Saina Nehwal biopic not shelved, says Amole Gupte
Mumbai: Filmmaker Amole Gupte says the biopic on badminton ace Saina Nehwal has not been shelved as they plan to start shooting in September this year.
There were reports that the film, starring Shraddha Kapoor as Nehwal, was put on the back-burner after hitting a roadblock.
When asked if the film has been shelved, Gupte told PTI, "I didn't respond to reports because I know what I am doing. It is better that the production house speaks, which is T-Series, rather than me. We are definitely going on floors in September."
The director said he has been working on the film since 2015 and will not rush it.
"I have already given two-and-a-half years of my life.
I am used to this pace (of working). There is a lot of preparation required for this film. We are at it," he said.
Currently, Gupte is awaiting the TV premiere of his last release, "Sniff". The film will be airing on &Pictures on January 14 and he is glad the film is getting a wider platform.
"Few minds in this nation respect children's content. I have seen some nice films perishing at the box office race because they need support and P&A (promotion and advertising) just to put it out there. It is an uphill task to create content for children and showcase their world to the adults."
Gupte is known for telling children's stories on the celluloid with films such as "Stanley Ka Dabba" and "Hawaa Hawaai".
He was also the writer and creative director for the National Award-winning film "Taare Zameen Par".
The director said while his movies enjoy great viewership on TV, it is tough to get families to theatres.
"If there is a U/A film, the adult in the family takes the children along. But if there is a children's film running in the theatre, the thought does not cross the mind of an Indian parent (of going for it)... (this) has taken me a lot of mulling over how to break this jinx."
The director said he has learnt the trick of first approaching the school and their heads to at least get children to cinema houses.
While some might say that working with children and animals is a big struggle, Gupte said it is the easiest bit but the toughest part is "convincing the adult world of our nation to take the children out to see the film."
"That's my struggle," he said.
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'Rear-guard action': BJP over Mamata accepting sports minister's resignation after Messi event
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Tuesday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's accepting Aroop Biswas' resignation as the state sports minister is nothing but a "rear-guard action" to douse public anger over the mismanagement of football icon Lionel Messi's event last week.
BJP co-in-charge for West Bengal Amit Malviya alleged that this is also an "open confession" that the Messi event fiasco was not accidental but a government-manufactured disaster, borne out of the poor governance of Banerjee, her ministers and the state bureaucracy.
Banerjee on Tuesday accepted Biswas' resignation as the sports minister in the wake of the controversy over the mismanagement of football icon Messi's event last week, a senior leader of the ruling TMC said.
Biswas, who had written to the chief minister seeking to be relieved of his responsibilities as sports minister, will continue as a cabinet minister, retaining charge of the power department.
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Reacting to the development, Malviya said in a post on X, "TMC Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigns after the Messi fiasco and Mamata Banerjee accepts it in record time."
"Do not mistake this for accountability; this is nothing but a rear-guard action to douse public anger. anger! This is not 'Raj Dharma'," he added.
The BJP leader alleged that the incident was the outcome of "loot" of common people which is "so synonymous" with the TMC.
The incident was also the outcome of the "shameless VIP culture that TMC thrives on and deep-rooted cronyism promoted by Banerjee," he charged.
Malviya further alleged that Biswas' resignation exposes a "collective failure of Mamata Banerjee, her partisan bureaucracy, and her crony cabinet".
"This is a symbolic sacrifice, a political hoax, soon to be buried under layers of bureaucracy, with no justice, no accountability, and no remorse," the BJP leader said, adding, "No resignation will bring back the time lost, the money wasted, or the stolen chance for football lovers to witness Messi in Kolkata."
