|
|
|
|
Preview: Ghajini
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2008 | 6:43 pm Shah Rukh Khan conferred with Datuk title
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2008 | 5:26 pm Slumdog Millionaire is on top
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2008 | 5:06 pm Bigg Boss winner Ashu's love story ends
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2008 | 4:50 pm Title confirmed as New York for Kabir Khan's next; promo to unveil with RNBDJAfter the worldwide critical success of Kabul Express and fresh from his National Award as the Best Debutant Director, Kabir Khan is expanding his canvas for Yash Raj Films with his next film, titled, New York. The film has an exciting star cast of John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan Khan and the music is composed by Pritam. What's more? New York will be the first release of 2009 from the Yash Raj Films and is bound to attract even more attention. New York is a contemporary story of friendship set against the larger than life backdrop of a city, often described as the centre of the world. For most of us, larger events in the world are just headlines in the newspapers but these events can change our lives forever. New York is one such story of 3 young friends whose beautiful lives are turned upside down by larger events beyond their control. In fact, the buzz for New York is going to start on December 12, when the trailer of New York will be unveiled with Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 6 Dec 2008 | 2:23 pm Scarlett Johansson dyes hair
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2008 | 1:43 pm Aamir Khan is a superb actot: Sharman Joshi
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2008 | 1:25 pm Dholakia wanted salty snowfall at Film City for LamhaaIt could have turned into a serious tu-tu-main-main between the producer and director who wanted to recreate the snow-capped Kashmiri Mountains in Film City on the day that Bipasha Basu resumed shooting at Film City for Lamhaa. According to a source Bipasha had to do a tough action scene on the location depicting the zigzagging streets of Kashmir in Film City. And Dholakia wanted snow...not authentic snow. But the kind created for cinema with salt. Says Dholakia, ''It's a well-known fact that the salt effect to create snow on screen is far more effective than real snow which tends to obstruct the camera (Sanjay Leela Bhansali shot all the snow-scaped scenes in Black with simulated snow). So yes I ordered salt for the scenes with Bipasha.'' Apparently, a truck of salt was ordered to create snow at Film City. But producer Bunty Walia put his foot down. Says Bunty, ''Yes I stopped the truck with salt because I was against the snow idea. See, how do we match the real snow in Kashmir with the artificial snow when we return to Kashmir in January and in any case how can we be sure it'd be snowing in Kashmir when we return there? How would we ensure continuity with the scenes we shoot on Film City?" Reluctantly and not too happily Dholakia shot without his truckload of snow. Says the director, "It's very important to return to Kashmir at any cost. I need to take my cast and crew to shoot the Dal Lake. That cannot be recreated in Film City. Happily for me Sanju, Bipasha and Kunal Kapoor agree with me. So we'll return to Kashmir to capture as much authenticity as possible.''Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 6 Dec 2008 | 1:05 pm Hugh Jackman's son acts in Australia
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:48 pm Slumdog beats Jodhaa Akbar
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:32 pm Is Katrina Kaif the reason behind Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone’s ... - Fresh News
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 11:34 am I feel little scared as a Muslim: Saif
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Dec 2008 | 11:28 am "Irrfan is the most modest and generous person I have met" - Rahul BoseWe all know that there is going to be a multiple choice of films this Friday, so we decided to catch up with Rahul and quiz him about what makes his film Dil Kabbadi special and hence stand out. What is the film Dil Kabbadi all about? Will it be like Life In A Metro? Dil Kabbadi is a film about urban relationships or rather marriages in particular, it is about two couples, their stories as they explore the realm of marriage and life after tying the knot. It also portrays the type of boredom that an individual feels when he or she is tied down to another person, and how the love that once was begins to dry up leaving behind a chaff of troubled relations and strained ties. Dil Kabbadi, as it deals with life and marriage, also shows the work that is needed to maintain the bond between two individuals, the insecurity, the demand of faithfulness and other aspects. The strain at times in most of such relationships is pretty evident but then this film says that marriage is something that people have to work on and if you can't handle it don't get married. And yet if you still go ahead, you might as bloody well stick to it through the good and bad times. To a certain extent the film may seem like Life In A Metro, however here we deal with relationships in much more detail. The time and effort that has gone into bringing out the small intricacies of married life is really amazing, and is a must watch for the city audience. To a certain extent the film may seem like Life In A Metro, however here we deal with relationships in much more detail In the film you were supposed to play the role alongside Soha. So, what made you decide to change and play Irrfan's role along side Konkana? Yes, initially I was cast along side Soha, but then, I have been playing that kind of role all too often. Hence, I decided that I wanted a more straightforward and milder role. Apart from this, the character I play in the film now is that of a film professor, a guy who prides himself on being an intellectual, which, in reality though he isn't. The other aspect of him is that he tends to look down on others as he thinks of himself as better than the rest; while the role that Irrfan plays is that of this ad man who is really hip and happening. So, basically I wanted a more grounded role in the film. Could you elaborate a bit more about the character you are playing? As I said earlier, I play a professor, an intellectual who looks down on others, and prides himself on being broad minded and superior in terms of honesty. However, while you watch the film you tend to realize that the role Irrfan plays though highly flirtatious is more honest and precise as compared to mine. Keeping in mind the recent happenings in Mumbai, do you think, your film will be affected in any way? Actually, no one can say what really can happen, so I leave this to fate and I would say that the film has a 50-50 chances of being affected or not, by what has happened. Besides this, I think that the producers are the best judge for such things as ultimately it is their money that is riding on the film business. However, as an individual who was though not born but raised in Mumbai, I, kind of understand the pulse of the city and there could be two responses, the first being 'Okâ¦what has happened has happened, so lets move on, like the so called 'spirit of Mumbai'. While on the other hand, we have the more cautious approach, by which things will definitely take a while to sooth down and return to normal. No one can say what really can happen, so I leave this to fate Even though you were playing the role along side Konkana, you and Soha share quite a bit of screen time together. What was it like acting with her? What about Irrfan? Yes, we have quite a few scenes together and share a lot of screen time together, and all I can say is that, she is in fact a fantastic actor, and her sense of comedy and her comic timing is simply marvelous. Irrfan is actually the most modest and generous person that I have met or have come across till date. He is very easily an amazing actor and is highly creative with his work. He is tad authentic and real when it comes to acting. In the sense that he doesn't have to try really hard to get into the role he is about to play, because, acting to him comes naturally. Alongside Dil Kabaddi, there are quite a few other films as well that are releasing. What is that one factor that makes your film stand out from the rest? And what are the high points for the audience? I really don't know and can't say much here as I haven't got a clue about the whole business of selling. As for what the audience should look out for is the star cast, all four of us. This will be the first time that we have come together in any film, and the resulting witty outcome is a pleasure to watch. Besides that, the script was also so interesting; it has so much relevance to today's world and the urban life that most of us live. As for the comedy, it is more verbal rather than action oriented. So I guess the audiences will have to pay attention and listen to the small nuances to get a joke or a crack. Do you think that the producers should have altered the release date of the film? Well that is their decision and I am just an actor. All I have to do is play the role that is allotted to me to the best of my abilities and hope that the producers and directors make an equally good call as to when the film will release and if not then what should be done. With the increasing tensions between India and Pakistan, the relations have been strained. Do you think that cinema could help diffuse these emotions of anger and hatred? To a certain extent yes, cinema can be used to help these relations. But to me, I feel that more interactive art forms can be of much more help, especially now that both the nations almost can't see eye to eye. What we need is an interactive form of art where both sides can come in and comment without fear of any repercussions. Conversation or just plain speaking can help sort out such problems and yes at a later stage working together also comes into play. After Dil Kabbadi when will we see you next on the silver screen? After Dil Kabbadi, I have Aparna Sen's The Japanese Wife. And to tell you frankly, I am eagerly awaiting its release. The reason for this is that I feel that this film is very tastefully written, the class and the complexity are so engaging that I am sure the audience will love the film.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 6 Dec 2008 | 11:27 am Aamir’s Macho Look Impressed King Khan - TopNews
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 10:40 am Prabhu Deva's son sets for heavenly abode''Death has so many doors to let out life while life has just one door to let in death'' ...thus said a philosopher who saw the death of his dear one, totally hapless and helpless, which is exactly what the ace choreographer cum actor Prabhu Deva must now be feeling, after his 13-year old son Vishal (aka Basvaraj) passed away yesterday in the wee hours of the morning. Vishal was the eldest of all three siblings, the other two being Rishi and Aditya. Vishal had been diagnosed with blood cancer last year, something that the whole family was aware of. Needles to say, that Prabhudeva and his wife Latha walked every possible extra mile for curing their darling son. But as they say, all of us have to do nothing but bow before His will. The irony of the situation was that Vishal had only recently expressed his desire to see his famous father directing the southern superstar Vijay in his film, 'Villu'. The doting father didn't waste a single moment in making his son's wish come true and took him along to Malaysia where he was shooting. Little must have the father realised that this would just turn out to be his son's last wish! Bollywood Hungama stands with this family in their time of grief. May the Lord Almighty give them strength to cope with this situation.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 6 Dec 2008 | 10:19 am X'mas windfall for Kate Moss' NannyLondon (ANI): With Christmas just round the corner, Kate Moss turned 'Santa' for her nanny, as the stunner took her to a 3,000 pounds festival shopping spree in Topshop. Kate told Mary Davidson, 60, who is nanny to Kate's daughter LilaSource: Oneindia - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 9:56 am Pitt fears Jolie's mental breakdownBeijing (ANI): Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt has apparently become very concerned about his partner Angelina Jolie's health after she broke down in tears at a recent press conference in London. According to the National Enquirer, Pitt is worried that Jolie isSource: Oneindia - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 9:52 am Bollywood Stars simmer under Global MeltdownCaught in choppy market, hit by an economic tsunami world's largest film industry, Bollywood is also facing rough weather. The boat is rocking. Big budget projects are folding up, expansion plans are being kept on hold and worst of all corporateSource: Oneindia - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 9:34 am Adnan Sami derides attacks on MumbaiAdnan is acutely pained by the terror attacks on Mumbai. "What has happened is completely barbaric. It's an act of war, a cowardly war. Jehad is meant to save your country and religion from people who are armed and dangerous. In Mumbai, they attacked innocent and helpless people. If these people think this is jehad then I've no patience with them." Adnan can't bear the mayhem in the name of religion. "The people who have done this to Mumbai in the name of jehad need to understand what the word means. As far as I'm concerned, these terrorists have no religion. If they're doing it in the name of religion they need to redefine religion. Islam doesn't permit this mayhem." Adnan who's a qualified lawyer says, "The law says if someone strikes you with a danda you can't protect yourself with a pistol. The law only allows you to defend yourself with the same weapon that you're attacked with. These people came into a hotel and took defenseless people hostage. As far as I'm concerned, these people are not Islamic at all."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 6 Dec 2008 | 9:31 am Manyata Dutt, “Politics sucks”Says his wife Manyata Dutt, who was seen at the Gateway on Wednesday night.Sanjay Dutt's wife Manyata walked from St Xavier's College to the Radio Club in Colaba to reach the Gateway of India for the public protest rally organised bySource: Oneindia - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 8:39 am Want to meet Shahrukh Khan?How many times have you wanted to trade places with the likes of Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi, Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan, for the very fact that they are ordinarily people with extraordinary dancing feet...feet that can achieve any feat! For people who say that 'Dancing is the best form of exercise', this will surely sound to be 'musical news' to their ears, because the omnipresent Shah Rukh Khan is in full throttle to promote his latest film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, through a contest, scouting for the extraordinary jodi amongst all of you! The King of Romance Shah Rukh Khan himself will crown the real-life 'Extraordinary Jodi' amongst all of you and the winning jodi(s) will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet him. The only requirement is that your story should not just appeal to SRK, but should stand out amongst the global love birds, who apparently might just be your competitors! Well, we are sure that this very news has already got your heart become tons of times lighter and the excitement is killing you by degrees! But the big question is- How can you claim to be the extraordinary jodi? The answer lies in the following 'steps'. Step 1: Log on to the Extraordinary Jodi contest page Step 2: Either write about your extraordinary jodi or better still, simply upload your video Step 3: Wait for your phone to ring and Bollywood Hungama declaring, "Hello...you the unanimous and the undisputed winner of the Rab Ne Bana Di Extraordinary Jodi" contest. Step 4: Do you really feel that after hearing that you are a winner, you will wait for any further instructions? So, what are you waiting for?Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 6 Dec 2008 | 8:14 am Shahrukh and Salman vie for honoursShahrukh Khan may be the King of Bollywood, but when it comes to health, Salman rules. Salman Khan has been voted as the number one role model of health in the entertainment category by the public of India, in a one–of–its–kind surveySource: Oneindia - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 8:02 am 'Slumdog' making millions at box-office - Apun Ka Choice
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 7:55 am Nayantara rules the roost in popularityThe survey by an organization to gauge the popularity of the heroines has thrown up some interesting results. Nayantara who is struggling for a bit hit for quite some time stood at number one. She is also the highest paidSource: Oneindia - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 7:42 am Trisha's cinematic escape from BangkokHot actress Trisha had to endure some anxious moments at the Bangkok airport.A few days ago, the actress had landed in Thailand along with hero Nagarjuna and the crew of her ongoing Telugu movie King.After the shoot was over, the actress andSource: Oneindia - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 7:22 am No takers for films on the small screenIt's not just the production of films that is getting affected due to the global meltdown, even the marketing has taken a beating, specially when it comes to satellite and cable rights. According to sources, the price of a film starts from Rs 3 crores and goes upto 15 crores depending on its box-office performance. For instance, blockbusters like Welcome and Om Shanti Om get anywhere between 15 crores and above. Jab We Met earned close to Rs. 8 crores. However, now channels are not willing to pay these kind of prices as they are finding it difficult to recover the money. Says Sameer Rao, Business Head, Star Gold, "We have been strategically buying library titles and new titles because the prices of new titles do not justify the returns." In fact, SetMax, which has been the frontrunner in buying the rights for the latest releases, has completely stopped acquiring new films. Sneha Rajani, Business Head, Max, says, "Since the last one-and-a-half years, the producers have been inflating the prices. Unless the cost comes down by 60 -70 per cent we have decided not to buy any films." Also, with the change in the business model, channels no longer have exclusive rights to a film. The syndication model, where-in the rights for the film are divided between different channels (one channel is given the first screening right, another is given the second telecast rights) has further affected their revenues. Jab We Met was the first film that was sold on this model followed by Bhool Bhulaiyaa. "The problem with the model is you don't have the freedom to schedule the film as and when you want. After the initial experience, channels have realised that it is not a viable proposition," says Rao of Star Gold adding that he is expecting a price correction of 25-30 per cent for new titles. Mohan Gopinath of Zee Cinema, which has acquired the rights for Aamir Khan's Taare Zameen Par says that offers are coming in but "We will evaluate it and only then take a decision." Not so long ago, the scene was different with channels trying to outdo each other in obtaining the rights for a film, which was a major source of revenue for filmmakers. Says Navin Shah, CEO, Percept Pictures, "Only 50 per cent of the revenues come from the box-office, the rest is from satellite and cable rights. But no deals are taking place since the last two months. Producers don't want to sell at a lesser price and broadcasters are unwilling to pay the existing price, so there is some kind of a complete hold on movie buying rights." Siddharth Roy Kapoor, CEO, UTV Motion Pictures, agrees that the liquidity crunch has led to channels re-evaluating their business strategies but points out that channels haven't stopped buying the rights. "Only last month we sold a spate of films to Zee and Colors. However, it's true the numbers (prices) have come down ." According to sources films that were sold in the range of Rs 10 crores have come down to as low as Rs 3 crores due to the cash-crunch. The last film to be sold at the price for Rs 15 crores is reportedly Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, which was bought by Colors. Films that have not found any takers include Love Story 2050, Drona and Singh Is Kinng. Though Colors had announced that it had the rights for the film, according to sources, it is an internal transfer between Studio 18 and Colors as it is part of the same group. Screen IndiaSource: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 6 Dec 2008 | 7:12 am Mallanum Mathevanum: A Comedy RiotDirector Shafi and script writer Benny P. Nayarambalam are coming together again for another super hit film titled Mallanum Mathevanum with megastar Mammootty. This year, the duo has given Mammootty one of the biggest hits in recent times, Annan Thampi. A couple of otherSource: Oneindia - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 6:51 am Working with Aamir Khan is a treat: Sharman JoshiSharman Joshi, who will reunite with 'Rang De Basanti' co-star Aamir Khan in Rajkumar Hirani's upcoming venture 'Three Idiots', says working with the superstar 'is purely a treat'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Dec 2008 | 3:00 am With Maharathi, Paresh Rawal turns producer - IBNLive.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 2:26 am I'm dying to be swallowed by Mallika Sherawat: Irrfan KhanVersatile actor Irrfan Khan has a lead role in the first Hindi film being directed by a Hollywood director. Mallika Sherawat plays a man-eating creature in Jennifer Lynch's 'Hisss' and the actor says he would love to be devoured by her.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Dec 2008 | 2:00 am Oh, My God - Indian Express
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 1:30 am Burn After Reading - Indian Express
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:44 am Unprecedented security at Sawai Gandharva - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:16 am Review: `Meerabai Not Out`; Mandira Bedi out for a duck!!If you thought Mandira Bedi had it in her to make it big on the 70 mm, you are certainly mistaken.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am Gay scenes with Sean Penn were in no way awkward: Franco!Golden Globe winner James Franco has said that filming steamy love scenes with Sean Penn in the new flick "Milk" were in no way awkward.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am Review: `Oh My God`, an insufferably boring comedy!!After excellent work in `Dasvidaniya` and `Bheja Fry,` one expected something outstanding in `Oh My God`.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am Kate Moss treats her nanny lavishly!With Christmas just round the corner, Kate Moss turned `Santa` for her nanny, as the stunner took her to a 3,000 pounds festival shopping spree in Topshop.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am Review: `Dil Kabaddi` explores choices out of wedlock! !The multi-starrer `Dil Kabaddi`, which hit cinema screens all over this Friday, is about modern day marriage which gradually tends to become a routine struggle for a couple.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am Beyonce says her marriage to Jay-Z is a power struggle!Popstar Beyonce Knowles admitted that her 8-month-old marriage to Jay-Z is a power struggle – and doesn`t let her `get bored`.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am Review: `Maharathi` veterans fail to thrill the audience!With a cast that comprises of veterans or acting `Maharathis` one expected mind-blowing performances in thriller `Maharathi`.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am Kabir Khan – From ‘Kabul Express’ to ‘New York’After the worldwide critical success of “Kabul Express” and fresh from his National Award as Best Debut Director, Kabir Khan is expanding his canvas for Yash Raj Films with his next film, titled “New York”. The film has an exciting star cast of John Abraham, Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan Khan and the music is composed by Pritam.Whats more “New York” will be the first release of 2Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am John Inaugurates Upper Crust Show [Gallery]Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am Mumbai carnage pains me: Brad PittThe man known for his good looks and for good acting skills Brad Pitt has said that he was pained to see the massacre in Mumbai carried out by deplorable terrorists recently.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 6 Dec 2008 | 12:00 am Masand's Verdict: Meerabai Not Out dumb, regressive - IBNLive.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:05 pm Dil Kabaddi a shameless rip off - IBNLive.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 8:05 pm Akshay, Aamir to clash at Box Office
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Dec 2008 | 6:25 pm "We were shooting in Newcastle when we got the news about Mumbai" - Adah SharmaIt's been a week of terror, anger, protests, resignations, condolences, rallies and deep silence. Where shops, cafes and restaurants attracted very few customers, our very own Bollywood industry too suffered its worst week ever, with cinema halls running half empty. Every Mumbaikar and an Indian has gone through their toughest days, but far away in the west, there was one actress who was also affected by what she saw and heard, a true Mumbaikar, Adah Sharma. The actress has just returned from the U.K after a three week shoot of her next Vikram Bhatt production titled Phirr. Shocked after having landed in Mumbai just two days back, Adah unfolds to Bollywood Hungama how she passed her last seven days in Newcastle away from her dearest city Mumbai. "We were shooting in one of the penthouses in Newcastle. Rajneesh Duggal and I were filming the scene. Pravin Bhatt received an SMS from his son Vikram Bhatt who was in Mumbai. Vikram was only there with us for the first one week. Pravin uncle told us that there were bomb blasts in Mumbai. Within a few minutes, another SMS from Vikram said that there was a second blast somewhere from Nariman Point followed by a third SMS which told us something similar. Everyone on the set started talking about it but no one had a clue as to what was going on, how many were killed, etc. So we went ahead and completed the scene, wrapped the shoot and came back to the hotel", the actress revealed. But what Adah was about to hear and witness next left her in a state of utter shock. She continues from where she left, "My mother was in the hotel waiting for me and was busy surfing channels on the television. My eyes couldn't believe what I was seeing. The Taj, and the Oberoi taken over by terrorists. BBC, Channel Five, Sky News, all had the same story to tell, Mumbai under attack. I sat next to my mother and there was silence in the room with only reporters doing the talking. After a short while, I got a call from my friend in Mumbai who informed me that our common friend was trapped in the Taj with his parents who had gone there for a wedding reception. I spoke to him via a conference call made by my Mumbai friend who'd called me". She adds further, "I felt numb; I was still confused as to what was happening. Figures kept on changing. First it said that 900 were dead and then it came down to 500 to 250 and then 100 the next day morning. Before I could think of anything else, I wanted to know how everyone in Mumbai was". Like many, Adah Sharma woke up on a chilly Newcastle morning of the 27th November with just one thought on her mind that everything would've come to an end in Mumbai. But her thoughts couldn't change reality. Mumbai was still under attack, with the second day running, with hundreds of hostages in both the hotels, some killed by the brutal terrorists. Now with what had become a worldwide headline, was the hotel staff worried about the cast and the crew who had come down from Mumbai? "The next day when I came down for breakfast, the hotel staff came up to us and wanted to know whether our friends and family back home were safe. They were very supportive. Even while filming a scene in the middle of a road near a small coffee house, a very old couple came up to us and wanted to know what film we were shooting. They came to know it's a Bollywood film we were making and immediately showed their concern to what was happening in Mumbai. Every Britisher was talking about the Mumbai bombings and it was so nice to see that the whole world comes together to lend their support and help during a crisis like this. I was touched." All this and it was back to work for the actress. But did it affect her work was the question. Adah answered, "We all knew what was happening back home but it was our responsibility to finish the shoot. Yes, our mobiles kept ringing, messages kept buzzing, but work too kept going on. The last few days were like your worst nightmare coming true". One of the youngest actors around, Adah has got a long career ahead of her. So what does she think as one among the city's youth, what change is needed to safeguard our country? "It's no point cursing the politicians and the government. It will only change once new laws, new policies and new politicians take over. As far as the security is concerned, I think our police should be equipped with more arms and ammunitions. What happened at the CST station was unthinkable. All the police could do was run away from just two terrorists only because they were short of guns. The police could have saved more lives if they had enough arms and ammunitions", thinks Adah. And what does she think of the RGV incident? "I've been reading about it ever since I came to Mumbai. I think it's not nice to comment on something you don't know about. But I knew that the police had no weapons at the CST station and thus I can comment on that." If we flip the history pages, we have come to know that security has not been able to save anyone, be it JFK, Indira Gandhi or Rajiv Gandhi. The actress agrees, "You're right but it's stupid that if your intelligence warns you a good four months in advance about such terrorist attacks, the country's security is still not on high alert. You cannot cheat death but you can save more people from dying. It's not our security which has failed over the years but our system because we have only managed to cure the ill, not the illness. Once we understand that, our nation will be secured".Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 5 Dec 2008 | 5:11 pm Subhash K. Jha speaks about Meerabai Not OutWhat do you say about a comedy that brings cricketer Anil Kumble on screen only to induce hiccups? Every time our cricketer-heroine Meera Achrekar remembers her favourite cricketer Kumble bursts into hefty hiccups. Just goes to show, you can take Guddi out of our films. But you can't take our films out of Guddi Each time Mandira Bedi whines about being in love with cricket and cricketer Anil Kumble to the tycoon who falls in love with her (Eijaz Khan), she reminds us of Jaya Bachchan in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Guddi, so obsessed with movies and Dharmendra (in that order) she can't think straight. Meera can. If you want to play cricket, you have to think straight. To the writer Soumik Sen's credit, he gives Mandira Bedi a role to sink her teeth into. Experienced actor and cricket connoisseur that she is, Mandira gets into the groove with lip smacking relish, abandoning lip gloss for Lagaan lips and hip-gyrations for rollicking sprints down Mumbai's gullis with the mundas of the mohallah. Lamentably, she isn't required to play much cricket, just talk about it. This either means that the screenwriter finally doesn't endorse the zany image of Meerabai as a spunky iconoclast speeding around Mumbai's crowded highway on a two-wheeler without gender care. Or just that Mandira didn't get time to practice her cricket on the field. Be as it might, even the climactic cricket game in the chawl compound staged between Mandira's beau and her brother(Mahesh Manjrekar, supremely confident in his middleclass space) is perfunctory and more a snatch of a match to bring about the marital match than a breathless display of cricketing skills. The prevalent mood of Meerabai Not Out is one of a plot not fully developed, and yet ripe enough to give out the appetizing aroma of a fruit on the way to ripening. There is a lived-in flavour of a Marathi household with a harassed brother mumbling curses under his breath at the bus stop, a mother at home who worries constantly about the unmarried (and thoroughly cricket-smitten) daughter in the house, a Bhabhi who thinks stealing an evening of paani-puri at the pavement is equivalent to domestic liberation and a well-to-do heart specialist who is so besotted by his cricketer girlfriend that he's willing to forgive her for everything including stealing away from their engagement function for a cricket match, to making bad jokes("You don't have bandages because you're a heart specialist and the heart can't be bandaged"). It doesn't take too long for us to figure out there's more than a touch of Gurinder Chadha's Bend It Like Beckham in this instant sporty and sassy version of the inimitable Parminder Nagra's gender-defying love of football in Bend It Like Beckham. Parminder had Beckham, Mandira has Kumble. The cultural crossover is clever, though not fully realized. Often you feel the narration under-plays the conflict between what a girl does in life and what she should do. Just because it doesn't want to stretch out its limbs. Also, there's the disturbing premise that finally Meera (or any girl with extraordinary aspirations) needs a man and in this case the man's father (Anupam Kher, trying to add shades to a common clichéd father's role) to see her dreams past the goal post. As a desi version of Bend It Like Beckham, Meerabai Not Out is not bad at all. As a showcase for Mandira's cricketing ambitions, the narration brings her just about the best role she's likely to get on the side side of Chak De.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 5 Dec 2008 | 3:44 pm Anil Kapoor starrer Slumdog Millionaire to release in India in Jan 2009Click above for more movie stills In today's world of films, few achieve the pinnacle of being touted as the Best Film of the year. However, for director Danny Boyle this isn't something new. Close on the heels of his film The Beach, comes yet another critically acclaimed film Slumdog Millionaire. Well for starters, the film managed to garner rave reviews across the US in the opening week itself, while in Toronto it was awarded the People's Choice Award and in the UK it was the closing extravaganza for the London Film festival this year. The film has already been slated to be nominated for the Oscars. And now finally, the film will soon be releasing on this side of the Pacific, in India. Says Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios India, "In keeping with Fox STAR studio's commitment to produce and distribute world-class local-language films, we are proud to announce the release of Slumdog Millionaire in January. It's an extraordinary film which tells a classic Indian story in a refreshingly clever, stylish and engaging manner." However, though the long wait for the film has ended, it still entails a bit of an anticipation builder with it strategically being released in January 2009. Slumdog Millionaire starring Anil Kapoor, Dev Patel, Irrfan Khan and Freida Pinto tells the story of an immensely resilient and loving boy from the slum of Mumbai whose adventures take him from the desolate poverty of begging on the streets to the wildly popular game show stage of 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?', where he surprises everyone with his knowledge. The film will be releasing in Hindi with the title of Slumdog Millionaire- Kaun Banega Karorepati, after the highly popular show by the same name.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 5 Dec 2008 | 3:09 pm Sharmila Tagore and Anupam Kher to star in Morning WalkThe chairperson of the censor board- Sharmila Tagore, and the former holder of the position- Anupam Kher, who had been replaced under a wave of acrimony, are doing film together. Entitled Morning Walk, the film about an autumnal couple meeting up in life after years of separation, is directed by debutante Aroop Dutta who has earlier directed serials for Balaji telefilms. Says Anupam, "I reminded Sharmilaji that the last time we worked together was in 1984 when we played man and wife in Jawani (the film that introduced Neelam). It's wonderful to reunite with such an old co-star and that too in such an unusual film." Morning Walk is the story of an elderly couple who meet up after decades. The old man discovers that he has a daughter from the woman whom he had once courted and won. Several films on old people discovering love are now being made, among them being Shoojit Sircar's Amitabh Bachchan-Sarika starrer Johnny Mastana and Ashu Trikha's Mithun-Ranjeeta starrer Zindagi Tere Naam . Says Anupam, "It's a good healthy sign. Everyone deserves love at any age. It about time our movies got old people out of the rocking chair and made them rock." Was all the bitterness about the way Anupam was unceremoniously replaced by Sharmila wiped away? "Oh it was erased long ago. It's not healthy clinging to resentments in life. Sharmilaji and I are having a ball shooting together. She reminded me how I used to ask the director a hundred questions during Jawani. I told her the questions are still there but are more internalized now." Interestingly, little Avika Gore, who is now a household name thanks to the TV serial 'Ballika Vadhu', plays Anupam's grand-daughter in Morning Walk. "She's wonderfully self-confident. When I work with kids today like Purav Bhandare in Tahaan, Gargi in Hawaii Dada or Avi in Morning Walk, I feel inadequate." Anupam soon leaves to shoot for Gurinder Chadha's film which has been named It's A Wonderful Afterlife. Back home, work at his acting school 'An Actor Prepares' keeps him on his toes. This acting school is one of Anupam's proudest achievements, which has branches all over the world. The school has lately been in the news for one of his student Zaira Khan who's been selected by Salman Khan to co-star with him apparently because she resembles Katrina Kaif. "What rubbish! The girl looks nothing like Katrina. Except for the fact that they're both fair-skinned, there's no resemblance between the two at all," ends Anupam.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 5 Dec 2008 | 2:34 pm Book Review: Bollywood Posters'Bollywood Posters' is a boring book if one feels like reading the content that accompanies the posters. And that's a shame considering the fact that its publishers have spared no effort in making sure that the presentation and layout is truly international. Moreover, the book's title itself is misleading. Anyone who looks at the two words 'Bollywood' and 'Posters' would be led to believe that it would be entirely about posters that have depicted the 'First Look' of the film from the yesteryears as well as current times. So do we miss these posters as a reader? No, not at all! In fact the collection of posters (by Sheena Sippy) in this 200 odd page book is pretty impressive. What fails to keep your attention on is writer Jerry Pinto's write up which accompanies these posters chapter after chapter. So what is wrong here? Well, for those who wish to be educated on the literature behind posters and also get sheer 'gyaan' about how genres were made identifiable through film posters, his writing may still make sense. But for a layman who just wishes to flip through the pages and gaze through full page posters from the 30s till as recent as Chandni Chowk To China, the text only makes for sheer boredom. That's because this text is not just verbose and pretty voluminous; it also comes with a severe sense of self-indulgence. Moreover, the text just doesn't restrict itself to the design of a poster. In fact, it is only about 20% relevant to a poster and that's because most of the time, the writer is happy describing about the genres that Bollywood has explored over the decades and the kind of films that have been made. In fact at places, even the storyline of films is being put up, something which really turns out to be annoying because what one was interested in looking at, especially if one has bought the book due to it's title 'Bollywood Posters', is - Explore posters and a lot more of posters! However, what one gets to see are essays which would be loved by those who follow the 'literature' behind cinema while being flipped over rather arrogantly by someone who is just not interested in knowing these facts. Also, even for a student of Bollywood cinema, there is already very good literature available in the form of B D Garga's 'So Many Cinemas - The Motion Picture in India'. The book has traditionally worked as a text book comprising of everything that one wanted to know about emerging trends in cinema and if one has already gone through it, there are actually no surprises in store from 'Bollywood Posters'. This leads one to the 'real content' that one wanted to look for in this book i.e. Bollywood posters. And in this context, the book has plenty to offer. From the psychedelic look of Bobby to the new age design of Dil Chahta Hai, from the superhero world of Zorro [starring Navin Nischol as 'Zorro' - now how many would have really known this fact!] to today's superhero Drona, from the sheer delight that one gets on seeing Dev Anand's towering frame in Johny Mera Naam to the killer look of Johnny Gaddaar - there is quite some range in the offering once Sheena Sippy opens up her collections for all to see. In fact the effort that would have gone in order to make 'Bollywood Posters' a collector's delight just from the posters point of view is pretty much visible in the fact that some not so popular films from the past like Kaala Jadoo [featuring a King Kong kind of a character] and Rocket Tarzan [believe it or not, it indeed is the title of a film] also find an honorable mention in this book. However, what really shocks is to see the choice that authors of the book have made when it comes to the selection of poster that would grace the cover of the book. Bringing in something rare for the cover certainly makes sense but the ones on the front cover (Sharmila Tagore holding a pistol in Do Shatru) and back cover (tight close up of a screaming Mala Sinha with mouth wide open) is sheer repulsive. Why, just why? The book has been divided into genres and posters placed accordingly but as mentioned earlier; it hardly comes as a consolation mainly due to the intellectual talks that are forced on a reader at the beginning of every genre. Drama, Crime, History, Mythology, Romance and Fantasy are the genres explored but how one wishes that the writing was kept simple and to the point for a reader to just plain and simple enjoy flipping through the pages and relish the rarest of 200 odd posters that make an appearance in this paperback book. Ultimately the book boils down to finding an audience only amongst the hardcore Bollywood buffs who wish to boast of a collection that showed the emergence of Hindi cinema over last 80 odd years. Even for those, it would be quite some decision to make considering the heavy price tag 'Bollywood Posters' comes with. Go for it only if you have placed a bet with a friend that movies called Rocket Tarzan and Sindbad Alibaba Aladin actually existed! The book would act as quite an evidence to make you win the bet! Price: Rs. 1800/= Rating: **1/2Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 5 Dec 2008 | 2:17 pm I would love to do a 'Garam Masala' with Akshay Kumar: Yuvraj SinghCricketer Yuvraj Singh, who has been circuitously connected with Bollywood, owing to his liaisons with actors Kim Sharma and Deepika Padukone says if he ever decides to act, he would love to do a film like 'Garam Masala' with Akshay Kumar.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2008 | 2:01 pm 'Jumbo' to give competition to Aamir Khan's 'Ghajini'Percept Picture Company's animation caper 'Jumbo', might be a film under children's content category, but it aims to give tough competition to Aamir Khan's much-awaited film 'Ghajini', releasing on the same date.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2008 | 2:00 pm Love Guru makes Bollywood debut with 'Dil Kabaddi'After mending many a heart in the country through radio, popular mystery host and late night agony uncle 'Love Guru' is now set to play pacifier on the big screen with his Bollywood debut in 'Dil Kabaddi'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2008 | 1:33 pm Saif, Kareena vent anger against politiciansSaif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor are the latest Bollywood stars to criticise the government for failing to tackle terrorism and protect citizens. Both said they were 'disgusted' with politicians 'who provide no leadership' while arming themselves 'with so many security guards'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2008 | 1:30 pm Terror attacks cast shadow on Rab Ne - NDTV.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 1:10 pm Meerabai Not Out ReviewIt's often said that cricket and Bollywood are two major passions of Indians. Director Chandrakant Kulkarni's Meerabai Not Out narrates the story of a cricket enthusiast who goes to the extremes even on the day of her engagement to watch aSource: Oneindia - Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 12:54 pm "If Kangna has a conscience, she will regret her disgusting behaviour" - Suneel Darshan'It is important to have a good director to enhance one's performance on screen. The worst thing to happen to me is a bad director' - states Kangna Ranaut in the latest issue of a popular Bollywood magazine as she talks about life post Fashion and how she had almost lost control of her life till some time back. That's not all. While she speaks fondly about her first ever director Anurag Basu [Gangster] and acknowledges that it was his faith in her that turned her into an actor that she is today, she reveals that she shares a love-hate relationship with Mohit Suri [Woh Lamhe, Raaz - The Mystery Continues] and how Madhur Bhandarkar [Fashion] would make her feel special during the filming and how he would get her chocolates. However, a shocker comes in the statement that she makes about Suneel Darshan, the man who paired her opposite Upen Patel in the musical Shakalaka Boom Boom. She says, "Suneel Darshan gave me the worst time of my life during Shakalaka Boom Boom. They didn't even pay me for it. I felt really bad but it's okay now." What does Suneel Darshan, the man who has worked with the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Sunny Deol, Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu and Bobby Deol, have to say about this accusation? Especially when the statement is being made more than one and a half years after the film has been released! "Frankly, I can't stoop to her level and she doesn't really deserve a reply", promptly states Suneel Darshan. Isn't he disappointed with such a remark? "See, any retaliation will open up too many controversies and there is no sense washing dirty linen in public. Let bygones be bygones. I too wish to move ahead with hope and a positive outlook towards life", sighs Darshan. He has a final word though. "Surely, if she has a conscience, she will regret her disgusting behavior. Else, forget it!"Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 5 Dec 2008 | 12:52 pm Dil Kabbadi ReviewTill sometime back, the three-letter word, sex, was considered taboo on the Hindi screen. But it's out of the closet now. Dil Kabaddi goes a step further it takes you inside the bedroom of two couples and makes you listen toSource: Oneindia - Entertainment | 5 Dec 2008 | 12:48 pm Wrong timing for 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi'?It is rather ironical that Yash Raj Films' much-talked about forthcoming release 'Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi', which is expected to bring cheer to the production banner and wrap up the year on a happy note, is being released in a not very happy time.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Dec 2008 | 11:00 am
|
