Nagesh Kukunoor

View this post on InstagramA post shared by Disney+ Hotstar (@disneyplushotstar)"Gaikwads ka rishta Maharashtra ke saath abhi khatam nahi hua hai! Aap bhi toh yahi chahte the. Hotstar Specials City Of Dreams Season 3 coming soon," a post read on the streaming giant. Sharing more details about the new season, director Nagesh Kukunoor said, "City of Dreams season 1 and 2 was loved and appreciated by the audience, this set the bar high for season 3. Each character has their own journey of self-discovery which comes together to create this intriguing fight for succession."He added, "Complex characters, intrapersonal relationships and some unexpected twists, City Of Dreams season 3 will be the ultimate fight for power in politics. Disney+ Hotstar and Applause Entertainment have been strong partners for the show and I am really grateful for them to support my vision."The political drama stars Atul Kulkarni, Priya Bapat, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Sushant Singh, Eijaz Khan, Rannvijay Singha and many others in pivotal roles.More details regarding the season are awaited.

Rajiv Gandhi.Titled 'Trail of an Assassin', the project will be made using inputs from Anirudhya Mitra's recently launched book 'Ninety Days: The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's Assassin'.Nagesh Kukunoor has come on board to helm the web series.Speaking more about the project, Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment, said,"Driven and guided by our values of being ambitious, audacious and disruptive, we believe the adaptation of Anirudhya Mitra's book certainly makes for a compelling story to tell. Most are aware of this incident through the medium of news and will now get a dramatized insider view of the largest manhunt in Indian history. We are pleased to once again collaborate with director Nagesh Kukunoor to bring this gut-wrenching story to a contemporary audience."Author Anirudhya Mitra shared, "With Ninety Days: The True Story of the Hunt for Rajiv Gandhi's Assassin' I've tried to provide the most definitive account of the biggest manhunt launched in India. The audio-visual format enables the story's numerous facets and layers to be presented in a more nuanced and engrossing manner. With Applause Entertainment's reputation for passionate storytelling and Nagesh Kukunoor's directorial expertise, I'm confident that an exciting series lies ahead of us."Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu by an LTTE suicide bomber. The woman assassin, Dhanu, triggered a belt bomb and killed Gandhi along with 16 others.

Updated: Jul 21, 2021 - 4:35 PM IST For my money and time, Nagesh Kukunoors City Of Dreams which streamed in 2019 was among the finest most sophisticated political dramas seen on the streaming platform. Those including yours truly, waiting for Season of 2 of this gripping family saga need not wait anymore. Disney+ Hotstar and Applause Entertainment show, and Nagesh Kukunoor return with another season of the series City of Dreams, showcasing how a determined and fearless Poornima (Priya Bapat) s fight against patriarchy continues as she locks horns with her father (Atul Kulkarni) to gain control over the Chief Minister position.The show is produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Kukunoor Movies. Sameer Nair CEO of Applause Entertainment says, Covid and lockdown related issues delayed production but we are super excited to present Season 2 of our favourite political drama City Of Dreams. The stakes are higher this season as Daughter is pitted against Father in a fight to the finish. With many new characters, twists and turns, Nagesh brings alive the world of the Gaikwads with his signature storytelling style.Actor Priya Bapat says, Poornima Gaikwad is inspiring and admirable, and it has been heartening to see how the character has appealed to audiences, especially women who found her empowering. In the second season, audiences will see an even more daring, grittier, and determined Poornima whose political ambitions take precedence over anything else. I am very proud to be essaying such a strong female role who drives the narrative of the show, shatters stereotypes, and fights against all odds to strive in a male-dominated world. I hope viewers relate to her and the unwavering commitment she exhibits in City of Dreams Season 2, as she continues to stand up for herself and what she deserves.Adds the admirable Atul Kulkarni said, Ameya Rao Gaikwad is a special character for me and I am delighted that audiences get to see more of him, and his story. Theres an almost sinister quality to him which makes his desire and resolve to hold a position of power is stronger than his sense of family bonds. If the brother-sister battle for politics in season-1 was shrewd, then the father vs daughter tussle in City of Dreams Season 2 is going to be doubly intense.Director Nagesh Kukunoor now in the US feels, It was overwhelming to see the appreciation that City of Dreams Season 1 received, and how viewers got invested in the life of the characters. As the story of the political power battle in the Gaikwad family goes forward, I hope that we can live up to the audience's expectations! Its going to get murkier and personal, and the fight for power is going to destroy many households.City Of Dreams Season 2 starts streaming on Disney+ Hotstar from July 30.

Based on a book adaptation of Kinshuk Nag's book Double Life of Ramalinga Raju that was published in 2009, Applause Entertainment has announced a biopic on the life and alleged crimes of Ramalinga Raju, the former CEO of Stayam Computer Services accused of embezzling money from the company to the tune of Rs. 7136 crore .The bio-pic will be directed by Nagesh Kukunoor.Says Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment, Viewers are intrigued by biopics. Stories of real people and what theyve done are always fascinating to watch. Also, many have witnessed this story unfold in front of their eyes, through the medium of news. Thus, to be able to get an insider view is definitely an exciting prospect for the viewers. We believe the adaptation of Kingshuk Nags book will certainly make for a compelling watch. We are pleased to once again collaborate with director Nagesh Kukunoor who will be helming this project for us. An engineer turned filmmaker who hails from the very land this story comes from, Nagesh is uniquely positioned to understand the nuances and direct this series.Director Nagesh Kukunoor said, The Double Life of Ramalinga Raju has been an interesting read and I am delighted to be a part of this visionary project. It has been a wonderful experience collaborating with Applause Entertainment during City of Dreams and I now look forward to once again embark on a new journey this time with a riveting biopic thriller.Author Kingshuk Nag commented, I am elated about Applause bringing alive the exciting story basis the book. The audio-visual medium allows other aspects and layers of the story to be told in a nuanced and engaging manner. Applauses creative reputation and success assures an exciting series ahead which will take viewers behind the scenes of all the intriguing going-ons at one of Indias leading IT firms of the time.

Renowned Bollywood editor Sanjib Datta, who has worked in over 80 films including Hindi and Bengali films, passed away on Sunday. Aged 54, Datta belonged to Kolkata and is especially known for his long association with filmmaker Nagesh Kukunoor. The FTII alumnus sudden demise has shocked a number of names in the industry, including filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh and writer Apurva Asrani. Sujoy took to Twitter to mourn his death and called him one of our finest editor. one of our finest editor sanjib datta. bhalo thakis kaka we will miss you. https://t.co/7c6tmXVKHX pic.twitter.com/7c6tmXVKHX sujoy ghosh (@sujoy_g) https://twitter.com/sujoy_g/status/1173254988941774849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw September 15, 2019 Apurva Asrani, who worked with Datta in Nagesh Kukunoors 2010 film Aashayein , also mourned the loss. Shocked to hear about the passing of Sanjib Datta. He was a fine editor whose work was synonymous with the best films of Nagesh Kukunoor. Sanjib & I shared editing credits on Aashayein & Tasveer 810 , and I will always remember him as a mature craftsman & a thorough gentleman, he wrote. Shocked to hear about the passing of Sanjib Datta. He was a fine editor whose work was synonymous with the best films of Nagesh Kukunoor. Sanjib & I shared editing credits on Aashayein & Tasveer 810, and I will always remember him as a mature craftsman & a thorough gentleman. Apurva (@Apurvasrani) https://twitter.com/Apurvasrani/status/1173227967738023944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw September 15, 2019 A student of renowned late film editor Renu Saluja, Datt has edited films like Door, Mardani, Iqbal and Ek Hasina Thi , to name a few. In his decades-long career, he worked with filmmakers such asKundan Shah, Sriram Raghvan andPradeep Sarkar among others. It is reported that he was admitted to the hospital for a bypass surgery but never returned home. May his soul rest in peace!

The year 2015 saw the emerging trend of short films and many popular filmmakers are extending their support for the same. With such films receiving a lot of appreciation in festivals, this time around, eight filmmakers have decided to come together for a project. The eight filmmakers, namely, Rajkumar Hirani, Zoya Akhtar, Shyam Benegal , Homi Adajania, Nagesh Kukunoor, Imtiaz Ali , Mira Nair and Sriram Raghavan will be coming together for this venture which is a two hour feature film that is a compilation of eight short films. However, it wouldnt be these filmmakers who will be directing the film but they would play the role of mentors to those who will be selected from their team to direct the short film. The director who will be chosen from their crew that consists of technicians, assistant directors as well as executive producers will be making their directorial debut with this short film and will be provided with all sorts of infrastructure, guidance and monetary help. The short films are slated to go on floor in March and the makers are looking for a June release. Also, a panel of judges along with the mentors has been appointed to select the best short film and the team will be awarded.

The year 2015 saw the emerging trend of short films and many popular filmmakers are extending their support for the same. With such films receiving a lot of appreciation in festivals, this time around, eight filmmakers have decided to come together for a project.

The eight filmmakers, namely, Rajkumar Hirani, Zoya Akhtar, Shyam Benegal, Homi Adajania, Nagesh Kukunoor, Imtiaz Ali, Mira Nair and Sriram Raghavan will be coming together for this venture which is a two hour feature film that is a compilation of eight short films. However, it wouldn't be these filmmakers who will be directing the film but they would play the role of mentors to those who will be selected from their team to direct the short film. The director who will be chosen from their crew that consists of technicians, assistant directors as well as executive producers will be making their directorial debut with this short film and will be provided with all sorts of infrastructure, guidance and monetary help.

The short films are slated to go on floor in March and the makers are looking for a June release. Also, a panel of judges along with the mentors has been appointed to select the best short film and the team will be awarded.

Nagesh Kukunoor, who has been keeping a low profile of late, will now be seen doing what he is best at - making 'offbeat' films. His latest film, which has been tentatively titled Music Men, will feature five real life musicians. The five musicians are Shankar Mahadevan, Papon, Sunidhi Chauhan, Salim Merchant and Sivamani. The film's plot revolves around five musicians who are losers in life, and who come together to form a band with a sole aim to prove that music never dies.

Speaking about the film, Nagesh Kukunoor said that he wanted to make a film about music with musicians whom he respects a lot. And when he bounced the idea to Shankar Mahadevan around a year back, Shankar got so excited that he called the renowned percussionist Sivamani and got him on board. On the other hand, while it was relatively easy to get Salim and Papon on board, it was Sunidhi Chauhan who was nervous because she was unsure about her acting. Sunidhi told Nagesh Kukunoor that she blindly said yes to the film only because he was directing it.

Nagesh also added that, while these musicians have been camera friendly (courtesy their music videos and reality shows), the real challenge was to get them to perform as a character. When asked about the music of the film, Nagesh said that Music Men will comprise of around 8-9 original compositions by Salim-Sulaiman, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Papon and Tapas Relia, Lakshmi and Dhanak. Beside all this, even Sivamani is composing a song for the film.

While Music Men will go on floor this Sunday, Nagesh Kukunoor plans to finish the film by February next year.

The very prolific Nagesh Kukunoor's new film Dhanak has been selected in the prestigious Generation K Plus section of the Berlin Film Festival.

Ecstatic at the honour Nagesh says, "One makes all one's films with equal passion. But when one of them gets a special validation of this kind it feels like balm on the soul. There are 8 films in the Generation K Plus section. And we're one of them." Now begins the struggle to carry the film and its core cast of the 8-year old Krish Chabria and the 9-year old Hetal Gada to Berlin to be present for the honour in February 2015.

Apparently Dhanak, intended as a small-budget film had to bear with unforeseen expenses.

Explains Nagesh, "We had to fly actors for even the smallest roles from Mumbai to Rajasthan. Using local actors was not an option because there were no actors where we were shooting. Now I am hoping and praying that we can afford to fly the two kids to the Berlin." And what was the reaction of the children? "Nothing!" laughs Nagesh. "They know nothing about Berlin and festivals. So they were like 'Thank you, Uncle!' I think I'd have got a better reaction if I had given them one bar of chocolate each. Actually it's this innocence that makes Dhanak the special film that it is." Considering there was a budget problem regarding the actor's travel tickets has Nagesh played a role in the film? "No, for a change I am not there in Dhanak . Not even for a passing shot. In fact, the producers kept insisting. But the roles being offered to me were truck drivers and labourers. I firmly declined," says Nagesh who played a despicable pimp in his last film Lakshmi . Laughs Nagesh, "That was a completely dark and despicable world. It is important to show that world in our films so we can appreciate this other world of hope and innocence in Dhanak . We took the film on a 5-city US tour and in one of the cities I was asked if Dhanak was my catharsis after Lakshmi. Perhaps I needed to get out of the dark mood."

She is known for her singing. But Monali Thakur, the ' Sawaar doon ' girl has lately discovered her metier as an actress with her hard-hitting performance as a child prostitute in Nagesh Kukunoor's Lakshmi . The spirited girl has come home with the Best Actress award at the South-Asian International Film Festival in Washington, making her the first Bollywood singer to have won an award for acting.

Ecstatic and enthused Monali exclaims, "What can I say? It was a bolt from the blue. I thought the movie was forgotten, though the pain and suffering I went through in portraying the prostitute will remain with me forever. Now this award has strengthened my faith in my decision to pursue a double career as a singer and an actress." Says Monali, "Yes, I am going to continue as both an actor and a singer. When I did Lakshmi the buzz in the singing world was that I was giving up singing for acting. In fact, Amit Trivedi asked about my plans. That shook me up. But now I feel I've the confidence to overcome people's doubts and go ahead with both careers." Monali says she isn't happy with the quality of songs on offer. "I am in no hurry as a singer or an actor. I won't accept everything that comes my way. The songs I sing have to have something to offer me. The same goes for the roles I accept." Monali has already completed a second acting assignment. "It's a comedy called Mango directed by Abbas Tyrewala. I've a completely different role from what I did in Lakshmi . I play a feisty girl who cons three men played by Rannvijay, his brother Harman (who makes his acting debut) and Chandan Roy Sanyal into believing she loves each one of them. After the dark gut-wrenching role in Lakshmi I enjoyed this naughty comedy." She is now looking at other acting assignments. "I want to be known as a good singer who can act," Monali says ambitiously.

Before Monali, Sulakshana Pandit and Salma Agha have tried the combination of singer and actress, and failed.

Let's hope Monali is the first singer-actress since Suraiya to establish a foothold in both the spheres.