Two news films signed by Katrina
While it is hinted that one of the them is Dibakar Banerjee’s, the formalities for another film are being worked out. But the actress refuses to speak about her movies. She wants the filmmakers concerned to make the proper announcements. “You guys will know in due course,” says Katz.
Reacting to rumours that she is doing an Aditya Chopra film with Shah Rukh Khan, the Princess of Bollywood says, “Hey, where is Aditya Chopra? I keep reading about these rumoured films with him? I may be in a production of his banner, but I have no clue about Aditya directing any film with me as of now.”
Pretty Katrina wants the rumourmongers to rest for a bit. Shoo, Aditya Chopra, too, is wishing them away.
Bips - I'm hot & sexy
And, well, she isn’t apologetic about it because at the end of the day, every woman aspires to be just that. But what the actress fails to understand is why people can’t see beyond the obvious.
Bipasha, who has done some remarkable work in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Corporate and Prakash Jha’s Apaharan and shown her own histrionics in Rituparno Ghosh’s Shob Choritro Kalponik besides proving she’s no bimbette in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Omkara, said indignantly:
“Despite this, if I have to fight the stereotypical image that filmmakers have of me being just hot and sexy, then it is rather sad. There are a set of people out there who are myopic.”
Perhaps the Bengali beauty has a point. In all fairness one must say she has juggled the sexy parts with the meaningful ones. In the year of Corporate where she displayed acting prowess she also did Dhoom-2 where she romped around in a bikini.
“To remember one and overlook the other is unfair,’’ argued the actress. Her current lot of films though are a happy mix. There is Sanjay Gupta’s Pankh, where she is an actress on screen, Ajay Devgan’s All The Best — a madcap comedy that is a big ticket bet this Diwali, and Priyadarshan’s untitled venture where she has “a thinking role’’.
“Good work is happening,’’ admitted Bipasha. “Priyadarshan is someone I also wanted to work with. He is a filmmaker with foresight and I know I’m in a pair of very capable hands.’’ She is also happy with the way Ajay Devgan’s release has shaped up. “All The Best is one laugh-a-riot,’’ revealed the actress. “Believe me, we not only had a blast shooting it, we had a blast even while dubbing for the film because it’s a situational comedy that is so funny.’’
However, what comes as a shock is the news that Bipasha who has always had cordial relations with her female co-stars, is now having a cold war with Mugdha Godse, the other girl in All The Best. “Are you buying this story,’’ she asked incredulously.
“I read somewhere that I had stopped Ajay Devgan and Fardeen Khan from going to Mugdha’s party. Am I some mastermind who can actually stop my co-stars from doing what they must?’’ She herself was at an official event that day with her co-star Neil Nitin Mukesh because boyfriend John Abraham was not in town. She remembers wishing Mugdha and sending her flowers, a card and chocolates. “Over the years, I have rarely had a problem with my co-stars,’’ said Bipasha. “With some girls I’m friendly, with others I’m cordial. But to suggest that I have a cold war going with Mugdha is ridiculous.’’
Who says Salman Cancel`s US Trip
Boney Kapoor, Producer of Salman`s upcoming movie "Wanted" has slammed reports that actor Salman Khan cancelled his trip to New York for promoting his upcoming release "Wanted" in the wake of Shah Rukh Khan's detention at a US airport earlier this month.
Media reports had said that Salman called off the trip after Shah Rukh was detained and questioned by immigration officials at Newark airport for over two hours Aug 14.
"This is completely false. Not going to New York was a decision taken by the producers and Salman didn't even know about it. He is unnecessarily being dragged into all this. We refused to go to the US because the proposal offered to us for the event there was not acceptable to us. That's it," Kapoor told IANS.
"News reports said that Salman was to be in New York Sep 3. That is also completely untrue," he added.
"Wanted", a film by noted choreographer-turned-director Prabhu Deva, stars Salman and Ayesha Takia. The action flick is slated for release Sep 18.
Kareena won`t celeberate her Birthday
Bebo Fans, do not make any plans for celebrate her Birthday as she is busy...
The actress who turns 29 on September 21, is going to be busy on her film 3 Idiots with Aamir Khan, so bechara Saif Ali Khan will have to rework whatever surprise he had in mind for his Bebo.
Originally, she had wanted to spend time with Saif, mother Babita, sister Karisma and niece Samaira around her birthday... but tragedy struck Aamir’s close and happy little khandaan, and Kareena stepped to the rescue.
You know that Aamir’s wife Kiran Rao suffered a miscarriage earlier this month, and that Aamir promised Kiran he would take time off from 3 Idiots to help her recuperate from the trauma.
What Aamir didn’t realise when he made that emotional commitment was that he had given dates with Kareena to shoot a song in Mumbai during the very same period. Hesitantly, he called up his co-star and asked if she would reorganise her own diary to accommodate him at another time. And Kareena agreed, at the cost of her own birthday plans, because she realised how big Kiran’s trauma was.
Now Kareena and Aamir will shoot the song from September 25 to October 2 in Mumbai. She was in Switzerland all the while and is expected back in Mumbai today. While Aamir is in Europe. The actor has left behind his two cell phones and prefers to be incommunicado for the period that he spends with Kiran. He wants nothing to come in the way of her recuperation.
Shahrukh not crying for me
Bollywood’s bad boy Salman Khan doesn’t seem to let go of old grudges too easily.
When he has a fallout with someone, he says, “I just don't hang out with them anymore.” And, does he miss old buddy Shah Rukh Khan? The stars says in a television interview, “No, not really. We weren't that close anyway. We used to hang out together once in a while. We did quite a few films and had a laugh. We had a problem earlier as well, and one night it just happened. People have fights; it's just the next morning it was taken to a different level. If everything were sorted out that night itself, perhaps, things would have been fine. But I guess there was a different agenda to that.”
Is there a possibility of a reconciliation between the warring Khans? “No, I mean he's doing fine. He doesn't miss me, it's not like he is crying over me. He's doing good work and he is good to the people he works for. He is at one end of Bandstand and I'm at the beginning of Bandstand.”
On friendships, the 44-year-old actor says, “When one is growing up it's different. But today you come to a stage where there are no friends. Most people who you meet are just acquaintances and who you get along with. Everyone should realise that your childhood friends and your family are all you need.”
On King Khan being detained at a US airport for over two hours, he says, “I think this whole thing has been blown out of proportion. Forget immigration in America or anywhere in the world. You can't enter any five star hotels till the time you and your car are checked. So when you don't mind the security check while entering a hotel here, why do you have to mind it there?
I'm Shah Rukh must be feeling the same. At that point of time a person's ego gets hurt.
Bipasha Basu is a health freak
Bipasha Basu is a health freak and is known to never smoke or drink, which explains her bootylicious body.
Now, she has refused to smoke a cigarette or even hold it for a scene in her forthcoming film, Pankh.
Our source said, “Sudipto Chattopadhyay, the director of the film, wanted Bipasha to smoke on screen for a vital sequence. However, Bipasha flatly refused as she does not encourage smoking and hates it. She was not in favour of the scene and if she smokes, it meant that she would be promoting smoking. After that, Sudipto even gave her the option of holding a cigarette, but she refused that as well. Sudipto understood her point of view and agreed to shoot the scene differently.”
Bips confirms the story and maintains her anti-smoking stance. She said, “I don’t smoke and I don’t encourage smoking. Unless it’s absolutely essential to smoke for my role, I wouldn’t agree to do it. In Pankh, it was not essential, hence I refused. I had also refused to smoke in one of my earlier films, Corporate. If my role is that of an addict, then I will do whatever the character and the role demands, which was not the case with Pankh.”
Director Sudipto, though forced to alter the scene, decided to respect Bipasha’s wishes. He said, “It was a song sequence with a smoky atmosphere. We wanted to show that when she starts singing, smoke comes out of her mouth. However, she had a very valid point that smoking was a very politically incorrect thing to do. She said that she does not endorse smoking and she did not endorse John doing No Smoking. She had never smoked in her life. We can’t fake smoking like we do with drinking. So, eventually, we placed a canister jar in front of her which emitted smoke and we framed it in such a way that when she sings, it seems that the smoke is coming out of her mouth.”
Sanjay Gupta, the producer of the film, said, “It’s the question of an actor being comfortable. Bipasha had some inhibitions about it and it’s perfectly fine.”
Kareena's not a gadget freak
All her friends have a particular model of a high-end phone but Kareena Kapoor is not tempted to buy a similar one for herself.
She says, “I don’t want everyone to ping me constantly.” The actress says one has to keep one’s privacy at least at some point in life. “I love my friends, I love spending quality time with them,” says Kareena. “However there are times when I like to switch off completely. I don’t want to share every moment of mine.”
SRK tributes the Pop Legend MJ
From Shahid Kapoor to Vishal-Shekhar, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has roped in the biggest names in the business for a music video to pay tribute to the late pop legend Michael Jackson.
Vishal Dadlani of Vishal-Shekhar duo told IANS that it was Shah Rukh's idea to get a tribute rolling for the music legend who passed away on June 25 this year.
"The entire world was upset about his demise and so were Shekhar (Ravjiani) and I. We happened to meet Shah Rukh and he also expressed his thought about doing something that would be befitting the stature of the man who entertained us for decades. This is how the idea around the music video was born," said Vishal.
It was decided that the music video titled "Make it Large - A tribute to Michael Jackson" would be launched Aug 29 to coincide with Jackson's 51st birthday. While Vishal also wrote the lyrics for the song, some of the best singers in the industry - Shankar Mahadevan, Shaan, KK and Shreya Ghoshal - were roped in to sing.
"For the moment, the idea is to launch the music video across all music channels just for one day. It is available on Red Chillies Entertainment website though," said Vishal who is currently holidaying in London.
Directed by Samar Khan, "Make it Large - A tribute to Michael Jackson" is also special since it features Prabhu Deva who is yet again seen at his dancing best.
Also, the video features testimonials on Michael Jackson from Shah Rukh Khan himself along with Shahid Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Anoushka Sharma and Yuvraj Singh.
Vishal and Shekhar would also be allowing free download of the song at their website beginning Aug 29.
"The video wasn't created for making money. It's a tribute and I am sure there are millions out there who would want to grab a copy of the song for themselves. We are more than glad to share our sentiments with the rest of the world".
Be relax - Priyanka
Priyanka Chopra, without concern for her health, interrupted her well-deserved vacation and flew to Mumbai only for a day to dub for What’s your Rashee.
Priyanka Chopra is evidently committed to her projects, as she takes a break from a break to dub for What’s Your Rashee? Either she is a workaholic or health is currently not high on her list of priorities. After suffering a long period of ill health coupled with exhaustion, which needed hospitalisation for a few days, Priyanka has returned from her holiday to Mumbai only for a day to fulfill a work commitment.
Priyanka had left for an unknown foreign destination last Wednesday, but she interrupted her holiday and flew into the city early on Thursday morning. After a brief rest, she headed to the studios to dub for Ashutosh Gowariker’s What’s Your Rashee? She plans to take off for the second leg of her vacation after a day of dubbing.
A source says, “The dubbing of What’s Your Rashee? was so important that Priyanka just could not refuse. While a few of her friends who were with her on the holiday told her to take it easy, Priyanka still chose to make a hectic dash.”
• While a few of her friends who were with her on the holiday told her to take it easy, Priyanka still chose to make a hectic dash.
Last evening, Priyanka’s father confirmed the news, “Yes, Priyanka has come back. She had to dub for What’s Your Rashee?”
When asked if Priyanka was facing a burn out and concentrating too much on work, Dr Chopra said, “Priyanka is absolutely fine. Work is fun. Aur kaam bhi to important hai. Requirement thi.”
Priyanka’s parents are accompanying her on the second leg of her holiday. “Yes, my wife and I are going with her,” Dr Chopra added.
Not once in six years, has Priyanka Chopra taken it easy. This was her first vacation, which was supposed to be really relaxing. But some people just don’t seem to know how to relax.
Its Birthday Time for Raj - Shilpa
Reports that Shilpa’s dad has been applying to retrieve his passport from Surat (where the document is kept because of a pending court case) so he can be in London for his daughter’s wedding has Shilpa in splits.
“The passport is certainly not meant for my wedding, please! It’s not happening in October, November, December or any of the dates that have been fixed for my wedding in the media. Raj and I will announce the date from the rooftops and invite the entire press corps to be part of the baraat when it happens. In the meanwhile, please leave my father alone.”
Papa Shetty’s passport needed retrieval not for Shilpa’s wedding but for another family gathering altogether.
“It’s Raj Kundra’s birthday on September 9. Our entire collective family will be bringing in the occasion at the Maldives. That’s what my dad needed his passport for.”
On a more sober note Shilpa says, “We all respect the judiciary. But it’s very humiliating for any daughter to have her father rushing to another town for his passport. It’s even more humiliating to have erroneous media reports being put out about one’s father. He had applied for his passport a few months ago.”
As for the wedding, “There’s no reason on earth why Raj I wouldn’t want to get married at the earliest. At the moment we’ve our hands full with many new exciting ventures. We need get the space in our lives to plan and enjoy this wonderful event.
Love Khichdi - Riya and Randeep
Riya Sen is back on Big Screen with her movie Love Khichdi after a break..
Riya plays a teenager who has a huge crush on Randeep Hooda in Pittie group and Victoria Entertainment’s Love Khichdi.
In the movie, Randeep and Riya are shown to be living in the same building. While Randeep is busy with his ‘love-affairs’ elsewhere, Riya has built her own world with him in her mind. “Initially, I had refused the role. I wanted to do one of the other roles which was more mature. But then, when the director narrated the details of my character, I realised that it was actually an important role. He in fact convinced me to fall in love with it,” she says. Speaking about the character, she says, “I’m playing a 15-year-old school girl.
Teenage girls do have a tendency to be like that, have random crushes and build their worlds around the guy in their mind. Although I’ve had crushes, I never followed anyone like this character! Maybe because by then I was busy following my career. But I’ve seen the girls around me, and this character fits so well with all that I’ve observed. It’s indeed a compliment that I get to play this young character and mentally I just had to go back in time.”
Riya is again a part of a huge cast. There are six other girls in the movie. “I’ve been part of multistarrers before and that wasn’t really a problem for me. What matters to me is the role that I am playing. For once, I wasn’t playing the sexy damsel, but a regular middle-class girl-next-door. It’s a real person and she could be anyone around you,”
Guess the Coin Slot
Can you guess which pop star showed off some serious butt cleavage the other day in L.A.?Click to see who is behind in that???
Will Mamta quit South Cinema
Who are we talking about? Mamta Mohandas is in the news these days and a certain Bollywood director has something to do with it. Well, if rumours are to be believed, then the gorgeous girl has impressed hotshot director Imtiaz Ali with her stunning portfolio.
After finding fame in smash hits like Jab We Met and Love Aaj Kal, Imtiaz is all set to direct another love story with Ranbir Kapoor in the lead and Mamta has been pencilled in as a possible candidate to play the heroine.
While the actress remained unavailable for comment, sources claim that she has refused to shoot for noted director Kamal’s film, which also features Dileep and Tamil actor Sathyaraj. Citing ‘severe fever’ and the flu as reasons, Mamta did not report to the sets of the shoot at Ooty. The question being asked in the Malayalam film industry now is, will Mamta quit south cinema, and prepare herself for Bollywood like Trisha, who has completely stopped signing new films?
A leading production manager from the Malayalam film industry, who is also close to the actress, confirmed, “She is indeed not feeling too well due to her hectic schedule and wants to take a break for a few weeks during which period she will not be shooting. And as far as Bollywood is concerned, like any other actress in the south, she is on the look out for a good role in a Hindi film.”
The demure heroine of Hariharan’s off-beat Malayalam film Mayookham (2005), turned glamorous with a vengeance in Lanka (2005), after her first three films bombed. Later, she tried to migrate to Kollywood with Vishal’s Sivapathigaram, which also bombed and she was labelled unlucky.
She moved to Tollywood and found fame as a singer due to her closeness to music director Devi Sri Prasad. Recently, she tried to make a comeback in a very glamorous role opposite Madhavan in Guru En Aalu, but the film failed.
Priyanka cry remembering her Childhood
Priyanka Chopra broke down in tears more than once when she appeared as a celebrity guest on the recently launched popular Farah Khan`s chat show Tere Mere Beach Mein.
The usually bubbly and vivacious Bollywood actress spoke at length about her journey from Bareilly to Bollywood and was accompanied by Olympic boxing champion, Vijender Singh in the theme, ‘Chhote Shehar, Bade Sapne’.
This Saturday, the celebrity guests on this chat show that is hosted by Farah Khan has Priyanka along with Olympic boxing champion, Vijender Singh as the celebrity guests. They share their lives in the theme of the day, ‘Chhote Shehar, Bade Sapne’.
Both spoke about their upbringing and the stark contrast between both of them evoked many a gasp and a tear among the audiences that watched the show. Yet, what shone through was their unfailing self-confidence in achieving their dreams and taking risks to succeed!
Priyanka recollects memories of her younger days and is astonished to see a video of Vijender’s humble background.
What says Kamal Hassan to Shruti
If you want to reach the skyes and big dreams you need to strive to perform as well as the best by hard work says Kamal.
And for a vast majority of those in Indian cinema, Padmashree Kamal Haasan and his performances are the best. A gifted artiste, doting father and a fine human being, Kamal Haasan is a celebrity in every sense of the word.
A truly global artiste whose performances have and continue to be the benchmark for several artistes in India and abroad. In an exclusive to Chennai Times, the ace actor opens up on his next project Unnaipol Oruvan (UO) ...
Generally, when people need to improve their performances, they tend to compare themselves with the best to derive the motivation to perform better. When you are the best, who do you compare your performances with? What was the motivation factor in UO?
In the case of UO, the content was the motivation. Naseeruddin Shah’s performance was a challenge. If you observe, Kamban wrote the Ramayana as it was a challenge to him.
Is there friendly competition when two classy actors work together? In the case of UO, you and Mohanlal?
Absolutely. And we like each other. All the while, every actor is in competition, whether he is in the same film or not. Whenever I watch a good movie of Mohanlal’s, I feel like doing a movie better than his and when he watches a good film of mine, he feels likewise. We both initiate and encourage each other. The idea is that if the competition is negative in nature, we will only head downwards. The gravity will drag us down and we will have to remain there. To get up and fly, we need to motivate each other. The concept of destroying your enemy completely is a concept that does not exist in modern day warfare. When it is a non-existent concept in the art of modern day war, how can it be there in the field of art, in which enemies don’t exist?
On the power of art ...
When I watch a superb performance, I forget everything else apart from the performance of that individual. When a Pakistani actor acts well, I forget about the man (Kasab) who is testifying in the court. I forget the Pakistanis who backstabbed us on 26/11. At that moment, I only think of the artist who has performed well. Art has that strength and the same strength prevails in justice and in righteousness. So, the more art proceeds towards righteousness, the more its victory will be known to the world.
Surya, who had to play the role of a ten-year-old in Aadhavan, had to strain himself for almost 15 days. The actor had openly expressed his admiration for you after playing the role, as you’ve donned 10 such difficult roles in another film. Please comment ...
It is like a younger brother watching and learning from an elder brother or a son learning from his father. What I did in Dasavatharam, I did watching Navarathri. There is nothing to hide or feel shy about it. If you were to ask Sivaji sir as to how he did it, he would have said that he did it by watching Jagathalaprathapan. It is the duty of the next generation to outclass or outperform its preceding generation. A generation that fails to do this can only be termed as one that is backward. Now, my duty is to go beyond the distance that Sivaji sir travelled. A child that sits on his shoulders shouldn’t think that he is taller than the person bearing him nor should he keep looking down. When a child gets the permission to get on the shoulders of an achiever, it should only look ahead. That is the child’s duty. Vairamuthu too has said this.
Although I feel happy to remain at the feet of Kannadasan, I would love to sit on his shoulders and see the world.” At least, Vairamuthu said he would like to do that. I had permission to do that. So, when I have had the permission, how can I look down? I should only look ahead.
On Shruthi Haasan, who is making her debut as a music director...
Shruthi went abroad to study for two-three years. When she returned, she was a different person. It took three years for me to introduce myself to that Shruthi. And she continues to grow. What is important is that Shruthi is back to take rest under this shade, not to stay.
MF Hussain to Potrait Madhuri and Amrita
Madhuri Dixit and Amrita Rao to potrait by Maqbool Fida Hussain on the same canvas; will soon make a film with the two in lead roles.
After painting several solos of his favourite ladies — Madhuri Dixit and Amrita Rao, legendary artist MF Hussain is now geared up to paint the two together on the same canvas for the very first time. The inspiration for this painting comes from a film, which will star Madhuri and Amrita, and will be made by Hussain.
“Hussain has even asked Madhuri and Amrita to visit him during Diwali this year to discuss the logistics of the film,” said a source.
Confirming the story, Hussain said, “I do a lot of combination paintings. I have started working on the Madhuri and Amrita painting. It should be ready in a month’s time.”
Along with the painting, Hussain has also begun working on the film.
Confirming his plans of making a film with the two Bollywood actresses, Hussain said, “It’s a bit early to divulge any details but yes, there is one such project in the pipeline. I want to make a film starring Madhuri and Amrita. I believe that my painting is incomplete unless I make a film on it.”
“Hussain has even asked Madhuri and Amrita to visit him during Diwali this year to discuss the logistics of the film,” said a source.
Confirming the story, Hussain said, “I do a lot of combination paintings. I have started working on the Madhuri and Amrita painting. It should be ready in a month’s time.”
Along with the painting, Hussain has also begun working on the film.
Confirming his plans of making a film with the two Bollywood actresses, Hussain said, “It’s a bit early to divulge any details but yes, there is one such project in the pipeline. I want to make a film starring Madhuri and Amrita. I believe that my painting is incomplete unless I make a film on it.”
Moving time for Shahid
Vishal Bhardwaj, Shahid Kapoor and Sriram Raghavan were present a week ago when Amole Gupte and the children of his school Aseema for impermanent slum children screened their first film at the M.E.T College in Bandra (Mumbai).
It was a moving moment for Shahid who empathizes deeply with issues related to children and has in fact done a film on children’s education Paathshala for his childhood friend Ahmed Khan, and has also done a film Wah Life Ho To Aisi with child actors at the helm.
Shahid was so moved by the filmmaking effort of the children at Aseema that he has now offered them all support and help.
Says Amole, “Shahid, Vishal and Sriram were deeply moved. They feel only the truly innocent can make a film as devoid of cunning as Aansoon Bane Moti. Even the title was chosen by the kids themselves.”
And now the kids from Aseema will be making one film every month. “The first film was exactly ten minutes twenty seconds long. Now they’re going on to their second. M.E.T College has kindly consented to lend all their editing equipment for the kids. So now the kids at Aseema are the only regular pre-teen and adolescent filmmakers from any part of the world.”
Amole, deeply affiliated to children’s causes had to cringe before shouting at a child actor in Kaminey. “But that was my character. Not me. I convinced myself into doing all kinds of political and domestic things that I’ve no patience for or affinity with.”
Amole Gupte has cut his hair ... something he had been waiting to do from the time he began playing Bhope, the parochial Marathi goon in Kaminey.
“It came with the territory. And now it’s gone. I think ‘The Look’ for my character Bhope determined to a large extent my selection for the part. Vishal Bhardwaj liked the way my hair flowed. It went well with the way he imagined my character. Then of course there was my 27 years as a cinema student. That also must have influenced their decision.”
However the long hair began to bug Amole. “Somewhere my hair become too much a part of the character. I was waiting for the film to be over so I could get rid of it.” Amole is hoping he won’t be flooded with villainous roles after Kaminey.
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