Entertainment

Prithviraj Sukumaran on his role in ‘The Goat Life’

Published

11 months ago

April 10, 2024

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Mumbai (Maharashtra), April 9 (ANI): Prithviraj Sukumaran’s ‘Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life)’ did well at the box office. The actor is currently occupied with a hit film in theatres, another due this week and several more in the works, reported Variety.

‘Aadujeevitham’ (‘The Goat Life’), directed by Blessy, is based on Benyamin’s bestseller 2008 novel of the same name and portrays the actual tale of Najeeb, an immigrant labourer from Kerala who is forced into slavery on a distant goat farm in a Middle Eastern nation.

Sukumaran plays Najeeb. The film was released over the Easter weekend and has grossed USD 14 million to date. This makes it the sixth highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time.

Production began in 2018 and principal photography took place over several schedules across Kerala, Jordan and Algeria.

“I knew as an actor that this was a prerequisite, that to portray the entire character arc, I’d have to go through this drastic physical transformation of losing a lot of weight and looking very emaciated,” Sukumaran told Variety. The actor increased his weight to 98 kilos for the Kerala part of the shoot and for the scenes where he first arrives in the Middle East. The production then paused for seven months while Sukumaran shed 31 kilos. “I surprised myself and everyone in the film crew, because when I landed up the next time in Jordan, I was almost unrecognisable,” Sukumaran said.

The actor did not anticipate COVID-19, which halted the filming immediately after a scene where his emaciated body was revealed, leaving the team stuck in locked-down Jordan for months. They ultimately returned after a year and a half, during which Sukumaran had to acquire weight to remain healthy.

“But then I had to redo the whole thing. I didn’t count on having to do the whole weight loss transformation process two times, which I ended up having to do – because it’s a trap. Once you get to that level and you do a portion of the film, then it almost becomes like a thought process in your head. ‘No, I can’t let it go.’ I put in so much effort. I can’t let all that go to waste,” Sukumaran said, as per Variety.

“I know a lot of the [media] focus is on the physical transformation, but that is only a small part of the portrayal. At the very beginning, I had thought of the entire arc. And I had told Blessy-sir that it was going to be impossible for me as an actor to look at it as one long, singular character,” Sukumaran said.

As per Variety, the actor and director divided the character’s journey into a timeline of three weeks, three months and three years. “Once we had the idea and the timeline in mind, then it was up to me as an actor to interpret what the mental, emotional journey would be. Which is where we landed on this idea of helplessness, anger, and then coming to terms with the existence,” Sukumaran said. The plan is now for “The Goat Life” to take a shot at the Oscars.

Sukumaran is currently wrapping Vipin Das’ Malayalam-language comedy ‘Guruvayoor Ambalanadayil’, produced by his own Prithviraj Productions. The Kerala-based Malayalam-language film industry, where Sukumaran hails from, is known for its efficient budgets and focus on story over spectacle and is consequently the toast of India.

Three Malayalam films, ‘Manjummel Boys’, ‘Premalu’, and ‘The Goat Life’ (which debuted sixth in the United Kingdom), are among the top ten highest-grossing Indian films of 2024.

Sukumaran attributes the industry’s success to a plethora of new-age filmmakers, writers, actors, and producers who are daring in their approach to cinema and an audience that responds to those aesthetics, as well as the establishment of a distribution network that takes films beyond Kerala to the rest of the world.

“I hope we don’t lose sight of the fact that what originally made us so good is that we stuck to our strengths of saying original, real stories and within our own aesthetics, even when you look at mainstream commercial cinema of Malayalam,” Sukumaran said.

“I hope this newfound success across territories does not put filmmakers in a zone of thinking, ‘now we have to make cinema that will also cater to them,’ because the films that started catering to them in the first place are still Malayalam cinema. So, I hope we stick to what we know best and not let money affect our thinking,” reported Variety. (ANI)

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Staff Reporter

Entertainment

Salman Khan’s ‘Nepotism’ Joke Steals the Show at Nephew Ayaan’s Song Launch in Dubai

Published

1 day ago

February 21, 2025

Michael Gomes

Salman Khan has never been one to hold back, and at a recent event in Dubai, he added his signature dose of humour to the oft-debated topic of nepotism in Bollywood. The superstar, fondly known as Sallubhai, was in town to launch his nephew Ayaan Agnihotri’s debut song, “Universal Laws”, and in true Salman style, he had the audience in splits with his witty remark.

As Dubai’s DJ Bliss – who hosted the event – praised the Khan family for their unwavering support for Ayaan, Salman quipped, “That’s what nepotism is!” His playful jab left everyone in the room in splits.

And as the crowd cheered, Salman officially launched the song, marking Ayaan’s much-anticipated entry into the music world.

A Star-Studded Affair

The event turned into a Bollywood reunion, with stars like Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Neha Dhupia, Angad Bedi, and other celebrities coming together to celebrate Ayaan’s big moment.

During his speech, Salman highlighted that Ayaan, the son of Atul Agnihotri and Alvira Khan Agnihotri (Salman’s sister), hails from a family of seasoned film producers. He also mentioned that Ayaan’s cousin, Alizeh Agnihotri, who recently made her Bollywood debut, shares the same film-driven lineage.

Ayaan and Salman’s Previous Collaboration

This isn’t the first time the uncle-nephew duo has joined forces. Salman and Ayaan previously worked together on the track, “You Are Mine”, where the young artist showcased his rap skills alongside the Bollywood megastar. The song, composed by Vishal Mishra, became a talking point among fans.

Salman & Sanjay Dutt Spotted in Saudi Arabia

Meanwhile, Salman is keeping busy with multiple projects. A recent video circulating on social media showed him and actor Sanjay Dutt filming on the streets of Saudi Arabia. The clip, shared by an X user, captured the two actors casually chatting with crew members.

The buzz is that Salman and Sanjay are working on a cameo appearance in the Bollywood remake of the 2021 Argentine film Seven Dogs. While details remain under wraps, fans are excited to see the duo share screen space again.

From family celebrations in Dubai to shooting in Saudi Arabia, Salman Khan is proving yet again that his star power knows no boundaries.

(Inputs from Hindustan Times, Zee News)

Announcements

From Bollywood to Britain: Kumar Sanu’s soulful voice wins big in UK

Published

3 days ago

February 20, 2025

Michael Gomes

If you grew up vibing to Bollywood singer Kumar Sanu’s golden hits, here’s some news that’ll make you smile — Britain just honoured him with not one, but two prestigious awards.

The legendary singer, whose soulful voice defined Bollywood music in the ’90s and beyond, was recognised by the UK Parliament for his incredible contributions to music. And that’s not all, he also bagged the Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Book of Records, a double win for the veteran singer, whose is fondly called ‘Sanu Da’.

Special Honour at UK Parliament
The House of Commons, UK, celebrated Kumar Sanu’s impact on global music. This is actually the second time the UK Parliament has recognised the singer’s status in the music world.

Talking about the honour, Sanu said: “I’m overwhelmed and deeply grateful. Recording 28 songs in a single day is one of my proudest milestones, and to be recognised for my music means the world to me. This award is for my incredible fans. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

A musical celebration in London
Sanu’s daughter, Shannon K, was by his side for this special occasion, and the two even performed together at a star-studded event in London. Music lovers, dignitaries, and Bollywood fans came together to celebrate the voice that defined a generation.

In his acceptance speech, he said: “Music has been my lifelong passion. Being recognised internationally, especially by the UK Parliament again, is beyond humbling. I dedicate this to my fans — you are my biggest strength.”

A record-breaking career

Holds a Guinness World Record for recording the most songs in a single day 
Won five consecutive Filmfare Awards for Best Playback Singer  
Honoured with India’s Padma Shri award for his contributions to music

From Bollywood soundtracks to international recognition, Kumar Sanu’s legacy continues to shine.Music lovers will be happy Sanu is still making music that spans generations.

Entertainment

Megastar Salman Khan coming to Dubai to launch nephew’s musical debut

Published

5 days ago

February 18, 2025

Michael Gomes

One of India’s biggest movie stars, Salman Khan, is set to back his nephew Ayaan Agnihotri as he takes his first step into the music industry with a grand debut in Dubai.
Performing under his stage name, Agni, Ayaan will launch his first track, Universal Laws, on February 20. The song marks his entry as a singer, composer, and rapper, and the event promises to be a star-studded celebration with Salman leading the charge.
According to sources, the launch will see the presence of several famous Bollywood stars including Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Alvira Khan Agnihotri, Arpita Khan Sharma, Bobby Deol, and Sonakshi Sinha, making it one of the most glamorous musical debuts of the year.
More than just a song, Universal Laws showcases Agni’s artistic versatility. As a singer, rapper, lyricist, and composer, he has infused the track with deep emotions and powerful storytelling, set to dynamic beats. The song has been produced, mixed, and mastered by Aditya Dev, ensuring a high-quality sonic experience. Following its grand launch in Dubai, Universal Laws will be available on Agni’s official YouTube channel and all major streaming platforms.
Ayaan, the son of Atul Agnihotri and Salman’s sister Alvira Khan Agnihotri, has already had a taste of the industry. He previously collaborated with his uncle Salman on the track You Are Mine, composed by Vishal Mishra.
The debutant shared in an earlier interview that his superstar uncle and composer Vishal had been working on the song for some time and were close to finalizing it when Salman felt it needed something extra. That’s when he reached out to Alvira, suggesting that Ayaan rap for an eight-bar section of the track.
Ayaan revealed that he ‘wrote two versions of the rap in just 20 minutes, and when his uncle (Salman) heard them, he immediately asked his nephew to meet Vishal and finalise the tracks.
With Salman Khan’s unwavering backing and a promising start, Agni’s musical journey is set to be an exciting one.