Dil Dosti Etc is now Showing
September 28, 2007
September 27, 2007
- Imaad Shah’s Diary –
Manish Tiwary (and Pawan Sony) had written a crisp and an intelligent script. I was instantly attracted to it because it is a film set in Delhi, a city I love. For me, Dil Dosti Etc is about a set of people at one of the most delicate phases of life trying to make sense of their environment and relationships. And in this whirlpool of people and emotions, I was offered to play Apurv, who if slightly self-centered and yet is fascinated by the world he finds around himself. His libertine values though unacceptable to some, are built on natural needs and instincts.
The preparation before the shoot was more based around being comfortable with a body language and trying to communicate with fellow actors through Anamika Haksar’s workshop. I read the script over and over but essentially played myself... because Apurv’s manners and gestures, I guessed, would be reasonably close to my own.
The preparation before the shoot was more based around being comfortable with a body language and trying to communicate with fellow actors through Anamika Haksar’s workshop. I read the script over and over but essentially played myself... because Apurv’s manners and gestures, I guessed, would be reasonably close to my own.
Shoot in Delhi was fantastic. This film would have worked no other way. Delhi is an enjoyable and beautiful city for me and I feel strongly that films should be shot on location as far as possible. Some of the locations we worked on in old Delhi were chaotic shoots but make up very interesting moments in the film. Again, the North Campus of Delhi University carries a unique character of its own. I’m glad we shot there.
When I look back, I remember the Hindu College boys breaking in to our costumes room stole all of our costumes. Many of my own clothes went. Though this was not a light moment then, it is now. Besides working I played lots of cricket, read, drank chai and smoked.
A scene that often comes to mind is when Vaishali is pressing Apurv’s back and asks him not to leave tonight.
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- Shreyas Talpade Diary -
To me Dil Dosti Etc is about the youth of today and their take on friendship and love. Several characters come from different backgrounds and have their own take on life, each representing a particular segment of our society. The film is about the dreams and aspirations of youth today and how they end up in trying to reach their goals.
Manish had seen Iqbal, had liked my work and thought that I would be the right person to play the part of Sanjay Mishra, a bihari student in Delhi University.… I felt that the script was very interesting and I liked my role. After Iqbal the kind of offers that I was getting were either of seedha saadha gaon ka ladka or sports films. I was not really interested in either. The character of Sanjay Mishra that Manish offered had a lot of shades. Not many people would have offered me that kind of character at that point of time. All these factors made me sign the film.
Manish had seen Iqbal, had liked my work and thought that I would be the right person to play the part of Sanjay Mishra, a bihari student in Delhi University.… I felt that the script was very interesting and I liked my role. After Iqbal the kind of offers that I was getting were either of seedha saadha gaon ka ladka or sports films. I was not really interested in either. The character of Sanjay Mishra that Manish offered had a lot of shades. Not many people would have offered me that kind of character at that point of time. All these factors made me sign the film.
I am not like Sanjay Mishra. But I can relate to his values, like respecting your elders and patents and his commitment to one person once you are in love. Prakash Jha and Manish Tiwary assisted me in getting under Sanjay Mishra’s character. And then I also interacted with the president of the college while we were shooting in Delhi. He was urbane but spoke with this subtle Bihari accent. I quietly borrowed some of his persona for Sanjay Mishra. You see, if you are from Bihar but staying in Delhi you would not be speaking with an accent that a Bihari would speak in Bihar. Instead it will be a mix of a Bihari with a city accent. And I tried to get that right. Sanjay Mishra had to have a particular body language, an air of confidence around him. Manish wanted everything pretty subtle, and not go over the top so we tried to maintain that.
Working with Imaad Shah was a great experience. Imaad reminded me a lot of Naseerji. The best part about him is that he is a completely natural performer. Not even for a moment would you feel that this man is acting. I think he fitted the bill of Apurv really well. And Nikita is a hard working girl. It was a completely different equation with the two, because on one hand you have Imaad who is a laid back and subtle and, on the other hand, there is Nikita who is always charged up. But all of us had good fun.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with Prakash Jha Productions. I should add that there are many film makers who come up with interesting subjects but don’t manage this kind of backing. I thank Mr. Prakash Jha for standing behind this project and making it possible for all of us to realize the film.
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- Manish Tiwary's Diary -
Please check out: http://passionforcinema.com/ and http://www.upperstall.com/dildostietc.html
September 17, 2007
September 14, 2007
September 7, 2007
Select Photographs from the Music Launch of Dil Dosti Etc held on
Friday, 7 September, 2007 at Sea Princess Hotel, Juhu, Mumbai
BIG music held the music launch of Dil Dosti Etc on Friday, 7th September at the Sea Princess hotel in Mumbai. The cast and crew of the movie were present at the launch, including Shreyas Talpade, Smriti Mishra, Ishitta Sharma and Nikita Anand, along with the director Manish Tiwary and producer, Prakash Jha. Also present were the music directors Sidharrth, Suhaas and the members of the Agnee group. Imaad Shah who also stars in the movie was the only one not present at the venue as he was recuperating in hospital; the director read a ‘best wishes’ message from Imaad that Manish had received on sms.
The launch started with a video oeuvre of film’s Prakash Jha has produced and directed in the the past ending with the theatrical trailer of Dil Dosti Etc. After brief speeches from the producer, the director and the stars of the film, the two music composers took to stage and the event turned briefly into to a ‘rock concert’ when they performed songs from the film. The audience enjoyed the music that ranges from a mix of foot-tapping beats and lyrics to capture the masti of college life and the Punjabi party scene in Delhi to soulful music that is introspective and speaks of the old Delhi charm.
Adlabs' head, Manmohan Shetty unveiled the music album alongwith the cast and crew of the movie. Dil Dosti Etc' team is looking forward to the review of its music album from the public and indeed the release of the film in theatres on 28 September.
August 31, 2007
Dil Dosti Etc Live Music Concert for the Youth of Delhi!!! 16 September, 6.30 pm on Hindu College Grounds!!!
Catch the Stars and Musicians of Dil Dosti Etc in Delhi on Sunday, 16 September from 6.30 pm
There will be Live Performance by the music directors, Siddhartth-Suhas and Agnee of all the songs from our film Dil Dosti Etc. The stars of the film, Shreyas Talpade, Imaad Shah, Smriti Mishra, Nikita Anand, Ishitta Sharrma and Feroze Gujral along with director Manish Tiwary and producer Prakash Jha are all coming to the venue at Hindu College, north campus, Delhi University. Come join us on this occasion!
Show your student ID and collect your pass now. Passes Available at:
1. Music World
B105, Ansal Plaza (Phone-26250410) and
9UB Bungalow Road, Kamla Nagar. (Phone: 30982285)
2. Planet M
F15, Cross river Plaza, CBD, Shahadara. (Phone: 42111863) and
3. Radio & Gramophone House
Opp PVR Cinema, K-block, Inner Circle, Connaught Place (Phone: 23416454)
Limited Passes Available
Visit our homepage www.dildostietc.com for more details on the film.
August 28, 2007
- Smriti Mishra's Diary -
...as you will see in Dil Dosti Etc, Vaishali’s relationship with Apurv has several layers, and in a fuzzy way, contains all elements of a man-woman relationship. To me that’s what the film is all about.
When Manish Tiwary gave the script to me to read, I remember liking the role of this sex worker Vaishali from the very start. It grew on you, and you wanted to know what becomes of her. I liked her no-nonsense attitude - she is very clear about her ‘just-sex, no-relationship’ rule with her customers. But as the story develops we see that somewhere she has a craving for love like any normal human being, and falls for a young college going boy, Apurv (played by Imaad Shah). However, the thought of getting to use strong language and to play a sex worker was not an easy decision. We worked on it, and slowly it became easy for me to go for it.
... in the beginning, I was at a loss to get the right chord. We did a preparation workshop with Anamika Haksar which helped Imaad and I to open up to each other. I took this role very seriously, and, in fact, also thought of meeting a prostitute but opted out. I decided to trust Manish and my own imagination to carry out the task.
What worked was that Imaad let himself go!, in order to be comfortable with me and let me be comfortable with him – this was the most important element for me to carry out the role of Vaishali. You will see a great actor in this very young and great looking guy. I will go as far as saying that Imaad Shah is the best male co-actor I have worked with so far.
...shooting in Delhi carries strong memories for me! Thanks to the film team, the location where we shot felt like an actual kotha, with madam, sex workers and clients all around you! They got me living as Vaishali in it. The only thing I miss is not having many light moments on the sets. Partly because, I was playing a prostitute and I could not feel very easy on the sets. I remember, I also fought with Manish, but then, when you are on the road, these things happen!
When Manish Tiwary gave the script to me to read, I remember liking the role of this sex worker Vaishali from the very start. It grew on you, and you wanted to know what becomes of her. I liked her no-nonsense attitude - she is very clear about her ‘just-sex, no-relationship’ rule with her customers. But as the story develops we see that somewhere she has a craving for love like any normal human being, and falls for a young college going boy, Apurv (played by Imaad Shah). However, the thought of getting to use strong language and to play a sex worker was not an easy decision. We worked on it, and slowly it became easy for me to go for it.
... in the beginning, I was at a loss to get the right chord. We did a preparation workshop with Anamika Haksar which helped Imaad and I to open up to each other. I took this role very seriously, and, in fact, also thought of meeting a prostitute but opted out. I decided to trust Manish and my own imagination to carry out the task.
What worked was that Imaad let himself go!, in order to be comfortable with me and let me be comfortable with him – this was the most important element for me to carry out the role of Vaishali. You will see a great actor in this very young and great looking guy. I will go as far as saying that Imaad Shah is the best male co-actor I have worked with so far.
...shooting in Delhi carries strong memories for me! Thanks to the film team, the location where we shot felt like an actual kotha, with madam, sex workers and clients all around you! They got me living as Vaishali in it. The only thing I miss is not having many light moments on the sets. Partly because, I was playing a prostitute and I could not feel very easy on the sets. I remember, I also fought with Manish, but then, when you are on the road, these things happen!
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- Nikita Anand’s Diary -
By the time I came aboard, most of the cast of Dil Dosti Etc was decided, except for the Prerna’s character. I liked Prerna’s character when Manish narrated it to me. She is a Delhi University student and an aspiring model who has grown up without her mother and therefore looks up to her dad. Manish was of the view that I fit the character well and I thought that this was certainly an interesting role. I think I was chosen to play Prerna also because of my background – I was a Miss India and had the experience in modeling. These experience were actually very helpful in getting into Prerna’s role. I understood Prerna as a very independent girl who likes her freedom and knows exactly what she wants. And I think we have done a pretty good job of handling her!
The Shoot in Delhi? It was tough and hectic! And gosh! how HOT it was! That’s because, we were shooting during the peak Delhi summers. But then, I love Delhi and it was fun shooting on locations.
My Co-actors: Working with Shreyas was great. Along with having fun on the set, Shreyas is a wonderful actor and there is a lot I learnt from him. He’s very helpful and doesn’t hesitate in helping out during the scenes. Imaad on the other hand is opposite in nature. He’s more reserved and comes with a different style of acting (you’ll see!). Working with both of them was an enriching experience.
The start to acting in films is from participating and winning local pageants like Miss Ranchi, May Queen, Navy Queen, and the Face Hunt Model contest by India Times, and modeling after finishing my schooling. As the next step I tried for the Miss India contest and I won it! Post winning the title -I did launches, ramp shows, print shoots, and extensive anchoring, both live and for television. And, now, it’s FILMS!
There’s so much to learn and discover and each day has widened my horizon. It’s been a great journey; there have always been new things to look forward to and to come and meet new challenges!
The Shoot in Delhi? It was tough and hectic! And gosh! how HOT it was! That’s because, we were shooting during the peak Delhi summers. But then, I love Delhi and it was fun shooting on locations.
My Co-actors: Working with Shreyas was great. Along with having fun on the set, Shreyas is a wonderful actor and there is a lot I learnt from him. He’s very helpful and doesn’t hesitate in helping out during the scenes. Imaad on the other hand is opposite in nature. He’s more reserved and comes with a different style of acting (you’ll see!). Working with both of them was an enriching experience.
The start to acting in films is from participating and winning local pageants like Miss Ranchi, May Queen, Navy Queen, and the Face Hunt Model contest by India Times, and modeling after finishing my schooling. As the next step I tried for the Miss India contest and I won it! Post winning the title -I did launches, ramp shows, print shoots, and extensive anchoring, both live and for television. And, now, it’s FILMS!
There’s so much to learn and discover and each day has widened my horizon. It’s been a great journey; there have always been new things to look forward to and to come and meet new challenges!
August 25, 2007
- Ishitta Sharma -
I think Dil Dosti Etc is about what love means to different people… yes, that’s it!
I was very happy to play this real life character of a school going girl, Kintu in the film… almost every teenage girl can relate to her. She is intelligent, i.e. if need be, she knows how to
lie to her mom; she is smart about the ways of the world and knows what is right n what’s wrong... or so she thinks! I was very happy when Manish came to me with this role, for once I knew I will just be playing myself ;-)
Looking back on our shooting days in Delhi, I recall that that whole of Delhi smells of tandoori chicken! And I loved it! What awesome foods... but the heat was a killer. But seriously, the shoot in Delhi was must for this film. To shoot on location - that’s the best way to make a film. This film couldn’t have been shot anywhere else.
And I remember Imaad reading a lot on the sets.... so I too had to do the same to entertain myself... besides my savior I-pod. I enjoyed working with both Imaad and Shreyas who are fabulous actors and extremely helpful. I didn’t shoot with Smriti and Nikita, but after watching the film, I think very highly of them.
p.s.- My dad is an engineer and my mom a housewife, but a cool one. I have had absolutely no 'family' connection with the film industry... yet things have been pretty smooth. Thankfully! ...everything has been falling into place!
Looking back on our shooting days in Delhi, I recall that that whole of Delhi smells of tandoori chicken! And I loved it! What awesome foods... but the heat was a killer. But seriously, the shoot in Delhi was must for this film. To shoot on location - that’s the best way to make a film. This film couldn’t have been shot anywhere else.
And I remember Imaad reading a lot on the sets.... so I too had to do the same to entertain myself... besides my savior I-pod. I enjoyed working with both Imaad and Shreyas who are fabulous actors and extremely helpful. I didn’t shoot with Smriti and Nikita, but after watching the film, I think very highly of them.
p.s.- My dad is an engineer and my mom a housewife, but a cool one. I have had absolutely no 'family' connection with the film industry... yet things have been pretty smooth. Thankfully! ...everything has been falling into place!
August 24, 2007
Thanks for response to the stories. Those who have joined us now can keep responding to the individual posts or the ‘mother’ post below.
For those who have had trouble with the trailer or getting into our homepage, www.dildostietc.com: we have checked, the trailer on the homepage is working fine. Alternatively, you can go to youtube.com and search for our trailer under Dil Dosti Etc. Those who can not enter our homepage site should adjust the resolution on their computer (the old PCs have had this problem), and you should be able to see a clickable ‘ENTER’ to your bottom/ right.
We are now going to carry a series of transcripts from our actors and the director recalling their days from the shoot – a diary of sorts. We are greatly enjoying your visits and participation… do keep writing!
For those who have had trouble with the trailer or getting into our homepage, www.dildostietc.com: we have checked, the trailer on the homepage is working fine. Alternatively, you can go to youtube.com and search for our trailer under Dil Dosti Etc. Those who can not enter our homepage site should adjust the resolution on their computer (the old PCs have had this problem), and you should be able to see a clickable ‘ENTER’ to your bottom/ right.
We are now going to carry a series of transcripts from our actors and the director recalling their days from the shoot – a diary of sorts. We are greatly enjoying your visits and participation… do keep writing!
August 22, 2007
That Shreyas Talpade is an extremely talented actor is no secret, but not many may be aware of how well he can act off-screen... The shoot of Dil Dosti Etc was progressing smoothly in Delhi when Shreyas decided that things were a tad too serious for him and it was time for some fun.
On location in Hindu college canteen there were these huge air-coolers-- the old fashioned kinds with uncovered fan blades, not the sort you want to get your fingers caught in. Now, while the rest of the unit was being doubly careful to avoid an accident, Shreyas decided to get careless. Frantic screams by the actor scared the entire unit out of their wits; Shreyas had apparently got a finger caught in one of the fan blades! He was squirting blood everywhere while writhing in pain.
The situation looked far too serious to be handled by first aid alone and Shreyas was rushed to the college medical centre for an emergency treatment. The entire unit was worried sick about Shreyas. “We were frantic,” says a crew member, “the speculation was rife about the extent of injury to Shreyas - some people were even worrying that his fingers may have to be amputated. It was crazy”
Half an hour later a grinning Shreyas returned to the canteen. The joke was on the unit! The director was a little upset with the prank but as they say, all is well that ends well.
On location in Hindu college canteen there were these huge air-coolers-- the old fashioned kinds with uncovered fan blades, not the sort you want to get your fingers caught in. Now, while the rest of the unit was being doubly careful to avoid an accident, Shreyas decided to get careless. Frantic screams by the actor scared the entire unit out of their wits; Shreyas had apparently got a finger caught in one of the fan blades! He was squirting blood everywhere while writhing in pain.
The situation looked far too serious to be handled by first aid alone and Shreyas was rushed to the college medical centre for an emergency treatment. The entire unit was worried sick about Shreyas. “We were frantic,” says a crew member, “the speculation was rife about the extent of injury to Shreyas - some people were even worrying that his fingers may have to be amputated. It was crazy”
Half an hour later a grinning Shreyas returned to the canteen. The joke was on the unit! The director was a little upset with the prank but as they say, all is well that ends well.
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