Divya
Looks like Shekhar Gupta, current editor-in-chief of ThePrint and former CEO and editor-in-chief of the Indian Express group, has taken a brave step by spilling internal secrets of Bollywood.
In his The Print column, Gupta wrote all about Bollywood being a ‘dirty picture’. Sharing his side of the story in a detailed article, Shekhar talks about the side of Bollywood no one really sees.
Karan Johar
As Gupta wrote on, he also disclosed an incident that took place during Screen Awards. Karan Johar was apparently extremely agitated about the fact that his film My Name is Khan had not received any nominations. Even though Gupta refrained from interfering, being a part of the jury he had received long pained calls from Johar regarding the same. Reportedly, actor Amol Palekar, who had headed the jury that year, was accused of having a grudge as he did not nominate the film either.
Gupta states, “My Name is Khan was apparently the biggest hit. It did not get nominated in any category. Right or wrong, we wouldn’t know, because we let the jury be. And the jury that year was headed by someone as widely respected and accomplished as Amol Palekar. Shah Rukh Khan was also a contracted performer and a stage presenter.
Trouble began three days earlier, as usual. There were threats of a boycott. I never heard this from Shah Rukh — before, during the awards or later, to be fair. But from people “around the film”. There was panic and I had to field long, pained, hurt calls from Karan Johar, who simply wouldn’t accept that the jury had not found the film worthy of an award.“
Hrithik Roshan
Hrithik Roshan, who was chosen as the best actor (male) for Krrish, was to perform on stage as well as receive his award. However, the actor refused to receive the award but went on to perform.
Gupta writes, “But, notably, in 2007, there was Hrithik Roshan, chosen best actor (male) for Krrish, so far, so good. He was also contracted to perform on stage. He sent word an hour before the event that he would come and perform as contracted, but wouldn’t accept the award. Why? Because how could he give legitimacy “to a jury that did not recognise the phenomenal talent of his father”? Rakesh Roshan was the film’s director. Hrithik did finally relent, but boycotted at least the customary post-awards star party.“
Katrina Kaif
Shekhar Gupta also alleges that Katrina Kaif threw a tantrum minutes before her contracted performance simply due to the fact she wasn’t been given an award.
He mentions, “In 2010, when Katrina Kaif was to perform, paid fully in advance, she threw a tantrum minutes before her performance as she wasn’t being given any award. I was taken to her vanity van to plead with her.
Katrina was all dressed and painted up to perform. And then, the outburst. ‘Why do they always call me but give me no awards?’ I said that was never the deal, you have a contract to perform. But by now, tears were streaming down her face, taking much of the make-up in their wake. Again, we invented a popular choice award.“
