Konkona plays the wife of Odisha's freedom fighter Gaur Hari Das, who fought for four years to free the country from the British rule and had to struggle for over 30 years in free India to prove that he'd done so to get a freedom fighter's certificate! Says Ananth, "When I had first read about Gaur Hari Das in The Times of India, I had found his story very interesting. The man is a metaphor for the times we live in.

He did his bit for the freedom movement and this is what the country did for him. The very people for whom he fought didn't acknowledge his contribution.

That's the irony of the situation. I understand that it's uncannily timely to make a film on such a subject in India now.

" While Vinay Pathak is playing the role of Gaur Hari, Konkona is playing his wife Lakshmi Das. "Vinay does not have an image as such though he has been more associated with the comic roles that he has been doing in the recent past.

However, I have always seen him as a thinking actor and as someone who can delve under the skin of a character. I believe in breaking images and that's what I did with Sunil Shetty when I cast him in "Red Alert".

The most challenging part is that on-screen, Vinay's character will see a growth from the age of 35 to 70 without using too much of make-up," the director says. As for Konkona, she was an obvious choice.

Curiously enough, Konkona is supposed to have striking similarities in terms of looks with Lakshmi. "Konkona has met with her.

Though she is more of a silent observer, Laksmi is strong person in her own way and provides the balance between Das and his son. The son had initially been disilluioned by his father.

Konkona's character is the balancing factor between two different schools of thought of the father and the son. His son had shifted to the US and obviously had a different approach to life.

Konkona has the maturity to play such a character. I was overwhelmed by her performance in "Dosar" and the wide range of emotions she has portrayed in the film.

The kind of film I am trying to make is subtle. I am not trying to preach," he adds.

"She is more mature and complete now. The domestic changes in her life has perhaps made her see life differently.

We had some workshops before we began shooting. On Sunday, she took to acting as if she had left it the day before.

It didn't take her any time to get back to the groove. The white streaks in her hair makes her resemble Lakshmi Das so much.

On-screen, Koko has aged gracefully," the director insists. Meanwhile, Konkona's husband, Ranvir Shorey, is also a part of the cast.

But he has nothing to do with Konkona's character. The director has merged two characters to create Ranvir's role.

In the film, he plays a newspaper reporter. Tannishtha Chatterjee is playing another reporter who also unearths Gaur Hari's case.

Though Odisha is an important part of the movie, the film will not be shot in the State. "We have found locations closer to Mumbai that resemble the old Odisha.

This story is very important because Odisha needs to feel proud of the son of its soil. Gaur Hari's tale started off from Balasore.

He had spent 180 days in a jail in Balasore. In the film, we will go back in the flashback mode and recreate the Balasore jail.

For me, it's important to show what the common man in the form of Gaur Hari was doing when India got independence. We will also be showing the countryside of Odisha in the film though we will not be shooting there.

" Gaur Hari himself has been very involved with the project. "He is touching 80.

He has been with us since the beginning and has shared a wealth of information, including the files and correspondences that he had with the government. That's enough for me to make five hours of cinema.

It is a difficult task for me to pick and choose what I want to make this movie," he signs off. Was it difficult for Konkona to face the camera after her comeback? "She is more mature and complete now.

The domestic changes in her life has perhaps made her see life differently. We had some workshops before we began shooting.

On Sunday, she took to acting as if she had left it the day before. It didn't take her any time to get back to the groove.

The white streaks in her hair makes her resemble Lakshmi Das so much. On-screen, Koko has aged gracefully," the director insists (less)

An enraged Rohit was all ready to step out and give the driver a piece of his mind when the driver defused the situation by saying, "I know you! You are the " Singham " director . I loved your film.

" Rohit dismissed the incident as a small one. "It was a small dent on the door.

I was upset, but he said sorry even though it wasn't his fault and he was driving slowly. We resolved the matter then and there.

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Anushka has acted in many Telugu and Tamil films. She debuted in the 2005 in the Telugu film Super.

Our source from the south insists that it was Ajay who suggested Anushka's name for the film. As reported by TOI, the director was keen to cast either Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone or Anushka Sharma.

Looks like the leading man got his way! It's apt to have a south girl in this one because even for the original Sridevi was also imported from there (less)

After planning nine projects in the year and then taking on the challenge of judging the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa, the filmmaker is now ready to unite with another hitmaker of B'town. Mirror has learnt that KJo's Dharma Productions has joined hands with Rohit 'Golmaal' Shetty for a film that goes on floors next year.

Karan Johar confirmed the news and said, "Dharma Productions and Rohit Shetty will come together. All of us in the company are really excited about this association.

Rohit is an extremely talented mainstream filmmaker and I am sure, together we will make a very special film." When contacted, Rohit Shetty too confirmed the news.

He added, "I have immense respect for Karan's father. He is an excellent director himself and a director's producer.

We have met and finalised that we would be doing a film soon. We will decide the set up and other details very soon.

I am sure it will be a great experience." Needless to say, Rohit, after a string of hits including the successful Golmaal series and Ajay Devgn starrer Singham, has become one of the most sought after directors in the Hindi cinema industry.

"Rohit is commanding a price and respect like few others in the industry today. His success has not gone unnoticed.

And now, he has been signed by Karan Johar to make a film," said a source. The source revealed that Karan and Rohit have been in touch for a while now.

"Rohit was busy with the shoot of his film Bol Bachchan. Karan too was busy with his directorial Student Of The Year.

However, on Sunday night, after Karan returned from his outdoor schedule in Bangkok , they signed the deal," added the source. The casting of the film is yet to be finalised.

"Dharma Productions will be producing he film and Rohit will be directing it, since he had always been clear about not wanting to get into production as of now," the source told us (less)

And the ladies in the firing line are Kareena Kapoor , Deepika Padukone and Asin Thottumkal . Culprit No 1 Kareena Kapoor Initially we heard that Kareena had signed the film.

But the latest buzz is that she is no longer doing Chennai Express as her dates are clashing with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next opposite Ranveer Singh. Rohit clarifies, "Though I have often mentioned that Kareena is my favourite actress and that I would love to have her in the film, the fact is that we haven't approached her nor have we finalised any other actress.

We will finalise that by April. In fact, I haven't met Kareena for nearly five months now.

" Culprit No 2 Asin Thottumkal In a recent interview, Asin claimed that she had signed Rohit's film. Once again the director clarifies, "I am currently shooting for Bol Bachchan in Panchgani, and my sister sends me all the story clippings of the actresses we have presumably signed.

Every day, I hear a new name. Even Shah Rukh is as confused as I am!" Culprit No 3 Deepika Padukone The newest buzz is that Deepika is working out her dates to sign on Chennai Express with SRK.

Rohit clarifies, "I got a call from someone a while ago asking if I had signed Deepika. I want to tell people to please stop this circus! I have a film to complete right now, so I want to focus on that.

Till I return from Panchgani, I won't approach anyone. I don't know where these rumours are coming from.

In all probability, none of these actresses will be signed for the role. But yes, this is a performance-oriented role and we need a beautiful face, so we will definitely sign an established name.

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They first met over a year ago, when Harman was in talks to star in Shilpa`s home production. They`ve been meeting a lot more lately, at the matches of the team owned by the Kundras.

Since the relationship is still new, neither wants to come out and talk about it openly.” Recently, when Harman recently sprained his ankle while doing some stunts in his new film, Shamita nursed him back to health.

The couples simply state that they are good friends. Harman was last in a relationship with Priyanka Chopra and Shamita was linked to designer Rocky S.

Posted in (less)

Raveena Tandon, Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora, Sanjay Dutt’s wife Maanayata came to shower their blessings. Shilpa Shetty, who is in her ninth month of pregnancy, is expecting her first child with husband Raj Kundra this month.

Family members, including Shilpa’s mother Sunanda and sister, and hubby Raj were present at the ceremony. Others who attended the ceremony included Neha Dhupia, Sameera Reddy, Arpita Khan, Farah Khan with her kids.

Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Arora in a blue Oasis playsuit paired with a Chanel chain bag and Lanvin lucite sandals Manyata Dutt Farah Khan with kids Sameera Reddy in a yellow Nikasha suit featuring an ombr sleeve Neha Dhupia in a Marni dress for H&M Posted in (less)

He said, "His Maharana of Mewar Foundation's chosen me for their annual award for National Integration." Incidentally, the past awardees of the Maharana of Mewar Foundation award for National Integration include names as the Dalai Lama , Shashi Tharoor , Shabana Azmi , Javed Akhtar.

Rahul added, "Other awardees of the (MMFC) award for National Integration have been Teesta Setalvad , Sunil Dutt . Privileged to be in this company.

" The actor is also thankful to Suchismita Bose and Divya Mansukhani for being the "best directors an NGO dedicated to the removal of discrimination can hope for". He continues, "Directors Suchismita Bose and Divya Mansukhani will accompany me to Udaipur for the 26feb ceremony.

It's theirs. It's ours.

" Now that sure calls for celebration, whay say? (less)

"I haven't been approached for 'Chennai Express'. Having said that, I've watched all his (Shetty's) films.

He's a fabulous filmmaker and I would love to work with him someday," Deepika, last seen in " Desi Boyz ", said in a statement (less)