My role was really tough : Kangana

Ever since ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI was announced and proclaimed to be about the gangs of Mumbai (then called Bombay) with the 70s battle of Haji Mastan and Dawood Ibrahim being a definite highlight, there was immense curiosity to know more about the presence of leading ladies in the film.

However, Kangna - just like most of the cast members of the film - refuses to comment on the reference point. "If you ask me then there is my reference point to any real life personality that any of the male protagonists may have been connected to in reality. On closer look you would find that my character is based more on the rebellious actresses from 70s like Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi. They changed the way actresses were perceived to be in the era gone by. These women were bold, beautiful, daring, gorgeous and above all courageous. They were the ones who started the trend of live in relationships, something which is so 'in' today."

Kangna is happy that she went ahead and played yet another character that stems from a biographical tale.

"The brief that was given to me by Milan (Luthria) was that I have to project such a woman with whom every man should fall in love", she smiles, "On the face value this seems simple but enacting this is a different challenge altogether. To play a Bollywood Diva who is so real isn't something that is easy to portray. I had to act a lot through eyes and emotions."

Well one had all the right reasons to believe so. After all Kangna Ranaut has made a career out of playing mysterious or biographical characters (Monica Bedi for GANGSTER, Parveen Babi for WOH LAMHE, a drug addict model in FAHION) ever since she entered the industry. Now that she is all set to play a Bollywood Diva, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI should hopefully make for a glam filled fun watch once it releases all over on 30th July.

Prachi Desai's once a year experience

Prachi Desai is someone who makes once a year appearance. In 2008 she made a rocking debut with ROCK ON, in 2009 she followed it up with another reasonable success in LIFE PARTNER and this year she has ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is coming up, a film that has sent just the right signals in the industry. However, given the fact that Prachi has maintained a plain Jane image for herself during all these years, one does get a strong sense that she has created some boundaries for herself when it comes to picking and choosing roles.

"Honestly speaking, I haven't really made any conscious effort around this", says Prachi, "In fact what has proven to be a drawback is my earlier work that I did for television. I was offered the kind of roles in films that reminded people of my TV stint. I didn't want to do that. Thankfully, now the situation has changed for better so people are looking at me differently as well."

Being someone who is keeping a wait and watch stance as far as picking up newer assignments is concerned, Prachi understands that the going would be a little tougher for her. "Frankly, I am a complete outsider which makes things even tougher for me. For us actors, it is the script, director and the role that chooses you and not the other way around. All I have done consciously though is not to accept roles that I have been doing earlier on TV or even my couple of films. I don't want to repeat myself."

She doesn't believe that it is only girl-next-door roles for her so far in Bollywood.

She says, "If you look at my films so far, ROCK ON had me playing a very subtle character, in LIFE PARTNER there was a lot more comedy while ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI has me in a period setting. So yes, they have all been different".

I am no more a Serial Kisser

Emraan Hashmi is all set for his upcoming film, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI, in which he's playing an underworld don. According to the actor, his 'serial kisser' tag will go after this film.

"Definitely it's a major depart from playing romantic roles. Hopefully, I won't be addressed as a serial kisser after OUATIM. The script and the film is a completely different genre for me," said Emraan

The film also stars Ajay Devgn, Kangana Ranaut and Prachi Desai.

On working with Ajay Devgn, Emraan said, "It's extremely intimidating to work with Ajay Devgn. He's an actor who has won a National Award and who oozes that kind of intensity in the frame."

The 31-year-old actor further added, "For a young actor it is almost like going to acting school and learning. It was a tremendous experience as well. Just sit there and watch him act. I really admire him as an actor and learnt a lot from him."

Emraan had to work a lot on his body for this film. But he completely loathes the term 'six pack abs'.

"I hate this term six-pack. When Milan narrated the script he made sure that the character demands an overall muscular physique. Because of the action sequences, the toughness in the look was required," he said.

Directed by Milan Luthria, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is set to release on July 30.

Kangana praised Zeenat Aman's work

Kangna Ranaut cannot stop praising the queen of the 70's - Zeenat Aman. For her role in the film ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI, Kangna did an extensive research on Zeenat Aman before portraying the role.

According to Kangna Ranaut, the charisma of Zeenat Aman was inescapable every time she saw her film.

It must be recalled that Kangna is playing a role that borders on the popularity of Zeenat Aman during her peak days.

Speaking about the era of the seventies, the actress says, "What I noticed while playing my character in the film was the fact that the heroine of the seventies took half an hour to get dressed and more than two hours to style her hair."

Though Kangna cannot stop praising the retro time for its style, but at the moment her concern is that the audiences accept and appreciate her in the retro look.

Emraan is inspired by Amitabh

Big B's DEEWAR, which has gained cult status amongst movie buffs for decades, continues to find patronage from the young generation of actors. One such actor is Emraan Hashmi who, despite not being the man who could be expected to fill the long shoes of Amitabh Bachchan (pun intended), is truly fascinated by the world that was created by the actor in the 70s classic.
"Mr. Bachchan is a legend today and back then he was a huge superstar. In my growing up years as a kid, I remember getting all awed by the rustic charisma that he carried. For youngsters of my age group, he was truly a phenomenon. Especially a film DEEWAR couldn't be missed. Everything about the film caught my attention and I wanted to be a part of something like that."

His wish was answered when Milan Luthria came to him with the subject of ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI, a gangster film where he is supposed to be playing the part of Dawood Ebrahim.

"I don't wish to comment on the Dawood factor", states Emraan, "However we have pretty much projected this fact right from the beginning that OUATIM truly depicts the gangster world from the 70s. DEEWAR too belonged to the same era and this very factor made me fascinated enough to become a part of the movie. This was the time period when certain kind of clothes, body language and mannerisms were very fashionable. OUATIM truly depicts that time, right from the visual aspect to the content and of course the music."

On a parting note, Emraan comments, "It was a great era. 70s was the time when underworld had just come into news and was being spoken about. Now we can hear about it all from corners. I guess that's reality."

Gauhar Khan will be playing Helen in OUATIM

By now it is known to one and all that ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI is set in the Bombay of 70s. Since the film has an underworld theme to it, there is a situation in this Milan Luthria directed affair where the lead protagonists come together for a party outing. This is where Gauhar Khan comes into picture as she gyrates to a track 'Parda'.

Reveals a member from the film, "There is some great opportunity for music in the film because 70s especially was known for its music. In the song 'Parda' which is sung by Sunidhi Chauhan, Gauhar Khan is occupying the center stage as she re-enacts the kind of cabaret performances that Helen excelled in during that era. The song has references to chartbuster tracks like 'Duniya Mein Logon Ko' (APNA DESH) and 'Monica - Piya Tu Ab To Aaja' (CARAVAN) and should be a riot when revisited with Gauhar."

'Parda' is not a straight forward remix version of the aforementioned tracks though. While there is a retro feel to the song, hence its essence being retained, there is an all new re-orchestration being done by composer Pritam.

Confirms Emraan, "Yes, Pritam has given a very modern feel to the song. Thank goodness 'Parda' is not a plain remix because that would have jacked the overall effect. While Gauhar occupies the stage, the song situation has Ajay, Kangna and me featuring as well."

Ajay Devgan's third role as Mafia Don

The promos of Balaji's ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI may be grabbing maximum eyeballs due to serial kisser Emraan Hashmi doing what he is best at but there is another actor in the film, one who never hogs the limelight and lets his work do the talking. Well, we are talking about Ajay Devgan who appears in his most loved serious, intense brooding style in the promos of in ONCE UPON A TIME A MUMBAAI. Ajay Devgan is looking absolutely at ease in his role of the Mafia Don of the seventies.

The trade is upbeat about the film and the reason is obvious. Films based on life of Mafia dons, especially those centered around Mumbai have always clicked with the audience, for example SATYA, COMPANY, SHOOTOUT AT LOKHANDWALA etc.

Moreover the budget of the film is moderately priced and its music is already quite popular and is peaking at just the right time. If the film does succeed which seems quite certain, it will be a hat trick of successes for lead actor Ajay Devgn after ATITHI TUM KAB JAOGE? and the super hit, RAAJNEETI .

So, what is the double hat trick that we are proclaiming in our headlines? Well, it's simple, this is the third time that Ajay Devgn is enacting the role of a don, the last two times that he did, his acting was the subject of much appreciation, both from the audience as well as the critics. The films were Ramgopal Varma's COMPANY and Vishal Bhardwaj's OMKARA. So, if Once Upon A Time In Mumbai does succeed at the turnstile and the public accepts Ajay, this will be a sort of double of hat trick for him as well.

Ajay made Kangana nervous

Kangana Ranaut has done some very bold scenes in her past films. Be it GANGSTER, WOH LAMHE, FASHION, LIFE IN A METRO or RAAZ- THE MYSTERY CONTINUES, Kangana has had no qualms in performing them.

However, for a scene in her upcoming film, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAAI, Kangana was very nervous and the reason behind her nervousness was Ajay Devgn.

We hear, in a romantic scene in the film, Ajay Devgn expressed his emotions through his large and intense eyes, pretty easily. This made Kangana feel inferior as she thought her eyes were not that expressive. According to Kangana, it was very challenging to act opposite Ajay, who was pretty immaculate.

We are sure that this experience of shooting with Ajay must have raised Kangana's acting skills a notch higher.