Aamir Khan the only daring actor: Vishal Bhardwaj
Mumbai, Oct 28 : Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj says though superstars are taking risks by doing out-of-the-box films today, for him, Aamir Khan is the only daring actor.
Bhardwaj, who has worked with Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor in the past, says he needs an apt story to collaborate with top actors.
"I want to work with superstars. I approach them. If there would have been some response, they would have been in some film of mine. But they aren't there. There has to be a right subject.
"They are taking risk today and it is good sign for our cinema. Aamir Khan is the only daring actor. He transformed amazingly for 'Dangal'. He admits and acknowledges his age and works accordingly," Bhardwaj told PTI.
He is happy with the rave reviews his latest directorial venture "Pataaka" featuring relatively new faces like Sanya Malhotra and Radhika Madan, received.
The director acknowledges he has his own set of audience which enjoys watching his kind of cinema.
"I have a small or limited audience but I make films to cater to everyone. I would want everybody to watch my films but that doesn't happen. So you don't know your audience.
"And the day you come to know about this, you are finished. For me, it is always about the story I want to convey to people."
There has been speculation that Bhardwaj, 53, is set to adapt a book for Netflix. The director does not comment on it but adds that the digital platform is the future.
"Big filmmakers will be coming there. Things are shifting. If you want to watch a spectacle then watch on the big screen. If you want to watch content then digital is the best medium," he says.
His next film was set to bring together "Piku" actors - Irrfan Khan and Deepika Padukone on screen in a gritty drama reportedly titled "Sapna Didi".
Due to Irrfan's health the film was put on hold. The actor is likely to return to India after Diwali, but Bhardwaj believes the "Hindi Medium" star might not begin work immediately.
"We will start work on our film next year maybe," he says.
The critically-acclaimed filmmaker is part of the international jury of the 20th edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
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Delhi Polls: BJP faces protest, placates MLA amid resentment over ticket distribution
New Delhi, Jan 12: Resentment surfaced in the BJP on Sunday over ticket distribution for Delhi Assembly polls, with a protest held outside its Delhi unit office and an angry outburst by the outgoing MLA from Karawal Nagar who was not included in the candidate list released a day earlier.
As MLA Mohan Singh Bisht threatened to revolt after being denied a ticket from Karawal Nagar, the party rushed to control the damage and announced his candidature from the Mustafabad seat this evening.
A group of protesters from Tughlakabad in South Delhi held a dharna at the gate of the Delhi BJP office, demanding a change in the candidate from the constituency.
"Vikram Bidhuri Tum Sangharsh Karo; Modi Se Bair Nahi, Rohtas Teri Khair Nahi," the protesters, including mostly youngsters, chanted as the party leaders tried to pacify them.
In the second list of BJP candidates for the polls declared on Saturday, Rohtas Bidhuri was fielded from the Tughlakabad seat. In 2020 Assembly polls, Vikram Bidhuri who is a relative of senior party leader Ramesh Bidhuri, lost to AAP's Sahiram by over 13,000 votes.
A similar protest was also held by some party workers outside the Delhi BJP office against Mehrauli candidate Gajainder Yadav after the announcement of the first list of candidates earlier this month.
Bisht, the senior-most BJP MLA in the outgoing Assembly elected five times from Karawal Nagar, openly expressed unhappiness over being denied the ticket to contest from his stronghold.
A senior party leader said he was pacified after a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda.
Bisht, after getting the ticket from Mustafabad, expressed confidence that he would win the seat for the BJP.
"I met the national president and things were ironed out. I have assured that I will contest from Mustafabad and win the seat for the party," Bisht told PTI.
The MLA said he and the BJP had considerable support in Mustafabad and he has already attended two public meetings there.
The BJP won the Mustafabad seat, having a significant minority community presence, in the 2015 Assembly polls but lost it to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2020.
Earlier in the day, Bisht told PTI that the party's decision to replace him with Kapil Mishra was "wrong" and its consequences will be visible after voting on February 5.
"You have challenged the 'samaj' (his Uttarakhandi community), not Mohan Singh Bisht. The BJP will lose at least 8-10 seats because of this decision, including Karawal Nagar, Burari, Mustafabad and Gokalpuri," Bisht warned.
The BJP fielded Kapil Mishra, a Hindutva hardliner, from Karwal Nagar in North East Delhi, which was rocked by massive communal violence just after the 2020 Assembly polls.
Sources in the party claimed that there was also "deep resentment" among the Delhi BJP's Scheduled Castes Morcha leaders over being denied tickets from different constituencies including Madipur and Kondli.
A top Delhi BJP functionary stressed that there are many ticket aspirants, so it is natural for those who did not get selected to feel disappointed.
"The BJP is a disciplined party and its leaders understand this. Sooner or later, everyone will realise this and work for the victory of the party giving up their resentment," he said.
The elections to 70 Assembly seats in Delhi are scheduled on February 5. Results will be out after the counting of votes on February 8.
The BJP, out of power in Delhi since 1998, is making all-out efforts to return to power. In the 2015 and 2020 Assembly polls, the party was completely routed by the AAP, scraping through with just three and eight seats, respectively.
