Though TDP was quintessentially Vidya's film, it has also opened the floodgates for this star-son who is being given a variety; from comedy to action to choose from. Is it true that post TDP you've been offered a lot of erotic thrillers? Yes, that's true! But I am not sticking by that.

I will not accept this genre unless it truly excites me. The Dirty Picture was a path-breaker.

The script of my next erotic film has to be either better than TDP or at least as good it. I have got a lot of offers for serious films too.

Because of Shor In The City? Yes! Shor In the city is definitely a feather in my cap. It does feel nice when people recognize your efforts.

It is like a reward for all the effort you put in. But I don't want to get stuck in a rut of doing just one genre of movies.

I'm not in a hurry and cash in. For me the challenge lies in doing something different all the time.

Is that why you're dabbling in action films now? It is an exciting space for me to be in! It also gives me a chance to work with new people. For instance, in Bhaiyyaji Superhit that is an action comedy directed by Neeraj Pathak, I share screen space with Sunny Deol and Arshad Warsi .

There's also Shootout At Wadala that I'm completely charged about. It is a hardcore action drama flick.

I was a part of Shootout At Lokhandwala and that had worked at the box office. Being a part of Shootout At Wadala was a natural progress.

I'm glad Sanjay Gupta offered me the film. As I said earlier variety is the key.

Well you are heading in the right direction. You also have a romcom - Samir Karnik's Chardin Ki Chandni.

..

(Smiles) Yes! This script was different. I play this guy who has come from abroad for his sister's wedding.

His girlfriend, played by Kulraj Randhwa, is with him but he can't let anybody know about it. The character then spins things around to protect his girlfriend's identity.

He wants to make his love life a success and does not mind churning out all this drama. It's a light-hearted fun film; a complete family entertainer.

When will Kya Supercool Hai Hum come? We have started the shoot and hope to release it sometime in June or July. It is going to be sex on toast again (laughs).

Parag Maniar (less)

Earlier, the Pakistan Censor Board had refused to clear the movie for release in their country. Earlier this year, Delhi Belly too was not cleared for a release there.

The Dirty Picture was submitted for review to the Censor Board of Pakistan after it was cleared by the Indian Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). "However, they rejected the application saying it is not suitable for theatrical release in Pakistan," reveals a source, adding, "They deemed the movie inappropriate for viewership in Pakistan, due to its bold and controversial content.

" Tanuj Garg, CEO of producer Ekta Kapoor's company confirmed the news, saying, "Yes, our overseas distributor informed us that Pakistan Censor Board deemed the movie unsuitable for theatrical exhibition. Unfortunately, the audience in that country will not have a legitimate means of viewing the film which is sad given the huge buzz there for the film.

" The Dirty Picture , starring Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Tusshar Kapoor released in India on December 2. Tweet (less)

The first big release of year 2012 is Abbas-Mustan's multi-starrer action-thriller "Players", starring Abhishek Bachchan , Sonam Kapoor , Bipasha Basu , Neil Nitin Mukesh, Bobby Deol and Sikander Kher. The actors are extensively promoting the film.

The film has already created a lot of buzz for its action sequences and ultra-glam avatar of the leading ladies Bipasha and Sonam. The film boasts of action and thrills galore.

This will be followed by horror film "Ghost", which marks the comeback of actor Shiney Ahuja . Shiney's movie career hit a rough patch when he was convicted by a Mumbai fast track court of raping his domestic help two years ago.

The actor has challenged the sentence in the Bombay High Court and is currently out on bail. "Ghost" will release alongside Hriday Shetty's "Chaalis Chauraasi", a crime-humour offering, starring Kay Kay Menon, Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Kishan and Atul Kulkarni.

This year will see two Karan Johar flicks - "Agneepath" and "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu" - hitting theatres. A remake of the 1990 film, "Agneepath" sees Hrithik Roshan stepping into the shoes of Amitabh Bachchan as Vijay Dinanath Chauhan alongside Sanjay Dutt who plays baddie Kancha Cheena.

Set for a Jan 26 Republic Day release, it also features Priyanka Chopra. Romantic comedy "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu", starring Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor, will release in February.

The new year will be high on comedy with Akshaye Khanna's "Gali Gali Chor Hai", Riteish Deshmukh-Genelia D'Souza-starrer "Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya", Bipasha-Madhavan's "Jodi Breakers", Sajid Khan's "Housefull 2", Sachin Yardi's "Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum", Sameer Sharma's "Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana" and Rohit Shettty's "Bol Bachchan" scheduled to release. Vishal Bhardwaj's comedy "Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola", set in a rustic Rajasthani backdrop, goes on the floors in February and is slated for release later in 2012.

It stars Imran Khan and Anushka Sharma. Actress Sonakshi Sinha once again hopes to make it big with "Joker", "Son of Sardar", "Dabangg 2" and "Lootera".

While the "Dabangg" sequel reunites her with Salman Khan, she will be seen opposite Akshay Kumar in "Joker". "Son of Sardar" and "Lootera" have Ajay Devgn and Ranveer Singh as her co-stars respectively.

Audiences would be introduced this year to a new genre of zombie-comedy with Ekta Kapoor's "Rock The Shaadi", starring Abhay Deol . Those looking for thrills and action wouldn't be disappointed either.

Apart from "Players", "Agent Vinod", "Blood Money", "Tezz" and "Jannat 2", Aamir Khan-starrer "Talaash", Akshay Kumar's "Rowdy Rathore" and "Race 2" are lined up for release. After a bold performance in "The Dirty Picture", Vidya Balan will return with the thriller "Kahaani", a story of a pregnant woman in search of her missing husband.

After three back-to-back hits with "Wanted", "Dabangg" and "Bodyguard", Salman Khan will once again attempt to strike gold with Kabir Khan's romantic thriller "Ek Tha Tiger". "Rockstar" Ranbir Kapoor's next big release "Barfee", directed by Anurag Basu, will see him playing a deaf individual, while Priyanka Chopra will esssay a mentally challenged girl.

It is a murder mystery. Movie biopics "Paan Singh Tomar" starring Irrfan Khan, and Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra's "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", with Farhan Akhtar in the lead, would also release this year.

Two of the most popular actresses are making a comeback this year. Sridevi will return to the big screen after 15 years with Gauri Shinde's "English Vinglish", which is is produced by Balki of "Paa" fame.

Karisma Kapur also makes her acting comeback with Vikram Bhatt's horror film "Dangerous Ishq". Madhur Bhandarker's ambitious project "Heroine" starring Kareena Kapoor will see the light of the day in 2012.

Sharman Joshi's first solo project "Ferrari Ki Sawaari" and Prateik's "Ekk Deewana Tha" will also release this year. (Priyanka Sharma can be contacted at priyanka.

s@ians.in) (less)

We liked the way PC imitated Kareena Kapoor's act from Golmaal, Shah Rukh Khan's from My Name is Khan and Salman's from Dabangg in an award show last year. Priyanka ensured she was as entertaining a presenter for the 'Best Film' category as the famous spoof players Riteish Deshmukh and Boman Irani.

This year for the same award function, Priyanka has apparently aped none other than Vidya Balan! Onlookers informed, "Priyanka and Shah Rukh posed as Vidya and Naseeruddin Shah from Dirty Picture. Vidya wore the same pink outfit of Vidya's from oo la la and danced just like her.

What made everyone laugh was Priyanka's overnight weight gain! She stuffed herself to look fat on stage, like Silk Smitha !" Spoofing nominees is not a new trend. Saif and Shah Rukh started it.

Ranbir and Imran have done the same for Filmfare. Wonder how will Vidya's fans react to this act of Priyanka's though! (less)

Says a trade source, "Bollywood has often seen male actors play double roles. Amitabh Bachchan , Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan , Shahid Kapoor , Anil Kapoor , and Govinda have pulled off double roles with aplomb.

Fewer heroines, though, have been given this honour." When you talk of women in double roles, Sridevi in Chaalbaaz, Madhuri in Sangeet, Kajol in Dushman and Kuch Khatti, Kuch Meethi, Deepika Padukone in Om Shanti Om as well as Chandni Chowk To China and Priyanka Chopra in What's Your Rashee come to mind immediately.

Joining them now, will be Kangna. Kangna confesses, "I can't give out much on the story, but yes, I am playing a double role in the TWM sequel.

It is going to be a bigger and better film; I'm really excited!" There's a lot more to be excited about. She has been shooting for Rakesh Roshan's Krrish-3 that went on the floors earlier this month.

The curly-haired actress plays a super-girl in the film. Almost breathless with excitement, she gushes, "Krrish-3 has taken all my time, my life and energy.

" This year has been a fantastic year for this young, thinking actress. She had multiple releases including the hits Tanu Weds Manu and Double Dhamaal .

She has replaced Vidya Balan in Dedh Ishqiyaa. Her name also figures on the wish list of reputed filmmakers like Vishal Bhardwaj and Ekta Kapoor.

However, her crowning glory at this juncture is that she has a double role in the TWM sequel. Director Aanand Rai feels that Kangs was the backbone of the original and is happy that the script makes place for "two of her" in the sequel.

Reiterating Bollywood's faith in the fiery actress' ability, trade guru Taran Adarsh says, "Kangna has always managed to surprise her audience with her diversity. She took up challenges early in her acting career.

2011 has been telling because she shed that neurotic image she had cultivated with Gangster, Woh Lamhe and Fashion, and proved that she can be versatile.'' "Kangna's among the few current actresses who has the versatility to pull off a double role.

Her spirited performance was the best thing about Tanu Weds Manu and it'll be interesting to see how she creates two entirely different characters for the sequel," says leading film critic Rajeev Masand (less)

Vijaylakshmi, a small town girl, with her dance numbers and bold performances reached the ultimate symbol of sensuality in Southern cinema. Film critics have often referred to her as a "soft porn" actress.

However Vidya said, "I think I am an actor playing a character Silk Smitha. I don't think there is a possibility of that tag being attached to me.

I just hope it adds another shade to me as an actor." Produced by Ekta Kapoor, The Dirty Picture , stars Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor in pivotal roles.

The film, chronicling the journey of the yesteryear seductress and her early demise, is slated to release on Smitha's birthday, December 2. Here's a look at the trailer: Tweet (less)

According to our source, "His children refuse to get anywhere close to him, for the beard pricks their tender skin. Arshad is just waiting for the film to get over and done with so that he could get back to his kids just like the way it was earlier.

" Star ko kya kya karna padta hai! (less)

Women have played several roles on screen - helpless mother, submissive wife, devoted girlfriend and ignored sister. But over a decade, filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali , Shyam Benegal, Vishal Bhardwaj have tried to break the stereotype and present them in a more realistic way, and successfully too.

IANS lists women-centric films in the past decade that have ruled the box-office or garnered critical acclaim: "The Dirty Picture" (2011) - Vidya Balan's itsy bitsy clothes, cleavage-showing blouses and raunchy dance numbers swept the audience off their feet even before the film hit the silver screen, but her powerful and crisp dialogue delivery and easy portrayal of the character took the attention away. The film is an unofficial biopic of southern sex symbol Silk Smitha, her rise to fame and downfall.

"7 Khoon Maaf" (2011) - Priyanka Chopra won critical acclaim for her performance as Susanna, a potentially loathsome serial spouse-killer. At the outset Priyanka's character seemed negative but at the same time it gave an insight into a woman's heart and soul.

Rather than hate her, many ended up sympathising with her. "No One Killed Jessica" (2011) - Based on the real-life murder of model Jessica Lall in 1999, this film kickstarted the year on a positive note.

While Vidya Balan triumphed with her non-glamorous and distraught portrayal of Jessica's sister Sabrina, Rani Mukerji's unprecedented use of abuses as a journalist raised quite a few eyebrows but brought critical acclaim for her. "Fashion" (2008) - Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar , "Fashion" gave a sneak peak into the dark reality of the glamour world.

Priyanka stole the show with her powerful and intense performance as a girl who goes from aspiring model to supermodel before her descent. The actress played a bubbly girl, who connected with the darkest of human emotions while pursuing her dream.

Her performance also won her a national award. "Dor" (2006) - A Nagesh Kuknoor film, "Dor" was the poigant tale of two women and how their fate brings them together.

Relatively new to the world of cinema, both Ayesha Takia and Gul Panag proved their mettle as actors with their distinctive performances. "Black" (2005) - Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, "Black" was one of the best films of Rani Mukerji's career.

Her portrayal of a deaf and blind girl and how she forms a strong bond with her teacher played by Amitabh Bachchan won her accolades from all over the world. The film brought out the untapped potential of the actress.

"Chameli" (2003) - "Chameli" was a brave attempt by Kareena Kapoor , where she played a sex worker. With her over-the-top makeup, bright coloured saris and intense portrayal, Kareena proved that she is much more than just glamorous.

"Zubeidaa" (2001) - A Shyam Benegal film, "Zubeidaa" starred Karisma Kapoor and Rekha in prominent roles. It was the story of a girl who gets married into a royal family and frets about the restrictions on her as princess and often vents her frustrations at not having her husband to herself.

The film saw Karisma in a completely different avatar. "Lajja" (2001) - Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, "Lajja" satirized the status of women in society and the restrictions on them.

The film chronicled the story of four women with the names Maithali, Janaki, Ramdulhari and Vaidehi that are considered to be the versions of Sita. The film starred Manisha Koirala , Rekha, Madhuri Dixit and Mahima Chaudhry.

"Chandni Bar" (2001)- Madhur Bhandarkar's "Chandni Bar" was again the heartwarming story of a sex worker played by Tabu and how she struggles to provide a better lifestyle to her kids, keeping them away from the gritty world of prostitution. Tabu walked away with the national award for best actress (less)

And this time the moviemakers have faced the wrath of some Rajinikanth fans. If the buzz around this issue is to be believed, Naseeruddin�Shah's character in "The Dirty Picture" is inspired by the Tamil superstar.

That Naseer is playing a superstar in the film, is common knowledge. The film's teaser doing the rounds shows Vidya Balan performing an item number with him.

But what is also common is that Rajinikanth too is a superstar and he too acted with Silk in various movies, in which she had special item numbers with the actress. Drawing a parallel between the two, fans of Rajinikanth are now demanding removal of those scenes that in anyway show Naseer (and thus Rajini) in a bad light.

The makers of the film however have denied any resemblance to the South star, saying that Naseer is playing an ageing star in the film whereas Rajini was in his prime when he worked with Silk. But fans are in no mood to relent.

They have threatened the filmmakers with dire consequences if their superstar is portrayed in a bad manner (less)

The film is also set to be showcased at other festivals abroad, says director Suman Ghosh. "The film will first be having its world premiere at the 16th Busan International Film Festival where it will be shown in the Section A Window on Asian Cinema and will have three screenings from October 6-14," Ghosh said in a statement.

At the BFI London Film Festival, the movie will have two screenings under the world section. In the film, Mithun plays the role of Bhanu, who finds the lost Nobel medal of noted poet Rabindranath Tagore.

What happens to the medal and Bhanu in a twisting turn of events forms the entire story. Actor Soumitra Chatterjee also features in the movie, apart from names like Harsh Chhaya and Rupa Ganguly.

Tweet (less)

Great!," said the actress in an interview. After having been seen in graceful and classy roles like Parineeta and Paa , Vidya suprised everyone when she decided to play a sex symbol in Milan Luthria's The Dirty Picutre , but it was not a cakewalk for her.

"I would have to say that Silk (her character name in the film) has been an extremely demanding, exhausting, tiring and yet very fulfilling and exhilarating role for me to have played." "It's like a workout.

Sometimes you kill yourself during the workout and you feel dead after that. But it's also extremely exhilarating and there is a sense of adrenalin rush after the workout and that is how I feel after this film," Vidya, 32, said.

It may have been an exhausting role but at the same time, Vidya thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing an actress of the 1980s and 1990s. "Films in those times were full of masala and entertainment.

Songs and dance used to start at any point in the film amidst pots, colours and oranges. I have done all that in this film, so all my wishes are fulfilled," she said.

Vidya started her career with Parineeta , an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's book. After that she did glamorous roles in Heyy Babyy and Kismet Konnection , but her fans liked her more in films like No One Killed Jessica .

This is not for the first time that Vidya is doing something unconventional. Even in Ishqiya , she played a woman who oozes sensuality and mouthed expletives to make her role convincing.

She seems to be experimenting further in that direction with The Dirty Picture , which is releasing on Dec 2. In the film, she will be seen romancing Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor.

After The Dirty Picture , Vidya has Sujoy Ghosh's Kahaani opposite Emraan. Tweet (less)

The deal was announced on the day it was screened for the press and the film industry at TIFF. Michael, which makes its world premiere in TIFF's Contemporary World Cinema section, has proven to be a success in the world market.

The feature film debut of Ribhu Dasgupta is a 98-minute film that follows the lives of people as they merge and get lost in Kolkata's landscape. Naseeruddin Shah essays the character Michael, a police officer, and Mahie Gill plays the nurse who befriends Michael.

While Kashyap's film has had an excellent start thanks to the screening at TIFF, Pankaj Kapur's big ticket film Mausam faced a major setback. One day before the screening, the filmmakers withdrew what was considered to be India's most prized entry at TIFF.

Mausam's filmmakers released a statement to the press explaining why the last moment decision was taken. They stated that the film could not be screened publicly because of delays in censorship and related permissions from the Indian Air Force.

Back home, Mausam due to the same problem, has now been delayed for a week. The film which was scheduled to release on 16 September will now release a week later.

When contacted, TIFF's co-director Cameron Bailey said, "Audiences in Toronto have been powerful champions for the promotion and growth of Indian cinema abroad. It's a shame that our audiences will be left disappointed.

" Reportedly, due to the latest turn of events, future blockbuster choices from India are expected to undergo more stringent guarantees on participation at TIFF (less)

Earlier, the Pakistan Censor Board had refused to clear the movie for release in their country. Earlier this year, Delhi Belly too was not cleared for a release there.

The Dirty Picture was submitted for review to the Censor Board of Pakistan after it was cleared by the Indian Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). "However, they rejected the application saying it is not suitable for theatrical release in Pakistan," reveals a source, adding, "They deemed the movie inappropriate for viewership in Pakistan, due to its bold and controversial content.

" Tanuj Garg, CEO of producer Ekta Kapoor's company confirmed the news, saying, "Yes, our overseas distributor informed us that Pakistan Censor Board deemed the movie unsuitable for theatrical exhibition. Unfortunately, the audience in that country will not have a legitimate means of viewing the film which is sad given the huge buzz there for the film.

" The Dirty Picture , starring Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Tusshar Kapoor released in India on December 2. Tweet (less)

All of a sudden, we see Vidya Balan opting for different kinds of roles..

. I am on a trip of playing different people - living their lives, fiction or real through the characters I play.

And these are the people who are so not like me. And why shouldn't I play these characters? I am getting these opportunities and I am grabbing them.

A film has to have something beyond the regular song and dance for me. You know what, I want people to come out after watching each and every film of mine and say, 'This is not the Vidya we know' or 'This is not the Vidya we saw last time'.

But you refused Vishal Bhardwaj's offer of Daayan..

. There wasn't much for me to do in Daayan.

And then Vishal did not even inform you that you were not a part of Ishqiya sequel. The producers did.

Was that revenge? I don't know about revenge. But yes, Shemaroo informed me.

Anyways, I had been wondering what I would do in Dedh Ishqiya. If you have seen Ishqiya, the two guys (Naseer and Arshad) had met Krishna (myself) along the way.

They sure would have moved on in the sequel. But theek hai.

I have no hard feelings on not being chosen for Dedh Ishqiya. Coming back to your 'trip' of playing different characters, it seems like this is the same trip Rekha was on.

Or have you become the female Aamir Khan ? To a certain extent, yes. And didn't Rekhaji do it beautifully? She played so many interesting, different yet commercially viable characters.

As for the second part of your question, thanks for the compliment. Whenever I have to take a risky decision, I think of Aamir and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

Those two simply defy rules. But on both counts, I still have to go a long way yaar.

Still, how did you do The Dirty Picture? You are such a shy and inhibited person. Were you comfortable sitting with your parents when the promos went on air? Well, I always tell my parents everything I do.

So they knew that in The Dirty Picture, I was playing a role that was..

..

(thinks hard for too long) Blasphemous? No, not blasphemous. Risky is the word.

But they knew that I was in safe hands. They had seen Milan Luthria's work, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai.

And they knew Ekta since my Hum Paanch days. But yes, I did feel awkward sitting with them when the promos were first telecast.

However cool and evolved I maybe, I am never going to coochie-coo with my boyfriend in front of them. Hence, watching my intimate scenes with the actors, along with my parents was never going to be easy.

By boyfriend you mean Siddharth Roy Kapoor . So, what's his take on The Dirty Picture? No.

He doesn't have any issues with my work. You had to use prosthetics in The Dirty Picture.

How was the experience? Well, all I can say is that I have worked with Amitabh Bachchan in Paa. After that, if I say using prosthetics was difficult, I would sound spoilt.

So I won't say. But you are seriously getting bolder.

What if Raj Kapoor was alive and offered you Mandakini's role in Ram Teri Ganga Maili? I would have loved to work with Rajji. But that's not what we're asking.

..

(Smiles) You! Well, I don't think he would have made Ram Teri Ganga Maili in today's times. But yes, I must say that I would have loved to do his Satyam Shivam Sundaram.

Bipasha had objected to your on-screen pairing with John Abraham. Now that the two are no longer together, would you work with John? Would you want to work with John in Sanjay Gupta's Shootout At Wadala? I was always okay to working with John.

I still maintain that. But I still have to meet Gupta for the narration.

Would you be okay to working with Shahid? Depends. The script will be the decisive factor.

Coming back to your boyfriend. There are rumours of you and Siddharth buying a house near Rizvi college in Bandra? Nonsense.

My house in Khar is pretty new. Ek toh sambhal loon.

But the two of you are rock steady. Some time back, there were rumours about the two of you getting married.

If I was in a relationship I couldn't talk about, I would never have been in it to begin with. I am in a very happy space with Siddharth.

Yes, I want to get married. I want to be a bride.

But I am not married yet (less)

I wasn't uncomfortable doing bold scenes because I knew I was in trusted hands," Vidya told reporters here Tuesday. The actress, who reprises late southern siren Silk Smitha's rise and fall as a glamourous star in the film, spoke at the theatrical launch of the film.

The movie also features Tusshar Kapoor, Emraan Hashmi and Naseeruddin Shah. "I have worked with Naseer before but this time it was easier.

..

I was less nervous this time," said Vidya, who had teamed up with the veteran actor in "Ishqiya". On working with Bollywood's serial kisser Emraan, with whom she has locked lips in the film, she said: "I was wondering how it would be with Emraan, but it was fun.

" The trailer promises viewers that Vidya would indeed be seen in a never-seen-before avatar in the film, which is set for release Dec 2 (less)

This has been a very old tradition in the Hindi cinema. So, we tried to bring back that era.

..

people do like tough dialogues. Even in the films of Amitji ( Amitabh Bachchan ) and Dharamji ( Dharmendra ), I remember there used to be a lot of tough dialogues," the director said at an event here.

Meanwhile, the director is highly impressed with Vidya Balan's commitment level and talent. "I think Vidya is one of the most special actresses of her time.

Her choices are extraordinary, her talent is extraordinary, and her commitment is extraordinary," said Milan, who started off in the film industry with "Kachche Dhaage" in 1999. He also directed "Deewaar", "Taxi Number 9211", "Hattrick", but Milan's fame skyrocketed with the 2010 underworld saga "Once Upon a Time In Mumbaai".

Basking in the glory of "The Dirty Picture", Milan is currently working on "Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2" (less)

And now, Mumbai Mirror has learnt that producer Fauzia Arshi and director Neeraj Pathak are keen on cashing in on the dynamic duo in their action thriller Bhaiyyaji Superhit, under the Daily Multimedia banner. A friend close to the director revealed that the male leads in the film were confirmed, but finding a female lead proved to be a major challenge.

Pathak's friend explained how the decision to cast Ameesha opposite Sunny came about, saying, "Sunny, Arshad and Tusshar were brought on-board some time ago. But, Fauzia and Neeraj spent a lot of time deliberating about which actress to approach to essay the female lead in the film.

It then occurred to them that Sunny and Ameesha were an outstanding on-screen couple in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. Also, she seemed like the apt choice for the character.

" When contacted, Arshi confirmed the news, "We had to start shooting in January. We had finalised the entire cast with Sunny, Arshad and Tusshar, but we could not finalise the female lead.

We brainstormed a lot of options. When Ameesha's name came up, everyone loved the idea of having her on-board.

And so, she will start shooting for Bhaiyyaji Superhit in the first week of January." (less)

A vermillion bindi on her forehead, a coffeecoloured sari, a blouse with a plunging neckline, golden bangles, slippers and nailpaint --the star is in character for "The Dirty Picture", when one meets her in her vanity van before her rehearsals begin. "Kolkata always makes me nostalgic.

As we drove from the airport, I pointed at each of the places where I had shot either during "Parineeta" or "Kahaani". Even the vanity van where I'm now seated, is the one that I used while shooting "Kahaani"," she says.

Considering that she has been in the city on the last day of the 17th edition of the Kolkata Film Festival, does she remember the time when she was the thaali girl of KFF before her meteoric rise to fame from her days as a beginner in Goutam Halder's "Bhalo Theko"? "Of course, I remember going to Nandan with Goutamda and the stalls there. I remember Angshu Sur, who used to head Nandan.

..

" she says. A crazy schedule, however, meant not being able to make it to KFF now.

But she doesn't miss out on a visit to Kalighat. "When I stand in front of the idol, I just say thank you.

My sister, Priya, has recently had twins - Ira and Ruhaan. I went to seek blessings for them," she says.

What did she ask for herself? "Nothing. I have never planned much in life.

" Not even marriage? "I've been living with my parents for so long that the thought of having to wake up without them in the house makes me edgy. I believe in the institution of marriage but am in no hurry to settle down.

I'm happy with the work I am doing. I do one or two films a year and have not signed on anything new post-"Kahaani".

I want a break after that. My health needs attention and my mother has made me promise that I'll take a break from January to March," she says.

Deciding not to sign on new projects means having to say no to many directors. Doesn't that rub people the wrong way? "It's never been difficult for me to say no.

I've never given excuses like I don't have dates or over-quoted. I say that while the script might be good, I can't connect with it.

I've landed in trouble for doing this. People sound okay when I am upfront.

But there have been occasions when they have come with two projects to me. If I've turned down one, they never came back to me with the second offer.

Once a filmmaker called up another director (I was working with him then) and asked him to throw me out of his movie because I had turned down his script! The person I was working with had earlier been this director's assistant. Throwing me out of the movie was supposed to be a 'gurudakshina'.

That director later went on to call me names on print, but I'm capable of handling this now," she says. What about controversies? Is she capable of handling them, especially the recent one involving Silk Smitha's brother? "From Shakespeare to Robi Thakur, everyone has written stories about people around them.

There is no creativity minus reality. In this case, it isn't about Silk Smitha per se.

There were so many other dancing stars including Nylon Nalini, Cotton Kamini, Rayon Revathi and so on. Silk happens to be the most nationally popular dancing girl of the 80s.

So, people are making associations," she says. What if a director wants to make a movie on an actor whose name is Vidya based on a script that has some real life parallels? "There will always be a difference between the reel and the real.

Being in this profession, I am fine with movies inspired by real-life characters." So, what is that one word in the industry that she considers to be 'dirty'? "Insecurity that fame brings along.

It can drive people to drugs, bad behaviour and self-destruction. It is never easy to not be insecure in this profession.

I'm here to act and have treated fame as a fringe benefit (a rather large benefit, I suppose). There are times when I've made mistakes by signing on movies because I was told that my time is now and I've to take the beaten path.

However, I don't regret anything," she says. Finally, what does she think sells in today's world? There was a time when Neha Dhupia's quote "Only sex and SRK sell" did the rounds.

How would Vidya redefine the quote today? She pauses to think for a while and says, "Only conviction sells." If that were the case, why then would insecurity seep in? "Well, when we are insecure, we really don't have that 100 per cent conviction.

Once we have it, we can tide over everything." (less)

During our college life, we all friends used to do all the nautankis and these stand-up items. And my favourite role would always be of a pregnant woman.

So the walk and all came to me very naturally," Vidya, 33, told reporters here. Vidya ruled Bollywood as Silk last year and it seems she wants to take it forward with Kahaani as she is aggressively promoting the movie.

If she dressed like her character for the promotion of The Dirty Picture , the actress appeared with a baby bump at the Kahaani promotional event. Kahaani , scheduled to release March 9, is not the first film to feature her as a mother -- in Paa and Heyy Babyy too she had played a mom.

Besides her hard work, Vidya can't stop praising director Sujoy Ghosh's efforts and said: "He is very energetic. We managed to shoot continuously for 64 days without any break.

Sujoy would not let the mood drop." Vidya, who started her career with Pradeep Sarkar and went on to work with acclaimed directors like Priyadarshan, R.

Balakrishnan and Abhishek Chaubey, hasn't got an opportunity to repeat her directors. When asked about this, she said: "I don't make any rules.

I would be happy to work with the directors with whom I have already worked. Few times it didn't work out.

May be in future I will work with them. I am very greedy.

" Her recent was with director Milan Luthria - they teamed up for The Dirty Picture and the film became a super-duper hit. Tweet (less)

All of a sudden, we see Vidya Balan opting for different kinds of roles..

. I am on a trip of playing different people - living their lives, fiction or real through the characters I play.

And these are the people who are so not like me. And why shouldn't I play these characters? I am getting these opportunities and I am grabbing them.

A film has to have something beyond the regular song and dance for me. You know what, I want people to come out after watching each and every film of mine and say, 'This is not the Vidya we know' or 'This is not the Vidya we saw last time'.

But you refused Vishal Bhardwaj's offer of Daayan..

. There wasn't much for me to do in Daayan.

And then Vishal did not even inform you that you were not a part of Ishqiya sequel. The producers did.

Was that revenge? I don't know about revenge. But yes, Shemaroo informed me.

Anyways, I had been wondering what I would do in Dedh Ishqiya. If you have seen Ishqiya, the two guys (Naseer and Arshad) had met Krishna (myself) along the way.

They sure would have moved on in the sequel. But theek hai.

I have no hard feelings on not being chosen for Dedh Ishqiya. Coming back to your 'trip' of playing different characters, it seems like this is the same trip Rekha was on.

Or have you become the female Aamir Khan? To a certain extent, yes. And didn't Rekhaji do it beautifully? She played so many interesting, different yet commercially viable characters.

As for the second part of your question, thanks for the compliment. Whenever I have to take a risky decision, I think of Aamir and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

Those two simply defy rules. But on both counts, I still have to go a long way yaar.

Still, how did you do The Dirty Picture? You are such a shy and inhibited person. Were you comfortable sitting with your parents when the promos went on air? Well, I always tell my parents everything I do.

So they knew that in The Dirty Picture, I was playing a role that was..

..

(thinks hard for too long) Blasphemous? No, not blasphemous. Risky is the word.

But they knew that I was in safe hands. They had seen Milan Luthria's work, Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai.

And they knew Ekta since my Hum Paanch days. But yes, I did feel awkward sitting with them when the promos were first telecast.

However cool and evolved I maybe, I am never going to coochie-coo with my boyfriend in front of them. Hence, watching my intimate scenes with the actors, along with my parents was never going to be easy.

By boyfriend you mean Siddharth Roy Kapoor. So, what's his take on The Dirty Picture? No.

He doesn't have any issues with my work. You had to use prosthetics in The Dirty Picture.

How was the experience? Well, all I can say is that I have worked with Amitabh Bachchan in Paa. After that, if I say using prosthetics was difficult, I would sound spoilt.

So I won't say. But you are seriously getting bolder.

What if Raj Kapoor was alive and offered you Mandakini's role in Ram Teri Ganga Maili? I would have loved to work with Rajji. But that's not what we're asking.

..

(Smiles) You! Well, I don't think he would have made Ram Teri Ganga Maili in today's times. But yes, I must say that I would have loved to do his Satyam Shivam Sundaram.

Bipasha had objected to your on-screen pairing with John Abraham. Now that the two are no longer together, would you work with John? Would you want to work with John in Sanjay Gupta's Shootout At Wadala? I was always okay to working with John.

I still maintain that. But I still have to meet Gupta for the narration.

Would you be okay to working with Shahid? Depends. The script will be the decisive factor.

Coming back to your boyfriend. There are rumours of you and Siddharth buying a house near Rizvi college in Bandra? Nonsense.

My house in Khar is pretty new. Ek toh sambhal loon.

But the two of you are rock steady. Some time back, there were rumours about the two of you getting married.

If I was in a relationship I couldn't talk about, I would never have been in it to begin with. I am in a very happy space with Siddharth.

Yes, I want to get married. I want to be a bride.

But I am not married yet (less)

I wasn't uncomfortable doing bold scenes because I knew I was in trusted hands," Vidya said on Tuesday (August 30). The actress, who reprises late southern siren Silk Smitha's rise and fall as a glamourous star in the film, spoke at the theatrical launch of the film.

The movie also features Tusshar Kapoor, Emraan Hashmi and Naseeruddin Shah. "I have worked with Naseer before but this time it was easier, I was less nervous this time," said Vidya, who had teamed up with the veteran actor in Ishqiya .

On working with Bollywood's serial kisser Emraan, with whom she has locked lips in the film, she said: "I was wondering how it would be with Emraan, but it was fun." The trailer promises viewers that Vidya would indeed be seen in a never-seen-before avatar in the film, which is set for release Dec 2.

Tweet (less)

"May I just say that singing Rabindra Sangeet for the first time was the greatest revelation. The beauty of the language, the lyricism of the tune and its 'dhun' (music) are outstanding.

"This particular, world famous number Ekla Cholo , expounding to all that if no one came to you on your calling, walk alone!! And what a fabulous song has been incorporated by Vishal-Shekhar. Truly awesome and worthy of all award," he wrote.

Tweet (less)

"May I just say that singing Rabindra Sangeet for the first time was the greatest revelation. The beauty of the language, the lyricism of the tune and its 'dhun' (music) are outstanding.

"This particular, world famous number Ekla Cholo , expounding to all that if no one came to you on your calling, walk alone!! And what a fabulous song has been incorporated by Vishal-Shekhar. Truly awesome and worthy of all award," he wrote.

Tweet (less)

Director Anurag Kashyap told Mumbai Mirror, "The film is shot in Kolkata for over 40 days. The plot is the change in the political scene after 40 years of communism.

The story revolves around a cop who shoots a child and gets fired from the force. He then starts a business of pirated films.

The name of the protagonist is Michael. The release date of thefilm will be decided after the film festival.

” He adds, "Last year, we went to Cannes, Venice and Toronto with Udaan and That Girl In The Yellow Boots. This year we will visit Toronto with Trishna (which stars Freida Pinto) and Michael.

Obviously it's an honour. It makes us feel like we must be doing something right.

" Pankaj Kapoor's Mausam will also be screened at the Film Festival (less)

Jayashree, will be the inaugural movie at the fest, which will also pay homage to renowned cinematographer S. Ramachandra.

Internationally acclaimed Iranian film director Dariush Mehrjui will also be honoured during the inaugural function at the Jnanajyothi Auditorium here. Actors Om Puri and Anant Nag will be guests of honour at the opening ceremony.

T.S.

Nagabharana, president of the Karnataka Chalanachithra Academy, Rao, the state's Principal Secretary Basavaraju and Information Department chairman Muddu Mohan shared the details of the fest at a press meet here. A total of 179 films, out of which 20 are Kannada movies, will be screened at the fest, said Rao.

Upendra-directed Super is among the films selected for screening. Kannada movie Rasarushi Kuvempu will be premiered and Tulu film Gaggara will also be screened.

Tweet (less)

At the Jaipur Literature Festival, the filmmaker confessed..

. "My life was confined to my friends and for me, an adaptation was like taking a master's hard work and riding on its success.

I knew that I didn't possess the kind of depth writers normally have and Shakespeare came very late to me as I always wanted to make movies of the underworld genre. But then, I realised you don't take back home anything after watching such flicks.

But even after the discovery, the poet gave Bhardwaj the royal jitters. He recalled, "During my early days, Shakespeare was a scary thing because his language scared me and if you watch my movies that have been adapted from his works, you will see that I have taken a lot of creative liberty in making those movies.

" But, he says, he was stupid. "When I finally starting understanding his plays, I bought all his plays and read them in a year," he said, adding, "Now I realise, I can live my life based on Shakespeare's works, spend my life reading him," said Vishal.

Though "Maqbool" was shown at the Toronto Film Festival and it was received very well there, he says the kind of questions people asked him about the movie and Shakespeare made him realise he was a fool. "I started thinking of his plays as my work, but after that, I did "Omkara" and now I am not going to do any more adaptations of Shakespeare's plays because I am very scared," laughed Vishal.

In the same vein, he pressed on the importance of being - of all the things - a con man! "The perception of the masses is that literature is very boring and if you want to make a profound film, you have to be a con artist because it is very difficult to sell good work. And more so for me, because for me, it was double the convincing - I had to make a producer bet money on a music composer who wanted to make films.

You've to be a con artist," laughed the filmmaker (less)

From the director of Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai , Milan Luthria, The Dirty Picture is based on the tumultuous life of the late screen vamp ,Silk Smitha. The film, also starring Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor, is reportedly a hard, realistic look at the life of one of Indian cinema's best-known item dancers.

Here's a look at the trailer: Tweet (less)

The actress has gone all out to redefine her girl-next-door image with a sexy and raunchy act in the film. Bollywood is keenly awaiting the film's release on December 2, 2011.

But now even the South film industry will get to see a glimpse of the film. The producers have decided to dub the film in Tamil and Telugu languages also.

Vidya's character in the film is loosely modeled on the lines of South sex-symbol Silk Smitha. A source associated with the film says, "It makes sense to cater to the South audiences as well because Silk Smitha was a huge sensation in South Indian films.

Perhaps they would be able to relate to the film more easily than the Bollywood belt". Also the fact that Vidya Balan is actually a South Indian could help.

If the buzz is to be believed, the film primarily has a South Indian setting with Naseeruddin Shah playing a larger-than-life superstar like in South Indian films. Also it's largely shot in Ramoji Rao Studios in Hyderabad (less)

Arshad Warsi, the only actor retained from the original cast, is paired with Kangna Ranaut. Tweet (less)

According to sources from the sets, Sanjubaba is miffed with director Anand Kumar's way of handling the project and Arshad Warsi's intrusion into the directorial space. As a result of the tension between Munna Bhai and his sidekick Circuit, the older actor has now struck off dates that he had earlier allocated for the next schedule of the film, revealed sources.

A source informed Mumbai Mirror, "There is tension on the sets of Zilla Ghaziabad. Anand Kumar, who has directed only one film Delhi Heights, was unable to handle the project comfortably.

Consequently, Arshad who is very close to Anand started calling the shots." Explaining what followed, another source close to Dutt told Mumbai Mirror, "Dutt is a very senior actor.

He put his foot down, spoke to the producer Vinod Bachchan and demanded to know what was happening. He did not want to take directions from Arshad.

" "Dutt however, did not show his displeasure to Arshad. After all, they are very close ever since they worked in Munnabhai MBBS," added the source.

Moreover, Dutt also realised that the film was being shot in a totally different way from what he had been told initially. According to sources, Arshad got a song picturised on himself, which was not a part of the original script.

Dutt has agreed to report back on the sets only if Vinod Bachchan agrees to reshoot his earlier scenes according to the initial narration. When contacted, Vinod Bachchan chose to decline any such tension and said, "Aisa kuch bhi nahin hua hai.

We are shooting very comfortably." Dharam Oberoi, CEO Sanjay Dutt Productions, said, "Arshad ne toh Sanju Sir ka role bada kar diya hai.

Sanju Sir has no problem with Zilla Ghaziabad." Dutt chose not to reply to our text messages (less)

Arshad Warsi, the only actor retained from the original cast, is paired with Kangna Ranaut. Tweet (less)

A source informed Mumbai Mirror that Vidya did not find the role challenging enough. "She felt she had very little to do in the film because it centres around Emraan Hashmi's character and his relationship with three women," said the source.

And so, now Vishal and Ekta are scouting for a replacement for their blue-eyed girl. The source added, "They already have a shortlist of names they are considering and should finalise an actress very soon.

" Vidya, however, has not been the only actress to turn down the role. Previously, her co-star in No One Killed Jessica, Rani Mukherjee, was also approached to play the lead role but she turned it down because of Emraan Hashmi.

Despite repeated attempts, both Vidya and Vishal remained unavailable for comment (less)

Great!," said the actress in an interview. After having been seen in graceful and classy roles like Parineeta and Paa , Vidya suprised everyone when she decided to play a sex symbol in Milan Luthria's The Dirty Picutre , but it was not a cakewalk for her.

"I would have to say that Silk (her character name in the film) has been an extremely demanding, exhausting, tiring and yet very fulfilling and exhilarating role for me to have played." "It's like a workout.

Sometimes you kill yourself during the workout and you feel dead after that. But it's also extremely exhilarating and there is a sense of adrenalin rush after the workout and that is how I feel after this film," Vidya, 32, said.

It may have been an exhausting role but at the same time, Vidya thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing an actress of the 1980s and 1990s. "Films in those times were full of masala and entertainment.

Songs and dance used to start at any point in the film amidst pots, colours and oranges. I have done all that in this film, so all my wishes are fulfilled," she said.

Vidya started her career with Parineeta , an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's book. After that she did glamorous roles in Heyy Babyy and Kismet Konnection , but her fans liked her more in films like No One Killed Jessica .

This is not for the first time that Vidya is doing something unconventional. Even in Ishqiya , she played a woman who oozes sensuality and mouthed expletives to make her role convincing.

She seems to be experimenting further in that direction with The Dirty Picture , which is releasing on Dec 2. In the film, she will be seen romancing Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor.

After The Dirty Picture , Vidya has Sujoy Ghosh's Kahaani opposite Emraan. Tweet (less)

"There was a certain amount of mental preparation about being uninhibited and being unapologetic about being uninhibited..

.But I have enjoyed it," said Vidya here during the promotion of her film, which depicts the rise and fall of a sex-siren in the 1980s and 1990s.

Known for her poise and grace in "Parineeta" and "Paa", she is eagerly waiting for the Milan Luthria directed film, which also stars Naseeruddin Shah , Tusshar Kapoor and Emran Hashmi. "Everyone knows about 'Dirty Picture' and are excited about the film.

I feel very happy about this. I cannot wait for it to release.

I just hope everyone reaches the theatre," Vidya said about the movie releasing Dec 2. Vidya starrer "No One Killed Jessica", based on ramp model Jessica Lall's murder, started the year on a positive note as the film earned both commercial success and critical acclaim.

She also made guest appearances in "Thank You" and " Dum Maaro Dum ". Now, expectations are high from "The Dirty Picture", and people are hoping when the film comes out next month, it sets the cash registers ringing and spells good business for the industry (less)

Thank god for Hindi masala films that helped revive the art of punch-lines. Now you have new age commercial filmmakers rediscovering the relevance of smart one-liners in helping create blockbusters.

Everytime superstars like Salman Khan, Ajay Devgn and Amitabh Bachchan voiced their thoughts on screen, you could hear the thunderous round of applause and the almost unheard, ceetees. The year 2011 will go down in cinematic history as one that redefined the way our stars speak.

On screen, of course! Don 2 The year ended with SRK's dhamakedaar dialoguebaazi. From well-versed one liners that included that cult 'Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin.

..

namumkin hai' to new tongueteasers like, "'Sir' bahut shareef lagta hai, call me 'Don'" and 'Mr Mallik, aap meri maa ko nahin jaante the'. The dialogues of the film also started an entire series of 'Donisms' that's on everyone's lips now.

Bodyguard Mr Salman Khan had already played his pivotal part in kick-starting the trend of powerful punch-lines with Wanted and Dabangg; but he's not had enough of them. Sample this, 'Bodyguard hoon, dhoondh nikalunga' to the almost memorable, 'Mujh par ek ehsaan karna, ke mujhpe koi ehsaan mat karna'.

There are more Salman-isms after every 15 minutes with one random line in Sallu-ishtyle. Who wants story-lines and plots? After directing the same film in three other languages, Siddique got his punch power right in his Bollywood directorial debut.

Ready 'Main kutta hun, yeh meri kutiya hai; aaya mausam kat ne ka..

. Bow Wow' is an almost spoof of a song from "Maine Pyaar Kiya" and now a film dialogue too! Salman Khan re-established the old Bollywood saying, 'dialogues alone can bring audience to cinema halls, was re-established in this Anees Bazmee flick that saw Salman mouthing lines like, 'Teen cheezo ko kabhi underestimate mat karna; I, me and myself'.

Singham Years after he thought standing on two speeding bikes was the coolest thing ever, Ajay Devgn did something cooler (and we are not talking of his tattoos). Clad in khaki hues, he said, 'Abhi ke abhi' to 'Meri zarooratein kam hai, isliye mere iman me dum hai' - Ajay was surely dumdaar enough to carry the movie to the next level - the opening collections created new BO record.

Even baddie Prakash Raj got his share of one-liners, 'Ata mazhi satakli', to which Devgn replied, 'Ata tujhi satkel.' The dirty picture Director Milan Luthria and producer Ekta Kapoor clearly understood how badly the audience wanted to wolf-whistle and throwing chillars everytime the hero/heroine spoke her/his lines.

Here was a heroine who delivered one liners that could give her male counterparts (in the film and the industry) a run for their money. Vidya Balan topped the year with her impeccable performance and flawlessly dished out an entire series of witty punch lines that might have been also instrumental in the film's A-certification.

Vidya's 'main entertainment hoon' and 'Mera naam badnaam hokar hua hain' were simply teasers that sent the audience drooling in collective fantasy in the dark confines of a movie theatre. Ooooh la la anyone? Buddah Hoga Terra Baap The original angry young man and the principal packs some more power-packed lines in his new, revamped macho avatar.

In Puri Jagannath's Hindi directorial debut Big B's is the angry not so young man whose dialogues are 'beeped' into silence (this one is to save the Censor Board some time and hassle, and leave the room open for imagination). His epic one-liner 'Hum jahan khade hote hai, line wahin se shuru ho jati hai' shared space with many brand new ones like 'Yeh aaj-kal ke bachche hamen copy karne lage hai' in the film.

Dialogues abhi baaki hai The five minute long frustrated lover's rant and rave in Pyaar Ka Punchnama by the character of Rajat (Kartik Tiwari), the giggling trio of "Delhi Belly" and many other movies like "Yeh Saali Zindagi" and "Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster" also deserve mention here for working hard to live up to the trend of 'dialogues are back'. With upcoming remakes like "Agneepath" and "Chasme Baddoor" (remembered for their witty one-liners), looks like there will be plenty of bindaas bol moment for us in store.

In upcoming films like "Rowdy Rathod" ('Ilaka tera, dhamaka mera' and 'Faulad ki aulaad') the dialoguebaazi continues unabated (less)

Arshad Warsi, the only actor retained from the original cast, is paired with Kangna Ranaut. Abhsihek Chaubey was always keen to have Madhuri Dixit in the film.

Sphere: Related Content Posted in (less)

The film is an ode to the life of the southern sexy siren Vijaylakshmi, better known as Silk Smitha. The film shows her journey to stardom followed by her sudden demise.

"There are lots of shades to my character. It is not something that will get overshadowed by the title.

My image is not going to be damaged. Today, sex is not a taboo anymore.

. I think even on screen and even in our society people talk about it freely.

Even if I get a soft porn image I don't have a problem with that," Tusshar told PTI in an interview. The actor essays the role of a writer named Ramakant.

While Ramakant is genuinely in love with the character portrayed by Vidya, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah plays the character of an ageing superstar who lusts after her. While, Emraan Hashmi on the other hand hates her.

The are some intimate scenes in the film but the actor says he wasn't uncomfortable doing it. "I think it is part of your job.

. as per the demand of the script you have to do intimate scenes.

The only awkward feeling you get is when junior artists are watching you..

and you want to get it right first. It is not uncomfortable because they are watching it but you just want to do it fast.

..

you don't want to be stuck and doing the same thing again and again," Tusshar said. Also, he had to lift Vidya for a photo shoot of The Dirty Picture .

Since Vidya, had put on weight for her role, Tusshar could not get his act right and ended up giving over 150 shots. "I found it easy to lift Vidya despite her weight.

We had to do the shot approximately 150 times. The shot did not happen properly either due to position or expression or profile," he said.

The film releases on December 2. Tweet (less)

Such lack of inhibition in d promos of Dirty Picture is amazing"); Mahesh also complimented the "Parineeta" actor for her stupendous acting. However, besides praising the actor, the director had generous words to say about the makers and other actors in the film like Naseeruddin Shah and Emraan Hashmi .

He wrote on a microblogging site, "Dirty Picture is a blockbuster! Vidya Balan,Naseer & Emraan set the screen ablaze with their outstanding performances. Milan Luthria and Ekta Kapoor need to be applauded for their audacity.

This film is a game changer." Well, Vidya seems a favourite with all (less)

The actor, who has been reticent about clearing the air over the staggering `5 crore that she is charging for Mile Na Mile Hum and her fallout with Sanjay Dutt , gives TOI her side of the story. Is it true that Anjana Sukhani has replaced you in Ram Gopal Varma's Department ? I think that's a question for RGV.

Why did you choose to do Dedh Ishqiya with Abhishek Chaubey? Will it be easy stepping into Vidya Balan's shoes in the Ishqiya sequel? I am excited about the film, but it's too early to talk about it right now. But I must say that the script is very strong and my character in the film is fantastic.

There are reports that you had a fallout with Sanjay Dutt, after walking out of the remake of Satte Pe Satta. Not at all! Sanjay sir is a senior actor.

I've done three films with him and hope to do more. Satte Pe Satta was never confirmed in the first place.

You are labelled as Katrina Kaif's competition in Bollywood? What's your take on that? I think Katrina has done some very good work and so have I. But my choices in the industry have been very unusual, so I don't think that my body of work can be compared to anyone else's career.

In an age when item numbers help an actor gain instant popularity, why don't you want to do them? Never say never! But yes, at present I'm certainly not drawn to item numbers. Is it true that you charged `5 crore for Chirag Paswan's Mile Na Mile Hum? I've asked for what I deserve and I have got it.

You are one of the few actors with a great comic timing - will we see more such roles from you, post Tanu weds Manu ? I certainly hope so. TWM has been my favourite film so far, and with Double Dhamaal becoming a hit, I think audiences have started liking me in this comic avatar! (less)

Vidya plays Silk Smitha in the movie directed by Milan Luthria, and everyone is talking about her 'sexed up' avatar. However, when we had met Vidya last, the actress was looking gorgeous having lost weight and dressed in white.

While talking about'sexy', Vidya was quick to say, "Sexy is not what you are; sexy is what you do!" The girl re-iterated, that a simple action of hers in a mobile related TV commercial - putting the tip of her finger in her mouth - got her some great compliments from guys. "So sexy is simply about what you do and how you do it," she had told us.

Well, let's hope Vidya has managed to show you the bigger picture of what 'sexy' really is (less)

Titillating and shocking, the trailer received an unprecedented number of views within six days of its release in the online domain by Balaji Motion Pictures' sister brand, Alt Entertainment. More than two million viewers (and still counting) have seen and commented on the trailer on various sites and social media platforms.

It can also be viewed on dirtypicture.timesofindia.

com. The promo features a voluptuous Vidya Balan as a controversial south screen siren, along with a man who lusted for her ( Naseeruddin Shah ), loved her (Tusshar) and hated her ( Emraan Hashmi ).

The best names from the media and B-Town have tweeted in superlatives about the film's clutter-breaking trailer. Said film critic Rajeev Masand, "One of the best trailers I have seen in recent times.

" Karan Johar said, "The promo is amazing." Trade analyst Taran Adarsh stated, "The trailer makes a stunning impact.

" Says producer Ekta Kapoor, "This film has been made from the heart and not the head. We hope that this will be one of the most sensational films to come out of Balaji.

" The Dirty Picture, from the makers of Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, has been directed by Milan Luthria, and releases worldwide on December 2 (less)

Her look, her body language - Vidya makes the dirty look pretty in "TDP". In Milan Luthria's movie, I play Vidya's mentor.

I'm the only male character in the movie with whom Vidya doesn't share a so-called relationship. She trusts me and knows that if everything else goes wrong, I will be there for her.

It's a friendship that doesn't have any sexual connotation. So much is now being said about Silk Smitha's brother, V Naga Vara Prasad, wanting to watch the movie and now having sued Milan Luthria and producer Ekta Kapoor for making the film without the family's permission.

Do you think his actions are justified? Where was this man all this while when we were making this movie? This film isn't a biopic and why on earth would we need to show it to him? It's ridiculuous to surface now and make such allegations. Since you are so involved in the project, why are you absent from the film's promotion? That's only because I am busy shooting in Ludhiana for a film titled "Love Shuv Te Chicken Khurana".

It's not that I wasn't called for the promotion of the movie. In fact, Vidya and the team are supposed to be in Kolkata for participating in Mithun Chakraborty's quiz show titled "Dadagiri".

But they called up my unit in Ludhiana but the dates just couldn't be adjusted. I wish I was present when Vidya comes to my hometown but I really have no options.

This Hindi movie is very important for me. It's the directorial debut of Sameer Sharma, who wrote Ramgopal Varma's "Bhoot" and Ashutosh Gowariker's "Swades".

He also gave language inputs for Rituparno Ghosh's "Raincoat". Anurag Kashyap is co-producing the movie that also stars Kunal Kapoor and Vinod Nagpal.

Kunal plays my nephew in this feel-good film. Huma Quereshi, who has acted in Anurag's "Gangs of Wasseypur", is paired opposite him.

In this film, I play a lazy man who just doesn't understand why people need to work to survive in life! From driving a taxi in Kolkata to playing a central character in a Hindi film now - you've come a long way. How have your goals changed in life? It's been a very long journey for me.

I have had my share of fair-weather friends who want to be very pally with me now. Bollywood has changed and today, actors like me, are being offered lead roles in movies.

That's a huge bonus for performers who are not aspiring to be stars. Recently, I was at Sameer's office and was supposed to do a workshop with him.

Anurag was also present and he wanted me to watch "GOW". I told Anurag that I needed to do the workshop but he called Sameer, smiled and said: "Let him watch "GOW".

He doesn't need a workshop". For someone who struggled every inch to make space for himself in the industry without any godfather, such compliments are huge.

Today, as much as before, I'm still excited about good roles. I'm in talks to do a Sonu Sood production.

In the pipeline is Hriday Shetty's "Chaalis Chaurasi" with Naseeruddin Shah. In Tollywood, I am doing a Bengali film directed by Satabdi Roy and Indranil Ghosh's film too (less)

"This is a prestigious segment where the best of world cinema is selected and compete with one another," it said. The Tamil film is based on a story penned by writer Bhaskar Sakthi.

Directed by Suseenthiran, the film's music has been scored by Illayaraja. The films stars Appukutty and Saranya Mohan.

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"This is a prestigious segment where the best of world cinema is selected and compete with one another," it said. The Tamil film is based on a story penned by writer Bhaskar Sakthi.

Directed by Suseenthiran, the film's music has been scored by Illayaraja. The films stars Appukutty and Saranya Mohan.

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. call her what you will, but her co-star, Naseeruddin Shah has already given her a nickname, and a hatke one at that.

Recently, while Vidya was talking to zoOm about getting 'dirty' with her heroes, she let us in on a little known secret. "We were shooting a very serious scene for Ishqiya .

I'd often see a spot-boy scratching his head or scratching something else, and burst out laughing while saying my dialogue! Ever since, Naseer saab calls me 'Ms Giggles', she told us. And even as we were listening to this story, it was evident why he called her that, because Vidya just wouldn't stop giggling! We say giggle away girl, with your Ooh La La performance, you've left a nation-ful of men with more than a giggle.

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For exclusive interviews, B-Town parties and events, tune in to B Tonite from Mon - Fri at 10 pm only on zoOm - India's No 1 Bollywood channel (less)

The prestigious 13th Mumbai Film Festival, a Reliance entertainment initiative, today announced a special section to celebrate 50 Years of Cannes Critics Week along with National Award winning debut features. Showcasing the best of the Cannes Critics Week and the National Award winning films , the 13th Mumbai Film Festival will recreate the silver screen cinematic magic of award winning films.

Some of the international classics to be screened in this section include Valeria Gaii Guermanika's 'Everybody Dies But Me', Ken Loach's 'Kes', Jerzy Skolimowski's 'Walkover' amongst others. The Indian National Film Award winning films to be screened in this special section include Adoor Gopalakirshnan's ' Swayamvaram ', Shyam Benegal's ' Ankur ' and Girish Kasaravalli's ' Ghatasraddha ' amongst others.

Commenting on this initiative Srinivasan Naryanan, Festival Director, Mumbai Film Festival says, "By juxtaposing the Cannes Critics Week award winning films along with the Indian debut features which won National Film Awards, we are trying to create an analytical study of the films that have created trends abroad and in India, the narrative structure and the technical aspects which went into the making of these path breaking films." � The Mumbai Film Festival will also invite the directors of the selected films, making the event truly memorable.

"We will be inviting the filmmakers. It will be a treat for cinema connoisseurs to be able to interact with these cinema legends.

We are only happy to be paying this tribute to these masters," adds Narayanan (less)

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different in every sense," Arshad posted on his Twitter page. He is set to play a rustic guy once again.

In the first instalment of Ishqiya , which bagged four national awards, Arshad essayed Babban, a hot-blooded, lustful man, who scoffs at the idea of true romantic love. The movie released in 2010, and also featured Vidya Balan and Naseeruddin Shah in key roles.

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Great!," said the actress in an interview. After having been seen in graceful and classy roles like "Parineeta" and "Paa", Vidya suprised everyone when she decided to play a sex symbol in Milan Luthria's "The Dirty Picutre", but it was not a cakewalk for her.

"I would have to say that Silk (her character name in the film) has been an extremely demanding, exhausting, tiring and yet very fulfilling and exhilarating role for me to have played." "It's like a workout.

Sometimes you kill yourself during the workout and you feel dead after that. But it's also extremely exhilarating and there is a sense of adrenalin rush after the workout and that is how I feel after this film," Vidya, 32, said.

It may have been an exhausting role but at the same time, Vidya thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing an actress of the 1980s and 1990s. "Films in those times were full of masala and entertainment.

Songs and dance used to start at any point in the film amidst pots, colours and oranges. I have done all that in this film, so all my wishes are fulfilled," she said.

Vidya started her career with "Parineeta", an adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's book. After that she did glamorous roles in "Heyy Babyy" and "Kismet Konnection", but her fans liked her more in films like "No One Killed Jessica".

This is not for the first time that Vidya is doing something unconventional. Even in "Ishqiya", she played a woman who oozes snesuality and mouthed expletives to make her role convincing.

She seems to be experimenting further in that direction with "The Dirty Picture", which is releasing Dec 2. In the film, she will be seen romancing Naseeruddin Shah , Emraan Hashmi and Tusshar Kapoor .

After "The Dirty Picture", Vidya has Sujoy Ghosh's "Kahaani" opposite Emraan (less)

In his 60s the actor is still going as strong and fresh as ever, getting to play very interesting characters. "35 years ago I wanted to do films with great roles and also desperately wanted to be recognized on the Bollywood map.

Ironically, at this juncture of my life I have changed priorities. I am not looking for mainstream cinema or any great character.

All I crave for is a good happening and an intriguing tale with a different character", says the actor. Surprisingly enough, the versatile actor was deprived of being offered any romantic roles in films.

"I am very romantic at heart in real life. But I fail to understand how come the directors could never see me performing romantically inclined characters.

In Ishqiya I did perform romantic sequences in a challenging manner opposite Vidya Balan. This is the only romantic character offered to me in my lifetime", he smiles.

� Ask him about his disheveled look in his forthcoming film Michael and The Blueberry Hunt and he says, "I look different because I did not have time to shave, so I continued with my bearded look. The Blueberry Hunt is a different film completely with an environmental background.

So the look has to be that way. However I'm happy that people like me in that shabby yet appealing look", says Naseer with a twinkle in his eyes (less)

I am very happy. Emotionally and mentally I am in a very happy space, by god's grace.

I am not thinking about marriage as of now, but I'm sure a right time will come for it also. I believe in the institution of marriage.

I will not ignore it for a longer duration, but yeah, for now, I am keeping it aside. I will definitely get married," said Vidya.

The actress is said to be dating CEO of UTV movies Siddharth Roy Kapoor. After the super success of her "Dirty Picture", Vidya is promoting her forthcoming film "Kahaani", directed by Sujoy Ghosh.

She will also be seen in Nikhil Advani's "Chand Bhai" opposite Akshaye Khanna. Vidya admits it's the greed for good roles that keeps her on her toes.

"I am a very greedy actor. I want to play different people, I want to do different kinds of films.

Even if it means that the hero is the protagonist, as long as I have enough to do in the film I am more than happy doing it," the 33-year-old actress said during the launch of the first look of her new film "Kahaani". "I am very happy with the kind of films being made today and that I am getting a chance to work in them.

They are appealing to the audience as well, which is most important. Women-oriented films are being made since years, but it is only today that they are tasting success," Vidya added while sporting a fake baby bump during the launch.

She is not restricting herself to women-oriented films, says the actress who has done films like "Parineeta", "Ishqiya" and "Paa". "I have not made any boundaries or limitations for myself.

I have not dictated myself that if the script is women oriented only then I will work in it or anything. If the film is good, if the role is good I will definitely do it," she said (less)