mid-day.com/midday/scripts/epaper/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&getda=h&eddate=07/02/2007

Ruslaan with Keira?

The actor will play a 'playboy' pharaoh in Christopher Miles' Film, Knightley may star in it

By: Subhash K Jha

Chistopher Miles, best known for his biopic The Priest Of Love on DH Lawrence, is currently in Mumbai for the casting of his next biopic. Miles' The Last Pharaoh is based on the life of the last Egyptian pharaoh, King Farouk, whose colourful and controversial lifestyle made him the brunt of innumerable barbs and arched eyebrows.Miles has decided to cast a Bollywood actor as Cairo's cool casanova. The 25-year old Ruslaan Mumtaz has bagged the dream role. Catching upHours after the deal was finalised Ruslaan says, "I had never even dreamt of getting the role. The cinematographer of my first film Amitabha Singh, is the chief-assistant DoP for Christopher's project, and he showed my pictures to the director. He was immediately stuck by my physical resemblance to King Farouk. He saw my debut film Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar and made up his mind. When he flew down to Mumbai to meet me this weekend, I couldn't believe it was all happening."The film chronicles Faroukh's playboy-ish life-style and his relationship with a British girl, to be possibly played by Keira Knightley, although the film revolves around Ruslaan's character."King Farouk died young at 45 because of his hedonistic lifestyle. The Last Pharaoh will go back to his life at 23. I'm catching up on visual and printed material on Farouk. He was quite a cool cat. He loved ladies and fast cars. So do I! And he'd acquire both in every shape and size. I'd love to do the same," Ruslaan chuckles.Mouche adoMiles wanted one final audition with Ruslaan in a moustache before clinching the deal. "The mouche is easy to grow. Now the real hard work begins," exults the young actor. "I've been given video tapes on King Farouk to study his body language and facial expressions. I must say I do resemble him quite a lot. But he was bulky, in fact fat. I've gone the other way recently and lost lots of weight. Now I've been ordered to put on weight. So I've to start binging. I can't get any luckier. I get a role any Indian actor would kill for, and I get to flirt with flab."Ruslaan can't believe what's happening to him. "After my debut, I just didn't know what to do next. I guess I've 'Miles' to go."

LINK: http://epaper2.mid-day.com/midday/scripts/epaper/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&getda=h&eddate=02/27/2008

‘I need the visibility right now’

Ruslaan Mumtaz tells Deepali Dhingra that he does not want to act in multi-starrers
Your debut film Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar was appreciated. Were you apprehensive about the result?

• Actually I wasn’t thinking much about the audience response at that time. I was more concerned about what my family and friends would think. They’re the ones who’ve seen me struggle and I wanted to see their approval. I know that if I was bad, they would have said it to me. My mother was the first person to see the film and she liked it. My father does not usually watch films but he saw my film and said that he liked it too. That was what gave me confidence. I was in London when the film released so I had no clue what was happening here. My friends used to send me text messages to let me know what the critics are saying about the film.

Did the fact that you’re Anjana Mumtaz’s son help in any way?

• By the time I started in films, my mother’s career as an actress was almost over. There’s a new breed of people who’re in production who don’t even know her. And she’s not so famous that she can walk in and say ‘take my son in your film’ and they would do that. I had to remind people of her, so it didn’t really help. But she helped me by explaining how to conduct myself in the film business and teaching me things that I would have to deal with here.

You’ve trained under Shiamak Davar for dance and have also done theatre. Did you always know you would be an actor?

• I realised in my third year of college that I wanted to act in films. All these things I did only because I knew I would become an actor someday. I told Shiamak too that I wanted to act. Everyone I knew, knew that I wanted to act in films. Even theatre was a stepping stone for me.

What’s your next release going to be?

• It’s a film called Tere Sang directed by Satish Kaushik. The post production of the film is on at the moment. The film is a teen love story and I’m opposite a new girl who is being launched with this film.

Your first film was a teeny bopper love story and so is your second film...

• As actors, you take the best from what is offered to you. This is the kind of bill I fit in at the moment and plus, there’s less competition in this bracket! (laughs) I can always build a body later and do actionoriented roles later in life.

What are the kind of films you would want to do?

• I’m going with the flow. But I do know that I don’t want to multi-starrers even though they’re the norm these days. Even for my debut, I had a lot of offers but I wanted to do only a solo hero film. I need the visibility right now. I’m not keen on doing films which have four or five heroes.
LINK: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/archive/skins/pastissues2/navigator.asp?login=default

‘I’m heading for a chocolate boy image’

Ruslan Mumtaz, son of actor Anjana Mumtaz, tells CT that his roots lie in Kolkata
DIPANNITA GHOSH BISWAS Times News Network
Yet another star kid joins the Bolly brigade. But what Ruslan Mumtaz asserts is that he never used mother Anjana Mumtaz’s identity to get work for himself. “It was all because of my hard work and the auditions. But I knew from the very beginning that I’d never be a one-film wonder,” says the seemingly confident 24-year-old. With already two films under his belt, MP3 (Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar) and Satish Kaushik’s Tere Sang, Ruslan has surely got off to a quick start. “Though I graduated from NM College with commerce, I always knew acting was my calling. In order to train myself, I did a lot of Hindi theatre. It did come as a shock to my parents initially since I was a studious kid with a keen interest in sports. But eventually they agreed.” So was theatre the stepping stone to films? Says he, “In a way, yes. I wanted to be comfortable with a live audience but then, I did a lot of ads, so that gave me the feel of being in front of the camera. Subsequently, I joined Shiamak Davar’s dance school.” One common strand that runs through his roles is that Ruslan plays a 17-year-old in both. “Believe me, it was very tough because the first thing I was told was to stop working out,” he recounts, adding, “But I knew that I was heading for a chocolate boy image.” Yet, Ruslan has no qualms about it. “In Bollywood, it’s not before 30 that a male lead is considered to be a hero and success comes his way.” How much has his mother’s films influenced him? “Her role in Khuda Gawah was fabulous and I just can’t forget her long monologue in the film.” And is there any actor or director he’s dying to work with? “Aamir and Salman. It’ll be a dream come true for me to be able to share screen space with them. The list of directors is really long.” But Ruslan is rooted to reality as he accepts that making a mark in Bollywood these days is quite a task. “There are so many newcomers that a film or two doesn’t really matter. Acting is a serious competitive profession.” This handsome youngster has a strong Kolkata connection too. “My dad’s from Kolkata. That’s where my roots lie. I’ve been to the city too. I’ve a model friend there with whom I hang around when I stay at our Park Street residence,” says Ruslan, who confesses to being single and ready to mingle with ‘someone really beautiful’. “I need beauty and creativity around me,” he says, with a mischievous chuckle.

LINK: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/archive/skins/pastissues2/navigator.asp?login=default

‘I want to be treated like a star’

Armed with the title role in the Hollywood flick, The Last Pharaoh, actor Ruslaan Mumtaz tells CTthat when the offer came his way, he thought someone was pulling a fast one on him
DIPANNITA GHOSH BISWAS Times News Network
You’ve landed yourself a role in a Hollywood film, The Last Pharaoh...

• It so happened that the cinematographer of MP3, Amitav Singh, had sent some clippings from the film to the Oscar-nominated director, Christopher Miles. That’s where he saw me and thought that I suited the role of King Farouk, whose biography is The Last Pharaoh. Christopher had been wanting to make this film for a long time but they were unable to find a face that resembled that of the young Pharaoh. Actually, no British or American actor could look like the Pharaoh, and the unit needed someone with a Middle-Eastern look. I auditioned for the role and Christopher came down with a few costumes. I tried them out and consequently, the role was mine.

How does it feel to be cast as the lead in a Hollywood film when you are just a film old in Mumbai’s tinselville?

• When I read the script, I thought someone was pulling a fast one on me. It’s not just a King’s role, but also the lead character. The film is replete with fight sequences, and there’s enough scope to act. It definitely took me some time to come to terms with it. Only when I signed on the dotted line did it sink in.

So, where will the film be shot?

• It will be shot partly in Jaipur and partly in Egypt. It’s a political drama and there are a lot of war sequences. I am quite excited about acting with Jonathan Pryce, who plays a negative character in the film. We’ll start filming from September.

What’s happening on the Bollywood front?

• I will begin working on Nikhil Advani’s Jaane Kaha Se Aayi Hai, which stars Ayesha Takia and Ritiesh Deshmukh and is directed by Milap Zaveri. In the pipeline is Mast-tang Mama, a comedy by ad film-makerturner-director, Vikram Singh. In this film, I play a young good-for-nothing mama, who’s left to look after his bhanja for 15 days. Though the film is a lot on the lines of Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke, there’s just one kid instead of three. These days, one kid is good enough to turn your life into hell!

Did you slow down after MP3 because the film turned out to be a damp squib at the BO?

• In a way, I think I did the right thing by not taking up all the offers that came my way after MP3. What I have in my kitty now is what any newcomer would dream of. In Jaane Kaha Se Aayi Hai, I play a 25-year-old and there’s a lot of physique to flaunt as well. For this, I have to be in shape now and I’m working out religiously.

So, is all this working out helping you on the personal front too?

• (Laughs) I have hurt my knees now, I’m completely immobile and nobody is even sparing me a glance. In fact, even when I have to work out, I sit on a chair and do so. But all I have to tell the beautiful women out there is to wait and watch.

So far you’ve played a solo hero. Do multi-starrers give you cold feet?

• I’m not too sure about ensemble cast films. When I’m cast as the lead, I’m the hero on the sets as well. I fear, if there’s another star then the unit’s attention will get diverted. I want to be treated like a star, all the time.

LINK: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/archive/skins/pastissues2/navigator.asp?login=default

I also want to be Hrithik Roshan: Ruslaan Mumtaz

By Subhash K Jha
Though he looks and plays 17 in Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar (MP3) he's all of 24. At 17 he had fallen in love just the way shown in the film."Many of the scenes in my debut film seem to be straight out of my own life when I was 17," says Ruslaan whose second film is almost ready."I was involved with a girl for several years. I didn't run away to Paris to meet my girlfriend like my character in MP3. But I did lie to my parents and run away to meet my girlfriend in Mahabaleshwar once. She was the absolute apple of my eye."So what happened to a love so intense? "It vanished, I guess. Once I got busy with my career as an actor I couldn't give her the same amount of time. She didn't like that. We decided to take a break. I agreed thinking we'd be together again. After a while I went to her building and waited for four hours for her to come down and meet me. She never did. That's when I knew it was over between us."Busy shooting his second film and on the verge of being signed for several new projects, Ruslaan wants no distractions from his work. "I've a large group of friends. But I hardly see them any longer. I don't go out in the evening because I want to reach the sets looking fresh the next morning. Yeah, I do miss a normal life. But I'd rather spend my free time watching movies, working out and reading." Work-outs proved a detriment to Ruslaan bagging his first film. "For the audition of MP3 I turned up looking extremely brawny.I was told to get rid of all the muscles to look 17 for my part. I wasn't too keen to do that. I didn't want to make a chocolate-box hero's debut. Every aspirant wants to be Hrithik Roshan. I was no exception."Ruslaan Mumtaz is the son of Bollywood's eternal mom Anjana Mumtaz. But having Mommie-Dearest around made no difference to Ruslaan's struggle as a wannabe star."Why just my mom? I learnt dancing from Shiamak Davar. So I thought my mom's connections added to Shiamak's reputation would help me get an entry into Hindi films."

LINK: http://123india.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=15343

MP3 Music Video

http://www.mypopkorn.com/movies/romance/mera-pehla-pehla-pyar-song-mera-pehla-pehla-pyar-hai.html?show=NjUxOA==&CID=57037&gclid=CPD41aa0l5QCFQgXewodVUrPwA

Competition for Shahid Kapoor!!!

Actor Ruslaan Mumtaz who made his debut with the recently released Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar seems to have all that it takes to make the ladies go weak in the knees. If reports are to be believed, Ruslaan charmed the leading lady of his upcoming film 'Tere Sang' so much that the teenager in question, newcomer Sheena Shahbadi got completely crazy about him. When the unit of this Satish Kaushik film was out for a long outdoor schedule in the northern part of the country recently, young Sheena tried her best to steal as much time as possible with Ruslaan. Interestingly like Ruslaan who is a star son (his mom is actress Anjana Mumtaz), Sheena too comes from a Bollywood home. Her mother is yesteryears' actress Sadhana Singh who became nothing short of a sensation with the Rajshri hit Nadiya Ke Paar.
Sheena whose identity the producers are protecting fiercely, was roped in, when the original choice Yamini Sharma (who Satish Kaushik had considered after seeing her photo in a newspaper), was dropped once she was found unsuitable for the role. "Sheena is a young girl and it's not uncommon for a girl of her age to have a crush on a good looking guy. Ruslaan obviously enjoyed all the attention. They ate together, had loads of fun and whenever possible spent time with each other in their rooms. But she tried to keep this fondness a secret, probably because her mother was mostly around. On the last day of the shoot in Dalhousie, they got lost together in the wilderness and we had to keep waiting for them to can a few shots. That day Satishji also got very irritated", says a close source from the unit.It didn't end there. Sheena also got terribly jealous of Hazel, Ruslaan's first heroine and co-star from MP3. Adds the source, "While we were shooting near the Qutub Minar, Hazel had come to our sets twice to meet Ruslaan. Sheena didn't speak to her properly and kept ignoring her. It came to such a point later that she refused to even hear her name".Ruslaan Mumtaz was unavailable for comment. But after hearing about his charms working so much on a young girl, we can only imply that Bollywood has found yet another pin up boy. By the way, as long as the crush is harmless, no one is complaining!

LINK: http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/news/ruslaan-mumtaz-sheena-shahbadi-190607.html

Ruslaan has got a very special face: Christopher Miles

By Subhash K Jha
In his career of nearly 5 decades Christopher Miles has directed 13 critically-acclaimed films including the bio-pic Priest Of Love on the life of litterateur D.H Lawrence. Last month Miles was in Mumbai to finalize a project based on the life of the controversial King Farouk of Egypt. In a warm interview Miles reveals his plans.
You are the elder brother of one of my favourite British actresses!
Yes, Sarah Miles is my sister. In fact we're planning a sequel to her best-known film David Leans's Ryan's Daughter. We'd probably call it in Ryan's Grand-daughter.David Lean took a long time filming it. They had lots problems on that one.In fact I made two films while he made Ryan's Daughter. Later when he met me he said, 'I stopped you never did.' Ryan's Daughter was slammed by the critics when it was released. They've now changed their mind about it.
It's good to have you in Mumbai.
This isn't my first visit to the country. I've been here twice before. And my wife's great-grandfather started the Madras Times.I'm also an honorary member of the Kolkata Directors'Guild. You've such a huge and talented film industry.It's good to be here again. I'm here to finalize my project on the life of King Farouk. I was actually supposed to be involved in a book based on his life called One Of Us. That didn't turn out the way we wanted, and some of the people in it would've sued for libel. So we abandoned the book. But I decided to make a film on King Farouk based on an unknown book The Last Pharoah. It went into the King's life at age 24 when he was young enthusiastic Egyptian king when in fact he wasn't Egyptian. His father was a Graeco-Turk. The Eyptians aren't sure about where to place King Farouk.In my film set during World War 2 Farouk vacillates between the British and the Germans. It's like a Casablanca on the Niles.
So you had to cast someone foreign and exotic.
I didn't want to cast an English actor. I chose Mumbai's Ruslaan Mumtaz. It was enormously difficult. Last year my wife was in Rajasthan. That's when she spotted Ruslaan. He looks quite like Farouk.I saw Ruslaan in Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar and a part of Tere Sang. He's got a very special face.I cast him because he has a princely quality. He seems to have royal blood.Plus I think India can look a lot like Egypt. For some reason Egypt doesn't welcome foreigners. All the recent Egyptian films include The Mummy has been filmed in Morocco. My film now takes Egypt to India.
Are you saying you're going to film this Egyptian tale in India?!
Yes,you've everything here in Rajasthan including the deserts and camels. I even found an exact replica of the British embassy in Cairo in Jaipur. We start filming in October-November. The ambassador will be played by a very fine British actor Jonathan Pryce. We're finalizing the girl. But I'm going to be using a lot of the local resources from your film industry including the DOP.I've seen a wonderful film The Warrior shot in Rajasthan starring Irrfan Khan. Such cultural cross-connections are getting frequent.
You've also made a film based on the life of D.H Lawrence?
That's right! I made The Priest Of Love.And I gave Ian McKellan his first screen role. He was brilliant as Lawrence. It was also Eva Gardner's last film, sadly. I'm proud of that film.
You apparently were an academician before a movie director?
That's right. It was impossible for me to teach and make films. Only Eisenstein was able to do it. I resigned gracefully.
Do you feel all the talent from British cinema is heading for Hollywood?
I'm hoping it's heading for Bollywood. The problem is any market that makes films in English automatically becomes a slave to the American market. A good British film doesn't make back its money in Britain alone. We're always looking hopefully across the Atlantic. A success like Chariots Of Fire is rare in Britain. It's disastrous to have the British cinema rely on.

LINK: http://123india.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=20230

Tanay Chheda gives Ruslaan a run for his money

By Subhash K. Jha, May 5, 2008 - 11:01 IST
Ruslaan Mumtaz who just recovered from a leg injury didn't know what he was getting into when he agreed to play young Tanay Cheda's uncle in new director Vikram Singh's comedy Mastang Mama.The film which started shooting last week has Ruslaan paired with tv actress Kulraj Randhawa. But it's Tanay (Rajan Damodaran in Taare Zameen Par) who shares most playing-time with Ruslaan in Mastang Mama. And the boy is giving Ruslaan a run for his money. Laments Ruslaan, "The boy is so sharp. At that age, I was a complete dullard. Even now he gets the better of me constantly. The boy is ten years my junior. But he seems to know so much about everything from the sensex to mobile technology to camera angles. I don't think I stand a chance with Tanay," jokes Ruslaan. The twosome has been bonding for the whole of last month through acting workshops while Ruslaan has been confined at home because of a torn ligament. "In a way my injury proved a blessing for this film because I got a chance to rehearse. So there is a comfort level between me and Tanay the start. There're so many films on male bonding being made. The actors need to get used to occupying a common space," observes Ruslaan. "And although he tends to get the better of me, I really enjoy bonding with Tanay especially because I'm an only child. I only wanted a kid brother."
Link:http://www.indiafm.com/features/2008/05/05/3841/index.html

Ruslaan makes Satish Kaushik remember Shekhar Kapoor

There is an interesting story that goes behind the casting of Satish Kaushik's Tere Sang.Apparently Ruslaan Mumtaz, the male lead of the film, wasn't approved in the first instance by Satish Kaushik. The director of Tere Naam wasn't convinced about roping in the young boy and told him about his discomfort.Informs Ruslaan's friend, "In first instance, Satish Kaushik told Ruslaan that he didn't quite fit in the part. Even though Ruslaan felt that he suited the part and was willing to do whatever it takes to get under the skin of the character, Kaushik wasn't convinced." This was the moment when an incident that happened more than a couple of decades back was repeated in front of Kaushik, whose last directorial outing was Akshaye Khanna, Ayesha Takia, Mallika Sherawat sterrer Shaadi Se Pehle (2006). "Ruslaan did take this rejection in good spirit but not before telling Kaushik that he would eventually revert his decision and rope him in as the lead actor", his friend says. "The incident took Satish back in the memory lane. Years back he had been a part of a similar situation when he had approached renowned film maker Shekhar Kapoor for being a part of one of his projects. Initially, even Shekhar wasn't too keen on having Satish on board. Satish too made an exit but not before claiming that Shekhar would have no choice but to call him back. As it happened, Shekhar finally relented and Satish was on." Once Ruslaan was signed for Tere Sang, a teenage romantic flick produced by Karol Bagh Productions (the new production outfit formed by Anupam Kher and Satish Kaushik), the work began at a rapid pace. As per Satish Kaushik, the film is about school kids. This would be the second film for Ruslaan after Robby Grewal's MP3 - Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar that he would be playing a school kid. In Tere Sang, Ruslaan, yesteryear actress Anjana Mumtaz's son, is being paired opposite Sheena Shahabadi, daughter of another actress from the past, Sadhana Singh, who acted in Nadiya Ke Paar. Sheena plays a 15 year old girl in Tere Sang.The film also stars Rajat Kapoor, Neena Gupta and Sushmita Mukherjee along with Anupam Kher who has done a special appearance in the film. Shooting of 'Tere Sang' is now complete and the film is now being readied for release.

link-http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/10/04/10196/index.html

Ruslaan Mumtaz Interview

He was trained under Shaimak for six months and also acted in theatre. Now, he is all set to make his debut in Robby Grewal’s… film Mera Pehla Pehla Pyaar (MP3). He is Ruslaan Mumtaz, son of veteran character artist Anjana Mumtaz.
Director of the movie Robby informed that there was hunt going on for the male lead. How did you manage to get the film?
There were auditions going on all over India for the character of Rohan. A lot of people had auditioned. Even I had got calls from a lot of coordinators. They kept calling me, but I didn’t want to go a regular auditioning for a movie. But my mom said that since they are calling everybody in the city you should go and see where you stand as an actor. I was planning to train myself at Shaimak’s and then my mom would introduce me to directors as she is from the film line. But wasn’t ashamed of using my mom’s name but she wanted to know where I stand as an individual. Then I went and auditioned for the film and got the role.
Have you done any training in acting before this?
I did theatre for three years before doing this film. So, I was doing acting constantly. I also did modeling. I have done lots of advertisements. When this film happened I was dancing for Shaimak Davar’s troupe and I had just completed six months then I have to leave Shaimak for this film.
Did you always want to be an actor?
When I was in my S.Y.B.com I had decided to become an actor.
How influential was your mother in getting you into this profession?
To be honest my mom always worked as a deterrent as she never wanted me to be a part of this industry. As she thought that there a lot of factors involved like everyone will be talented and good looking but still there is luck factor involved and you are not sure if you will make it. Your life will change every Friday, one Friday they will put you at a height and the next they will pull you down which she didn’t want me to go through. She is a woman and had her husband to support her financially but for a man it is a very difficult situation to be in as he is the supporter of the house and if he goes wrong then everything goes down with it. A man should have a steady job and a steady income. But at that point of time when she was doing films, it wasn’t considered steady but now so many avenues like television have opened up. What’s the worst, I could be doing serials and that will give me money.
Robby Grewal’s first film Samay did not really strike a chord with the audience. How was he as a director?
What happened with Samay was that it released much before its time. I don’t know why but I saw Samay on the first day. I didn’t even imagine I would be working with Robby Grewal four years later. So somewhere we connected with each other. The kind of films he makes are for the audiences of my age group. Robby is a modern director, when you read the script I decided I wanted to do this film. You can’t decide the Box office success of a film but you can decide whether you want to be a part of the film. It’s a different film; I will call it as a Dil Chahta hai. If it works everyone will do well and if it doesn’t it will definitely remembered somewhere.
MP3 sounds a youthful title. Is your character equally young?
I am playing a seventeen year old guy who is from a rich family. His parents love him and friends love him. At that a girl who comes into his life falls in love with him but he takes her love for granted. One can’t take love for granted. And the film is about this realization.
Ruslaan talks about his co-star Hazel:
Your female co-star Hazel also makes her debut in this film?
Hazel is someone with whom I have done ad films before. When I got cast for the part of Rohan they were looking for a girl to cast opposite me. When I have done ads with Hazel before, people on the sets said that we look very good together. So I called Hazel and told her to come for this audition may be you would like to do the part. She auditioned and they liked her. She read the script and she liked it. And that’s how we did the film. So, we both were already friends, we just helped each other and went along with the film.
Any fun moments on the sets?
I am considered a very accident prone actor. On the second day of the film I had a very simple shot where I had to jump off the ramp from a cycle which was a very simple shot. But unfortunately the cycle’s tyre just snapped out. I don’t know how that happened but I just fell straight on my face and we packed up for two months. So, I delayed the shooting for two months.
Then when we got ready for our next schedule one week before the shoot I fell off a bike and again I hurt my face and again I delayed the film by another one month. So because of me the film has been delayed by three months. But luckily they didn’t decide to change the actor.
When it happened for the first time they knew it was an accident and wasn’t my fault as it happened in the front of the entire unit and everyone was scared. The doctor said it will take at least a month for the scars to go away. When the accident happened the second time, I called my director and said that Robby you have to come home because I had an accident. He came home and saw my face and said that I can’t shoot with you like this. He couldn’t do anything as it was too late. So I have a bad reputation.
For my second film which I am doing with Satish Kaushik I just happened to tell him that I am very accident prone. He was like ‘don’t talk about it because I can’t afford to have my film delayed’. And the next day I had a motorbike shot, it was a very simple shot and I had to take a turn. I was a little faster than usual and the bike just skid and I fell but we didn’t pack up as I didn’t hurt my face this time. I hurt my full body though. I completed the whole film on painkillers.
Have you signed any other movie?
I just completed a film called Tere Sang which will release in October. It is directed by Satish Kaushik and stars Rajat Kapoor, Neena Gupta and Satish Kaushik himself.
Do you want to continue being a Bollywood actor? Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I don’t know. Things keep changing. I thought I would wait and once MP3 releases I would do more multiplex kind of movies. But then Satish Kaushik approached me and he is more of a commercial filmmaker. I didn’t plan, it just happened to me. He offered a good role and it’s a big film so I had to take it. It’s very difficult to plan. Whatever comes I take because I am not in a position to decide. Whatever comes my way if it is interesting and helps me go forward in life I take it. I have no clue where I will be next year at this moment.

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