CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE FINALISTS!
It was an honour to judge and be on the panel of Australia’s first TV program on Bollywood talent! (BOLLYWOOD STAR). I am confident we will see more of “Bollywood’ content on Australian media – culture is a two way street, and exposure to Indian culture can only be a positive to Australian youngsters for the future.
Update 23 June 2012 – That was a cracker of a final episode of Bollywood Star! I never doubted the talent of Sara Roberts, Gautam Koul – aka G-Luv, Sharon Johal and Teigan Evans – all the top 4 are good performers. The final moments in the TV series with Mahesh Bhatt, in historical Mehoob Studios in Mumbai, were very gripping indeed! What was different is that Mahesh Bhatt, as any great director, wanted to see bare canvas before seeing the talent in his mould. Mahesh certainly got to the true personality of each of the top four. My compliments to the top 4 who held nothing back from opening up to Mahesh. Ultimately, Teaigan Evans, with her effective mix of look and talent got the title of Australian TV first Bollywood Star! Congratulations Teigan!
Update 20 June 2012 – It has been a great ride to be a judge on Bollywood Star on Australian SBS TV – Really looking forward to the final episode when Mahesh Bhatt picks the winner and we have the Australian Bollywood Star!. Find out on saturday, 23 June at 7.30pm on SBS one!
Update 10 June 2012 – Thank you all for a great response for episode 2 of BWS – it was an action packed episode where myself, along with my co-judges, Anupam Sharma and Dipti Patil had to select the top 6 applicants from Australia for Bollywood. After live audience in North Sydney auditorium, Dipti’s great flash mob with the backdrop of Sydney Opera House, it was my job to do a photo shoot of the final 12 finalists by giving each applicant an “acting role” – which I think was a great way to bring out the expression in the talent. I think everyone did a wonderful job given it was pressure time! For us judges, it was crunch time when we had to decide the final 6 for India on the basis of the individual performances. And of course it was then left to bold Anupam to call the final 12 to disclose the results – heart break for some and sheer happiness for others – just like in real world. In my opinion, there are no failures, it is the journey which is the most important element – that must always continue in realizing one’s dream!
Here is from Episode 2. ENJOY!
Each finalist was given a “Bollywood acting brief by RAJ to POSE in front of his camera:
From top left:
SARA – “Item Girl”
ANKUSH – Comic hero
GAUTAM – G- LUV – Comic side kick
FERYAL – Foreigner meeting Indian family for first time
NABIL – Comic
AMY – Item girl with a heart
RIKARDO – Villian
SHARON – Heroine with inner conflict
TEIGAN – 2nd lead for unobtainable hero
TARA – Seductress
LUCKY – Suspicious wife
KARISHMA – Heroine goddess
Update 2 June 2012 – Sorry, could not respond to all the messages on twitter and facebook after Episode 1 of Bollywood Star.
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!!?
Dont forget to tune in next week, 9 June, 7.30pm for Episode 2!!
For those who missed the premiere on 2 june at 7.30pm there should be Episode 1 available online
or my interview and SBS TV back stories (may have country restrictions)
Update, 28 May 2012 – It’s official – coming to TV screens on June 2, Australian SBS TV program Bollywood Star
I am very excited to be selected as one of the official judges for the Australian national SBS TV series “Bollywood Star”
It is a great step by WTFN Entertainment (Bondi Vet, Keeping up with the Joneses) and SBS TV to come up with a show which will bring out the best Australian talent for Bollywood, and yes,
we will have our own first BOLLYWOOD STAR on Australian television!!!
Coming from a film family in India ( Read BIO) , my association with Bollywood and glamour industry goes for many years including independent cinema in India. What is encouraging is Bollywood now not only has become a melting pot of modern Indian culture but goes beyond. It is accepted and followed world over and Australia is no exception. I believe Bollywood will eventually grow and mature into many versions and we will see a global flavour in parallel!
I an encouraged that Mahesh Bhatt, a renowned filmmaker of India, is giving an opportunity to the winner of Bollywood Star. I know Australia has talent in abundance, have experienced first hand, as the founder of Miss India Australia since 2001. With Bollywood Star I can see more people from Australia opening to Bollywood and bringing Australia & India together culturally.
I am happy that SBS Australian TV has taken a bold step by giving a platform to ALL AUSTRALIANS to express their TALENT for BOLLYWOOD! (which I know we have in abundance as experienced over the years).
BOLLYWOOD STAR will be a FOUR part series shot in Australia & India. I am humbled to be chosen as Judge – Photographer/Talent Spotter/ Image maker for the Australian part. My expert co judges are Anupam Sharma – Filmmaker and Dipti Patil – Bollywood Choreographer.
It’s a first step in Australian media to bring out the Aussie Spirit for Bollywood – Lets ALL make this a success for many more to FOLLOW.
AUSTRALIA’S FIRST!
BOLLYWOOD STAR SBS TV
Saturdays, start 2 June, 7.30pm
AUSTRALIA WIDE
SHARE & TELL MUST SEE!
