As they prepare for the Karbonn Mobiles 17th Annual Star Screen Awards ceremony this evening, the nominees for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Male) and Best Actor (Female) awards share their excitement
BEST FILM
Band Baaja Baarat
It?s great that Band Baaja Baaraat has been been nominated in most categories including for the Best Film for the Screen Awards. The movie is all heart with real-life characters living in their own identifiable real world. While Yash Raj Films will continue to make movies with recognised stars, it is our constant endeavour to promote new talent. Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma have both been nurtured by the studio.
?Rafiq Gangjee, vice-president, marketing & communications, YRF
Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai
I am absolutely speechless. Both LSD and Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai were made by two different companies. Alt Entertainment, which is set up for edgy, different cinema, produced LSD and Balaji Motion Pictures, which is for mainstream cinema, produced Once Upon.. and I got lucky with both of them.
? Ekta Kapoor, producer
Peepli [LIVE], Raajneeti &Udaan
It?s a great honour for UTV to have three of our films, Raajneeti, Peepli [Live] and Udaan, feature among the nominees in the Best Film category. This reaffirms our belief in backing talented filmmakers with a unique voice and with entertaining stories to tell.
? Siddharth Roy Kapoor, CEO, UTV Motion pictures
BEST DIRECTOR
Anusha Rizvi, Peepli [LIVE]
The film is rooted in India and deals with Indians. That I am nominated for the first Indian awards of the year matters a great deal. Filmmakers such as Prakash Jha and Milan Luthria, who have also been nominated in this category, are way more experienced than me.
Dibakar Banarjee, Love Sex Aur Dhokha
For a small, socially provocative, out-of-the-box film such as LSD to be nominated for Best Film and Best Director, it is indeed proof of how Indian cinema, Indian audiences and their tastes have changed. Regardless of whether we get any award, the nomination is enough for me and my team to get down to our next film with renewed inspiration.
Maneesh Sharma, Band Baaja Baarat
I?m feeling overwhelmed. I?m happy that not only me but the film has been nominated in so many categories. It?s a huge achievement for the team. I was exploring many ideas and I really liked the concept of weaving in a romantic story with entrepreneurship. This gave me a chance to explore a new space in the romance genre.
Milan Luthria, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai
It?s like a super dessert after a fantastic meal. I am witness to every single nominee putting in months of hard work but even then so many nominations feel overwhelming. Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai has truly turned the corner for me and I?m spurred on by all these nominations to do much better.
Prakash Jha, Raajneeti
Screen Awards are prestigious and I am happy to be nominated. Everybody in this category is a competent filmmaker. I have also watched Udaan and it?s a good film.
Vikramatidya Motwane, Udaan
I am delighted and honoured with the nomination. This recognition helps me make my kind of cinema and opens the door for different kinds of filmmaking.
BEST ACTOR (MALE)
Ajay Devgn, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai
It is always a wonderful feeling to be appreciated by your fans and critics alike. This is what matters the most and keeps me going.
Hrithik Roshan, Guzaarish
Screen always holds a special place as it is a symbol of pride and unmatched dignity. It gave me my very first Best Actor Award moment on stage, 10 years ago. I?m proud to be nominated this year and look forward to another magnificent event.
Naseeruddin Shah, Ishqiya
It?s wonderful to know that Naseerbhai has been nominated. Having him in Ishqiya was a great stroke of luck for me. His craft is unquestionably superior to most actors and his passion most infectious.
? Abhishek Chaubey, director, Ishqiya
Paresh Rawal, Road To Sangam
I am very happy that Road To Sangam has been recognised and appreciated. All the credit for that film goes to script- writer-director Amit Rai. I salute the producer Amit Chheda for his guts to make this film.
Ranbir Kapoor, Raajneeti
It feels awesome to be nominated and among such great talent. Thank you Mr Prakash Jha, Screen and everybody for nominating me.
Rishi Kapoor, Do Dooni Chaar
The fact that my wife Neetu Singh, my son Ranbir and I have been nominated in the same year is the biggest high for me and even if I don?t win, it does not matter. The role was very challenging. The pot-bellied, middle-class husband was something I had never attempted before.
Salman Khan, Dabangg
The country has been unanimous in liking Salman?s performance. I hope he gets the award because he deserves it. As an actor, he was always up there contributing to the script. A lot of the credit for the witty one-liners goes to him.
? Abhinav Singh Kashyap, director, Dabangg
Shah Rukh Khan, My Name Is Khan
It was one of the most endearing and challenging roles I have played. I had undergone a serious surgery and was in a constant state of introspection. Khan as a character made me personally believe that no disability can keep one from fulfilling one?s dreams.
BEST ACTOR (FEMALE)
Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, Guzaarish
It?s indeed an honour to be nominated in both the popular and the jury categories for the Screen Awards. Robot?s popularity across the nation has made it a superlative experience for me and the entire team. Guzaarish too has been a very precious cinematic experience.
Anushka Sharma, Band Baaja Baaraat
I am extremely happy that I have been nominated in both the popular and jury categories as best actress, which shows the acceptance of my character. I will be over the moon if I bag either award or both.
Kajol, My Name Is Khan
It is always a pleasure when your work is appreciated and even more when it is on such a big scale.
Neetu Kapoor, Do Dooni Chaar
I wanted to be appreciated for my role because I was facing the camera after almost 30 years. Thankfully, both the critics and the audience were very generous with their compliments. Being nominated is a big bonus for me and I am truly humbled.
Vidya Balan, Ishqiya
It was my first attempt at playing a sexually-aggressive role and extremely challenging for me. The response was great and it?s a fantastic feeling to be nominated.
