Review: Ek Tha Tiger

Rating: 3.5/5

Salman Khan, a brand that is getting stronger as each EID passes by. Ek Tha Tiger is the ultimate project that he had always aspired to do, a film with the great Chopras'. Another stamp on sequence of EID releases that he initiated 3 years ago.

Supposedly based on true thrilling events, the film is essentially a romantic story of two spies from different nations which happen to be India and Pakistan. Avinash Singh Rathode a.k.a. Tiger (Salman Khan) is a R&AW undercover agent who is in a constant hunt for ISI undercover agents in various countries. His new mission brings him to Ireland on a basic task of observing a scientist of Indian origin whom the R&AW suspects to have been passing his anti-missile theories to ISI. In an attempt to befriend the professor (Roshan Seth), he encounters his gorgeous care taker Zoya (Katrina Kaif) with whom he falls in love for the first time in his life. Gopi (Ranvir Shorey) Tiger's colleague, is against Tiger falling in love which sparks a few funny moments. The movie starts to thrill you after the intermission and will make you praise the Action Director for making Katrina step out of her comfort zone on screen.

Talking about the performances Salman Khan is his usual self and you would not notice any special effort from him to get into the skin of the character. On the other hand his ladylove has gone the extra mile to give justice to her role. She looks absolutely stunning, but that's not all she has performed some jaw dropping action sequences and don't be surprised if you find people whistling around you at Katrina. Supporting cast is good and worth mentioning, Girish Karnad as R&AW chief as Shenoy, British actor Roshan Seth as the professor and it's a Bollywood debut for punjabi actor Gavie Chahal.

The movie was shot in as many as five countries and the cinematographer has done a good job capturing the scenic beauty of Istanbul and Cuba.

This is Director Kabir Khan's third film and I think the best one till date. Unlike his previous flicks this one is fast paced, action filled, with a simple plot that audiences of our country can relate to on Independence Day.

Aditya Chopra seems to have calculated every aspect of his most anticipated movie. Be it the cast, marketing strategy or even the release date. He knew that Salman has been cashing in on EID releases due to his loyal fan following. Releasing the movie mid week instead of Friday will give multiplexes more time to make revenue rather than just relying on the weekend collection. The ticket price has almost been doubled to recover within a week what was spent on the film's production and trade analysts are already gauging its success.

It's a must watch for all Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif fans!

—   Pankaj Sharma

Review: GANGS OF वासेपुर – 2

Rating: 4/5

As you all know we really appreciated director Anurag Kashyap for his fearless attempt called Gangs of वासेपुर which made an impression on everyone from Cannes to our own Bollywood.

Fans were eager to watch GANGS OF HYPERLINK "http://pankajandmovies.blogspot.in/2012/06/review-gangs-of.html"वासेपुर – 2 which released this week. The only movie I remember that released in 2 parts was Rakht Charitra starring Vivek Oberoi but it couldn’t manage to generate the kind of anticipation GOW has managed to attain.

To enjoy this movie all you need to know is that Faizal Khan’s grandfather and father were killed by Ramadhir Singh. He has inherited revenge, everything else in part 2 falls in place. Cleverly, Anurag Kashyap has steered clear from complicated interlinks and flashbacks which most directors do in their sequels, which makes it compulsory for audiences to watch GOW-1 to follow GOW-2.

Wasseypur is no more the town that was once consumed by the raging war between Sardar Khan and Ramadhir Singh. It has spawned a new generation of money squandering lobbyists, turning into foolhardy gangs overnight. With illegal profiteering through scrap trade auctions over the Internet, corrupt government officials, election rigging and hooliganism, the town got murkier. Everyone wanted alliance with the most powerful man of Wasseypur, Faizal Khan. His sole ambition however, is to destroy Ramadhir Singh, the man with the grand scheme. Gangs of वासेपुर - 2 is a fitting conclusion to this story of vengeance, which by now, not just the family but also this town has come to inherit.

Talking about the performances, every character is just incredible! Nawazuddin Siddiqui's exceptional acting abilities has made his every screen presence a sheer brilliance. Portrayed as an underdog in the first part and the start of the second part he effortlessly transitions between the change of characterizations and comes up as the protagonist who avenges what his family and city wanted.

The casting director Mukesh Chhabra has done a phenomenal job in selecting the robust characters, I will not be surprised if walks away with a couple of awards.

The actresses in the movie leave a lasting impression. Especially Richa Chadda playing Faizal’s mother, who impressively evolves into an aged lady who forces his son to seek revenge.

It's a very well made film in terms of the screenplay, the dynamic between the characters and the raw cinematography. The songs are crude and reflect the flavor of the movie. It is based on real life incidents that occurred in Bihar over a period of 6 decades.

The movie sure has turned out to be a huge success both critically and at the box office.

—   Pankaj Sharma

Review: Kya Super Kool Hai Hum

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Rating: 1.5/5

Out of many Bollywood sequels releasing this year, Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum was the only comedy. Promos had already annoyed many, including the censor board. Ekta Kapoor is known to defend her movies and as we know she has been choosing subjects that are always controversial.

The movie has the same two characters from its prequel; Adi (Tusshar Kapoor) is an aspiring actor who makes money by doing embarrassing TV commercials, while Sid (Ritesh Deshmukh) is yet to be a successful DJ. They both are best friends and are looking for a chance to make it big in their lives. They have a pug named Fakhru/Sakhru (there was a big uproar about the dog's name from the presidential family) who impregnates barren female dogs in several clinics and thus earns money for Adi and Sid. As it happens in pointless so called comedy movies, complications lead Adi and Sid to land up in Goa where they find Simran (Neha Sharma) and Anu (Sarah Jane-Dias) then the love story begins. To make matters worst, we have Anupam Kher as Mr. Marlowe who believes Baba 3G (Chunky Pandey) when he lets him know that his parents are re-incarnated as pugs!

It is not the story that engages you but, I guess it’s the double meaning adultery dialogues that will make you laugh if you can understand them. Producers have left no stone unturned in humiliating gays, lesbians and even Indian names. The movie has gone through major edits on the Censor table and despite that it has got ‘A’ certificate along with no clearance to premier on television any time soon. Nevertheless, the movie still has managed to find audiences in large numbers, especially the youth.

Talking about the actors and actresses in the movie, they solely rely on the shameless punch lines given to them with a little pinch of acting. It is very sad to see Veteran actor Anupam Kher play an absolute non-sense character. Tusshar is hopeless, I wouldn’t hesitate to say that about Ritesh as well despite knowing that he has done decent roles in the past. Neha and Sarah just end up being eye candy characters that help connect the dots in the story with their respective co-partners. Sister Ekta Kapoor makes fun of her brother by roping in Rohit Shetty which is so lame.

Songs are unnecessary, cinematography is poor and the script…are you kidding? Director Sachin Yardi who had co-written the prequel (a surprise hit) this time seems to have written and directed with a gun to his head.

Watch it only if you are in need of a desperate laugh. Most of the jokes are common ones circulating as Facebook statuses or on SMS and email.

It’s a movie that is not worth a review. 

—   Pankaj Sharma

Review: The Dark Knight Rises

Words: 510

Rating:4/5

Christopher Nolan has proved to be a brilliant filmmaker yet again. Warner Bros had gauged this long back when they decided to reboot their once successful franchise.

With Batman Begins he set the base for a more realistic and recognizable story line and went on to make the sequel The Dark Knight which blew critics and audiences away. The Dark Knight Rises is the third and final installment to Nolan's visionary super hero saga.

It has now been eight years of peace in Gotham post the Joker's killing spree. All criminals are locked up under the Dent's Act. Lieutenant Gordon feels the guilt of covering up the truth about how events unfolded in the past, feeling the need to confess to the city that he has faithfully protected. The villain, Bane (Tom Hardy) has a plan to destroy Gotham just like Ducard (Liam Neeson).

Christian Bale has done a phenomenal job in portraying an aged billionaire who decides to wear the suit again and give the city its caped crusader. Fanatics feared that measuring up to the Joker's performance in The Dark Knight would be challenging for writer Johnathan Nolan. The character had set the standard so high that it was difficult to chose the next villain, but Tom Hardy as Bane has more than satisfied our expectations. He has a very powerful screen presence and physically overpowered Batman, testing him physically and Mentally which was thrilling to watch.

Selina Kyle (Anne Hathway) is the gorgeous savior of Batman. It was interesting that she was never referred to as Cat-woman throughout the movie. Also there are strong performances by Michael Caine as Bruce Wayne's butler Alfred, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox and Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon. The most intriguing part was that of Joseph Gordon-Levitt as police officer John Blake. If you've seen the film, you'll know why!

Personally I have been the greatest fan of Christopher Nolan, the process of how he develops a story and manifests the same on screen is amazing. Nolan elected not to film in 3-D, but instead stated that he intended to focus on improving image quality and scale using the IMAX format.

I would say that there was too much of story, narration and an absence of Batman in the film. As the story progresses to its conclusion, you will start to hold your seat tight and feel goosebumps, particularly in the last 5 minutes.

As the poster says “The Legend Ends” I don't think so. I guess Mr. Nolan is talking about his epic trilogy here.

So all Batman and Dark Knight fans if you haven't had a chance to watch this because of a houseful in theaters you are missing out on an epic. Try getting to the nearest theater to witness the end of what Christopher Nolan had started, which in my eyes has turned out to be best super hero trilogy ever!

Pankaj Sharma

Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

It is inevitable to compare the friendly neighborhood spidey with the amazing spidey. With that being said, we must admit that The Amazing Spider-Man is a bold attempt from director Marc Webb. It's not easy to break away from the image of Tobey Maguire personifying Spiderman from the hearts of fans across the world. In the film, it's evident that the director is not trying to do that either. Hollywood is calling it a reboot of the Spider-Man franchise.

Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man, has managed to live and breathe the character in a unique way. He is funnier, sassier and he has a much more casual approach to situations cracking a joke or two in the face of danger, unlike Tobey. In fact, he enjoys his superhero powers and doesn’t have any trouble accepting his new found talent.

Unlike the previous Spider-Man films, the screenwriter takes us through how Peter Parker ended up with Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Another difference is that this Spider-man doesn't naturally produce webs from his hands, instead he has built a gadget that spews them. Director Marc Webb has really tried hard in re-presenting the iconic dialogue of uncle Ben advising Peter on responsibility.

Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy is a smart, charismatic and strong-willed young lady. She does not make you miss Kirsten Dunst as MJ. The famous kissing scene between Spider-Man and MJ while he's upside down, has been replaced with a youthful spin that gets applauded by audiences.

Suffering from an amputated arm, antagonist Dr. Connors (Rhys Ifans) has been working to develop a formula that will help the regeneration of cells within the human body. Finally, he gets the formula right thanks to Peter Parker and does a trial on himself. Things go terribly wrong, transforming him into a powerful Lizard. In my opinion, I would say Goblin was far better but who cares? There are other scenes in the movie that are engaging and worth watching. 
 

Although he gave us a phenomenal performance, as usual, Irrfan khan had more of an appearance rather than playing an actual villain. His role was even shorter than that of Anil Kapoor in Mission Impossible 4. 
 

The visual effects are mind blowing, especially during the climax of the movie. Watching it in IMAX or 3D makes the experience electrifying.

The Amazing Spider-Man has already spread its web over Indian audiences raking in the moola this past weekend. I highly recommend it!

Acting with Celebrities

Acting with Celebrities

Celebrities have a magnetic persona no matter which part of the world they are from. It's every talent's dream to share screen space with their favorite celebrity. However, it is very important to have a few ground rules in mind when working with them.

Every celebrity has a different working style, every production house or channel has to accommodate their demands if reasonable. So, there will be a certain aura around them which may intimidate you, don't succumb to that feeling. Most people tend to get overwhelmed with their presence and behave frantically, leading to an awkward situation for both parties. For example, if you get casted opposite Shahrukh Khan in a commercial and seeing him you go ballistic, he could feel uncomfortable. On the contrary, if you carry yourself in a professional manner, e.g. greeting him and delivering an amazing shot, you will leave a long lasting impression. Perhaps not on SRK himself, but it could open the door to future endeavors. As we all know, word of mouth is the biggest marketing tool we have.

An aspiring model from Mumbai got a chance to act in Farah Khan's movie “Om Shanti Om”, she played one of Shahrukh Khan's assistants in the film. The part had zero dialogue, but she definitely stood out. Opportunities such as beauty pageants, ramp shows and international fashion weeks came her way. Not everyone gets that kind of exposure, but she definitely took the right path. There is a possibility that you may not get noticed and it may be that you're noticed immediately.

You will bump into celebrities at various events and parties. Maintaining a good rapport is imperative to your success. At times, actors and their publicists tend to garner popularity by taking advantage of such situations. They also tend to make up controversial stories of link-ups, misbehavior and even create dramatic incidents during an important occasion in a celebrity's life! For example, a small time actress created a huge buzz during Abhishek Bacchan's wedding. She stated that he had promised to marry her, this generated a huge media hype. Is any publicity really good publicity? It may hold true for some or true for none.

Review: Gangs of Wasseypur

Rating: 4/5

Time and time again, Anurag Kashyap has proven to be a path breaking director. He now presents - GANGS OF वासेपुर. A five hour, ambitious film that was recently screened at the Cannes Film Festival. In India, the film will release in two parts, with part one released last Friday.

The story is based on true events and locations, the director took a cinematic liberty of playing with the names of the characters and the flow of story. Much of the film revolves around Sardar Khan (led by Manoj Bajpai) and his vengeance to get his father's honor back, Shahid Khan (led by Jaideep Ahlawat).

In the midst of India gaining its independence, there's chaos among high society contenders who are in a battle to get their hands in the booming coal industry. The story picks up when Shahid Khan starts to loot a British goods train impersonating legendary Sultana Daku, who belongs to a higher ranking caste. Furious with this act, the villagers exile him after killing his men. Shahid ends up in Dhanbad working as a laborer in one of the coal mines owned by Ramadhir Singh (led by Tigmanshu Dhulia) who soon becomes his trusted aide. The locals now fear Shahid. As Ramadhir comes to find out his plan to eventually take over the mine by crushing him, he gets Shahid assassinated. This sets the plot for a brutal revenge based saga sprawled across generations on the lawless land of Wasseypur.

Aside from the big names that gave structure to the film, there are other fabulous character artists that connect the dots and take the experience to another level. Casting Director Mukesh Chhabra did a phenomenal job in carefully hand-picking each character by rummaging through various parts of India. Actor Piyush Mishra (Gulaal fame) attempts voice over for the first time, his tone blended well with the dark theme taking the story forward when it really gets cumbersome for audiences.

It is hard to remember the last time Manoj Bajpai starrer movie generated this kind of buzz among audiences and critics alike. Often sidelined when sharing screen space with the biggies in recent movies, it looks like he finally got the commercial success that he deserved. His character is naughty and polygamous yet brutal at the same time, not deviating from his goal in life to de-throne Ramadhir Singh and fulfill his revenge.

You cannot praise Anurag Kashyap enough for his fearless effort that stands out of traditional Bollywood cinema. The film gives you a raw local flavor of North India. Despite the film being dark, ‘GANGS OF वासेपुर’ has an inherent sense of humor that comes quite naturally as the story unfolds.

If you have been a fan of Omkara, Rakht Charitra and recently Pan Singh Tomar then this movie will definitely delight you! If you stay after all the credits have been rolled out, you will catch the trailer of GANGS OF वासेपुर – 2.

If you ask me, the length was well worth it!

Review: Ferrari ki Safari

Rating: 3.5/5

It has almost been a year since The Legend has sold his Ferrari. 

 

The movie is not about the political and media uproar that was caused when Sachin R Tendulkar decided to sell off the Ferrari he possessed. Instead, the script writer cleverly weaves the God of cricket and his master of speed together.

Ferrari Ki Sawari manages to engage the audience with Boman Irani as the grandfather, Sharman Joshi as the father and debutant Ritvik Sahore as a child who make a small Parsi family. Kayo (Ritvik Sahore) is a young boy who is passionate about cricket, just like his grandfather who could not make it to the Indian cricket team and hence, does not encourage his grandson to play the sport. Rusy (Sharman Joshi) is an honest and loving father who will do anything for his son irrespective of their financial crunch. Rusy needs to pay one and a half lakh rupees in order to send his extremely talented child to Lords, the mecca of cricket. An opportunity knocks at his door that can get him the money to do so, the catch is that he has to steal the Ferrari for a day and on top of that, he has to steal it from the man whom his family worships!

Can he do it? Will he do it? How will he do it? These questions pop up while the debutant director takes us on a feel good joy ride.

Since Boman Irani is a Parsi in real life, his performance is effortless and natural. He makes you believe in his character by personifying the minute details on how senior citizens walk, talk and behave. Another star, Sharman Joshi is just outstanding! He manages to make audiences smile and even cry with his sweet demeanor. The child artist Ritvik Sahore, is equally good on screen with such innocence. The relationship between a father and a son across generations is very well portrayed.
Despite getting a lukewarm response last weekend, it has managed to strike a chord with the family audiences with its noble and heart warming story of "small guys big dreams".

Some might complain about the movie being lengthy and slow during a few intervals, but the overall package cannot be missed.

Vidya Balan's item song, "mala jau de" blends in well with the script and is wonderful to watch in theaters. The only thing that could have added more face value to the movie would be Sachin Tendulkar. In fact, in the end you will end up getting that feeling and hate the director for not trying to rope him in the movie since it's about his Ferrari.

You cannot afford to miss Ferrari Ki Sawari, especially if you have been waiting for a movie that can be enjoyed along with your family. So fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride!

Shanghai: Highly impactful

CNI Rating: 3.5/5


It all started years back when our honorable chief minister declared that he wanted to turn Mumbai into Shanghai, a world class city. Soon the vision was ridiculed by the media and later by the city. Till date, The city's infrastructure is in an apathetic condition, let alone transforming the city into a world class one.

Dibakar Banerjee successfully picks up that theme and projects it on the silver screen. He goes further in conveying when dreams are envisioned by our political clad, what it takes to make it successful and how far they can go to achieve it.
The movie starts with local goons’ planning of assassinating an activist who is opposing a mega-scale slum redevelopment plan. The movie then takes us through a journey on how political and bureaucratic people control situations involving 3 protagonists and ends as a thriller that leaves a smile on the audience's face along with a sense of relief; Finally it’s over!
Both lead actors in the past have stuck to singular style of their own, in Shanghai they rediscovered their versatility.

Prosenjit Chatterjee, an acclaimed actor from West Bengal, has already made a mark in Bollywood with "Chokher Bali". He could've had a larger role in the film but the given part didn't do justice to his capabilities as an artist. Thus, the 3 protagonists got the chance to light up the screen with a fine performance.

Abhay Deol, who has mostly portrayed a Delhiite in his past flicks for a change plays a South Indian high ranking bureaucrat. He justifies his character by adopting the accent which is charmingly delivered.
The director plays it safe by being tight with Kalki Koechlin's dialogues but as usual she managed to give a powerful performance by emoting her feelings through her expressive face.

Emran Hashmi plays an interesting character who is a photographer by day and a pornography cameraman by night. He has gradually broken out of his shell with the roles he has recently picked up and has been doing an excellent job with them. In shanghai he steals the show with his hatke performance that is sure going to be appreciated by all. In fact Emran is the character who gives us comedic moments in this serious political thriller that make you smile.


The story is hard hitting and thought provoking and matches with the current scenarios of Indian politics. Music is okay, with 2 songs already received well by audiences across the nation.
Dibakar Banerjee is sure to get critical acclaim.

At the end, this movie exercised the versatility of each actor. If you are a fan of serious political dramas, then this movie is for you, but if you are looking for a typical masala flick, you can afford to miss it or rather catch it up on the World Television Premiere.

Prometheus: A visual treat

Rating: 3/5

Ridley Scott gave us Alien more than 3 decades ago and it went out to become an Academy Award winner with other directors using the same character in their movies.

In 2012 Director Ridley Scott made a come back with Prometheus, which is being propagated as a prequel of Alien.

Noomi Rapace as Elizabeth Shaw, an archaeologist and Logan Marshall-Green as Charlie Holloway discover that throughout the existence of mankind different civilizations have worshiped a particular constellation in space that leads them to believe that somewhere near that space lies the secret to mankind’s beginning. This expedition is funded by a Trillionaire, Peter Weyland played by Guy Pearce. The always beautiful Charlize Theron playing Meredith Vickers, the captain of the ship and Michael Fassbender plays a super-advanced robot that looks after it. Along with other members of the group, they're on a mission of finding the origin of mankind on Earth. It’s the spaceship that’s called Prometheus in the movie which lands on the surface of a deserted planet, thus beginning the discovery of the existence of life.

The story line reminds you of Alien but the journey in Prometheus is quite different with breath taking special effects and great cinematography. Releasing the movie in 3D and IMAX 3D only adds more life to this magnificent science fiction film. You have the same elements of thrill: an alien infection, a difference of opinion amongst the characters, women portrayed as tough fighters and alien horror. In the climax there was a common similarity between the prequel and sequel. The performance stealer without a doubt is Noomi Rapace with the delivery of a scene to remember.

The tag line of the movie "The search for our beginning could lead to our end" is well justified with flaws that are always excused in this genre.

An ambitious project from Ridley Scott who left no stone unturned to promote this epic after his previous mega project, Robin Hood bombed at the box office. Alien fans all over the world would expect answers to questions that were left unanswered in Alien, but unfortunately in the end, the mystery continues. Could it be that Ridley Scott is already thinking about number three? If so, hopefully there will be more of a logical plot behind the amazing effects. Then again, it's science fiction.

Prometheus will not get the same response as Madagascar 3 when looking at the entertainment value of the film, which released along with Shanghai in Indian multiplexes last Friday.

How to Find the Perfect Agent

Finding the perfect agent is like finding a needle in the haystack, at least in the Indian entertainment industry. The agent is one person who can make or break your career. He is also the person who can play your godfather, your guide, your mentor and can show you the right direction in the industry. He makes you realize your strengths and weaknesses and helps you hone the ones that need attention. He also grooms you and helps you to network in the industry. But, the most challenging part is, how to find 'THAT' perfect agent for you.

Firstly, it’s important to figure out whether you need an agent to represent you exclusively or you are comfortable being multi-represented. Once you figure that out then you can get in touch with your colleagues, contemporaries, or anybody that you know in the industry for a few agents who have a good reputation and who they think are the best names in the industry.

The way it works in most of the western countries and in India is different. What you, as a budding talent, can possibly do is set up meetings with these agents through references or contacts and then showcase your work to them. Bigger agents also do a small mock audition for their reference and send it to their clients as an introduction to the new entrants in their database. In case of an exclusive agent, you will be under contract and you will have to adhere by various terms and conditions of the agent, such as not being seen in public and the media, no link-ups and no photos etc.

Once an agent has seen your work and decides to sign you up exclusively, there is little that you can do to market yourself. But, if the agency decides to represent you as a non-rep, you have the liberty to market yourself amongst various peers and professionals. You can send your pictures and profiles directly to many other agents who can bring work for you, at the same time, you can network with casting directors and Production houses directly.

Loyalty is an important aspect when it comes to working in tandem with your agent. Eventually, he is the person who will get you work so it is important to respect that and not to breach any clause in the contract and also to make sure he gets the credit. If you are multi-represented, it is important to name the agent who sent you the requirement instead of the ones with whom you share a rapport during an audition.

Lastly, it is important to protect your interests and take a stand if the agent is taking you the wrong way or not giving enough work to you, by constantly talking to your peers and self-networking and keeping a tab on the ongoing auditions. 

 

Branding yourself - ONLINE!

Today, the Bollywood industry is over-registered. With lakhs of actors moving to Mumbai to establish their acting career, there are certainly not enough projects to give them all a break. Most of them are finding it difficult to carve their niche in this highly competitive industry. Industry professionals hardly have/get time to meet these actors. Reaching stardom in Bollywood is challenging but not impossible.

It is important to set yourself apart from others in order to taste success. For this, the first step is to start thinking yourself as a “BRAND”. Like any company which markets their products, even you as a company should know how to market your products (talents). For that it is necessary to believe in the product (talent) that you're trying to promote. Today, there are various mediums that offer you a platform to showcase your skills and one of them being Social Media sites.

Social Media networking in simple terms is “meeting different people online”. It is a powerful tool to attract lot of attention just by talking about your interests or by uploading photos and videos. For budding actors, the subject of Social Media promotion is extremely important to the success of their acting career. Most of them don't know the potential Social Media has as a branding tool for promoting themselves online. They are also unaware how to use these tools to increase their online visibility. Today, Social networking sites are the fastest growing self promotional tool, and if any new actor who is not utilizing on its numerous capabilities could be at a loosing end to its other fellow actors who are using these sites. It gives you the liberty and power to take an active role in managing yourself as a brand. You will also enjoy this experience because you are marketing yourself and at the same time connecting with new people. With social media self promotion, you as an actor can promote yourself easily and effectively. The best professional social media websites are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. You can take advantage of these social media platforms by posting your latest photos, videos or writing blog posts on relevant topics, and connect with industry professionals. In short, you can also connect- Interact- Showcase/ Promote- Express- Share- etc. There are a unlimited ways that help adding success to your acting skills through these social media sites.

Using different platforms:

Facebook: Facebook is one of the largest networking sites available. It is necessary to often update your Facebook page in order to allow your friends to comeback to you. Use your online account to post what you are doing with your acting career and get your contacts to support you. Post pictures, upload clips etc in order to increase visibility.. The more time you dedicate on these sites the more it is beneficial for you and your career. For example, make your acting video and share it on Facebook ,your friends would be able to view your video and if they like they can share it with their friends. Thus, your videos could be shared with majority. Connecting with specific groups like the ones on Facebook, opens you and your work up to more networks. Post your work on the wall of each group to grab attention. This will build your contact base, as you will be communicating directly with like-minded people. Starting a Facebook fan page can take you to the next level. Keeping your profile updated with your recent work and getting a lot of support from your family and friends can attract lots of eyes.

Blogs: The next self promotional activity you can do to enhance your acting career on social sites is to start a Blog to publish your thoughts and opinions on the industry. You can express your views about the acting career and where you as an actor is heading. Try to write good content in order to attract people towards your blog. Paste your blog URL in your email signature every time you send an email to industry professionals.

Twitter: Starting a Twitter account will give you the access to follow the people you admire, other actors or people in the same industry. You can also use Twitter to express your views and opinions about the industry. If you manage to create a successful Twitter profile, you can build a solid fan base.

LinkedIn: LinkedIn is designed for professional networking unlike Facebook or Twitter. Remember,on LinkedIn, people are specifically looking out for business contacts. So try to make your online resume look more professional, fill in your correct details and keep updating it on a regular basis. Industry professionals keep hunting for actors who are in need of serious work. You never know which casting director views your online resume that could lead you for an audition. 
 

By using the above interactive platforms you can start promoting yourself as an actor who is different form others. These sites will also help people know who you are to build a trust in you. Your chances increase for being approached by any industry professional for work. Your success entirely depends upon how successfully you interact with the people from your industry and how vast your exposure becomes.

So keep socializing!!!

I am the Best!!!

If a man has talent and can't use it, he's failed. If he uses only half of it, he has partly failed. If he uses the whole of it, he has succeeded, and won a satisfaction and triumph few men ever know.   - Thomas Wolfe

I am writing this article for those countless talented actors who are struggling to find their foot in Bollywood. I am aware of the fact that all of them are out there pushing to get work, but success eludes many of them. Breaking into Bollywood is a daunting challenge for newcomers. If you're serious about becoming an actor, you need to know how to promote and market your talent. Unless you have the money to hire a public relations representative to run media campaigns for you, it is up to you to move your foot forward and make yourself known. It’s not only important to get your unique talents discovered but then maintain a steady stream of work that keeps you in the public eye.

How do you promote yourself as an actor? What can you do to set yourself apart from other fellow actors? The most important thing is to have self-confidence. Always portray yourself as a successful actor even if you don't feel like one yet. This doesn't mean that you lie, pretend, or throw an attitude. It just means you should always show confidence. If you come across as someone who knows your own value, others will be more willing to put their trust in you. Agents want clients who are performers. Casting directors want performers who are reliable and in demand. So if you want to become an actor, park your fear and anxiety at the door and let your self-esteem shine through. Drop the word "aspiring" and introduce yourself as an actor. Never undermine yourself with qualifiers, such as, "it was a small role." Always have an interesting or dynamic answer to the question, "what have you done lately?"

Today, what really sets you apart as an actor is your Resume, it's the first thing the industry professionals see. It would do all the initial talking for you, try to make it one they’ll remember. One thing that the industry professional looks on the actor’s resume is training. It all begins with how well trained you are. Most actors want to rush for in and start auditioning before they are really prepared. Learning your craft and sharpening your skills are important contributing factors on how far you will go in your career.

Headshots are the major tool for actors to market themselves. It is important to know about taking good headshots. It can be your first step towards an audition. It creates the first impression that the industry professionals will have of you. If your headshots are old and outdated and doesn’t resemble you, it's time to get a new one. The whole purpose of your headshots is to get you the opportunities that will create new ways to auditions and work. With a good headshot you will be able to communicate who you are.

Internet is quickly becoming a major source of information for everyone. You need to create your website or blog, so that people know about you and your talent. It works as a resource to make yourself known. Your website is your face on the internet as people actually see the website content before they see you. They are economical and effective way of promoting your acting abilities. You always need to keep it updated with your recent photos, videos and also write something about your talent. it's the source through which the industry professionals can contact you therefore, always provide updated information and contact details. Social media networking is other way of promoting yourself.

Lights, Camera, Action!!!

The influx of actors in bollywood continues to increase at a tremendous pace. Numerous young people, some just in their teens, move to Mumbai, the City of Glittering Dreams, hoping to reach stardom. The cut throat competition allows a very few to actually make it for auditions. In order to get noticed for the next audition, some enroll in acting schools, some join gyms to build their physiques, while others start to flaunt their body. These kinds of preparations lead to further competition.

Imagine you are one of those aspirants waiting for a chance to showcase your skills and prove that you are the next superstar and one fine day you receive a message on your phone “you have been scheduled for an auditions, please check your email” Finally, you’ve been called for an auditions and this project means a lot to you. But there are thousands of budding actors who are similar to you or maybe better than you who have been called for the same audition. 
 

 What sets you apart? 
 

 Appearing for an audition is like appearing for an exam. You need proper planning and preparation. Being prepared will increase your chances of getting shortlisted. Therefore it is very important to have a proper knowledge and understanding about the media industry.

Well... When you are called for an audition, double check the audition time and location. Remember to reach there on time. Arriving early at the audition place will help you relax. You can also use that extra time to read the script and get prepared. As the saying goes “the first impression is the last impression” Try to look presentable. Upon entering the studio you may find number of other actors waiting anxiously for their chance. It is very normal to have a queasy feeling in your stomach or get nervous but don’t let that feeling affect you. Be confident when you enter the room. This would send a signal to all the actors sitting in that room that you are here for serious business. But don’t get over confident. This may ruin your chances. No matter who is in the room, treat everyone with respect and courtesy. While waiting in the audition room, try to avoid chatting with other people. There are high chances of you loosing focus because of that. 

Upon receiving the script, read it thoroughly at least once before you start practicing for a particular scene. Find out everything you can about the character you're going to be playing. This will help you to perform better in front of the camera. 

Finally your name is called and you enter the room, ready to face the camera. The thing that matters the most for the casting director is your performance. You have to give it your best shot. So, don't try to accelerate your lines. Calm down and speak at appropriate tempo. Make the director believe that you are the character. You need not show that you are very nervous and can't wait for the audition to be over. 

 We are human so mistakes are bound to happen. If you lose concentration or cannot perform as per your potential or if you feel like trying again, you can always ask the casting director to be allowed to do it again. Be sure not to draw any attention to your mistakes. This can be seen by the casting director. Remember the only thing that will separate you from others is your Attitude. You need to be professional in order to succeed in this industry. Good looks won’t solve everything. The thing that should go well with them is your talent and your professional attitude. 

Last but not least, remember a rejection doesn't mean you're no good, it just means that need more time to prepare. Believing in yourself is the only thing that will drive you to places. 

So, all the best!!