FRANCIS CHOULER Press File 2012 Sunday 08 April 12 Sunday 08 April 12 Sunday 08 April 12 Sunday 08 April 12 Sunday 08 April 12 MONDAY OCTOBER 11 2010 Making it big, by hook or by Crook about the scene. One, it is relevant A pair of South African actors have landed two of the lead roles in one of to the film. Two, it creates a the latest Bollywood movies on circuit, Crook, which hit the big screen at dramatic impact. Three, the the weekend. There are great expectations for the film, which stars audience today largely comprises of Emraan Hashmi and Neha Sharma. It delves into the very touchy subjects the young generation who want certain sensationalism and not the of racism and prejudice among Indian and Australian communities in Oz. so-called purists.” LATOYA NEWMAN touched base with the South Africans sharing the Allan confirmed the censorship limelight with the two respected Bolly stars, while JOGINDER TUTEJA matter. “It wasn’t revealing at all, chatted with Sharma about her debut Bolly role. they were very professional in making sure nothing was shown, but with Bolly everything has to go APE Town-based Francis gets caught up in the middle of this through the Censor Board,” she Chouler and Shella Allan feud. So I certainly felt that that was said. act as Australian brother what Mohit was trying to do, give a Allan said Nicole is very multi- Cand sister Russel and personal face to the race issue. layered, seductive and confident, Nicole in Crook, in a tale about love, “It was very much a movie but at the same time vulnerable. She hate and a web of deceit involving Mohit wanted to tell, but at the same also enjoyed working with Hashmi. racism and prejudice, based on time it is a fun and action-based “Emraan is very professional incidents that occurred last year. movie. He talks about something and has been in the business for a Jai (Emraan Hashmi) tries to that is very relevant, but it is done long time. He is also very family start a new life in Australia, where in a very accessible way. In terms of orientated, always speaking highly he unwillingly becomes involved in the subject there is a lot to be of his family,” she said. a love triangle with an Australian, compared to in our own country in ALL REVVED UP: Emraan Hashmi and Neha Sharma star in a thought- Besides TV commercials and Nicole (Allan), and an Australian the kind of underlying tensions. provoking Bolly flick, Click, which hit the big screen at the weekend. music videos, including the lead for woman of Indian origin, Suhani But the racial thing is all over. In PICTURE: WWW.INDIAPRWIRE.COM the latest Foto Na Dans music video, (Sharma). As if that is not enough, Australia, in the UK, in South Allan has other projects on the go, he unknowingly stumbles into Africa. It touches on the issue of a a kind of human anger we probably “This is my third Bolly film, but including another Bolly film. trouble as a result of simmering homogenous culture being all have within us that we do not my first lead. Samantha Bernhardi Meanwhile, Joginder Tuteja racial tensions in the area. infiltrated by new people and the express,” he said. Artist Management contacted me reports that newbie to the Bolly Chouler describes his character fear around that. You can no longer One of the exciting things about about Crook in September last year. scene, Neha Sharma, is making her as the “Australian antagonist” of say that is my border and you can the movie was that it is completely We started filming in March/April. Bollywood debut opposite Hashmi the movie, which he says scratches not cross it. It is very brave to tackle multilingual. Nicole is a dancer in a nightclub in Crook. beneath the surface of racism. these issues. (In the movie) all the “The movie is set in Melbourne. and she becomes Jai’s love Sharma has been on the film “When we first meet Russel we facets of racism are there, but no The characters and the way the film interest,” she said. circuit for a while after doing a see this skinhead type of gangster, answers are given.” is shot make it accessible to general Nicole and Jai’s relationship can couple of films in Telugu as a but as you go through the movie you Chouler said acting as Russel audiences and not just traditional be a bit passionate at times, so much leading lady. see why he is so angry. The director taught him a strong lesson in Bollywood film lovers. This was my so the censors in India asked for However, now that she has of the film, Mohit Suri, was trying judging people. first Bolly movie and it came as a some scenes to be cut. worked in a Hindi film, she knows to show the personal side to all the “You can’t judge a person by surprise to me, but I thoroughly According to the Bollywood that it would take something racial tension. For example, Russel what you see now. You have to enjoyed this project,” he said. Hungama News Network, producer remarkable from down South to pull had a relationship with an Indian understand the person holistically. I Allan, on the other hand, is no Mahesh Bhatt was told by Censor her back there. girl when he was younger, but her am not like Russel, all agro and stranger to Bolly productions, Board that he’d have to edit out a “Hindi is my forté and I had brother was so against it he forced violent. But now I have had the having played cameo roles in two topless scene (with Allan). started making up my mind about her to abort her baby and commit experience of entering into this Bolly flicks, namely Acid Factory Alternatively, he could keep the the journey I wanted to take once I suicide. Emraan (Jai) unfortunately kind of mind and I have discovered and Life Partner. scene and have his film given an was through with my Telugu films. “adults only” rating. Bhatt insisted I knew there and then that I didn’t the film be released as adults only. want to do more Telugu films. A source close to Bhatt told Language was such a problem and Bollywood Hungama News it all turned out to be really Network that in the film, Jai gets challenging and tough. drunk and passes out in Nicole’s “My first film by itself was very car. He wakes up in her bed, and daunting and though I had offers, I when he comes out of the bathroom didn’t take them because I wasn’t he sees her changing clothes, with too sure,” she said. her back to him. “Now that I’ve worked in Crook, I “Mukesh questioned the Censor know this is far more satisfying. I Board’s decision to allow frontal enjoy doing a Hindi film more than nudity in some films that are known South flicks. After all, the entire as Indian classics today, whereas his language factor is such bliss, you film shows side nudity only. The can understand the emotions you censor members completely have to bring on screen and know disagreed with it.” for sure what people around you are Suri and Mukesh Bhatt then talking about. It’s a whole new called Mahesh Bhatt, who told him experience and I am convinced that that the scene couldn’t be done away this is what I really want to do in with under any circumstances. future. If I have to work in a South Bhatt said: “It’s okay. I was not film now, it has to bring with it a ready to eliminate that scene. I see really great role”, she said. MAKING CELLULOID WAVES: South Africa’s Francis Chouler and Shella Allan on the set of Crook, one of the latest nothing wrong in it. There are three – Additional reporting by the Bolly hits, which opened at cinemas at the weekend. reasons why I was so possessive Bollywood Hungama reporters Sunday 08 April 12 MONDAY OCTOBER 11 2010 Making it big, by hook or by Crook about the scene. One, it is relevant A pair of South African actors have landed two of the lead roles in one of to the film. Two, it creates a the latest Bollywood movies on circuit, Crook, which hit the big screen at dramatic impact. Three, the the weekend. There are great expectations for the film, which stars audience today largely comprises of Emraan Hashmi and Neha Sharma. It delves into the very touchy subjects the young generation who want certain sensationalism and not the of racism and prejudice among Indian and Australian communities in Oz. so-called purists.” LATOYA NEWMAN touched base with the South Africans sharing the Allan confirmed the censorship limelight with the two respected Bolly stars, while JOGINDER TUTEJA matter. “It wasn’t revealing at all, chatted with Sharma about her debut Bolly role. they were very professional in making sure nothing was shown, but with Bolly everything has to go APE Town-based Francis gets caught up in the middle of this through the Censor Board,” she Chouler and Shella Allan feud. So I certainly felt that that was said. act as Australian brother what Mohit was trying to do, give a Allan said Nicole is very multi- Cand sister Russel and personal face to the race issue.