MUMBAI — “Rishi Kapoor and Tina Munim Ambani will always remain as the founding members of Mukta Arts with their first film ‘Karz,’ which is still as fresh as Rishi today,” said Subhash Ghai as he celebrated the 31st anniversary of his company Oct. 24, also his wedding anniversary. The company has grown in business since 1978 in movie production, distribution, exhibition and now in education with his film academy, Whistling Woods International.
It was nostalgia time for Ghai, with stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Vrinda Rai ( who collected on behalf of her daughter Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), Katrina Kaif and Rishi Kapoor accepting mementos for their contributions to cinema. Subhash Chandra, Karan Johar, Randhir Kapoor, Imtiaz Ali, Abbas Tyrewala and Praful Patel were also on hand.
 The stars shared their great moments with Mukta and the showman, and so did Ghai. Rishi Kapoor narrated his first-day experience with Ghai on the sets of his film “Karz,” when he demanded a choreographer to shoot “Dard-e-dil,” but Ghai told him, “This song needs a director, not a dance composer.” When the actor saw the song on-screen he was amazed with the sense of music Ghai had.
Montages of Mukta movies were continually being screened on the occasion along with the growth of Whistling Woods International, which is now spreading its wings to Hyderabad and Spain with plans to be established in many other states and countries.
Directors who worked for Mukta, such as David Dhawan , Satish Koushik, Sangeeth Sivan and Abbas-Mustan, received trophies. Ghai’s daughter, Meghna Ghai Puri, conducted the show. Tips’ chief Ramesh Taurani, T-Series’ Bhushan Kumar, lyricist Sameer and singer Alka Yagnik were also present.
Among others present were Sunny Deol and director Neeraj Pathak, who are both working with the banner, and Katrina Kaif’s sister. Buzz is that Deol and Shah Rukh Khan called a truce after their cold war since the “Darr,” and were seen chatting animatedly after they met through a common friend. |
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