Bollywood PR consultant Dale Bhagwagar tops the list of best celebrity publicists. He leads the film PR agency Dale Bhagwagar Media Group from Mumbai, India.
With Colors announcing the auditions for Bigg Boss 12, anxiousness about the next season of the Salman Khan reality show has already begun.
A tweet from Colors says, “#BiggBoss12 is coming soon and this time we’re looking for jodis! So bring a partner along with you to the @BiggBoss house for twice the dhamaal! Auditions now open!”
Following this, Bollywood PR guru Dale Bhagwagar tweeted a suggestion. “Since BB12 is about jodis, both the persons in a jodi should be held equally responsible for everything. It will be so much fun if they would also be evicted together. Since no two people are alike, this may cause a lot of anxiety among fans and it could ‘doubly’ enhance the dramatic value.”
Dale understands reality television the best in his field. The publicist has handled the media for some of the most controversial names who have been on Bigg Boss. Everyone from Aarya Babbar, Aman Verma, Amar Upadhyay, Anita Advani, Ashmit Patel, Diana Hayden, Kashmera Shah, Mandana Karimi, Pooja Misrra, Rahul Mahajan, Rakhi Sawant, Salil Ankola, Sambhavna Seth, Shamita Shetty, Sherlyn Chopra, Sonali Raut, Upen Patel, Vikas Bhalla, Vindu Dara Singh and Zulfi Syed have been on the list of Dale’s PR clients from time to time.
Max Clifford, the world’s most scandalous publicist once called Dale Bhagwagar“the PR to go to in India.” So what made Clifford praise and refer another publicist? A little case study about this public relations professional from India reveals a lot.
Often termed the King of Spin, Dale Bhagwagar undoubtedly tops the list as the most famous PR experts the Indian entertainment industry has ever witnessed. He is most probably the highest paid publicist and the guy behind the glamour, glitz and media hand-handling for a huge number Bollywood celebrities.
He has looked after the media for more than 200 film stars including Hrithik Roshan, Shilpa Shetty, Priyanka Chopra, Govinda, Vivek Oberoi, the evergreen Dev Anand, and films such as the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Don and Farhan Akhtar starrer Rock On!!
That’s not all! Dale has handled the PR for around 40 movies starring actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Arjun Rampal, Bipasha Basu, Bo Derek, Boman Irani, Jackie Shroff, Jesse Metcalfe, John Abraham, Kabir Bedi, Kareena Kapoor, Karishma Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Manisha Koirala, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Padma Lakshmi, Prakash Raj, Preity Zinta, Rahul Bose, Rani Mukerji, Raveena Tandon, Rekha, Saif Ali Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Shabana Azmi, Sharman Joshi, Shriya Saran, Sunil Shetty, Sunny Deol… and the list goes on and on.
Well known as Bollywood’s only PR guru, this award-winning publicist from Mumbai is also a master with handling controversies and crisis management for actors. For this, he has been quoted in each and every prominent Indian media, apart from some of the topmost international publications and news television channels such as BBC World, CNN, Sky News, The Times, The Guardian, The Independent, Daily Mail, New York Times and The Washington Post.
Dale has spearheaded Shilpa Shetty’s PR during her Big Brother win and also handled the media for a full 20 names who have participated in the reality show’s Indian counterpart Bigg Boss; best known for being hosted by megastar Salman Khan.
All this and more makes the guy a master of masters. No wonder, a simple Google search in his name brings up thousands of results.
Wake up my fellow Bollywood PRs. And do it like Dale does. 😉
1 Press Release / 24 hours / 40 links for my PR client Preetisheel Singh. Covering leading outlets The Times of India (and no, Dale never does Paid News. NEVER), Mid-Day, Times Now, Zoom, Santa Banta, Koi Moi, Yahoo, Bollywood Dhamaka, Bollywood Hungama and The Quint. And this without the help of UNI, PTI, IANS or Reuters.
“I always thought Bollywood stays silent during Salman Khan controversies because they fear his bigness. But this opinion changed when I met him at IIFA this year,” says actress and fashionista Rupali Suri. “I realized that people do not fear him, they respect him.”
Talking about her interview with the Sultan actor for her IIFA green carpet assignment, the Gladrags MegaModel winner recounts, “There was a lot of chirpy frenzy around, but as soon as Salman walked in and stood before me for the interview, all of a sudden, the atmosphere changed. Everyone was quiet, as if waiting for him to begin.”
“After the interview, the ambience was again relaxed and industry people continued their other work as if nothing had changed. Salman was still around and being cordial with people. There and then it struck me that it was not fear but immense respect that drove them to silence for the few minutes I conducted the interview.”
This realization was overwhelming for Rupali. “This kind of respect comes from his do-gooder image, chilled out nature and of course, the amazing continuing success that Salman commands. Now I understand why Salman did not go about town explaining his stance to the media, or making a show of an apology, when they dragged him in the rape comment controversy. He is so above all such drama.”
Rupali is also thrilled with her interview interactions with Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Shiamak Davar, Gulshan Grover, Ranveer Singh and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. “Hrithik turned out to be a super emotional guy who cares so much for his family, especially his kids.”
“Shaimak Davar who was also my dance teacher when I was in school, is as suave as ever. Bad Man Gulshan Grover is actually a warm, affectionate and very knowledgeable man. Priyanka Chopra is a perfectionist with her quotes while Mr Bhansali and Ranveer share great camaraderie,” she recalls.
Rupali will soon be making her big screen debut, playing a key role in director Arun Frank’s first feature film ‘Dad… Hold My Hand’.
Actress and fashionista Rupali Suri has been chosen to be the official anchor at the red carpet for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) gala in Madrid, Spain this year. Rupali will cover a city tour for digital space content of the celebrations.
With close to 150 Bollywood celebrities attending, an expected audience of around 20,000, and a business forum to facilitate talks of trade and collaborations, besides attractions integrating talent from India and Spain – the 17th IIFA event is poised to be a celebration of 60 years of the countries’ diplomatic relations.
The Gladrags MegaModel winner will soon be making her big screen debut, playing a key role in director Arun Frank’s first feature film ‘Dad… Hold My Hand’.
Rupali plays the lead’s fiancé Ria in the film starring Denzil Smith, Ratna Pathak and Jayesh Kodwani. Produced by Wet Grass Films and presented in association with Bad Girl Films (UK), ‘Dad… Hold My Hand’ is made entirely in English and shot in London and Mumbai. The film is expected to do more rounds of festival circuits, before releasing in India and the West.
Fashionista and theatre actress Rupali Suri’s film ‘Dad… Hold My Hand’ recently premiered to a warm reception at Cinema Indien; a film festival organized under the India Unlimited programme by the Embassy of India at Stockholm in Sweden. The movie was so appreciated that a repeat screening was also arranged.
But Rupali who plays a key role, does not sound ecstatic about the praise. Reason being, the writer-director of the movie Arun Frank is no more.
Frank, who spearheaded more than a dozen TV projects earlier, was no ordinary director. In the late 90s, Frank was dubbed ‘the most successful success machine’ for Indian television. He churned out serial after serial, soap after soap, like nobody’s business.
In fact, there was a time when he simultaneously directed television projects, rushing to and fro from one set to another and shooting with various production units at the same time. It was as if Frank was in a race against time. Little did he realize that his life actually would not give him much more time.
“This feature film is Mr Frank’s directorial debut in Bollywood. It was a project extremely close and special to him,” reminisces Rupali, mourning the maker’s demise. “I wish he was there to witness the response his film is getting,” she says.
Rupali plays the lead’s fiancé Ria in the film starring Denzil Smith, Ratna Pathak and Jayesh Kodwani. Produced by Wet Grass Films and presented in association with Bad Girl Films (UK), ‘Dad… Hold My Hand’ is made entirely in English and shot in London and Mumbai. The film is expected to do more rounds of festival circuits, before releasing in India and the West.
With the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/Resort 2016 fever refusing to die down, we can’t help but look at that certain magic that metamorphoses our Indian models into spectacular ramp queens.
Chic Bollywood sensations Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranaut, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra have been some of the hot favourites of our designers for the runway.
Fashionista Rupali Suri who has been a new-age showstopper feels, that “though the fashion industry is a bit biased towards actresses, it’s also a boon to a whole lot of new entrants” on the glam scene. An actress herself, Rupali points out that it takes quite a few stunning qualities in a model to emerge as a showstopper.
So what are the basic requisites of dazzling on the runway? “First of all one has to have that feminine charisma and persona, a decent height and electrifying stage presence. Plus, one has to carry herself in the designer’s grand attire with exuberance and confidence, at the same time, effortlessly match with the theme of the show,” says Rupali.
True that! An intelligent supermodel is the one who understands the brand sensibilities and is in step with the brand image of the designer and his designs. After all, that’s the element which brings in the eyeballs and the business for the fashion industry.
Children of Heaven maker Majid Majidi to watch Akbar Khan’s Taj Mahal
Iranian award winning director Majid Majidi who is internationally acclaimed for movies like Children of Heaven, The Color of Paradise, Baran and his latest Muhammad: The Messenger of God, will attend a special screening of Akbar Khan’s National Award winning film Taj Mahal – An Eternal Love Story along with Iranian, Italian and Indian dignitaries at a private theatre in Juhu, Mumbai, this week.
Majidi will be joined by the Consul General of Iran, His Excellency Masood E Khaleghi, Director General, Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mr Habib Ildeygi and Iranian actor Mohammad Reza Golzar (touted as Iran’s George Clooney) along with diplomats, businessmen and Indian actors Dia Mirza and Poonam Dhillon, as well as stalwarts from the Italian film industry.
“India and Iran share historic relations. A cultural exchange through the medium of cinema is a great way to strengthen this bond,” says director-producer-actor Akbar Khan, who has arranged an event to honour and felicitate the Iranian dignitaries.
It can be noted that on its release a few years ago, Khan’s magnum opus Taj Mahal – An Eternal Love Story created history when it broke the 40-year-old ban on Indian movies in Pakistan. Then, Akbar Khan headed a momentous delegation along with illustrious filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt to Pakistan and opened the floodgates for the Indian film industry there.
“It’s a great time for India to establish relations with the world,” remarks Khan, who is set to embark on two new projects soon. Titled Taxi Driver, the first is a thriller to be shot entirely in London. The second is yet another magnum opus, a historical epic on Genghis Khan; founder of the Mongol Empire, one of the largest empires in the history of the world.
Bigg Boss Season 2 contestant Rahul Mahajan, who re-entered the show as a Challenger as part of Bigg Boss Halla Bol, plans to help Gautam Gulati boost his zest factor on the show.
“Rahul and Gautam have been friends from before, and Rahul plans to help him feel more cheerful,” reveals his publicist Dale Bhagwagar. “Rahul told me, he felt Gautam was a bit low after Diandra left and he wants to pep him up.” With Puneet Issar out of the House this week, Gautam may welcome his old friend Rahul wholeheartedly.
Dale has also given Rahul loads of tips and ideas for Bigg Boss, including some for his equation with Gautam. “Rahul is a man on a mission to amuse, play and entertain. He is straight-forward and does not mince words. That is a quality which will stand him apart,” he points out.
The PR knows. After all, he is considered to be a specialist with many controversial Bigg Boss participants, having handled the media for names such as Rakhi Sawant, Kashmera Shah, Sherlyn Chopra, Pooja Misrra, Diana Hayden, Shamita Shetty, Vindu Dara Singh, Zulfi Syed, Salil Ankola, Anita Advani, Amar Upadhyay, Ashmit Patel, Season 8’s Aarya Babbar, Sonali Raut and even the re-entry Sambhavna Seth.
Apart from this, he has handled the publicity for BB8’s Upen Patel during the initial years of his career in Bollywood. He is also acquainted with inmates RJ Pritam Singh, and has interacted with Karishma Tanna, Ali Quli Mirza, Sambhavna Seth and Sana Khan before they entered the show.
For now, Rahul Mahajan has jumped the wall of the Bigg Boss House (something he was punished for during his first stint on the show). Only that, last time he had jumped it to escape; this time he has leaped to enter the House. What a way to enter. Lol. We are already amused.
Sonali Raut seems to be hitting all the right notes with her fans on the world wide web. Even as the diva wows in Bigg Boss, her fans seem to be on a different trip of scanning every bit of her past on the net.
After a topless pic showing her back in a photo shoot with Ranveer Singh caused quite a ruckus and debates on Twitter a fortnight ago, this week, a few of her bikini pics from the same shoot are making the rounds of social media.
“Fans are fans and if they are digging up stuff, it only shows that they are intrigued and interested in Sonali. That’s not a bad thing, neither are bikini pics. They are a gorgeous lot from a shoot she had done for Maxim India magazine,” says Sonali’s publicist Dale Bhagwagar.
Meanwhile, the Bollywood actress has come to be known as the only contestant in Bigg Boss Season 8 who is carrying on completely on her own steam. Neither has she forged a romantic liaison on the show, nor is she part of any camp.
Moreover, the gal has been part of maximum nominations for eviction earlier, and is now ‘permanently nominated’ by Bigg Boss; as part of a punishment for slapping a contestant. But Sonali has survived. As the publicist tweeted, “She is a fighter on cruise mode. She glides, where others flap.”
“Bigg Boss needs to stick to his stand for womenfolk when he takes one,” feels Bollywood publicist Dale Bhagwagar, who is handling the public relations for Season 8 contestant Sonali Raut and ex-contestant Aarya Babbar.
A few weeks ago, Bigg Boss took away Ali Quli Mirza’s privilege of becoming a Captain of the House again, as a punishment for inappropriately touching Sonali Raut without her consent. But seemingly going back on his stand, he offered Ali an option to have the ban removed, during a task this week.
“The Boss is looked upon as the righteous, mightiest, fairest, wisest, discerning, non-deceiving watcher and protector of the contestants. Will it be alright for him to RETRACT from his stand, especially when he has taken it for the RESPECT of a lady?,” questions Dale.
“Once the Boss banned Ali from becoming a Captain again in this Season, what is the logic and sense of offering him that privilege now?” the PR further asks. “Earlier too, Bigg Boss gave a re-entry to Puneet Issar just a day after being nishkasit (evicted) for being violent towards Aarya,” he points out.
“After the way Ali has behaved with Sonali as well as other contestants later, wont it be disrespectful to them all if the ban is removed?”
It can be noted that apart from disrespecting Sonali, Ali has made fun of Karishma Tanna by keeping on ‘barking’ (imitating an irritating dog) in the presence of none other than megastar Salman Khan.
He has earlier badly yelled at Diandra Soares and also questioned the “auqaat” (status / true colours) of a lady, in his argument with Dimpy Ganguly Mahajan. Apparently, teaching him a fitting lesson for his consistent indecent behaviour, Sonali is shown to have SLAPPED Ali on the reality show today.
