Check this out!!! - Fan Reviews

Fanreviews

View more presentations from Lafangey Parindey.

Get to be a real lafanga... Lafangey Parindey now on Mobile... go play... :-)

Lafangey Parindey on Mobile

Lafangey Parindey released today at a theatre near you... :-)

Check out the overseas Theatre listing here... Lafangey Parindey

Aminath shares her experience with us... :-)

I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the event. I will cherish it always. It sure was a lot of fun! The singing, the dancing, the skating performance, the bike stunts, the stalls, the sets and everything else was just simply fab! Neil, Deepika, Pradeep Sarkar and the rest of the cast surely made it extra special!!The whole experience gave me a chance to witness an amazing slice of bollywood live!! It was simply wonderful!!

Also, I really appreciated the fact that you guys picked us up and also dropped us from the event. I was extremely tired because I was fasting! Anyway, it was a unique experience and one experience I will never ever forget! Neil and Deepika were very sweet and nice! Thanks soo much to them!

Thanks a lot, Congrats on a job well done to the whole team!!

All the best to Team LP!! Hope the movie does extremely well inshallah! Looking forward to it!! :)

Thanks a lot once again.

Warm regards,
Aminath

It's all Mumbaiyya!

We have to admit, we’ve never seen Deepika Padukone and Neil Nitin Mukesh in this avatar and we loved it! The two actors Neil sporting a tapori look and Deepika wearing a lovely white salwar kameez got grooving Mumbaiyya ishtyle to some dhinchak songs and joining them in all this masti were Pradeep Sarkar, Shilpa Rao and Sooraj. Bike stunts by other cast and crew followed while yummy food stalls beckoned, once all the dancing was over. With the sets looking like a scene straight from the streets of Mumbai,there was bound to be loads of naach-gaana and dhamaal.

Source: Bombay Times

Born to Fly...

We are thankful to Aminath Shiyana Yahya who came all the way from Sri Lanka to Mumabi for the Meet & Greet event. A true fan we say. Cheers!....:-)

Games for Lafangey Parindey!

Yash Raj Films has developed two online games for their forthcoming movie Lafangey Parindey.
Based on the characters played by Neil Nitin Mukesh and Deepika Padukone, they’re available on www.yashrajfilms.com.

Players can take on the avatar of One-shot Nandu (Mukesh’s character) or Pinky Palkar(Padukone).

“One-shot Nandu’s game is based on boxing. You score depending on speed and how many opponents you knock out,”explains Priyanka Khatri, spokesperson for Yash Raj films.

Similarly, Pinky Palkar’s animated version spins, jumps and speed skates to score points.

Mukesh is excited about One-shotNandu’s game.“He jabs and throws punches in under a minute. It’s great fun,”he says.

Source: Hindustan Times

Thanks a lot guys!!

We just finished the LIVE chat with Neil and Deepika, and we are happy with the overwhelming response we received!! Thank you guys for the support!!!...:)

LP LIVE CHAT - INSTRUCTIONS

Hey guys! Before you participate in today's LIVE video chat with Neil Nitin Mukesh and Deepika Padukone at 12.01 PM IST, just follow these simple instructions:

1) You will be requiring a username and password before you log in to the chat!
2) To make one - login to Justin.tv
3) Create your desired username, password and click on create account
4) Voila! You are done!
5) You just have to enter your username and password during the chat!

LP LIVE

Chat with Deepika Padukone and Neil Nitin Mukesh - LIVE, tomorrow 13th August 2010, at 12.01PM. Be there!! ->http://bit.ly/chathere

Kahani One Shot Nandu Ki - Volume 1

A humorous take on the Commonwealth Games 2010

Director Pradeep Sarkar's son sings for Lafangey Parindey

Director Pradeep Sarkar, who is introducing his son Ronit Sarkar as a playback singer in his forthcoming film Lafangey Parindey, reveals that he was unaware of his singing talent until he heard him live in a music concert.

Ronit has lent his voice to the title track of the film.

"I didn't know such a good singer was growing in my house. I had seen him playing guitar, sometimes humming some tune, but I never lent ear to that very seriously. He has a small band. Once he was performing somewhere and I decided to go and see what he does. To my surprise, he was singing so well that people were clapping and whistling on his performance. He was singing very well," says the proud father.

"I made him sing in a couple of my ads, he was fantastic. Anandh (music director) was looking for a fresh voice, one who could sing in high pitch and modulate well between the notes. He chose him for the song," Sarkar said in an interview.

The director, who has given films like Parineeta (2005) and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag: Journey of a Woman (2007), has teamed up with Deepika Padukone, Neil Nitin Mukesh and other actors to present the story of a group of youngsters living in the backstreets of Mumbai.

"We heard a verse Kabhi saaf, kabhi gande, lafangey parindey and from that we fell in love with the phrase Lafangey Parindey. Lafangey means wild and parindey as we all know means birds. Together it means the flight of a bird. The film is about hope," said Sarkar.

It was reported that in the film Deepika and Neil utter some swear words in keeping with the backdrop of the film, but the director puts off such speculations.

"There is no offensive language used in the film. Those used are the colloquial words which are invariably used by people of that society. Basically, I didn't get away from the language that is there. There is a phrase called magic reality, I have tried to evolve that," Sarkar added.

Talking about the leading lady of the film, Sarkar said: "Deepika never takes anything as an obstacle. However difficult things get, she always gives her best with a smiling face. That's the first interesting quality that you notice about her, she is always smiling. She is always ready to do whatever is asked for the role."

However, Sarkar doesn't quite share the same views about her male counterpart. "Neil is a sober guy, but every moment he is into some mischievous stuff. During the shooting of the film, he used to do his own make up, practise a lot for his fighting sequences and other times used to play pranks on crew members. So the lafanganess (wildness) is in-built in him."


Source: NDTV Movies

Live Video Chat with Nandu & Pinky!!!

Here's your chance to be One on One with the wild and fierce 'One-shot Nandu'

and the unique and brilliant 'Pinky Palkar' !!!

Neil Nitin Mukesh & Deepika Padukone,in a Live Video Chat @ 12.01 PM on Firday ,13th August 2010...:-)

Check this out for details : http://bit.ly/livevideochat

Are you guys ready for this Amazing experience???

Discovery of Mumbai

Director Pradeep Sarkar discovered the real Mumbai while shooting Lafangey Parindey.

He has been living in Mumbai for several years, but director Pradeep Sarkar says that he came to know the real beauty of Mumbai when he started working on Lafangey Parindey, a film set in the gritty streets of Mumbai. Since the story is set in a wadi ( a middle-class housing society) he and his production team went across Mumbai, hunting for the right wadi, before settling for one in Chembur. In the process Sarkar realised that he was so distanced from their life, dreams and aspiration and discovered that the relationships there are so different. “The residents of wadis know a lot about their neighbours and feel for their success and failures. They also have this winning streak in them. It is this streak that my lead actors Neil Nitin Mukesh and Deepika Padukone, will reflect,” says Sarkar.

Neil plays a boxer, One Shot Nandu, who fights blindfolded and Deepika, Pinky Palkar, who is blind but has an ambition to win a dance competition. Shooting with the actors playing such characters was not easy. A lot can be attributed to action director Sham Kaushal for getting Neil to fight blindfolded. “He and his assistants would guide him when he was blindfolded. At first he would falter but soon he got the sense of the whole setup. On the other hand, Deepika did not prepare herself for the part by observing or interacting with blind people. It was the approach of focussing her mind on something and looking ahead with a blank expression, something we do so often in real life. The moment she understood that she started giving perfect expressions,” says the director.

As for the actors performing dangerous stunts in the film, the director reveals. “Riding bikes on open roads in the night is just a way of life for boys living in wadis, and Neil was doing just that. There are no stunts that he has performed. Deepika too is shown doing gritty stuff like people living in these localities do,” informs Sarkar.

Some parts were shot on a set constructed at Chandivili Studios, and others around Mumbai.

When Natha met Dippy

Omkar Das Manikpuri, who essays the character of Natha in Peepli [Live], realised his dream yesterday. The folk actor from Chattisgarh met Deepika Padukone whom he adores.

Ever since he saw some parts of Love Aaj Kal on a flight while travelling for the promotions of Peepli [Live], he had expressed a desire to meet her. He requested producers Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao to arrange a meeting with the actress.

Lucky charm as gift
As a result, Aamir had to request Dippy to interact with her fan. Deepika, who was shooting for a commercial at Mehboob Studios, took time off to meet Manikpuri. Kiran accompanied Manikpuri for his starry encounter.

When he saw Deepika, he could not stop smiling. He gifted her a Chattisgarhi necklace made of old and new coins that is worn by women from his region for good luck.

The actress presented him with a collection of her movie CDs.
He then proclaimed that he loved Deepika's dimples!

Earlier, Manikpuri had put Aamir in a dilemma when he initially told him that he was keen to meet Katrina Kaif. But later he told him that he had actually meant Deepika.

Man Lafanga - The Making

A rollicking time at the LP sets

Fists of Fury

His last film, Jail, may not have been a box-office bumper, but Neil Nitin Mukesh is unfazed. He points out that while it’s important for a film to work commercially, he does not feel the need to go into a postmortem about how much his film earned.

“Jail was a small budget film and did not lose money. It was well spoken about and I’ve been offered another film by the same production house for double the amount. After Johnny Gaddaar, people were calling me Johnny, after New York, I was Omar, and after Jail, Parag,” he smiles, adding that after Lafangey Parindey that opens on August 20, he’s hoping to be addressed as One Shot Nandu.

Game for it
Nandu is a biker boy who indulges in some dirty street fighting. The actor admits that boxing was never a sport that caught his fancy.
“I’d rather watch cricket, tennis, badminton, basketball, volleyball or gymnastics,” says Neil. “Boxing is dangerous and one of the toughest sports. It requires plenty of strength, energy and will power.”

Fortunately, since he wasn’t playing a professional in the ring, Neil who did most of the stunts himself did not need any kind of special training or expertise.

“The fights are choreographed by action director Sham Kaushal and exude raw physical power. I wouldn’t advise young boys to imitate my bouts though. They have been executed professionally for your entertainment only,” he warns, adding that he is looking forward to his second Yashraj Film.

source: HindustanTimes

Deepika Padukone on Lafangey Parindey Twitter

Neil says...

Musical melange

There aren’t many who would stay away from the Hindi film industry, especially after they’ve had a taste of it. But R Anandh, a popular music composer in the ad film industry, after his debut in Sangeeth Sivan’s Zor, unimpressed by the industry’s workings, chose to return to what he terms as his “core competency”.

But a year ago, it was the chance cancellation of a music composing session for filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar’s ad film that brought R Anandh on board for Lafangey Parindey as the music director. “Dada (Sarkar) and I have been working together for long. He had been telling me that he wants me to compose for a film, but we had not come around to discussing it. When our session got cancelled, he asked me to compose a scratch for his next film, which finally Aditya Chopra heard and liked.”

The music of Lafangey Parindey, released recently, stands out. Anandh brings together a melange of genres and instruments—including the Irish tin whistle and the cello in the song Rang Daalein, though the guitar, both acoustic and electric remains prominent through the album. If the title track is an upbeat rock-ish number, Man Lafanga, sung by Mohit Chauhan, has Eric Clapton-ish guitar riffs. Nain Parindey, with Shilpa Rao on vocals, asserts the composer’s hold on Indian classical music. Despite repetitive use of the words ‘lafangey’ and ‘parindey’ across the tracks, Anandh manages to give each song a distinct flavour.

The 42-year-old, originally from Chennai, admits that his knowledge of classical music takes root in his 12-year training in playing the veena. “But when I joined Roorkee College of Engineering, I took to the guitar and became a part of an on-campus band. By the time I graduated, I was sure I wanted to pursue a career in music,” he laughs. Back in those days, Illayaraja dominated the film music scene and Anandh didn’t want to work under anyone — ads were the only option.

Around the same time, Anandh, along with a colleague, formed a band, Aagosh. They successfully composed music for a few Tamil and Malayalam films, followed by Zor and an album, both of which failed to create a buzz. A few years later, the band members parted.
That is also the time when Anandh shifted base to Mumbai. “A client invited me to Mumbai for a project. I was supposed to be here for two days, but couple of more projects came my way. I extended my trip and on the fifth day, I called my wife to join me here,” recounts the composer, who is behind the Limca ad currently on air.

The music also steers clear of the clichés that films based on Mumbai’s underbelly fall for — it retains the local flavour despite the use of Western instruments. “It’s my take on the city,” he says. Anandh’s take has worked for the film as the music spells out the attitude of the protagonists, a bunch of ruffians.

Though Lafangey Parindey associates Anandh with the Yash Raj Films brand, the composer is not looking at a career in Bollywood. “I might consider, but as of now I’m happy to return to ads.”

Source: MumbaiNewsline/IndianExpress

Neil possessive about Deepika

Love makes the world go round, goes the cliche. But looks like Neil Nitin Mukesh is a firm believer of the same. “All the characters I’ve played have behaved in the way they have because of love, whether it was in Johnny Gaddar or Jail,” he says. And even in his next film Lafangey Parindey, Neil’s romance with the lovely Deepika Padukone forms the focal point of the story.

Don’t be taken in by the rough promos of the film, Neil would rather describe it as a gritty love story instead. “My character One Shot Nandu is a regular boy — rebellious and ambitious and likes making his own decisions,” he says.

What we’re more interested in is knowing about Neil’s real life love story. The actor, who broke off some time back with his girlfriend, is back on the single track. “But I believe whole-heartedly in love and relationships,” he smiles.

And the new relationship in his life seems to have been formed with his leading lady. But before you get any ideas, Neil and Deepika really are just good friends. And while the actress has been going around town telling everyone how great the light-eyed actor is, Neil too can’t stop raving about his gorgeous co-star. “But I’d like to talk about her as a person rather than as an actor,” he says, “I keep telling her that her smile is one curved line that makes everything straight.” Neil describes Deepika as an easy-going and simple girl.

“I’m rather possessive and protective about her. She’s a part of my family now,” he adds. Well now that Deepika has earned the distinction of being the first actress to be kissed on-screen by Neil, utna toh banta hai we guess!

Source: TimesOfIndia

Neil hides stunts from dad

Actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, who has done some daredevil stunts in his forthcoming film "Lafangey Parindey", says he never speaks to his singer father Nitin Mukesh about these dangerous scenes.

"I don’t tell my father what stunts I am doing. Instead of me, he will try and do them. He knows I am not going to tell him about what stunts I am doing. During 'Aa Dekhen Zara', I had jumped from nine-storied building. After jumping, I had called dad and said that I am all right," Neil told IANS in an interview.

Even when he did stunts in director Pradeep Sarkar's "Lafangey Parindey", Neil didn’t inform his dad.

"This time when I finished my stunts, I called him and said all went well. It’s okay with him now. It’s a part of our life. We have to do these things," he said.

"Must give a lot of credit to action director Shyam Kaushal. He had choreographed the stunts very well and trained me properly before the shoot," said Neil.

But Neil refuses to promote such stunts.

"I won’t promote these stunts. I don’t want anyone to try them. We did it only and purely for entertainment. There were many people, enough security and roads were blocked before we performed the stunts. One should never try them," said Neil.

Set in the mean streets of Mumbai, "Lafangey Parindey" is a love story where Neil plays Nandu, a boxer who pummels his opponents blindfolded. Deepika Padukone features as Pinky Palkar, an ambitious blind girl who dances with roller skates on her feet.

In the film, Neil teaches Deepika to see and she teaches him how to love.

source: timesofindia

Neil smooches Deepika!

This is funny. Neil Nitin Mukesh had to kiss Deepika Padukone on screen for their forthcoming film Lafangey Parindey and the actor reportedly got cold feet. Not because he’s a virgin screen kisser and, well, Deepika has the experience of kissing Saif Ali Khan before camera for Love Aaj Kal... but, apparently, because Neil’s had a no-kiss policy in all his films so far.

His first director Sriram Raghavan had thrown a fit when Neil refused to kiss Rimi Sen. In his second film, Tera Kya Hoga Johnny, director Sudhir Mishra insisted Neil kiss Shahana Goswami. But the actor refused.

Even in Jail where there was a love-making scene with Mughda Godse, Neil refused to kiss the sultry actress. But Lafange Parindey director Pradeep Sarkar pulled the plug on Neil’s chastity vow. A source from the set said it was a long, torrid smooch comparable in intensity and duration to the Aamir Khan-Karisma Kapoor kiss in Raja Hindustani. And Neil was nervous! To be kissing the lovely Deepika! Makes us wonder...

Source: BombayTimes

Lafangey Parindey - The Press Conference

Here's the clippings from the Lafangey Parindey audio launch and media meet that took place on July 19 at YRF studios. Enjoy!...:)

Part -1




Part - 2

Lafangey Parindey: Music Review

He's a crazy fighter cum biker. She's a blind dancer on roller skates. Lafangey Parindey is a maverick romance between One Shot Nandu and Pinky Palkar.

Starring Neil Nitin Mukesh [ Images ] and Deepika Padukone [ Images ], Lafangey Parindey is a distinct departure for director Pradeep Sarkar [ Images ] who previously helmed woman-centric melodramas like Parineeta [ Images ] and Laaga Chunari Mein Daag.

For his latest under the Yash Raj banner, he replaces regular composer Shantanu Moitra [ Images ] with R Anandh, best remembered for his dazzling albeit underrated work (Main kudi anjaani, Tere pyaar mein) in Sunny Deol-led action flick, Zor. He also ropes in Swanand Kirkire, high on 3 Idiots and Striker to whip magic with his pen.

The soundtrack begins on a high-strung note with Ronit Sarkar throwing in a good measure of attitude and aggression, which bears striking resemblance to A R Rahman's [ Images ] high-pitched crooning, for the definitive title track. While Lafangey parindey (watch video) is unmistakably rock in genre, there's an attempt to bring in a sense of desi with a balle-balleish sprinkling every now and then.

Anandh weaves lilting, quirky enchantment to Kirkire's poetic apparitions for the instantly appealing Man lafangey (watch video). Mellow is Mohit Chauhan's [ Images ] gift. And he employs it to stirring effect with his soothing rendition of a song amused with the waywardness of love but sane enough to overlook the drawbacks. A racy club mix follows but we'll go with the original any day.

Animated bonhomie marks the soul of Dhatad tatad. High on rhythmic verbatim and bombastic philosophy, this manic merger of street-style percussion and sleek rock guitar is, thankfully, not all noise. Anandh's adept arrangement bolstered by Shail Hada and Anushka [ Images ] Manchanda's buoyant vocals ensures Dhatad brings the house down.

There's a great deal of introspection and description in the songs of this enterprise. And so the unbound temperament of Lafangey Parindey's leading characters is conveyed through Shilpa Rao's ethereal delivery of Nain parindey. If you loved Wake Up Sid's [ Images ] Iktaara, you're bound to fall for Nain parindey just as hard. Divine, dulcet and contemplative, Nain is quite easily the simplest and best offering of this album.

After wowing us with his powerful treble in Sadka (I Hate Luv Storys [ Images ]), Surag Jagan aims to impress Rang daalein. Despite all his intense efforts, the composition with its overtly stylized, synthesized layout tries too hard to be deadly and edgy.

While one cannot deny the influence of Hollywood composers in the instrumental theme, Born to fly, Anand keeps it a compelling a mix of drama and emotion to complain.

From glassy moments to grungy fervour, Lafangey Parindey is irresistibly whimsical.

source: movies.rediff.com

I am like ‘Lafangey Parindey’ heroine: Deepika

Mumbai, July 22 – Lead actors playing visually challenged characters is not new, but for Deepika Padukone it was a first. She describes it as her toughest role yet but also says she is exactly like the heroine – a woman who is self-confident, ambitious and never gives up.

‘For me, this role out of all the films that I have done was the most challenging. It’s not been easy. It required a lot of focus and concentration. I had to observe a lot of blind people before I could play this role,’ Deepika, 24, told IANS in an interview.

‘I think I identify with the character Pinky a lot because Pinky is someone who is extremely self-assured. She is extremely confident, knows exactly what she wants. She is ambitious and she never gives up, which is exactly how I am,’ she said.

This time director Pradeep Sarkar has teamed up with Deepika Neil Nitin Mukesh and a bunch of other actors to narrate the story of a group of youngsters living in the back streets of Mumbai. Releasing Aug 20, it will see Neil playing a boxer who fights blindfolded, while Deepika will be seen as a visually challenged girl who can dance on skates.

‘The biggest challenge was to pretend that I was not seeing. There were no supporting tools like black goggles or a stick with me to make it obvious that I am blind.

‘For example, we friends are sitting together and discussing something and one of them says, ‘arre dekh na’ and then realises I can’t see. Or he removes a glass a bit aside spontaneously not realising I couldn’t see that…So everyone had to focus and give a lot of attention all the time while shooting the film,’ said Deepika.

The actress along with other cast and crew spent time with visually challenged people to understand their behavioural nuances and figure out counter actions.

‘It took around six months of reading and interacting. Lots of physical movements I had to get use to. It’s like feeling things around you without actually being able to see them.

‘We didn’t visit any blind school, but all of us met a lot of blind people… it was not just for me but also very important for Neil and the group of friends I am interacting with in the film, even for ‘dada’ (Sarkar) to see how it is to interact with the blind. So I think it was a group process for all of us,’ she said.

Deepika says she didn’t find it nerve-wracking to do the implausible stunts.

‘As I have been an athlete and a sportsperson before, I think it just makes it much easier and interesting for me. I think to be able to do stunts, you need to be physically fit. It needs a lot of dedication, it needs a lot of control on the kind of food you are eating. So it was a lot of discipline,’ said Deepika.

It’s her zeal for sports that gave her the courage to train in scuba diving and sky diving.

‘The skating is something I had to learn for the film, but the scuba diving and this sky diving is something I have done for myself. It’s always nice to challenge your limits. I always thought that I was scared of heights until I jumped off a plane. Today when I fly in a plane and look outside, it doesn’t feel like anything,’ said Deepika.

After ‘Lafangey Parindey’, Deepika has two films – ‘Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey’ and ‘Break Ke Baad’ – in queue for release this year.

The actress doesn’t get bogged down by work pressure; neither does she get jittery by audience expectation.

‘I don’t consider it as work pressure, as I enjoy doing it. But I feel very relaxed when I spend my time alone at home after I pack up every day or I speak to my parents and spend time with them.

‘I don’t expect people to expect anything. I know I have given it my best.

I obviously hope the best for every film,’ said Deepika.

Source: realbollywood.com/IANS

Neil’s a ‘chikna’, Deepika’s a ‘ghat’?

Pradeep Sarkar’s forthcoming Yash Raj film ‘Lafangey Parindey’ is looking pretty interesting, considering the rapport between its lead pair Neil Mukesh and Deepika Padukone.

The actors who play Pinky Palkar and Nandan Kamatkar, Maharashtrian characters in the film have taken great liking for each other, thanks to the film.

“I was initially apprehensive about Neil playing the role of one shot Nandu aka Nandan Kamatkar in the film as it required a manly rugged actor and Neil is so chikna!” revealed Deepika with a smile. She further added, “Neil is extremely fair, so chikna and good looking and its amazing the way he has moulded himself in this Mumbaiyya character.”

Neil on the other hand revealed how Deepika is ideal to play Pinky Palkar! “Deepika is actually a ghat in real life too. This glamour is all for the camera” said Neil with a wink. He further added, “Deepika is half Konkani, has a Marathi maid and so found it easier to speak the language while I struggled a bit since I am a Punjabi.”

Lets hope the ghat-chikna combo works at the box-office! Bole toh.. Ekdum hit!

Source: indiatimesmovies

Bold & Beautiful

You don’t have to show your cleavage, cover up now,” Deepika Padukone mock-scolds Neil Nitin Mukesh, her co-star in Lafangey Parindey and now “friend”, as he tugs at his unbuttoned collar upon hearing her applaud his work in the film. The easy banter sets the tone of the conversation. The camaraderie is evident and one hopes it translates into chemistry on-screen when the film releases early next month.

The movie, as the name suggests, explores the story of two people who belong to the underbelly of Mumbai. While Mukesh plays ruffian One Shot Nandu, who can pummel his opponents in the ring blindfolded, Padukone plays the blind Pinky Palkar, who can dance with roller skates. Despite all odds stacked against them, the two hope to make it big in life one day. “The word lafanga isn’t one with negative connotations; it simply refers to people who want to break away from routine life to do something different,” explains Padukone.

The promos have created a buzz as Mukesh promises to return with the spunk he had displayed in his debut Johnny Gaddar and Padukone deviates from the young urban characters that she has mostly played to date. “It was extremely challenging to pretend to be blind, keeping your eyes focussed as if staring in space when I could actually see all along,” the young actress asserts.

What helped, she says, is rehearsing scenes blindfolded and then re-rehearsing them with eyes open to compare performances. “And we also tried to make it spontaneous,” adds her co-star, “If there was a scene where she was to grab hold of a glass placed on a table, we would shift it a bit when she wasn’t looking so that her grapple to locate it looked real.”

If playing a visually impaired girl was the leggy actress’ challenge, Mukesh had to train in boxing and performing bike stunts. “I didn’t even know how to ride a bike till two years ago,” he exclaims. Like most children, he too was prohibited from taking to the crowded Mumbai roads on two wheels. “Though I took naturally to riding a bike, much credit goes to the action director Shyam Kaushal who trained us to perform the stunts safely.” Today, he owns a Yamaha R1, one of the fanciest sports bikes.

Upon examining the many posters of the upcoming film, one realises that Mumbai plays the third crucial character in Lafangay Parindey. “In the first five minutes of the film, you’ll be transported into a very different world—though familiar, it’s a world most of us subconsciously block out,” says Padukone. Mukesh, however, admits that unlike the actress who is from Bangalore, he grew up watching this aspect of Mumbai. “There’s a wadi in my house’s lane and I’ve seen that world because the inhabitants are people who visit my house every year for the Ganpati festival. Yet, it took me months to prepare for this role—learning their dialect of Hindi, the pronunciations or simply understanding where their sense of bravado, which we witness in the streets and on the train roofs, stems from.”

As Padukone admits that much of her sense of bearing for Pinky’s character came from Mukesh’s inputs, she reveals how the actor filled in for the make-up man one day, the action choreographer on another and an assistant on the third. “One day the make-up man didn’t turn up on the sets and I was left stranded.

Though the character requires a minimal look, one has to use basic make-up. I was scared when Neil offered to help but I gave in eventually and wasn’t let down,” she says. “He was there throughout and I’ve made a friend for life.” In an industry where relationships are often fickle, one wonders if Padukone—who got a taste of it herself when Ranbir Kapoor parted ways with her early this year—means what she says. To this, Mukesh jumps to her rescue as he jokes, “Why are you putting the doubt in her head?”

Source: indianexpress

Neil becomes Deepika's make up man

Working together in director Pradeep Sarkar’s forthcoming film Lafange Parindey, actress
Deepika Padukone has found a friend for life in Neil Nitin Mukesh.

Neil once went out of his way to do her make-up personally, which was somewhat different, required for an accident scene.

"I think I have made a friend for life and I think that's what I cherished the most because he is a wonderful human being and that comes across on screen. We got along really well," said Deepika.

"There is an accident scene, where I need a different kind of make-up and he is trained in it so he told dada (Pradeep Sarkar) that he will do my make-up and he did. Another day where I was doing, not exactly an action sequence, but lot of cable work involved, he choreographed the entire act. So I think in every way he was there for me," Deepika said in an interview.

Set in the mean streets of Mumbai, Lafangey Parindey is a love story where Neil Nitin Mukesh plays the character of Nandu. He is a fighter who pummels his opponents in the ring and Deepika Padukone plays Pinky Palkar, a dancer who is blind but ambitious and dances with roller skates on her feet.

He teaches her to see and she teaches him how to love.

Neil used to be around Deepika, even on his off days. "I can confidently say that he has been the most supportive and encouraging co-star, with whom I have worked so far. Even on days when he was not required, he would be there," said Deepika.

Deepika believes that regardless of his experience in the industry, Neil has every quality of being a director.

"I think he is ready to direct. We keep thinking that he is new, we saw him in three-four films, but I think in terms of experience and his knowledge where cinema
is concerned, I think he is technically very sound and he is ready to direct a film," said Deepika.


source: movies.ndtv.com

‘I picked up the broom and showed Deepika how to really beat the boys’

Pradeep Sarkar’s debut film, Parineeta, was set in the 1960s. The next one, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, flash backed to the ’80s. Lafangey Parindey, that opens on August 20, is about today’s biker boys who you see zipping through the city streets with dreams in their eyes.

“Earlier, films viewed them through our eyes. My film is from their eyes,” says the director, who having grown close to these cool dudes closely, describes them as “soft, shy, intelligent boys who want to fly like the birds”. He points out that he is a forever young 50 year old who became one of them: “My son’s the same age and being around them, I became 18 too. I sang with them, danced with them, only I didn’t ride a bike.”

How does a chikna (suave) SoBo boy, Neil Nitin Mukesh, fit into this world? “Neil is a No 1 lafanga (rogue) who can teach you a thing or two,” laughs Dada, as he is fondly known. “After a couple of rehearsals, I was learning about One-Shot Nandu from him. He’s a biker too.”

Like Neil, he insists, Deepika Padukone too is a perfect Pinky because she is a born winner. “Nothing will ever stop her. I’d done a few ads with her before and saw her as a glam girl. But when we started work on this movie, I was delighted to discover a new, carefree side to her. She’s one of the boys,” he says.

But isn’t Pinky blind? “She is,” he nods. “But as I discovered after meeting some blind people, the loss of sight sharpens their other senses. And half the time, you can’t tell that they don’t see you. Deepika internalised the blindness and before a take would often ask, ‘Dada, is the look right?’”

He recalls a scene in the film where the actress is required to hit Neil and his friends with a broom and then throw a pail of water on them. Deepika was doing the shot too politely despite Sarkar’s urgings, “Pinky, unhe maar ke bhagao (Pinky, beat them up and turn them out).”

Finally, exasperated, Sarkar picked up the broom himself and soundly whacked the boys.
As they stood, holding their bruised butts, the actress burst out laughing and in the next shot, she got the beating just right.

The boys are like wild birds in flight, Sarkar pronounces, and says that the title came to him in the third line of the first set of lyrics Swanand Kirke wrote for him.

And did Aditya Chopra allow him enough creative freedom? Buzz is that he reshot major parts of Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, resulting in the release being pushed forward.

“The film took its time because we had to shoot in different places, from Varanasi to Switzerland. Lafagey Parindey was filmed on sets and we kept to our schedule. As far as interference goes, I’m from the ad world and I like to have sounding boards around me. So whether it was Vinod Chopra or Adi, I welcome suggestions.” Touché!

Source : www.hindustantimes.com