For so many reasons, am greatly looking forward to Sept issue of Prestige. A feature on the ultimate dancing diva...
My portfolio, musings, amusing(s - that a word? No? K.) and more. Photoshoots over the years, behind the scenes anecdotes, some awesome celebrity encounters (some horrific ones too!). 21 years+ as a journalist in Hong Kong - that's a lot of verbal diarr... um... discourse!
Thursday, 8 August 2013
Sunday, 4 August 2013
Command Performance
Bollywood king Shah Rukh Khan has a simple aim: to put a smile on his fans' faces at home and abroad with his films, the actor tells P. Ramakrishnan.
"I don't know if the Hong Kong audience will identify with our style of action - bu it has that element of humour and thrills"
Shah Rukh Khan, of Chennai Express.
Chennai Express
In Hindi with English Subtitles
Aug 9 (Fri) 21:50 (IMAX)
Aug 10 (Sat) 21:50(IMAX)
Aug 11 (Sun) 18:30 (IMAX)
Aug 12 (Mon) 21:30 (House 2)
Aug 13 (Tue) 21:30 (House 2)
Aug 14 (Wed) 21:30 ( House 2)
Tickets: HK$150-$200
Venue : UA iSQUARE, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tickets at Morning Star, Tel: 2368 2947
Produced by UTV Motion Pictures and Red Chillies Entertainment, Chennai Express will hit theatres worldwide on Eid - 9th August 2013.
Flashback: My first interview with Shahrukh Khan when he came to HK here.
"I don't know if the Hong Kong audience will identify with our style of action - bu it has that element of humour and thrills"
Shah Rukh Khan, of Chennai Express.
It
is hard to measure the magnitude of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's
fame and popularity. Long known as "King Khan" for his box office
drawing power, there are fan sites dedicated to him in Asia, but even
fans from Estonia, Mexico, Chile and New Zealand wax eloquent about his
dimples, his hair, the intensity of his eyes and his smile.
Thanks to subtitled and badly dubbed DVDs that reach far-flung frontiers, there are few places on earth where that face and tousled hair aren't recognised.
If he didn't have his arm in a sling, the Indian superstar probably could have hugged thousands of his fans from Hong Kong and elsewhere who saw him in Macau last month. As he walked, bracketed by beefy bodyguards, into the Venetian Macao to co-host the 14th International Indian Film Academy Awards, the fanatical frenzy he inspires was difficult to miss.
Not bad for a father of three who turns 48 in November and who first
erupted into the national consciousness as a TV star in the military
themed tele-drama Fauji ( Soldier) 25 years ago. With
appearances in more than 75 films since making his cinematic debut in
1992, the Indian Muslim actor's next appearance will be in Chennai Express, whose worldwide release is timed to coincide with the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr.
Chennai Express is an over-the-top action-comedy about a man's journey from Mumbai to a small Tamil Nadu town and what happens along the way after he falls in love with the daughter of a crime boss. The film is expected to do exceptionally well in India and the overseas Indian (non-resident Indian) market on which Khan has an unshakable grip. Khan stars in a staggering seven out of the 10 highest-grossing Indian films of all time in the overseas market, and an impressive 12 out of the top 25.
"There's no one to beat Shah Rukh Khan's magnetic draw," says Sunil Datwani, who has bought rights to several of Khan's flicks over the past decade to show Hong Kong cinema-goers. "Of course the South Asian community comes out in full force, but there's even a Chinese Bollywood fan club. And several British and American fans you can spot in the crowd."
Within the Indian film industry as well, his contemporaries are in awe of the actor, who has turned romancing with a strumming guitar and outstretched arms into a signature art form of its own.
"I was a huge Shah Rukh Khan fan when I first met him and did my first film," says his Chennai Express co-star, Deepika Padukone. "Now, even after meeting him several times and working with him the second time around, I'm probably a bigger fan. He is just … amazing. Just … wonderful," says the actress, who made her film debut in Om Shanti Om (2007), which was produced by and co-starred Khan.
Khan brushes off the praise. "When I hear such things, it's nice but they are being too kind. They are wonderful actors and it's just their affection for me that translates into their kind words."
As Chennai Express' release date nears, its lead actor doesn't sound anxious about how the film will be received. "It is a Rohit Shetty [directed] film, and he makes these big, big movies, and the stunts and action are just amazing," Khan says. "I'm a huge Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee fan. Even without subtitles, I can sit and watch their films for the comedy and action. I don't know if the Hong Kong audience will identify with our style of action - but it has that element of humour and thrills. I hope they … enjoy it too."
Khan, who won several acting honours for the dramatic My Name is Khan (2010), knows his latest film's surreal antics and slapstick will not be everyone's cup of tea.
"When I do a serious film like Chak De India ( Go! India), Swades ( Homeland) or My Name is Khan, there is a realism to the performance to go with the style of the movie. If I did that in a film like Chennai Express, it would be completely out of sync," he says. "You mould your performance and character according to the movie - as any actor would."
And are there any fears of the film not getting into the club of films grossing 100 million rupees (HK$12.7 million) at the home box office? "None," he says with quiet confidence. "The figures are irrelevant. I just want to do better movies, better roles; work harder every Monday when I hit the set to make as many people happy as possible. I don't count the money a movie makes, I want to count the smiles that audiences have when they leave an auditorium."
Chennai Express screens at UA iSquare from Friday
Thanks to subtitled and badly dubbed DVDs that reach far-flung frontiers, there are few places on earth where that face and tousled hair aren't recognised.
When asked about his broad appeal, Khan says, "I have never tried to
analyse my fans, why they love me, why they want my picture … I'm just
glad to have them. Whenever I travel and see the response and love, I am
humbled. I just want to hug them all."
If he didn't have his arm in a sling, the Indian superstar probably could have hugged thousands of his fans from Hong Kong and elsewhere who saw him in Macau last month. As he walked, bracketed by beefy bodyguards, into the Venetian Macao to co-host the 14th International Indian Film Academy Awards, the fanatical frenzy he inspires was difficult to miss.
 |
| Shah Rukh Khan & Deepika Padukone in Chennai Express |
Chennai Express is an over-the-top action-comedy about a man's journey from Mumbai to a small Tamil Nadu town and what happens along the way after he falls in love with the daughter of a crime boss. The film is expected to do exceptionally well in India and the overseas Indian (non-resident Indian) market on which Khan has an unshakable grip. Khan stars in a staggering seven out of the 10 highest-grossing Indian films of all time in the overseas market, and an impressive 12 out of the top 25.
"There's no one to beat Shah Rukh Khan's magnetic draw," says Sunil Datwani, who has bought rights to several of Khan's flicks over the past decade to show Hong Kong cinema-goers. "Of course the South Asian community comes out in full force, but there's even a Chinese Bollywood fan club. And several British and American fans you can spot in the crowd."
Within the Indian film industry as well, his contemporaries are in awe of the actor, who has turned romancing with a strumming guitar and outstretched arms into a signature art form of its own.
"I was a huge Shah Rukh Khan fan when I first met him and did my first film," says his Chennai Express co-star, Deepika Padukone. "Now, even after meeting him several times and working with him the second time around, I'm probably a bigger fan. He is just … amazing. Just … wonderful," says the actress, who made her film debut in Om Shanti Om (2007), which was produced by and co-starred Khan.
Khan brushes off the praise. "When I hear such things, it's nice but they are being too kind. They are wonderful actors and it's just their affection for me that translates into their kind words."
As Chennai Express' release date nears, its lead actor doesn't sound anxious about how the film will be received. "It is a Rohit Shetty [directed] film, and he makes these big, big movies, and the stunts and action are just amazing," Khan says. "I'm a huge Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee fan. Even without subtitles, I can sit and watch their films for the comedy and action. I don't know if the Hong Kong audience will identify with our style of action - but it has that element of humour and thrills. I hope they … enjoy it too."
Khan, who won several acting honours for the dramatic My Name is Khan (2010), knows his latest film's surreal antics and slapstick will not be everyone's cup of tea.
"When I do a serious film like Chak De India ( Go! India), Swades ( Homeland) or My Name is Khan, there is a realism to the performance to go with the style of the movie. If I did that in a film like Chennai Express, it would be completely out of sync," he says. "You mould your performance and character according to the movie - as any actor would."
And are there any fears of the film not getting into the club of films grossing 100 million rupees (HK$12.7 million) at the home box office? "None," he says with quiet confidence. "The figures are irrelevant. I just want to do better movies, better roles; work harder every Monday when I hit the set to make as many people happy as possible. I don't count the money a movie makes, I want to count the smiles that audiences have when they leave an auditorium."
Chennai Express screens at UA iSquare from Friday
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as Command performance
Chennai Express
In Hindi with English Subtitles
Aug 9 (Fri) 21:50 (IMAX)
Aug 10 (Sat) 21:50(IMAX)
Aug 11 (Sun) 18:30 (IMAX)
Aug 12 (Mon) 21:30 (House 2)
Aug 13 (Tue) 21:30 (House 2)
Aug 14 (Wed) 21:30 ( House 2)
Tickets: HK$150-$200
Venue : UA iSQUARE, Tsim Sha Tsui
Tickets at Morning Star, Tel: 2368 2947
Produced by UTV Motion Pictures and Red Chillies Entertainment, Chennai Express will hit theatres worldwide on Eid - 9th August 2013.
Flashback: My first interview with Shahrukh Khan when he came to HK here.
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Summer 2013 Cover Shoot
 | |||
| PHOTOGRAPHY: Timon Wehrli, Red Dog Studio STYLING & ART DIRECTION: Tasha Ling STYLING ASSISTANTS: Leona Cheung; Josef James; Kathy Lam MAKEUP: Karen Yiu HAIR: Mei Yung MODEL: Kate B |
Just the best shoot - so far - at sun-kissed Galaxy Macau. The prep work for this shoot took a long time... but everything fell into place. Even the rains stopped just for us - and started just as we were ferrying back.
Was great to work with Timon. He and I had suffered greatly at a previous magazine gig and shared stories of the cray-cray publisher and self-imposed-editor-title-holder. It was traumatic then, can laugh about it now! Ah life!
Tasha did such a bril job with this - she's amazing to work with.
And of course, shoots are rarely done without Karen Yiu! She is magic.
Fav cover shoot... until the next one!
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Galaxy Summer 2013!
Have been in the biz for... an alarming amount of time, joyous when the latest issue lands and you rip open the brown paper bag, cut the ribbons and that fresh stack of magz pour out. Everyone at the office runs to grab a copy and go over it - even though, we've been through the pages hundreds of times before.
Makes all the toil and turmoil worth it.
Already working on next issue... casting, meeting, writers, budgets, themes...
Monday, 15 July 2013
Setting fire to the rain at Absolut bash
Otto Chan and Tisha Law
Come
rain or shine, or as the case may be, amber storm warning, nothing
stops the bright sparks of the social circuit from hitting a much
ballyhooed event. The scene; Tazmania Ballroom, the event; launch of yet
another brand, the weather; abysmal. But, the crème de la crème turned
up in full force while it drizzled incessantly for Absolut's big splash,
the launch of their new, premium line of vodka, Absolut Elyx.
Attendees such as Ana R, Charlotte Chen, Elaine Lee, Karena Ng, Sabrina Ho, Gilbert Yeung, Kennis Tai, model turned actors Carl Ng and Ankie Beilke, Shirley Hiranand and her awesome motley crew of kids, the Chellarams (Manolo, Chitra, Manoj) were seen among a sea of faces. We didn't find any Swedish models in the mix, but we did find the Russian vodka-luvin' contingency, the ridiculously attractive coupling of Aziz Rakhimov and fiancé Ekaterina Bogaevskaya (better known as supermodel Katya) at the event. Popular models-about-town David Oshry and Lenka Korbova tried their own mix of Elyx infused cocktails as the party raged on, oblivious to the spluttering rains.
Elizabeth Forsmen and Richard Webb
Last seen in the action romp “The Viral Factor”, we grabbed actor Carl Ng for a quote, "I've had the Absolut Elyx before. It's smooth and easy to drink," he said, while he played with a dry ice holding contraption that fogged all the drinks on the table. “It’s a great drink to have neat or as a mixer as its smooth like most grain-based vodka drinks are. The potato based vodka drinks are different, bit more rough. Elyx is good stuff.”
The ever-popular man about town, Gordon Lam took to the stage as emcee for the night as he introduced Xavier Beysecker, Managing Director of Pernod-Ricard Hong Kong. While we thought 'elyx' was an abbreviation of some sort for an “elixir”, Beysecker said the ‘Lyx’ derives from the word “luxury” in Swedish. "Oh you can definitely say its an elixir too”, he said with a laugh.
For those in the know, the arrival of Matt Pomeroy from Sweden created a buzz, the vodka brand's global ambassador took the stage and highlighted the features of Elyx, all lost in the cacophony of the well-peopled room.
The evening wrapped up with a pool tournament open to all guests, as custom-designed Absolut Elyx copper pool ball sets were laid out on all the pool tables across the room. Beysecker presented the winner with a 1.5 litre bottle and a brand new copper pool set.
Not before long, glasses were raised, toasts were led by Beysecker and Pomeroy as an acrobatic, aerial dancer took to the floor and cleared out an area. Between heaven and earth, in perpetual limbo she did her little routine and at the end, as the waiting staff handed her the newly designed bottle, she pretzeled herself into different positions and served shots of the vodka.
Just as any posh bar, sometimes you do have to bend over backwards to get a decent drink.
Attendees such as Ana R, Charlotte Chen, Elaine Lee, Karena Ng, Sabrina Ho, Gilbert Yeung, Kennis Tai, model turned actors Carl Ng and Ankie Beilke, Shirley Hiranand and her awesome motley crew of kids, the Chellarams (Manolo, Chitra, Manoj) were seen among a sea of faces. We didn't find any Swedish models in the mix, but we did find the Russian vodka-luvin' contingency, the ridiculously attractive coupling of Aziz Rakhimov and fiancé Ekaterina Bogaevskaya (better known as supermodel Katya) at the event. Popular models-about-town David Oshry and Lenka Korbova tried their own mix of Elyx infused cocktails as the party raged on, oblivious to the spluttering rains.
Elizabeth Forsmen and Richard WebbLast seen in the action romp “The Viral Factor”, we grabbed actor Carl Ng for a quote, "I've had the Absolut Elyx before. It's smooth and easy to drink," he said, while he played with a dry ice holding contraption that fogged all the drinks on the table. “It’s a great drink to have neat or as a mixer as its smooth like most grain-based vodka drinks are. The potato based vodka drinks are different, bit more rough. Elyx is good stuff.”
The ever-popular man about town, Gordon Lam took to the stage as emcee for the night as he introduced Xavier Beysecker, Managing Director of Pernod-Ricard Hong Kong. While we thought 'elyx' was an abbreviation of some sort for an “elixir”, Beysecker said the ‘Lyx’ derives from the word “luxury” in Swedish. "Oh you can definitely say its an elixir too”, he said with a laugh.
For those in the know, the arrival of Matt Pomeroy from Sweden created a buzz, the vodka brand's global ambassador took the stage and highlighted the features of Elyx, all lost in the cacophony of the well-peopled room.
The evening wrapped up with a pool tournament open to all guests, as custom-designed Absolut Elyx copper pool ball sets were laid out on all the pool tables across the room. Beysecker presented the winner with a 1.5 litre bottle and a brand new copper pool set.
Not before long, glasses were raised, toasts were led by Beysecker and Pomeroy as an acrobatic, aerial dancer took to the floor and cleared out an area. Between heaven and earth, in perpetual limbo she did her little routine and at the end, as the waiting staff handed her the newly designed bottle, she pretzeled herself into different positions and served shots of the vodka.
Just as any posh bar, sometimes you do have to bend over backwards to get a decent drink.
Cartier
Chuffed at the personalised sketch an amazing artist from Hong Kong (signed "John" no surname...) did for all the guests.
Sitting next to Virginie Martignac (newbie to HK, Marketing & Communication Director for the brand), our table had the most fun at Pierre, at the ol' Mandarin Oriental hotel.
Monday, 8 July 2013
My day with Madhuri Dixit: Indian actress and icon is in Macau!
Spending the week ahead writing it up for Prestige. Her performance at IIFA was... perfection.
MD signed my copy of Faces by Gautam Rajadhyaksha. He adored her and vice versa.
When asked, she made it a point to state, "I miss him so much Rama, I can't tell you...".
Bless.
Bless.
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