Opening Doorz

By Martin D’Souza | Opening Doorz Editorial | April 18, 2017

You should not Raabta Rajput the wrong way!
At the Raabta promotional event, mingling with the media, Sushant Singh Rajput stood his ground (rather sat firm on his stool) and spoke what he had to, not willing to be bullied by the continuous terming “of national interest” (a question asked by a journalist), by another journalist!

If the above reads a little convoluted, that’s exactly what the proceedings were. Watching the video several times after an issue was created in the media (good for the film though), I realized that the first journalist who asked the question pertaining to Kulbhushan Jadhav, asked it to no one in particular. She ended by saying, “Aap log comment karna chayege?” There was a choice given.

When they were told by a gentleman on the panel that it would be right to talk only about the film, another pounced on Rajput saying, “You shouldn’t have dumped that question on national interest.”

Rajput was on the dot when he replied: “Somebody should not give his or her opinion if he or she is not very well informed about the topic because it’s a very sensitive thing. So you have to be very very…” (interrupted). “All you had to say was ‘condemn’ or ‘not condemn’,” was the opinion of the journalist who had not asked the question in the first place.

“To be able to say ‘Yes’ condemn or ‘No’ condemn, you need to be responsible enough and know the facts,” replied Rajput.

“So you don’t know?” Bellowed the journo! “Why is it so wrong to not know?”, asked Rajput in all sincerity. “You are a public figure,” she replied! “Do you know everything?” he retorted.

Absolutely! Why is it so wrong to not know?

Well done Rajput. Salute to your sincerity in stating the fact of the matter. It’s best not to pretend to know everything.

The media needs to know where to draw the line and where to ask what questions.

It was a mistake, says Nawazuddin!
Nawazuddin Siddiqui has worked hard to get to where he is today. His fans are now digging up the small role he played in Sarfarosh in 1999, followed by the bit in Shool and Munnabhai MBBS. Those bit roles have now gotten him onto the big platform and he is presently in a zone of his own, even over-shadowing the Khans whenever he comes on the same scene.

Lion, by Garth Davis which had a host of Oscar nominations saw Nawazuddin in yet another bit role, 18 years after John Matthew Matthan’s Sarfarosh. He had a role which lasted a little over a minute. What was the motivation, or deciding factor for you to say yes to a bit role? I asked him. “It was a mistake,” replied Nawazuddin. “After reading the emotional email sent by the director, I decided to do the role.”

Aarti Chhabria turns director
A short film that is catching the internet by storm is Mumbai Varanasi Express produced and directed by actor Aarti Chhabria. The film has soul and more and is much more than what Mukti Bhawan should have been. Chhabria has been at it for the last two years and getting funds for a first-timer was proving to be a task. Finally she managed to convince herself, her brother and her dad and ‘picked their pockets’ to see her dream on celluloid.

Here’s hoping to see Chhabria wield the director’s baton yet again!

Also Read: The real Badshah of Bollywood