Looking a new Girl for Himesh

Himesh is all set to do his own Raja Hindustani. Remember Aamir Khan as the street-smart ignoramus who falls for the sophisticated Miss from the upper crust?

Himesh Reshammiya's "intense love story" to be directed by John Mathan will be a socialistic plea. He would play a guy from the streets who falls for a very rich girl.

So did Himesh come to John in a package deal from the producers T Series?

"Not at all," says the reclusive director. "I chose Himesh because he suited the role to perfection. In fact we had a choice of several production companies. But we went to T Series. So we were under no pressure to sign Himesh."

The yet-untitled film would be John's first love story. "Of course there were love tracks in Sarfarosh and Shikhar. But both were basically about the erosion of idealism in our society. The focus in my new film will be on just the two protagonists."

The film will feature a completely new face opposite Himesh. "We've auditioned several new faces and have finally zeroed- in on three girls. A final decision will be take in a couple of days."

Pausing to ponder John says, "I wonder how the details of the film were leaked out. I wanted it to be under wraps until we had finalized everything. So far only Himesh as the leading man and the music composer has been decided."

'Hansika was treated harshly'

'Composer-Singer' Himesh Reshammiya is a thing of the past. The now-successful leading man of Aap Ka Surroor will now have 'actor-composer-singer' on his calling-card.

That's right. Himesh will only let his music be heard in films that feature him in the lead.

"I've several offers as a leading man. But I'll only be doing three films a year per year. And since I'll be doing such sparing work as an actor I might as well restrict my music to my own films. If I do music for outside films then the USP of my acting vehicles will be lost.

I don't want to cheat the producers who'll sign me. I'm now going to represent a never-before package of music-singing-acting. My next music score will be for my next starring vehicle, 8-10 months from now."

In the meantime Himesh might do a non-film album. "I think my minimized exposure will enhance the prospects of all the three films that I'll sign as an actor."

Isn't he scared that once he is out of sight-and-sound he'll be out of mind? "Certainly not! Once you reach that certain level of success, less becomes more. Earlier when I was finding my way in the entertainment business I needed 30-40 assignments. Now, just 3 is enough."

Himesh is enthused like never before. "Even those who thought my acting career was doomed have changed their minds. I don't blame them. My journey from composer to singer to acting has been odd."

Suddenly Himesh is being called a superstar.

"The boxoffice is very powerful parameter of stardom. I'll continue to treat my acting career like I did my singing and composing careers…. like a newcomer. If I start thinking of myself as a brand I'll be finished.

Though the critics have been harsh on his acting debut Aap Ka Surroor is doing roaring business everywhere. It's so far the biggest hit of the year. There're at least 8-10 film offers from the biggest banners of the country.

"I don't know how it happened. But now that God has been kind I've much more to strive for. I see a long struggle ahead. I had faith in my fan base. When I did my shows and my music videos they always warmed up to my screen presence. So I had an inner belief they'd come and watch me.Thankfully I was right."

Himesh is disturbed by the critical backlash. "My consolation is that they had ripped Sholay and Hum Aapke Hain Koun on release. And when my music in Aashiq Banaya Aapne came out they blasted me. They said this nasal voice cannot be the typical Bollywood hero's voice.

But my unconventional voice became the convention. Aashiq Banaya Aapne turned my fortunes as a musician. Aap Ka Surroor has taken me to another phase in my career. After the backlash they even gave me awards for my singing. Am I expecting acting awards ? Not at all."

Himesh is determined to win over the critics in his next acting vehicle. "But not at the cost of the commercial success. Like my music in Varanasi was appreciated by the critics. But it failed commercially. I want both."

He refuses to admit that Aap Ka Surroor was a hit solely for him. "Nahin! If everything else didn't work the film wouldn't. My director Prashant Chedha did a fantastic job. But the critics were really hard on him. I'm already planning a sequel to Surroor with Prashant.

As for leading lady Hansika I don't know why she was treated so harshly. The film has to be viewed in the right spirit. It's meant to entertain, not bring a revolution to society."

He sighs, "God has been kind. I can't say the same about my critics. First they predicted that no one would go to see me act. Then they predicted that there would be no takers after Monday. Then when there was no drop in collection they're saying Surroor is a fluke success, that when I don't play Himesh I'll be a flop.

Now I'll be playing other characters. I've lots of offers to act, and in none of them will I play myself. I'll give the same passion to my acting as I did to my singing."

Himesh is now being called the common man's hero. "That one-to-one connection I've made with my audience is divine intervention. I've come so far only because of my fan base."

Himesh: Desi Michael Jackson

It's not very clearly known at what point Satish Kaushik decided to pay a homage to one of his favourite colleagues and associates Subhash Ghai. But when Himesh invited Satosh to hear his tunes for the neo-Karz, Satish was won over.

But homage it was,when Satish decided to remake Ghai's Karz.

"But in a totally modern idiom. The story will be transposed from Oooty to a foreign location. We're looking at various possibilities in Europe," says Satish excitedly. "Karz is a dream come true. Himesh Reshammiya is like the Michael Jackson of India.

So we've four brand equities coming together for the Karz re-make—Subhash Ghai, Himesh, Bhooshan Kumar's T Series,and me and Anupam Kher's Karol Bagh Films who will be the online producers on behalf of T Series."

What changes will Satish bring into the new Karz? "The locations, of course. This will be a 25-30 crore budgeted film. And Himesh's tracks have to be heard to be believed! When I heard them I was stunned.

Himesh and I go back a long way. He has done the music for four of my films including Tere Naam which was a turning point in Himesh's career."

Speaking about Himesh The Actor, Satish says, "I'm capable of extracting performances from my actors. Tusshar Kapoor is yet to equal his success in my Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai. Himesh has already proved himself a success as an actor. Now we've to build on that."

The crucial question on the Karz casting. Who will play the other key role played by Simi Garewal in the original?

"It has to be lady with a great grace, poise, mystique and seductive quality living alone in this secluded mansion. I've to find someone who fits the bill fast."

Satish discounts the rumour that the roles of the two protagonists before and after the reincarnation will be turned into a double role for Reshammiya.

"No. we'll have another actor for the first role, while Himesh will play the character reborn as a rock star. I'll try to stick to the spirit of Subhash Ghai's film as much as possible. What a film that was! Will I be able to do justice to it?"

What qualified him for the job? "I think it was the way I filmed those lavish songs and dances in Roop Ki Rani Choron Ki Raja. Karz requires a lot of on-stage direction."

Apart from 'Karz' remake, Himesh will act in 'Aap Kaa Surroor 2' having the same producer-director team of Vijay Taneja-Prashant Chaddha

After Munnabhai, it is Himesh Reshammiya's turn to become the most favorite 'bhai' for his fans.

As per a highly placed source, work has already begun on the sequel of his recent hit 'Aap Kaa Surroor - The Real Luv Story' and the film has been titled 'Aap Kaa Surroor 2 - Ae Himesh Bhai'.

Confirming the development, the source says, "It is true that Himeshbhai has already started preparing himself well for a full fledged acting career ahead. Apart from the remake of 'Karz' for which an announcement came just recently, 'Aap Kaa Surroor 2 - Ae Himesh Bhai' is another film which should go on floors soon."

The title has already been registered at the film title registration committee. So who are the people associated with the film? Adds our source, "The film has primarily the same team as that of the first installment of 'Aap Kaa Surroor'. It is being produced by Vijay Taneja while Himesh's buddy Prashant Chaddha would be at the helm of direction once again. The team is making sure that 'Aap Kaa Surroor 2 - Ae Himesh Bhai' turns out to be much bigger in canvas and much better in treatment than the first part. No stones would be left unturned to be make sure that the film proves to be yet another top notch quality entertainer."

Won't it be tough for Himesh to be managing two big projects at a time, considering work on 'Karz' remake would also begin soon? "Things are being planned out well", says our source confidently, "Also Himesh is quite enthusiastic about both these projects. He is making sure that there is good time dedicated to each of these films and just like his debut movie, even 'Aap Kaa Surroor 2 - Ae Himesh Bhai' would only add in addition to his fan base."

How does the shooting schedule look like? "Finer details are still being worked out along with locations and the choice of heroines etc. In fact you can expect some more announcements to reach out to you in coming days since he has bagged a couple of more prestigious projects. In addition, the good part about these projects is that each of them would justify his presence in these films and would be lapped up by his fans."

Himesh in 'Karz' remake

The suspense is over! Himesh Reshammiya's second release as an actor, after AAP KAA SURROOR, will be produced by T-Series' head honcho Bhushan Kumar. Now here's something vital on the project: It'll be a remake of Subhash Ghai's smash hit KARZ. Incidentally, Himesh had crooned a number from the film, 'Dar-e-dil dard-e-jigar', in AAP KA SURROOR.

Himesh will be playing the part that Rishi Kapoor had enacted in the original. The other characters -- Tina Munim, Simi Grewal, Raj Kiran, Durga Khote and Pran -- are in the process of finalization. To be made on an extravagant scale, the remake of KARZ will have fresh tunes composed by Himesh. In fact, Himesh has decided on a makeover for this film.

Meanwhile, Ghai has decided against remaking films produced by Mukta Arts himself. A text message to this writer says it all: “How can I remake my own scripts, when I am looking ahead at newer ideas? But, I am sure, the remake of KARZ will be welcomed by the present-day generation and I wish luck to Bhushan and Himesh.”