20 years of Don EXCLUSIVE: Cinematographer KU Mohanan recalls Shah Rukh Khan driving through fire in chase scene: “There was no duplicate. He will do anything you tell him”; also shares why the film’s twisted climax added to its success https://ift.tt/MsLwKyI

Farhan Akhtar’s Shah Rukh Khan starrer Don: The Chase Begins Again (2006) completed 20 years today. The film was a remake of Chandra Barot’s Don (1978), starring Amitabh Bachchan. Produced by Excel Entertainment and also starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Om Puri, Boman Irani, Arjun Rampal and Isha Koppikar, the action flick became a success at the box office. It was a major moment for mainstream Hindi cinema as sequels weren’t a regular feature back then.

 

Even after two decades, Don doesn’t appear old. A major reason for this is the visuals provided by cinematographer KU Mohanan. Interestingly, this was the first time he had worked in a mainstream commercial film. Mohanan revealed that there were apprehensions because of this before he came on board in an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama.

He said, “At that time, I was mainly doing advertising work. I was quite big in advertising films. Maybe, that’s why Farhan got an idea about my work. But he knew I hadn’t done any big feature film before. He was a little apprehensive also in the beginning if I would be able to pull it off. This was a huge film. He expressed his concerns and asked me if I would like to do it. I said I will try because even I was not very sure about myself. But I took it as a challenge and accepted the film.”

Challenges of shooting action sequences

Mohanan faced that challenge of shooting high-octane action sequences for the first time. “It was very challenging,” he said. “But we had a good team, like the second unit director and the action team. The main person was from Australia. He had worked in many Hollywood and international films. We really wanted to make it look world class. Most of the action scenes were done in real. The chase sequences were done in that speed. There wasn’t too much of cheating. Certain things which we couldn’t do in real were done with a little VFX. At that time, VFX was not very popular. It wasn’t easy to do VFX.”

Shah Rukh Khan’s daredevilry made things easier

Mohanan shared that SRK made things easier and he was amazed by his commitment towards shooting action scenes. “He will do anything you tell him,” he recalled. “He used to get very excited for action, even at times when I used to get scared. I was sitting behind him in the car with the hand-held camera during a chase scene. He was driving the car and hitting the water barrel that was coming on the windscreen and then hitting a road roller. Everything is done by him. There was no duplicate.”

One particular scene involving fire astonished Mohanan about the kind of risks Khan was ready to take. “There is also a scene where the car is going through a fireball. That car is driven by Shah Rukh Khan. It wasn’t a stunt double. There was a camera mounted in front of the car, so you can see the actor. He did it twice. He is the greatest star I have worked with. He is a such a great, gentle and warm human being. He is a very hardworking actor and very supportive to everybody. He is a dream to work with. More than a star, I am a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan as a person,” he said.

Don started a good professional bond between Mohanan and SRK, which continued in various projects in the years to come. “Shah Rukh is very fond of me maybe because of the quality of work I come with. He really appreciated the way I worked in Don. That’s the reason I did Raees (2017) and Jab Harry Met Sejal (2017). After that, I did innumerable TV commercials with him,” he recalled.

The end twist played a major role in Don’s box office success

Interestingly, KU Mohanan is a big fan of the original Don. It released when he was a school student in Kerala. He was glad to know that Farhan Akhtar’s remake threw in a major twist in the end. “It was so exciting for me to re-do that film as a cinematographer,” he said. “When I read the script and saw the twist, I felt it was very interesting. Otherwise, what is the point of making it exactly like before? That’s a great twist that Farhan brought in. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why the film worked at the box office. We had a very strong team along with the great vision of Farhan Akhtar. He is very supportive as a director and a great producer, along with Ritesh Sidhwani.”

Don’s international look was an effort to break the existing pattern in Bollywood back then

Don had an international look to it. Mohanan said that this is what they always aimed for. “We were trying to break the regular pattern of Bollywood cinema existing at that time,” he said. “Anyways, I am exposed to international cinema. Actually more than Hollywood, I am exposed to other kind of cinema – the cinema from Europe, Japan, etc. So, I have a different kind of way of looking at things. Maybe that worked in the film actually. That’s why it looks different.”

Mohanan made it clear that despite taking inspiration from international cinema, his aim was never to copy anything from foreign films. “You can get inspired by someone else’s work. You can get influenced by people who worked before us. It’s like carrying a baton forward. I tried to make it look very unique and our own. To an extent, I think, I succeeded in doing Don. It wasn’t a copy of Hollywood. But it also wasn’t like the regular Hindi cinema of that period,” he said.

The green colour palette

One can easily notice the green colour palette to the film right from the onset. Sharing the thought behind this, Mohanan said, “When we did the camera and look test, Farhan, myself, the production designer Aradhana Seth and the costume designer Aki Narula discussed decided that we will go with one particular colour palette. It’s a collaborative work, actually. We also decided that we will cut off certain type of a colour. For example, there are no warm colours in the film; it’s a very cold film. You have shades of blue, green and black. We thought this looks like a good colour palette for the film. Otherwise, Hindi cinema was not doing any colour palette at that time. There wasn’t a properly paletted film. It was all haywire. There is only one song (‘Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar Ka Deewana’) where there is a lot of warmth, like red, orange, etc.”

Don started a healthy working relationship between KU Mohanan and Excel Entertainment

Don was a pleasurable experience for KU Mohanan. It became a start to a long collaboration with Excel Entertainment, with movies like, Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (2012), Fukrey (2013) and Raees. He laughingly said, “Most of my filmography is produced by Excel Entertainment. They are very good producers. They are very straightforward and very quality conscious. That’s the reason I did most of my films with them. Ritesh Sidhwani is a very great producer.”

Surprisingly, Mohanan wasn’t a part of Don’s sequel Don 2: The Chase Continues (2011). When pointed this out, he said, “I was busy with some other work actually.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday to witness a KING-sized BLAST; Siddharth Anand gears up to launch EXPLOSIVE teaser on November 2

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Hansal Mehta SLAMS Prahaar-Shahid box office comparison: “It deserves to succeed on its own merits” https://ift.tt/VBMlzEy

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has criticised the comparison between Rajkummar Rao’s latest release, Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, and his 2013 film Shahid. While both films feature Rao in the lead and focus on real-life figures and the legal system, Mehta argued that comparing their box-office performance without considering their vastly different budgets and resources is unfair.

Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, directed by Avinash Arun, released in cinemas on October 16. The film stars Rajkummar Rao as renowned lawyer Ujjwal Nikam and has recorded a modest start at the box office. The film has shown some growth over the weekend, although its overall numbers remain limited.

The comparison with Shahid came after a publication shared a box office report carrying the headline, “Prahaar Box Office Day 1: Surpasses Entire Opening Weekend Of Rajkummar Rao’s 1st Courtroom Drama Which Arrived Exactly 13 Years Ago!” Reacting to the report, Mehta shared a screenshot of the article on social media and questioned the relevance of comparing the two films. Hansal Mehta questions the economics behind the comparison Mehta made it clear that he wants Prahaar to succeed, but objected to using Shahid as a benchmark for its opening numbers. “Nobody wants a Rajkummar Rao and Avinash Arun film to succeed more than I do. But when senseless comparisons are drawn, I'd rather not keep quiet,” he wrote.

Pointing to the difference in the scale of production, Mehta added, “A film made 14 years ago for 75 lakh is being compared to a far bigger film in budget and resources. Leave aside basic economics, which one can't expect from the likes of Koimoi.”

Mehta concluded his post by reiterating his support for Prahaar while arguing that the film should be judged independently. “I wish Prahaar all the best. It deserves to succeed on its own merits. Not at the altar of another film,” he wrote.

 

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Why Shahid remains significant to Rajkummar Rao’s career Released in 2012 and reaching audiences in 2013, Shahid was directed by Hansal Mehta and starred Rajkummar Rao as Shahid Azmi, the Mumbai-based lawyer and human rights activist who was assassinated in 2010 at the age of 32.

The film became an important turning point in Rao’s career and earned major recognition at the National Film Awards. Rao shared the National Film Award for Best Actor, while Mehta won Best Director at the 61st National Film Awards. Rao also received the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor for his performance.

The film has also gained renewed attention after becoming available on Amazon Prime Video in 2026 following a long wait for its digital release.

Also Read: Hansal Mehta’s Rajkummar Rao starrer Shahid to have special screening on February 26, ahead of 12th anniversary re-release in May 2025

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Tiger Shroff firing incident: Amol Parashar calls it “very scary”; says criminals must be punished https://ift.tt/LE5UZSX

Actor Amol Parashar has reacted to the firing incident involving Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai, calling the situation “very scary” and stressing the need for strict action against those responsible.

The incident reportedly took place near Juhu’s Pushpa Narsee Park on Sunday evening, with motorcycle-borne assailants opening fire in the area. Tiger Shroff was reportedly unharmed in the incident, while his driver Firdaus sustained a bullet injury to his hand. A bystander was also injured and suffered a chest wound. Both were subsequently hospitalised.

Reacting to the incident, Amol told ANI, “It's a very scary situation... whoever broke the law and did wrong to be caught and punished. The way to reduce crime is to catch the criminals and punish them. If they aren't punished, it will encourage others to do wrong too.”

#WATCH | Mumbai | Firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff | Actor Amol Parashar says, "It's a very scary situation... whoever broke the law and did wrong to be caught and punished. The way to reduce crime is to catch the criminals and punish them. If they aren't punished, it will encourage others to do wrong too..." (18.10) — ANI (@ANI) October 18, 2026

Maharashtra government assures strict action The firing has prompted a strong response from the Maharashtra government, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis describing the incident as serious and condemnable.

Fadnavis said that Mumbai Police had obtained certain clues during their investigation and that specific individuals had already been identified. He added that the accused would be arrested soon, while authorities would also pursue those allegedly orchestrating such attacks from behind the scenes.

According to the Chief Minister, some of those involved are operating from outside Maharashtra, with some allegedly based outside India. He said the state government would coordinate with other states and seek assistance from the Central Government in cases involving suspects operating from abroad. Investigation underway The incident has caused concern in Mumbai, particularly because the firing reportedly took place in a busy area close to a police station. Authorities have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those involved.

Also Read: Tiger Shroff Firing Incident: CM Devendra Fadnavis confirms that accused have been identified; assures that arrests will be made soon

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Harman Baweja celebrates one year of Bhagwat; says Arshad Warsi and Jeetu brought “distinct identities” to the film https://ift.tt/WT0RtHv

Actor-producer and writer Harman Baweja has reflected on Bhagwat: Chapter One – Raakshas as the crime thriller completes a year. Looking back at the film, Baweja spoke about bringing Arshad Warsi and Jitendra Kumar, popularly known as Jeetu, together and the contrasting characters they portrayed.

Directed by Akshay Shere, Bhagwat: Chapter One – Raakshas was backed by Jio Studios and released on ZEE5. The film follows Inspector Vishwas Bhagwat, played by Arshad Warsi, as he investigates the disappearance of a young woman in a small town in Uttar Pradesh. His investigation eventually leads him to a larger trail of missing women and a man concealing a darker side.

For Baweja, the casting of Warsi and Jeetu was one of the aspects that stood out about the film. Warsi played an investigating officer, while Jeetu took on a darker role that was different from some of his more familiar screen appearances.

“Looking back at Bhagwat a year later, I think one of the most interesting things about the film was bringing Arshad and Jeetu together. They both have such distinct identities as actors, and asking them to step into characters that audiences hadn't quite seen them play before was exciting,” Baweja said.

He also spoke about the approach taken by both actors to their respective roles. “Arshad brought a certain depth and honesty to Inspector Bhagwat, while Jeetu explored a much darker space, which was very different from the characters people have come to associate him with. What made it work was the way they both understood their characters and brought them to life,” he added. Harman Baweja on Bhagwat's audience response According to Baweja, audiences responded positively to the pairing of Warsi and Jeetu, and critics also appreciated their performances. “Their pairing was received well by audiences, and it was encouraging to see their performances appreciated by both audiences and critics,” he said.

Baweja also acknowledged Jio Studios' and ZEE5's role in taking the film to audiences beyond its initial release. “With Jio Studios backing the film and its strong performance on ZEE5, it was encouraging to see the story find its audience beyond its initial release as well,” he said.

Reflecting on the film from a producer and filmmaker's perspective, Baweja said that seeing a casting decision connect with viewers was particularly satisfying. “As a filmmaker and producer, it's always satisfying when a casting choice you believe in comes together on screen and the audience connects with the vision. A year later, that's something I look back at with a lot of satisfaction,” he said.

Baweja Studios has continued to work across genres, with projects including Mrs and Haq. Its upcoming slate includes Dil Ka Darwaaza Kholo Na Darling and Jugaadu, while Captain India is currently in production.

Also Read: 30 Years of Diljale: Harman Baweja recalls asking father Harry Baweja, “What do you do as a director?”

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SS Rajamouli cheers for Ramayana Part 1, praises Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra ahead of November 5 release: "Looking forward" https://ift.tt/Td4LxRh

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli has extended his wishes to the team of Ramayana Part 1 ahead of the film's worldwide theatrical release on November 5. The filmmaker praised director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra for bringing the epic to the screen on a large scale.

Rajamouli shared his thoughts on X, describing Ramayana as a story that Indian storytellers have long aspired to bring to the screen. He wrote, "It's a joy to see @niteshtiwari22 and @malhotra_namit bring it to the screen on such a grand scale. Each actor brings these timeless characters to life with depth."

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and co-written by Shridhar Raghavan, Ramayana Part 1 stars Ranbir Kapoor as Prince Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The film also features Sunny Deol, Ravie Dubey, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan and Lara Dutta in key roles.

#Ramayana is a story every Indian storyteller grows up aspiring to tell. It's a joy to see @niteshtiwari22 and @malhotra_namit bring it to the screen on such a grand scale. Each actor brings these timeless characters to life with depth. Looking forward to 5th November. Best wishes to the entire team. https://t.co/zRAQ54SfJm

— rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) October 17, 2026

Ramayana Part 1 brings together a large ensemble The film's cast includes actors from different parts of Indian cinema, with Yash making his Hindi film debut as Ravana. The project brings together several performers for a new cinematic adaptation of the epic.

The music for the film has been composed by Oscar-winning composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman. The makers are also planning a worldwide theatrical release, including IMAX screenings.

Ramayana Part 1, also referred to as Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, is scheduled to release in cinemas worldwide on November 5.

Also Read: Yash calls himself “Radhikapati” at Ramayana international trailer launch in Bengaluru, credits wife Radhika Pandit for her support

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Amit Trivedi reveals he CRIED while working on Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu: "If Shakun Batra liked a song, Karan Johar wouldn’t like it and vice versa; mujhe kuch samaj mein nahin aa raha tha" https://ift.tt/qSO8ulr

Amit Trivedi had a conversation with Komal Nahta in which he revealed that he had a dream run as a music composer in the initial phase of his career. However, he got a reality check while working on Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012), starring Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Amit Trivedi said, “For Dev D, I made 18 songs and all of them got selected. The same happened with Aamir. There was a requirement of 5 songs. I only composed 5 songs and they all got selected. This was repeated with Udaan (2010) as well. I began to assume, ‘Wow. Aise hi hota hoga. This industry is amazing’ (laughs). Then, I got a shock of my life when Karan Johar came into my life. That’s also when mainstream Bollywood came into my life.”

He explained, “I signed Shakun Batra’s film, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, which was produced by Karan Johar. While working on the film, I asked myself, ‘Yeh kya ho raha hai?’. It was completely contrary to my previous experiences. Until then, I had worked in 5-6 films, including a song in Karan Johar’s Wake Up Sid (2009), that is, ‘Iktara’. Woh gaana bhi one shot tha. Everything was smooth. But during Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, mere nakshatra badal gaye! Every song got bounced. If Shakun would like it, Karan sir won’t like it, and vice versa. Aur mujhe kuch samaj mein nahin aa raha tha!”

Amit Trivedi revealed, “At that time, I felt very vulnerable and sad. I even cried. I had self-doubt. I asked myself, ‘Am I not good enough? Don’t I know how to make good music? But then how did I manage to work on so many films? Also, many of those songs were hits as well. So, I am not the problem. The problem is somewhere. But Karan sir is also vastly experienced’.”

Also Read: Kiran Rao and Saba Azad react to Imran Khan facing legal trouble over Mumbai protest; come in support of the actor

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Jailer 2 exposes the UGLY truth of pan-India cinema: Audiences wake up at 4:30 am for Rajinikanth, but theatres can't even guarantee English subtitles! https://ift.tt/4GV3v8P

Gone are the days when South Indian films were watched only by those who understood the language. With the rise of the pan-India phenomenon, audiences are now willing to wake up before sunrise and catch 6:00 am or 7:00 am shows of major South releases, even if they don't understand a word of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam or Kannada. Several of these films also feature Hindi film stars in significant roles or special appearances, further attracting audiences from the North. Moreover, thanks to the growing consumption of international content on OTT platforms, viewers have become accustomed to watching films and shows with subtitles. All these factors have encouraged audiences to experience South films in their original language rather than wait for the dubbed version.

However, for such moviegoers, watching a film in a cinema hall can still be a gamble. The reason is simple: the uncertainty over English subtitles!

This was one of the biggest talking points among moviegoers in North India who were eager to watch Rajinikanth's much-awaited Jailer 2 in its original Tamil version. This writer attended a screening of Street Fighter on Wednesday, October 14, a day before the release of Jailer 2. Interestingly, one discussion that dominated conversations among journalists at the screening was whether Jailer 2 would be released with English subtitles and, if so, which theatres would provide them. Even on social media, several people were seen asking where they could watch Jailer 2 with subtitles. One of them was filmmaker Navjot Gulati, known for Pooja Meri Jaan.

Anyone reading this if you have seen Jailer 2 in Movietime mumbai then please let me know if they have subtitles or not. @sunpictures #Jailer2 #Thalaivar — Navjot Gulati (@Navjotalive) October 16, 2026

This writer watched the 6:05 am show of Jailer 2 on the day of its release at Mumbai's popular MovieTime Hub in Goregaon. Before the film began, the writer and his friends were desperately praying that the screening would have English subtitles. After all, the whole gang had woken up at 4:30 am to catch the show, and without subtitles, understanding the film would have been a challenge. It was only when the first dialogue was spoken and the English subtitles appeared simultaneously, that we heaved a collective sigh of relief!

Ticketing platforms like BookMyShow often indicate whether a particular show has English subtitles by displaying 'ENG' beneath the show timing. However, this information was missing for Jailer 2 at the time of booking. There have also been instances in the past when audiences have booked tickets for South films, only to discover that the screenings did not have subtitles.

One might argue that viewers can simply check with the theatre manager before the show begins. But for the first-day, first shows of such films, even the cinema staff may not have complete information about subtitle availability.

Exhibition expert Amit Dadhich explained, "Certain cinemas are non-2K or non-DCI. These cinemas definitely won't have subtitles. Examples of this are MovieMax in Andheri East, Gold Cinema in Malvani, Tilak in Dombivali, etc. But even in multiplexes, it is possible that not all screens are 2K. For instance, if your film is playing in Screen 2 and 3 in MovieTime Cubic Mall in Chembur, subtitles definitely won't be available as these screens are non-2K. Now you can't expect people to know all this."

He continued, "Ideally, BookMyShow and District should clearly mention which theatre and which show will have subtitles. The producers also need to step up. Agreed that for the producers of these South films, business coming from Mumbai is minuscule. However, it is still significant and videos of people enjoying and dancing in theatres in Mumbai for their films also get spread far and wide, ultimately benefiting the film. Hence, they should definitely look into it as a priority."

@sunpictures Not everyone has access to a good theatres nearby (With Subtitles) For many, national multiplex chains are the only option to watch a major release on the big screen. Keeping a film away from these cinemas means limiting audience choice over a business disagreement. #Jailer2 — amit dadhich (@amit12354) October 16, 2026

Interestingly, Amit Dadhich is one of the people behind a social media handle called Mumbai Subtitles Database, which has attracted followers on X from the film industry, including Anurag Kashyap, Milap Zaveri, Gulshan Devaiah, Raj-DK, Sanjay Gupta, Aditya Sarpotdar, Varun Grover, etc. Anurag Kashyap has even praised the page in an interview.

The team behind Mumbai Subtitles Database regularly contacts cinema halls to find out which South Indian films are being screened with English subtitles across the city. The information is then shared with moviegoers, helping them make an informed choice before booking their tickets. However, Amit admitted that collecting complete information for a film like Jailer 2 was particularly challenging.

He explained, "Jailer 2 has been released only in non-national chains. This means that it's not playing in PVR, Inox, Cinepolis and Miraj in the North market. It's easier to get the info on subtitles from the national multiplexes. Also, almost all their screens are often 2K. With Jailer 2, it became a struggle to get the information."

Ultimately, this is an issue that requires the entire film industry to work together. Producers, distributors and exhibitors need to ensure that accurate information about subtitle availability is communicated well in advance, while ticketing platforms such as BookMyShow and District should prominently display it against every show. The makers could also consider providing versions with English subtitles embedded directly into the film, ensuring that even cinemas with technical limitations can screen the film with subtitles.

After all, watching a Rajinikanth film in its original Tamil version, surrounded by hundreds of cheering, whistling and dancing fans, is an experience in itself. Audiences across India should be able to enjoy that experience regardless of whether they understand the language.

In an era when Indian cinema is proudly celebrating its pan-India reach, something as basic as English subtitles should not remain a matter of luck.

Also Read: BREAKING: Jailer 2 ends with the promise of third part; Hrithik Roshan’s massy special appearance has a Chulbul Pandey connection (Spoilers ahead)

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