Ahmed Khan

Manoj Bajpayee: Can afford to work for friendship

Apr 052018

Manoj Bajpayee says bond with Baaghi 2 director, Ahmed Khan, not monetary benefits, drove him to play the antagonist in the film

Manoj Bajpayee

Manoj Bajpayee had taken cinephiles by surprise when he chose to slip into the role of the antagonist in Tiger Shroff-starrer, Baaghi 2. In an interview with mid-day, he now reveals that his decision to give his nod to the film was motivated by emotions, not monetary benefits. “Ahmed Khan [director, Baaghi 2] and Mukesh Chhabra [casting director] are my friends. When they came home to offer the film to me, I was happy to agree,” says the actor.

Tiger Shroff in Baaghi 2

Manoj Bajpayee says he can now afford the luxury of working for factors other than financial perks. “There are decisions you take for reasons other than money. I have worked for the sake of friendship in the past, and will continue to do so. If I turn a film down, my friends may feel I am too hard to get. I can afford to do a film for my pals because I have successfully established myself as an actor.”

Ahmed Khan

With Baaghi 2 inching towards the Rs 100-crore mark, Manoj Bajpayee is happy that producer-friend Sajid Nadiadwala has yet another hit to his credit. Yet, it is the acclaim that leading man Tiger Shroff has been garnering that warms his heart. “Sajid bhai has had many hits, and is successful today. But the people who need this success are Tiger and Ahmed. Tiger is so devoted that, even between shots, he will practise his moves with his trainer. When you see the kind of devotion he harbours for his craft, you know he deserves to be successful. Ahmed too needs this hit. His last two ventures didn’t fare well.”

Also read: Post Baaghi 2’s success, Tiger Shroff thanks his mentor Sajid Nadiadwala

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Baaghi 2 Movie Review: Rebel without a script

Celebrities

Mar 302018

Tiger Shroff starrer Baaghi 2 is loaded with action but is completely devoid of perspective. Watch it only if you are a die-hard action-film fan

Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani
Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani in a still from Baaghi 2

Baaghi 2
U/A; Action, Thriller
Director: Ahmed Khan
Cast: Tiger Shroff, Disha Patani, Randeep Hooda, Manoj Bajpayee, Prateik
Rating:

If your idea of having a good time at the movies is Tiger Shroff flexing his muscles and breaking bones, then, my friend, you’re in for a blessed treat at the movies this week. For the rest, I guess, it’s better to enjoy the long weekend bingeing on a web series. Baaghi 2 is loaded with action but is completely devoid of perspective.

The film starts in Goa when Neha’s (Patani) daughter has been abducted and she reaches out to her college love Ronnie (Shroff), now an Army officer posted in Kashmir, for help. True to any action film, Tiger Shroff makes a grand entry by pinning down three terrorists and also tying one of them to the front of his jeep, using him as a human shield. Looks like the makers decided to pay tribute to Army Major Leetul Gogoi, who had done this in real life. Shroff leaves behind his national duty so that he can help her ex-flame. And from thereon, it becomes a cat-and-mouse game. There are enough twists in the plot about kidnapping, double cross and even deceit, but the problem lies in the sloppily written script and poor execution.

The action directors deserve a mention, but the ‘Ramboesque’ stunts in the climax sequence are hard to digest. Our desi Rambo sprays bullets and hits the bull’s eye with each, but no bullet can pierce his iron body.

Watch the official trailer of Baaghi 2 below

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Shroff and Patani have hardly any time to show their on-screen chemistry. Tiger Shroff has already proved that he is a solid action hero. However, it’s time he stepped out of the maar-dhaad zone and shone with the aid of an actual script. Disha Patani has little to do as a damsel in distress. Of the supporting cast, Manoj Bajpayee and Deepak Dobriyal are convincing while Prateik Babbar is clearly off the mark. Randeep Hooda as a hippie chillum smoking cop who is called LSD and loves taking selfies shines with his performance.

At 145 minutes, Baaghi 2 seems so long that by the end, I started counting the minutes…. ek, do, teen just like the unwanted remix starring Jacqueline Fernandez. By the end credit, I also remembered that Baaghi 3 is on its way in a few years. This Tiger is going to be alive and kicking.

View photos: Tiger Shroff, dad Jackie, sister Krishna, Akshay Kumar watch Baaghi 2

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Tiger Shroff’s upcoming film Baaghi 2 to be the most EXPENSIVE action FILM of 2018!

Celebrities

Sep 212017

Baaghi 2? the most expensive action film of 2018!

Sajid Nadiadwala’s ‘Baaghi 2’ goes international as the filmmaker once again ropes in action choreographers and technicians from across the globe.

The second installment of the ‘Baaghi’ franchise gears up to set new standards and is touted to be one of the most expensive action films of Bollywood.

Every film project curated by the filmmaker has been grand and that of an international standard.

With Baaghi 2, the sequel has got on board action directors and technicians from Thailand, Hongkong, Los Angels and China amongst others.

While ‘Baaghi’ set a benchmark in action films with its high-octane action sequences and authentic martial arts, the sequel is all set to raise the bar higher in the action genre.

The team along with director Ahmed Khan has been working for over 6 months to develop the sequences that are never seen before in Indian cinema.

Tiger Shroff, who is known for his remarkable action stunts and moves after ‘Baaghi’, will recreate the magic in ‘Baaghi 2’ as well.

The actor-filmmaker has earlier stunned the audience with action films like ‘Heropanti’ and ‘Baaghi’.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under the banner name Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and presented by Fox Star Studios, ‘Baaghi 2’ is scheduled to release on 27th April 2018.