No Bollywood stars, could work with Dhanush, says Shekhar

Shekhar Kapur, among a few Indian directors with an international career, doesn't mince his words. Ask him about Bollywood films and why he doesn't direct them anymore and there's a pronounced wince. This, despite directing a clutch of successful Hindi films such as Masoom, Mr India and the critically-lauded Bandit Queen.

The wince comes from the term "Bollywood". "Bollywood films are stifling. They limit creativity. To me, making films is like entering a temple. When you go with an agenda, the sanctity is lost," he says.

Quickly turning it around, he says, "Ask me if I would make another Indian film and I'll say I probably will." But don't expect mighty heroes in the film. Shekhar Kapur will have none of that, still. Pretty much like his coming-of-age film, Masoom, in 1983. Or like Bandit Queen, the 1994 film which won him international fame and at-home controversy. He reels them off, reminding me that his biggest films didn't have big names. Because big names come with egos and egos, destroy creativity.

"But who would you cast," I ask, in an Indian film. Dhanush? "I admire Dhanush," he says, "I have watched his movie (Aadukalam) where he plays a cock-fighter."

From Dhanush, the conversation shifts to the other "hero" who has taken Bollywood by storm - Vidya Balan. I asked him if he had watched The Dirty Picture...perhaps Bollywood is trying to shake itself out of the box...

"I haven't watched The Dirty Picture," he says. "Which is why I didn't raise my hand during the vote," referring to the jury duty he was on for a recent awards show. The best picture award at Bollywood's first big award show of 2012 has fuelled a war of words between two prominent filmmakers with one accusing the other of arm-twisting the jury. "I am appalled" says Shekhar Kapur. I have been on the jury of so many international festivals...I have never seen this. The jury is bound not to publicly discuss their decisions. I have turned down requests to be on the jury from even an actress I consider among the most talented...Shabana Azmi...but I accepted this. Never again," he says firmly.

Moving on to happier topics like future projects, I am intensely curious about his reports of a film on the legendary mountaineer George Mallory which is reportedly in pre-production. "If everything falls into place, I will work on it," he says with a twinkle.

Completely satisfied, I am ready to wrap this up as the charming Shekhar Kapur gets ready for more questions. Mine have been answered.

Bollywood takes to NYU

Dillagi, NYU's Bollywood-Hindi Film Dance team, was founded in the fall of 2010 by Mohit Chhatpar. Dillagi is a coed dance team that regularly performs in the city and has even traveled for competitions. The team performed at Hofstra University earlier this year.

Next weekend, Dillagi will be traveling to Atlanta for a show called A-Town Showdown. This will be the first time the group travels outside the New York region for its biggest competition since the club was created.

"People will be competing with dance teams from all over the country," LSP freshman and Dillagi member Shaaranya Pillai said. "These types of national competitions are how you make your reputation and a name for yourself as a college Bollywood team."

In preparation for the event, the group has choreographed routines that incorporate Ghangra, another dance genre. Because the music is in another language, Dillagi has amplified Ghangra with more classical Hindi music and contemporary dance moves.

"Most of the time we take our music straight from Bollywood movies," Pillai said of the Dillagi performances. "Even though I was taught classically, I love doing other genres. In our upcoming competition, we're going to have a Bollywood round and a fusion round."

This past Sunday, Dillagi presented an impressive showcase of Bollywood and Bhangra dance talent at Eisner and Lubin Hall in the Kimmel Center for Student Life. There were three performances from Bollywood dance teams: St. John Fisher's RAAZ, Rutgers' Ehsaas and NYU's Dillagi. There was also one Bhangra performance from Mount Holyoke's Raunak Bhangra. All four groups performed enthusiastic routines set to compilations of colorful music.

Although most of Sunday's action circled around these performances, the highlight of the afternoon was a highly anticipated appearance made by Imran Khan, one of Bollywood's preeminent actors and celebrities. Fresh off a plane from Dubai, Khan was in town for less than 24 hours promoting his new film, "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu," but suspended his hectic schedule of New York appearances to attend the festival.

In an interview with the event's master of ceremonies Anil Daibee, Khan talked about a variety of topics, from his favorite New York City pizza place and his workout regimen to his upcoming film, which comes out in February. The congenial Khan, who was surrounded by a small flock of paparazzi and welcomed by several hundred adoring fans, gave the event a spirited and star-studded appeal.

 
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