Cinematographer Ashok Mehta dies
Ashok Mehta, one of India's most celebrated cinematographers, died in Mumbai on Wednesday due to lung cancer. He was 65. Mehta was best known for his work in the films 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), Utsav (1984) and Bandit Queen (1994). In 2001, he directed the filmMoksha, which launched the career of the actor Arjun Rampal. Colleagues from the industry turned to Twitter to pay tribute. The director Shekhar Kapur posted: "RIP Ashok Mehta, who taught me that my instincts are only as good as my courage to follow them through. Thank you for teaching me to be fearless in cinema." Said the actor Sanjay Suri: "What a loss! A man who made our world of visual art richer." The filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar wrote: "He changed the vision of Indian cinema." - IANS
Vidyut Jamwal headlines first film
Vidyut Jamwal, who made his acting debut as a supporting character in last year's thriller Force, announced that he will star in his first lead role in a still-untitled action film. "I will start working on it next month. It's a full-on action movie with real stunts - no cables attached," said the 32-year-old, adding that there will be an official announcement from the producers in the coming weeks. Asked about breaking into the industry, Jamwal replied: "Getting a name in Bollywood is not that difficult but sometimes it could be quite a testing journey. That's when one has to be patient and focused." - IANS
Quadri talks career boost after Wasseypur
Zeishan Quadri, who co-wrote and played one of the leads in Anurag Kashyap's recent film Gangs of Wasseypur, says he has received numerous offers in Bollywood after the success of the movie. "Life has changed after the film. People have started recognising me everywhere I go. They're appreciating my work," said the 29-year-old. "I'm getting more offers as an actor than as a writer. Actually, I've always wanted to get into acting but it never really worked out for me until now." After finishing the screenplay for Gangs of Wasseypur, Quadri said he approached Kashyap and asked to play one of the lead roles. "He happily agreed and that's how it all happened," said Quadri. - IANS
Manish Vatsalya to release debut film
The director Manish Vatsalya has announced that he has finished shooting his first Bollywood film, the crime thriller Jeena Hai Toh Thok Daal, and that it will be released in India in September, though the exact date has yet to be finalised. Vatsalya plays one of the film's lead characters, co-starring with Ravi Kishen, Yashpal Sharma and Rahul Kumar. - IANS
DIFF and The Pavilion launch screenings
The Dubai International Film Festival is teaming up with The Pavilion Downtown Dubai, a non-profit contemporary art space, to offer a series of free monthly film screenings in the UAE. The first set of screenings, set to commence on August 27, is themed "Entertainment Legends" and will present a selection of films on musical icons, including Nowhere Boy, a chronicle of John Lennon's formative years and his journey to success; Marley, the life story of the music legend Bob Marley; and The Festival Express, a documentary about a five-day train tour across Canada taken in 1970 by some of the world's greatest rock acts, including The Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin. The September programme will offer audiences a taste of Iranian cinema, while October's programme will have a Halloween-themed selection of films. Screenings will take place on the last Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of each month, with the exception of December, when the screenings will take place on December 17, 18 and 19. Entrance to the screenings will be free of charge and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The Pavilion can accommodate up to 60 people per screening. For more information, visit www.dubaifilmfest.com and www.pavilion.ae.
