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No cheating tactics for Aishwarya
"I can't take prompting. First of all, I don't know the art of someone holding a placard and me reading it," Aishwarya, 36, said.
"I tried it once, but it was such a flop because I was in the water and they were holding the placard behind the camera and suddenly Vikram enters the frame and he started acting his bit. Then I had to bank on my memory because Vikram came in front, blocking the placard.
"I don't know how to go with these cheating tactics. So prompting doesn't work.
I tried, but it didn't work because of the waterfall. You can't hear a thing.
So I literally had to rely on memory," she said. Aishwarya plays the female protagonist in both versions of Mani Ratnam's much-awaited movie that is titled 'Raavan' in Hindi and 'Raavanan' in Tamil.
For the Hindi version, she has teamed up with southern star Vikram, who plays her husband, and her real life partner Abhishek, who is seen as her tormentor. Is your Tamil as good as Hindi? "No, no it was memorising and delivering.
But if you keep it in front of me, I would be able to pick it up and do it again," she said. The former beauty queen says though she and Abhishek don't take their personal relationship to the sets of a movie, their natural chemistry reflects on camera.
"We, of course, separate our personal life in front of the camera. But when Abhishek and me are framed together, you naturally see the connection.
Even if it was another Hindi actor, may be you would see a more natural connection than you would see between Vikram and me but that is not because of anything else but probably the familiarity of seeing people together."
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Azim looks up to Salman, SRK and Aamir Khan
To make his character in "Qasam Se Qasam Se" appear realistic, Azim frequented call centre offices to absorb the finer nuances of the people working there. "It was quite a relevation for me as an actor.
I witnessed not only people's mannerisms but also the activities they indulge in during the break hour. Looking into the mirror, some guys would be busy ruffling their hair and taking care of their looks, while some would busy binging.
And there would others catching up with family and friends over their cell phones. This has helped shaped my character in the film.
" Azim feels that all our veteran actors were keen observers and would translate that on screen. "Whether it were the legendary actors like Dilip Kumar or the late Raj Kapoor or Dev Anand , they were schools in themselves.
I am a great fan of Salman Khan , Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan and look at them as a student who looks upon his guru. I am mastering the art of acting watching their films," he smiles
(less)Mahek Chahal reveals her beauty secret
My absolute must haves are browns, bronze and red shades of make-up, as they give my skin tone a very nice shine and suit me very well. I always carry these colors in my bag because I never know when I might show up at an event and feel completely under-dressed.
Also, any of these shades really adds that extra glow."
(less)Priyanka Chopra goes house hunting
She's been scouting for real estate in Juhu and Khar for a while now as she wants a bigger house. She also wants privacy, which one can't get in an apartment building.
Besides, it's been her dream to own a sea-facing bungalow." The source adds that PC wants a big garden that will include a space for her pets.
She also wants to accommodate a gym. When asked, Priyanka confirms that she's looking for a bungalow in the suburbs and adds, "I'm looking for a bigger place.
I'm very happy with the success of my last two films, so this is a good time for me to go house-hunting." Stars with sea- facing bungalows Akshay Kumar Rani Mukerji Shah Rukh Khan Rajesh Khanna Rekha Farhan Akhtar
(less)Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh marries again
While talking about the honeymoon plans, Riteish had told us, "We can't have a honeymoon this month. Our producer Kumar Taurani has strictly forbidden us to go anywhere till our film releases this month as he wants Genelia and me to promote the film in various cities.
David Dhawan's son Rohit gets married on February 10, so immediately after our wedding Genelia and I will have to rush to Goa for that again. After that, will be my brother Dheeraj's wedding during the end of the month to Honey Bhagnani .
I have to be there for all the pre-wedding arrangements so going for our honeymoon this month seems impossible now."
(less)I never thought I'd be a desirable woman: Sameera Reddy
"My name in the list means a lot to me. As as a young girl, I never thought even in my wildest dreams that I would become a desirable woman.
I yearned for a perfect body as I was ugly duckling in school. But now that I have entered films, I believe that beauty is hidden in the imperfections of people and it all depends on how you use them.
That's my definition of desirable and I am glad to have made it to the list," says Sameera. The actor is basking in the success of her last Tamil release opposite Madhavan and has Padma Shri Priyadarshan's Tezz to look forward to.
Sameera has now decided that she will do a mix of performance-oriented and glamorous characters on screen, something that Simran and Jyothika did in Kollywood. So is the report true that Sameera wants to become the next Simran and Jyothika? "You cannot become another person.
I had said that I look up to both Simran and Jyothika, who had a mixed bag of roles- performance-oriented and cute characters. Both had their own fan following .
They are my role models and I want to have a beautiful lineup of characters like them," says the actor
(less)Sherlyn Chopra likes being unconventional
Be it politics, cinema, sports, business or any other arena, women across the globe including India are in great form mentally, physically and consciously to undertake greater responsibilities and tougher challenges that are often encountered on paths less travelled." Sherlyn is also happy that she has gone from being just a pin-up girl to an entrepreneur.
Says she, "The rapid metamorphosis in my case would not have been possible had the mindsets of the majority of the people in the Hindi film industry continued to be goverened by prejudices. I look upto entrepreneurs who command respect and attention for daring to think out of the box and act accordingly.
They do not have a herd mentality. What they have is unadulterated creativity which is set on fire by courage.
" Naming films like " The Dirty Picture ", " Erin Brokovich ", " No One Killed Jessica "," The Black Swan " as cinema that has changed the way we think, Sherlyn says, "Unconventionality is no longer a taboo. It is being applauded and celebrated by both the classes and the masses.
The pulse of the youth is racing towards liberalisation. And I'm truly loving it.
" Asked why she decided to give us photographs that resembled those of the " Jism 2 " campaign, the actor quips, "I have pushed the envelope by choosing to cover my nakedness with nothing but pure consciousness."
(less)Kangana’s weird dressing at Fashion’s launch | Bollywood News and Gossip
Kangana Ranaut who left mouths wide open at her movie Fashion’s first look held at Cinemax. She was wearing something small in shining yellow and guess what she claims she has designed that dress herself.
Hold on… if you think this is the end then please wait, there’s more to come) She was also flaunting some red color false flowers and feathers on her made-up hair. Also a yellow color strap on her neck which resembled a dog collar.
If that wasn”t enough she also carried herself on shinning red heels and a matching red color bag. Thankfully Priyanka Chopra and Mugdha Godse too were present and were looking extremely stunning and beautiful.
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(less)Aishwarya attends Riteish, Genelia's reception
Aishwarya was briefly spotted and clicked when the Bachchans hosted media mogul Oprah Winfrey at their home during her first India visit. Later, she drove with Oprah, father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan and husband Abhishek to a party hosted by Parameshwar Godrej to welcome Oprah.
Do check back for pictures from the reception. Tweet
(less)Flash mob greets Imran at New York University
"I had a blast at NYU. Everyone was so enthusiastic, they put on a very polished, confident show, and the surprise flash mob at the end was perfectly executed.
My best wishes to all the students involved," Imran said in a statement. The students had been practising for the performance for over two weeks, ahead of Imran's visit to New York as part of the promotional tour.
"As the president of NYU Dillagi, a Bollywood dance team, I knew we had to have simpler steps that the general public would be able to do and we sent videos out to the public. I thought that the flash mob came out even better than expected since people kept joining the mob throughout the sequence and it definitely surprised those that did not know of it ahead of time," Mohit Chhatpar, coordinator of the flash mob, said.
"It was really fun to be doing a flash mob and having Imran among us was all the more fun. He was very sporting and interacted with the students.
We are excited about this movie as well and are glad he could come and be among us to talk about his movie," he added. The Dharma Productions' film, also starring Kareena Kapoor, is set to hit theatres Feb 10.
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(less)Mohit Suri to direct Aashiqui 2 with fresh faces
"It's been 20 years for that film. So, obviously now I will have to upgrade this story.
It will be the same realistic love story but with a modern theme," Suri told IANS. Aashiqui won critical accolades after its release at the time.
It also catapulted the careers of lead actors Rahul Roy and Anu Agarwal, who forayed into Bollywood with this film. Suri is also set to hunt for new faces for the sequel.
"I will cast fresh faces with a new boy and a new girl," said Mohit. While some are referring to Aashiqui 2 as a sequel, others are calling it a remake.
However, producer Mukesh Bhatt of Vishesh Films sets the record straight. "It is neither a sequel nor a remake.
It can be said as the musical series of Aashiqui ..
.a new generation is making this film," he said.
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(less)Similar Results
Rani Mukerji won't marry an actor
She took this job very seriously because she did not want to let her parents down. She also took it up because she wanted to pull her family out of one of the rockiest patches - financially and emotionally - ever.
Fifteen years hence and innumerable awards and accolades later, her life looks like a fairy tale or a Bollywood script that could not have been written any better. In an industry where the shelf life of an actress is getting shorter by the month - even as actors rule the roost for two decades or more - Rani has seen her fair share of ups and downs that have taught her valuable lessons.
In the last few years, she has faltered in terms of choice of films. But one thing that she hasn't forgotten is to do her job well, i.
e. to act.
She takes it up as seriously as she did during the mahurat shot of "Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat" as a 16-year-old. But today, there's more passion than ever, and a mastery of her craft that compels you to appreciate her skills as an actress, even if you aren't her die-hard fan.
After the success of "No One Killed Jessica" early last year, she is awaiting her next two releases this year - the Reema Kagti-directed thriller "Talaash", with Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap's quirky comedy "Aiyya" directed by National Award winning director Sachin Kundalkar. We ask the 'Queen of Bollywood' about the journey during which her job turned into her passion, the girl Rani morphed into the woman who rules hearts and, of course, a certain someone she "is dating".
What are you doing these days? I've just returned from Lonavala where I was shooting for "Aiyya". A few songs are left.
Has the industry changed since you joined films? Immensely. Today, the first look of the film is almost as important as the film itself.
I'm eagerly waiting for the promos of "Talaash", which are to hit the screens soon. It's going to be released in June.
The fact that I'm doing two films that are as different as they can be, in the same year, speaks volumes about how times have changed. It's a far bigger, more diverse than ever industry that's gone global in terms of its scope in every possible way.
Did you always want to become an actress? Arre, my joining films is a poori filmi kahaani. Though I technically come from a film family, my father had stopped making films even before my brother and I were born.
So I did not really grow up in a filmi environment. And when I was growing up, becoming an actress was still quite a taboo.
And you may not believe this but even my father did not want me to join films. Salim (Akhtar) uncle, who was very close to my family, came with the offer of "Aa Gale Lag Jaa" in 1994, but my father was aghast and turned it down.
In the meantime, I joined college (SNDT, Juhu) pursuing Home Science. Those days, the 'in thing' that most girls were going after as a career choice was jewelery and interior designing.
I did not have the money to pursue a `3 lakh course to make a career. And then Salim uncle came back again.
I think he must have been pretty desperate to launch a new actress. This time, he managed to convince my parents.
How did he manage that? (Laughs) When Salim uncle came to me and said he wanted me to act in his film, I started crying. I thought he was making a pass at me.
..
Why on earth..
.? Because I was daft.
And the fact that in those days, acting was still considered a taboo for the girls in my family. My mom's side was okay with it, as my aunt (Bengali actress Debashree Roy) is an actress.
In fact, she had kept it from me till then, but she was seriously harboring dreams of me becoming an actress. My father was still adamant about me not joining films.
But by that time my second cousins, Kajol and Sharbani, had entered films. And that sort of paved the way for me.
My mother and father still fought over it for quite a few days before he finally agreed to give me at least one shot at it - of course, with the strict clause that my mom will accompany me everywhere. And you? Did you know anything about acting by then? I wish I could show you the recording of my first screen test.
You will literally sprint away from the room thinking 'who is this horrible actress?' What was so bad? Those days, I used to be quite chubby. And Salim uncle, who had done "Baazi" with Mamta Kulkarni a few years ago, fished those shorter-than-short and tighter-than-tight clothes that looked completely hideous on me.
And to top that, I had to act! I was a shy kid with inhibitions galore. It was some courtroom scene and when someone gave me the sheet with dialogues, I was dumbfounded.
I saw all these famous dialogues from famous films which I had to say in front of the camera. My understanding of films was just as much as any young girl who watches Bollywood films.
I had no idea about the whole process of filmmaking, about dialogue writing, scripts, screenplay etc. I had probably gone to two or three film shoots in my childhood.
And even when on a shoot as a young girl, I would find actors just giving their shots and sitting in their vans getting bored in-between shots. So when the whole picture opened up in front of me about the reality of becoming an actress, I was petrified.
And my screen test was a disaster. I came back crying and said 'I would not be able to do this - anything but acting! Then? But Salim uncle came back and said I had a photogenic face and the camera captured me quite well, which is very important for any actor.
That was one glimmer of hope in my otherwise nightmarish experience. My mother sat me down that night and told me, 'Opportunity knocks at your door just once, take it up.
What's the worst that could happen? You'll fail at your effort? We are there after that. But at least you'd know you have tried, and won't regret leaving this golden opportunity'.
And though it was never told to me, but I knew my family was going through a financial crisis. And there was also tension in the family because of a lot of bickering between my father and his brothers.
I decided that I would work very hard (there was a month left for the shoot of "Raja Ki..
.") and give myself one good shot, even if it did not work out in the end.
I took it up as a job that just had to be done. What happened in that one month for you to give that spirited performance? My father took me to join Roshan Taneja's acting classes.
Mr Taneja had two courses, one was a year-long one and the other a three-month one. I had to learn all the acting I could in one month.
I told Mr Taneja I would come in the morning and evening for a month and be a dedicated student. On the very first day, my dad said to him, 'Please teach my daughter how to act'.
Mr Taneja said, 'Acting isn't a tablet. You can't pop it and become an actress.
It has to come from within you. It's either deep within you or it's not there'.
His statement stayed with me for a long time. It was my first lesson.
But in the classes, I did not know where to start. Thankfully, one good thing was the improvisation classes - where we all had to face the camera and say whatever came to our mind and enact a scene.
It sort of broke through my shy exterior. In any acting class, there are always a lot of faces looking at you from all corners and that's done on purpose so that the person drops all his/her inhibitions.
On the day of the mahurat, when I was called to give my first shot, I thought, 'yaar, I can't let my parents down. I just have to give it my best'.
And then, when I walked into the shot, I was this confident, fiery ball of energy, spouting dialogues like I had never imagined I would. I haven't looked back since that day.
And how did this job eventually become your passion? That happened later when I started getting fan mails. I was doing a lot of films.
But my fans kept on writing that they were not happy with me. So I wondered 'Arre, I am working 72 hours at a stretch, not eating right, not getting enough sleep, giving my best to each shot, so what was going wrong?' Then I realized that after "Ghulam" and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hain", my fans' expectations of me were higher than my own.
That's when I learnt my second lesson - that it's not just performing, I also had to know good scripts from the not-so-good ones. I started getting more involved in the whole process; understanding films beyond just acting.
During this whole process, acting became my passion. Coming back to the present, what went wrong in the last couple of years before "No One Killed Jessica" last year? You had some consecutive flops after a spate of hits, and suddenly you just vanished.
..
(Snaps her fingers and says with a smile) Don't worry, from this year, you'll see me in two films every year at least. Coming back to your question, I had seen failures before but when those three films ("Laaga Chunri Mein Daag", "Thoda Pyaar, Thoda Magic" and "Dil Bole Hadippa") failed in quick succession, it affected me in a way no flop had before.
My confidence was completely shattered. All my movies failed to make a mark with audiences and critics alike.
Maybe the critics thought 'we've praised her enough, now it's time for her to fall a bit hard, so she steps her game up' (smiles). I also think I was plain unlucky.
The audience has little memory of what you have done before or are capable of doing. What matters is today.
So three flops probably told them 'Rani has worked so well in the last few years, maybe it's time she took a back seat and settled down'. And are you settling down? (Smile that says read-my-expression-if-you-can) When I plan to settle down, I will announce it to the world.
Marriage is an occasion to celebrate. I'll celebrate it when it happens, letting everyone know about it.
What about the rumors of your relationship with Aditya Chopra? I have been linked with so many of my co-stars and this Aditya rumor has stayed with me for the longest time. This time, I'm going to give you the cliched answer no journalist wants to hear, 'No comments'.
Are you dating someone? Yes, I am dating, but that's as far as I'm willing to talk about my personal life. Your fans want to know about your personal life? They want to know if marriage is on the cards.
They will know when the time comes. Right now, I have two movies coming out and that's what I'm going to talk about.
Are you saying nothing is serious as far as your dating goes? In a relationship, there are two people involved. Since I'm a public figure, if I start answering questions, it'll open doors for more questions, speculations, gossips, and then it comes to a point where every day someone has something to say about your personal life.
It's unfair to the other person. I do not mind a bitchy comment about the way I dress or my films, but a comment on my private space isn't welcome.
Are you a romantic? I'm a born romantic. I romanticize everything in life.
My personal life is full of love and romance. God's given us one life.
You should romance it. It's not always nice and cool to be practical and logical.
What have your relationships/ heartbreaks taught you? I haven't been in a lot of relationships. Heartbreak definitely teaches you to be a better actor.
Don't they say, an artiste always performs better when he or she has experienced heartbreak? (Laughs) That was a joke. I don't give that much importance to men.
All my heartbreaks have been because of close friends, and not men. Seriously? (On a serious note) Heartbreak, anger, frustration - if you can overcome these emotions, you become a better person.
If you're a person of substance, you'll overcome your bad times. Who wants to be a loser? Will you marry an actor? No, two megalomaniacs can't exist in the same house.
We'll end up killing each other. What's the best thing about being in a relationship? (Enigmatic smile) That you can hide it.
And the best part of getting married is that you can announce it to the world. What about the fact that today the shelf life of actresses is low? Would you ever decide to do an item number or attend red carpet events as visibility is important these days? No.
Because for me, it's important to cement an impression of my work. Acting is what I do best.
It's not difficult to be in the public eye. Go anywhere and you'll find the media.
I am not trying to sound high and mighty here. If I was being launched today, I would do exactly what newcomers do these days.
But after 15 years in the course of which I have firmly established my credentials as an actress, I plan to only focus on acting. But if friends call me, I'll be there.
Like I went to Farah's (Khan) house-warming party recently. Aamir (Khan) and Kiran (Rao) had a son and going there was important for me because he is someone who is very dear to me.
As are Shah Rukh Khan and Karan (Johar). Have you spoken to Abhishek after he became a father? We aren't in touch on the phone, but whenever I come across him, I will definitely congratulate him.
It's great news. What did that low phase in your life teach you? When I was joining films, my dad had told me, 'Don't ever be disheartened with failure and don't be over-excited with success'.
This is an important lesson in any actor's life. But can you really separate your emotions as professional and personal in your mind? Hurt is hurt, disappointment is disappointment.
..
That's where your family and your strength as an individual come in. I am very close to my family.
And I have other interests, like baking. I started baking in one of my very low phases in life.
I find it therapeutic. So, would we see a Rani Mukerji patisserie soon? You could.
I'm serious about going to Paris or Chicago for a fulltime patisserie course. Any other venture in mind? A lot of actresses are starting their own fashion lines.
Or maybe even film production..
. No.
The only thing I will be producing next is babies. No other production happening with me.
Is there a lot of bitching/backbiting in the industry? There is, but that's true of any industry where over-competitive minds are always at work. But it is blown out of proportion in ours because it's the glamor industry.
Have you been at the receiving end of bitching? People say bitchy things about other people to feel good about themselves. Whatever I have got in life has been a huge blessing.
I've never gone after something that's not mine. Today, I am sitting at my office in Juhu, overlooking the sea.
I used to live in a shack before. I used to travel in rickshaws.
Today, I have a Mercedes. But if I start thinking, 'I have a bungalow, why not a building in Bandra tomorrow? Or now, I have a car, why not a yacht next?' my life will be difficult.
My mind doesn't work that way. The only ambition I have is to pick up interesting scripts and give a stellar performance that'll be etched in the audiences' and my fans' minds
(less)Abhishek tweets thanks for baby shower wishes
"Good morning everyone. Thank you so much for all the wishes for Aishwarya on her godh bharai .
Read out some of your messages to her," tweeted the actor who is busy wrapping up Players . It was back to work for Abhishek after yesterday's ceremony.
"So after a day filled with tradition, Indian customs and LADIES It's back to work. Gotta start PLAYING again for PLAYERS!" The Bachchan baby is due in November and Jaya Bachchan hosted a grand baby shower for daughter-in-law Aishwarya.
Bollywood ladies - star wives, veteran actors, young actors, designers and choreographers - landed at Jalsa, one of the Bachchan homes in Juhu. Among them were Saira Banu, Asha Parekh, Dimple Kapadia, Neeta Lulla and Shaina NC.
Aishwarya reportedly wore a traditional outfit in orange and was dolled up by make-up whiz Mickey Contractor. "Aishwarya was looking like a chand ka tukda .
She was looking beautiful. We wish Abhishek and Aishwarya all the best," Saira Banu, who gifted Aishwarya a gold coin, said.
Saroj Khan, who choreographed Aishwarya on chartbusters such as Nimbooda, Taal se taal mila and Barso re , shared some scenes from the ceremony. "I have never seen so many celebrity women together.
All the women went up to Aishwarya and blessed her. Jayaji received each guest personally and was very warm.
Even her daughter, Shweta, gave personal attention to everyone. There were a lot of songs and celebration," said Saroj Khan.
The veteran choreographer praised Abhishek too who wore a white sherwani-style kurta. "Aishwarya looked pretty in orange.
Her face had such a glow. She was decorated with mogra flowers.
Even Abhishek looked extremely happy. God bless them both and may the child have a long life," she added.
Other guests included Urmila Matondkar, Twinkle Khanna, Sonali Bendre, Maanyata Dutt, Ritu Nanda, Neetu Kapoor, Neelam Kothari, Mana Shetty, Vaibhavi Merchant, Poonam Sinha, designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla and Karan Johar. The countdown to Baby B's arrival now begins.
(With IANS inputs) Tweet
(less)Abhishek tweets thanks for baby shower wishes
"Good morning everyone. Thank you so much for all the wishes for Aishwarya on her godh bharai .
Read out some of your messages to her," tweeted the actor who is busy wrapping up Players . It was back to work for Abhishek after yesterday's ceremony.
"So after a day filled with tradition, Indian customs and LADIES It's back to work. Gotta start PLAYING again for PLAYERS!" The Bachchan baby is due in November and Jaya Bachchan hosted a grand baby shower for daughter-in-law Aishwarya.
Bollywood ladies - star wives, veteran actors, young actors, designers and choreographers - landed at Jalsa, one of the Bachchan homes in Juhu. Among them were Saira Banu, Asha Parekh, Dimple Kapadia, Neeta Lulla and Shaina NC.
Aishwarya reportedly wore a traditional outfit in orange and was dolled up by make-up whiz Mickey Contractor. "Aishwarya was looking like a chand ka tukda .
She was looking beautiful. We wish Abhishek and Aishwarya all the best," Saira Banu, who gifted Aishwarya a gold coin, said.
Saroj Khan, who choreographed Aishwarya on chartbusters such as Nimbooda, Taal se taal mila and Barso re , shared some scenes from the ceremony. "I have never seen so many celebrity women together.
All the women went up to Aishwarya and blessed her. Jayaji received each guest personally and was very warm.
Even her daughter, Shweta, gave personal attention to everyone. There were a lot of songs and celebration," said Saroj Khan.
The veteran choreographer praised Abhishek too who wore a white sherwani-style kurta. "Aishwarya looked pretty in orange.
Her face had such a glow. She was decorated with mogra flowers.
Even Abhishek looked extremely happy. God bless them both and may the child have a long life," she added.
Other guests included Urmila Matondkar, Twinkle Khanna, Sonali Bendre, Maanyata Dutt, Ritu Nanda, Neetu Kapoor, Neelam Kothari, Mana Shetty, Vaibhavi Merchant, Poonam Sinha, designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla and Karan Johar. The countdown to Baby B's arrival now begins.
(With IANS inputs) Tweet
(less)Actress Shriya Saran attacked by Telangana supporters
The actress took to Twitter to describe the series of events. "How can they break my car, throw stones, stop, shoot and threaten me to say Jai Telangala on TV.
That too in broad day light, police staring at all of this! What about freedom? Safety?" she tweeted. She added, "When I got in my car I saw that both windows were damaged.
Luckily, I didn't get hurt but it happened in broad daylight with police around. I've never felt so unsafe anywhere in the world.
" Though frazzled and shocked she is said to be safe and further tweeted, "Thank God the stone didn't hit me. Both the windows are broken.
Seriously! I'm disgusted I'm born in India and I deserve my freedom and safety is my right!" "(The) Stone fell next to my head," she further tweeted with a couple of pictures of her damaged car. The model and actress has worked in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and even English films.
One of the leading actors of South Indian film industry, Shriya is perhaps best known for her monumental hit Sivaji: The Boss with superstar Rajinikanth. Tweet
(less)Delhi Belly set for Tamil remake?
Delhi Belly remake will be shot with a Chennai milieu and the dialouges will be interspersed with some common swear words used by the locals. Kannan has, however, not revealed who will produce the film and the remake rights of the movie.
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(less)Ranbir’s a prankster on sets
"Ranbir is so natural in front of the camera. He looks so effortless.
I didn't have too many scenes with him but when he is on sets; there would always be fun and laughter around. He is focused at the same time carefree.
He may not walk up to people but the moment you say hi to him, he will go out of his way to make you feel comfortable. I remember we had this scene where all of us had to be at a dining table.
I had to face the camera and since I am not comfortable with Hindi, I was busy rehearsing my lines. I was pretty nervous and to add to it, Ranbir would make funny faces at me and Nargis which would crack me up" revealed Moufid
(less)Rahman unveils romantic album at Taj Mahal
Rahman. "The movie has so many romantic songs, so what can be the perfect way to project my songs with Taj as a backdrop.
I always want people to recognise my music and this is what I am trying to do (through this album)," Rahman told reporters here on the sidelines of the music launch. "The film is the perfect expression of love and that's what the songs speak," he added.
Rahman was accompanied by the film's cast, Prateik and Amy Jackson. Even Prateik is excited to have got a chance to work with The Mozart of Madras.
"I love Taj, especially because it is a symbol of love. Also, working with Rahman was such a delight," said Prateik.
The album has an interesting mix of romantic and emotional numbers. While two of them are fresh Hindi songs, the remaining five are Hindi versions of original songs sung in Tamil and Telugu.
The lyrics are penned by Javed Akhtar. Directed by Gautham Menon, the film revolves around an aspiring filmmaker from Mumbai, who falls in love with a woman from a strict orthodox Christian family.
It is the remake of Tamil film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa , which was also directed by Menon. Tweet
(less)Enjoyed doing action in Players: Abhishek Bachchan
"I enjoy doing action films. Actually, in the last two-three years I have done more experimental films and I was really looking forward to get back to my original love," Abhishek told PTI.
"When Abbas narrated the film, I was all excited to start it. I knew he is the man who can handle the remake properly.
Being from a British boarding school, Michael Caine used to be my hero. I have watched his 'The Italian Job' many times.
There was a time when I used to know all the dialogues by heart," the 35-year-old actor added. The film was again made in 2003 by F Gary Gray, starring Mark Wahlberg and Abhishek is confident that it will be third time lucky for him.
"Mark Wahlberg did a superb job as he portrayed a completely different character of what Caine had done. He gave his own spin to the character.
"Similarly, when I approached the film, I also tried to do something different. I took it as a challenge to portray the character in my own way but by maintaining the essence of the originality in it.
Usually in our films we see thieves steal either for greed or money. But there is an emotional reason attached to it," Abhishek said.
Starting his career with cross-border love story 'Refugee', Abhishek has often been criticised by the critics for the kind of films he has done. But he says he has always taken criticism positively.
"People often compared me with dad (Amitabh Bachchan). But I have never felt low in my life.
Rather I have looked at the other side of the criticism. People criticise me because they feel I am worth the comparison with my dad," he said.
The actor, who has become a proud father of a baby girl with wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, said the presence of the baby did not stop him from promoting the film. "Promoting my film is my priority at this moment as there are other people to look after the baby.
That's a part of one's job. My family completely understands it.
The actor said they are yet to come up with a name for the child. Tweet
(less)I decided to nurture Kamal Haasan, the actor: Kamal
If my dates are being wasted, the project becomes mine," he said in an interview. Earlier, Selva Raghavan was supposed to wield the megaphone for the film.
The 57-year-old, who has spent 50 years in front of the camera, said: "People advised, scolded and counselled me about my career. So one day I woke up and decided to nurture Kamal Haasan, the actor.
" Excerpts from the interview: Q: Viswaroopam is a project whose direction you had to take over? A: It was my project and my story. Then time was running out.
Sonakshi Sinha's dates were gone. My dates were also running out.
I do one project at a time. If the director doesn't respect my time, I will have to.
If my dates are being wasted, the project becomes mine. I've limited time, what with me celebrating a birthday every year.
I wish I could celebrate my birthday like the government, every five years. Q: Viswaroopam is said to be inspired by the Anthony Hopkins starrer Hannibal ? A: After I read that, I was really inspired to think about a film based on Hannibal .
I may do that in the future. Not this time.
Viswaroopam , I am keeping the theme close to my chest. Here in Tamil Nadu, the press has a tendency to jump the gun, draw conclusions and create trouble.
For example, if I make a spiritual film, they'll say since it's Kamal Haasan, it has to be subversive, so they'll ban it even before it's ready. Q: Where is Viswaroopam set? A: The US, India, Britain, Jordan.
..
Q: It's being shot simultaneously in two languages..
. A: That's right.
In Hindi and Tamil. My first bi-lingual since Hey Ram .
Dasavathaaram got dubbed into Hindi, but the vocabulary was twisted. Unless it's a really funny film like Appu Raja , the dubbing doesn't work.
The culture-specifications come in the way. How do I say jaise karni vaise bharni in Tamil? That's why we're doing a double version of Viswaroopam and needed a leading lady who had no fear of languages.
Om Puri saab has that fear. He refuses to do a Tamil film.
Some people fear the unknown too much. I embrace it.
Q: Viswaroopam was supposed to co-star Sonakshi Sinha. What happened? A: There were dates issue.
We tried to work it out but there were legal contracts and any delay would have had repercussions. So we had to regretfully move on.
But there was no ugliness, no bitterness or ego hassles. Q: Wasn't she really young for you? A: That was the way it was written.
I was playing my age. She was playing hers.
Q: Your leading lady in Viswaroopam ? A: She's Pooja Kumar, a Broadway actress from New York. Punjabi girl of Indian origin.
It's a big break for her. Viswaroopam is probably the biggest film being made in Tamil Nadu right now.
Q: You completed 57 years in November. Out of these 50 years in front of the camera.
Aren't you exhausted? A: The day I start looking at acting as work, I would be. Working for money or fame saps you.
I stopped doing that 25 years back. The only time I am really happy is when I am in front of the camera.
When I am not, I start ruminating, retrospecting and brooding. I equate acting to building card-houses, which I used to do as a child.
..
My mother used to shout at me, 'Are you building the Taj Mahal?' For me it was building the Taj Mahal. Today, I feel like Shah Jahan trying to build something taller than me (my career).
My work is my card-house. I truly admire what they do on the beaches of Orissa.
They create true work of art on the beaches and then watch the wind and the waters sweep it away. Q: How do you manage to get so excited about your films even today? A: Because the first 100 films that I got were market-driven.
They were films which everyone presumed were going by the market demand. Actually there was so much I wanted to do.
People advised, scolded and counselled me about my career. So one day I woke up and decided to nurture Kamal Haasan, the actor.
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(less)Delhi Belly set for Tamil remake?
Delhi Belly remake will be shot with a Chennai milieu and the dialouges will be interspersed with some common swear words used by the locals. Kannan has, however, not revealed who will produce the film and the remake rights of the movie.
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(less)Lanka: Movie Review
Jaswant Sisodia (Manoj Bajpayee) rules supreme in the town of Bijnor and one of his indulgences involve forcing a girl Anshu (Tia Bajpai) to be his mistress. Anshu's parents are as helpless and humiliated as the vulnerable victim, who ironically gets willfully raped every night by Jaswant.
Jaswant's close aid (Arjan Bajwa), who he as well considers his younger brother, comes to the town and supervises his illicit operations. His loyalty towards Jaswant remains integral until his empathy towards Anshu overpowers it.
That's when he decides to betray his mentor. Visibly Tia symbolizes Sita, Manoj Bajpayee represents Raavan, and Arjan Bajwa stands for Vibhishan in this selective depiction of Ramayana.
And through its dense drama, the film justifies Vibhishan's stand to stand against the morally wrong Raavan. Where debutante director Maqbool Khan's expertise comes is in giving Manoj Bajpayee's character a poised tone wherein, on one hand he is despicable for the heroine, on the other hand he is role model for the hero.
As an audience, you relate to both the extreme shades in his personality, which can also be immensely attributed to Bajpayee's persuasive hold on the character. The plotline isn't entirely inventive and one has seen thematically similar interpretations, notably in Rakesh Roshan's Koyla (1997) or more recently Kites (2010).
How it steers clear from other cinematic adaptations of Ramayana is from the fact that it intentionally avoids incorporating Ram as the ideal protagonist and substitutes it with Vibhishan who might not be perfect yet opposes evil. So the entire essence of the film lies in the camaraderie between Raavan-Vibhishan (Bajpayee-Bajwa) and their subsequent conflict.
Thereby the director keeps the romance track between Arjan Bajwa and Tia Bajpai to the minimal and thankfully the narrative never branches out into their individual love story. A better alternative would have been to restrict their bonding only till empathetic emotions (like in Emraan Hashmi's Awaarapan ) over the avoidable streak of romance.
The focus is more on the conflict between men than highlighting the trauma inflicted on the woman. Thereby the lust and obsession that fuels Jaswant's desire to dominate Anshu, both, physically and psychologically, remains peripheral to the plot and doesn't register effectively enough.
In fact their back-story is never fleshed out. Somewhere there is more amity between the male leads than animosity with Arjan Bajwa's duty-bound character being a mute spectator for the major runtime before he rebels in the very end.
And post his revolt, the film comes to a quick end with a solo climactic confrontation scene between the men. The climax, however, seems hurried and convenient in the bigger picture.
It's sad then that what could have been shown as a rare account of ethical unfaithfulness ends up being a generalized preachy epilogue on how men should treat woman with respect and how wronged woman should not lose hope and continue their fight against injustice and blah blah blah. It almost changes the tenor of the male-dominated drama to a woman-liberation film.
Shashank Dabral's writing is fairly interesting to the extent that it never strikes your engaged mind that Arjan Bajwa's character name is never mentioned in the film. However the political nexus in the narrative isn't seamlessly integrated with central plot and rather runs parallel to it.
Also the dialogues could have been more effective over the trite lines. The film is completely designed in and around Manoj Bajpayee's character and the actor justifies the immense scope he gets with an authoritative performance.
He has a menacing attitude, his eyes speak volumes, he laughs hysterically and thankfully never goes overboard (despite a strong tendency to ham). Arjan Bajwa is impressive as the man of few words and despite Bajpayee's towering persona; he still commands good screen presence.
Fortunately Tia Bajpai is given the least lines, scenes and footage in the film and one doesn't complain. Yateen Karyekar as the defenseless father is impressive.
The immensely talented Manish Chaudhari doesn't get much scope here. Yashpal Sharma is regular.
Director Maqbool Khan shows restraint and refinement in crafting his first film. This Lanka, though not full of gold, has some shining moments.
Finally there's a film about Raavan which belongs to its Raavan! Verdict: Good
(less)Julie actor Vikram makes a comeback
A source informed Mumbai Mirror that Makandar is chalking out plans for his home production, Black India, which will address corruption in India. According to the source, he has also been offered a role in Rajkumar Santoshi's untitled film.
The source explained, "Vikram was last seen in the 1984 film Raavan, produced by Johny Bakshi. He is especially keen to work with Rajkumar Santoshi , whose father P L Santoshi assisted director Raj Khosla in the Vikram-Rekha starrer Daasi, in 1981.
" When contacted, Vikram said, "I wasn't interested in the roles that were being offered to me. I decided to take a break from the industry and started my own event management company.
"
(less)Bollywood is a different world for me: Shazahn Padamsee
And recently she bagged Sajid Khan's Housefull 2, an upcoming Bollywood comedy and sequel to Housefull. "Bollywood is a different world for me, but passion overtook everything.
I was drawn to Hindi movies and cinema as a medium and luckily I have blended with everyone, even the hardcore Bollywood guys..
I feel like one of them. I feel at home on sets.
I am taking one step at a time and don't want to sign random films," says Shazahn. Shazahn says, she was very clear that she wanted to start off her career with a big production house.
"I was lucky that Yashraj's Rocket Singh fell into my lap. I got to work with Ranbir when he was three films old at that time.
I got to learn a lot from him. He is very dedicated to his work and I drew inspiration from him.
He is like a horse with the blinkers on. He is totally focused and immersed in his work and quick with his dialogues.
I would really find it amazing when he would run to the monitor and check whether he needs to do the shot again, he was just 26 then," says Shazahn. And immediately after Rocket Singh, she got two offers from the South one Tamil and the other Telugu.
Telugu film Orange was opposite Chiranjeevi's son, Ram Charan Tej . "It was the role of a possessive girl friend and I got an opportunity to perform.
I played a slightly eccentric character and I ran away with all the good reviews. Since I played a Mumbai girl in the film, it was shot here with just few portions shot in Hyderabad," says Shazahn, who was always keen on doing South films, "because I had heard that it gives a certain kind of experience and ease in front of the camera," she says.
And then came Dil To Baccha Hai Ji where she played June Pinto, an office intern. "I loved the character because there is so much of me in it.
And I was really lucky to get that film because Madhur has always been on the dream list of directors," says Shazahn, who has now joined the gang of girls - Asin, Zarine Khan, Jacqueline Fernandes in Housefull 2. Coming from the theatre background and with her ad guru dad Alyque Padamsee's bank of knowledge, Shazahn has something new to learn each day.
"My dad is not remotely connected to Hindi commercial cinema but he guides me for my acting as language is no barrier. I always run my scenes and auditions by him.
I have to live up to certain standards. Then Madhur Bhandarkar is also there to advice me," says Shazahn.
"I consult my dad, but finally use my mind, my judgement. I take my own decisions," says Shazahn who spents a lot of time watching classics like Sholay , Mother India Keen on taking up only commercial, mainstream projects, Shazahn says, she is happy and enjoying her space with Housefull 2 in her kitty, and few more projects in the pipeline.
"But yes, theatre is my roots and I will be doing a play some time..
something like Shakespeare. My entire family is into theatre and ad world and I am the odd person out," she laughs.
Ends
(less)Amitabh-Abhishek Bachchan thank fans for wishing Aishwarya
..
let me thank all of you that have wished Aishwarya for her birthday..
.I shall pass on your greetings to her.
..
gratitude," Big B posted on Twitter. And Abhishek posted: "Thank you all for the wonderful and thoughtful wishes for Aishwarya.
Will read them all out to her."
(less)Dhanush signs first Hindi film Raanjhnaa
Rai of Tanu Weds Manu fame. He says he chose Dhanush for his simplicity.
"For the past six months, I've been looking for a simple boy to play the lead in 'Raanjhnaa'. My requirement was a man who could look vulnerable on screen.
When I saw Dhanush in the Tamil film Aadukalam , I liked him immediately. He looks very ordinary and honest, and that was the demand of the character," Rai said in a press statement.
If the grapevine is to be believed, the director had approached him for the movie before the success of Kolaveri di , from the upcoming Tamil film 3 , directed by wife Aishwarya. Dhanush, who is Tamil superstar Rajinikanth's son-in-law, is not too well versed with Hindi.
But it won't be a barrier for his Bollywood career as he is keen to explore the industry and learn the local language and culture. "It's a big deal to get a launch like this at the beginning of my career here.
Aanand's script is different from regular cinema; it's one of those 'made to make a difference' kind of films," said Dhanush. "The film is an intense love story.
Just like my film Tanu Weds Manu , the film and its characters will take you to Delhi, Punjab, Chennai," said Rai. Both Dhanush and Rai recently visited Benaras for the film.
The actor is also perhaps planning to hire a coach to learn Hindi. He is convinced that by the time the film's shoot gets over, he will be able to communicate fluently in Hindi, which will open more avenues for him.
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(less)National Award winning director Vetrimaran's formula
"When the Hollywood films started speaking Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi the local industry started suffering. Films like Harry Potter have a huge audience among children," he said.
He said it was his track record in creating hits that convinced the producer and actors of Aadukalam to go ahead. "They relied on the commercial success of my previous film," he said.
He said his film Aadukalam is inspired by Amores Perros , a Latin American film directed by Alejandro Gonzlez Inarritu which revolves around dog fighting. "If they can make a film dealing with dog fight why can't we make one on rooster fight which is a common practice all over the world?" he asked.
He also added that he didn't want to make a casteist statement through his film though Aadukalam touches upon the topic of casteism. Vetrimaran says any ethnic theme at some point becomes universal.
"The theme of professional jealousy in my film has a universal appeal. Audience all across the globe can relate to it," said Maran who added that his next film Vadachennai will be set against the backdrop of North Chennai's underworld.
He clarified that his first film Polladhavan is not inspired by the celebrated Bicycle Thieves , but ased on a real-life incident. He added that films are not a propaganda medium and with each film he is trying to reduce the element of violence in it.
"While writing a script we cleanse ourselves and the glorification of violence has been considerably reduced in my second film," he said. He added that reading books and watching good films should be the priority for aspiring filmmakers.
"Literature is a medium through which one can learn a lot, and they can be easily adapted into films too," he added. Tweet
(less)Gautham Menon to relaunch Aditya Roy Kapoor
But now it turns out he has been busy in the south shooting for a Tamil-Telugu-Hindi movie, being directed by Menon. Menon, who is in the news for his new Hindi film "Ek Deewana Tha", confirmed the news.
"Yes, I am working with Aditya Roy Kapoor in a film that I am making in three languages - Tamil, Telugu and Hindi. The Hindi version with Aditya is called 'Assi Nabbe Poorey Sau'," he said.
About Kapoor, Menon said: "I spotted him on the location for Vipul Shah's 'Action Replayy'. I immediately knew he was right for 'Assi Nabbe Poorey Sau'.
" Menon has apparently shot almost the entire film already. The movie also features Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
While Kapoor plays the lead in the Hindi version of this adventure-comedy-drama, Tamil superstar Jeeva and Telugu star Nani play the lead in the other two versions of the film. Interestingly, Samantha, whom Menon introduced in Telugu film "Ye Maaya Chesave" in 2010, features in all three versions of the film.
"I already have three different heroes in three different languages to deal with. In addition, three heroines would have been impossible to handle.
So Samantha stars in all three languages," said Menon. The director says shooting a tri-lingual is like making three different films.
"I do one shot with Aditya and then the same shot with Jeeva and Nani. We go through every shot three times over in exactly the same way.
I've never done a film simultaneously in three languages," he said. However, Menon is worried about other things for now.
"At the moment, my full focus is on the release of 'Ek Deewana Tha'. It's a simple, old-fashioned love story," he said
(less)Rajinikanth's cameo RA.One
One. This will be a double whammy for millions of Rajini fans around the world, who had spent sleepless nights praying for their idol, and for SRK fans, who are waiting to see the romantic star in a never-before avatar.
SRK has been maintaining that the film pays a tribute to the superstar's Robot. Rajini will shoot in Hyderabad for a sequence that has been set in his honour, said sources close to the crew.
Besides the first-ever Rajni-Shah Rukh pairing, the cameo will also mark the iconic star's return to form. However, his family maintained that full-fledged shooting will commence only from November.
"Rajini has recovered. He will resume full fledged shooting from November.
Till then he will be on rest," the superstar's elder brother Satyanarayana Rao Gaekwad told this newspaper. Sources close to the unit revealed that Rajini will shoot for the special sequence on October 4, at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad.
"In the sequence he will deliver his super-hit dialogue from the film Bhasha," added the source. It is learnt that the scene has been dedicated to him and doffs a hat to his stardom and stature as an actor.
Elaborating on the scene, a source said, SRK who is seen fighting a gang of villains faces another threat from a gang armed with deadly weapons. At this critical point, Rajini makes an entry, 'Rajni Style' in a car.
The super powered vehicle immediately sucks up all the weapons from the villains prompting SRK to ask Kareena, who that man in the car was. That's when Rajinikanth steps out and delivers his super- hit dialogue.
The sequence was originally meant to feature a Rajini lookalike. But SRK managed to convince the superstar to do the honours.
Incidentally, RA.One will be released in Tamil and Telugu as well.
Did you know? In July 2007, Shah Rukh Khan was signed on to play the male lead of Robot as well as be the producer for the project. In October, the same year, the deal was called off.
Rajinikanth is not the only one playing a cameo in RA.One.
Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Chopra have also made guest appearances in the film. Sanjay Dutt sports a beefed up tattooed look in the superhero flick.
Both Dutt and Chopra play G.One's (SRK's character in the film) enemies.
They are unleashed upon G.One by his main enemy RA.
One (played by Arjun Rampal). Ra.
One music
(less)Not cashing on success of south remakes in B/wd: Gautham Menon
But it does not mean that if south film remakes are doing well so I am here or it is the right time for me to make a film in Hindi. I have already made Ek Deewana Tha in Tamil and Telugu and it did well.
I was always looking to do this film in Hindi..
.I thought it would be universally appealing," Gautham told PTI in an interview.
"It took us some time to come up with the Hindi version as we had pre-production work - planning dialogues to getting dates of Prateik. Since February 2010, we wanted to do this film much before the hindi version of Bodyguard, Ready and Singham came out and became hits," he said.
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(less)Dhanush signs first Hindi film Raanjhnaa
Rai of Tanu Weds Manu fame. He says he chose Dhanush for his simplicity.
"For the past six months, I've been looking for a simple boy to play the lead in 'Raanjhnaa'. My requirement was a man who could look vulnerable on screen.
When I saw Dhanush in the Tamil film Aadukalam , I liked him immediately. He looks very ordinary and honest, and that was the demand of the character," Rai said in a press statement.
If the grapevine is to be believed, the director had approached him for the movie before the success of Kolaveri di , from the upcoming Tamil film 3 , directed by wife Aishwarya. Dhanush, who is Tamil superstar Rajinikanth's son-in-law, is not too well versed with Hindi.
But it won't be a barrier for his Bollywood career as he is keen to explore the industry and learn the local language and culture. "It's a big deal to get a launch like this at the beginning of my career here.
Aanand's script is different from regular cinema; it's one of those 'made to make a difference' kind of films," said Dhanush. "The film is an intense love story.
Just like my film Tanu Weds Manu , the film and its characters will take you to Delhi, Punjab, Chennai," said Rai. Both Dhanush and Rai recently visited Benaras for the film.
The actor is also perhaps planning to hire a coach to learn Hindi. He is convinced that by the time the film's shoot gets over, he will be able to communicate fluently in Hindi, which will open more avenues for him.
Tweet
(less)Aishwarya dedicates award to fans, family
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and my family," Aishwarya, who couldn't attend the ceremony, said in a statement. The 37-year-old, who is expecting her first child with husband Abhishek Bachchan, could not attend the event in Mumbai Aug 25 as she had a prior family commitment.
However, she acknowledged the award through her message. Aishwarya's father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan had received the same award in 2010 for his contribution to the Hindi film industry.
Pazhassi Raja Charitable Trust was formed with the intention of remembering freedom fighter Veera Pazhassi Rajaand and his patriotism and of introducing him to the new generation. Tweet
(less)Amitabh Bachchan says no to baby pictures
..
I am afraid that is not going to happen..
. too personal.
..
you will understand..
.thank you," Big B tweeted.
Big B's daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai , gave birth to her first child Nov 16 here and ever since people are curious to see her daughter. Meanwhile dad Abhishek has asked fans to suggest names for his daughter through his tweet
(less)Review: Kannada Movie Body Guard
Tamil remake was titled Kavalan and Vijay and Asin Thottumkal starrer received a satisfactory response at the ticket window, and the Hindi version starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor was a hit too. While the earlier three versions were directed by Siddique, Anand wielded the megaphone for the Kannada remake.
In fact, he returned to direction after a long time. The film suffers on many counts.
The artists selected for lead roles are miscast. Actor-director Guru Datt, who plays heroine's father, doesn't fit the bill either.
Jaggesh, who does well in comedies, doesn't look good in his role. Poor production values has also affected the film badly.
Though the Kannada version has followed the Malayalam original, its screen presentation is of low quality. The melodramatic twist in the last 20 minutes is certainly a treat for the viwers who have not seen the original or the other two versions.
Jaggesh has tried his best to salvage the film by his comic timing and peculiar dialogue delivery. But Jaggesh's effort will not overshadow the weak points in the film which includes lack of depthness in the narration.
The film moves at snail's pace and crucial sequences are marred by poor writing. When a politician is attacked by his opponents, safety of his and his family members becomes an issue.
So, Ashokanna hires Jayakrishna as his daughter Ammu's bodyguard. Jayakrishna accompanies her even to her college, which makes things awkward for Ammu.
Ammu pretends to love Jaykrishna and even calls him from a private number. But Ammu's pretence becomes reality and she actually falls for her bodyguard.
Meanwhile Ammu's friend Poorna plays a spoil sport. How Jayakrishna and Ammu are united in the end forms the rest of the story.
Daisy Shah looks artificial and her performance leaves much to be desired. Spoorthi is just okay.
Sadhu Kokila shines in comedy sequences. Ashok's camera work and Vinaya Chandra's music are much better when compared to other technical work in the film.
Body Guard is just an average flick which can be enjoyed only by ardent Jaggesh fans. Tweet
(less)Rajinikanth's cameo RA.One
One. This will be a double whammy for millions of Rajini fans around the world, who had spent sleepless nights praying for their idol, and for SRK fans, who are waiting to see the romantic star in a never-before avatar.
SRK has been maintaining that the film pays a tribute to the superstar's Robot. Rajini will shoot in Hyderabad for a sequence that has been set in his honour, said sources close to the crew.
Besides the first-ever Rajni-Shah Rukh pairing, the cameo will also mark the iconic star's return to form. However, his family maintained that full-fledged shooting will commence only from November.
"Rajini has recovered. He will resume full fledged shooting from November.
Till then he will be on rest," the superstar's elder brother Satyanarayana Rao Gaekwad told this newspaper. Sources close to the unit revealed that Rajini will shoot for the special sequence on October 4, at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad.
"In the sequence he will deliver his super-hit dialogue from the film Bhasha," added the source. It is learnt that the scene has been dedicated to him and doffs a hat to his stardom and stature as an actor.
Elaborating on the scene, a source said, SRK who is seen fighting a gang of villains faces another threat from a gang armed with deadly weapons. At this critical point, Rajini makes an entry, 'Rajni Style' in a car.
The super powered vehicle immediately sucks up all the weapons from the villains prompting SRK to ask Kareena, who that man in the car was. That's when Rajinikanth steps out and delivers his super- hit dialogue.
The sequence was originally meant to feature a Rajini lookalike. But SRK managed to convince the superstar to do the honours.
Incidentally, RA.One will be released in Tamil and Telugu as well.
Did you know? In July 2007, Shah Rukh Khan was signed on to play the male lead of Robot as well as be the producer for the project. In October, the same year, the deal was called off.
Rajinikanth is not the only one playing a cameo in RA.One.
Sanjay Dutt and Priyanka Chopra have also made guest appearances in the film. Sanjay Dutt sports a beefed up tattooed look in the superhero flick.
Both Dutt and Chopra play G.One's (SRK's character in the film) enemies.
They are unleashed upon G.One by his main enemy RA.
One (played by Arjun Rampal). Ra.
One music
(less)I am exactly like Salman Khan: Asin
Somewhere I am very attached to my roots. I know that it's the Southern film industries that have made me an actor and that is where people relate to me the most.
I would never give it up or separate myself from it. I have a personal connect with each of the industries there.
In Kerala people say, 'Asin is our very own Mallu girl'. The Tamilians love me because I have done the most number of movies in Kollywood and have worked with all the top stars.
I have even stayed in Chennai for a few years and I have a strong connect with the city and the State of Tamil Nadu. As far as the Telugu film industry goes, I got my first Filmfare Award for a Tollywood film and also the Nandi State Award.
So I am referred to as the 'Tamil Ammai'. My film "Garshana" is still spoken of.
Few actors can connect with the different audiences and this is my real goodwill. North for the moment, not South.
..
Yes, my bulk dates until March 2012 is with projects in Bollywood. Sajid Khan's "Housefull-2" and Rohit Shetty's "Bol Bachchan" will be finished by March.
Then there is one bigger project that I am in talks for. The work being offered to me in Hindi is pretty exciting.
In the South, I wish to get something unusual because I have done the routine stuff. Now if I accept a South offer, it has to be spectacular.
Like I did "Kaavalan" recently only because it wasn't the typical song-'n'-dance roles that girls in Vijay movies usually have. I had already done two Vijay 'formula' films, "Sivakasi" and "Pokiri" earlier.
But Meera in "Kaavalan" was a strong character, something I had not attempted before. Out priced yourself Money is not the driving force behind my decisions to accept or reject a project.
From the start of my career I have always looked for five criteria while selecting a project - 1) script, 2) my role, 3) director, 4) production house and 5) co-artistes. The language of the film or the financial aspects comes into consideration only after this.
And as I said earlier, money is not the criteria for me choosing a film in any language. Salman Khan , 4 am friend I like Salman because he is very genuine, very forthright.
Salman appreciates me because I am exactly like him. I don't wear any masks.
If I am happy, you get to see it; if I am angry, then you get to see that also. My acting ends in the front of the camera.
In real life, I do not pretend. Yes, I can pick up the phone on Salman whenever I wish and he will always be there.
However, I rarely meet him when we are not shooting together. I haven't seen him after "Ready".
I am friends with his family. I respect his parents and I am in touch with his brothers and sisters.
Salman doesn't need to show that we are friends in overtly ways. SMS break up with Neil Nitin Mukesh I don't know where such talk comes from.
Neil is still a friend. What SMS break-up? I don't wish to react to talk like this
(less)Ash not too posh to push, tweets Big B
"The often coined phrase ' too posh to push' was put to rest in her case ..
she was determined to do it the way she felt was correct!" he posted. Mr Bachchan has earlier commended Aishwarya's strength and courage during the delivery on Twitter and on his blog.
When a Twitter follower asked Mr Bachchan why he shared personal details, he posted: "the media had already written about it and some did not know facts and printed wrong ..
said she had c-section ..
so clarified it." He said the family was spending more time with the newborn .
..
"each and every movement sinking deep into our memory cells ..
.to narrate to them when older!" Mr Bachchan also acknowledged all suggestions for names for the infant sent in by fans, saying "some of them really good .
..
will run it by the parents ..
!!" Meanwhile his son and new father Abhishek Bachchan yesterday said he can not wait to take his wife and daughter home from the hospital. That should happen anytime now.
Tweet
(less)Dhanush much more than Kolaveri song: Abhishek
Very famous and very prominent actor from Chennai. Off late, unfortunately they only seem to know him because of Why This Kolavari Di but, he has done great work down there.
He is a wonderful actor," said the 35-year-old actor. Kolaveri Di has received over 17 million hits on Youtube till now and Abhishek terms it as one of the greatest hits of the year.
"I think it's outstanding and I think it's wonderful because it has been made by two very dear friends of mine, Dhanush and his wife Aishwarya. I think it's a fantastic song.
He is a very talented guy and Anirudh, the music director has done a great job. I wish them all the best.
It's one of the greatest songs of the year," said Abhishek who is awaiting his next release Players by director duo Abbas-Mustan. Players , which is releasing Jan 6, also stars Bobby Deol, Bipasha Basu, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Sonam Kapoor.
Abhishek is also working on Rohit Shetty directed Bol Bachchan and Dhoom 3 . Tweet
(less)Pa Amitabh defends Abhishek Bachchan?
Don't you think? It can be remembered that Abhishek Bachchan , like dad Amitabh, wasn't instantaneously successful. However, he is an actor to reckon with today.
So how did Big B react to this? Amitabh candidly confessed, "I'd like to believe that people achieve whatever they do on their own accord. I am someone who didn't have a film connection.
There are many in our industry who have made it without having anyone from the film industry. At the same time, there are many from the film industry - star sons and daughters - who are unfortunately not seen around.
So it works both ways." Amitabh's Aarakshan releases on August 12, 2011
(less)Camera does wonders today: Vyjayanthimala
"Indian cinema has undergone a huge change technically. I see a huge Western influence in today's films.
Technically, they are so advanced that I think the camera does wonders today. Our time was different.
Now the camera itself is an artist," the actress, who turned 75 Sunday, told IANS in an interview. "Be it dancing or fighting, it's mostly handled by the camera.
If you miss something, they can correct it technically. But, in my time, if any mistake was made, the whole sequence had to be re-shot.
It's much easier nowadays," added the actress, who is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer. A Tamil, Vyjayanthimala entered filmdom with a bang thanks to the success of her first Tamil film "Vazhkai" in 1949, which was later remade in Telugu.
And its Hindi remake, "Bahaar", marked her entry into Hindi films in 1951. As she hailed from the south, "I had to adapt many things (to work in Hindi films).
" "It was different from the south. So I had to work hard for the characters.
It's not only the dialogues but also the mannerisms," said the retired actress who ruled the Hindi film firmament in the 1950s and the 1960s. She was loved and appreciated not only for her on-screen persona and performances but also for her flawless dancing skills.
She is grateful to have got opportunities to work with the best in the industry. "It has been a long journey, a very wonderful journey, I must say.
Whatever I have done in my films and after having worked with such wonderful people, great directors and very nice co-stars and technicians, I couldn't have asked for anything more. "I have worked with three superstars -- Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor.
I have worked with all the Kumars - Dilip Kumar, Kishor Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Manoj Kumar and Rajendra Kumar," she said, adding with humour that "in those times there used to be all Kumars and no Khans!" Some of her memorable performances were in "Devdas" (1955), "New Delhi" (1956), "Kathputli" (1957), "Madhumati" (1958), " Sangam "(1964), "Leader" (1964), "Amrapali" (1966), "Chhoti Si Mulaqat" (1967) and "Jewel Thief" (1967). My maximum films were with Dilip Kumar, said the actress.
"We shared a certain comfort level and enjoyed the company since 'Devdas'." In fact, she played Chandramukhi in director Bimal Roy's "Devdas", but says "I haven't seen any of the remakes of 'Devdas'.
" It is believed that it was Vyjayanthimala who paved the way for south Indian actresses in the Hindi film industry. "I am happy that I could pave the way for other south Indian actresses, but the person who really opened the doors was S.
S. Vasan who made 'Chandralekha' (1948).
"When it released, it took the north by storm because by then they haven't seen that kind of lavish sets, costumes and splendour. So Vasan was the person who opened the door for Hindi films in the south," she said.
"Chandralekha" was reportedly made on a budget of Rs.600,000 and was said to have been the most expensive Tamil film of its time.
It was a conscious decision on her part to bid adieu to showbiz after she married Dr. Chamanlal Bali, personal physician of Raj Kapoor, and relocated to Chennai.
"I still relish those golden memories. I left the industry once I got married to Dr.
Bali in 1968. Offers kept on pouring in, but we had decided that I wouldn't work any more.
Being a housewife is also a big profession and it comes with a huge responsibility: so is working in the industry. I preferred not to mix them up," said Vyjayanthimala, who now stays in Triplicane in Chennai.
Vyjayanthimala still practises Bharatanatyam and says: "I am still a senior Bharatanatyam performing artist. I take part in dance festivals.
There would be a number of shows happening in the coming three months. I would be totally engaged with that.
"
(less)Seven minutes of physical abuse in Bijuka
The scene is considered the highlight of the movie, as it is seven minutes long, believed to be one of the longest ever in Hindi cinema. The main idea behind the scene is to show the pain of a woman, who is forced to have a physical relationship with a man.
Inever thought I would do a rape scene, but it was very important to show the feelings of a girl. The director of the film said that I only had to show my face expressions and not body, says Arti.
Bijuka is about a girl whose marriage is not consummated and goes back home to her parents.In the past, Aishwarya had portrayed an almost similar character in Provoked, where Ash had played the character of a housewife, who was repeatedly assaulted by her husband
(less)Enjoyed doing action in Players: Abhishek Bachchan
"I enjoy doing action films. Actually, in the last two-three years I have done more experimental films and I was really looking forward to get back to my original love," Abhishek told PTI.
"When Abbas narrated the film, I was all excited to start it. I knew he is the man who can handle the remake properly.
Being from a British boarding school, Michael Caine used to be my hero. I have watched his 'The Italian Job' many times.
There was a time when I used to know all the dialogues by heart," the 35-year-old actor added. The film was again made in 2003 by F Gary Gray, starring Mark Wahlberg and Abhishek is confident that it will be third time lucky for him.
"Mark Wahlberg did a superb job as he portrayed a completely different character of what Caine had done. He gave his own spin to the character.
"Similarly, when I approached the film, I also tried to do something different. I took it as a challenge to portray the character in my own way but by maintaining the essence of the originality in it.
Usually in our films we see thieves steal either for greed or money. But there is an emotional reason attached to it," Abhishek said.
Starting his career with cross-border love story 'Refugee', Abhishek has often been criticised by the critics for the kind of films he has done. But he says he has always taken criticism positively.
"People often compared me with dad (Amitabh Bachchan). But I have never felt low in my life.
Rather I have looked at the other side of the criticism. People criticise me because they feel I am worth the comparison with my dad," he said.
The actor, who has become a proud father of a baby girl with wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, said the presence of the baby did not stop him from promoting the film. "Promoting my film is my priority at this moment as there are other people to look after the baby.
That's a part of one's job. My family completely understands it.
The actor said they are yet to come up with a name for the child. Tweet
(less)Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl is straight lift, says Tamil director
Naan Avan Illai was first made in Tamil in 1974 featuring Gemini Ganesan in the lead, and directed by K Balachander. The story was about a young man who entices five girls and later cheats them.
He keeps denying that he was the man they fell for. The film was remade by director Selva, in 2007 with Jeevan in the lead.
The sequel was made in 2009. "What I noticed was that a few scenes from both the films - for instance the scene in which Jeevan in Naan Avan Illai 1 impresses Sneha by gifting her a house and the scene in Naan Avan Illai 2 in which he charms Lakshmi Rai by claiming himself to be a businessman have been remade in exactly the same fashion in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl ," he says.
"Neither producer Yash Chopra nor director Maneesh Sharma approached me before making their film," he added. The director says that although he saw the trailer of Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl last month, he didn't want to comment anything before watching the film.
"Even now, I can't do much since my producer has to take some initiative in this case. However, I was shocked while watching the movie.
Only he has to decide how to go about it. In fact, we had plans to make the movie in Hindi as well by selecting the best parts from both the versions.
But I don't think it is possible now," says the director. Tweet
(less)Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl is straight lift, says Tamil director
Naan Avan Illai was first made in Tamil in 1974 featuring Gemini Ganesan in the lead, and directed by K Balachander. The story was about a young man who entices five girls and later cheats them.
He keeps denying that he was the man they fell for. The film was remade by director Selva, in 2007 with Jeevan in the lead.
The sequel was made in 2009. "What I noticed was that a few scenes from both the films - for instance the scene in which Jeevan in Naan Avan Illai 1 impresses Sneha by gifting her a house and the scene in Naan Avan Illai 2 in which he charms Lakshmi Rai by claiming himself to be a businessman have been remade in exactly the same fashion in Ladies vs Ricky Bahl ," he says.
"Neither producer Yash Chopra nor director Maneesh Sharma approached me before making their film," he added. The director says that although he saw the trailer of Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl last month, he didn't want to comment anything before watching the film.
"Even now, I can't do much since my producer has to take some initiative in this case. However, I was shocked while watching the movie.
Only he has to decide how to go about it. In fact, we had plans to make the movie in Hindi as well by selecting the best parts from both the versions.
But I don't think it is possible now," says the director. Tweet
(less)Aishwarya dedicates award to fans, family
..
and my family," Aishwarya, who couldn't attend the ceremony, said in a statement. The 37-year-old, who is expecting her first child with husband Abhishek Bachchan, could not attend the event in Mumbai Aug 25 as she had a prior family commitment.
However, she acknowledged the award through her message. Aishwarya's father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan had received the same award in 2010 for his contribution to the Hindi film industry.
Pazhassi Raja Charitable Trust was formed with the intention of remembering freedom fighter Veera Pazhassi Rajaand and his patriotism and of introducing him to the new generation. Tweet
(less)Oprah connects to Jaipur with salwar-kameez, social message
It was a connection she had made three years ago when she came across a picture of a woman on a camel. And since then, coming to India had been on her mind.
"As I entered the city I saw the camels and elephants. I said 'there is the vision, there you are'," Oprah said.
The talk show host earlier visited Mumbai, Agra and Vrindavan as part of her Indian itinerary. She is shooting some India-specific episodes and interviews for her next show, "Oprah's Next Chapter".
"For me, education is the most important thing. I have been from village to village in Africa looking for girls like myself.
..
and families desperate for education. I was raised by my grandmother in poverty.
My grandmother did not live to see me become an educated woman," Oprah said. She was born in Mississippi in 1954 to a teenaged unmarried mother.
"The fact that I was born in segregated southern United States..
. The fact that I was born during the time of apartheid influenced me into becoming what I am," she said.
Oprah takes it upon herself "to be a connector". "My entire school in South Africa is founded on the principle - 'I am because we are'.
It is a miracle that each on of us gets to exist at this particular moment on this earth..
. "I have spoken to millions of people around the world with the intention that every single show would land in the hearts and minds of those who are watching," Oprah said.
The television celebrity runs a "Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls" in South Africa. Oprah said she was "enriched and blessed" by her maiden visit to India.
"When I called Aishwarya and Abhishek (Bachchan) to my show, I asked them, as all Americans do, that you all live with your parents, what is that all about? To which Abhishek replied, 'what is it about it that you don't'." Oprah said the three things that struck her about India was "its chaos, the underlying calmness and love - and the fact that everyone seems to know where they are going".
"I have seen more people than I have encountered in my life," Oprah said. The talk show host's visit to Vrindavan to meet widows brought "about a shift in my consciousness".
"I have spoken for years for women to own their voices. Just because your husbands have died, you cannot become second class citizens.
This kind of thing should be eradicated from earth," Oprah said. The American celebrity's connect with the literature festival was natural.
She has helped revive the culture of reading in US with her book club. Reports say 800,000 new copies of the Russian classic "Anna Karenina" had to be reprinted because she had recommended it
(less)Amitabh Bachchan says no to baby pictures
..
I am afraid that is not going to happen..
. too personal.
..
you will understand..
.thank you," Big B tweeted.
Big B's daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai , gave birth to her first child Nov 16 here and ever since people are curious to see her daughter. Meanwhile dad Abhishek has asked fans to suggest names for his daughter through his tweet
(less)In Bollywood, shoot never starts early: Bodyguard director
"I was getting several offers from Bollywood but I never accepted them because I was comfortable making Malayalam and Tamil films. But then I realized one day, why am I not doing Hindi films?", says Siddique.
Finally things fell in place and his Malayalam hit Bodyguard (starring Dileep) which is already remade in Tamil as Kaavalan (starring Vijay) will now release in its Hindi version as Bodyguard (starring Salman Khan ). So how comfortable was the director with his Hindi film debut? "Well, I cannot read or write Hindi but I can manage to speak in Hindi.
Directors in South take classes for the language but I never had to get into that", says Siddique. "And though the dialogues of Bodyguard are translated in Hindi, the content of the dialogue is mine".
Ask him if there is any difference in the working style of the South film industry as compared to Bollywood and he says, "While the basic functioning is same, there is one major difference here. In South we start our shoot early at 7 am.
That never happens in Bollywood. We always start late here".
So does he believe Bollywood is unprofessional? "Not really! Once the stars reach sets, they work very hard and ensure that they finish the scene before leaving, no matter what", he clarifies. Ask him about stories that the release of Bodyguard might be delayed and he says, "Most of my films are scheduled for festive release.
My last film Kaavalan released during Pongal which is a big festive period in South. And Bodyguard is very much scheduled to release on Eid without any delays.
All the stories about Salman interfering on the post-production work are rubbish"
(less)Suggest names for my daughter, tweets Abhishek
Something with "A"," the 35-year-old posted on micro-blogging site Twitter. His wife, Aishwarya Rai , gave birth to their first child Nov 16 at Mumbai's Seven Hills Hospital and since then, the Bachchan family is receiving congratulatory messages from around the globe.
"To receive all this love from all of you. Oh ya! And our crew grows past 800,000.
A huge welcome to all the new ones..
.And the congratulatory messages still pour in.
Thank you so much guys. All of you are wonderful and so sweet.
My daughter is so blessed," he further posted. While Abhishek is enjoying his fatherhood, megastar Amitabh is in seventh heaven after becoming a grandfather for the third time and says it is difficult for him to stay away from his granddaughter.
"Difficult to tear yourself away from the 'little one', but now home to replay videos and stills and wait for her to come home..
.Shooting 3D camera stills and movie of the 'little one'.
..
Amazing! Child is the Father of man..
. Never had this at my birth," the 69-year-old posted
(less)Actress Shriya Saran attacked by Telangana supporters
The actress took to Twitter to describe the series of events. "How can they break my car, throw stones, stop, shoot and threaten me to say Jai Telangala on TV.
That too in broad day light, police staring at all of this! What about freedom? Safety?" she tweeted. She added, "When I got in my car I saw that both windows were damaged.
Luckily, I didn't get hurt but it happened in broad daylight with police around. I've never felt so unsafe anywhere in the world.
" Though frazzled and shocked she is said to be safe and further tweeted, "Thank God the stone didn't hit me. Both the windows are broken.
Seriously! I'm disgusted I'm born in India and I deserve my freedom and safety is my right!" "(The) Stone fell next to my head," she further tweeted with a couple of pictures of her damaged car. The model and actress has worked in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and even English films.
One of the leading actors of South Indian film industry, Shriya is perhaps best known for her monumental hit Sivaji: The Boss with superstar Rajinikanth. Tweet
(less)Ash not too posh to push, tweets Big B
"The often coined phrase ' too posh to push' was put to rest in her case ..
she was determined to do it the way she felt was correct!" he posted. Mr Bachchan has earlier commended Aishwarya's strength and courage during the delivery on Twitter and on his blog.
When a Twitter follower asked Mr Bachchan why he shared personal details, he posted: "the media had already written about it and some did not know facts and printed wrong ..
said she had c-section ..
so clarified it." He said the family was spending more time with the newborn .
..
"each and every movement sinking deep into our memory cells ..
.to narrate to them when older!" Mr Bachchan also acknowledged all suggestions for names for the infant sent in by fans, saying "some of them really good .
..
will run it by the parents ..
!!" Meanwhile his son and new father Abhishek Bachchan yesterday said he can not wait to take his wife and daughter home from the hospital. That should happen anytime now.
Tweet
(less)Bachchans upset with morphed pictures of newborn
"Many morphed pictures of the 'little one' with her mother in hospital doing the rounds on the net..
. all fake!!" -- Amitabh posted on his Twitter page.
"To be my daughter in her mother's arms. Full points for creativity to the people who made them.
Spent the morning with the girls and showing them some rather entertaining photos morphed by some very talented people of who is supposed..
." Abhishek wrote with sarcasm.
Aishwarya gave birth to her first child Wednesday morning at a private hospital in Mumbai. Abhishek announced the news through the micro-blogging site.
The electronic media gave only limited footage to the news of Ash's delivery, following a reported 10-point directive from the Broadcast Editor's Association (BEA) warning news channels against excessive coverage on TV of her childbirth. Thanking the media, the Bachchan senior tweeted: "And once again a word of kindness to the electronic media for their non interference and dignified distance.
..
thank you!! "A word of appreciation too, to the print media for highlighting a few salient points..
. our joy in welcoming the girl child.
..
and emphasising the commendable desire of Aishwarya in having a normal delivery without any epidural or pain killers. The often coined phrase 'too posh to push' was put to rest in her case.
..
she was determined to do it the way she felt was correct!" he added. The 69-year-old third-time grandfather is already receiving suggestion for the baby's name, though Abhishek has chosen to nickname her 'Beti B'.
"More time spent with the 'little one'..
. each and every movement sinking deep into our memory cells.
..
to narrate to them when older! Thank you all for sending in suggestions for names for the baby..
. some of them really good.
..
will run it by the parents!" he wrote
(less)Sonam Kapoor in Mani Ratnam’s next film
Mumbai Mirror has learnt that the actress has been approached by the filmmaker for his next Tamil project. Initially, Ratnam was to direct a Hindi film with Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan , but since the couple recently became parents, the director had to put the project on the back burner.
Sonam's friend revealed to us that initially the actress was skeptical about working in a regional film. "Sonam's dad convinced her to do the film, since Anil himself had started his career with a Telugu film.
She will be required to learn enough of the language to understand her dialogue, however, her lines will ultimately be dubbed," explained Sonam's friend. Apparently, the romantic film is not only a first for Sonam.
Reportedly, the project will launch the career of Tamil actor Karthik's son Gautham. When we asked Sonam about her decision to star in a regional project, the actress said, "We (the Hindi film industry) are always remaking regional movies.
I would rather be a part of the original. I wouldn't like to comment on working with Mani sir.
But yes, I would love to do something amazing, after Players. However, nothing is confirmed yet.
"
(less)The new entrants in Times 50 Most Desirable Men 2011
Labelled a Casanova, Kohli is on the most wanted list with several endorsement offers. His commercials with Genelia D'Souza for an accessory brand were a huge hit.
Relationship Status: Single. DQ: Dashing with oddles of confidence.
Fun Fact: Women love his badass attitude. Sonu Nigam No 32 Who: Singer, Actor Claim To Fame: He began his career at the age of three when he joined his father Agam Kumar Nigam on stage to sing Kya Hua Tera Vaada at a concert.
He was recently in the news for his international collaborations with artistes like Britney Spears and Avicii. Sonu was moved by the death of his idol Michael Jackson and released a tribute album in his memory.
Relationship Status: Married to Madhurima. DQ: Soulful voice and charming personality.
Fun Fact: Is a very good mimic. Dhanush No 19 Who: Actor, Singer Claim To Fame: The Kolaveri Di singer took the nation by storm with the song and video going viral within hours of being uploaded online.
Not only did the song top the charts but it also became the most watched video in India in 2011. He was part of the National Award-winning film Aadukalam, which won six awards last year.
Relationship Status: Married to Aishwarya Rajinikanth. DQ: Boy-next-door charm.
Fun Fact: Kolaveri Di will be seen in his Tamil film 3. Vidyut Jamwal No 39 Who: Model, Actor Claim To Fame: After scorching the ramp with his good looks, Vidyut was noticed by Bollywood.
His first big project was Vipul Shah's Force where he was cast in a negative role opposite John Abraham. Addicted to working out, he is trained in martial arts.
He was also seen in a Telugu film Shakti opposite NTR Jr. Relationship Status: Single.
DQ: Deadly looks and a killer body. Fun Fact: Openly admits to being technologically challenged! Riteish Deshmukh No 40 Who: Actor Claim To Fame: His father used to be Maharashtra's Chief Minister.
But politicial affliations aside, Riteish is known for his flair for comedy. He starred in two of last year's hits F.
A.L.
T.U.
and Double Dhamaal. Relationship Status: Lost his single status on Friday when he married Genelia D'Souza.
DQ: A Mr Nice Guy, he also deserves the title of B-Town's Mr Congeniality. Fun Fact: Is heavily into technology and is known to be a gadget freak who's miles ahead of his contemporaries.
Sonu Sood No 33 Who: Actor Claim To Fame: Born in the interiors of Punjab, this model-turned-actor made his debut in the Telugu film Hands Up (2000). He then got a break in Hindi films with Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh (2002) where he was noticed for his acting.
However, his biggest hits to date have been the Telugu film Arundhati and Salman Khan's Dabangg, where he played the bad guy. A fitness addict and parkour expert, Sonu is famous for his chiseled body.
Relationship Status: Married to Sonali. DQ: Ripped body.
Fun Fact: He once bribed security to enter Film City as a struggling actor. Rajat Barmecha No 50 Who: Actor Claim To Fame: The 23-year-old left Delhi to pursue his acting dreams in Mumbai, even though his parents wanted him to join the family business.
He started off with commercials, before auditioning for Udaan, which changed his life and won him rave reviews. Later he did a small cameo in mentor Anurag Kashyap's production Shaitan.
Relationship Status: Single. DQ: The quintessential boy next door.
Fun Fact: Is a fan of Pedro Almodovar movies. Jackky Bhagnani No 42 Who: Actor Claim To Fame: Before becoming an actor, Jackky served as an assistant director on several films produced by his father Vashu Bhagnani.
He made his debut in 2009 with Kal Kissne Dekha for which he lost around 60 kgs over a period of two years. His second release F.
A.L.
T.U went on to become a sleeper hit in 2011.
Relationship Status: Single. DQ: Sweet smile, likeable personality.
Fun Fact: Down-to-earth despite daddy's millions. Rana Daggubati No 20 Who: Actor Claim To Fame: Hailing from a filmi family, Rana's uncles are south superstars Venkatesh and Nagarjuna.
He made his debut with the Telugu film Leader, which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut - South. In 2011, he made his Bollywood entry with Rohan Sippy's Dum Maaro Dum where he got noticed and won accolades for his role.
Relationship Status: Briefly dated Bipasha Basu. Now single.
DQ: Raw, rugged appeal. Fun Fact: Known to be quite the party boy.
Arunoday Singh No 46 Who: Actor Claim To Fame: Grandson of late politician Arjun Singh, Arunoday made his acting debut in 2009 with Sikander. Having learnt acting from the New York Film Academy, he has also had a short stint in theatre.
Singh's best work to date has been in Sudhir Mishra's acclaimed film Yeh Saali Zindagi. Relationship Status: Single.
DQ: Tall, fair, handsome. Fun Fact: Has some mean moves on the dance floor.
Rank 2011 Hotties 1 Salman Khan 2 Ranbir Kapoor 3 Hrithik Roshan 4 John Abraham 5 Mahesh Babu 6 MS Dhoni 7 Shah Rukh Khan 8 Shahid Kapoor 9 Imran Khan 10 Arjun Rampal 11 Suriya 12 Ajith 13 Virat Kohli 14 Akshay Kumar 15 Yuvraj Singh 16 Farhan Akhtar 17 Ali Zafar 18 Aamir Khan 19 Dhanush 20 Rana Daggubati 21 Siddharth 22 Ranveer Singh 23 Vikram Kennedy 24 Saif Ali Khan 25 Atif Aslam 26 Ajay Devgn 27 Abhay Deol 28 Zaheer Khan 29 Karan Singh Grover 30 Abhishek Bachchan 31 Rahul Gandhi 32 Sonu Nigam 33 Sonu Sood 34 Neil Nitin Mukesh 35 Rajeev Khandelwal 36 Sidhartha Mallya 37 Prateik 38 Vijender Singh 39 Vidyut Jamwal 40 Riteish Deshmukh 41 Emraan Hashmi 42 Jackky Bhagnani 43 Kunal Kapoor 44 Muzammil Ibrahim 45 Dino Morea 46 Arunoday Singh 47 Rannvijay Singh 48 Rahul Sharma 49 Karan Johar 50 Rajat Barmecha Text by Tushar Joshi
(less)Review: Kannada Movie Body Guard
Tamil remake was titled Kavalan and Vijay and Asin Thottumkal starrer received a satisfactory response at the ticket window, and the Hindi version starring Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor was a hit too. While the earlier three versions were directed by Siddique, Anand wielded the megaphone for the Kannada remake.
In fact, he returned to direction after a long time. The film suffers on many counts.
The artists selected for lead roles are miscast. Actor-director Guru Datt, who plays heroine's father, doesn't fit the bill either.
Jaggesh, who does well in comedies, doesn't look good in his role. Poor production values has also affected the film badly.
Though the Kannada version has followed the Malayalam original, its screen presentation is of low quality. The melodramatic twist in the last 20 minutes is certainly a treat for the viwers who have not seen the original or the other two versions.
Jaggesh has tried his best to salvage the film by his comic timing and peculiar dialogue delivery. But Jaggesh's effort will not overshadow the weak points in the film which includes lack of depthness in the narration.
The film moves at snail's pace and crucial sequences are marred by poor writing. When a politician is attacked by his opponents, safety of his and his family members becomes an issue.
So, Ashokanna hires Jayakrishna as his daughter Ammu's bodyguard. Jayakrishna accompanies her even to her college, which makes things awkward for Ammu.
Ammu pretends to love Jaykrishna and even calls him from a private number. But Ammu's pretence becomes reality and she actually falls for her bodyguard.
Meanwhile Ammu's friend Poorna plays a spoil sport. How Jayakrishna and Ammu are united in the end forms the rest of the story.
Daisy Shah looks artificial and her performance leaves much to be desired. Spoorthi is just okay.
Sadhu Kokila shines in comedy sequences. Ashok's camera work and Vinaya Chandra's music are much better when compared to other technical work in the film.
Body Guard is just an average flick which can be enjoyed only by ardent Jaggesh fans. Tweet
(less)I decided to nurture Kamal Haasan, the actor: Kamal
If my dates are being wasted, the project becomes mine," he said in an interview. Earlier, Selva Raghavan was supposed to wield the megaphone for the film.
The 57-year-old, who has spent 50 years in front of the camera, said: "People advised, scolded and counselled me about my career. So one day I woke up and decided to nurture Kamal Haasan, the actor.
" Excerpts from the interview: Q: Viswaroopam is a project whose direction you had to take over? A: It was my project and my story. Then time was running out.
Sonakshi Sinha's dates were gone. My dates were also running out.
I do one project at a time. If the director doesn't respect my time, I will have to.
If my dates are being wasted, the project becomes mine. I've limited time, what with me celebrating a birthday every year.
I wish I could celebrate my birthday like the government, every five years. Q: Viswaroopam is said to be inspired by the Anthony Hopkins starrer Hannibal ? A: After I read that, I was really inspired to think about a film based on Hannibal .
I may do that in the future. Not this time.
Viswaroopam , I am keeping the theme close to my chest. Here in Tamil Nadu, the press has a tendency to jump the gun, draw conclusions and create trouble.
For example, if I make a spiritual film, they'll say since it's Kamal Haasan, it has to be subversive, so they'll ban it even before it's ready. Q: Where is Viswaroopam set? A: The US, India, Britain, Jordan.
..
Q: It's being shot simultaneously in two languages..
. A: That's right.
In Hindi and Tamil. My first bi-lingual since Hey Ram .
Dasavathaaram got dubbed into Hindi, but the vocabulary was twisted. Unless it's a really funny film like Appu Raja , the dubbing doesn't work.
The culture-specifications come in the way. How do I say jaise karni vaise bharni in Tamil? That's why we're doing a double version of Viswaroopam and needed a leading lady who had no fear of languages.
Om Puri saab has that fear. He refuses to do a Tamil film.
Some people fear the unknown too much. I embrace it.
Q: Viswaroopam was supposed to co-star Sonakshi Sinha. What happened? A: There were dates issue.
We tried to work it out but there were legal contracts and any delay would have had repercussions. So we had to regretfully move on.
But there was no ugliness, no bitterness or ego hassles. Q: Wasn't she really young for you? A: That was the way it was written.
I was playing my age. She was playing hers.
Q: Your leading lady in Viswaroopam ? A: She's Pooja Kumar, a Broadway actress from New York. Punjabi girl of Indian origin.
It's a big break for her. Viswaroopam is probably the biggest film being made in Tamil Nadu right now.
Q: You completed 57 years in November. Out of these 50 years in front of the camera.
Aren't you exhausted? A: The day I start looking at acting as work, I would be. Working for money or fame saps you.
I stopped doing that 25 years back. The only time I am really happy is when I am in front of the camera.
When I am not, I start ruminating, retrospecting and brooding. I equate acting to building card-houses, which I used to do as a child.
..
My mother used to shout at me, 'Are you building the Taj Mahal?' For me it was building the Taj Mahal. Today, I feel like Shah Jahan trying to build something taller than me (my career).
My work is my card-house. I truly admire what they do on the beaches of Orissa.
They create true work of art on the beaches and then watch the wind and the waters sweep it away. Q: How do you manage to get so excited about your films even today? A: Because the first 100 films that I got were market-driven.
They were films which everyone presumed were going by the market demand. Actually there was so much I wanted to do.
People advised, scolded and counselled me about my career. So one day I woke up and decided to nurture Kamal Haasan, the actor.
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(less)Vivek’s two minutes of fame at Ash’s party
The actor indirectly ended up becoming the talking point at the Bachchan family press conference to celebrate the latest addition to their family, Beti B when journalists were distributed DVDs of his co-production Watch Indian Circus right outside the Bachchan residence. It happened like this.
Journalists who had gathered at a Juhu hotel for the DVD launch the of Vivek's home production, had to cut short their interaction to rush to Jalsa, where the Bachchans were holding their press meet. The DVDs had not arrived by then but most of the mediapersons were not willing to wait.
At Jalsa, just when Amitabh and Abhishek were meeting and greeting the media, an SMS was sent out from Vivek's event manager. A journalist present on the occasion told Mumbai Mirror, "In the middle of the Bachchan event, we got a call and SMS from the organisers of the Vivek event asking us to come out and collect the DVD's of Watch Indian Circus.
" Needless to say, the journalists were pretty shocked and somewhat amused at the bizarre coincidence. When some of them did step out of Jalsa eventually, there was indeed a man waiting there with a boxful of Vivek's DVDs Interestingly, this was not the only thing that went wrong with Vivek.
Earlier in the day, the actor, who has been working hard to get rid of his 'bad boy' image, ran into a spot of trouble at hotel that was hosting his event. An eyewitness told Mumbai Mirror, "Vivek Oberoi arrived at the suburban hotel around 3.
30 pm for the press conference with his Man Friday and a personal security guard. The guard was carrying a licensed gun.
When Vivek headed for the security check, he was on a phone call. He asked the hotel security to hang on with their metal scanners till he finished the call.
" After the security check, Vivek headed towards the coffee shop of the hotel. "Realising that Vivek was already inside, his personal security guard ran after his boss, without bothering to stop for the mandatory security check," added the witness.
The hotel's security personnel did not take too kindly to this incident. "Vivek's guard was carrying a gun.
The hotel security got into a heated argument with the guard over this. The matter was escalated to the head of security of the hotel.
The head met Vivek and informed him about the altercation that happened," said the witness. However, a friend close to the actor present at the event informed that Vivek was not aware of the incident.
"Vivek's guard was indeed involved in a verbal spat with the hotel security. But Vivek was inside the venue at the moment had no clue about what was going on," said the friend.
Vivek Oberoi remained unavailable for comment
(less)Rani Mukerji won't marry an actor
She took this job very seriously because she did not want to let her parents down. She also took it up because she wanted to pull her family out of one of the rockiest patches - financially and emotionally - ever.
Fifteen years hence and innumerable awards and accolades later, her life looks like a fairy tale or a Bollywood script that could not have been written any better. In an industry where the shelf life of an actress is getting shorter by the month - even as actors rule the roost for two decades or more - Rani has seen her fair share of ups and downs that have taught her valuable lessons.
In the last few years, she has faltered in terms of choice of films. But one thing that she hasn't forgotten is to do her job well, i.
e. to act.
She takes it up as seriously as she did during the mahurat shot of "Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat" as a 16-year-old. But today, there's more passion than ever, and a mastery of her craft that compels you to appreciate her skills as an actress, even if you aren't her die-hard fan.
After the success of "No One Killed Jessica" early last year, she is awaiting her next two releases this year - the Reema Kagti-directed thriller "Talaash", with Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap's quirky comedy "Aiyya" directed by National Award winning director Sachin Kundalkar. We ask the 'Queen of Bollywood' about the journey during which her job turned into her passion, the girl Rani morphed into the woman who rules hearts and, of course, a certain someone she "is dating".
What are you doing these days? I've just returned from Lonavala where I was shooting for "Aiyya". A few songs are left.
Has the industry changed since you joined films? Immensely. Today, the first look of the film is almost as important as the film itself.
I'm eagerly waiting for the promos of "Talaash", which are to hit the screens soon. It's going to be released in June.
The fact that I'm doing two films that are as different as they can be, in the same year, speaks volumes about how times have changed. It's a far bigger, more diverse than ever industry that's gone global in terms of its scope in every possible way.
Did you always want to become an actress? Arre, my joining films is a poori filmi kahaani. Though I technically come from a film family, my father had stopped making films even before my brother and I were born.
So I did not really grow up in a filmi environment. And when I was growing up, becoming an actress was still quite a taboo.
And you may not believe this but even my father did not want me to join films. Salim (Akhtar) uncle, who was very close to my family, came with the offer of "Aa Gale Lag Jaa" in 1994, but my father was aghast and turned it down.
In the meantime, I joined college (SNDT, Juhu) pursuing Home Science. Those days, the 'in thing' that most girls were going after as a career choice was jewelery and interior designing.
I did not have the money to pursue a `3 lakh course to make a career. And then Salim uncle came back again.
I think he must have been pretty desperate to launch a new actress. This time, he managed to convince my parents.
How did he manage that? (Laughs) When Salim uncle came to me and said he wanted me to act in his film, I started crying. I thought he was making a pass at me.
..
Why on earth..
.? Because I was daft.
And the fact that in those days, acting was still considered a taboo for the girls in my family. My mom's side was okay with it, as my aunt (Bengali actress Debashree Roy) is an actress.
In fact, she had kept it from me till then, but she was seriously harboring dreams of me becoming an actress. My father was still adamant about me not joining films.
But by that time my second cousins, Kajol and Sharbani, had entered films. And that sort of paved the way for me.
My mother and father still fought over it for quite a few days before he finally agreed to give me at least one shot at it - of course, with the strict clause that my mom will accompany me everywhere. And you? Did you know anything about acting by then? I wish I could show you the recording of my first screen test.
You will literally sprint away from the room thinking 'who is this horrible actress?' What was so bad? Those days, I used to be quite chubby. And Salim uncle, who had done "Baazi" with Mamta Kulkarni a few years ago, fished those shorter-than-short and tighter-than-tight clothes that looked completely hideous on me.
And to top that, I had to act! I was a shy kid with inhibitions galore. It was some courtroom scene and when someone gave me the sheet with dialogues, I was dumbfounded.
I saw all these famous dialogues from famous films which I had to say in front of the camera. My understanding of films was just as much as any young girl who watches Bollywood films.
I had no idea about the whole process of filmmaking, about dialogue writing, scripts, screenplay etc. I had probably gone to two or three film shoots in my childhood.
And even when on a shoot as a young girl, I would find actors just giving their shots and sitting in their vans getting bored in-between shots. So when the whole picture opened up in front of me about the reality of becoming an actress, I was petrified.
And my screen test was a disaster. I came back crying and said 'I would not be able to do this - anything but acting! Then? But Salim uncle came back and said I had a photogenic face and the camera captured me quite well, which is very important for any actor.
That was one glimmer of hope in my otherwise nightmarish experience. My mother sat me down that night and told me, 'Opportunity knocks at your door just once, take it up.
What's the worst that could happen? You'll fail at your effort? We are there after that. But at least you'd know you have tried, and won't regret leaving this golden opportunity'.
And though it was never told to me, but I knew my family was going through a financial crisis. And there was also tension in the family because of a lot of bickering between my father and his brothers.
I decided that I would work very hard (there was a month left for the shoot of "Raja Ki..
.") and give myself one good shot, even if it did not work out in the end.
I took it up as a job that just had to be done. What happened in that one month for you to give that spirited performance? My father took me to join Roshan Taneja's acting classes.
Mr Taneja had two courses, one was a year-long one and the other a three-month one. I had to learn all the acting I could in one month.
I told Mr Taneja I would come in the morning and evening for a month and be a dedicated student. On the very first day, my dad said to him, 'Please teach my daughter how to act'.
Mr Taneja said, 'Acting isn't a tablet. You can't pop it and become an actress.
It has to come from within you. It's either deep within you or it's not there'.
His statement stayed with me for a long time. It was my first lesson.
But in the classes, I did not know where to start. Thankfully, one good thing was the improvisation classes - where we all had to face the camera and say whatever came to our mind and enact a scene.
It sort of broke through my shy exterior. In any acting class, there are always a lot of faces looking at you from all corners and that's done on purpose so that the person drops all his/her inhibitions.
On the day of the mahurat, when I was called to give my first shot, I thought, 'yaar, I can't let my parents down. I just have to give it my best'.
And then, when I walked into the shot, I was this confident, fiery ball of energy, spouting dialogues like I had never imagined I would. I haven't looked back since that day.
And how did this job eventually become your passion? That happened later when I started getting fan mails. I was doing a lot of films.
But my fans kept on writing that they were not happy with me. So I wondered 'Arre, I am working 72 hours at a stretch, not eating right, not getting enough sleep, giving my best to each shot, so what was going wrong?' Then I realized that after "Ghulam" and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hain", my fans' expectations of me were higher than my own.
That's when I learnt my second lesson - that it's not just performing, I also had to know good scripts from the not-so-good ones. I started getting more involved in the whole process; understanding films beyond just acting.
During this whole process, acting became my passion. Coming back to the present, what went wrong in the last couple of years before "No One Killed Jessica" last year? You had some consecutive flops after a spate of hits, and suddenly you just vanished.
..
(Snaps her fingers and says with a smile) Don't worry, from this year, you'll see me in two films every year at least. Coming back to your question, I had seen failures before but when those three films ("Laaga Chunri Mein Daag", "Thoda Pyaar, Thoda Magic" and "Dil Bole Hadippa") failed in quick succession, it affected me in a way no flop had before.
My confidence was completely shattered. All my movies failed to make a mark with audiences and critics alike.
Maybe the critics thought 'we've praised her enough, now it's time for her to fall a bit hard, so she steps her game up' (smiles). I also think I was plain unlucky.
The audience has little memory of what you have done before or are capable of doing. What matters is today.
So three flops probably told them 'Rani has worked so well in the last few years, maybe it's time she took a back seat and settled down'. And are you settling down? (Smile that says read-my-expression-if-you-can) When I plan to settle down, I will announce it to the world.
Marriage is an occasion to celebrate. I'll celebrate it when it happens, letting everyone know about it.
What about the rumors of your relationship with Aditya Chopra? I have been linked with so many of my co-stars and this Aditya rumor has stayed with me for the longest time. This time, I'm going to give you the cliched answer no journalist wants to hear, 'No comments'.
Are you dating someone? Yes, I am dating, but that's as far as I'm willing to talk about my personal life. Your fans want to know about your personal life? They want to know if marriage is on the cards.
They will know when the time comes. Right now, I have two movies coming out and that's what I'm going to talk about.
Are you saying nothing is serious as far as your dating goes? In a relationship, there are two people involved. Since I'm a public figure, if I start answering questions, it'll open doors for more questions, speculations, gossips, and then it comes to a point where every day someone has something to say about your personal life.
It's unfair to the other person. I do not mind a bitchy comment about the way I dress or my films, but a comment on my private space isn't welcome.
Are you a romantic? I'm a born romantic. I romanticize everything in life.
My personal life is full of love and romance. God's given us one life.
You should romance it. It's not always nice and cool to be practical and logical.
What have your relationships/ heartbreaks taught you? I haven't been in a lot of relationships. Heartbreak definitely teaches you to be a better actor.
Don't they say, an artiste always performs better when he or she has experienced heartbreak? (Laughs) That was a joke. I don't give that much importance to men.
All my heartbreaks have been because of close friends, and not men. Seriously? (On a serious note) Heartbreak, anger, frustration - if you can overcome these emotions, you become a better person.
If you're a person of substance, you'll overcome your bad times. Who wants to be a loser? Will you marry an actor? No, two megalomaniacs can't exist in the same house.
We'll end up killing each other. What's the best thing about being in a relationship? (Enigmatic smile) That you can hide it.
And the best part of getting married is that you can announce it to the world. What about the fact that today the shelf life of actresses is low? Would you ever decide to do an item number or attend red carpet events as visibility is important these days? No.
Because for me, it's important to cement an impression of my work. Acting is what I do best.
It's not difficult to be in the public eye. Go anywhere and you'll find the media.
I am not trying to sound high and mighty here. If I was being launched today, I would do exactly what newcomers do these days.
But after 15 years in the course of which I have firmly established my credentials as an actress, I plan to only focus on acting. But if friends call me, I'll be there.
Like I went to Farah's (Khan) house-warming party recently. Aamir (Khan) and Kiran (Rao) had a son and going there was important for me because he is someone who is very dear to me.
As are Shah Rukh Khan and Karan (Johar). Have you spoken to Abhishek after he became a father? We aren't in touch on the phone, but whenever I come across him, I will definitely congratulate him.
It's great news. What did that low phase in your life teach you? When I was joining films, my dad had told me, 'Don't ever be disheartened with failure and don't be over-excited with success'.
This is an important lesson in any actor's life. But can you really separate your emotions as professional and personal in your mind? Hurt is hurt, disappointment is disappointment.
..
That's where your family and your strength as an individual come in. I am very close to my family.
And I have other interests, like baking. I started baking in one of my very low phases in life.
I find it therapeutic. So, would we see a Rani Mukerji patisserie soon? You could.
I'm serious about going to Paris or Chicago for a fulltime patisserie course. Any other venture in mind? A lot of actresses are starting their own fashion lines.
Or maybe even film production..
. No.
The only thing I will be producing next is babies. No other production happening with me.
Is there a lot of bitching/backbiting in the industry? There is, but that's true of any industry where over-competitive minds are always at work. But it is blown out of proportion in ours because it's the glamor industry.
Have you been at the receiving end of bitching? People say bitchy things about other people to feel good about themselves. Whatever I have got in life has been a huge blessing.
I've never gone after something that's not mine. Today, I am sitting at my office in Juhu, overlooking the sea.
I used to live in a shack before. I used to travel in rickshaws.
Today, I have a Mercedes. But if I start thinking, 'I have a bungalow, why not a building in Bandra tomorrow? Or now, I have a car, why not a yacht next?' my life will be difficult.
My mind doesn't work that way. The only ambition I have is to pick up interesting scripts and give a stellar performance that'll be etched in the audiences' and my fans' minds
(less)National Award winning director Vetrimaran's formula
"When the Hollywood films started speaking Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Hindi the local industry started suffering. Films like Harry Potter have a huge audience among children," he said.
He said it was his track record in creating hits that convinced the producer and actors of Aadukalam to go ahead. "They relied on the commercial success of my previous film," he said.
He said his film Aadukalam is inspired by Amores Perros , a Latin American film directed by Alejandro Gonzlez Inarritu which revolves around dog fighting. "If they can make a film dealing with dog fight why can't we make one on rooster fight which is a common practice all over the world?" he asked.
He also added that he didn't want to make a casteist statement through his film though Aadukalam touches upon the topic of casteism. Vetrimaran says any ethnic theme at some point becomes universal.
"The theme of professional jealousy in my film has a universal appeal. Audience all across the globe can relate to it," said Maran who added that his next film Vadachennai will be set against the backdrop of North Chennai's underworld.
He clarified that his first film Polladhavan is not inspired by the celebrated Bicycle Thieves , but ased on a real-life incident. He added that films are not a propaganda medium and with each film he is trying to reduce the element of violence in it.
"While writing a script we cleanse ourselves and the glorification of violence has been considerably reduced in my second film," he said. He added that reading books and watching good films should be the priority for aspiring filmmakers.
"Literature is a medium through which one can learn a lot, and they can be easily adapted into films too," he added. Tweet
(less)SRK Loves Kochi. Really?
But, guess the excitement got squashed when the star left the premises unheeding the major concern of the Kochiites Mullaperiyar Dam. A group of youngsters, who stood near the entrance of the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium holding placards and hoardings on the Mullaperiyar Dam issue, flashed it prominently to SRK, who was exiting the stadium waving and throwing flying kisses to his fans.
"He read the placard, but did not care to stop and ask or speak to us on this," said one among the group. Shah Rukh's promotional voice clip which had him saying "I Love Kochi" was constantly played during the event.
But the irony is, a person who publically declared his love for the state and was pleased by the love of the people, did not care to bring light to the matter that are giving them sleepless nights." Bollywood and some Mollywood stars have not raised their comment on the issue, probably fearing the hostility they would invite from Kollywood.
The issue, which was a social concern initially, picked up its political pace weeks after the issue surfaced Kerala. Would these 35 lakh movie fans survive to watch the stars rocking the silver screen?
(less)Not cashing on success of south remakes in B/wd: Gautham Menon
But it does not mean that if south film remakes are doing well so I am here or it is the right time for me to make a film in Hindi. I have already made Ek Deewana Tha in Tamil and Telugu and it did well.
I was always looking to do this film in Hindi..
.I thought it would be universally appealing," Gautham told PTI in an interview.
"It took us some time to come up with the Hindi version as we had pre-production work - planning dialogues to getting dates of Prateik. Since February 2010, we wanted to do this film much before the hindi version of Bodyguard, Ready and Singham came out and became hits," he said.
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