Legendary ? Oh My God !!

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           MAY 05 , 2013           07.00 P.M.

As an acting trainer [ some upstarts call me acting tutor – as if it is derogatory . They also mis-spelt tutor ] I run an acting institute in Mumbai . It is VIDUR Acting Institute known as Vidur’s Kreating Charakters . And to communicate with my acting students , friends & well-wishers around the world , I regularly write blogs , tweet quite frequently and update my activities on facebook account and facebook like page . I am also active on various other social net-working sites . But blog is my most potent tool , most favourite medium of expression .

Almost all the other acting trainers of India have their facebook pages . One gentleman has twitter account also . But no one is an active blogger . Recently some upstarts have started writing blogs .

Since writing blogs is not my sole prerogative , so any one can write blogs after creating  blog-space . But for that you have to know the language . You should know at least basics of the grammar . You should take care that your spelling is correct . But these upstarts are masters of bad English and wrong spelling . They have dearth of matter so abusing me is the only topic they know . They claim to be veterans but the fact of the matter is that they were my students once upon a time .

In one of their recent blog they used the adjective ” LEGENDARY ” for a B-Grade actor . The said actor , in one of his film , played second fiddle to an animal . As for his acting calibre , a video on YouTube can be watched . The so-called ” legendary ” [ ? ] actor was supposed to mouth few lines . He failed repeatedly and instead of being ashamed , he was laughing uproariously and was openly dishing out choicest cuss words and expletives .

So why this generosity to honour such a person with the word ” LEGENDARY ” . It is a syndrome . I call this Pakistan syndrome . Pakistan is just 66-year-old state . So she desperately needs national heroes . Since they don’t have any so they started importing names from Afghanistan . They invoke names of Ghazni and Ghori . Though Mehmood of Ghazni and Mohammad Ghori were the warlords of Afghanistan and they both invaded India to loot and plunder . But Pakistan appropriated them because she was in search of national icons . In the same manner these upstarts need icons for themselves . And they don’t have any . So in desperation they are calling this B-Grade hero ” LEGENDARY ” so that they can feel satisfied that they also have some one in their kitty .

In the process they are insulting the true legends . Only age or seniority cannot be the deciding factor in determining the legends . Ashok Kumar is a legend but Rashid Khan is not . Dilip Kumar is a legend but his contemporary Rajan Haksar is not . Amitabh Bachchan is a legend but Krishna Dhawan is not . Madhubala is a legend but Fariyal is not . Helen is a legend but Lakshmi Chhaya is not .

It is one thing to proclaim his / her acting institute as the most famous acting school of Mumbai , or the most famous acting institute of India , or the most famous acting academy of bollywood , but it is totally different to become the real one . One can blow one’s own rickety and rotten trumpet and proclaim to run the most famous acting school of the world . But this cacophony will not succeed . Time has come and dust is settling down . Soon , very soon , everything will be clear . Till then , abuse me profusely you uncouth morons . It shows your class and upbringing .

I thank God that for becoming famous or for self-glorification  VIDUR Acting Institute , which is known as Vidur’s Kreating Charakters   is not resorting to such tactics .

God is kind . God is great .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.facebook.com/VidursKreatingCharacters

www.facebook.com/vidur.chaturvedi

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Stella Adler & Her Mumbai Connection

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           APRIL 07 , 2013           11.00 P.M.

One of the most influential but not-so-well-known acting trainer of the world , Stella Adler was briefly associated with Mumbai through her acting institute . Famous film director Rahul Rawail signed MOU with her acting institute , got the franchise and finally opened ” Stella Adler Studio of Acting ” in Mumbai .

Cropped screenshot of Stella Adler from the trailer for Shadow of the Thin Man (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

General public is not aware of her stature . Even in Indian acting training world she is not so well-known . For my readers and general public , I am quoting the complete preface written by legendary actor Marlon Brando , who was one of her many students . He wrote this preface for the book ” The Art of Acting ” , written by Howard Kissel :

A photograph promoting the film The Wild One depicts actor Marlon Brando. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

” To me Stella Adler is much more than a teacher of acting . Through her work she imparts the most valuable kind of information – how to discover the nature of our own emotional mechanics and therefore those of others . She never lent herself to vulgar exploitation , as some other well-known so-called ” methods ” of acting have done . As a result , her contributions to the theatrical culture have remained largely unknown , unrecognized and unappreciated .

As far as I know , she was the only American artiste who went to Paris to study with Constantin Stanislavski , who was himself a skilled observer of human behaviour and a most prominent figure in Russian theatre . She brought back to this country knowledge of this technique and incorporated it in her teaching . Little did she know that her teachings would impact theatrical culture worldwide . Almost all film-making anywhere in the world has been affected by American films , which has been , in turn , influenced by Stella Adler’s teachings . She is loved by many and we owe her much .

I am grateful to the inestimable contributions she has made to my life and I feel privileged to have been associated with her and her family professionally and personally throughout my life . “

Stella Adler Theatre, 6777 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Stella Adler Theatre (Photo credit: Thomas Hawk)

This preface says everything about Stella Adler and I don’t think I can add anything more substantial . Though , compared to Lee Strasberg , she is not so well-known but according to many actors , directors and film personalities of the world , she was a better acting teacher . Every single-acting teacher of the world follows the principles laid down by Stanislavski but she was the only one who got trained under Stanislavski .

I am a great fan of Stella Adler . When I read about her life and work , I found to my amazement , that my behaviour in my class is quite similar to Ms. Stella Adler . Unintentionally and unknowingly I always shared same kind of relationship and vibes with my acting students .

It is sad that her foray in Mumbai was short-lived . It would have been pleasure to have her here . I personally feel that Mr. Rahul Rawail did not comprehend her importance and thus lost an opportunity . I am reproducing a news item from Mumbai Mirror of September 19 , 2012 about this stupendous failure .

Rawail’s acting school shuts shop?

VICKEY LALWANI, Mumbai Mirror Sep 19, 2012, 09.21AM IST

• 

(Rahul Rawail )

Filmmaker Rahul Rawail’s (of Betaab and Arjun fame) acting school that was launched by Rishi Kapoor, Kajol, Priya Dutt and Poonam Dhillon amidst a lot of fanfare has shut shop. When we visited the academy situated in Ajivasan Building ‘B’ Wing on Juhu Tara Road, we found the place locked. We learnt that playback singer Suresh Wadkar is now using the place to hold his music classes every evening.

Acting trainers of India swear by Constantin Stanislavski and Lee Strasberg . They are not so fond of Stella Adler . Self-proclaimed most famous acting school of Mumbai , self-anointed most famous acting institute of India and self-appointed most famous acting academy of bollywood have no place in their heart for Stella Adler . They are blissfully unaware of her existence and her immense contributions to the world of acting training .

I keep on mentioning her theories of acting to my students in my acting institute  Vidur’s Kreating Charakters . One day I wish to visit ” Stella Adler Studio of Acting ” to pay my tribute . I wish and pray that as an acting trainer / tutor / teacher I should be able to achieve even 1/4 th of what she attained in her teaching life . I pray to God that like ” Stella Adler Studio of Acting ” , one day my acting institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters will also be recognized as one of the most famous acting institutes of the world .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.facebook.com/VidursKreatingCharacters

www.facebook.com/vidur.chaturvedi

www.vidurfilms.com

www.youtube.com/ividur

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

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Being Veteran ( ? ) Acting Trainer

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           OCTOBER 30 , 2012           11.55 P.M.

I am amused . I am very much amused . In this ephemeral world people try to project their young image . People hide their age . People loath to become old . In Hindi ” Buddha ” has become a cuss word .

Acting Training field seems to defy this norm . Here every Acting Trainer of Mumbai is trying to project that they are old . Everyone is trying to tell the world that they are veterans . They are the true Thespians . They are doing this job since time immemorial .

You go through my blogs , my websites and other material on the net . Everywhere I have mentioned that I came to Mumbai [ then Bombay ] in 1989 . I joined Ashha Chandra ji immediately . Then in 1990 I joined Mr. Kishore Namit Kapoor as Diction Trainer . Within a year I started supervising Acting Classes also . I worked with Mr. Kishore Namit Kapoor as Acting / Diction Trainer for 14 long years . So from 1990 to 2012 , I have completed 22 momentous years as Acting Trainer .

Among Acting Trainers of India , Shri Roshan Taneja is the senior most person . He is imparting training since 50 years . Then comes Madam Ashha Chandra . She is doing this job since almost 40 years . Mr. Kishore Namit Kapoor comes third . His tenure extends to almost 25 years . I am 4th in the hierarchy with 22 years of standing . All the other Acting Trainers of India came after me in this field , even though they might be older than me .

I find it curious that now everyone is imparting training since 22 / 23 years . Now every Acting Trainer is veteran . Everyone is Thespian . Taneja Sahab is now 80 years old . So it is certain that he is training aspiring actors since 50 years . So is the case with Ashha Chandra ji and Mr. Kishore Namit Kapoor . They are old enough to be trainers of 40 years and 25 years of standing . I am 60 years old . So 22 years of standing as Acting Trainer seems possible . But I am amused that now everyone is veteran of 23 years .

Another claim , which amuses me to no end that every Acting Trainer worth his salt has trained Hritik Roshan . There are almost every Acting Trainer of Mumbai , who claim to have helped him in his journey . If you make these Acting Trainers of India stand before Hritik Roshan , he would faint . Even he can’t imagine to have so many worthy Acting Gurus .

In this image Hritik Roshan is standing with his wax statue at Madame Tussauds museum of London. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This charade of being Hritik Roshan’s Acting Coach should end . It is becoming too much . It is a clever ploy to hoodwink aspiring actors . It is unethical . It is deceit . Within a month I am going to meet Hritik Roshan and will urge him to mention all the names of his Acting Trainers of Mumbai . Mark my words , many Acting Trainers will have to eat crow . Many Gurus will have eggs on their faces .

You can’t make false claims in public arena . You can’t dish out exaggerated list of your students to aspiring actors . It is unethical . It is unscrupulous . But being unethical and unscrupulous has become a norm among Acting Trainers of Mumbai . I am much junior to Shri Roshan Taneja , so I should accept it gracefully . Ashha Chandra ji is my Acting Coach , so I must acknowledge this in public . I worked with Mr. Kishore Namit Kapoor for 14 long years . So I should not be ashamed to accept this fact . But making false claim just to overshadow someone or to enroll students by hook or by crook is criminal . It is sin .

I , as an Acting Trainer of Mumbai , an Acting Coach of Stars , a Personal Acting Trainer of Star Kids , proclaim in front of the world that please verify every claim of mine . Please go and ask every star whom I have mentioned in my brochure or website . Rummage through my blogs and try to find out a single false claim . If  you can single out even one false claim , I will publicly acknowledge that I am a liar . Foundation of Vidur’s Kreating Charakters are not laid on falsehood . It is laid on solid and true claims .

Let every Acting Trainer be a veteran , a Thespian . Let every Acting Trainer of India have standing of 23 years , I have no objection . But I am aghast that every upstart is claiming to be Acting Guru , Acting Coach of Hritik Roshan and many more super stars . This bubble should burst .

God willing it will burst very soon . Really soon .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

A Moment for Malala Yousafzai

 

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           OCTOBER 15 , 2012           00.50 A.M.

I know some Acting Trainers of Mumbai or Acting Trainers of India must be puzzled to hear the name of Malala Yousafzai . They are totally oblivious of her existence . Almost all the owners of Acting Schools of India only think about the next batch and their constant thought is centered around the number of new admissions . Barring a microscopic minority , no Bollywood Acting Trainer thinks about the country or spares a moment to ponder about our neighbouring countries .

According to me this is unholy . One may be the owner of the Most Famous Acting School of Mumbai , but he or she can’t be oblivious of the happenings of the world .  But it depends on the individual . Morons are in majority .

I think that whether I would be able to form my next batch or not , whether I am called an Acting Tutor , who is unworthy of becoming an Acting Trainer , whether Vidur’s Kreating Charakter is successful or failure , it is my pious duty to follow the happenings of my country and the world and to spare some moment for these things .

So naturally I was aghast by the dastardly act of shooting a 14-year-old girl Malala Yousafzai by the Talibans . To make my readers aware of the incident , I am posting tweets of  Iranian activist Saloumeh Z :

10 Oct SaloumehZ ‏@SaloumehZ

Malala, 14 year old shot by a Taliban coward, has been speaking out on behalf of girls banned from education by Taliban.

10 Oct SaloumehZ ‏@SaloumehZ

A Taliban coward sneaked into Malala’s schoolbus and shot her in front of other children for calling for girls’ rights.

10 Oct SaloumehZ ‏@SaloumehZ

Malala’s crime? She called for Pakistani girls to have the right to go to school. #TalibanCoward

10 Oct SaloumehZ ‏@SaloumehZ

Last year, Malala was a finalist in the International Children’s Peace Prize.

10 Oct SaloumehZ ‏@SaloumehZ

Photos of Malala, ninth grade Pakistani student shot by Taliban coward http://ow.ly/i/10A7G  http://ow.ly/i/10A7T 

10 Oct SaloumehZ ‏@SaloumehZ

Taliban claim credit for their Satanic act of violence against Malala. They are proud of their evil.

10 Oct SaloumehZ ‏@SaloumehZ

@gr8ofq8 Malala is a 14 year old girl shot by Taliban in Pakistan

Taliban means the student . And it is bizarre that students of Islamic studies are trying to prevent girls from getting educated . Malala Yousafzai is a 14 years old activist for the education of girls of Pakistan . She is a blogger also . She is running a campaign for the education of girl child in the Swat valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan .

Map showing the location of Swat District (highlighted in yellow) within the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Montage of various Khyber Pakhtunkhwa images. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Born in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan on July 12 , 1997 , she is a ninth grade student . 3 years back , Malala came into prominence when she blogged about promoting education for girl child in Swat Valley . She never hesitated to make her views public against the Talibans , who had banned girl education in Swat Valley after taking full control of the district .

For her activities she won International Children’s Peace Prize also .

She was shot in the head by a Taliban activist , while she was returning from the school by bus . Since then she is lying unconscious in a hospital in Peshawar and her condition is still critical .

Undaunted , Chief Spokesperson of Taliban , Ehsanullah Khan took the responsibility for this dastardly act . He has gumption to say that if she survives , they will shoot her again . Flag of Taliban bears the Islamic Aayat , ” La Ilah illallah , Mohammadurasoolillah ” [ There is one Allah and Mohammad is his prophet . ] But they , apart from this apparent slogan , don’t follow any tenets of Islam .

Flag of Taliban (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Map showing areas and presence of the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

World rose in disgust against this heinous crime . World leaders condemned the barbaric act . intelligentsia is indignant . Girls of Pakistan are openly proclaiming support for Malala Yousafzai . Thinking people of India are unanimously condemning this heinous crime .

Though I am insignificant spec in the scheme of the things , I am also voicing my protest . I unequivocally condemn Talibans and their religious bigotry . In our busy life let us spare a moment for this brave 14-year-old girl , who is fighting for her life for no fault of her own .

May ALL MERCIFUL , ALL BENEVOLENT bless you my child !

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

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70 Years of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           OCTOBER 14 , 2012           00.45 A.M.

Amitabh Bachchan turned 70 on October 11 , 2012 . I am following the news since 2 / 3 days and it seems to be a never-ending saga . On that day almost all the luminaries attended his birthday bash at Film City , Mumbai . It became a national , rather international news .

Amitabh Bachchan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As I have stated in my earlier blog , which I wrote when he completed 40 years in the Hindi Film Industry , I was not his fan initially. But gradually when I grew and when I started understanding cinema , I started appreciating his work more .

I must admit here that I am yet to watch ” Saat Hindustani ” [ 1969 ] , his first film . His first film , which I watched was ” Anand ” [ 1971 ] . A Dilip Kumar fan , who was getting used to Rajesh Khanna , any liking for Amitabh Bachchan was not possible . Though I must admit here that he was very good in that film . Then I watched ” Reshma Aur Shera ” [ 1971 ] . He was definitely very good in that film also . But the era belonged to Rajesh Khanna .

Then I watched ” Ek Nazar ” [ 1972 ] . Sitting in a cinema hall of Allahabad , Uttar Pradesh , I was not impressed or mesmerized by his persona on the screen . I vividly remember some adverse or inimical comments made by public . I was startled because I was watching the film in Allahabad and it being his home town , I was expecting some favourable cheering . But he was being booed . ” Bansi Birju ” [ 1972 ] was another debacle . ” Raste Ka Patthar ” [ 1972 ] , ” Bombay To Goa ” [ 1972 ] and ” Bandhe Haath ” [ 1973 ] couldn’t make matter easier for Mr. Bachchan .

Though things started getting changed in 1973 . ” Zanjeer ” [ 1973 ] got released and things changed for Mr. Bachchan . ” Namak Haraam ” [ 1973 ] fortified his position . From 1973 onwards Rajesh Khanna’s historical debacle started and stupendous ascendency of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan began . ” Deewar ” [1975 ] and ” Sholay ” [ 1975 ] came in quick succession and juggernaut of Amitabh Bachchan became unstoppable . So from ” Zanjeer ” [1973 ] to ” Paa ” [ 2009 ] and ” Department ” [ 2012 ] , it was and it is Amitabh Bachchan tsunami .

After ” Khuda Gawah ” [ 1992 ] he took sabbatical . It was self – imposed semi retirement . He did few film after 5 years but old spark was missing . He again got his lost empire back with ” Mohabbatein ” [ 2000 ] and from 2000 to 2012 he is again numero uno .

2000 is very important year for him because apart from ” Mohabbatein “ , he decided to host ” Kaun Banega Crorepati “ on television . And after that he never looked back till today.

I have tried to chronicle his journey as an actor because he almost forced me to like and appreciate him . I am a self-confessed Dilip Kumar fan . Later on I started liking Ashok Kumar , Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor . My liking and appreciation for Amitabh Bachchan was slow . But now it is complete . Ashok Kumar , Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor are gone . Dilip Kumar doesn’t work anymore . ” Qila ” [ 1998 ] was his last appearance on screen . So naturally Amitabh Bachchan is the only icon , only actor of relevance available .

As Acting Trainer of Mumbai , I need to give example to my students and films of Amitabh Bachchan are my reference point . Almost all the Acting Trainers of India give reference from his films . All the Acting Schools of Mumbai or Bollywood Acting Schools have his photos prominently placed in their premises .

I am lucky that I have chance to bump into him several times . I first saw him at the music release function of  K. C. Bokadia’s film ” Pyar Zindagi Hai ” [ 2001 ] . It starred my students Vikas Kalantri and Ashima Bhalla . This film is also noted because it was K. C. Bokadia’s 50th film . Mr. Bachchan came for the music release function at The Club and I got chance to see him .

I admire him as a man , as an actor and as a public figure . I have got inspired by him and started dabbling in internet . He also inspired me to write blog . So in a way , this blog is my tribute to him .

Wish you a very long life Mr. Bachchan !

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

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Yes , I Am Acting Tutor , Not Acting Trainer

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           OCTOBER 12 , 2012           00.45 A.M.

IF IGNORANCE IS BLISS , THEN IT IS FOOLISH TO BE WISE ; A Proverb

My country has unique quality . Here you will find people who claim that they know everything . Without reading literature , they can teach literature . Without watching old classic films , they can endlessly give sermon on films . Without meeting a single film legend , they boast about being in touch of all the legends of cinema . They can claim that they are polyglot and can write and speak impeccable English . It is another thing that their knowledge of language is limited and their spelling is horribly wrong .

When it comes to languages I am puritan . I did my Post Graduation in English Literature from Allahabad University , which is known as Oxford of the East . Therefore when I see a wrong spelling or a wrong sentence I squirm . I admire and try to follow Queen’s English .

In olden days , standard of education was so high in India that even a wood-cutter could speak impeccable Sanskrit . Let me tell a story . Raja Bhoj , who is known for his erudition and knowledge , was roaming around in a forest . He saw an old wood-cutter . That old wood-cutter was walking with difficulty because of the woods he was carrying on his shoulder . Raja Bhoj thought of helping him . He asked the wood-cutter , ” किं स्कन्धं बाधति ? ” [ Is your shoulder paining ? ] As per Sanskrit grammar , the verb should have been बाधते and not बाधति . Old wood-cutter looked at the king and answered back , ” स्कन्धं न बाधते राजन , यथा बाधति बाधते ” [ My shoulder is not paining but the use of wrong word बाधति is definitely painful. ]

But this is an old story . This kind of knowledge and education is a thing of past . Much water has flown down the holy Ganga . So wrong sentences and wrong spellings are order of the day .

Let me come to the point . Recently I was made aware that I am just a tutor and not the trainer of acting . Acerbic tone of the statement made it clear that it is a gibe and not a genuine praise . Gentleman who made the barb does not know the real meaning of Trainer . Just look at the meaning of trainer given in the dictionary :

TRAINER

==========

noun.

1. a staff member on an athletic team who gives first aid and therapy to injured players.

2. a person who trains athletes; coach.

3. a person who trains racehorses or other animals for contests, shows, or performances.

4. an airplane or a simulated aircraft used in training crew members, especially pilots.

I don’t find any reference of acting or fine arts here . Word Trainer is used for the coach of animals , machines or athletes .

Now look at the meaning of tutor :

TUTOR

=========

noun.

1. a person employed to instruct another in some branch or branches of learning, especially a private instructor.

2. a teacher of academic rank in some American universities and colleges.

3. a teacher without institutional connection who assists students in preparing for examinations.

4. (especially at Oxford and Cambridge) a university officer, usually a fellow, responsible for teaching and supervising a number of undergraduates.

5. the guardian of a boy or girl below the age of puberty or majority.

-v.t.

6. to act as a tutor to; teach or instruct, especially privately.

7. to have the guardianship, instruction, or care of.

8. to instruct under handedly; coach: to tutor a witness before he testifies.

9. Archaic.
a. to train, school, or discipline.
b. to admonish or reprove.

-v.i.
10. to act as a tutor or private instructor.
11. to study privately with a tutor.

Trainer is associated with animals and tutor is associated with study , knowledge and fine arts . We can find first reference of a tutor in 1631 . You can see the photograph of Prince Charles Louis with his Tutor posted below .

Prince Charles Louis with his Tutor (1631) by Jan Lievens (1607-1674), Dutch painter (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Almost 240 years later we find another eminent tutor of Oxford University . You can see the photograph posted below .

Mandell Creighton, Oxford tutor in 1870, a year before he met Louise. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Peter Neumann, British mathematician and Senior tutor at The Queen’s College, Oxford (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There was another tutor of repute in that era . I am posting portrait of Vilém Gabler (1821 – 1897), Czech teacher, who was private tutor in rich families .

Portrait of Vilém Gabler (1821 – 1897), Czech teacher, private tutor in rich families, long-time director of high school for girls in Prague and author of textbooks and travelogues. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now go through the following synonyms of tutor :

Synonyms of Tutor :

====================

coach, direct, discipline, drill, drum into, edify, educate, guide, instruct, lay it out for, lecture, let in on, ready, school, train, update

So it is amply clear that in the field of art , fine arts and acting , there could only be a tutor and not trainer . I don’t know how and when it started but these days the word Acting Trainer is in vogue . I have no problem with the word Acting Trainer . But Tutor is not derogatory . On the contrary Tutor is the right and most appropriate word for an acting coach .

But as I have written in the beginning :

IF IGNORANCE IS BLISS , THEN IT IS FOOLISH TO BE WISE ; A Proverb

There are Acting Trainers of Mumbai , Acting Trainers of India . Some Bollywood Acting Trainers use the title Acting Guru also . All the reputed and not so reputed Acting Schools of Mumbai and Acting Schools of India take pride in the fact that they have employed Acting Trainers of repute . Let them take the cake .

I state with all the humility that I am the one and only Acting Tutor of India . I am fully satisfied with my life as an Acting Tutor . If people think that being tutor is inferior than a trainer , it is their complexes . It is their limited knowledge of Queen’s English .

But as I have stated in the beginning :

IF IGNORANCE IS BLISS , THEN IT IS FOOLISH TO BE WISE ; A Proverb

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Sad End of Varsha Bhosle

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           OCTOBER 10, 2012           00.45 A.M.

On Monday October 08 , while I was going through the tweets of some of the eminent people , whom I follow , I suddenly noticed that many people are paying tribute to Varsha Bhosle . I knew that Varsha Bhosle is the name of legendary singer Asha Bhosle’s daughter , but it didn’t occur to me that this Varsha Bhosle is the same person .

Lata Mangeshkar (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Asha Bhosle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Though I am a die-hard Lata Mangeshkar fan but I do respect Asha Bhosle immensely . It is sad that at this age she has to face this kind of tragedy . In her tumultuous career and eventful life , she faced many challenges and she faced them bravely . But a tragedy of this magnitude is unimaginable .

I am extremely fortunate that I had opportunity to have telephonic conversation with legendary Lata Mangeshkar once . I am honoured that I had visited Lata Mangeshkar’s apartment at Prabhu Kunj once . I am yet to meet Asha Tai . But I can say that I know Varsha Bhosle . I know her through her writings. I loved her column on internet . When , during pre – social media boom , she started writing her column on a portal called Rediff.com , she got huge fan following . I was one of the followers . Though she wrote for print media also but her internet column was beyond words .

She wrote columns for the web portal, Rediff, during 1997 – 2003; columns for The Sunday Observer during 1994 – 1998; and for Gentleman magazine in 1993. She also wrote a little for the Times of India and for Rakshak – The Protector police magazine .

Before writing columns , she worked as a playback singer in Hindi and Marathi movies, and appeared in concerts with her mother. She sang for a Dev Anand film ” Lootmaar ” [ 1980 ] .

Varsha ji finished school from Hill Grange High School, on Pedder Road, Mumbai, in 1974, with an ISC. She studied Political Science at Elphinstone College, which is affiliated with Bombay University in Mumbai.

She lived in Mumbai with her mother, Asha Bhosle. She had married a sports writer and public relations professional Hemant Kenkre but the couple divorced in 1998. On September 9, 2008, she attempted suicide by taking an overdose of sleeping pills, after which she was admitted to Mumbai‘s Jaslok hospital. Later, on October 8, 2012, 56-year-old Varsha committed suicide at her residence in Mumbai. She shot herself in the head at her Prabhu Kunj residence in Mumbai.

Almost all the readers of her columns are her life-long fans . She had her own distinct style . She was honest . She was blunt . She was iconoclast . But she always admired and respected her critics . It never took more than a moment to accept her mistakes . And she always accepted it with dignity and without ill – will .

It is extremely sad that such a gifted writer left us too soon . I always wanted to meet her . But now it wont be possible ever .

Rest In Peace Varsha ji . You shall always be with us through your written words .

[ I have quoted few things from Wikipedia . I express my indebtedness .]

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Related articles

• Asha Bhosle’s daughter commits suicide (movies.ndtv.com)
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• Asha Bhosle’s daughter commits suicide (thehindu.com)
• Singer Asha Bhosle’s daughter commits suicide (dawn.com)
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• Asha Bhosle’s daughter Varsha cremated in Mumbai (ibnlive.in.com)
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Vidur’s Telly Tales – 9 : Bigg Boss Connection [ B ]

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           OCTOBER 09, 2012           01.45 A.M.

Bigg Boss – Season 6 started on October 07, 2012 on Colors . When Bigg Boss – Season 5 started , I immediately posted my first blog about my Bigg Boss connection on October 04, 2011 . I have mentioned in that blog that barring Season – 5 , which has only one student Mahek Chahal , all the other seasons had two students of mine as participants . Here is the list , which I had posted at that time :

Bigg Boss – Season – 1 : Amit Sadh / Ragini Shetty

Bigg Boss – Season – 2 : Monica Bedi / Zulfi Syed

Bigg Boss – Season – 3 : Aditi Govitrikar / Shamita Shetty

Bigg Boss – Season – 4 : Ashmit Patel / Samir Soni

Bigg Boss – Season – 5 : Mahek Chahal

But later on Amar Upadhyay joined the inmates of Season – 5 and this Season too had two students .

I was eagerly waiting for Season – 6 to start and when I watched the opening episode , I was overjoyed that this Season – 6 also has two students . They are Niketan Madhok and Karishma Kotak . Now the revised list is :

Bigg Boss – Season – 1 : Amit Sadh / Ragini Shetty

Bigg Boss – Season – 2 : Monica Bedi / Zulfi Syed

Bigg Boss – Season – 3 : Aditi Govitrikar / Shamita Shetty

Bigg Boss – Season – 4 : Ashmit Patel / Samir Soni

Bigg Boss – Season – 5 : Mahek Chahal / Amar Upadhyay

Bigg Boss – Season – 6 : Niketan Madhok / Karishma Kotak

I thought , isn’t it uncanny ? Isn’t it something special ? Isn’t it unique ? Bigg Boss is hugely popular . It is eagerly awaited . All the participants become household name . And here I can say with utmost satisfaction that I have 2 students per episode . In total 12 students in 6 seasons .

Any Acting Trainer would wish that his students should be in the house . Every Acting Trainer of Mumbai and all the Acting Trainers of India dream for this kind of publicity , which is rare . Some Acting Trainers of Mumbai even make false claims . Luckily ,  as an Acting Trainer of  Bollywood , I got this on platter .

Among all the Famous Acting Classes in Mumbai or reputed Film Institutes of Mumbai , my institute Vidur’s Kreating Charakters is fortunate enough to have such a track record .

A wannabe Acting Trainer of India and few unscrupulous , shady Bollywood Acting Trainers have greeted me with cuss words on the facebook . They sent me message on the facebook so that no one else could read it . This only shows their utmost frustration . Famous Acting Class can’t be run by frustrated people . It is like meditation . You have to slog . You have to work tirelessly , relentlessly and without showing fatigue .

But anyway , it is time to rejoice . It is time to sit down and take stock of the situation . It is very satisfying moment , a humbling experience . I thank almighty for giving me such opportunities and honour .

I am thankful to all my students for making me proud .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

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The 100 Crore Club of Hindi Films

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           OCTOBER 06, 2012           01.40 A.M.

All the Acting Trainers of Mumbai want successful students . Its natural . Some Acting Trainers of India even make false claims about their student actors to show the world that they are very successful . Its deceit . Almost all Bollywood Acting Trainers have lists of their students , who are now very much successful in Hindi film industry . Some are genuine , some are fake .

In fact all the Film Institutes of Mumbai dish out list of their students , whose films are there in the 100 Crore Club . In olden days Silver Jubilee , Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee used to be the hallmark of a successful films . But now 100 Crore earning films are considered successful .

Till date only 15 films have earned 100 Crore or more . I am reproducing the list of films of all the 15 films of 100 Crore Club from Wikipedia .

The Bollywood 100 Crore Club

Year	Film	No. of Days	Net Gross
2008	Ghajini	18	115 crore (US$21.74 million)
2009	3 Idiots	9	202 crore (US$38.18 million)
2010	Dabangg	10	140 crore (US$26.46 million)
2010	Golmaal 3	17	108 crore (US$20.41 million)
2011	Ready	14	121 crore (US$22.87 million)
2011	Singham	37	100 crore (US$18.9 million)
2011	Bodyguard	7	141 crore (US$26.65 million)
2011	Ra.One	11	115 crore (US$21.74 million)
2011	Don 2	16	115 crore (US$21.74 million)
2012	Agneepath	11	120 crore (US$22.68 million)
2012	Housefull 2	17	112 crore (US$21.17 million)
2012	Rowdy Rathore	10	131.56 crore (US$24.86 million)
2012	Bol Bachchan	20	106 crore (US$20.03 million)
2012	Ek Tha Tiger	6	186 crore (US$35.15 million)
2012	Barfi!	19	100 crore (US$18.9 million)

Out of these 15 films , there are 10 films which have my students are protagonists [ male and female both ] and antagonists . When I go through the list , I feel satisfied that as an Acting Trainer , I have 18 students of mine whose films are there in the 100 Crore Club . I am not blowing my own trumpet but no Bollywood Acting Trainer has such a long list .

I am giving the name of the artistes , who are my students  :

1 – KAREENA KAPOOR  : “3 Idiots”, “Golmaal 3”, “Bodyguard”, “Ra.One”

2 – PRIYANKA CHOPRA : “Don 2” , “Agneepath” & “Barfi”

3 – ARBAAZ KHAN : ” Dabangg “

4 – SONU SOOD : ” Dabangg “

5 – HAZEL KEECH : ” Bodyguard “

6 – ARJUN RAMPAL : ” Ra.One “

7 – KUNAL KAPOOR : ” Don 2 “

8 – HRITIK ROSHAN : ” Agneepath “

9 – SAJID KHAN : ” Housefull 2 ” [ As Director ]

10 – JACQUELINE FERNANDEZ : ” Housefull 2 “

11 – SHAZAHN PADAMSEE : ” Housefull 2 “

12 – KATRINA KAIF : ” Ek Tha Tiger “

13 – RANBIR KAPOOR : ” Barfi “

Out of these 13 students , Kareena Kapoor tops the list with 4 films . She is followed by Priyanka Chopra with 3 films . Rest 11 have 1 film each in their kitty. Out of these 13 students , 12 are actors and 1 Sajid Khan is the director of ” Housefull 2 ” .

Kareena Kapoor was the first to enter in this illustrious club and Ranbir Kapoor is the latest . Both are my student and they both belong to Kapoor family , the first family of Hindi Film industry .

As an Acting Trainer of Bollywood , who runs a Famous Acting Class in Mumbai , known as Vidur’s Kreating Charakters , it is a very satisfying journey indeed .

Any Acting Trainer of India can do anything to have such a list .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Related articles

• `Barfi!` joins Rs.100 crore club (vancouverdesi.com)
• Salman Khan (en.wikipedia.org)
• Getting to the 100-crore club (thehindu.com)
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• Barfi Goes to the Oscars Officially with 100 Crores Century! (panasianbiz.com)
• ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ sets record for fastest 100 crore (ibnlive.in.com)

Vidur’s Telly Tales – 8

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           OCTOBER 04, 2012           11.45 P.M.

Last time I wrote my Telly Tales at the time of ” Bigg Boss – Season – 5 “ . After that , there was a lull because nothing fascinating happened in the telly world . But on September 30 , 2012 when Gurmeet Choudhary won the coveted title of popular TV show ” Jhalak Dikhla Jaa – Season 5 “ , I knew that a new version of Telly Tales is due .

Gurmeet Choudhary , who won ” Jhalak Dikhla Jaa – Season – 5 “ , is my student . ” Jhalak Dikhla Jaa ”  is hugely popular TV show . All its previous winners have already become celebrities . Gurmeet Choudhary is the latest one .

Gurmeet Choudhary (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

He first came into prominence in ” Ramayan ” [ 2008 ] , where he played Bhagwan Ram . It came on NDTV Imagine . Then he appeared in ” Geet …Hui Sabse Parayi ” [ 2010 ] on Star One .

Geet (TV series) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After this , currently he is doing another serial ” Punar Vivah ” [ 2012 ] on Zee TV . In 2009 he also took part in a reality show ” Pati Patni Aur Woh “ and then he became a household name .

In 2008 he won NEW TALENT AWARDS for ” Ramayan “ . In 2011 he won ZEE GOLD AWARDS for ” Geet – Hui Sabse Parayi “ . In 2012 again he won ZEE GOLD AWARDS for ” Punar Vivah “ and finally won the title for ” Jhalak Dikhla Jaa – Season 5 ” .

Acting Trainers of Mumbai or Acting Trainers of India always dream to have such students . Acting Schools of Mumbai and Acting Schools of India or any Bollywood Acting School wish to have such students . I am fortunate that Gurmeet Choudhary is my student . I am not writing this blog only because he has won a popular title . I am writing it to make it clear that Gurmeet Choudhary is extremely well – behaved and down-to-earth person . He is a Method actor and knows his craft well .

I am happy for him and wish him all the success in future !

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi

Related articles

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• Gurmeet Choudhary (en.wikipedia.org)
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