SCOOPS: How Rohit Shetty got the title 'Sooryavanshi' for Akshay Kumar's film, Dilip Kumar sends legal notice to builder

It’s now well known that Akshay Kumar’s cameo in last week’s release Simmba, starring Ranveer Singh, gave a hint that he was collaborating with Rohit Shetty for his next cop thriller Sooryavanshi. Also, the name of his character, Veer Sooryavanshi, seems inspired from Salman Khan’s Veer (2010) and Suryavanshi (1992). But hardly few people know how the film’s title came about. 

An industry source tells us that Rohit acquired the title from Vijay Galani, the producer of Salman’s 1992 film, in which the superstar also played a prince of the Sun dynasty. According to our source, “Initially, Vijay was reluctant to part with the title. However, he agreed after Boney Kapoor was roped in to discuss and reason with him to be open-minded and accommodating of a younger colleague in the fraternity, that he agreed. It’s another thing that Rohit is spelling his film as Sooryavanshi and not Suryavanshi.” 

The blockbuster director is known to go the right way about his movies. “Whether it’s getting inspired by a classic; as in the case of Bol Bachchan, for which he reportedly acquired the rights of Golmaal (1979), or a title, as in the case of Suryavanshi for his own movie, Rohit has always ensured he gets the legal right before commencing on his movie concerned,” sums up our source.

Yesterday was Deepika Padukone’s first birthday post her wedding with Ranveer Singh on November 14-15 last year. On the occasion of her special day, the 33-year-old actress launched her own website. 

Earlier, a hand-written note shared by her on her Instagram page, saying that something super exciting was coming up soon, had generated tremendous curiosity among her followers. Currently, on a holiday with hubby Ranveer, Deepika announced on her photo-sharing profile her plans of launching her own website on her janamdin. 

2018 has been eventful for the actress. It began on a high note with Padmaavat, which earned her glowing reviews, she ended the year by tying the knot with Ranveer. In the interim, she became the only woman to bag a place in the Top 5 Richest Indians list by an international magazine, besides rocking it with her fashion statements on international red carpets at events like the Met Gala and Cannes Film Festival. 

On the movies front, Deepika also ventures into production with her next, Chhapaak, based on the true story of an acid attack survivor Laxmi, that is being directed by Meghna Gulzar. 

Film piracy has been eating into the business for quite a few decades. Even as the industry has been implementing a number of ways to beat it, the fraternity hasn’t been able to end the menace. The release of pirated movies on the internet causes huge losses to the cinema industry and also the government exchequer. So, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has deemed it necessary to enable a provision in the Cinematograph act (Amendment) Bill to check film piracy. 

While the penalties for contravention of provisions for certification of films for public exhibition are given under Section 7 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the MIB has proposed the introduction of Cinematograph Act (Amendment) Bill for the inclusion of a new Sub-Section (4) of the above section. Notwithstanding any law for the time being in force including any provision of the Copyright Act, 1957, the new subjection states that “any person who, during the exhibition of an audiovisual work, cinematographic in an exhibition facility used to exhibit cinematograph films or audiovisual recordings and without the written authorisation of the copyright owner, uses any audiovisual recording device to knowingly make or transmit or attempt to make or transmit or abet the making or transmission of a copy or visual recording or sound recording embodying a cinematograph film or audiovisual recording or any part thereof or a copy of sound recording accompanying such cinematograph film or audiovisual recording or any part thereof during subsistence of copyright in such cinematograph film or sound recording, shall be punishable with imprisonment not exceeding three years and shall also be liable to fine not exceeding Rs 10 lakhs, or to a term of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or both.” 

Sharing the link on the act and the rules and documents, the MIB seeks comments from the general public on the amendment bill by February 2, 2019. Hope this move resonates with the cinegoers and helps in curbing the menace of film piracy. 

As far as biopics are concerned, it doesn’t get bigger than this. Vivek Anand Oberoi will portray the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a film based on the latter’s life. It will be directed by Omung Kumar, who has previously helmed Mary Kom, which had Priyanka Chopra playing the world boxing champion.

This sure marks an exciting beginning to 2019 for Vivek. After successfully foraying into the digital world with Inside Edge in 2017, this year, he will not only be seen in its second season but also in another action-packed web series based on the Mumbai mafia.

Moreover, there’s buzz that he will star in an international web show on the life of Swami Vivekananda, too. But, for now, it’s the Modi biopic that will keep him busy. Its first look will be launched by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, January 7, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The Saathiya actor said that both he and his dad, Suresh Oberoi, are extremely excited about this development. Vivek will start shooting for the movie from mid-January.

The year 2019 marks a new beginning for Varun Dhawan, his director daddy David Dhawan and brother Rohit Dhawan (who helmed Desi Boyz, 2011, and Dishoom, 2016). The trio will roll their maiden production venture later this year. After the success of Judwaa 2, the veteran director’s contemporary version of his 1997 hit with Salman Khan, Judwaa, reports have been rife about what the father-son duo will team up for next. An industry insider tells us that after considering Biwi No. 1 (1999) and Coolie No. 1 (1995), the Dhawans have decided to remake the Govinda-Karisma Kapoor comedy next. “They will also be producing the film along with Vashu Bhagnani, who backed the original,” says our source, adding, “While David will direct the film, his elder son Rohit will oversee the production from their side. The family plans to establish their production house with Rohit at the helm.” 

Yami Gautam recently confessed to us that she had realised the outcome of Batti Gul Meter Chalu after the private screening kept for actors. And that’s how she managed to not take it too much to heart when the film didn’t do well at the box office. But is she able to maintain that sort of distance from all her films? “I think I can,” she stated, “See, we actors are very sensitive. Of course, one gives all their heart to a film, but when you watch it in totality, it can affect you at a much deeper level if you don’t know where to draw that line. You need to understand the whole concept of attached and detached.” The actress revealed that she had to do that when two of her films post Vicky Donor did not do well. “Suddenly, I was bombarded with questions about my co-stars or how well my contemporaries are doing. Everybody has a comparison for everyone. And no one teaches you how to handle this. So, you just have to understand the fact that maybe this didn’t do well, but it’s a journey. Like you enjoy success with a lot of pride, you have to accept the not-so-great stuff with as much grace,” she added.

Bollywood thespian Dilip Kumar and his wife Saira Banu have sent a defamation notice to builder Sameer Bhojwani for falsely claiming ownership of their property in Pali Hill, Bandra. The notice, sent by their advocate Jitendra Shah on December 31, 2018, seeks an apology from the builder and Rs 200 crore in damages within 10 days for defaming the couple. 

The case actually began a few months ago and revolves around a land plot, said to be worth Rs 250 crore, in the plush Bandra neighbourhood where Saira wants to make a museum dedicated to the 96-year-old cinema legend. The couple, who maintain that the property, which Bhojwani claims as his, belongs to them, had lodged a police complaint last January, accusing the builder of forging title documents of their land. 

Incidentally, on December 19, Saira had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media to intervene in their matter and help them.  

The defamation notice states that Bhojwani had not only recently put out an advertisement in a well-known newspaper claiming the property as his, but he had also withheld information about the FIR and chargesheet filed against him by the Mumbai Police. The builder is said to be currently out on bail. The notice also states that if Bhojwani doesn’t issue an apology and pay Rs 200 crore, Dilip and Saira will file for criminal proceedings against him.