When Shah Rukh lost his cool !!!
by Amit Roy





It is indeed tough time for Yash Raj Films. We hear that after strings of flops Yash Raj's upcoming films Chak De India and Lagaa Chunari Mein Daag are also undergoing some problems.

"Shimit has tendency to shoot the same scene over and over again, even when everyone present there could see that a take was fine, really got on SRK's nerves," says a source on the sets.Another major difference arose during the post production of the film when director Shimit approved the earlier promos of Chak De India which was screened with Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.

Chak De’s other problem is the Women’s Hockey Association who have been demanding a screening of the film prior to its release.

President of the Women’s Hockey Association of India, Vidya Stoke says, “We want to see the movie before its release. Yash Chopra sought help from us and we were more than happy to help them thinking that it would create awareness about the sport in the country. They took a lot of inputs from us.”

The film is based on a girl’s hockey team and Vidya claims, “we need to have an idea about how they have portrayed women’s hockey in the film. If they are portraying us in a bad light, we are going to take serious action against them.”

Buzz doing the rounds is that Shah Rukh Khan was very impressed with Sivaji: The Boss director Shankar after he saw the Rajnikant starrer.

And apparently Shankar has approached SRK for his next venture, supposedly, a sci-fi flick.

The same project for which he had considered Hrithik Roshan.

A source close to the director says, “Shankar wanted Hrithik but it seems that he won’t be able to do the film because he has already committed to his father Rakesh Roshan for Krrish 2.

Now, Shankar has approached SRK and he has agreed.” It is also learnt that SRK will be producing the film for Shankar with the post-production in the USA. “Since Krrish, Shah Rukh has been keen on making a sci-fi film.

He agreed to do Ram Gopal Varma’s Time Machine, but Ramu shelved the project because he wanted to remake Sholay with Amitabh,” adds the source. SRK and sci-fi — now that’s some combo!

Bollywood continues to ape Hollywood
23rd July 2007 23.46 IST
By N. K. Deoshi

It is something one would acknowledge with embarrassment rather than pride. The fact is that movies in Bollywood still continue to remain poor copies of Hollywood flicks.

This truth was never obscure. For decades Hollywood has “inspired” Hindi film industry in such a way that some filmmakers simply resort to copy-and-paste formula rather than putting their own creative faculties to some productive use. But for how long can such shameless pilfering continue?




Just a mere comparison of some of the recent Bollywood releases with certain Hollywood flicks will show how “creative” and “talented” filmmakers in Hindi film industry are.

Last week’s release Partner , for instance, is almost scene-by-scene copy of Hollywood director Andy Tennant’s 2005 romantic comedy ‘Hitch’, starring Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James and Amber Valletta. Similarities between the two movies will shock you. Even the camera angles in scenes showing Katrina Kaif’s conference room or the climax scene on a boat are ditto the same as in ‘Hitch’.

And if we take last-to-last week’s release Naqaab , we find the film to be a copy of Hollywood flick ‘Dot The I’, which was made in 2003. The scenes and situations in ‘Naqaab’ are unabashedly lifted from the Hollywood thriller.

Anyway, Abbas-Mastan , whom many in Mumbai would choose to call “masters of thriller genre”, have a history of lifting films and ideas from flicks across the Atlantic.

Their Baazigar (which set off Shah Rukh Khan’s career) was a rehash of ‘A Kiss Before Dying’. Aitraaz was a copy of ‘Disclosure’, and Ajnabee a copy of ‘Consenting Adults’.

Among films by other directors in last few months, there were movies like The Train and Raqeeb which were ripped off from Hollywood's ‘Derailed’ and ‘Murder by Natural Causes’, respectively.

But the most shocking thing this year was to see a reputed production house like Yashraj Films back a movie that had very little original material in it. In case you are wondering, I am talking about Tara Rum Pum .

Its director Siddharth Anand tried to play cleverly. Instead of lifting one film start-to-finish, he borrowed from a number of flicks. So while many portions of ‘Tara Rum Pum’ resembled the Tom Cruise starrer ‘Days Of Thunder’, there were scenes and situations in the second half that were shamelessly copied from Italian film ‘Life Is Beautiful’.

While the list of Hollywood copies in Bollywood may go on and on, the point to note is that there is a fine line between “being inspired” and copying.

When Ram Gopal Varma gave his own Indianized interpretation to Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Godfather’ as Sarkar , it was a clear case of being inspired. Another case of being inspired is Vishal Bharadwaj adapting Shakespeare’s works to Indian milieu in his films like Maqbool and Omkara .

The bottom line is: filmmakers in our industry ought to have a little bit of self-respect and conscience to apply their own creative imagination rather than to copy things from Hollywood. Unless that happens our Hindi film industry will be called by the same embarrassing name – Bollywood.

It was a dream he just had to achieve, and he was willing to do whatever it took.

At the age of 16, when most of us worry about college admissions, Himesh Reshammiya was producing his first television serial.

This was the first step in the final direction he wanted to take -- of becoming a successful music composer.

The second step in that direction came when he was 25, and he approached the man he credits his success to (after, of course, God and his parents) -- Salman Khan.

The first film Himesh scored music for was the Salman starrer, Bandhan. The second, and it was this film that got the industry to sit up and take notice, was the Salman-Kajol hit, Pyar Kiya Tho Darna Kya.

Himesh was on a roll and, despite constant criticism from reviewers, the composer churned out hit after foot-tapping hit. To his fans, he could do no wrong.

Then, Himesh sang. His voice, since he debuted with Aashiq banaya aapne [Images], has been much mocked as being too nasal. Yet, the masses were with him. Himesh's voice too was a huge hit.

On June 29, he released his first film as actor. Aap Ka Suroor gave the film industry a much needed hit; Himesh carpers were, once again, forced to eat their collective hats.

It might look like the man has charmed Lady Luck, but Himesh says you cannot downplay hard work.

Here, in his own words, are Himesh's suggestions on what has worked for him as a singer and music composer:

* First and foremost, every newcomer should believe in God. He should also have the blessings of his parents.

* Next, I feel your voice must come from your heart. This is important because, if you are an artiste, you have to be creative. You should not think of business while performing your art. This advice holds true for every artiste, irrespective of what he is doing. He could even be a struggling singer.

* You should be workaholic. Your mind and soul must be completely involved in your work all the time. This is how you will achieve success.

* Luck also plays an important part in your life; if God is on your side, you can strike gold.

* You can never ignore your riyaaz; you have to do it all the time. If you get a chance to be on shows like Zee Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, grab the opportunity. This will at least give you the chance to be heard on a larger platform.

* Don't imitate any of the established singers as you will never be able achieve their singing style.

You must develop your own style. You must have an element in your voice that will make it sound different from the existing singers.

You cannot imitate a top singer and oust him from his post; he is at the top because of his own unique style.

I think it was my destiny to achieve my own style and become successful.

* A word of caution when you get your first success. You must never get carried away by your success; many people tend to do so after they achieve success in the initial stages of their life. Your feet must be on the ground all the time. You should never give up your riyaaz (practice) even if you are climbing ladder of success or have become successful.

* If you are a music director, keep your bank of music ready. After Aashiq Banaya Aapne, I kept a bank of music ready and never took my success for granted.

I always feel like I am a newcomer in the industry and work hard to make it big. I never take the audiences and my fans for granted.

I know that I can never rest on my past laurels. I have to deliver better results all the time. I work harder to make it every time I sit to compose a new song.

* Never take your critics lightly. You must always try to win them over by your hard work. Don't brush them off.

Some critics have said I don't do good work. Then I composed the music for Benares and the critics loved it. Unfortunately, the public did not.

Despite this, I would say you need to take criticism the right way. Try to win over the people who don't like your music or voice by trying harder and doing better.

Source: Rediff

Sholay to be called Aag, Gabbar is now Babban

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma’s much hyped remake of Sholay was re-titled as Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag. Delhi High court has approved the release of the remake of Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay by changing the title of the film. Delhi High Court has approved his films new name and also ordered him to change all character names. The most popular character of the film Gabbar Singh will be called Babban Singh, Basanti has been renamed as Ghungroo, Veeru as Virendra Chavan, Radha as Devi and Jai and Jai Ranade. While the other characters from the original film like Soorma Bhopali and Sambha have been changed to Rambhabhai and Tambhe. Producer G. P. Sippy’s grandson Sascha Sippy and Shan Uttam Singh had filed a lawsuit to permanently restrain Varma from releasing the film. The court has asked them to push their remaining claims in this matter after watching the film.

Praveen Bharadwaj refuses to do lyrics for Mahesh Bhatt

Lyricist Praveen Bharadwaj who has given lyrics to more than 100 films and 25 music albums has refused to do films with Mahesh Bhatt with whom he had worked on many films at one point of time in his career. One wonders why the fallout between the two despite Bhardwaj wrote hit songs for Mahesh Bhatt’s films like Gunaah, Saaya and Inteha. Praveen laments, “I charge a certain amount for my services. It may look too high to some people, but those are my charges. After the recording of Saaya, Mahesh Bhatt paid me an amount that cannot be mentioned. I just refused the payment. Post that I wrote lyrics for only one song each for his next two films. And both these songs ‘Dil Chura Liya’ from Saaya and ‘Ab Humse Akela Raha Jaye Na’ from Inteha were hits. Incidentally Praveen claims he charges only second to Javed Akhtar.

BIG Music to release 'Dhamaal', 'Go' music

BIG Music has acquired the music rights of DHAMAAL. Directed by Indra Kumar with music by Adnan Sami, the film stars Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Javed Jaffrey, Ritesh Deshmukh and Ashish Chowdhry. The music will be released on 10th August.

BIG Music has also acquired the music rights of Ramgopal Varma’s GO. Starring Gautam Gupta and Nisha Kothari and directed by Manish Srivastav, it has music by Sneha Khanwalker. Its music will also be released on 10th August.

Meanwhile, BIG Music has released of music of 'Cash' and 'Marigold' in Pakistan. The music cassettes and CDs of both the films are already available in the local markets there.

List of 2007 Movie Releases
(courtesy: Hamaraphotos)

http://www.hamaraphotos.com/bollywood/2007-movie-releases

It's a baby boy for Sonu Nigam

Singer Sonu Nigam has become a proud father. His wife Madhurima delivered a baby boy on Thursday, July 26. Both, the mother and the baby are in good health. Sonu has taken a short break from work to spend quality time with his wife and baby. He informs that he is enjoying his new found father status with his family in USA. Sonu has named the baby boy as Nevaan (which means holy).

Sonu plans to return India in September.

Kaafila becomes 1st film to get simultaneous Indo-Pak release

Kaafila’ becomes the first film in the history of Indian cinema to get a simultaneous Indo-Pak release. With a high court ruling in Pakistan enabling full clearance for the film, more than 20 trailors are on air in the theatres in Pakistan from July 27. With the buzz and expectations rising for ‘Kaafila’, there is further demand for the trailors in Pakistan as well. The film is slated for an August 10 release all over the world.

Says Amtoje Maan, "We are very happy that ‘Kaafila’, which is based on human trafficking that is of global concern today, is being screened in India, Pakistan and the world over at the same time. We are looking at the film forging relationships between our countries further."

‘Kaafila’ is written-directed by Amtoje Maan who also stars in the film besides Sunny Deol as the main protagonist, Sana Nawaz, Mona Lisa and Polina Stoynova among others.

kiran kher said on AVS saturday that it was funny that Sunny Deol is her son in Apne while both have the same age

Thieves broke into the ancestral home of Sanjay Dutt in Mandoli village of Yamunanagar, early on Saturday morning. His uncle Som Dutt and his wife were not home, as they had left for Bombay about two weeks back, in connection with the TADA court's verdict on the actor.

As per sources, the thieves decamped with cash, jewellery and other articles valued between Rs 6 - 7 lakhs. The Dutts own farm land in the village. Deewan Suraj Dutt, a cousin of late Sunil Dutt, said Som Dutt has been informed about the theft.

For those who don't know, Sanjay Dutt's father, late Sunil Dutt, along with his mother Kulwanti Devi, sister Rani and brother Som Dutt, has settled in Mandoli village of Yamunanagar in Haryana, after partition.

No LoC at Wagah this August 15!
4 Aug 2007, 0000 hrs IST,Nicole Dastur,TNN

India and Pakistan unite for concert at Attari-Wagah border.

War is not the only thing that takes place at the India-Pakistan Attari-Wagah border. This August 15 (which marks the 60th year of independence for both India and Pakistan), instead of gunshots and bomb blasts, you will see, rather hear, the sweet sound of music at the border.

For the first time in 60 years, both the nations will celebrate their independence days together, through the universal language of music.
This cross-border musical extravaganza will have musicians from both the countries — A R Rahman, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam and Shafqat Amanat Ali — performing from 11 pm on August 14 to 1 am on August 15, on twin stages on either side of the border.

Live performances will alternate from one stage to the other, visible to the entire live audience, no matter which side of the border they are seated. More so, the concert will also be telecast live across the two nations, thereby enabling India and Pakistan to be able to witness it together.

Elaborating on this one-of-a-kind unison, Rakesh Gupta, Secretary of the NGO Routes 2 Roots that has put this show together, says that the aim of the concert is to help bring harmony between warring countries. “Friendship and harmony can only come from people to people contact.

Different cultures should come together to celebrate their differences, therein finding their similarities,” says Rakesh, continuing, “For the first time in three generations, Indians and Pakistanis will unite to commemorate their shared struggle and ultimate achievement: the birth of two free nations.” Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who strongly believes in the power of music, adds, “Music transcends all boundaries and this concert truly has that, with people of both the countries attending the event. For years, artists have travelled to the other side to perform, but now, artists from both the countries will perform together. It’s a great honour to be part of such a historical event and to use our talent for a noble cause that tries to bring together two long lost friends.”

And that’s not all. Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla and former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akam and Pakistani designer Shaiyanne Malik will also be present there, to host the event. “It will be a historic occasion of unparalled magnitude.

For the first time ever, people of both the countries will come together to celebrate their independence. India and Pakistan are like siblings and through this concert we can show the world that people of both the countries truly love each other, irrespective of any other perception. By coming together, we can be an example of peace and harmony to the world,” says Shah Rukh Khan of this mega musical event.

In this day and age of war and terror, this musical endeavour to promote global peace and harmony and build heart-to-heart connections amongst India and Pakistan, is something that will make this Independence day that much more special.

Salman poaching case papers missing
By: PTI
August 8, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahmedabad: There has been no headway in a case of poaching registered in Kutch against actor Salman Khan, already convicted in two similar cases in Rajasthan, due to the mysterious disappearance of some important papers.

Gujarat's forest department initially probed the case and then sought its closure for want of evidence. The state government then asked the CID to re-investigate the case involving Salman, who was accused of having killed two chinkaras during the shooting of "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" in Kutch in 1998, official sources said.

The CID has repeatedly asked the forest department to provide it with documents related to the case but the latter's reply that the papers were missing has confounded sleuths and virtually grounded the probe, the sources said.

"The statements of witnesses and other documents related to the inquiry conducted by forest officials are missing from our records. We have not been able to find them," R Meena, Conservator of Forests (Kutch Circle), told PTI.

"The state government and the CID have been told about the disappearance of the papers related to the chinkara hunting case involving Salman and the initiation of a departmental inquiry against those concerned," he said.

Salman has appealed against his conviction in two poaching cases in Rajasthan and a court in Jodhpur will give its decision on one of these appeals on August 24.

India and Pakistan unite for concert at Attari-Wagah border.

War is not the only thing that takes place at the India-Pakistan Attari-Wagah border. This August 15 (which marks the 60th year of independence for both India and Pakistan), instead of gunshots and bomb blasts, you will see, rather hear, the sweet sound of music at the border.

For the first time in 60 years, both the nations will celebrate their independence days together, through the universal language of music.
This cross-border musical extravaganza will have musicians from both the countries — A R Rahman, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam and Shafqat Amanat Ali — performing from 11 pm on August 14 to 1 am on August 15, on twin stages on either side of the border.

Live performances will alternate from one stage to the other, visible to the entire live audience, no matter which side of the border they are seated. More so, the concert will also be telecast live across the two nations, thereby enabling India and Pakistan to be able to witness it together.

Elaborating on this one-of-a-kind unison, Rakesh Gupta, Secretary of the NGO Routes 2 Roots that has put this show together, says that the aim of the concert is to help bring harmony between warring countries. “Friendship and harmony can only come from people to people contact.

Different cultures should come together to celebrate their differences, therein finding their similarities,” says Rakesh, continuing, “For the first time in three generations, Indians and Pakistanis will unite to commemorate their shared struggle and ultimate achievement: the birth of two free nations.” Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who strongly believes in the power of music, adds, “Music transcends all boundaries and this concert truly has that, with people of both the countries attending the event. For years, artists have travelled to the other side to perform, but now, artists from both the countries will perform together. It’s a great honour to be part of such a historical event and to use our talent for a noble cause that tries to bring together two long lost friends.”

And that’s not all. Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla and former Pakistani cricketer Wasim Akam and Pakistani designer Shaiyanne Malik will also be present there, to host the event. “It will be a historic occasion of unparalled magnitude.

For the first time ever, people of both the countries will come together to celebrate their independence. India and Pakistan are like siblings and through this concert we can show the world that people of both the countries truly love each other, irrespective of any other perception. By coming together, we can be an example of peace and harmony to the world,” says Shah Rukh Khan of this mega musical event.

In this day and age of war and terror, this musical endeavour to promote global peace and harmony and build heart-to-heart connections amongst India and Pakistan, is something that will make this Independence day that much more special.

Guess who are the newest bum-chums in the industry? A source reveals that Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar have been bonding big time in the last few weeks.

They renewed old ties while shooting a special song for Heyy Babyy, in which SRK plays a cameo.

Apparently, they discussed everything from kids, family, holidays and movies. The camaraderie even extended to Akki doing a cameo in Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om!

a best friend of mine told me..........that the movie " Woh Lamhe" is Parveen Boby and Mahesh Batt's real life love story...........i felt bad for Parveen then , she suffered so much



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Rani and Aditya are having an affair/ engagement accordin to smashhits.com



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During shooting of Laga Chunri Main Daagh, Ash came on the set .......sources say, she's spying on Abhi whether he's too close to Rani or not

Preity Zinta in 'Heaven on Earth'
11th Sept 2007 20.31 IST
By Aparajita Ghosh

Actress Preity Zinta will play the leading role in Toronto-based filmmaker Deepa Mehta’s next movie.

The film, titled Heaven On Earth , will narrate the tale of a young battered housewife stuck up in an abusive marriage.




The movie is inspired from the true tale of a Punjabi woman named Amandeep, whose disturbing story Mehta covered in her documentary ‘Let’s Talk About It’. Made last year, the documentary was about Indian women who were victims of domestic violence and abuse in Canada.

However, the protagonist in ‘Heaven On Earth’ is not called Amandeep. She is named Chand. Preity Zinta plays this role.

The film will not just show the domestic violence that Chand goes through. It will also explore the fantasies of a battered woman.

Actress Seema Biswas has also been signed to play an important role in the movie.

‘Heaven On Earth’ will be produced by David Hamilton who also produced Water . The film will be in English.

Deepa Mehta will shoot the film in India and Canada from November 5, 2007, onward.

A fair game after SRK's 'Chak De'
Riddhi Doshi
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 03:23 IST

“Yeh chakki-belan chalane wali Bharatiya nari hai. Yeh kabhi knicker wicker pahan ke hockey ke maidan par utar sakti hai kya?”

The ‘sports administrator’, who spoke these infamous words on screen, had to eat his words in the end when the ‘Chak De’ girls came home triumphant with the hockey world cup. The movie, it seems, didn’t just end up with the usual feel good factor and a tax-free tag.

The SRK reel effect in ‘Chak De’ seems to have rubbed off on the real as more and more girls seem to be taking up active sports.

Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Chak De India’ has got the goody girls hooked on to sports. “It’s a revolution,” says Anjali Shah of Premier Indian Football Academy (PIFA), adding, “The number of inquiries and enrolment of girls in the game has gone up by 50 per cent this year.

In fact for the very first time, women above 20 years also want to learn the game and play for the country.” PIFA is all set to form a woman’s football team after four women insisted on learning the game and forming a woman’s team.

PIFAis on the lookout for 15 women to complete their women’s football team. And as far as hockey is concerned, the sport has suddenly received a huge momentum.

Ignatius D’Souza, sub coach of the Bombay Hockey Women’s Association informs that four Mumbai schools namely St Paul Convent High School at Dadar, Pawar Public School in Bhandup, Canossa Convent in Andheri and St Teresa’s Convent in Santacruz have introduced hockey in their sports curriculum.

Even colleges are fast catching up with the game. Nisha Nair, the girl who plays Soi Moi in ‘Chak De India’ is an ace hockey player in real life as well.

She along with Ranjan Negi, the one who taught Chak De girls to play hockey, encouraged the Poddar College girls to form their own team. Nisha says, “I felt great when Poddar College actually formed a girls’ hockey team. Things are changing. Everybody around me seem to have suddenly grown fond of sports. It feels great.”

After being noticed for her glamorous role as Kamini in Farhan Akhtar’s ‘Don’, followed by the item number ‘It’s rocking’ (‘Kya Love Story Hai’), Kareena Kapoor has refrained from using much greasepaint in Imtiaz Ali’s ‘Jab We Met’.

Imtiaz reasons, “The film is a travel story. It covers the journey of two strangers played by Shahid Kapur and Kareena. Have you ever seen people wearing heavy makeup whilst travelling? In fact, people don’t like applying any makeup, due to the hassles involved in travel. Hence, Kareena is sporting a non-glam look for most part of the film.”

What if her fans miss the glam quotient? “Kareena is one of the few heroines who looks good without makeup. I’ve got a good feedback from the promos, which is a positive sign,” answers Imtiaz adding, “Yes, there are few scenes in the film that require a hint of makeup. But neither the film nor its characters have a dolled-up treatment. ‘Jab We Met’ required a natural texture regarding the actors as well as the locations.”

Imtiaz, who has also written the film’s dialogues, script and the screenplay, says, “Even for Shahid, it is a makeover—from a boy, he graduates to a man in this film. Even off-screen he is level-headed and mature. I wanted to bring this side of his personality on screen.”

Imtiaz further reveals, “Kareena and Shahid were excited about the fact that they were getting to do something different and were willing to experiment.”

On being questioned if he was disappointed about the alleged Shahid-Kareena split getting the film into limelight for the wrong reasons, Imtiaz says, “On a personal note I am not pleased to hear this since they both are my friends. But I don’t think that such stories affect a film’s box office running in a positive or negative manner.”

It has been a week since Hrithik Roshan suffered a knee injury while enacting some battle sequences for his upcoming film Jodhaa Akbar.

While some sections of media reported that Hrithik has been advised bed rest for three months, his father refutes the claim. Says Rakesh Roshan, "Hrithik is fine and he is moving along with his day to day routines without any trouble."

Even though Hrithik has been shooting for Jodhaa Akbarfor almost a year now and braved the injury, it is now official that he is "Healthy and Whole".

In fact, his international spokesperson Asal Masomi, who is working with him to plan his crossover campaign in Hollywood, can't help but be amazed by his willpower, dedication and commitment to his art, craft and skill. She says, "Hrithik is an intriguing person. From the moment he wakes up he devotes himself to the perfection of whatever he pursues. I have never seen such discipline."

Ever since his injury, he has been taking care of his knee on a daily basis and nothing is troubling him now. Hrithik has healed from his injury and nothing is holding him back from moving forward.

Making his presence felt in the West with flattering adjectives like "The God of Dance" and "The moving work of art of Bollywood" bestowed upon him, Hrithik Roshan is being hailed as a master at many things. What is being noticed and appreciated most are his body movements that befit that of a super hero with his dancing skills coming for a special mention.

Informs Masomi further, "The actor is currently dubbing for the epic film Jodhaa Akbar. In fact, talking about being productive, today he has been much more than ever with more responsibilities, family commitments, new projects and new ideas. The man is full of new energy and ready for what's coming next."

This is not the first instance when hints have been dropped about his Hollywood foray. With whispers making rounds about him being already invited by some of the top Hollywood film makers, it was very recently quoted that "Hrithik will never get cast where Cruise should or in a role that belongs to Pitt. Hrithik Roshan will star in a vehicle that is designed and produced only for him. Hrithik Roshan will star in a Hrithik Roshan film."

His act as a smooth talking thief in Dhoom 2 and a superhero who glides over water in Krrish, both 2006 blockbusters, were noticed not just in India but even overseas that has made him a darling in the West. Meanwhile closer home, his Jodhaa Akbar has now officially been pushed to January 2008. An Ashutosh Gowarikar film, Jodhaa Akbar is based on a romance between the 16th century Mughal emperor Akbar, played by Roshan, and a Hindu princess, Jodhaa Bai, played by Aishwarya Rai.

Kareena & Shahid: Beginning of the end


You know how there have been rumours that Shahid and Kareena Kapoor [Images] are about to split, have split and even that the whole thing is a ploy to garner publicity for their new film, Jab We Met.

But a series of events -- while shooting the film -- might just have been the base of the rumours in the first place. Of course, this unique perspective is brought to you by yours truly: The Bombay Bitch.

So here's what happened. We all know by now that Jab We Met is about two people meeting while travelling and then falling in love. This is Bollywood -- you weren't expecting an actual story in a film starring these two, were you?

Anyway, Kareena sports a sans makeup look in the film... which used to take her a long time to get right with her army of hair and makeup artists. But yeah, the nude look was what she was going for.

So on one particular day, where the two Kapoors were to film an intimate scene together, Shahid just couldn't get his act together. Try as he may, he just couldn't feel the passion for his offscreen love. Hmm, could it be that the whole 'no-makeup-as-the-role-demands-it' thing was a put off? Is Kareena just not yummy enough without her war-paint on? I'm guessing these were thoughts jamming Kareena's pretty little head as well. Shortly after, the rumours of their split started doing the rounds. Phew! Finally, some clarity!

I also found out that Shahid also has a blog, run supposedly by a fan. But it wouldn't be too far-fetched to speculate that he's probably been sponsoring (read writing/commenting on it) himself. Everything there is just flowery stories about him -- with dozens of pictures and fan mail. But it has not been updated since July 2006!

B-Town's The Unforgettable Tour is finally on course, amidst buzz about which stars came on board, their skyrocketing fees (and demands) and the mind-boggling logistics involved in what is being described as 'a mother of all stage shows'.
Wizcraft, the organisers of the show, have finally chalked out the details. As reported 'Bachchan and bachcha to go on world tour', (HiTLIST, November 2, 2006), Wizcraft pulled off a casting coup of sorts by getting Bachchans Sr & Jr together for live shows across the globe.
The Unforgettable Tour now consists of the Bachchans (Amitabh, Abhishek as well as Aishwarya — who has insisted on the Bachchan surname for the tour), Akshay Kumar, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta and Riteish Deshmukh.
City hopping
Says Sabbas Joseph of Wizcraft, "The tour was always on course. When it comes to the Bachchans, it is like family for us. Abhishek and Aishwarya announced the tour in Toronto. The first leg of The Unforgettable kicks off from July to August 2008."
It is learnt that it will first cover 10 US cities, including Chicago and Los Angeles. Then it moves to Vancouver and Toronto in Canada before hitting UK and Europe. The second leg is slated for November-December 2008, and will take them to Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Dubai, Doha and Cairo.
Joseph adds, "The Unforgettable Tour will prove to be a paradigm shift in such concerts. It is just not a song-dance gala that one normally sees at such shows. We are making it both an audio and visual experience aided with technology. It will be a 360-degree turn in entertainment."
It is learnt that the first tour has received bids from multiple promoters and is almost sold out.
Time off
Incidentally, Bachchan Sr is the brand ambassador for the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, the brainchild of Wizcraft. The IIFA awards are held annually in different countries to celebrate Indian cinema. The Unforgettable Tour was also unveiled at the IIFA awards in Yorkshire in June.
It is learnt that the Bachchans are taking time off from their shooting schedules next year for the tour. For several years, Wizcraft has been organising stage shows across the world with Bollywood and international stars.
Says Joseph, "In fact, the making of The Unforgettable Tour and the behind the scenes happenings will be as exciting as the show and we will air this at a later stage. The stars will be city hopping with 10-12 shows at a stretch." It is also learnt that there is a possibility that there could be a concert in India as part of The Unforgettable series. "May be, why not?" says Joseph.

Rani throws tantrums galore
Reportedly, Mukherji had been throwing her weight around because of her closeness to Adi Chopra


By: Upala KBR

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my way or the highway! Rani Mukerji
According to sources in the film industry, Rani has been giving major attitude to Yash Raj staff and technicians because of her close ties with Aditya Chopra. Says a source, "Rani has started throwing her weight around a lot. Recently, she fired the dubbing staff at Yash Raj studio because most of her scenes had to be redone. It wasn't their fault. Rani herself had refused to wear a microphone while shooting for Laaga Chunri Mein Daag, which has been shot in sync sound film. The sound quality was very bad and she was called in. No one could say anything to her as she kept screaming, 'I'm going to tell Adi!'"
Personal kingdom
However, that wasn't all. Continues the source, "Rani regularly fires the publicity girls at Yash Raj, as she wants to do all her interviews at the studio only. In fact, she even got ad filmmaker Prasoon Pandey replaced for an ad because his production house did not want to shoot at Yash Raj. Whenever she wants to do anything at Yash Raj studios, she makes the staff cancel other people's bookings saying, 'Adi will sort it out'."
It is believed that even the normally even-tempered Kunal Kohli got upset with Rani a few days ago when she arrived late for the shoot of his film (with Saif Ali Khan). "Kunal fired her for coming late. Next thing, you know, Kunal, Adi and Rani were seen sorting out the matter and Rani sulked the entire day."
When we checked with Kunal, he chose to deny it, saying, "It's not true." As did a spokesperson from Yash Raj, who said, "We do not comment on the personal and professional lives of our individual stars."

After all that talk about Kareena Kapoor not being a party girl, here is the truth. The actress threw a party on Thursday night to bring in her birthday on September 21 yesterday. But the party was neither at her home or that of big sis Karisma Kapur. Instead Bebo, who turned 27 yesterday, had something of a designer bash!

Says a source, “Kareena had an intimate get-together for close friends and family at designer Aki Narula’s home in Juhu. She sent a last-minute SMS to everybody about the venue, and Karisma, Dino Morea, Amrita Arora, her boyfriend Usman Afzal and Saif Ali Khan came over. Karan (Johar) was in Delhi, so he couldn’t attend.”

Earlier this week, we’d reported that Shahid Kapur was planning to come down from Toronto (where he’s shooting for Aziz Mirza’s film) to host a surprise bash for Bebo. However, he later changed his mind as his ladylove seems in no mood for a reconciliation and has been openly flaunting new flame Saif.

Making it public

Says the friend, “I don’t know why people are making such an issue about Kareena’s break-up with Shahid. If two people aren’t compatible any longer, why should they stay together? It’s better to move on to someone who loves and understands you instead of being unhappy in a relationship. Bebo and Saif have been stepping out together in public because they don’t want to hide the fact that they’re together any more.”

They’re most recent outing together was when Saif came to pick up Bebo from the Sa Re Ga Ma show at Famous Studios (Mahalakshmi), after which they met Karan Johar for dinner at a South Mumbai hotspot.

Says the friend, “Saif waited in his car for nearly two hours till Bebo finished the event, after which they left together. Kareena is tired of the speculation over her personal life now and just wants people to let her be.”

We’d let her, if only she’d come out in the open and talk about it!

Khoya Khoya Chand : A trip back in time!
23rd Sept 2007 21.36 IST
By ApunKaChoice

Sudhir Mishra’s film ‘Khoya Khoya Chand’ is a tumultuous love story of two young people adrift in the film industry of the 1950s.

The movie, starring Shiney Ahuja , Soha Ali Khan , Rajat Kapoor and Sonya Jehan , is based on Sudhir Mishra ’s own experiences of the film industry and the stories he has heard about it.




Don’t miss to see Shiney and Soha in their 1950s avatar at Khoya Khoya Chand .

The film has Soha playing Nikhat, a fledgling actress who becomes a big star with help from a famous actor Prem Kumar (Rajat Kapoor). In return, Prem begins to use Nikhat.

Shiney plays Zaffar, a writer-director who helps Nikhat to get free from the stranglehold of Prem. Soon, they fall in love. But things turn out in such a way that Nikhat finds herself trapped by Zaffar, who also begins to use her.

‘Khoya Khoya Chand’ is the story of a volatile love that Zaffar and Nikhat can neither live with nor live without. It is the story of the difficult and often heartbreaking choices they have to make.

The film spans a period from 1954 to 1965. It shows the transformation of an actress (Soha) from an 18-year-old girl to a 30-year-old woman as she goes from being a struggler to a starlet to a great heroine.

Soha had to learn traditional Indian dance Kathak for her role in the film.

All the actors had to learn Urdu for their roles.

Even as the backdrop of this film is period, it remains modern in its narrative, characterization and treatment. The film’s official website describes it as a tribute to those wondrous times (1950s) and its people, as well as an accolade to their inspirational lives.

The film is set to release in December 2007.

Yash Raj Films to cash in on their romance t
By: Tushar Joshi
September 25, 2007
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It’s in the open now! Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor
Now that the Saif Ali Khan-Kareena Kapoor alliance is no longer secret, it’s not surprising that Yash Raj Films is changing the promotional strategy for Tashan, by cashing in on the budding romance. It’s only natural. Most actor couples know and accept this.

Even the Shahid Kapur-Kareena romance has been through this exercise. Now, it’s happening for Kareena and her new ‘hero’.

Money-spinner

Sources close to the camp reveal that Yash Raj originally planned to focus Tashan’s campaign on Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Saif, but now that has been scrapped.

The insider adds, “Now, the teasers and promos will focus on Kareena and Saif. Before they began dating, the teasers and trailers were to revolve around all the principal actors in the film. Now, however, the promos will feature Saif and Bebo prominently.”

An industrywalla reveals that Bebo is quite keen on signing more films with Saif. “She shares fantastic chemistry with him on screen and off it. In Tashan, she’s opposite both Akshay and Saif, but her scenes with Saif outshine those with Akshay. Even during the making of Omkara, Kareena was totally in awe of Saif and praised his performance to the hilt.”

look at this Super Casting.............i can't wait for karishma's come back and so is madhuri's



http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995752/



Tashan (2008)

advertisement photos board trailer details









Overview

Director:Vijay Krishna Acharya



Writer:Vijay Krishna Acharya



Release Date:2008 (India) more

Plot Synopsis:This plot synopsis is empty. Add a synopsis

Production Notes/Status:

Status:Filming

Comments:

Status Updated:27 July 2007

Note:Because this project is categorized as being in production, the data is subject to change; some data could be removed completely.

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Cast (Credited cast)



Shahrukh Khan

Akshay Kumar

Kajol

Kareena Kapoor

Saif Ali Khan



Karisma Kapoor

Katrina Kaif



Anil Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor

Shashi Kapoor

Akshaye Khanna

Kunal Kapoor

After landing in Mumbai, after a month-and-a-half long shooting schedule in Toronto, Canada, Shahid Kapur now prefers to stay at home without meeting anybody here. Shahid generally makes it a point to visit either of his parents after a long trip abroad, but this time has been an exception.

A close pal of Shahid says, "After Shahid landed in Mumbai early on Saturday morning, he has not moved out of his Versova house. He did not even go to meet his dad, actor Pankaj Kapur, who stays very close to him and or even his mother, Neelima Azim. When we guys tried to contact him, he did not take our calls. Later, Shahid sent us an SMS saying just three words - 'Not now, later'."

"Usually, Shahid likes to sleep for long after long-distance flights. This time he messaged all of us at different hours, which means he did not sleep at all. This is truly unlike Shahid. The three-and-a-half year long affair break-up has started haunting him even more ever since he has landed in Mumbai," the pal says.

All eyes were on Shahid and Kareena yesterday, as they were to shoot together. "Shahid shot with Kareena for a patchwork shoot at Future Studios in Goregaon, Mumbai for Jab We Met, for the first time after their after their reported split. To avoid complications, the makers planned the shooting schedule for the day in such a manner that both were present together on the sets for a minimum possible time," a Bollywood source adds.

"Shahid came in early to film his solo portions. By noon, Kareena arrived and immediately her shots (which are just a few) with Shahid were completed. With that, Shahid was done for the day and left the sets immediately," the source concludes. - Hill Road Media

Kareena and Shahid – Jab We Split
04th Oct 2007 21.37 IST
By Aparajita Ghosh

Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur were supposed to show how real the romantic chemistry is between them in Imtiaz Ali’s movie Jab We Met . But fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.

With just a few weeks remaining for the film’s release, Shahid and Kareena are in the news for having put an end to their long long romance. And what is surprising is the way the end came – with a thud rather than a bang. Shahid was shooting in Toronto, and Kareena was painting the tinsel town red with Saif Ali Khan , believed to be the new man in her life. Who ditched whom is still not clear.






Sparks were expected to fly on Tuesday this week, when Shahid and Kareena came together one more time to shoot some patchwork scenes for ‘Jab We Met’ at a studio in Goregaon. But eyewitnesses say the couple were very cordial with each other during the shoot. The only thing that indicated that there was a friction between them was their somewhat formal attitude toward each other.

In fact, rumour mills are now speculating an altogether new angle to the Shahid-Kareena split.

It is being speculated that Kareena walked away from Shahid because of his closeness to another actress, a gorgeous damsel with whom he has worked in the past, but whose name we are not disclosing for the sake of discretion.

Whatever the case, trade pundits believe that the Shahid-Kareena split will not harm the prospects of ‘Jab We Met’.

“People are now more eager to see Shahid and Kareena together, even if only in a movie. The whole break-off episode has put the two stars in the news again. If the so-called break-off is true, the movie will still draw audiences to the theatre. But if it is not true, then it would be the most authentic and believable publicity gimmick in the history of Indian cinema,” says an industry insider.

Meanwhile, Shahid and Kareena are remaining tightlipped about the rumours of their split. Kareena has told a tabloid that she has had a pact with Shahid that they won’t discuss their personal lives in media.

Does Om Shanti Om disrespect Hinduism?

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sex object: Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om


How morals and values have deteriorated. What the song Ramchandra Keh Gaye Siya Se Aisa Kalyug Aayega prophesised has come true. A revered Hindu expression Om Shanti is being used to promote male striptease by Farah Khan. She is portraying Shah Rukh Khan like Ram Gopal Varma uses item girls in his films. Why use Om and Shanti? Does Farah have a clue what the two words mean? Are we so blinded by greed of money and carnality that we don't want to look beyond flesh? Will we sell anything to make money, even God?
After the film, the words Om Shanti will not bring images of a saint meditating in the Himalayas, but a half-nude Shah Rukh doing his striptease. We are touching new lows of morality every day.

Ricky Thakral
Andheri

Marriage on the cards for Rani Mukherjee?
17th Oct 2007 21.16 IST
By ApunKaChoice

Tinsel town is abuzz with talks that Rani Mukherjee will marry early next year.

For more than a year now, Rani Mukherjee has been linked with Yashraj Films’ honcho Aditya Chopra . Many times the news of their imminent wedding has made headlines in media but the two proved all speculation wrong.






Now, one more time, B-town is awash with rumours about their marriage. It is being reported that Rani and Aditya will tie the knot on February 10 next year. Sources are quoted as saying that the wedding was truly on this time.

The marriage ceremony will reportedly take place at Umaid Bhawan palace in Jodhpur. It is learnt that a venue outside Mumbai has been deliberately chosen to keep media at bay.

Well, given Rani’s present Bollywood commitments, the wedding date of Feb 10, 2008, looks plausible. Rani is presently working in Kunal Kohli’s next movie (with Saif Ali Khan and Amisha Patel ) and the shooting is likely to continue till December this year. After that one month would be sufficient to prepare for the wedding in February.

And since Rani hasn’t signed any other film except Kunal’s, she is expected to take a break from Bollywood early next year – possibly for her honeymoon.

RANI AND ADITYA’S HISTORY

Aditya Chopra has already been married once, to his childhood friend Payal, an interior designer. Friction developed in their 5-year-old marriage last year when the two began living separately and Aditya filed for a divorce. Media reports speculated that Rani was the cause of rift between Aditya and Payal, but these reports were strongly refuted by Rani’s mother and brother. Fresh reports linking Rani with Aditya surfaced when the two were seen hand-in-hand at New York’s Radisson Hotel last year during the making of the Yashraj Film Tara Rum Pum . To this day, both Rani and Aditya have not acknowledged their relationship in public.

‘Eklavya’gets FFI nod for the Oscars
Shilpa Jamkhandikar
Wednesday, October 17, 2007 23:59 IST

U-turn complete, the federation conveys its approval to the Academy of Motion Pictures

After all the huff and puff. it’s back to square one. The Film Federation of India today sent an official letter the Academy of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles confirming that Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s ‘Eklavya’ remains India’s official entry to the Oscars.

“We have sent a letter to the Academy stating we are sticking to ‘Eklavya’ as our choice for the Oscars. The decision was taken a couple of days ago. The jury felt that there was nothing wrong in the process of selection and all procedures have been followed,” FFI sources told After Hours.

The federation was caught in a bind after director Bhavna Talwar approached the Bombay High Court questioning the selection procedure. At around the same time, the Academy also wrote to the FFI asking them to give a final decision on India’s entry by October 17.

“The predominant feeling in the jury was that to change the nomination or even withdraw it would amount to admitting that the procedure was indeed flawed. Since all democratic processes were followed, there was no sense creating more confusion,” the sources added.

Of course, everyone understands that it’s more a face saving move than a real endorsement, and it has left a bad after taste in the mouth. “After this entire controversy, it is the FFI that has been shown in a bad light. Of course, there are a lot of issues that have to be sorted out, including the selection procedure. But this year, the jury felt that ‘Eklavya’ was the best choice.”

‘Dharm’ director Bhavna Talwar herself was reluctant to comment on the issue. When asked if she would take any further action if ‘Eklavya’ remained the official entry she said, “I obviously will see what action can be taken if this is true. But I would be in a better position to discuss this when the situation arises.”

It’s finally happened! Saif and Kareena made their much-awaited first public appearance together at the Manish Malhotra show during the Lakme Fashion Week. And Saif actually confirmed, “Yes, we’re together!” This means no more secret meetings and hideaways for the two. So what shall the media call this dynamic duo “Sareena” or “Karif”?

What prompted Saif’s confession
By: Tushar Joshi
October 19, 2007
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It’s official now: Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor leaving the LFW show.
On September 24, Kareena Kapoor pleaded with MiDDAY photographer Nimesh Dave to not click her and Saif Ali Khan, outside Zenzi, a Bandra eatery.

Saif even threatened to break the camera if the photog shot them together.

But on Wednesday night, Saif came in hand-in-hand with ladylove Kareena to the Lakmé Fashion Week finale, fully aware that the place would be teeming with every newspaper, magazine and TV channel in the country. It was obviously not by accident.

The confession was not a spontaneous one, it was a well-planned move. So what changed in just 24 days?

Truly over

According to a source, “It may have been Saif’s words but the decision to tell the world they were together was Kareena’s. Shahid’s admission to a TV channel (as reported in HiTLIST on October 17) that he was single, was like a slap in Bebo’s face who was still telling the world, ‘Shahid and I are together.’

Probably in the hope that Shahid would take her back, just like John did, after the Bipasha-Saif rumours. But after Shahid’s declaration of being available, Bebo realised that it was truly over, and it was time to tell the world that she too had moved on.”

It was more about one-upmanship than anything else. This is what the romance of three years has been reduced to.

In retaliation

An insider from Jab We Met says, “It was Shahid’s decision to not talk about the state of his relationship with Kareena till the release of the film because the film is important for him.. But he started flouting the rule that he’d made.

And it was only natural for Bebo to retaliate. Also Bebo is upset with Shahid for meeting the enemy Ameesha Patel (as reported by HiTLIST on October 16) at a public place.

She saw this move as deliberately trying to humiliate her, while she was busy painting the ‘all is well’ picture to the world.”

Rozza unruffled


Saif’s ex-girlfriend Rozza Catalano has truly moved on. That can be deduced from the fact that she is truly unaffected by the Saif-Kareena outing yesterday at Manish Malhotra’s fashion show.

When asked to comment about her ex-beau’s current gal, all she was willing to say was, “Each person does have something which makes him or her happy.

Fortunately, I am content with the way things are in my life. These days, I am negotiating a few showbiz projects.” It’s all work and no nostalgia for the Italian girl.

Hrithik takes one more step towards Hollywood

By Joginder Tuteja, October 19, 2007 - 11:40 IST


Download image as wallpaper


‘Brillstein-Grey’, Brad Pitt's management of over 20 years, has now signed Hrithik Roshan.

In the past, there have been major Motion Picture Studios in Hollywood that have set their eyes on Hrithik. In addition, numerous A-list filmmakers too have offered him roles in their high profile Hollywood films. Now ‘Brillstein-Grey Entertainment’, #1 Management Firm in World, has managed to gain Hrithik's attention.

Moreover, Hrithik has finally said yes to Hollywood and is taking serious steps in the direction, which leads him to being the first mainstream Hindi cinema actor to be aiming at a higher platform.

Hrithik's new International manager, Jai Khanna from Brillstein-Grey confirms, "We are thrilled to be working with such an international star. Hrithik has a strong, authentic, and cool personality. As an icon of masculinity and powerful character, he truly embodies the star quality of cinema's great leading men."

Jai further comments on Hrithik's star power, "Audiences have repeatedly flocked to his films throughout India, Asia and a number of other countries. We are excited to now introduce Hrithik to the US, thus giving his unique talents a much larger platform."

Closer home, Hrithik is looking forward to Jodhaa Akbar, which is all set to release on January 25. The film's promo has created quite a buzz amongst the audiences ever since it was screened across theatres, last Friday. Mounted on a huge canvas, this Ashutosh Gowarikar epic has music by A.R. Rahman and lyrics by Javed Akhtar. A UTV production, Jodhaa Akbar is now all set to be the first big release of 2008.

The film is also special for Hrithik since it would be his first release after more than a year after the release of Krrish (June 2006) and Dhoom 2 (November 2006).

Farhan Akhtar and Arjun Rampal along with many other Bollywood celebrities are going to be part of the "Rock On for Humanity: In Aid of the Children of Bihar" concert, a fundraiser to aid the victims of the massive flooding in Bihar. The event is being held on October 31st from 5 until 10 pm at the MMRDA Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

In August of this year, the torrential rain in Bihar caused massive flooding and over 3.3 million people have been impacted by the horrible situation. Neither the rains nor the water have receded so not only has there been no chance to recover, conditions are getting worse. The Prime Minister has declared the floods a calamity and it is estimated by international NGO ActionAid that about 2,000 people have died.

Millions are without the basic necessities of life: food, clean water, shelter and basic health support. The government along with many aid agencies are trying to get aid to those who need it but with the water still rising it is very difficult.

In order to provide help Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal and Ritesh Sidhwani organized the "Rock On for Humanity" concert in the hopes that it will "Improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Scheduled to perform at the concert are: Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Pentagram, Pindrop Violence, Raghu Dixit Project, Rabbi, Them Clones, Shaan, Kunal Ganjawala, Dream Out Loud, Something Relevant, Shaa'ir + Func, Kailasa, Avial, Parikrama featuring Saif Ali Khan and Farhan Akhtar.

Supporting the cause are Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Priya Dutt and many more!

We applaud all who are involved for starting this wonderful initiative and hope they can raise lots of funds to help the people of the devastated region. Tickets to the event will be available on 21st October on www. bookmyshow . com. If you can, get out there and support this great cause and rock out at the same time! We will keep you updated if there is any more news so check back here often.

Jodhaa Akbar, Hrithik win awards at Golden Minbar Film Festival in Russia

By Bollywood Hungama News Network, October 23, 2008 - 16:49 IST


Ashutosh Gowariker's magnum opus Jodhaa Akbar has not only captured the hearts of audiences in India but impressed the audiences globally and is winning accolades internationally. Yesterday, Jodhaa Akbar won the prestigious Grand Pix award at Golden Minbar, the Film Festival for Muslim Cinema which is held at Kazan, Russia. The lead actor, Hrithik Roshan, was awarded the Best Actor Award for his magnificent performance as Emperor Akbar.

Jodhaa Akbar shared the Best Film honours with an Iranian film, M for Mother. The films were selected by the Jury in the Official Selection consisting of 35 films in Competition (10 Full-length feature film, 12 Short-length feature films and 13 Documentary films).

"This is wonderful! I am overwhelmed with this news. It is an honour not only for me and my co-producer Ronnie Screwvala, but for the entire team of Jodhaa Akbar. And I would like to thank the Jury for it. I am especially happy and proud that Hrithik won the Best Actor. His portrayal of Akbar is a magnificent one, full of nuances and detailing which is very rarely seen on screen. I would also like to thank the Organizers for including Jodhaa Akbar in The International Film Festival of Muslim Cinema Golden Minbar", said a very honored and grateful Ashutosh Gowariker.

Craze for career in Bollywood brings Pak boy to jail

10/20/2008 12:08:30 PM

A Pakistani teenager's craze for a career in Bollywood has landed him in an Indian jail and his worried parents appeal for his release on humanitarian grounds. Nasir Sultan, a Class 10 student and a diehard fan of the Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, crossed over to India illegally to try and join the film industry.

After reaching Punjab in India, he called his parents in the North West Frontier Province to say he was in the neighbouring country. Fifteen minutes later his parents got another call to say that their son had been arrested. Sultan's parents, who hail from Chukiatan, a small town of Dir district in NWFP, are now running from pillar to post to secure his release.

Like most Pakistani boys of his age, Sultan was an avid Bollywood fan and was fascinated by the many stunts in Hindi films that he hoped to excel at too. On August 16, Sultan left home for school wearing his uniform and carrying his schoolbag but instead crossed the border.

Two days later, his father Sultan Zareen, who works at a petrol pump, got a call from Sultan, who said he was on his way to Mumbai. This was followed soon after by the news of his arrest. Sultan is being held in Faridkot Jail for the past two months. "I don't know what to do to secure his release as he is in another country where I have no influence or resources to use for winning his release," Zareen said.

Zareen said his wife was depressed and the Indian government should release his son on humanitarian ground.

=========================

NGO steps in to free Pakistani SRK fan

Sparc seeks intervention of Indian high commissioner in Islamabad to release teenager who crossed border to make it big in Bollywood

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani NGO has approached the Indian high commissioner here, seeking the release of a teenager — a diehard fan of Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) — who crossed over in pursuit of a career in Bollywood but landed up in an observation home in Faridkot, Punjab.

In a letter to Satyabrata Pal, Rafiq Khan, national manager of Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (Sparc), says Nasir Sultan, 15, was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) for illegal infiltration, after which Ferozepur Police booked him under the Passport Act of 1920.

He says the “innocent� Nasir left home on August 16, 2008, for school but did not return home.

“Sick with worry, his parents started a search for him. Nasir is a huge fan of Shah Rukh Khan and always wanted to meet him,� his father said in an interview with Sparc.
He added that “it is quite likely that the boy may have crossed over to show his love for the great Indian idol, since we would have never allowed him to go to India�.
Two months later, on October 15, 2008, Nasir told his parents over phone from Faridkot district court that he was in a jail for children. He said he crossed over to the Indian side and was arrested by the BSF.

Khan says Nasir’s parents are worried and would like to see their son back home as soon as possible.

“At the same time, they are aware of the complications because of the relations between the two countries. Nasir’s father Zareen Khan works at a petrol pump in Chitral. Obviously, with limited resources, it will be difficult for this man to pursue his son’s freedom effectively without the help of the state machinery. Therefore, Sparc has taken up the case.�

The letter further states that the young man’s life and future are at stake.

“Therefore,� it adds, “We would request you to take up the case of Nasir with your government at the earliest and shorten his confinement in India. His case requires sympathy and compassion on the part of both the states and we hope and pray sincerely that Nasir will be with his parents in Dir Upper very soon.�

Indian film festival in Abu Dhabi from Nov 2


Press trust of India, 27.10.08



Abu Dhabi, Oct 27 (PTI) An Indian film festival will be held in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, from November two in which Yash Chopra's cross-border love saga 'Veer Zaara' and Ashutosh Gowarikar's epic movie 'Jodha Akbar' are to be screened.
The ten-day festival is aimed to engage Emirati nationals to share the Indian culture and traditions and thus help in cementing ties between the two countries, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Talmiz Ahmad, said here yesterday.

Shahrukh Khan starrer 'Veer Zaara,' which portrays a love story of an Indian officer and a Pakistani girl, will be the first film to be screened at the festival and its director Yash Chopra will also be present on the occasion, Ahmed said.

Besides, seven other films are also to be screened during the festival including Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai starrer 'Jodha Akbar', 'Daatu' (Kannada), 'Anuranan: The Resonance' (Bengali), 'Kayyooppu' and 'Gul Mohar' (Malayalam), 'Paruthiveeran' (Tamil).

Terming Indian cinema as the "influential reflection of contemporary India" to the outside world, the ambassador said, "The films chosen by us emerge from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, but explore themes that will resonate with discerning audiences anywhere in the world." UAE's Minister of Higher Education and Research, Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, will inaugurate the festival. PTI

Unsuccessful Bollywood heroines in demand down south now
IANS
Monday, November 17, 2008 12:14 IST
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BANGALORE: With top south Indian heroines demanding exorbitant fees, filmmakers down south are increasingly turning to not so successful Bollywood actresses like Sneha Ullal, Nisha Kothari and Suman Ranganathan to up the glamour quotient of their movies.

"Several Kannada producers feel casting Hindi film actresses, who are not in demand in Bollywood, will enhance the stature of their product. For instance, Nisha Kothari - she might have been rejected by the Hindi film audience, but the actress is busy in the south. And she is working with stars like Puneet (Raj Kumar) in 'Raaj'," KCN Kumar, producer-distributor of Kannada films, said.

"Another top actor, Upendra, too has been working with many Hindi film heroines like Nethanya, Suman Ranganathan and others. Even fans like watching Bollywood heroines," Kumar said.

South Indian heroines have hiked their fees and filmmakers can no longer afford to sign them on.

The usual budget of Kannada films, starring top actors like Upendra, Darshan, Ganesh and Puneet Raj Kumar, varies between Rs 50 million and Rs 70 million (Rs 5 crores to Rs 7 crores). And signing on a popular actress, who charges Rs 10 million to 20 million, may escalate the total budget.

One hit with a superstar is enough reason for an actress to raise her fees as there has been a significant increase in the number of films being made down south, but there are not many glamorous heroines.

"The producers are opting for Bollywood actresses mainly because they are available at a cheaper cost compared to established south Indian heroines. And these Mumbai-based actors have become popular. Most of them don't shy away from exposing. Any Bollywood actress known for her sex appeal would substantially add to a film's glamour quotient," said well-known Kannada film producer Mohan.

At 33, Sushmita Sen is single and ready to mingle
By ApunKaChoice
Wed, Nov 19, 2008 10:00 IST

Bollywood beauty Sushmita Sen turns 33 on Wednesday. She is in Goa to celebrate her birthday with close friends and family.

She is one actress who appears most unserious about her acting career. She’s no longer spotted at the parties frequently and she does films few and far between. Sushmita Sen, the former Miss Universe, lives in her own world, unconcerned about the rat race that goes on in the competitive film industry.

On her 33rd birthday today, the actress is in Goa with more than a dozen of her close family members and friends. Among them is Sush’s adopted daughter Renee who has by now become an inseparable part of her life.






Even as Sush turns 33 she has no plans to marry.

"Let's just say I'm single and ready to mingle... does that sound too trite?...Marriage hasn't happened. It will happen when it happens,� the saucy actress is quoted as saying.

Sush is on a high after receiving the Fun Fearless Female award recently. She is next looking forward to direct and produce a movie on Rani Laxmi Bai.

Her forthcoming films include Dulha Mil Gaya and Do Knot Disturb .

The Indian film industry says it supports SRK-starrer Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’s bid for a simultaneous release in India and Pakistan on December 12


g_prithwish@dnaindia.net
Relations between India and Pakistan have hit an all-time low and there’s even talk of snapping ties at the diplomatic level and more. It’s a difficult period for the film industry as well, which is debating the future of cinematic exchanges between the two countries. While one section is advocating suspending ties, another wants to take a more mature stance and not burn the bridge completely.

In fact, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, a film directed by Aditya Chopra after eight years that has Shah Rukh Khan playing the lead, releases on December 12 in India. The makers of the film are in talks with the Pakistani authorities to try and release the film in Pakistan on the same date.

“Officials from Yash Raj Films are trying very hard (to release the film in Pakistan) despite recent incidents that have made the possibility of a Pakistan release next to impossible,� says a reliable source from the industry.

If things go as Yash Raj plans, it will be Shah Rukh’s first film to be officially released in that country. It will also be Aditya Chopra’s first directorial venture to see a release there. When quizzed, a Yash Raj Films spokesperson said, “The possibility (of a Pakistan release) is being looked into.�

While it is a controversial decision at this juncture, the move has found several supporters. “Why is the idea of releasing films in Pakistan bad?� demands Mukesh Bhatt, chairman of a producers body:

“Yash Raj Films should try its level best to release the film there. It is very easy to start fighting and play blame games. If it is proved that the terror attack in Mumbai was a Pakistan government sponsored act, then yes, ban everything including films. But if its groups within Pakistan who have done it then India and Pakistan should come closer as they are both facing the same problem. We have to stay with each other, like it or not. Terrorists want us to fight and stay divided�

Mahesh Bhatt, who has been in the forefront of Indo-Pak film ties, agrees. “Shah Rukh Khan commands a lot of reverence in Pakistan. Yash Raj Films should lobby hard to release Rab Ne… in Pakistan. Shah Rukh Khan might just achieve something which diplomats can’t. I have spoken to my associates in Pakistan and they are hopeful that these clouds of fear will pass away quickly.

After the anger settles, I think everything will be fine. But yes, this attack has certainly caused a dent to the relationship between the neighbours.�

Growing popularity of Generation X in Bollywood

By Business Standard, February 25, 2009 - 12:18 IST

After just a film or two, young film stars are charging the earth for endorsing brands.

Slumdog Millionaire's Freida Pinto, who is believed to have bagged a role in Woody Allen's next, may see her brand endorsement fee rise nearly four-fold to nearly Rs 1.5 crore from a mere Rs 40 lakh that she charged earlier. Genelia D'Souza and Imraan Khan, who starred in the hit Jaane Tu Ya Jane Na, and Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, the cornerstones of Pepsi's Youngistaan campaign, are already demanding between Rs 1 crore and Rs 4 crore.

The growing popularity of Generation X is easy to explain, given that Bollywood's established stars Shah Rukh, Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan and Rani Mukherjee are appearing in fewer films.

"The older stars have very few projects for the next few months. The younger stars have three or four projects slated for release over the next 12 months and will be in the limelight. The endorsement rate is directly proportionate to the number of new projects you have in hand," said Anirban Das Blah, chief executive of Globosports, the Bangalore-based celebrity management company.

SHOOTING STARS:

Young stars/Old feesAsking/current fees per endorsement
Genelia D'Souza/Rs 35-40 lakh/Rs 1-1.3 crore
Asin/Rs 55-60 lakh/Rs 1.2-1.3 crore
Freida Pinto/Rs 10-20 lakh/Rs 1.2-1.5 crore*
Deepika Padukone/Rs 40-50 lakh/Rs 1.5-2 crore
Ranbir Kapoor/Rs 1 crore-plus/Rs 3.5-4 crore
Imran Khan/-/Rs 3-3.5 crore
Source: Industry estimates, * Frieda Pinto's asking fees likely to go up soon


Part of the reason for this rapid rise in asking price is that some new stars may be new in Mumbai but already have a large fan following in their regions. D’Souza and Asin, for instance, are already big names in south India, but the success of just one Hindi movie has virtually doubled their fees.

Industry sources say stars like Kapoor, D'Souza and Padukone are currently in talks with at least five leading brands in categories like automobiles, beauty products and apparel.

Companies say they are banking on new faces because it fits the profile of the brands they are endorsing. D'Souza, for instance, endorses Coca-Cola's new Fanta Apple.

"Genelia’s personality matches the Fanta brand persona,which is young, energetic and fresh, and she appeals to the youth," said a company spokesperson.

Dabur Vatika has tied up with D'Souza, mainly to try and revamp the product and make it more attractive to the youth.

Tata Sky, for the same reason, roped in Asin during the release of the hit, Ghajini. "Tata Sky and Asin have a lot in common. Both are young, energetic, achievers, and both enjoy a high degree of credibility with consumers," said Vikram Mehra, the company's chief marketing officer. "As our new face, she will be influential in reinforcing the attributes of the Tata Sky brand and reiterate our positioning." There are, however, risks in betting on the new faces. "The huge endorsement fees paid to the younger lot, especially the actress, are in anticipation of better on-screen work in the near future. Mind you, if their next project flops, they will be out of the race for big bucks," said ad-filmmaker Prahlad Kakkar. In contrast, he said, Shah Rukh or Hrithik were much more stable and time-tested.

Shailendra Singh, joint managing director of Percept Limited, seconds this. "Asin has yet to prove her youth connect despite the success of Ghajini. So her unrealistic price could disappear if her next film flops. However, India has a large youth population, so youth's connect with brands is a given, especially as the established actors today are over 40 and the new ones have to come to the fore," he said.

Strike Update: No solution yet, strike enters fourth week

By Taran Adarsh, April 24, 2009 - 12:13 IST

There's no concrete solution yet to the ongoing crisis. The producers/distributors and multiplexes have yet to reach a consensus over several thorny issues that have snowballed into a major issue.

The multiplexes have been meeting amongst themselves almost everyday, trying to come up with a solution that would be acceptable to producers/distributors. A meeting between the warring factions is expected to take place next week. Let's see what comes out of it.

If the delay in arriving at a solution comes out by, say, next week, it will take another 6-7-8 weeks for big-budget films to arrive in cinemas, since that's the time it takes to hype a film prior to its release. Which means, there might not be a major release till mid-June.

Meanwhile, Studio 18 has revived GHAJINI and UTV has opened DEV D at several single screens across Mumbai and other centres, avoiding the national chain of multiplexes completely.

K3G - Karan, Kajol, Kareena gang


Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Karan Johar team up after a gap of eight years

By Vickey Lalwani
Posted On Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 02:17:46 AM



Kajol
Kareena Kapoor


Karan Johar has done it again. After casting Kajol and Kareena Kapoor for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, way back in 2001, he’s got the two talented actresses again for his forthcoming venture. The film will be directed by debutante Siddharth Malhotra, who is production house Cinevistaa’s chairman Prem Kishen’s son and the grandson of the late Prem Nath. Siddharth was the creative producer of the hit TV serial Sanjivani and was responsible for conceptualising and shaping it.

Our source revealed, “Kajol and Kareena have been finalised for Karan Johar’s forthcoming film, which will start once the actors are free from their on-going films.�

The film, which is yet untitled is based on the Hollywood film, Stepmom (1998), starring Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts. The shooting of the film will begin as soon as Kajol wraps up the shoot of Karan’s My Name Is Khan, opposite Shah Rukh Khan.


Karan Johar

So how did the casting come about? “Karan, who is directing Kajol in My Name Is Khan is very happy with her work. The same holds true for Kareena, who is working opposite Saif Ali Khan in a project directed by Rensil D’Silva,� said the source.

When queried about Kareena’s presence in Karan’s film, Kareena’s secretary maintained a diplomatic stand and said, “Kareena would never say no to Karan.�


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About Stepmom...

Stepmom is about a divorced couple Jackie (Susan Sarandon) and Luke (Ed Harris) and their children Anna (Jena Malone and Ben (Liam Aiken). Isabel, a successful photographer is the new woman in Luke's life. Though she tries hard to please the kids, she also loves her work. Jackie, a full-time mother regards Isabelle's efforts as insufficient and cannot understand how her work can be as important as the kids. The film takes a turn when Jackie is diagnosed with cancer.

Akshay Kumar called a "jackass" for being insensitive
Agencies
New Delhi, July 13, 2010First Published: 11:38 IST(13/7/2010)
Last Updated: 12:29 IST(13/7/2010) Email printBookmark & Share more...


Akshay Kumar recently visited ailing cartoonist RK Laxman in the hospital to urge him to watch his forthcoming film, Khatta Meetha in which Kumar portrays Laxman's famous "common man". In response, while a journo called him a "jackass", Amitabh Bachchan came to his rescue. This is what a newspaper report said about the meeting: "He’s deprived of speech and movement, but put a pen in R K Laxman’s hand, hold a pad beneath that, and the cartoonist gets to work After his three strokes in Pune on June 17, the cartoonist was brought to Mumbai on June 20 by an air ambulance as an emergency case....R K Laxman didn’t know who Sachin Tichkule is. Nor did the eminent cartoonist of The Times of India recognise Akshay Kumar when the actor visited him at Breach Candy Hospital yesterday morning. Sadly, the three mini strokes he suffered in Pune last month have deprived Laxman of speech and much movement. It was left to wife Kamala to make the introductions."

To top it all this piece of news was carried with a picture of a beaming Kumar next to ailing Laxman.

Micro-blogging site Twitter is abuzz right now with posts about how film promotion was taken too far in this case.

Rajeev Masand tweeted, "Need innovative ideas 2 promote films in competitive times. But Akshay Kumar grinning like a jackass at RK Laxman's hospital bed is a new low"

Amitabh Bachchan, who took an offence on Akshay's behalf, tweeted: "Rajeev .! Your fraternity will never pull you up for calling Akshay a 'jackass'. Ever thought if the reverse were to be done."

We reached Rajeev Masand and he said: "I don't want to make this into a fight. I don't want to say anything. I've said what I wanted to say already on Twitter."

Publicity stunts in Bollywood
==================


Bollywood actors and producers can go to any extent to publicise their films, regardless of the consequences. Some resort to deliberately causing controversies by having tiffs with (or paying off) certain political parties, while others support noble causes right before the film's release. Newest on the block is this picture of Akshay Kumar, grinning at the bed-ridden RK Laxman.

A day ago Akshay Kumar visited the legendary cartoonist RK Laxman at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai. While the act itself seems harmless, it came at a time when Akki is promoting his new film 'Khatta Meetha' which is due for release soon. And just why has the marketing team behind the film decided to send Akshay to meet up with the hospitalised Laxman? Because Akki plays the 'common man' in the film. Albeit with Ray Ban sunglasses, designer shirts and Trisha to hang out with. Akshay went as far ahead as to claim that Laxman's 'aam aadmi' was the inspiration for his character, even though the film itself is a remake of a Malayalam flick named 'Vellanakalude Nadu'. And if that wasn't enough the photograph published in papers was in bad taste - the image consists of Akki grinning shabbily, shamelessly posing for the photographers, forcible holding poor Laxman's hand who struggled to remain awake. There was nothing benevolent or humane about Akshay's act - he'd never even bothered taking Laxman's blessings before the film's shoot. Is there any reason to meet him now, when the old man is on his death bed? Apart from garnering some unashamed publicity?

As was expected, Akshay's photograph amounted to an outrage on social networking site Twitter, where hundreds of folks, including journos ridiculed Akki's stunt. Rajeev Masand, a prominent film critic and journalist for IBN called Akshay a 'jackass' - the tweet provided the spark for a wildfire on the site, as a raging debate ensued between Bollywood celebrities, journalists and aam aadmis on the site. Amitabh Bachchan trashed Masand for his usage of the word 'jackass' and expressed disgust at journalists who frequently indulge in ridiculing Akshay and other Bollywood actors. "Dear All, I was just turning in for the day when I went to check my account on Twitter and came across a remark by Rajeev Masand, a journalist and prominent anchor for CNN/IBN and one who reviews films every week end. Rajeev Masand calls Akshay Kumar a 'jackass', and then they hound and criticize me for writing against the media on my blog?" he wrote.

"For long have I championed the cause of those incidents that have been the victims of media bias and insensitive reportage. The media will and has since and before, made every effort to ridicule my stand on some issues and incidents that I have regularly brought up in my blog. Many have blanked me out from their dailies, others are giving adamant and feeble responses to our lawyers notices. It has merely strengthened my assumption that the media is above board and cannot be touched. They are superior and above all ethics. They are also the keepers of our morals and the true purveyors of our Constitution and our Democracy!" he added.

But who's to blame here? The gold digging Bollywood actor or the harsh journalists? The way I see it, its a vicious circle, and this is how news spreads and Bollywood functions. The movie industry is dependent on journalists for film promotions and news channels need Bollywood for the latest garam masala. And its not just Akshay Kumar, seasoned actors like the Perfectionist Aamir Khan resort to cheap publicity stunts - the man recently announced a tribute to Asheem Chakravarty, the former band member of Indian Ocean who wrote one song for Aamir's upcoming film 'Peepli Live'. Asheem passed away last December, and Aamir was nowhere to be seen; he had nothing to do with 'Leaving Home', the documentary on the band either.

Interestingly, it all began in the 90s when Aamir Khan stirred up a controversy with the 'A' rating of his film 'Rangeela'. That film turned out to be a huge box office hit. And of course, we all know what really happened between the Shiv Sena and Shahrukh Khan before 'My Name is Khan' hit theaters.


By:
Remi Sivandaf