INDIAN MUSIC

BOLYWOOD NEWS

2011-10-30T21:11:00.000-07:00

Amrita Rao On The Cover Of Exhibit Magazine October 2011 Issue

Release Date Of Movie Dhoom 3 Delayed From 2012 to 2013

The release date of Yash Raj Films’ (YRF) much-awaited “Dhoom 3″ has been shifted to 2013 due to production and post-production considerations.The movie, which is the third instalment of YRF’s popular action-adventure franchise “Dhoom”, will go on the floors November-end, said a statement issued by the production house.The production unit anticipates “a demanding 10-11 months of intense shooting with concurrent post-production”, which will “probably be cutting it too fine for a Christmas 2012 release”. Therefore, the decision was locked by producer Aditya Chopra, director Vijay Krishna Acharya, in consultation with lead actor Aamir Khan”.“‘Dhoom 3′ is very dear to all of us as well as to its audience who expect only the best from the franchise. While the shooting will finish in time, we expect the post-production to take much longer. We are trying our best to give one of the finest cinematic experiences to our discerning audience and therefore did not want to compromise the quality of the film just to meet the release date,” said Acharya.The movie will see Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra reprising their roles as policemen, while Katrina Kaif has been roped in to raise the oomph in the film.With the change in release date, the film has also co-incidentally avoided a clash with “Dabangg 2″, which is slated for a Christmas release in 2012.

John Abraham to appear in Hollywood Movies?

John Abraham has been approached to work in a film that may star the likes of Sylvester Stallone and Gerard Butler.John Abraham’s new found action image seems to be working too well for him. It has managed to attract the attention of Hollywood heavyweights like Sylvester Stallone and Gerard Butler.If all goes well, you may just see Johnny boy alongside Stallone. Apparently, JJ Perry, Stallone’s action trainer has now turned filmmaker and he has been looking to cast John and the Hollywood hotshots for his forthcoming film.Confirms John, “Perry saw some shots from my film Force. He called me and appreciated my work and physique. He also expressed interest in casting me for his next. I will be going to Los Angeles in December to meet the producers.”Though starring with Rambo himself is an opportunity John obviously does not want to let go of, he maintains that his heart lies in Bollywood. He adds, “I am an Indian first and Indian films have always been my first priority. Only if I thinit’s worth it will I make any international commitments.”This, however, is not the first time John’s Hollywood dreams have got a chance to be fulfilled. When Deepa Mehta’s Water travelled across all prestigious film-festivals, the actor was appreciated and approached by many foreign filmmakers.“It’s flattering when your work is appreciated and I will try to do my best,” he ends. So if all goes well, John may just bring in the New Year with his first Hollywood project. Watch this space for more.

Release Date of Race Movie Sequel Moved Form May 2012

The much talked about sequel to the action packed thriller Race has been delayed. The film which was originally set to feature Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Sonakshi Sinha has been going through a lot of change or so say the rumours.The latest is that the film which was initially supposed to release in May 2012 has been pushed back to a later date. Also, it was said that Priyanka Chopra is being considered for the film. Clarifying the rumours, producer Ramesh Taurani tells us, “Yes, there were some changes that were made, but the whole aspect of Priyanka being in the film isn’t true. In fact, we have pushed the dates of the film to accommodate Deepika’s dates.” When asked about the change in the Deepika’s remuneration for the film, Taurani says, “There is nothing like that, we have only changed the dates and nothing else.”However, due to change in the dates of Race 2, Sonakshi Sinha who is also a part of the film may have to opt out as the film’s shoot clashes with that of Dabanng 2. Talking about Sonakshi’s dates, Taurani says, “Sonakshi is a part of the film, but due to the postponement of the film, there may be a problem and we are trying to work it out.”

Rumors about a delay in Ra.One Movie In 3D

RA.ONE is the most-awaited movie right now and everything pertaining to the film is making news these days. While the makers are working round-the-clock to ensure that the film hits the screens on Wednesday, 26 October, a section of the media has reported that the 3D version of the film will arrive a week later, i.e. on 4 November. Meaning, the film will have a global release, as per schedule, on 26 October, but since the 3D conversion is taking time, the film will be released in the 3D version a week later.Anubhav Sinha, the director of the biggie, laughs aloud when I pose this question. “No way! The 3D version is also releasing on 26 October. We are working day and night to ensure that we deliver on time. Shah Rukh has had a serious discussion with the team and we are confident that the film will be released in 3D simultaneously. There’s no delay at all.” Sunil Lulla of Eros too rubbishes the rumors. “We will definitely meet the deadline of Diwali. Yes, RA.ONE is arriving in all its glory in 3D on 26 October,” he sets the record straight. That should put the rum, ors to rest!

Celina Jaitly Is Pregnant With Twins

After getting married earlier this year to Peter Haag in Austria, Celina Jaitly has announced that she is pregnant. She tweeted:Dear friends Peter & myself seek ur blessings on this new journey which we now begin .We are exhilarated & very happy with the http://news.As for myself its a fabulous new aspect to embracing my womanhood. I feel complete!! – Celina Jaitley is expecting twins – The Times of IndiaCelina also tweeted a link to an article from the Times of India which reported that she is expecting twins next year in April. Congrats to the happy couple!

New Poster of Arjun Rampal in the Movie Ra. One

Ra. One Raftaarein Making Song. Raftaarein is supposed to be a end credit song, so what they have done with the song is just perfect! Love the concept of the Making of movie with the song! and I am really liking the whole feel of the song + Shah Rukh looks awesome in the song! and Making of the movie is what I really want to see, should have awesome stuff!

BOLYWOOD NEWS

2011-10-30T20:44:00.000-07:00

US based Sikh group filed a criminal complaint against Indian film star Amitabh Bachchan

US based Sikh group filed a criminal complaint against Indian film star Amitabh Bachchan in Australia for his suspected part in November 1984 anti-Sikh riots.The legal complaint against Bachchan was placed with Australia’s Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions by Sikhs for Justice, the US based human rights organisation made the announcement Tuesday .In the lawsuit in favor of widows , victims , together with survivors of November 1984 anti-Sikh assaults , Sikhs for Justice is being joined up with the National 1984 Victims Justice , Welfare Society and the Indian Sikh Student Federation .Bachchan is now in Australia receiving an honorary degree from Queensland Institution of Technology , Brisbane . in addition he is currently filming the Hollywood film ” The Great Gatsby” along side Leonardo DiCaprio in Australia .Australia’s Criminal Code Act from 1995 gives Australian courts jurisdiction in events concerning crimes against humanity no matter if the offence was committed in Australia, stated Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Sikhs for Justice legal advisor .Under this Act, the mere presence of a foreigner in Australia is sufficient basis for jurisdiction over acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed abroad, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun said .

First Look at Actress Tia Bajpai in upcoming Haunted Movie Lanka with Manoj Bajpayee N Arjan Bajwa

Mallika Sherawat Dances to Munni Badnaam Song in Tamil remake of Dabangg

Ankita Shorey on the Cover of Femina Magazine October 2011 Issue

Actor Vivek Oberoi Taking New Role As a Producer

Vivek Oberoi appears to be experiencing a purple spot lately with him being a part of films like Zilla Ghaziabad , the excitedly anticipated Krissh sequel and also Gyarah Challis Ki Last Metro , the sequel of the critically acclaimed Ek Challis Ki Last Local .In the middle of all this , Vivek has silently gone forward and produced a short film which was chosen to be screened at the highly acclaimed 16th ‘Busan International Film Festival’ in Korea . Nowadays every actor who’s transformed into a producer has become active publicising his each and every move , to the contrary Vivek has progressed entirely unnoticed concerning his fresh production which is definitely heartening to see .Watch Indian Circus directed by Mangesh Hadawale traces the fortunes of an impoverished man and woman who dream about someday being able to afford to take their small children to the circus . Placed against the setting of a corrupt local election ; the movie at its basic core is a generally humorous celebration of the human spirit . The movie showcased at the 16th ‘Busan International Film Festival’ and the tickets to screenings were among the most desired items going in Busan this week . The screening was attended by Vivek and also keeping him company was his spouse Priyanka .Speaking on this subject , Vivek states that , “These are different stories from those people are used to seeing , a different way of seeing things , and it is not all about making money .”

Bollywood News

2011-10-30T20:23:00.000-07:00

TELL ME O KKHUDA MOVIE REVIEW AND RATINGS

Hema Malini returns to direction after a sabbatical, almost twenty years after she made DIL AASHNA HAI [1992], and so does her daughter Esha, whose last release hit the screens three years ago. But the veteran actress/film-maker takes an emotional trip yet again. In DIL AASHNA HAI, it was all about a girl wanting to know who her mother was. In TELL ME O KKHUDA, the gender is changed; the protagonist goes in search of her biological father. It’s her passionate quest for her roots, the search for her father that makes her travel to different destinations — Rajasthan, Turkey and Goa.Well, this isn’t an innovative concept, frankly. Of course, DIL AASHNA HAI had a similar theme, but prior to that, Yash Chopra incorporated a similar sub-plot in KABHI KABHIE. But, if one were to be specific, TELL ME O KKHUDA inadvertently bears a striking resemblance to the Meryl Streep starrer MAMMA MIA!. Generally, in subjects such as these, the focus is on, you guessed it right, the drama and also the emotional quotient. It boils down to how one connects with the plot and how proficiently can the protagonist get into the shoes.Hema Malini gets it right as far as the plot is concerned and there’s no denying that Esha pitches in a sincere, heartwarming performance, but TELL ME O KKHUDA suffers for that vital reason that’s the lifeline of every film — the screenplay isn’t convincing enough. The three stories, not connected with each other, hold your interest intermittently, in bits and spurts. But it’s the culmination to the tale that spoils the effort. Things go awry at this stage. What was the need for a formulaic and filmy end?Tanya [Esha Deol] is brought up in the secure and content environment of a loving family [Farooque Shaikh, Deepti Naval], but decides to chart an unpredictable course with the intention of tracing her biological parents. The intense search for her roots, which Tanya takes up passionately and with headstrong determination, takes her around the globe. She meets the three men one by one — Abhay [Vinod Khanna], a royal by birth who is revered for integrity; Altaf [Rishi Kapoor], a sophisticated Indian settled in Turkey; Anthony [Dharmendra], a gangster. Tanya has to find the answers she’s looking for.Of the three stories, the one featuring Rishi Kapoor manages to hold your interest. That’s because it comes across as real. The story featuring Vinod Khanna gets into an altogether different track and even the camel race that’s featured in this episode, which should’ve been a highpoint, fails to excite you. And the one featuring Dharmendra is the weakest of the lot. Frankly, the sequences that feature the real-life father and daughter, Dharmendra and Esha, are electrifying, but the episode featuring the father’s past [Hema Malini] is so so disappointing. The emotional connect is missing here. Like I pointed out earlier, even the finale is an absolute letdown.Hema Malini has handled a few emotional moments well, but the screenplay is far from convincing, disjointed and least engaging, which takes the film down. There’s not much hope for music here, yet Pritam comes up with two decent tracks — ‘Mera Mann’ and ‘Esha’. The latter comes too late in the narrative, though. The cinematography is consistent. The portions in Turkey are luminously filmed.Esha Deol delivers a mature performance. Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor are accomplished actors all and they stand out in their respective parts. Farooque Shaikh is equally good. Deepti Naval is effective. Arjan Bajwa doesn’t get scope, though Chandan Roy Sanyal is a complete livewire, a spontaneous actor. Sudhanshu Pandey is strictly okay, while Madhoo does well. The actress playing the part of Rishi Kapoor’s wife does a fine job. Johny Lever provides some genuine laughs. Hema Malini appears towards the end of the film. She doesn’t impress this time!On the whole, TELL ME O KKHUDA has an erratic script, which works in bits and spurts. That, honestly, isn’t enough!

Review Of Ra.One Movie

I’ve often heard people say, film-making is nothing short of a gamble. And as any gambler will tell you, you’ve got to gamble huge to triumph huge. Going by this logic, Shah Rukh Khan is The Supreme Gambler of the year.What’s at stake, beside the big money invested in RA.ONE of course, is a dream, a vision, an aspiration to make a film which appeals to kids and kids at heart. In short, attempt a film that appeals to the universal audience. At the same time, it ought to raise the bar for Hindi films. Also at stake is SRK’s once-unchallenged supremacy as the reigning idol of Bollywood and that elusive thing called reputation. When you invest your repute in your dream project and stick your neck out, you expect nothing short of a mega-success.Movies like KRRISH and ROBOT initiated the trend of superhero films in India, with fantasy making deep inroads into mainstream Hindi cinema. Now RA.ONE raises the bar, takes not a step or two, but a giant leap and adheres to international standards, in terms of execution. But the soul, I wish to add, is very desi. That’s precisely the reason why RA.ONE emerges trumps. RA.ONE is beauty with brains.What characterizes a stunning superhero movie? I have narrowed it down to three precise constituents that I deem are absolutely necessary for an alluring superhero flick. The first is that the motion picture must encompass spectacular action and edge-of-the-seat thrills. Secondly, a magnificent superhero movie must also boast of luminous performances from the protagonists, which in turn should make these characters appear credible and relatable. Thirdly and most importantly, superhero films must have a narrative that keeps us yearning for more. All of these are indispensable factors in making a superhero movie that will be both acclaimed and adored by fans. Fortunately, RA.ONE emerges triumphant in all the three departments.RA.ONE is the most ambitious, most expensive and the most technologically complex Hindi film ever made. It pushes the envelope further. It’s not merely a film, but an experience, an event. It’s a film that will rewrite the textbook of computer graphics in Hindi cinema. At the same time, it is very Indian at heart. The relationship between SRK and the kid is the highpoint of the enterprise. But, at the same time, there are ample clap-trap moments that will send the viewers in frenzy. The chase sequence, when Ra.One finally zeroes on Lucifer, and the subsequent ‘entry’ of the superhero is awe-inspiring. The train sequence in the second hour is exceptional and a cinematic feat. The presence of Rajnikanth in a crucial sequence will be greeted with deafening claps and whistles. And, of course, the climax of the film; it’s simply jaw-dropping.Besides these factors, the ‘Chammak Chhallo’ number is already a rage and so are the sequences involving visual effects. In a nutshell, it’s an entertainer that works big time. You haven’t experienced something like this ever before, on the Hindi screen!A father tries hard to fit into his son’s world. While Shekhar [Shah Rukh Khan] tries every trick in the book to woo his son, his son had given up on him. Just when the father-son duo hit a deadlock, Shekhar strikes gold when he designs one hell of a game. Finally, it all starts falling in place. But the happiness is short-lived. All hell breaks loose when the game that was meant to be played with, starts playing them.We are spoilt by cinema’s ability to create on celluloid anything that can be imagined, therefore we have raconteurs making endeavors to bestow us with movies that you wouldn’t have ever envisioned even in your mind’s eye. You realize this as you watch RA.ONE, which is a visual spectacle from start to end.Director Anubhav Sinha along with co-writers David Benullo, Kanika Dhillon and Mushtaq Shiekh may be inspired by international flicks as far as the concept is concerned, but they ensure that they serve the right masala to moviegoers in those 2.30 hours. What actually takes you by complete surprise is not just the money spent on visual effects or the stunning chase and action scenes, but the twists and turns in the screenplay that unravel at a feverish pace.Besides, the moviegoers have certain expectations and notions about superhero flicks and they expect such characters to perform audacious aerobatics to save someone’s life or a nation. But this one’s different. Visually arresting and dramatically just what the doctor ordered, the film boasts of relatable characters, which makes this superhero movie for kids as well as grown-ups. In fact, I’d like to add, RA.ONE is not only skillfully directed, but also visually dynamic and entertains from commencement to conclusion.the album of the film lives up to the grand expectations. Vishal-Shekhar deliver a striking score with ‘Chammak Chhallo’, ‘Dildaara’ and ‘Raftarein’ being the pick of the lot. The background score, also recorded by them, is equally electrifying. V. Manikandan and Nicola Pecorini’s cinematography is top notch. Same goes for the stunts and chases [Andy Gill and Spiro Razatos]. Dialogue [Kanika Dhillon and Niranjan Iyengar] are hardly ever commonplace. What I found most interesting is that, whether humorous or thoughtful, the channel of communication appears very credible. The Ra.One and G.One suits, designed by Robert Kurtzman, are super.RA.ONE is a perfect vehicle that does justice to the talent of Shah Rukh Khan. He seems to have found a story and character that work in perfect sync and tandem with manic energy. SRK steers this physically challenging lead role with high-spirited self-belief. He’s endearing as the father and magnificent as the superhero with a heart. Kareena Kapoor is a delight to watch. She effortlessly glides into the character. Besides, she looks ethereal in the ‘Chammak Chhallo’ song and her wit is infectious. Arjun Rampal pulls his act with effortlessness and style. Also, Arjun’s well-designed look is admirable.I’d like to make a special mention of Armaan Verma, the kid who has a pivotal part to portray. He stands shoulder to shoulder with SRK and Kareena all through the film and delivers a super-confident performance. The film has a number of actors in key roles [Shahana Goswami, Dalip Tahil, Satish Shah, Suresh Menon, Mushtaq Shiekh and Tom Wu] and each of them fit well in their respective parts. Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Chopra add to the glam quotient, while Rajnikanth proves yet again that he’s a scene stealer.But the man who warrants the actual round of applause is director Anubhav Sinha himself. For bringing out the best of SRK, Kareena and Arjun. For the amazing screenplay. For the speedy yet smooth stream of the narrative. And for the fantastic unfolding of the written material. He merits top admiration for every act of his.On the whole, RA.ONE is a solid entertainer, no two opinions on that. It’s not merely a great looking film, but also has soul, which is so essential to strike a chord with the avid moviegoer. As for the business prospects, RA.ONE is sure to shatter all previous records and set new ones, in India as well as internationally. The film will be the new yardstick for measuring success. It has Blockbuster written all over it!

Don 2 Gaming Poster

Don 2 Second Promo Teaser Video

Music Review of Desi Boyz Movie

EXPECTATIONSYou have very good expectations from the music of Desi Boyz. First and foremost this is an unpretentious out and out commercial outing which means catchy music is pretty much on cards. Moreover, the title song with Akshay and John has already caught attention in a big way. Also, Pritam can well be expected to deliver goods in a biggie like this, especially after some chartbuster soundtracks that he has created for Akshay in the form of Action Replayy, De Dana Dan, Singh Is Kinng and Bhool Bhulaiyaa. With prominent lyricists like Kumaar, Irshad Kamil and Amitabh Bhattacharya contributing here, one looks forward to a fun and entertaining ride.MUSICDesi Boyz gets a powerful beginning with ‘Make Some Noise For The Desi Boyz’ which is the kind of track that one would have expected when it comes to male bonding between the lead actors. A Punjabi-Hindi-English track by Kumaar that has K.K. singing in an altogether different style (when compared to far sombre songs that he usually sings for Pritam) along with Bob, this one is a chartbuster all the way. Boasted by addictive beats, relentless pace and some quick-fix arrangements that keep the adrenalin pumping for those four minutes, this one starts and finishes in a jiffy with no dull moment whatsoever. As expected, the song is also complimented by a ‘remix version’ which has a concert/club feel to it, hence requiring a wide dance floor that creates enough space to get the dance moves on.What takes the fun quotient forward is ‘Subha Hone Na De‘ which is second straight chartbuster track in a row. This one is a club outing as well with a definite Indian melody to it which only accentuates the overall appeal of the song. With Mika Singh getting into a total mood while singing this fun-n-entertaining number, this one also has a sonic sound to it, courtesy the parts sung by Shefali Alvaris that gives an added touch to this Kumaar written number. Though the song requires a couple of listening to make one get into the groove, ‘Subha Hone Na De‘ is all set to become popular in quick time. No wonder, the makers too show good confidence in the song, hence adding not just a ‘remix version’ but also repeat it as ‘Tu Mera Hero‘.After a couple of club outings comes a quintessential Bollywood dance number that has Pritam giving exactly what is expected from him. With its opening sound on the similar lines as ‘Zor Ka Jhatka’ [Action Replayy] and the mood similar to that of ‘Twist’ [Love Aaj Kal] , ‘Jhak Maar Ke‘ is clearly one of the massiest numbers that John Abraham has danced to in his decade long career. With Neeraj Shridhar and Harshdeep Kaur clearly having a lot of fun behind the mike and singing to the rhythm of some ‘desi’ Punjabi beats, ‘Jhak Maar Ke‘ written by Irshad Kamil works instantly with the listener and only makes one nod in approval by the time the ‘remix version’ arrives.A much refined version of ‘Razia Gundo Mein Phas Gayi’ [Thank You] comes in the form of‘Allah Maaf Kare‘ which only makes one sure that the makers here were sure about bringing in all the commercial ingredients that would have kept the mood of Desi Boyz upbeat and catering to class as well as mass audience. While this Irshad Kamil written song has a core Indian appeal to it, Pritam presents it in a Western avtar to bring in just the right fusion that ensures that ‘Allah Maaf Kare‘ makes it four-in-a-row for Desi Boyz. With Sonu Nigam and Shilpa Rao bringing in a new dimension with their singing style here, ‘Allah Maaf Kare’ also arrives in it’s remix version and makes one head to the dance floor.Last to arrive is ‘Let It Be‘ which could just have turned into a sad outing if only lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya would have changed a few words here and there or Pritam would have stepped into a much serious zone. However, despite the relatively serious mood of the song here when compared to the rest of the album, ‘Let It Be‘ never makes one feel that the sound of Desi Boyzhas been compromised. A song where the protagonist is regretting the mistakes he has made in life and now wants his partner (and life in general) to stick to him as he makes amends, this situational track is sung well by Shaan and has the composer’s stamp all over it.OVERALLMusic of Desi Boyz exceeds expectations. While one was sure that there would at least a couple of chartbusters in the album due to reasons mentioned at the very beginning, it is clear that director Rohit Dhawan had additional expectations from his team here. Result is this soundtrack by Pritam which is one of the better ‘masala’ albums of the year that works as instant coffee and also promises a good shelf life once the film scores at the box office.

Bollywood Now Wants To Not Dub Hollywood Movies in Hindi

A couple of weeks ago , when a segment of Pakistan’s film industry had brought up concerns over Hindi films eroding their market portion , director-producer Mahesh Bhatt was among those who’d empathized with them .However right now we hear that something very similar may be at hand closer home – the word around is that some industry bigwigs are lobbying to persuade the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to prohibit the dubbing of English films into local languages .Speaking with DT , Bhatt said , “There are similar apprehensions in Bollywood and everyone is planning to come together and fight this practice of Hollywood films being dubbed in Hindi or Tamil . We cannot allow them to have a right over our mother tongue and use it to their advantage just because they have the budget . Hollywood studios have big budgets for promotions and we can never match that . Hindi film producers are now planning to come together against this . Letters have been written to the I&B ministry secretary in the past also , and I can say with full certainty that something similar is on the cards now . We face similar issues in other states at times . For instance , I cannot get my movie dubbed in Bengali .”The fact is , in south India , English films can only be dubbed in Tamil and Telugu and no additional language , states Ravi Kottarakara of the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce , adding , “As far as the association is concerned , I cannot say anything . But on a personal level , I can say that we do face a loss of revenue when an English movie is dubbed in a regional language and released . If such a step is taken by Hindi film producers , we’ll certainly support it , as I’m sure will other producers in south India . It’s just like the self-imposed code of conduct we have in place for the Kannada industry . It’s a very fragile industry and no movie is dubbed in Kannada , to prevent competition for local cinema .”Whilst the industry might seem to be uniting against English releases , they are going to certainly face stiff opposition from the cinema owners’ lobby . Deepak Sharma of PVR Cinemas says , “This is not a practical move . If they do something like this , then international studios will also react . Also , I don’t agree that English movies dubbed in regional languages result in a loss of revenue . We have released 30 English films so far and only one has been dubbed in all three languages – Hindi , Tamil and Telugu . There are other factors too . When there is no Hindi content in cinemas , it’s usually English films or English films dubbed in Hindi that get patrons to cinemas . So the cinema lobby will never agree to this .”In other regions- Karnataka does not permit screening of dubbed movies- In Andhra Pradesh , states Suresh Babu , president of the AP Film Chamber of Commerce , “there are serious concerns regarding Hollywood films eating into the market of Hindi and vernacular movies . The general consensus is , let Hollywood release their films in India in English with subtitles for various local markets . If Bollywood takes a call on restricting dubbed Hollywood films , we will stand by them . The other problem we face is an onslaught of dubbed films from other Indian languages as well . Such is the buzz around the dubbed version of “RA .One” that not a single Telugu film is releasing this Diwali . We’d request stars like SRK or Rajini to release their films in the original languages .”- In April this year , several members of the Bengali TV market put their work on hold for one day to protest the airing of Bengali-dubbed Hindi serials on a local station . As for movies , Arijit Dutta , vice president , Eastern India Motion Pictures Association , says , “There is noofficial ban on dubbing Hollywood , Bollywood and Mollywood movies into Bengali . But EIMPA restricts such efforts .” ( Inputs from Sarah Salvadoreand Priyanka Dasgupta )

Latest Bollywood News

2011-10-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Riya Sen refuses to shoot the item number for ‘Ek Bura Aadmi’

Riya Sen’s career seems to be heading nowhere but the actress still cant get over her starry tantrums it seems. She created much woe to the makers of ‘Ek Bura Aadmi’ by not only refusing to shoot the item number with Arunoday Singh but also shunning away from media who had been called to cover the shooting of the song.The debutant director Ishraq Shah feels at a loss and says, “It was a nightmare. Riya Sen had signed on to do an item song. We had recorded a really zingy song Uchal gayee chamiya kunwaron ke beech mein. Jayesh Pradhan who has done the choreography in Aarakashan was supposed to choreograph Riya’s number. Everything was finalized, But then…. ”“She claimed she was unwell and could not rehearse for the item song. Then she showed up for just one shot. I agreed since Arunodoy had to leave. But then she refused to talk to the media. I’m a new director.This is all very new and embarrassing for me. My producer has suffered losses of at least 70-80 lakhs because of this. I don’t know how I will shoot the song now. Arunodoy is gone for a month.When he returns he immediately starts shooting for Madhur Bhandarkar’s Heroine. My mentor Gulzar Saab had worked with the great Suchitra Sen. Look at what I had to go through on my birthday with her grand-daughter!” added Shah.On the other hand, Riya Sen refuses to accept the charges and blames the makers for this chaos. She says, “This is all a publicity gimmick, as far as I can see. Ishraq Shah is a new director. I helped him out by agreeing to do the song. Besides I thought the song was nice and I could use it in my shows.According to the contract we were supposed to shoot on 4th and 5th October. He requested me to come for the shoot on the 3rd because he said Arunodoy was leaving the same night for the US. I agreed out of kindness, although I’ve been unwell. But at the shoot there was pure chaos.There was a very strange set of media persons at the shoot whom I had never seen before. They kept coming in front of the camera while we were shooting.The director asked me to speak to the media. I refused. Please understand I wasn’t even supposed to shoot on Monday. Is this what I get for my kindness?Why use my name for publicity? We recently had Mr Dev Anand being quoted against me. I shot for his Chargesheet three years ago. If he had a problem with me why didn’t he speak earlier? Why at the time of release?”Whoever is at the fault, it is hard to say. All we know is that Moonmoon Sen is trying to set things right between daughter Riya and director Shah.

The second statue of Aishwarya Rai unveiled at Madame Tussauds

Though Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is in the third trimester of her pregnancy, the news columns still cant get enough of her. She is all over the media again for her new wax statue being unveiled at Madame Tussauds in Blackpool, UK. The new statue takes its inspiration from the look Ash sported at Cannes last year in an Ellie Saab gown. The previous one had Aishwarya’s statue draped in a saree.This second figure of Aishwarya has been made exclusively for the Blackpool’s new Bollywood world tour, from 19th October to 20th January 2012. This is the first ever Bollywood Travelling Exhibition — with the launch being held in Blackpool.

A brand new team for ‘Dabangg 2′

Well, ‘Dabangg’ may have been a grand success on the box office, but Salman and Arbaaz Khan are in no mood to repeat the crew of the original for the sequel. After director Abhinav Kashyap walked out of ‘Dabangg 2’, they had decided that barring Abhinav, they would repeat the entire cast and crew. However, the technicians were the next to leave the team. Now, the film which goes on floors in March 2012 will have a entirely new set of crew with the original lead actors.Arbaaz Khan confirmed this fact and was quoted saying, “Why are people presuming that I’d have to depend on creative resources from the first Dabangg to make Dabangg 2? I’ve been born into a film family. I grew up hearing scripts and people talking cinema. I know enough about cinema to turn director confidently. It’s true we don’t have the original crew on board. We’ve hired a first-rate group of fresh technicians for Dabangg 2.”“We know what we’re doing. It’s Dileep Shukla who has written the sequel. But it is my vision and ideas that have been put into the screenplay. I know exactly how I want to shoot the film. The novelty of seeing Salman playing Chulbul Pandey with a moustache has worn off. We’ll be going beyond,” said Arbaaz.

Kareena Kapoor unveils her wax statue at Madamme TassaudsFinally,

Kareena Kapoor gets to unveil her wax statue at Madamme Tassauds at Blackpool on the day after Diwali. The statue, which takes inspiration from Kareena’s look in the ‘Mauja Hi Mauja’ song from director Imtiaz Ali’s blockbuster movie Jab We Met, took about four motnhs to complete and costed around 1,50,000 pounds.Mom Babita accompanied Bebo for the unveiling of the statue following which Kareena also launched the museum’s global Bollywood exhibition.“It is an honour and a privilege to have my own wax figure at Madame Tussauds, and even more so to launch a global Bollywood exhibition. This is a moment of pride for Indian cinema,” Kareena said in a statement.“The figure looks incredible and is so life-like, I did a double take when I saw it myself. They have really done a superb job of capturing my essence,” she added.

Esha Gupta replaces Jacqueline Fernandez in ‘Krissh 2′?

Since the time Hrithik Roshan’s ‘Krissh 2’ has been launched, there has been a shuffling of names for the second female lead in the flick. After Kangana Ranaut and Sonakshi Sinha, Chitrangada Singh was finalized for the role. Later, she backed out on account of some date problems and was replaced by Jacqueline Fernandez. Now, it seems that Fernandez too is not happy with what the role has to offer for her and the next name to pop up is the Kingfisher girl Esha Gupta.Esha, who is often called the desi Angelina Jolie, has scorched the pages of Kingfisher calendars and will be making her Bollywood debut in Vishesh Films’ next project titled Informer. Director Kunal Deshmukh is all praises for Esha and feels that she is just suited for the role, which is of a bindas typical Delhi girl. Kunal says, “The character is slightly teekhi, muhphat, she isn’t the type to sit back and is used to being heckled by men. That’s our character, and Esha fits in well.”

Ranbir Kapoor celebrates Nargis Fakhri’s birthday at 20, 000 feet up in the air

Ranbir Kapoor seems totally smitten by his ‘Rockstar’ co-star and debutant Nargis Fakhri. He planned a surprise birthday celebration for Nargis whose birthday is on 21st October. The two were flying together for Nagpur and Ranbir had a small yet special birthday cake of her choice delivered to her mid-air when they were 20,000 feet up in the air. Along with the cake he even ordered some goodies. To add to it, singer Mohit Chauhan sang the birthday song for the pretty lady and was joined in by Ranbir himself along with producer Hiren Gandhi.Nargis declared her birthday earlier on the twitter and wrote, “ITS MY BIRTHDAY! Thanks Mom&Dad(RIP)wish my dad cud c me, n how far i’ve come n all da things i have achieved. Thank u all the BDAY WISHes.”Nargis expressed her gratitude on making her birthday feel so special and tweeted the experience as , “im so overwhelmed im actually crying right now. thank you guys. i wud take a pic but i dont want it in the paper tomorrow LOL.”

Aamir Khan announces his TV show at a press conference

Among the three Khans of Bollywood, two of them (Salman and Shahrukh), have already hosted TV shows on the smaller screen. Now, the third one, that is the perfectionist Aamir Khan is all set to make a grand debut as the host of a TV show and the actor announced the same at a press conference held in Mumbai.“This is not just a show for me, it’s a journey. A journey of discovery, of change, of emotions, of human stories, which touch and inspire us. My dream is to impact lives,” Aamir told reporters at the press conference.“I have been offered game shows before, but I didn’t find them very exciting… not that they were not good but personally doing the same thing everyday didn’t excite me much. So that is how I started to think and brainstorm for an innovative concept. Moreover, I have realized in all these years that TV is a very strong and powerful medium and I should make use of this platform to reach larger audience,” Aamir added.Shahrukh and Aamir have been known for their verbal spats. This time Aamir made sure that he sent positives vies to his rival and wished him luck for his upcoming movie Ra.One saying, “My best wishes to Shahrukh and the entire team. They have put in a lot of money and effort. I wish and hope they get their due respect. I hope the film does well.”

Is Esha Deol engaged to Bharat Takhtani?

Bollywood is abuzz these days with the news of Hema Malini’s daughter Esha Deol getting engaged to Mumbai-based businessman Bharat Takhtani. If buzz is to be believed, the two are already engaged and will be making an announcement soon.Esha, on the other hand, has vehemently denied the news and said, “My engagement would be a grand affair. Why would I want to hide it from the world? It will be a proud moment for me. There is no ring on my finger.”Engaged or not, Esha Deol is trying her level best to promote her next flick ‘Tell Me O Khuda’ in the best way possible. She also visited shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty situated in Ajmer. She said that she prayed for family and friends during her visit to Ajmer.

Damadamm Movie Review And Ratings

Like him or not, but there’s something about Himesh Reshammiya. He may not feature on your favorite actor list, but you cannot ignore him. A braveheart in whatever he’s dabbled into — producing TV serials, composing music, singing songs or stepping in front of the camera — Reshammiya now forays into film production with DAMADAMM [his company HR Musik presents the film].A rom-com that comes across as a slice of life film, DAMADAMM takes you back to the times when simple stories were the order of the day, when ordinary looking people were grappling with not too complex issues and problems, when the focus was on delicate relationships. The 70s cinema, which witnessed a number of charming films by doyens like Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee, comes alive as you watch DAMADAMM. Of course, DAMADAMM is not as memorable as the films made in the bygone era, but first-time director Swapna Waghmare Joshi [a reputed name in tele circles] makes a sincere attempt to tell a tale that’s not commonplace. Beneath all the song and masala that’s integrated in the story, you will find characters you can relate to. Notwithstanding its plusses, DAMADAMM doesn’t rise to those levels for two reasons. One, too many songs in the narrative. Two, the plot gets predictable after a point and loses the steam.Sameer’s [Himesh Reshammiya] life is perfect, but for his over-possessive and constantly nagging girl-friend [Purbi Joshi]. To add to it, he gets drawn towards his boss’ sister [Sonal Sehgal]. All hell breaks loose when the girlfriend returns from her hometown. Sameer is in a fix.Though not a comic fare, DAMADAMM has light moments aplenty that do bring a smile on your face. When you’re in a relationship, everyone likes to feel loved and wanted by their partner. But, quite often, the love and caring tends to suffocate you as the partner gets over-possessive. This kind of extreme behavior is exactly what Swapna Waghmare Joshi tries to highlight in the movie in a light-hearted fashion and that’s what sets DAMADAMM apart from films of its ilk.Swapna has avoided going over the top and remains faithful to the subject. I’d like to make note of at least three sequences that are strikingly filmed. One, the tiff at the interval point, when Himesh calls off the relationship. Two, Purbi explaining to Himesh why she behaves that way. Three, Himesh landing up at Purbi’s office towards the final moments of the film.But, like I pointed out earlier, DAMADAMM should’ve avoided the been-there-seen-that kind of situations that you get to watch in love triangles. Also, the makers could’ve done without a couple of songs. ‘Madhushala’, for instance, is a good track, but wasn’t required in the first place. Also ‘Mango’. Even ‘Umrao Jaan’, the best song of the enterprise, comes too late [end credits].Himesh’s dedication to his craft is well-known by now and the composer/singer/actor goes that extra mile to get the role right. Sonal Sehgal looks alluring and acts well. But it is Purbi Joshi who steals the show with a power-packed performance. Her confident portrayal stands out. Rajesh Khattar is impressive as Himesh’s boss. The actor enacting the role of Himesh’s friend/colleague is first-rate.On the whole, DAMADAMM isn’t bad, but it isn’t great either. Though it has a hit score to its credit and some endearing moments, it will have to rely on a strong word of mouth to withstand a mighty

Bollywood News

2010-01-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

Excessive length? 'Veer' director clarifies

Period films come with the baggage of excessive length. Recall the running time of ‘Jodhaa Akbar’. Now the excessive length of ‘Veer’ is the topic of discussion within the film fraternity. Reportedly, the length of the film exceeds 3.30 hours.
‘Veer’ director Anil Sharma, who has got so used to rumours by now, laughs it off. "Really? Is that the new rumour pertaining to the film? Well, let me dishearten the rumour mongers by clarifying this. The final length of the film is 3.04 hours, which includes the opening and end titles. And I plan to bring it further down to 2.50 hours," the veteran director informs me.
He continues, "The length of the film never shot up to 3.30 hours. Even when I watched the loose edit, it was barely a few minutes more than the final length. But, as I said, I plan to limit the running time to less th

Sushmita can keep her baby

Actress Sushmita Sen, 34, officially ushered a new member into her family today as the Bombay High Court accepted her petition to legally adopt baby Alisah, four months old.
Clad in jeans and a white top, Sen was visibly cheerful as she walked out of the court with Alisah in her arms. “After the court’s new ruling, it is now possible to adopt two girl children,” said Sen who had, in 2000, adopted another girl, Renee, now 10.
A High Court ruling in September 2009 made it possible for Hindus to adopt two children of the same sex. This is not allowed under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (HAMA) but Justice Chandrachud held that the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000, with a more secular approach towards the adoption of children in need of care and protection, prevailed over the 54-year-old HAMA.
Today, after Justice V M Kanade allowed Sen’s adoption petition, Sen said, “Adoption is about reverence, it’s not charity. More and more people should come forward to adopt. We believe in ties of the heart, not just those of blood. I will adopt as many children as I can raise.”
Alisah had been declared free for adoption by the Bal Vikas Shishu Welfare Trust at Malad on November 11.

'Pyar Impossible' and 'Dulha Mil Gaya' fizzle out

In the 1970s, merely a pic of a top star would ensure house full boards outside theatres. Even if the actor in question was cast in a miniscule role, the initial response would be terrific, most of the times. But times have changed!
Shah Rukh Khan's presence in DULHA MIL GAYA didn't attract many baraatis [read moviegoers] at cineplexes. The paying public was well aware that the superstar had a brief role in the film, hence the enthusiasm was missing for this one.
A lot has changed over the years. I distinctly remember, a veteran film-maker had assembled a plethora of actors in his new film and there was a mad scramble to acquire its rights, even though the distributors were well aware that the stars were merely making 'friendly appearances'. The screen time wouldn't be more than 10 minutes in the film. Today, most actors refrain from making 'friendly appearances' because that would spoil the prospects of their film, which stars them in major roles.
Talking from the business point of view, DULHA MIL GAYA never took off and the Saturday and Sunday figures weren't exciting either. Monday onwards, let's not discuss. The second release, PYAAR IMPOSSIBLE, fared reasonably well at select plexes of metros, that's it. A fine attempt, the business was not in sync with the merits of the film. That's box-office for you, so very unpredictable.
With both DULHA MIL GAYA and PYAAR IMPOSSIBLE not living up to the expectations, all eyes are now on CHANCE PE DANCE. Will the audience dance to its tunes? Only time will tell!

Aamir Khan wants to visit Pakistan soon

Bollywood star Aamir Khan, basking in the success of "3 Idiots", has said he wants to visit Pakistan soon because he was glad to travel to the country in the past.
Khan said he has relatives in the Pakistani cities of Lahore and Karachi and this is another reason behind his willingness to visit the country.
The language and culture of India and Pakistan are similar and both countries should work together, including in the joint production of films, Khan said during a telephonic news conference organised by the Pakistan Film and Television Journalists Association in Karachi yesterday.
Khan also said he would be pleased if he got an opportunity to work with Pakistani artists.
Speaking about "3 Idiots", he said the objective of the film is to highlight issues related to education and problems of youths.
In response to a question, Khan named Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda as his favourite actors.
He said his next film "Weekly Life" would be "different" from his other movies.

Mira Nair's eternal wait for Johnny Depp

The script is set and the cameras are ready to roll. Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair is now just waiting for Hollywood superstar Johnny Depp to give the green signal to her dream project 'Shantaram'.
Depp, who is also producing the film, is set to play the lead in the movie which also casts Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan.
The film adapted from Gregory David Roberts autobiographical novel by the same name tells the story of a fugitive Australian who lands in Mumbai and befriends the slum-dwellers and starts a free medical clinic.
However, he can't completely keep away from the crime world and after his stint with Mumbai prisons, he gets into laundering money and forging passports for a local don, Abdel Khader Khan, which is to be played by Bachchan in the film.
But Depp, who is set to start shooting Walt Disney's fourth 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movie by this June, is yet to take out time for Nair to star shooting.
"Not much is happening much on Shantaram front. The is script is ready and we are ready to shoot. But its all dependent on Johnny Depp, whose also the producer, and we all know how successful and busy he is so whenever he is going to be free again and wants to do it that is when will it happen," Nair said.
The novel also takes the protagonist, who was named Shantaram by his admirers in Maharashtra, to Afghanistan to fight the Russians and later to Germany where he is arrested and starts a healing process after disturbing weeks in the prison.

Preity in new role: Brand ambassador for cause of widows

Bollywood actress Preity Zinta joined as the brand ambassador of a global charity that works for the welfare of widows and their children.
Zinta, who lost her father at the age of 13, said she understands and empathise with the problems faced by widows and it was an honour for her to work with The Loomba Trust which focuses on the plight of widows and their children.
"I am honoured to be associated with this trust. When a woman loses her husband, she loses all colour of life. It is difficult for her not to be pulled up to the flesh trade and trafficking," she told reporters.
President of the trust Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said there are about 250 million widows across the world, including nearly 35 million alone in India.
"When the husband dies, the woman not only loses her relationship, but also her status. The widow and her children are affected after the death of the husband. The society needs to support them," Blair said.
To a question on the condition of widows in the camps in cities like Varanasi, Mathura and Brindavan, Blair said she would visit one of such cities soon to have better understanding of the situation.
Founder and chairman of the trust Raj Loomba said such widow camps should be closed by the government and the women living there should be rehabilitated.
To a question, Blair said the trust has launched a campaign for observing International Widows Day on June 23 every year.
"The trust has been campaigning for observing International Widows Day. We hope the UN will agree to this idea to highlight the problems of widows," she said.
To a question, Blair said UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was committed to the cause of widows.
The Loomba Trust has been working for the last 12 years in many countries. It educates over 3,000 children in India and supports 1,500 HIV orphans in South Africa.

Stars let their hair down at the after-party of Star Screen Awards

f success is sweet then swinging at a night of celebratory revelry is the sweetest thing ever. Moments after the 16th Nokia Star Screen Awards 2009 wrapped up with its multi-hued firecrackers going up in the air at the MMRDA Grounds on Saturday, the celebration shifted to the neighbouring brand-new Trident in Bandra-Kurla. With movie stars trooping in to the swish hotel, the glamourama went up as high as the sparklers in the skies. And the celebration of good cinema continued—till almost dawn.
Leading the blitzkrieg of revelers was Kareena Kapoor. After collecting her trophy for the Best Actor (Female) in Popular Category award, the oh-so-beautiful leading lady and onstage performer had changed into an elegant diaphanous sari and walked in along with a rugged Jaaved Jaffri.
The loudest hurrahs belonged to the 3 Idiots team of course. After sweeping the awards with 10 trophies, that’s the kind of party etiquette everybody expected and loved. When the newest Bollywood anthem All is well filled the party venue, the dance floor was invaded by its super-thrilled producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra with his wife Anupama, director Rajkumar Hirani, actor Boman Irani, music director Shantanu Moitra and the delightful new find Omi Vaidya. Before the awards ceremony, we had reminded Vidhu and gang to join us at the party. He joked: “I will if I hopefully win an award.” And if you win many awards, we asked of his blockbuster film. “Then I’ll write you a cheque and host the party,” he laughed.
Vaidya—the winner of twin trophies for the Most Promising Newcomer and Best Actor in a Comic Role-brought in his birthday at the party and showed off some mean moves on the dance floor.
The evening’s other prominent group of glitterati belonged to Paa, though their style of partying was rather muted compared to 3 Idiots. The entire Bachchan clan joined the bash. The happy smile never left director R Balki’s face while a pleased-as-punch Amitabh Bachchan posed with wife Jaya. But it’s their son
Abhishek with jaw-droppingly beautiful Aishwarya in his arms who made the shutterbugs wait worth it. And it was time for Vidya Balan to show what a stunning fashionista she can be-Medusa hair, gold chandelier and a Kanjeevaram silk showed off the Indian aesthetic.
Imtiaz Ali made his lady fans happy by dancing with them, Prateik Babbar never left the floor either, Chandan Roy Sanyal taught us to dance the Dhan Ta Nan and Shibani Kashyap grooved when her song Zinda played. Along with choreographer Bosco, Imtiaz demonstrated fellow-revellers popular steps from Love Aaj Kal too.

Bollywood News

2010-01-17T11:50:00.001-08:00

Michael Jackson wanted to work with A R Rahman

'King of Pop' Michael Jackson had expressed a desire to work with Indian composer A R Rahman just two months before he died.
The 'Mozart of Madras' who won two Oscar awards for the soundtrack to the hit movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' revealed that the 'Thriller' hitmaker was keen on making music with him, The Daily Telegraph reported.
"I met him two months before he died and he expressed an interest in working with me," Rahman said.
"Meeting him was everything and changed my life. He loved stuff I did and I loved stuff he did. He was such a nice person," he added.
Jackson was planning to collaborate with Rahman for a unity anthem that the 'Thriller' hitmaker wanted to use in his planned O2 concert series, the Indian musician had earlier said in his blog.
"He was praising the chord progression of Jai Ho's chorus. He asked me to compose a unity anthem on the lines of 'We are the World' for him. I nodded in awe," Rahman had written in his blog while paying tribute to the pop icon after his sudden death in June last year.
Rahman who has also been nominated for this year's Grammys' is set to perform to about 80,000 people at his free concert today at Parramatta Park, as a part of 34th Sydney Festival.

Ben Kingsley is a wonderful human being: Big B

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, who plays a mathematics professor alongside Ben Kingsley in 'Teen Patti', is full of praise for the Oscar-winning actor, whom he considers a "wonderful" human being.
"I found Sir Ben to be a wonderful human being before encountering him as an actor. We did lot of reading rehearsals before shooting. When we met as ordinary people in our hotel room, he knew his dialogues very well. He is a considerate and well prepared actor and also a gracious man," Bachchan said about his Hollywood counterpart.
Bachchan plays Venkat Subramanium, a mathematics professor doing thesis on theory of probability in the film, which has been directed by Leena Yadav and produced by Ambika Hinduja.
The film, which rele ases on February 26, marks the Bollywood debut of Kingsley, who became a household name in India with his iconic portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in 1982 film 'Gandhi'. Kingsley plays a mathematics genius in the film.
Big B, 67, The actor said he was heartened by the manner in which co-star R Madhavan had made a name for himself in Tamil and Hindi film industries.
Bachchan also spoke highly of the newcomers Vaibhav Talwar, Dhruv Ganesh, and Shakti Kapoor's daughter Shraddha apoor. All the debutants have done a very good job, he said adding they were enthusiastic and determined to do well.
"They were ready with their lines before me and I had to work extra to get my dialogues prepared on time," Bachchan said.
Interestingly, Bachchan said he never liked mathematics as a subject during his student days.
"It is tough for most of us. But, this is just a film and I followed my director's instructions," Bachchan said, adding that despite depicting card game, the film does not encourage gambling.
"The theory is a success where my character can calculate probabilities of the game by seeing just one card of a player. The story goes on to tell that greed and lust for money is not good," Bachchan said.
"He is working on a thesis on theory of probability. However, his seniors do not support him. During an online card game, he realises that his theory works. Venkat confides to his junior (Madhavan) about it who persuades him to test the theory in a gambling den," he said.
Yadav said she studied card scams the world over because gambling is illegal in India.
"Based on real life incidents, we put together an original story," she said.
Producer Ambika Hinduja said it was a dream come true for her working with Bachchan on her second venture after 'Being Cyrus'.
"I don't want to label films as commercial and parallel. Plot and script is important to me and any film which makes money is a commercial film," she said when asked about the change of genre of her two films.

Vidya Balan has turned into the flavour of the season

Patience pays. And Vidya Balan will vouch for this. Till a year ago, nothing was going her way as far as her public image was concerned. Everything from her choice of clothes to her weight was being criticised. But the 28-year-old actress turned into the flavour of the season last weekend when she took home the Best Actor Award — her first — for her performance as Auro’s mother in Paa, a film that revolves around a father-son relationship.
“This award has been very gratifying. The criticism I received over the last two years was all superficial. I’m happy that the filmmakers came to me despite what was being written and showed faith in my work — they knew weight and looks can always be taken care of.” And it has been, indeed.
At the awards night, a svelte Balan traded a Sabyasachi at the last moment for a green and maroon Kanjeevaram sari that her parents had gifted her on her birthday. In return, she walked away with all the possible compliments.
After bagging the award, the actress is now ready to promote her next, Ishqiya, the promos of which, alone, have already generated a strong buzz. But Balan isn’t willing to fall into “the trap of making hay while the sun shines”. “I am not a part of any race and in no desperate hurry to get anywhere. I have the luxury of choosing my roles and I intend to utilise it.”
However, the actress does admit that awards, though relative in nature, are a great means of appreciating an actor’s work. “I have to say that I was disappointed when I wasn’t even nominated for Bhool Bhulaiyya. But then I just sincerely carried on with my work and it has finally paid off.”

Rahman cautions Oz media over reporting student attacks

Oscar winning music composer A.R. Rahman has urged Oz media to be careful while reporting recent attacks on Indian students as the stories could be "misused and provoke people."
During his visit to Sydney, Rahman urged the Australian media to write about the incidents in an honest way.
"Media's a great tool but it can also be misused and provoke people. Just one wrong news item can kill thousands of people - that's happened in the past. We are be extremely careful and strict about what (is) the truth," the Daily Express quoted him as saying.
He said that the Indian and the Australian media have a responsibility to build bridges between the two countries, rather than breaking them apart.
Rahman’s comment comes after the Indian authorities urged local media to show restraint when reporting attacks on students in Australia.

Wishing Neil Nitin Mukesh a very happy birthday

This handsome hunk is one of the most prominent faces among the Gen-next breed of actors. Hailing from a filmy family, he made a rocking debut in Johnny Gaddar. He later followed it up with brilliant performances in films like Aa Dekhen Zara, New York and Jail. He is none other than Neil Nitin Mukesh.
Neil celebrates his birthday today and we give you an opportunity to extend your heart-felt wishes to Neil. You may do so by posing your wishes in the comments section below:

Movie Review: Chance Pe Dance

he film industry attracts thousands of hopefuls every single day. Most don't make it. But the struggle continues… CHANCE PE DANCE tries to present the story of a hopeful - his dreams, his aspirations, his struggle and his eventual triumph.
Last year, Zoya Akhtar's LUCK BY CHANCE depicted the struggles of an aspirant most effectively. CHANCE PE DANCE tries hard to present the story of one such aspirant, but fails miserably. However, a few clarifications before we delve deeper. It's not derived from STEP UP [2006] or Ramgopal varma's NAACH [the similarity starts and ends with the male lead being a wannabe actor and the female lead being a choreographer], although a significant track of the movie bears an uncanny resemblance to Jack Black's SCHOOL OF ROCK [2003].
What bogs the film down is that it's too predictable from start to end. However, predictability is not the sole hitch here. The story doesn't have the zing to keep you hooked to the screen for most parts and also, it unravels at such a lethargic pace that you break into a yawn at several points of the narrative.
The sole aspect that you carry home is Shahid Kapoor's earnest performance, who has consistently taken one step ahead with every film. This time, unfortunately, the shoddy script makes the actor's efforts null and void.
Final verdict? A chance lost! Come to think of it, most dance-based reality shows on television these days promise far more entertainment, excitement, drame-baazi and those euphoric moments than the one you see in CHANCE PE DANCE.
CHANCE PE DANCE tells the story of a talented and passionate guy named Sameer [Shahid Kapoor]. Positive and brimming with energy, Sameer juggles various jobs to keep him afloat while pursuing his one dream to get a break on the big screen.
In his quest, Sameer has a lot of ups and down, hopes and disappointments. Not the one to be disillusioned and armed with a 'Never-Say-Die' attitude and dynamic talent, Sameer fights every hurdle that comes his way because achieving your biggest dream is never easy.
In this journey, he is helped by a spirited choreographer Tina [Genelia D'Souza] and eventually, Sameer realizes that sometimes life gives you that one chance.
The problem with CHANCE PE DANCE is its writing is tacky and bland at the same time. In today's times, when every film-maker is striving so hard to narrate a new story, CHANCE PE DANCE harps on the same-old mundane, clichéd, tried-and-tested that you've watched again and again and again. The journey of the protagonist is so lifeless that you don't feel for him when he loses one battle after another. Conversely, during the climax, when he eventually emerges a winner, you don't feel euphoric either.
Had the story remained faithful to the main plot - the struggles of an aspirant - it may've cut ice with the viewer. But the track of a dance teacher doesn't work. Also, the sequences with his father - right from the time his father's shop is demolished, to his father prodding him to chase his dreams - appears phony. The Mohnish Bahl track is also contradictory. At first he signs Shahid, later dumps him, but much later screams on TV channels that he always knew Shahid was a star… weird, isn't it? The ending is equally tame.
Director Ken Ghosh has filmed a few individualistic scenes well, especially the one at the interval point when a heart-broken Shahid finds solace in his students, but one sparrow does not a summer make. Adnan Sami's music is strictly okay. The movie clearly lacks a hit number to take it to dizzy heights. However, the choreography is top notch [Ahmed Khan, Marty Kudelka].
Shahid makes a sincere effort and the honesty shows in a number of scenes. But let's not forget that the best of actors cannot rise beyond a pitiable script. His dances, expectedly, are exceptional. Genelia looks cute and provides some pleasant moments, but the role doesn't demand histrionics. Mohnish Bahl is alright. Parikshit Sahani is getting typecast as the father.
On the whole, this dance stands no chance!

Bollywood News

2010-01-17T11:21:00.000-08:00

Madhavan to don six different looks in 'Teen Patti'

The student of '3 Idiots' has finally graduated as a maverick professor. All the fans are in a for a surprise as actor R Madhavan plays the charming teacher donning six different disguises in his forthcoming film 'Teen Patti'.
Madhavan says that his character, Shantanu Biswas, in the film is a man forced to choose between love and lust which gives him scope to play a edgier, dangerous role.
"I play this professor who wants everything in life too quickly without wasting too much time. It is a completely different role for me where you will see me in six different looks," Madhavan said.
"So like in one I am this suave charming devil in disguise while in other I play an ice cream seller. In another look you will see me as a thug and then a total different scruffy grunge look. All this while I am playing a professor. I think it will interesting for my fans," an excited Madhavan said.
The actor, who had put on kilos to play an engineering student in the blockbuster hit '3 Idiots', will now show off a toned physique in the Amitabh Bachchan, Ben Kinglsey starrer.
"For 3 Idiots I gained weight to have that puppy fat of a young innocent student but in 'Teen Patti' the audiences will see me in a very toned look," he added.
Madhavan, who is superstar in South Indian film industry, says that he has no qualms working in multistarrer films in Bollywood till the time he has a performance oriented role.
"I understand that I am no big star in North but the audiences have finally started to appreciate me. 13B was a hit and I have been liked in 3 Idiots as well. Life could not have been better and I am really happy with what I am doing right now. I hope 'Teen Patti' will be another memorable film for the audiences," Madhavan said.
While the 39-year-old actor is on cloud nine enjoying the stupendous success of '3 Idiots' he is also excited to be sharing the big screen with cinema legends Amitabh Bachchan and Ben Kingsley.
"Never on the sets did I ever feel that I am with such huge stars. That is what I admire about both of them. They are so very humble. They went out of their way to make me feel comfortable. I was visibly in awe of both of them," Madhavan said.
Set in India and England, 'Teen Patti', directed by Leena Yadav, boasts of being an emotionally riveting thriller about greed, deception and imagination.
The film has a multi star cast with veterans like Bachchan and Kingsley along with four debutants Shraddha Kapoor, Sidharth Kher, Vaibhav Talwar and Dhruv Ganesh. Raima Sen and Madhavan are in pivotal roles.

'Teen Patti' director hopes ‘it doesn’t prove to be a gamble’

Four years after filmmaker Leena Yadav crashed out with her directorial debut Shabd , she feels she has a more mature vision of what works at the box office. “I have graduated from letters to numbers,” she says teasingly, referring to her latest project Teen Patti , which deals with the high rollers from the gambling world and a practical application of the theory of probability. “Strangely, I have a morbid fear of numbers. I hope this movie doesn’t prove to be a gamble,” she smiles during a promotional meet at Tasty Tangles, an Oriental restaurant in Vasant Kunj.
The hype and anticipation surrounding the film is already palpable due to its celebrity star cast, Amitabh Bachchan and Oscar winner Sir Ben Kingsley, who Yadav was determined to ‘catch hold of’. The other actors include R Madhavan and four debutants Shraddha Kapoor, Sidharth Kher, Vaibhav Talwar and Dhruv Ganesh.
In the film, Bachchan essays the role of a reclusive Mathematics professor who has stumbled upon a theory that he believes can change the future of the subject. Once Bachchan discloses his theory to Perci Trachtenberg, played by Kingsley, an eminent mathematician, he also confides in him by confessing the emotional burden he faces as a result of possessing knowledge of the theory. Bachchan is then prodded by a trusted colleague to put that theory to the test on the gambling table, with disastrous consequences. “Gambling just forms the background to the film. The larger picture is the obsession with instant gratification among the youth. We spoke with seasoned gamblers across the country about the kick they get from betting their entire savings,” says Yadav, who is an Economics Honours graduate from Lady Shri Ram College , Delhi University .
Since the subject involved mathematical theories and poker games, the research involved consulting many mathematicians from MIT and IIT. “MY plan was to make a film on the youth,” explains Yadav, who co-wrote the story with Shivkumar Subramaniam. “I met composer Vishal Dadlani who narrated a few incidents related to gambling scams in the US I read up further on card scams and decided to adapt the idea to an Indian setting.”
From script to screen, the film took three-years. Shooting locations ranged from Mumbai’s gambling addas to casinos in London. “Unlike Shabd , which took 38 days to film, Teen Patti took time to script. There were 1,000 auditions for some of the roles,” says Yadav, who started her career as an editor with Rajkumar Hirani in ad films and has worked for television serials like Sea Hawks on Doordarshan.
Rumour mills have started working over time accussing Teen Patti of being a rip-off from Robert Luketic’s 2008 Hollywood film 21, about an MIT scandal on blackjack. “I had officially locked my script before 21 released. My plot is completely different, the only similarity between the two films is the study of human greed,” she explains. With a release slated for February 26, Yadav is confident the wheel of fortune will swing her way.

Anil Kapoor ‘nervous’ about Hollywood debut

Bollywood star Anil Kapoor's performance in the superhit TV series '24' has already been given a thumps up by critics but the actor is nervous about his Hollywood debut in the episode which airs on Sunday.
The 'Slumdog Millionaire' star plays the leader of a middle-eastern country in the Emmy award winning TV series depicting a 24-hour period in the life of a government agent fighting fictitious terrorist threats to the US.
"It's the first time that I'm doing television. I’ve been doing feature films for around 30 years. Not only was I excited that I was doing '24', but I was also anxious and nervous that I was doing something for the first time in my life," the actor said in an interview to Fox News.
Kapoor says that his family, who are fans of the show, urged him to take the part.
"People told me, 'No matter what happens, you have to be on '24'! My son, my daughter, my friends. '24' is very popular in India. Five or six years back, I was introduced to it by my colleagues who would watch it in their trailers," said Kapoor.
His decision to play a Middle Eastern character was also a deliberate one, he added.
"I am very clear that I won't play Indian characters in international projects unless they're really special. I've told my agent to seek out parts that are not culture-specific, but have character," said the actor.
With its average of 12.5 million viewers each week, the series had earlier starred Indian-origin-actor Kal Penn as a teenaged terrorist over four episodes in 2007.

Imran Khan and Avantika Malik to get engaged tonight

The young and once available heartthrob of Bollywood is now unavailable, and it's official.
Imran Khan, the sweet chocolate faced hero, from Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na will get engaged today to his long time girlfriend Avantika Malik. If you're wondering why no hype and hooplah was made about this one, well, that’s simply because the couple have planned the engagement party to be a quiet family affair.
The couple has always been very candid about their relationship and have always been spotted attending parties and social dos together. It was therefore an obvious step to take this commitment to the next level.

Bollywood writers want to script a better deal

When author Chetan Bhagat accused the makers of "3 Idiots" of not giving him and his book enough credit, he unwittingly put the spotlight on the plight of writers in the Indian film industry.
Writers in Bollywood are often relegated to the background, underpaid and overlooked, and the controversy over "3 Idiots", modelled after Bhagat's bestselling novel "Five Point Someone", had industry insiders nodding in agreement.
The Film Writers Association of India is now coming up with a "model contract" to ensure writers get a fair deal.
"Within the industry, there are many examples of writers who have gone to a big producer with a script, been rejected and then realised that the same film was made two years later," says an industry insider.
"Unfortunately, it's their word against the producers."
Unlike its Western counterpart, where a strike by the Writers Guild of America can cripple Hollywood, Bollywood hardly pays any attention to its writers and they are among the most underpaid technicians in the industry.
"I know of budding writers who have worked for peanuts, literally. They would be paid paltry sums of 25,000 rupees for scripting an entire film," says writer Anjum Rajabali.
"But they would do it, because if they refuse, there are ten others who the producer can hire to do the same job."
Writer Kamlesh Pandey, who has written films like "Rang De Basanti" and "Khalnayak", says he has been forced to sign "totally unfair" contracts on several occasions because he didn't have a choice.
"Producers will include clauses that say things like giving credit for story is discretionary or that in case they decide not to make the film, the writer loses all rights to the story," Pandey said.
Rajabali, who has scripted films like "Ghulam" and "Apaharan" is among those leading the fightback, by putting together a model contract for writers that will ensure some fairness.
I have put my blood and sweat together to put together this model contract and we have circulated it to the producers' body but they haven't got back to us yet," he said.
Producers aren't too sure if the model contract will work.
"It is a matter of demand and supply. If a writer is in demand he will get whatever he commands," says producer Pahlaj Nihalani, a member of the Association for Motion and Television Programme Producers, one of the several producers' bodies that exist in the industry.
"If on the other hand, a writer is out of work, then he will not get paid as well," he said.
Rajabali says around 150 writers out of the more than 8,000 registered members of the Film Writers Association of India are currently active in Bollywood.
"Of course, there are new writers emerging everyday, so our biggest challenge is to keep our flock together, so that when we do face the producers we present a united front," he says.
Some writers feel that their being ignored by the industry could explain why many Bollywood releases are not doing well.
"Without us, a film is just a blank piece of paper," says Pandey.
The promise of a new model contract and the controversy over "3 Idiots" may soon change the way the industry views writers but it hasn't stopped Bollywood from basing their movies on bestselling novels.
For author Anuja Chauhan, who has sold the movie rights of her novel "The Zoya Factor", the process was "very exciting and very stressful".
Her novel is being made into a film by Red Chillies Entertainment but Chauhan says consciously stayed out of the screenplay process because she felt she didn't have anything more to give to the story.

Bollywood News

2009-08-31T02:12:00.000-07:00

'Quick Gun...' doesn't make fun of anyone: lead actor

New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS) The movie "Quick Gun Murugun - Misadventures of an Indian Cowboy" neither makes fun of Tamil thespian Rajnikant nor Hollywood movies, says Rajendra Prasad, who plays the lead in the comedy.
"'Quick Gun Murugun' doesn't make fun of anyone. The characterisation, behaviour, style and even the dialogues are highly individual. It has no resemblance to anyone in particular," Telugu comedystar Prasad told IANS in an interview.
"It is only a laugh-riot. The problem is, when it comes to South Indian movies people have heard only about Tamil cinema and Rajnikant and so they are drawing parallels out of nothing... 'Quick Gun?' is a full-fledged original film," he added.
Rumour mills were abuzz that certain sequences in the film spoofed Rajnikant and Hollywood films like "The Matrix" and "Terminator".
"'Quick Gun' is a cultural mix of characters, particularly from south India. We wanted to show the diversity of our cultures through the movie," said Prasad.
Produced and distributed by Phat Phish Motion Pictures and Fox Star Studios respectively, "Quick Gun Murugun" is releasing Friday in four languages - Hindi, English, Tamil and Telugu.
A "concept comedy" based on Channel V India's 1990s south Indian character - both produced and directed by Shashanka Ghosh, the movie shows Quick Gun as a strict vegetarian who considers it his duty to serve and protect "cows and women".
"My character is involved in an epic battle with arch villain Rice Plate Reddy who wants to convert the world into non-vegetarian," said the actor.
Initially Prasad took the movie offer as a hoax. "To be very honest, when I was approached for the movie, I knew nothing about Shashanka or the character and I thought it was some kind of a prank. I had not seen it ever on TV or anywhere and I did not think it was serious," he said.
"But when I was shown the old footages of 'Quick Gun' from Channel V and the executive producer of the movie explained the concept to me in Telugu? I was really thrilled and happy for the work they did at that time," he added.
Prasad, who started his career in 1977 with film "Sneham", has teamed up with Rambha in it.
"Doing this film has been a great experience for me? it's like graduating. I can say that after 32 years of my career in cinema, I have been blessed to play such a character," he said.
Unlike other actors down south, King of Comedy, as he is fondly called, Prasad doesn't harbour any political dreams. "I am very happy being an actor. I don't want to spoil my happiness by joining politics."
He just wants to be an actor.
With around five Telugu films in his kitty, the veteran is keeping his fingers crossed for Bollywood too.
"If I get an opportunity to work in Bollywood, I'll definitely take it. However I think it depends more on the reaction to 'Quick Gun Murugun' now than anything else. In Hyderabad by god's blessings there are always many films for me to do," he added.

Beijing to issue 900,000 coupons to promote patriotic films

Beijing, Aug 27 (Xinhua) Beijing cinema theatres will issue about 900,000 coupons to moviegoers from Sep 1 to encourage them to watch patriotic films.
After buying a ticket for a domestic film at any cinema hall in Beijing from Sep 1 to Sep 20, moviegoers would receive the film coupon, said Wang Jian, an official with the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Radio and Television.
"About 900,000 people are expected to go to the cinemas during this time."
A string of patriotic films are scheduled for screening from September through October to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China Oct 1.
"Jian Guo Da Ye" or "The great cause of China's founding", is set for release Sep 17. It stars more than 100 stars, including Jet Li, Jackie Chan and Andy Lau.
"We will hold special screenings of films for orphans, children of migrant workers, and model workers from Aug 30," Wang said.

'Wake Up Sid' not about handsome guy-plain Jane: Directo

By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, Aug 27 (IANS) Debutant director Ayaan Mukherjee admits his "Wake Up Sid" is about a younger man dating an older woman but he is appalled by rumours that it revolves around a handsome guy and a not-so-good looking girl.
"All I can tell you is that this marketing pitch didn't come from me or Karan (Johar). You think I'd dare to call my heroine, who I think is awesome, not good-looking?" Mukherjee asked angrily.
Starring Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma, the romantic comedy is produced by Karan Johar and is scheduled for release Oct 2.
"It came from a Facebook 'Wake Up Sid' fan club started on the website. Someone just saw Ranbir and Konkona together and decided to draw their own conclusions...To me Konkona is at the moment the most gorgeous woman I've met. In fact, my last shot was with her and I just couldn't stop gawking," Mukherjee, who is actress Kajol's cousin, told IANS.
So is "Wake Up Sid" about an older woman in love with a younger man?
"Yes, Konkona's character Ayesha is a few years older than the guy. But it's not 'Summer Of 42', please! Nor is the age difference concealed here as it was between Ranbir and Bipasha in 'Bachna Ae Haseeno'. What happened was that we wrote in the age difference because I wanted only these two to be in my film.
"When I saw Ranbir in 'Saawariya', I knew this was my Sid. He was young, energetic and hungry to seize life. He was like me. You've to admit Ranbir and Konkona together are a pair that no one would imagine. I liked that challenge. And I also saw Konkona has been around in the industry longer than Ranbir. So I conveniently turned the character into a slightly older woman," Mukherjee said.
Ranbir's dad Rishi Kapoor has done a very fine film about falling in love with an older woman called "Doosra Aadmi" where Raakhee Gulzar played the unusual love interest.
So doesn't he plan to work with cousin Kajol?
"The thought didn't strike me for my first film. I wrote 'Wake Up Sid' as this young new-age 'Dil Chahta Hai'. It's about today's youngsters. Kajol? Yeah. Maybe in my next film... if I'm allowed to make another film," he said.
At the moment Mukherjee is worried about how the audience would take to the title.
"But it had to be 'Wake Up Sid'. It's a wake-up call for this rather laidback hero who meets an unusual woman. It's a real film with no lip-sync songs," he said.
The director was so sad on completion of his film that he got dead drunk.
"I'm very sad that it has ended. Now everyone will move away. It's a heartbreaking process. I don't know how Karan goes through it over and over again," Mukherjee said.

Sanjay Suri hopes more films can be made in Kashmir

New Delhi, Aug 25 (IANS) Born and brought up in Kashmir, actor Sanjay Suri, who returned to the Valley after 18 years to shoot "Sikandar", says more filmmakers should go to the state as it will boost "employment" and "prosperity".
"I hope more films are made in Kashmir. I hope the local authorities can provide enough security there so that people can come and go without any fear. It will also bring a lot of employment and prosperity and films are no doubt a great medium for that," Sanjay told IANS.
"I'd love to go back here. There are no films being made on Kashmir so someday I might make one myself," he added.
Asked to elaborate, he said: "It is at the back of my mind but I don't think I am qualified for direction etc. So maybe I'll start with writing first but it's really a distant thing as I am only focussing on acting right now."
Sanjay was born in Srinagar and spent 19 years in the Valley before shifting to New Delhi with his family in 1990 after his father was killed by militants.
"I had not gone back there for 18 years, but the film did give me an opportunity to go back... it gave me an opportunity to confront my past... it was a whole catharsis process that happened and I'm glad I did go back.
"Though on a personal level it was tough, on a professional level it was ironic... when I left the place, I used to hate the politicians... and when I returned I was playing one for the film. It was a homecoming, but a lot of things have changed," he explained.
In just released "Sikandar", Sanjay plays a Kashmiri politician who is brokering peace between religious leaders, military leaders and political organisations.
"I was excited to do the part the moment I was offered the role by director Piyush Jha and what helped me was that I was from the region. On the script level, Piyush also took suggestions from me," he added.
Set in Jammu and Kashmir, "Sikandar" centres on a teenage boy who dreams of playing football at the national level, and his friend. Things take an unexpected turn when he finds a gun on the road. The film has received mixed reviews.
Asked if there were any tensions while shooting the film in the Valley, Sanjay replied to the contrary, but added: "In fact, when we wrapped up and left Kashmir, the Amarnath issue started and later there were problems."

DQE signs Asian broadcast deal with Nick India for 'Casper'

By Bollywood Hungama News Network
DQE, an animation, gaming and live action media company, has announced an exclusive broadcast deal with Viacom18 for the 3D animated TV series Casper. The series will be broadcast on Viacom18's kids channel - Nick, from November 2009 across the entire South Asia.
DQE along with Classic media and Moonscoop have sold the series world wide and it is already launched successfully on TF1 in France.
Casper is a co-production with Classic Media, USA and MoonScoop Group, France and DQE holds Exclusive Audio-Visual distribution rights for some Asian territories, under which the deal with Viacom18 (Nick) has been signed. The series has been produced at a global budget of US$9.36 Million by DQE Group, Classic Media, USA, Moonscoop-France with TF1 France and Cartoon Network.
Casper the cute, pudgy ghost-child, who prefers making friends with people instead of scaring them is back again with his gang of ghost friends trying rather unsuccessfully to haunt people. Casper has gone on to become one of the most famous properties and the most lovable of ghosts recognized by children worldwide. After a very successful live-action cum animation feature and animated Home video, this iconic brand now debuts as a high quality 3D Animated 52X11' action packed TV series world-wide.

Anjum Rizvi's Fast Forward to release with What's Your Rashee

By Bollywood Hungama News Network
Ashutosh Gowarikar's wish to have a solo release is just not working out. Producer Anjum Rizvi (of A Wednesday fame) is having his release Fast Forward with What's Your Rashee on September 25. The producer had announced his release date as August 21, and has now postponed it to September with Harman-Priyanka starrer.
Initially, it was Madhur Bhandarkar's Jail and David Dhawan's Do Knot Disturb, which were playing an obstacle to Ashutosh. Finally after calling several meetings with the Producers Association (IMPPA), Ashutosh had managed to have a solo release.
Producer Anjum Rizvi says, "Yes, I have to postpone the film to September 25. Because of swine flu, we decided to push the movie and selected for that date. Since the coming weeks have a lot of releases lined up, we didn't want to clutter."
Didn't you have to pay any fine? He says, "No it doesn't imply to us. It is only for the big films."
Fast Forward is directed by Zaigham Ali Sayed, starring Rehaan Khan, Akshay Kapoor, Bhavna Pani, Mahesh Manjrekar and Vinod Khanna.
It is Bollywood's first danced based movie is a dance-based movie, which showcases Hip Hop and Street as a dance form.

Luck By Chance' at Engendered Film Festival at New York

By Taran Adarsh Bollywood Hungama News Network
Zoya Akhtar's directorial debut and Excel Entertainment's LUCK BY CHANCE is all set to be screened at the Engendered Film Festival at New York. It will be the closing film at the festival, which concludes on 30th August and would be attended by the brother-sister duo Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar.

Title mil gaya for Ken Ghosh's next film

By Taran Adarsh Bollywood Hungama News Network
Ken Ghosh has finally zeroed in the title of his next film, starring Shahid Kapoor and Genelia D'Souza in the lead. Initially, the makers were keen on calling it YAHOO, but have finally okayed a new title. It's CHANCE PE DANCE.
"But when did we ever decide on YAHOO? Sure, we were toying with a lot of names, but hadn't okayed on any one particular title," Ken clarifies. The first look image of the film, with the new title obviously, will be released in a few weeks from now, while the first trailer of the film will be included in the prints of WHAT'S YOUR RAASHEE?.
Isn't there too much of Shahid Kapoor these days? KAMINEY has just released, while the promotions of DIL BOLE HADIPPA have gathered momentum and CHANCE PE DANCE will follow next. "See, the three films have a different feel and they also look different. Even the roles that Shahid is enacting are diverse in each case. Plus, there will be a 2-month gap between DIL BOLE HADIPPA and CHANCE PE DANCE," Ken reasons.
Shahid and Genelia have been teamed for the first time in CHANCE PE DANCE. "They look great together. I've worked with Shahid-Amrita and Shahid-Kareena in the past and I can say with confidence that the Shahid-Genelia pairing is at par with those pairings," Ken states.
Meanwhile, Ken begins work on his next project after CHANCE PE DANCE. The film will be produced by Ramesh Taurani and star Neil Nitin Mukesh in the lea

Bollywood News

2009-08-31T01:38:00.000-07:00

Will 'Hadippa', 'Wanted' movies break Ramadan jinx?

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS) Bollywood might be rejoicing with four back-to-back hits in "New York", "Kambakkht Ishq", "Love Aaj Kal" and "Kaminey", but the film industry usually witnesses a dip in business during Ramadan. Filmmakers and distributors are hoping "Dil Bole Hadippa" and "Wanted" will break the jinx this year.

Both Yash Raj Films' "Dil Bole Hadippa", which stars Rani Mukerji and Shahid Kapoor, and Salman Khan-starrer "Wanted" are releasing Sep 18. Trade pundits say the two films might repeat the success story of last year's musical hit "Rock On!" that released during the same period.
"Ramadan has always been a month of gap-fillers and average movies and is not really a good period for business. Filmmakers don't really take risks during the month... so we don't have any powerful movies releasing during this time which eventually leads to low business. Moreover, the 'shradhs' (considered an inauspicious period by Hindus) are also falling with Ramadan this time and it's not considered a good time in the industry," Delhi-based distributor Joginder Mahajan told IANS.
Amit Awasthi, manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas, Noida, agrees with Mahajan.
"Business is definitely going to plummet a bit during this month, as there are no big releases till Sep 18, and mediocre movies don't bring in footfalls. We are hoping post-mid-September will bring in potential business because of the big-budget line-up," said Awasthi.
Added a source from PVR cinemas: "This month will be lean courtesy Ramadan. Though we have many moies releasing every week, none of them has the capability to do business. But we are looking at footfalls with 'Dil Bole Hadippa' and 'Wanted'."
The first weekend (Aug 28) of Ramadan saw an ensemble of releases like "Daddy Cool", "Toss", "Yeh Mera India", "Kisaan", "Love Khichdi" and "Quick Gun Murugun".
An following in quick succession are medium budget films like "Chintu Ji", "Three - Love, Lies and Betrayal", "Aagey Se Right", "Bachelor Party", "Fox", "Mohan Das - A Man Lost In His Own Nation" and "The Great Indian Butterfly" that are releasing Sep 4.
On Sep 11, "Baabarr", "Pankh", "Ruslaan", "Aamras" and "Vaada Raha...I Promise" will reach theatres before the two biggies -- "Dil Bole Hadippa" and Salman's "Wanted" hit the screens Sep 18.
"We generally don't have any major releases during this time because the Muslim belt doesn't generate any revenue. It's a dull period, bringing in close to only 15-30 percent of business. Moreover, with 'shradh' falling in tandem, it's really going to be slim," said Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas) of Wave cinemas.
"But by the time 'Dil Bole Hadippa' and 'Wanted' release, it will be close to Eid and Navratras and the festive mode will start picking up, and is considered commercially very viable," he added.
After the two biggies, Ashutosh Gowariker's much-talked about "What's Your Raashee?" starring Priyanka Chopra and Hurman Baweja will open Sep 25.

Suniel Shetty thought of dad during funeral in 'Daddy Cool:

By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, Aug 30 (IANS) Suniel Shetty had to deliver a long speech in memory of his character's father in his new film "Daddy Cool". And for the first time, the actor dug into his own emotions and thought of his own father while doing the scene.
"It was a rousing moment for me. I forgot I was acting a part. I became my own father's son while speaking of my character's father," Suniel said.
Though "Daddy Cool" is a remake of Frank Oz's 2007 comedy "Death At A Funeral", Suniel, who plays the role of the elder son at his father's funeral, says the emotions have been completely changed in the desi remake.
"Funerals are no laughing matter in our culture. So while remaking the original film we had to keep in mind the local sentiments. Ours is far more emotional, far less farcical comedy than 'Death At A Funeral'. In plot and characters 'Daddy Cool' is exactly like 'Death At A Funeral', including my character's speech for his father at the end which is what prompted me to accept the role," said Suniel.
All the characters in "Daddy Cool" are the same as in "Death At A Funeral" except Javed Jaffry's.
"That's right," says Suniel. "And Sharad Saxena plays the dead dad. He's a wonderful corpse," he said.
Others who have played a corpse include Satish Shah in "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron" and Anupam Kher in Rahul Rawail's risque and raunchy "Buddha Mar Gaya", which was uncannily like "Death At A Funeral" although both came out at the same time.
Suniel said: "'Daddy Cool' is not the least risque or vulgar. We've kept it clean."
So proud are producers Indra Kumar and Ashok Thakeria of their remake that they intend to show "Daddy Cool" to the makers of "Death At A Funeral".
"There's nothing underhand or unfair in this adaptation. We've gone by all the rules. The producers have paid a huge amount of money to get the remake rights. And then Reliance Big Pictures bought the rights for Boney M's song 'Daddy Cool'. You could say 'Daddy Cool' is the face of the new corporatised Bollywood. We can't have sneaky stolen films any more. Everything has to be on paper," said Suniel, one of the first entrepreneur heroes of Bollywood.
Suniel had a ball shooting for "Daddy Cool".
"It was like one big picnic, just like Priyadarshan's 'De Dana Dan'. All of us never knew when the film started and ended."
Suniel's other ready-for-release film "Red Alert" features him in a serious realistic avatar.
"'Daddy Cool' was a good counter-point to 'Red Alert'," he said.

Has Bollywood shut its eyes to movies on farmers?

By Robin Bansal
New Delhi, Aug 29 (IANS) Emaciated farmers ploughing the fields, parched fields, scheming land sharks, broken down huts - these may reflect the reality of many Indian villages, but seldom get captured in Bollywood films.
Audiences prefer an escape from the hard life of rural, agrarian India on screen, while filmmakers resort to idyllic, picture postcard landscapes in films with villages as their backdrop.
Actor-producer Sohail Khan's attempt to revive the forgotten rural essence in Hindi cinema with "Kisaan", which released Friday, has got a lukewarm response and not-so-encouraging reviews. It revolves around farmers being forced to sell their lands to rich businessmen.
"Such films are appealing only if they are packaged in a viewer-friendly manner. Movies like 'Mother India' and the lot were epics and brought about an absolute change in movies thenceforth...The audience will only watch such films when the right minds work on them and make them in an authentic yet mass appeal manner," Madhur Bhandarkar told IANS.
Agriculture's share in India's GDP has plummeted from 46 percent in 1960 to 20 percent at present despite the fact that about 70 percent of the population is still engaged in the rural sector. Simultaneously, films on the rural economy have also dwindled.
Puneet Sira, who has directed "Kisaan", says his movie is a tribute to the country.
"India is going through an economic change and today more than ever, people are paying attention to the problems of the country... I am sure after 'Kisaan', we will realise that the audience is aware and ready for such issues to be brought on the big screen. We owe a lot to our motherland and this movie is a befitting tribute," said Sira.
Arbaaz Khan, who plays one of the male leads, said: "Farmer deaths have reached an all time high in our country. It's not like it's a problem that has just started. On the contrary, it's a problem our country has been facing for centuries. We just decided to make a film on the basic difficulty faced by our motherland."
If "Kisaan" hasn't got an encouraging response, "Summer 2007" by producer Atul Pandey last year that focused on the issue of farmer suicides in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region was also a no show.
In fact, Bollywood has only had a handful of successful movies throwing light on farmers like "Do Bigha Zamin" (1953) and "Mother India" (1957) apart from "Upkar", which was made by Manoj Kumar on late prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri's request.
The 1965 slogan of "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisaan" hailed the soldier and the farmer as icons of patriotism and hard work. But today the Indian farmer is no longer counted upon as a hero in the nation's growth, not even on the big screen.
Bhandarkar blames "lack of audience" as the main reason for the rural theme getting sidelined in Bollywood.
"Movie viewers usually go to cinema halls to escape reality. Most of the audience is made up of mall-hopping youngsters who will not be able to relate to the topic and hence will not enjoy it," he said.
"These films should be presented in a way that best suits people's mentality. Urban India is very unaware of the problems faced by farmers and unless they (films) are presented in a particular manner they will not work," he said.
Mahesh Bhatt too feels that such films are not commercially viable.
"They are very appealing but not very financially viable. They are viable only if the names making these films are big or intelligence is used in making such projects. Filmmakers don't want to use topics which might have any chances of not making it big and would rather stick to money minting projects," he said.
In recent times Aamir Khan's "Lagaan", which was set in a village in pre-independent India, did exceptionally well. But many feel the film's success was due to the sub theme of cricket.
Apparently, Bollywood perfectionist Aamir has shown interest in producing a film based on the plight of farmers in Bhopal. Anusha Rizvi, a former journalist with first hand knowledge of the issue, is going to direct it while Raghuvir Yadav has been roped in to play the lead.
"It's not that these issues are irrelevant; on the contrary, they are more relevant now than ever before. These topics are very good and should be touched upon more often. There would be a large audience which would be interested in watching such meaningful cinema," said Bhatt.

Check out: KJo directing SRK and Kajol on sets of My Name is Khan!

By Bollywood Hungama News Network
In Bollywood, one can be assured of the fact that even the Swiss Bank's account number can be 'hacked' into, but, definitely not the script of Karan Johar! After having closely guarded his precious scripts for his earlier films like KANK, K3G, K2H2) etc..., Karan is at it once again, this time with his most-eagerly awaited film My Name Is Khan, which stars his favourite actors, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol! The film also became the topic of everybody's conversation and gossip when it got sold off for an allegedly whopping Rs.98 crores!
Since the film has garnered so much hype, any news of information about this film definitely makes it worth more than a million dollars! Some of the film's snaps are doing the rounds of the web space for sometime now. One of Bollywood Hungama's surfers posted some of the on the set stills of the film.
This sequence is being shot in a salon. SRK seems completely into his character. For starters, SRK suffers from Asperger syndrome (a form of autism which impacts social interaction abilities).
Plus he also has the company of his ever lucky-charm Kajol, the resultant is resplendent magic.
This probably the first time that the trio (SRK-Kajol-Karan), who have been known for their romantic films, are coming together to make an issue based movie. It'll be interesting to see how they will recreate their magic with a serious subject like My Name Is Khan would.

Puri seer demands ban on 'Kaminey'

Bhubaneswar, Aug 27 (IANS) Puri Shankaracharya Nishchalanand Saraswati Thursday demanded a ban on the Hindi film "Kaminey" for allegedly demeaning Lord Jagannath.
The seer strongly objected to a scene in the movie where the phrase - 'Apna Hath Jagannath' - is written above a poster showing a scantily clad woman on the wall of a public toilet.
"The scene painted Lord Jagannath in poor light. People across the country should come forward to lodge their protests against such attempts to denigrate a Hindu god," he told reporters at Puri, some 56 km from Bhubaneswar.
Meanwhile, the administration of the Lord Jagannath temple at Puri has decided to write to the producer of the hit movie starring Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra to delete the "objectionable scene", a senior official of the shrine said Thursday.
The protests against the movie soon after its release Friday has spread to other parts of the state with people burning posters and staging demonstrations at various places.
Security has been stepped up at theatres across the state where the movie is being screened.
Earlier, the Puri police had filed a case under Section 295A (hurting religious sentiments) of the Indian Penal Code against the producer of the movie following a complaint lodged by a local religious outfit.
The film is directed by Vishal Bharadwaj.

Akshay Kumar's son excited abut 'Blue

Mumbai, Aug 27 (IANS) Akshay Kumar's son Aarav is excited about his father's film "Blue" where the Bollywood star plays a greedy, ruthless guy who spends most of his time underwater looking for treasure.

"Akshay knows Aarav will be kicked by the idea of his dad playing a champion swimmer and that too named Aarav after his son. In Aarav's eyes, Akshay is the true hero. To watch his dad play a man of dubious morals and grey aspirations would be a new experience for Aarav," a source told IANS.

Akshay has earlier played a negative character in "Khiladi 420". But that was a double role with one of the twins turning evil. Besides Aarav wasn't born when it was released.

"It's true, Akshay plays a man who thinks getting what he wants is more important than how you get there. I wrote the character for Akshay. He was to be called Akshay Malhotra. But then when I saw that Akshay had tattooed his son's name on his back I decided to change the character's name to Aarav," said Anthony D'Souza, who has directed "Blue".

Dev Benegal's 'Road Movie' to premiere at Toronto fest

New Delih, Aug 27 (IANS) Dev Benegal's much-talked about Hindi film "Road Movie", that has Abhay Deol and Tannishtha Chatterjee in lead roles, will be premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) starting Sep 10.

The film will be screened as part of Special Presentations at Winter Garden Sep 18.

Presented by The Indian Film Company (TIFC) in collaboration with Studio 18, "Road, Movie" is based on a Benegal screenplay that had made it to the prestigious L'Atelier selection of the Cannes Film Festival two years ago.

"We couldn't be more delighted and honoured that TIFF has chosen to premiere 'Road Movie' as a special presentation. The invitation is an endorsement of our vision to selectively back high quality international cinema," said Sandeep Bhargava, CEO of the advisory to TIFC, in a press statement.

Produced by Susan B. Landau and Ross Katz, the film is about Vishnu, a restless young man, who rejects his father's faltering hair oil business and hits the road with a travelling cinema. Colourful and full of unforgettable characters, the film celebrates India's open road and the pure love of movies.

It also stars actor-director Satish Kaushik. The film is slated to release here next year.

Benegal's directorial debut "English August" was hailed as a landmark in contemporary Indian cinema and had ignited a wave of independent Indian filmmakers. His second feature presentation "Split Wide Open" premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.

Madhuri Dixit Awarded Indian Film Awards Los Angles USA

2009-06-20T00:19:00.000-07:00

Didi Tera Devar Deewana

Wah Wah Ramji

Babul (Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Mohnish Behl & Renuka)

Lo Chali Main

Samdhi Samdhan

ATTRACT

2009-06-19T23:41:00.000-07:00

For Dia, 'Opposites attract' is bullshit

Nowadays, when actresses are making headlines because of their hook up and break-ups, there’s one actress who is having a blast being single. We are talking about the beautiful babe Dia Mirza who’s enjoying her singledom and has no plans to mingle.

It can be recalled that Dia was dating Kunal Kapoor few years back. After their break-up she has not been a relationship. “I love my single status. I feel when it has to happen, it will happen. There’s no hurry for it. I think I am in that comfortable phase where I am enjoying whatever I am doing. Honestly I don’t pine for it.” she said.

Speaking about her prince charming Dia said, “I don’t want to get into a relationship just for the heck of it. If it will happen now it better be for good. I look for a man who will have great respect for family. Someone who shares the same human values that I do because even though people say opposites attract, its only similarities that persists.”

When asked about what puts her off in a man she said, “When a guy tries too hard it puts me off. I like a man who’s confident in his own skin. I think that’s a huge turn on. Somebody who’s confident knows himself well and conducts himself with dignity.” Dia concludes.

My friends update me: Dia Mirza

My friends update me about my link-ups and break-ups. Dia Mirza talks about deal with ups and downs in her life, both professional and personal.

Dia Mirza’s latest offering Jai Veeru tanked at the BO, but the perky actress is not letting that dampen the excitement of her forthcoming five films. And her bittersweet experiences in B-town have only taught the actress to take both success and failure in her stride. “Success is good company, but failure’s a good teacher,” she says. And having tasted both in a short span has only made her that much more determined. Armed with gorgeous looks, what’s keeping her from reaching the top. “That one solo hit to my credit,” she smiles. “I strongly believe in talent. But that doesn’t mean that the talent will always get the kind of film that it deserves,” adds the actress. In retrospect, Dia says, “Right from being crowned Miss Asia Pacific to working with some of the best names in the industry, I’ve never had to struggle to get where I am today. Maybe, I took it all for granted. The failure of some of my films have made success more precious now.” However, Dia insists that she doesn’t regret any of her films. “More than the BO status, what matters to me is the experience I’ve had while working on a film. Several films have not clicked at the BO. I’ve been kicked around, I’ve tasted mud. But my choices have earned me respect today. And I cherish that,” says Dia giving surface to the strength that lies underneath that demure frame. “Every experience has been valuable. After all, there’s no better way to learn than from your own mistakes. And I have learnt that only the tough survive here.”

On screen, Dia has also clearly avoided being typecast in any image. “I consciously veer away from stuff that I have done already. That may mean losing out on some good projects at times.” Excited about the mixed fare that she has, she says, “I am very happy with the kind of work coming my way. That I’m not being typecast in any one image means that I am balancing the genres quite well.”

From a comedy Fruit-n-Nut, to a romantic comedy with Arshad Warsi to an issue-based Kisaan and from working with actors like Amitabh Bachchan in Johnny Mastaana to playing a femme fatale in Acid Factory, Dia’s juggling all of it with great elan. Probe her further for any favourites and she says, “They all come with their own sugar and spice, so it’s hard to pick any one.”

Films apart what stokes the creative fire in her is her passion for painting. And those who’ve had a dekho at her works swear by her talent. But inspite of several offers from art collectors and art cuartors the actress refuses to use her art work for commercial purposes. “It’s not something that I do professionally. It’s just my hobby and my genes ensure that I’m good at it,” smiles Dia, who’s dad was a renowned painter himself. As forthcoming about her personal life as she’s about her professional life, Dia admits that she’s a die-hard romantic and waiting for ‘my prince charming’. As for the rumours and constant speculation about her love life, she says, “I am usually updated about my link-ups and break-ups by my friends who have a good laugh over all the baseless rumours. I want to have a beautiful steady relationship someday, but nothing is on for now,” she sets the record straight.
Dia is frustrated with men

We thought actress Dia Mirza would’ve loved the opportunity to be the sole woman among six handsome, male actors in Acid Factory. But it wasn’t so smooth and rosy for the girl who thought it to be a pretty frustrating experience sometimes, you know with all the boy-talk and all that. “I used to scream sometimes… Boys can talk a lot, and can be super distracting. They were always discussing the matches, or then car racing, and I used to constantly tell them to shut up and ask them to concentrate on their dialogues,” said Dia, “But I’ve worked with most of them before, and love them all!” Now Mirza better get used to ‘match talks’, especially since a lot of our Bollywood ladies — like Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty — can do some ‘ball talk’ too these days… we of course mean, cricket, fellas! After all it’s the marriage of B-wood to C-world (read: cricket world). So it may just help knowing the ABC of such things, right Dia?
Shilpa Shetty shares beauty secrets

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty who has set girls across the country trudge the treadmill to achieve a svelte figure like hers, wants to pass on all her fitness and beauty secrets to the aspiring lot.

The 33-year-old, who recently launched a chain of medi-spas across Mumbai wants to instil the importance of "health and fitness" among the younger generation.

"(With) my long-term vision and ultimate goal being 'Wellness India', I hope to bring about a certain awareness in the younger generation regarding health and fitness. I hope I can do it through my medi-spas...and be able to put people on the right path of how to lose weight and maintain it," Shilpa posted on her blog. "I really wish that...I can pass down my tips on health and beauty and make a few changes in their lives. It is a lifestyle modification and that's what I intend on doing..." she added.

Not many know that the 34-24-37 beauty was once a dusky girl with average looks. The actress has revealed that she won't shy away from putting her own example for people to follow.

"I've been someone who's synonymous with glamour. If people saw my pictures in the past, they would know exactly how much reinvention can really work for a person and I hope to do that through my spas and salons," she wrote.
Shilpa`s wild behaviour

Yup! It’s true. Shilpa Shetty had a wild, wild time in South Africa. And loverboy Raj Kundra played along as silent observer all the way. Hmm … now before those wicked thoughts bubble over, take a deep breath and hang in there, dahlings. Our antennae went up too, as our special ZOOM crew went along with the sexy Shilps to a Lion Park in Jo’burg. At first she was fascinated by the white lions and lionesses, and couldn’t stop ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ on seeing them. But sadly, one wild beauty of a lioness wasn’t as wowed by our sensual gal. She looked so bored, she yawned away non-stop on sighting Shilpa. What a pity, eh? We guess it was just one jealous beauty ignoring another. So did the lady take it in her stride? Of course, she focussed her attention on another ‘tall’ creature. She tried feeding the giraffes instead, with her bare hands, squealing in disgust each time the G’s long, black, scaly tongue rubbed against her hands. In fact, the Ostriches gave her some pretty disgusted looks each time she screamed at the Giraffe’s rough tongue. It sure was a wild day for Shilpa (and spare a thought for the wild animals). Don’t believe us? Simply tune into ZOOM and catch Ms Shetty’s wild exploits on TV – all this week. So guys, watch Planet Bollywood, who knows you may get a slice of Animal Planet Bollywood as well. Hee haa!
Did Preity Zinta upset some fans in SA?

Our dimpled darlin’ rarely upsets her fans (though sometimes she does get into a brawl with mediafellas), and owing to her eternal bubbly image on screen, she has a huge kiddie fan following too. So ZOOM was really surprised when recently a fan wrote to us ranting about her ‘once favourite’ star – PZ. Apparently, Preity Zinta was doing a promotional event for the media with her team on the beaches of South Africa; and was so heavily into doing the drill that she was inadvertently brusque with a female fan. The girl fan simply requested her to pose for a picture and, “she bluntly refused,” said the disappointed fan. She also added in an email to us, “Preity, in her enthusiasm may have forgotten that the time on the beach was for crowd interaction with the players and for giving youngsters an opportunity to mingle with the sporting stars. So I was hurt when I was ignored.” Okay gal, we understand your grouse, but honestly, PZ is hardly like that. And stars do get busy and involved. Also, when it comes to work, everything else is secondary for Ms Zinta. And being a glam-gal in the sporting biz is no mean task. C’mon gal, be a sport, next time around we promise ya that PZ will pose for pics first, and then go back to the field. We at ZOOM will ensure that and capture it on camera too. And we can see Preity flashing those ‘dees’ already!
Thanks to flops, Preity Zinta gets choosy now

Priety Zinta dimpled her way into the hearts of million of fans with the Perk commercial directed by Shekhar Kapoor more than a decade back.

Today she considered amongst the most respected actress of Bollywood as she has made a place for herself as one of the best actresses today.

With films like Dil Se, Kya Kehna (her first full fledged performance as a complete actress) Armaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Koi Mil Gaya, Kal Ho Naa Ho and Heroes, the actress has proved that she is not just a pretty face but a talented actress too.

With films like Veer Zaara and now Videsh, Preity showed her detractors that she was not her to just run around trees but also give powerful performances.

A source close to the talented beauty tells us, "Right now Preity may not have signed many films apart from Yash Chopra’s forthcoming venture and Sohail Khan’s Main Aur Mrs Khanna but the actress is playing it pretty safe and accepting only roles which can do justice to the talent that she is blessed with.

Since she has come to a stage where she knows that she has had a long and outstanding innings to play. She has now moved on to IPL and made a mark there is no looking back for the actress.

Preity is looking forward to doing quality work and is here to stay."

Indeed, from the chirpy bubbly youngster we saw in Soldier and Dil Se, she has now matured into a fine actress.

Actors Profile

2009-06-12T12:37:00.000-07:00

Shah Rukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan
2nd November, 1965
702/a Shree Amrit, 15th Carter Road, Bandra, Mumbai 400 050
Scorpio
Married (Gauri)
Deewana

Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan
October 11th,1942
Pratiksha, 10th Road JVPD Scheme,Mumbai - 400049
Libra
Married (Jaya Bachchan)
Saat Hindustani

The Angry Young Man

On October 11, 1942 Harivanshrai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan were blessed with a baby boy whom they called Amitabh. Little did they know then, that he would be a household name and would rule the Indian Cinema industry way beyond his time, popularly called 'younger days.'

From a freight broker to the helm of tinsel town, the journey was no bed of roses for this man who has millions swooning to his deep, rich voice, which today is a brand. Belonging to a poet parentage (Harishvanshrai Bachchan is a noted poet and Teji Bachchan, a noted contemporary poet) he grew up appreciating art. After his schooling at Sherwood College, Nanital he earned an arts degree from Delhi University.

He initially worked as a freight broker but followed his dreams and landed in the 'City of Dream,' Mumbai. He made is debut in Saat Hindusthani, which failed to make its mark. It was not before a couple of flops and failures that he made milestone movies like Zanjeer, Deewar, Sholay, the list seems endless from here. He pioneered the character of the angry young man in Hindi Cinema. From then, movies revolved around angry young men. It was a total new concept then, something of a breakthrough.

Then came a phase when Amitabh entered politics. Thanks to his immense popularity, he won a seat in parliament from his hometown of Allahabad. His stay there was however shortlived. He then began ABCL (Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited), which produced several films like Mani Ratnam's Bombay and Shekar Kapoor's Bandit Queen. It hosted the Miss World Pageant, in Bangalore, the first of its kind ever in the history of India. The company then came under debt running into crores of rupees. Many predicted the end of Amitabh Bachchan, an end to a glorious reign.

All were proved wrong when Amitabh bounced back with dignity. He hosted 'Kaun Banega Corepati,' the desi version of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' This TV show was extremely popular and catapulted Amitabh back to limelight. Needless to say all dues paid.

Bollywood opened its doors again with opportunities flooding in for him. He did a variety of roles. Keeping pace with today's glamour world, he did and continues to do dance sequences with ease. He did his own playback singing for a few.

In 1999, Amitabh Bachchan was named the Superstar of the Millennium in a BBC Online Poll. He is the only Bollywood actor, whose wax model is showcased at Madame Tussaud's, the famous wax museum in London. In the recent past he has given hits like Baghban and was appreciated for his role in Khakee and Lakshya.

The King Khan of Bollywood

Shahrukh Khan, the 'Bollywood Badshah' is a brand today. Mostly when he is signed on films, the directors would know that it would do well. This is the magic of the 'King Khan.' Shahrukh first came into the limelight as a soldier, Abhimanyu in a tele-serial 'Fauji.' This took the Indian television by storm. He got instant recognition and soon was cast in 'Circus,' a mega serial in the days when satellite television was still new and untapped. Little did he know then that he would soon be the most sought after name in Bollywood. Deewana, his debut film, opened the doors of Bollywood for him. Though he starred as a second hero to Rishi Kapoor, he made his mark. Soon offers flowed and what followed is history.

Born on 2nd November 1965, Shahrukh grew up in Delhi. His father was a lawyer and freedom fighter and mother a magistrate and a social worker. He completed schooling from 'St. Columba's school' and went on to do Mass Communication in 'Jamia Millia Islamia.' He has always been an achiever.

* Sword of Honour to the most outstanding student
* The Ravi Subramani award
* The Sujit Memorial award
* He captained all teams in football, hockey, and cricket
* He was also in dramatics
* Very good in Hindi, Electronics, Biology
* He was a king in Electronics
* He still remembers the books he studied from.

Aditya Chopra, (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge) Karan Johar (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai) and Farah Khan (Main Hoon Na) made their debut movies with Shahrukh and to say that all were hits would be an understatement.

Here is a list of a few of the many awards he has won:

Filmfare awards:

1993 - Most sensational Debut
1994 - Best Actor for Baazigar
1995 - Critics Award for Kabhi Ha Kabhi Na
1995 - Best Villian for Anjaam
1996 - Best Actor for Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
1997 - Best Actor for Dil To Pagal Hai
1998 - Best Actor Award for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

LUX ZEE CINE AWARDS

1997 - Best Actor for Dil To Pagal Hai
1998 - Best Actor Award for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

EXCLUSIVE AWARDS

1997 - Best Indian Citizen Award From The President Of India
1997 - Sansui Best Actor Award given away in New Delhi

Hrithik Roshan Hrithik Roshan
Jan 10, 1974
Filmkraft, Mayur, Tilak Road, Santacruz (West), Mumbai 400 054
Capricorn
Married (Suzanne Khan)
Kaho Na Pyar Hai

Heartthrob of millions

He took all by surprise and instantly rose to great heights. Ever since he has managed to remain there. His physique, looks and mastery over dance won the hearts of many. Hrithik Roshan, rose to fame with his debut, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai opposite Amisha Patel. Apparently, this was her debut film too. Father Rakesh Roshan launched him with this movie. He won two awards for his debut...Best Newcomer and Best Actor.

Soon after his overnight success, his other movies did not take off as expected. He saw a few flops. Soon however he got back on track. Mostly referred to as the Sylvester Stallone of India, Hrithik is one of the top 10 actors in Bollywood. Two years before his debut, he began preparing himself for the launch. He worked on his body, dance and acting skills. He took lessons in fencing, singing, riding etc. Finally when he made his appearance he enthralled his audience.

At the Sahara Sangeet Awards nite in London, Hrithik was voted as the sexiest male star of Bollywood. At the Filmfare Awards he won the Best Actor award for Koi Mil Gaya, in both the popular and the Critics field. He bagged the Best Actor award for the same movie in the Zee Cine Awards. This is a science-fiction movie, which deals with aliens. Here he plays the role of a mentally challenged person.

Before his leap into films as an actor, he worked as Associate and Assistant Director for movies Karobaar, Koyla, Karan Arjun and Khudgarz. He also starred as a child artiste in Bhagwan Dada (1986) and Aap Ke Deewane (1980).

Production Year Film Name
2004 Lakshya
2003 Koi... Mil Gaya
2003 Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon
2002 Mujhse Dosti Karoge
2002 Na Tum Jaano Na Hum
2002 Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage
2001 Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham
2001 Yaadein
2000 Mission Kashmir
2000 Fiza
2000 Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai
1986 Bhagwan Dada (Child artiste)
1980 Aap Ke Deewane (Child artiste)

Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan
October 11th,1942
Pratiksha, 10th Road JVPD Scheme,Mumbai - 400049
Libra
Married (Jaya Bachchan)
Saat Hindustani

The Angry Young Man

On October 11, 1942 Harivanshrai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan were blessed with a baby boy whom they called Amitabh. Little did they know then, that he would be a household name and would rule the Indian Cinema industry way beyond his time, popularly called 'younger days.'

From a freight broker to the helm of tinsel town, the journey was no bed of roses for this man who has millions swooning to his deep, rich voice, which today is a brand. Belonging to a poet parentage (Harishvanshrai Bachchan is a noted poet and Teji Bachchan, a noted contemporary poet) he grew up appreciating art. After his schooling at Sherwood College, Nanital he earned an arts degree from Delhi University.

He initially worked as a freight broker but followed his dreams and landed in the 'City of Dream,' Mumbai. He made is debut in Saat Hindusthani, which failed to make its mark. It was not before a couple of flops and failures that he made milestone movies like Zanjeer, Deewar, Sholay, the list seems endless from here. He pioneered the character of the angry young man in Hindi Cinema. From then, movies revolved around angry young men. It was a total new concept then, something of a breakthrough.

Then came a phase when Amitabh entered politics. Thanks to his immense popularity, he won a seat in parliament from his hometown of Allahabad. His stay there was however shortlived. He then began ABCL (Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited), which produced several films like Mani Ratnam's Bombay and Shekar Kapoor's Bandit Queen. It hosted the Miss World Pageant, in Bangalore, the first of its kind ever in the history of India. The company then came under debt running into crores of rupees. Many predicted the end of Amitabh Bachchan, an end to a glorious reign.

All were proved wrong when Amitabh bounced back with dignity. He hosted 'Kaun Banega Corepati,' the desi version of 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' This TV show was extremely popular and catapulted Amitabh back to limelight. Needless to say all dues paid.

Bollywood opened its doors again with opportunities flooding in for him. He did a variety of roles. Keeping pace with today's glamour world, he did and continues to do dance sequences with ease. He did his own playback singing for a few.

In 1999, Amitabh Bachchan was named the Superstar of the Millennium in a BBC Online Poll. He is the only Bollywood actor, whose wax model is showcased at Madame Tussaud's, the famous wax museum in London. In the recent past he has given hits like Baghban and was appreciated for his role in Khakee and Lakshya.
http://www.indiainfo.com/

actreses Profile

2009-06-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

Rani Mukherjee Rani Mukherjee
March 21, 1978
405, Shanti building, B Wing, 4th floor, Kalyan Complex, Versova, Mumbai - 400061
Aries
Single
Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat
The Husky Babe

Her husky voice gives her a class, her eyes speak volumes and acting is in her genes. Rani Mukherjee, daughter of director Ram Mukherjee and cousin of Kajol, acting comes naturally to her, when they have had a legacy of stars in the family.
Her first movie, Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, flopped at the box office. She was not the one to give up easily. Her wonderful performance in Ghulam won her instant acclaim and recognition. There were raving reviews about her brilliant performance in the movie. She received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Ever since there has been no looking back for Rani. She has starred with actor-director Kamal Haasan in Hey Ram.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is all set to make Black with Rani Mukherjee. Rumours say that it is based on the life of Hellen Keller born with full sight and hearing. When she was less than two years old she contracted a fever, which left her suddenly blinded and deaf for life. She grew up learning to cope with the tragedy and went on to achieve great things.
Hum Tum with Saif Ali Khan was a runaway hit and did well. She has a few movies in the pipeline. There is Veer Zaara, The Rising, Babul and Bajirao Mastani.
Some of her movies include: Yuva, Chalte Chalte, Saathiya , Bas Itnasa Khwaab Ha i, Chori Chori , Hadh Kardi Aapne , Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaye. The latest buzz is that Rani and Govinda are seeing each other and there stands Govinda marriage on the rocks.

Aishwarya Rai Aishwarya Rai
November 1, 1973
402, Ramlaxmi Niwas, 16th Road (Near Khar Gym) ,Mumbai 400054
Scorpio
Single
Iruvar (Tamil)
Way to go Girl!
Born in the small sleepy town of Mangalore in Karnataka, on November 1, 1973, Gullu as she is fondly called, made India proud when she won the Miss World title in 1994. Aishwarya Rai hasn't looked back since. Life was not an easy joyride for this green-eyed beauty. First few flop movies and a much-publicized traumatic affair didn't paralyze her. She took on everything in her stride and rose higher. She is the first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival and the first actress and performer from India to be featured on the cover of Time magazine. Since 1999 she has been the ambassador for Longiness watches. A merit student in school, Aishwarya had her heart set on 'medicine.' But destiny wanted it otherwise. She chose Architecture but when she began receiving overwhelming modeling assignments, she decided to concentrate on them. She got noticed in ads for Pepsi and Garden. Winning the Miss world crown proved a gateway into Bollywood. Her performance in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, stunned audiences. For the first time, Aishwarya showed off her acting prowess and it took all by surprise. She was no longer considered a glamour doll with twinkling eyes. But this was just the beginning and there was lots more to come. She bagged a parallel role opposite 'Meryl Streep' in French director Coline Serreau's Chaos. She is now all set to put foot into Hollywood. She is the only Indian woman in world's Top 10 good-looking women.
Her short span in Bollywood has won her many awards.
* Awards of the International Indian Film Academy: Popular Award - Actress in a Leading Role, Devdas(2003)
* Filmfare Awards: Best Actress, Devdas(2003)
* Screen Weekly Awards: Screen - Best Actress, Devdas(2003)
* Screen Weekly Awards: Special Award - Jodi No. 1, Devdas (2003)
* Zee Cine Awards: Popular Award - Best Actress, Devdas (2003)
* Zee Cine Awards: True Indian Actress (2003)
* Awards of the International Indian Film Academy: Award for Artistic Excellence - Actress in a Leading Role, Straight From The Heart (2000)
* Filmfare Awards: Best Actress, Straight From The Heart (2000)
* Screen Weekly Awards: Screen - Best Actress, Straight From The Heart(2000)
* Zee Cine Awards: Popular Award - Best Actress, Straight From The Heart(2000)
* Zee Cine Awards: Popular Award - Lux Face of the Year (2000)
* Screen Weekly Awards: Screen - Most Promising Newcomer - Female, Aur Pyaar Ho
Gaya (1998)

Bipasha Basu Bipasha Basu
May 5, 1979
105/B, Ashiyana Estate, John Bapist Road, Bandra, Mumbai 400 050
Taurus
Single
AJNABEE
Bipasha- The Dusky Beauty
This dusky, 5.8' light-eyed beauty sets the screen on fire, each time she appears. Her sensuality and vivacious grace sizzles like a whiff of fresh air. Bipasha Basu the Kolkota girl is hot property in Bollywood today.
The Ford Supermodel contest changed her life forever. Little did she know at the age of 17, that soon success and fame would be hers. In the same contest she won the Tulips Miss Super Vivacious title. It was here that Steven Mizhel spotted her and soon she was featured in Vogue.
Today Bips as she is fondly known is synonymous with 'bold roles,' in the changing face of Bollywood. She made her debut in AJNABEE, a multi-starrer, with Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol and Kareena Kapoor. From then there was no turning back. She was being flooded with offers. RAAZ opposite, then boyfriend, Dino Morea saw a wonderful performance by her. It was soon followed by JISM opposite John Abraham. This is said to have created some serious rift in their relationship. Bipasha has come a long way since then and has carved a niche for herself. Today she is doing more unconventional roles with amazing ease and grace.
Basically a Commerce graduate, she loves singing and dancing. To family and friends she is 'Bonny' and is the second daughter in her family. She featured in Sonu Nigam's music album 'Kismat' before entering films. Her eyes being very expressive can speak volumes and she feels that her eyes are her assets. Her poise and caliber will take her places.

Celina Jaitely Celina Jaitely
June 9, 1981
On uphill walk
Celina Jaitely, Miss India 2001, dons a defense background. Born to an Indian father and Afghani mother, she has often had to move around the country, thanks to her father's army job.
Celina always wanted to be a pilot, and join the flying school in the US. Instead she ended up bagging 'Margo Beautiful Skin,' 'Indiatimes Surfer's Choice' and 'MTV's Most Wanted Awards.'
A Business Communications graduate, she made her debut in Feroz Khan's Janasheen opposite Fardeen Khan. Her other movie was Khel. With only two movies to her credit, she seems a strong contender for an upcoming actress. There are a few movies in the pipeline and future looks promising.

Amisha Patel Amisha Patel
9th June 1976
C/o. Jai Electronic Ind. P. Ltd., 110/111, Parekh Market, Opera House, Mumbai - 400 004.
Gemini
Single
Kaho Na Pyar Hai
Destiny's child
An ace academician and granddaughter of noted lawyer Rajni Patel, Amisha Patel has always been an achiever. Be it being a school head girl or bagging a Gold Medal in Economics at Tufts' University, Boston. She has done it all. Even as a child she showed great grit and determination in following her dreams. In class six she told her mother about her dream to be the school head girl, but her mother never took it seriously. In class 12 she indeed became the head girl.
After a gold medal in Economics, she joined the finance department of the Bombay Stock Exchange, but it could not hold her for long. It took her a year before she could convince her parents to let her join Satyadev Dubey's theatre group. It was around this time, that Rakesh Roshan was making his son, Hrithik's debut movie Kaho Na Pyaar Hai with Kareena. However due to some misunderstandings Kareena could not continue in the project. It was now when Amisha filled the gap. The movie took off with Hrithik and Amisha, both first timers and was a super-duper hit. From here Amisha's film career took off.
She also gave hits like Gadar and Humraaz . Interestingly in Humraaz , she is supposed to have replaced Priyanka Chopra. Her forth coming films include Vikram Bhatt's Elaan in which she is playing a journalist. Then there is Ketan Mehta's The Rising where she plays an innocent Bengali girl, Jwala who goes through bad times before she meets a Britisher.
Of late, Amisha was in news for serving her father Amit Patel a legal notice charging him with "mismanaging" her accounts and assets amounting to Rs.120 million (Rs.12 crore).
Filmography
Production Year Film Name
2000 Kaho Na...Pyaar Hai
2001 Gadar
2001 Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar
2002 Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage
2002 Humraaz
2002 Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai
2002 Kranti
2002 Yeh Hai Jalwa
2003 Suno Sasurjee
2004 Zameer

Preity Zinta Preity Zinta
31 Januray, 1975
C/10A, Ranwar, Waroda Rd., Bandra (w), Mumbai - 50
Aquarius
Single
Dil Se
The Erstwhile 'liril' girl
Do you know someone who decided on her career with the toss of a coin....that's our very own Preity Zinta. The dimpled girl who first made her appearance in the 'liril,' ad is one of the leading heroines of the day in Bollywood.
Her debut film was with the noted director in Indian Cinema, Mani Ratnam in Dil Se, in 1998. Here she played supporting actress but soon took the lead in Soldier, opposite Bobby Deol. She made her mark with Kya Kehna, where she played the role of an unwed mother.
A Criminal psychology graduate, Preity, claims to be a people's person and this is the reason she says that she studied Psychology. She first auditioned for Shekar Kapur's Tara Rum Pum Pum, which apparently did not take off.
Preity's father was an army man who died in a car accident when she was barely 13. Her mother, who was with him at the time, suffered serious injuries and was bedridden for two years. Preity lived through this pain with courage.
She won the Filmfare Award for best newcomer for Dil Se (1998) and Best Debut Award for Soldier. She is known to be very choosy about her roles. In 2003, she gave good performances in The Hero and Armaan and two big hits Koi Mil Gaya and Kal Ho Na Ho.

Old is Gold

2009-06-04T11:31:00.001-07:00

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