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Heaven On Earth is Videsh in India
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 6:38 pm Oscar Best Picture nominee reviews
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 5:17 pm Dev, Frieda are a couple: Anil Kapoor
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 5:12 pm Mickey Rourke unsure of Oscar
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 5:03 pm I feel honoured by India's love: Jade GoodyJade Goody, the cancer-stricken British reality television star, on Friday said a "big thank you" to the people of India who she said have flooded her with emails, letters and get-well cards.Source: Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 4:21 pm Now Bollywood voices to become 'Kathmandu' voices tooWhile Bollywood's kung fu comedy "Chandni Chowk to China" was given the thumbs-down in Nepal, it has now embraced the voices of India's Hindi film industry as the voices of "Kathmandu".Source: Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 4:19 pm I did role for my country, says hero of Oscar-nominated documentaryPolio-affected Mohammad Gulzar Saifi, who stars in the Academy Award nominated "The Last Inch", will not be at the Oscars.Source: Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 4:10 pm My relationship with Shah Rukh too deep to need formalities: Viveck VaswaniBollywood producer Viveck Vaswani didn't visit Shah Rukh Khan in the hospital though it was an accident on the sets of his "Dulha Mil Gaya" after which the star's shoulder condition necessitated a surgery.Source: Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 3:58 pm India's poverty in Oscar spotlight"Slumdog Millionaire", "The Final Inch", "Smile Pinki".Source: Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 3:53 pm India's poverty in Oscar spotlight
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 3:40 pm Mohiniyattam workshop in DhakaIndian dancer Pallavi Krishnan on Friday began a workshop in Mohiniyattam here for Bangladeshi dance enthusiasts.Source: Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 3:18 pm I have a good losing face: Kate Winslet
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 2:38 pm No movies will release in multiplexes
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 2:01 pm Ravi Kishen in poll race?
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:33 pm Julia Roberts calls for `celebrity child photos` ban!Julia Roberts has blasted paparazzi for hounding celeb kids for their pictures, insisting she is "sickened" by the practise.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:32 pm Court lifts ban from Salman Khan`s mega budget `Veer`!Salman Khan can finally take a breather as the weeklong ban from his mega bucks project `Veer` has been lifted by the Rajasthan High Court.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:32 pm INXS singer says broke, homeless after fired from band!The lead singer of Australian rock band INXS, JD Fortune, who was picked to replace the late Michael Hutchence in a contest on a reality TV show, said he has been fired without warning from the band.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:32 pm Rihanna`s battered face pictures posted on Internet !Rihanna, who is believed to have been assaulted by Chris Brown, is again in the news, as a photo of her battered face after the alleged attack has been posted on the Internet.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:32 pm I feel honoured by India`s love, says cancer-stricken Jade Goody!Jade Goody recently said a "big thank you" to the people of India who she said have flooded her with emails, letters and get-well cards.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:32 pm Actor Anil Kapoor feels Freida Pinto is dating young Dev Patel!Anil Kapoor has revealed that even he feels that his `Slumdog Millionaire` co-stars Freida Pinto, 24, and Dev Patel, 18, are dating off-screen.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:32 pm Preview: `Delhi 6` a tribute to the city`s warm spirit!After creating ripples with its mind boggling musical score and fresh promos, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra`s much-awaited flick `Delhi 6` has released.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:32 pm Oscars results `leaked online`, `Slumdog` makes a sweeping win !The results of 81st Academy Awards, which are to be officially announced on February 22, have reportedly been leaked online.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:32 pm India's first Oscar winner walks down memory lane
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:25 pm 'Leaked Oscar winners list a hoax' - Hindu
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:48 pm Vishal to romance three ladiesVishal's latest movie is titled as Theeratha Velaiyattu Pillai (Play Boy). In this film, Vishal is going to act with 3 leading heroines for the first time. The movie is directed by Thiru who worked as the associate director of Vishal'sSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:42 pm Neetu tastes success down southSatyameva Jayate, a Telugu remake of Khakee, has turned out to be a success at the box office. Released last Friday, the film was much in news since over the last one month due to treatment meted out to Bollywood importSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:42 pm Kamal Hassan gets really candidKamal Hassan has said that he is doing A Wednesday, a remake in Tamil and that he is playing the role enacted by Naseeruddin Shah. He has confirmed that the shooting will commence soon and that the film will be directedSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:38 pm Pattinson refuses to score music for Twilight sequelWashington (ANI): Hollywood actor Robert Pattinson has refused to compose a soundtrack for his flick Twilight, as he wants to keep music as a back up career. Although The Twilight actor, who is a talented composer, pianist and guitarist, wrote twoSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:36 pm 'Something happening' between Dev and Freida: Anil Kapoor - Sify
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:33 pm Ben Stiller planning Little FockersWashington (ANI): Hollywood actor Ben Stiller, who thrilled the fans with Meet The Parents and Meet The Fockers, is planning another sequel the Little Fockers. Legendary actor Robert De Niro and Owen Wilson are all set to reprise their roles inSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:31 pm Goody's wedding dress to have painkillers pouchLondon(ANI): Brit celebrity Jade Goody’s wedding dress will have a special pouch sewn into it so that she can store her painkillers during the wedding. Cancer stricken Goody, 27, will be wearing a 3,500 pounds gown, which is a gift fromSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:28 pm Rupert Everett's sexuality killed his careerWashington (ANI): English actor Rupert Everett is adamant that his sexuality has killed his promising career. The 49-year-old star admits that he was quite successful throughout the 1980s, but since he announced he is gay, his career has taken a downturn.MySource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:23 pm Shahrukh delays My Name Is KhanContrary to reports that Shahrukh Khan's shoulder would've healed on its own if he didn't have to do serious stunts right away, the actor's shoulder needed immediate and urgent repairing.Says a source, "As usual Shahrukh was busy making light of hisSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:23 pm Oscar Talk: Kate Winslet - Galatta.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:20 pm Goody heartbroken not to have Jack on wedding night - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:14 pm Saks drops Victoria Beckham's denim lineNew York (ANI): Giving a jolt to Victoria Beckham’s fashion ambitions, American department store Saks Fifth Avenue has dropped her fembot denim line, dVb. Henri Bendel and Kitson already dropped Posh earlier this year because of poor sales of her denimSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:11 pm My wife is five months pregnant - Simon PeggWashington (ANI): English actor Simon Pegg has revealed that his wife, Maureen McCann, is five months pregnant. The Paul star, who married wife Maureen in 2005, is thrilled because this will be his first baby."My wife is five months pregnant. WeSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:07 pm 'Rahman has great chance of winning Oscars' - Hindu
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:03 pm India's poverty in Oscar spotlight - NDTV.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:46 am Abhishek woos Delhi women
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:45 am "Slumdog" kids ready for trip to the OscarsMUMBAI (Reuters) - Eight-year-old Rubina Ali is excited about going to the Oscars. So is Azhar Ismail.Source: Reuters: Bollywood News | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:32 am Aamir convinces Sallu to give up drinking - Hindustan Times
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:20 am Delhi 6 starcast in Delhi, excited and numb - IBNLive.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:10 am Modi asserts all IPL sponsors, partners still on board - Business Standard
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:03 am One more Tamil comedy channel to be launched soonLaugh during difficult times, said the Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar.Source: Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 10:19 am Abhishek Bachchan to enter Guinness Book?Stars are known to aggressively promote their films, but few can match Abhishek Bachchan's enthusiasm, as he attempts to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by making maximum public appearances in at least six cities in a span of 12 hours to promote his latest film "Delhi 6".Source: Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 10:17 am 'Heaven On Earth' to be released as 'Videsh' in IndiaThe Hindi version of NRI filmmaker Deepa Mehta's Punjabi film "Heaven On Earth", about domestic violence in the immigrant community in Canada and Preity Zinta in the lead role, will release in India as "Videsh".Source: Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 10:10 am Bangalore: Pastoral Handbook of Archdiocese Released - Daijiworld.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 20 Feb 2009 | 10:02 am India's poverty in Oscar spotlight'Slumdog Millionaire', 'The Final Inch', 'Smile Pinki'... in a first, three India themed films up for the Oscars, and all three dealing with poverty and disease!Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 20 Feb 2009 | 9:31 am Another Bhojpuri star in poll race?Bhojpuri actor and star of reality TV show 'Bigg Boss' Ravi Kissan is likely to join the Congress in the run up to the general elections.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 20 Feb 2009 | 9:31 am Slowdown to pull down movie costs, releases in 2009MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian film companies, currently fending off the cost of producing and distributing high-cost movies, say the global slowdown has paved the way for tighter budgets, and fewer but better offerings in 2009.Source: Reuters: Bollywood News | 20 Feb 2009 | 7:42 am Bhanu Athaiya - India's first Oscar winner walks down memory laneTwenty-seven years ago, she made history when she became the first Indian to win an Oscar. Now, as two other Indians are again within kissing distance of that prized statuette, Bhanu Athaiya walks down nostalgia lane to remember that 1982 day when she won the Oscar for best costume design for 'Gandhi'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 20 Feb 2009 | 7:31 am My relationship with Shah Rukh too deep to need formalities: Viveck VaswaniBollywood producer Viveck Vaswani didn't visit Shah Rukh Khan in the hospital though it was an accident on the sets of his 'Dulha Mil Gaya' after which the star's shoulder condition necessitated a surgery. Vaswani says their friendship is too deep to need such formalities.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 20 Feb 2009 | 6:02 am They've started calling Indians 'slumdogs': Composer Aadesh SrivastavaBollywood composer Aadesh Srivastava says he is embarrassed to walk on the streets of the US after Oscar-nominated 'Slumdog Millionaire' because 'they have started calling Indians slumdogs'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 20 Feb 2009 | 3:00 am Abhishek Bachchan brings women on knees in DelhiThe carpet was set, the barricades grounded, and the security tight. But nothing deterred girls to hoot with the highest tempo to shake hands, express their love and catch a glimpse of their bodyguard-clouded-star Abhishek Bachchan at the red-carpet premiere of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 'Delhi-6' releasing Friday.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 20 Feb 2009 | 1:32 am Sunil Shetty @ Khrisha Shahs Hope Book Launch [Gallery]Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:00 am Rahmans Live Tunes in ChennaiA.R. Rahman as well as Jazz player Herbie Hancock, a Grammy award winner, will get together for a mega musical performance based on the motto of nonviolence in Chennai on the 24th of February 2009Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:00 am Atuls take on Delhi-6Atul is all praise for the director of the film and says that Rakeysh is a director with lots of time for his actors.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:00 am Bipashas Bangkok experienceA guy from Thailand could do something that lakhs of Indian men might be dreaming and wishing everyday.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:00 am The forgotten side of AkshayIt has been sometime since we saw Akshay Kumar in a leading mans role sans any traces of comedy.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:00 am Adnans venture with the JacksonsAdnan Sami is in a very upbeat mood as he has achieved something that was thought to be impossible.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 20 Feb 2009 | 12:00 am "We have just started consuming animation" - Munjal ShroffOn day three of FICCI Frames '09, Graphiti Director & COO Munjal Shroff said, "We have just started consuming animation at a rapid speed. It takes time to understand what actually sells in the market. It is not only about creating the content, but also knowing how to sell it and build a business around it." He was speaking at a session on 'Developing Animation Content'. "There hasn't been a great ecosystem in India in terms of producers, broadcasters, creators to come together and work," he added. The panel, which included professionals from selling, buying, marketing and content creating backgrounds, was discussing ways in which local animated content could be taken to a global level. Besides Munjal, the panel comprised of High Point Films & TV Ltd's Carey Fitzgerald; Nick India's Nina Elavia Jaipuria; Hot Animation's George Walton and Famous House of Animation's E Suresh. Speaking from the animation content creator's point of view, Suresh said, "While creating content one needs to understand the market trends or focus on creating something which can go global. We have enough talent, creativity and stories here in India." Suresh shed light on how Japan has developed its own style of animation, Manga, and pointed that this was an example worth emulating. "We have good folk stories to tell which are untapped. We should shift our focus on those stories apart from regular mythologicals." He said that though India had great talent in music and design, it still lacked in story writers, research and voice actors, amongst others. Taking the broadcaster's point of view, Nina spoke about the content which broadcasters look for and how the content creation process could be improved upon. "There has been enough mythological content in the market and we need to go beyond what already exists." She opined that, "We need to have original concepts, think of new ideas, build strong characters and exceptional stories which can appeal to kids. The content also needs to have universal appeal as one should target not only Indian but worldwide broadcasters as well." "The classic Hindi cinema idiom is not going to spread anymore" - Rahul Bose By Mrigank Dhaniwala Is adapting world cinema's language the only way of going global? Actor and film maker Rahul Bose agrees. Speaking at FICCI Frames '09, Rahul commented, "If we want a film to be truly global, it will have to sacrifice its linguistic identity. You can't have songs and dances in a global film. The classic Hindi cinema idiom is not going to spread any more that it already has." He was addressing a session on 'Globalization of Indian Cinema' on day three of the media & entertainment summit. The session also had PNC Ltd's Pritish Nandy, Fox Searchlight Pictures' Jill Gwen and High Point Films' Kerry Fitzgerald in participation. Rahul added, "You make what you want to make and it carries appeal across cultures and if it will make sense to somebody in Toronto or Berlin. One will either have to tell special stories or tell them specially." He pointed out that besides the stumbling block of opting for English as the language, film makers aspiring to go global would also have make sure that a film, "shouldn't be over a hundred minutes and should adapt the cultural nuances of the international audience." Rahul cited Kallari Payattu (ancient martial art from Kerala) and children's films and documentaries like Aamir as ways of making it to the global stage. Roping in international stars is another way of making the mark. Making a reference to Slumdog Millionaire, Jill Gwen said, "If you have a great quality product with content that is very provocative, endearing and intriguing, people will go to the movies."Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 19 Feb 2009 | 5:19 pm Meerut's war on polio finds a global faceMunzareen Fatima is hardly the toast of Indian showbiz - but the tough Meerut housewife clad in a burqa and a lace shawl covering her head is India's new face at the 2009 Oscar awards.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 19 Feb 2009 | 4:00 pm Abhishek Bachchan to enter Guinness Book?Stars are known to aggressively promote their films, but few can match Abhishek Bachchan's enthusiasm, as he attempts to enter the Guinness Book of World Records by making maximum public appearances in at least six cities in a span of 12 hours to promote his latest film 'Delhi 6'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 19 Feb 2009 | 3:00 pm Court begins hearing case against 'Slumdog Millionaire'A Bihar court on Wednesday began hearing a defamation case against the Indian cast of Oscar-nominated film "Slumdog Millionaire" and music maestro A.Source: Entertainment News | 19 Feb 2009 | 2:59 pm Deepa Mehta's Heaven on Earth titled Videsh for the Indian marketInternationally acclaimed filmmaker Deepa Mehta's much anticipated film Heaven On Earth is now titled Videsh for the Indian territory and will hit theatres this March. The movie stars Preity Zinta along with newcomer Vansh Bhardwaj and is produced under the renowned banner of BR Films. The film has already released in Canada and has opened to an overwhelming response with Preity Zinta winning the 'Best Actress' award at the Chicago film festival and also getting nominated at the 29th Genie Awards (which is the Canadian equivalent to the Oscars). Says Sanjay Bhutani, CEO of BR Films, "We did not want our Indian audiences to misinterpret the title Heaven on Earth and consider it to be an English film. Hence we changed the film's name to Videsh as this would connect well with the Indian audiences." Well, that's not all! Punjabi film enthusiasts are also in for a special treat as Videsh is going to be released in both Hindi as well as Punjabi.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 19 Feb 2009 | 1:46 pm Mugdha Godse laughs away rivalry with Rohit ShettyDownload image as wallpaper The news has spread like wild fire that hot-n-happening Mugdha Godse has been roped in as a female lead for Rohit Shetty's next film (yet untitled) which is an Ajay Devgan production. While Mugdha is grinning from ear to ear after bagging this true blue multi starrer that stars the likes of Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu and Fardeen Khan, there was a time when she was in rivalry with Rohit Shetty. Well almost, and for a brief period! Says Mugdha after a hearty laugh, "Omigawsh, you make it look like a big scandal when there was hardly anything like a rivalry between Rohit and me. Come on, why would a newcomer like me have problems with an established film maker like Rohit?" Well, let us bring out the reason then. Last year when her high profile film Fashion released on 29th October, even Rohit Shetty directed Golmaal Returns arrived on the same day. Fortunately for both the films, they survived well at the box office and did the kind of business that was expected out of them. Apparently, Mugdha had made it a point that she won't watch Golmaal Returns in theaters since that would have meant joining the competition. "Come on now, stop finding so much of 'what's happening behind the curtains' thing here. Ok, so I didn't go to theaters to watch Golmaal Returns but I did catch it eventually on the DVD"", says the glamorous young woman who has been making quite a name for herself ever since she began work on Fashion last year. If she says that she loved Golmaal Returns, it hardly brings with it a surprise element. "I really loved the way Rohit involves his audience in the narrative. He kept the gag element on throughout Golmaal Returns which says a lot about him knowing the pulse of the audience. In real life also he is quite some fun to interact with. He is very humorous", she talks fondly about her director, "He is someone who has Bollywood deep into his veins. He thinks completely commercial. Whenever you talk to him, you realize that he is so filmy. No wonder, I am looking forward to begin shooting for his film".Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 19 Feb 2009 | 1:36 pm Aadesh Shrivastava to team up with Justin Timberlake & RihannaAadesh Shrivastava is all fired up with the blasts that happened on 26/11. Rather than holding morchas and attending rallies, he has decided to immediately do what he knows best. Produce and compose an anti-terrorism album which would have some of the world's best talent coming together to sing about peace, though with a difference. Says Aadesh, "The time to sing Bhajans and Qawwallis evoking Allah and Ishwar to bring peace to earth is over. Such silent pleas won't work any more. Mumbai has witnessed the worst ever massacre and I'm not interested in token gestures. That's why I didn't attend the peace rally at the Gateway of India. All those thousands hopeful Mumbaikars who attended were in danger. Hardly any security was provided to them. What if there was an attack at the rally? " Immediately after the attack Aadesh has started work on his global album against terrorism. "I was actually working on another album based on the four seasons of the year. But I've put that aside for the anti-terrorism album I'm very clear about one thing. It will have no references to the Gods of any religion. Ab bahut ho gaya Allah ka kasam We need to fight terrorism on our own." Some of the biggest names from the music world including Justin Timberlake and the new Barbados-born American singing sensation Rihanna will participate in the album. "I've already invited these singers and they will participate. I've recorded with that extraordinarily - talented violinist Kala Ramanathan (who played on the track 'Black Diamond' by the American rockers Kiss) and with Ustad Rashid Khan. Justin and Rihanna have also given their nod." What angers Aadesh is what he considers to be the reluctance of Pakistani musicians based in Mumbai to come forward and speak against terrorism. "Where are these people whom Mumbai has turned into overnight affluent stars? These Pakistani musicians even own posh homes in Mumbai but have not said one world against the terrorist attack on Mumbai."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 19 Feb 2009 | 1:33 pm It's natural for Sanjay to join politics: Hema MaliniIt was only natural for Sanjay Dutt to join politics, says actress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Hema Malini.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 19 Feb 2009 | 1:30 pm "The final draft of the script wasn't ready and we started the shoot of Delhi-6" - ...A pen is mightier than a sword. This saying stands true when it comes to writer Kamlesh Pandey after you read his answers to the interview below, and if you asked him why he chose a career in writing, he'd answer that it was much more a case of the career choosing him. Writing runs in his blood. Let's face it, today many of the movies we see are just plain bad. Except for a few, there hasn't been a lot to get excited about lately (the last ten years or so.) It may be that the majority of professional storywriters and scriptwriters out there are not producing quality material; they're just simply collecting paychecks. We don't blame them, but wish we could collect six-figures for some of the trash that is being written. Anyway, welcome Pandey, a mixture of old school and new school types who wants to believe that his grey hair hasn't stopped him from penning new age films like Rang De Basanti and Delhi 6. After months and months of carefully plotting story, creating vivid characters and structuring a hundred and twenty pages in such a way for maximum dramatic impact, Pandey has become an orator of sorts. We found that out when the acclaimed writer invited us at his Juhu Link Road residence to talk about his writing and experiences in Delhi 6. A die hard patriot and a real lover of real India, he gets most of his inspiration from small town and villages and says, "That's where the real stories are found, not in Mumbai". A die hard fan of Raj Kapoor films, he believes that Delhi 6 is a modern interpretation of Raj saab's Jaagte Raho and questions, "If Raj Kapoor was alive today, how would he have made Jaagte Raho?" One of the most passionate writers we have today, Kamlesh believes, "We are no less than Vyas who wrote Mahabharata, Tulsidas who wrote Ram Charitra Manas or Valmiki who wrote Ramayana. We are their children". Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent and UK's Harrow Observer columnist Devansh Patel grills Kamlesh Pandey for over two hours in what went down as one of the most memorable interviews. So as the final word of the below interview was written, we got a bit saddened and recalled what the genius writer said, " The best reward for a writer is that he is the first audience of his work. Once it goes out of your hands, it belongs to the whole world. You lose it and just relish the moments of its creation." How did the idea of making Delhi 6 cultivate? The idea came from Rakeysh. He is from Ballimaran which is a part of Delhi 6 - Chandni Chowk area. This was while I was writing Rang De Basanti. He once mentioned his memories of Delhi 6 and the kind of people, issues and behavior, etc. In fact, I lived with Rakeysh in Delhi while doing the research for the film. I loved the place, its people, the culture and the attitude. People of Delhi 6 still call the soft drink which they serve in restaurants and dhabas, 'Campa Cola'. The guy will then bring a Pepsi or a Coke. That's what Delhi is about. The city is still trapped in a certain time zone. Rakeysh and I sketched bits and pieces of the city without knowing the fact that we will come out with beautiful film titled Delhi 6. People of Delhi 6 still call the soft drink which they serve in restaurants and dhabas, 'Campa Cola' So what was the basic idea of Delhi 6 you wanted to come out with? The basic idea of Delhi 6 was that of an NRI boy who comes to India with his grandmother, and like many other NRI's, he too finds the basic infrastructure not present; there is poverty, filth, superstition, etc. Eventually he hates India but by the end of the film he falls in love with it. Plus there was a love story weaved into the film too. But we thought that the basic idea wasn't enough. We needed something else. And what was that 'something else'? If you've seen my film Tezaab, it was Awara of 1988. How I started was with the thought that if Raj Kapoor was alive during that period, what Awara would be like. Tezaab had many tributes to Awara too. The introduction of the villain of Awara, K.N.Singh, in Awara is exactly the introduction of the hero of Tezaab, Anil Kapoor. Coming to Delhi 6, I remembered Raj saab's Jaagte Raho. It was a very simple film with Raj Kapoor looking for water. It was a man's search of water. But through that one simple incident, Raj Kapoor exposes the hypocrisy of the entire society; the biases, the hates, the loves, the double faces and so on. So I thought, let's make a modern interpretation of Jaagte Raho. Raj saab is my university. Not only me, but for many. Thus Delhi 6 also exposes the two-facedness of our society. There is a very big statement in Delhi 6 about Americans too, right? Yes there is. It's about George Bush but we haven't named him. There is this whole big sequence shot in New York about Indians and the Americans which you'll see in the film. I'm sure the audience will accept Delhi 6 because of Rang De Basanti's success. We don't know that. But what we know is that if Rang De would've flopped, Delhi 6 would not have existed. Rakeysh's Aks was a little ahead of its time. It was a very significant film where we tried to say something very important. But I think we missed the audience or the audience missed us. I'd like to say that the audience failed us because we let them get away with murder. For the success of every bad film, audience is equally responsible and not only the maker of that film. We have appeared for our exam and our exams are over. Now the audience will give their exam. This proves what they want - good cinema or bad cinema. For the success of every bad film, audience is equally responsible and not only the maker of that film A man like you having grey hair can write about what's prevalent in today's time. You sure are a mix of old and new school types. Rakeysh jokes a lot with me on that front (laughs). I was in the same flight which banged into the helicopter and I narrowly missed meeting our president mid air (laughs). I then called Rakeysh and said that my journey is still not over and he replied saying that I am still young to write for about a hundred films. I am not old to die. I like to keep in touch with what is happening to our present India. I don't only meet the people to find what's doing the rounds but I am a regular subscriber to the magazines or the work of fiction written in Hindi by many of our youngsters today. Mumbai is not the real India. The stories are not in Mumbai, the stories are out there in small villages and towns. I get the vicarious experience through the writing of what India is thinking and what our young India wants. Mumbai is not the real India. The stories are not in Mumbai, the stories are out there in small villages and towns Have you scripted any character in Delhi 6 from the real India? Yes I have. There are a couple of people in Delhi 6 who are real life inspiration from my village in Allahabad. There is a person called 'Gobar' in Delhi 6 played by Atul Kulkarni who is a real person. I was a kid in my village Balia in Eastern U.P. when I knew him. He is so fascinating, as a person that I want to write a whole film on him. His real name was different though. People often ask me that I should pursue direction but I tell them that I am not that greedy. Once you become a director, only one film is there for you in your mind, but as a writer, I am doing almost half a dozen films, animation too. I have a far richer life, not in terms of money, but in terms of telling stories which no director can claim to have. How many changes did you make in the script of Delhi 6? I have lost the count of the drafts. It's strange but true that the final draft of the script wasn't ready and we started the shoot of Delhi 6. I think scripting is a very alive process. Sometimes, things happen suddenly and unexpected. That's why you have to be always open for changes all the time. A script isn't just a mere piece of paper. The best reward for a writer is that he is the first audience of his work. Once it goes out of your hands, it belongs to the whole world. You lose it. You relish the moments of its creation. Relish some moments from Delhi 6 like how the name of the film was born? There is an interesting story behind this. I and Rakeysh were walking in the night in old Delhi where he was introducing me to the different areas. I was an alien there. While walking, we noticed that there was a fight going on in one of the corners of the street. During that time, the name of the film wasn't finalised. In fact, the name that we had in mind was revealing the whole story. Anyway, then one of the boys was getting beaten up by other three and that's when he said, "Haath na lageeyo, Delhi 6 ka launda hoon". I happened to hear that and told Rakeysh that we found the name of the film. What an attitude that boy had. Delhi 6 isn't just the postal code; it is the identity of the people living in old Delhi and its culture. But we also hear that the old Delhi was a set, right? Yes, it was. I went for the shoot to Sambhar in Rajasthan where the re-created the old Delhi. Every sign board in that town was painted with Delhi 6 including the posters of the local Delhi politicians, the banners, etc. What a great job Sameer Chanda has done. I couldn't recognise that the set was old Delhi. It felt as if we were in Delhi 6. With writers like you so clear about what they want, don't you think that writers should actually narrate the scripts to the actors along with the director? I leave that part for Rakeysh to handle. Yes, we both are in sync with the script. The director knows as much as the actors know. Not that I avoid the actors but I am neither close to them nor far from them. Writers are more comfortable with the directors and not the actors and the same goes to the actors. They are more comfortable with the directors than writers. Its better that the director does the narration because finally, it's his vision. Rakeysh is very good with people and I am not. Sometimes you have to be a bit political, manipulative, and smart; you have to see how people are reacting, etc. Rakeysh has this expertise and I don't. But when I am needed, I am always available. You have to be a bit political, manipulative, and smart; you have to see how people are reacting. We personally think that writers are the engine of the car. Without which the car cannot move ahead. You're right. We writers have a very responsible role to play. We are story tellers of this nation. We are no less than Vyas who wrote Mahabharata, Tulsidas who wrote Ram Charitra Manas or Valmiki who wrote Ramayana. They were the story tellers of their time about our country and country men. We are their children. Whatever story I write, there is something of me going into it. D.J, Aamir Khan's name in Rang De Basanti, was me. When I left college, I was very much in demand because I was a writer. Many of my friends used my services to write love letters to their girl friends. Once I was out of the college, I was nobody. I was zero. That's why I kept going to my college to reclaim my old glory which was not there any more. DJ was me. In Tezaab too, a lot of Munna, Anil's character, was me. That anger and the angst is what I possessed while writing Anil Kapoor's role. I still am like that because you have to keep your anger alive in order to bleed your stories out of your system. Did the same angst make you write Rang De Basanti? Yes it did. Rang De Basanti started almost fifty years ago. As kids, we once heard Chacha Nehru say, "Anybody who is found corrupt in this country will be hanged by the nearest telephone pole". So next morning, we kids were going to school and saw all the telephone poles empty. We were so innocent that we believed in Nehru because we loved him beyond our limits. Forty years later, the telephone poles are still empty. Neither a single politician nor a bureaucrat has been hanged from the nearest telephone pole. That was the angst which made me write Rang De Basanti. A true Bharat you are. Thank you. Well, each of your questions has an interesting story. This one also. Our country isn't called 'Bharat' because of the great king Bharat. 'Bha' means light and 'Rat' means in search of. Imagine the great people who put the whole meaning of this country into the name. Bharat is a country which is in search of enlightenment and not in search of global domination, fame or economic growth. Our country has always been in search of light, even today, and that is the real glory of India. This one also. Our country isn't called 'Bharat' because of the great king Bharat. 'Bha' means light and 'Rat' means in search of Why should one go and watch Delhi 6? Because Rakeysh and I have made one of the most unusual films which is so unique and fresh and so Indian. There hasn't been a film lately which is so Indian. Tell us a bit about the pigeon in the film. Why so prominent on all the posters and hoardings? (Laughs) The pigeon is there because of Om Puri, who plays Sonam Kapoor's father. What to give him in terms of his role. Also we wanted to cover the roof tops of old Delhi. There are no sky scrappers in old Delhi and the roof tops make the most fascinating visuals in the mornings and the evenings. So how do you use the roof tops was the question. Then again, the pigeon is also a metaphor for Sonam Kapoor who wants to escape that environment. Om Puri's role in the film is to take care of the pigeons and feed them. It's a tradition which still exists in India.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 19 Feb 2009 | 1:27 pm "Changing room sequence was Rakeysh Mehra's idea" - Sonam KapoorDownload Delhi-6 wallpapers Anyone who is following the publicity of Delhi 6 would have noticed the sequence where a suit-salwaar clad Sonam Kapoor enters a women's changing room, only to re-emerge in her chic South Delhi girl avtar with a top and a long skirt intact and a bandana on. Innovatively shot with some novelty woven in as well, the sequence is shown as a part of the title song 'Delhi 6' from the film. Ask Sonam whose brainchild was this 'naughty' sequence and she immediately points a finger towards her director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (whom she respectfully addresses as Mr. Mehra). "The changing room sequence was entirely Mr. Mehra's idea", smiles Sonam who has gone from coy [Saawariya] to bindaas [Delhi 6] in a matter of a year and a half, "He explained his vision and I just went with the flow. Also, another important contributor to the entire sequence is choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant. Let me confess that the way I had imagined the sequence in my head was entirely different from what Vaibhavi was conceptualizing. Then she came over and things became totally different. Add to the music and everything just changed. I was truly awed by what I saw as a part of the final result." While the execution has been the talking point amongst cine buffs already, what was it that went on paper when the scene was being written? "See, we are aware about girls from Delhi and other metros who belong to middle class conservative families. We all come from this Indian mentality where our Papa says 'aise ghar se bahar mat niklo, ye mat pehno, ye mat karo' [don't go out of the house wearing such outfits]. Parents are afraid that their daughters may be eve teased on the streets. But then, girls will be girls", winks Sonam "Well, they want to look good, why shouldn't they?" she questions. "They may not go overboard but then who doesn't want attention. I have met girls from places like Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh etc. who are different in how they are at home and outside." Narrating an interesting observation, Sonam smiles, "I have seen girls who may be wearing a jacket and underneath it would be a sleeveless shirt. They are all properly dressed when they leave home but the jacket comes off the moment they reach college. That's a trend with quite a few city girls and I believe its ok. This is what we have shown in Delhi 6 as well by incorporating the changing room sequence. It was always the part of the script and I am glad that it has come out so well with good appreciation coming in too."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 19 Feb 2009 | 1:15 pm Shah Rukh's shoulder injury postpones My Name Is Khan shootClick here to watch the video Contrary to reports that Shah Rukh Khan's shoulder would've healed on its own if he didn't have to do serious stunts right away, the actor's shoulder needed immediate and urgent repairing. Says a source, "As usual Shah Rukh was busy making light of his discomfort even hours after surgery, but the fact is, the injury was far more serious than it appeared. The doctors had recommended quick and urgent surgery months ago. But the workaholic that he is, Shah Rukh kept postponing the inevitable surgery until after Karan Johar's schedule of My Name Is Khan and the promotion of Billu." The healing process after the surgery is going to take at least a couple of months. Says a source, "Karan Johar has willingly postponed the next schedule. But Shabana Azmi who was supposed to play Shah Rukh's mother would not have the required dates. Her role would now have to be recast as per Shah Rukh's recovery and renewal of shooting."Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 19 Feb 2009 | 12:46 pm "SRK's dates will be the trigger point for DMG release plans" - Viveck VaswaniViveck Vaswani is unperturbed that Shah Rukh Khan's shoulder surgery would result in change of release plans for his much awaited Dulha Mil Gaya. While he is (obviously) concerned about the well being of his star-of-the-show, he is making a brisk progress on the post production of the film which has already seen 95% of the principal shoot being through. "As I talk to you, there are four different departments busy on the post production of the film", says Viveck who isn't worrying much about waiting for a few additional weeks before Shah Rukh Khan reports for the film's shoot, "Everything except for a 'qawalli' remains to be shot and I can wait for it till Shah Rukh completely gets well. Apparently, an ever-so-energetic Shah Rukh hinted upon resuming the shoot soon after the injury that worsened on the sets of Dulha Mil Gaya but Viveck didn't want any further harm to his body. "He would be able to resume work 6-8 weeks from now so it's not too far away. Moreover, there is definite work happening on Dulha Mil Gaya. Fardeen wants to finish the dubbing before he leaves for the shoot of another film of his in the month of March. So coming Monday, he starts his dubbing. Once he is done, Sushmita too will begin dubbing", he details. "So as I said, good work is anyways happening on the post production of Dulha Mil Gaya. I am not worried and so should be the case with all my well wishers as well. As for rumor mongers who continue to be more worried than me about the film, then well, they have a job to do so let them enjoy speculating around the status of the film", says Vivek in a mock tone. Nevertheless, the immediate question that does come to mind is - 'What are the eventual plans for the release of the film'? "Let me be honest, there will be a delay albeit a small one", Viveck agrees, "We were earlier looking at Summer 2009 release but now it will be a little later than that. Frankly, Shah Rukh's dates will be the trigger point for the release plans of the film. Once he joins the shoot, it will be a matter of perhaps a couple of days before the 'qawalli' is shot. It's only after that do we begin marketing of the film and start work on pitching it amongst the audience. I don't intend to rush on anything before that." Also starring Fardeen Khan, Mohit Chadda, Tara Sharma, Johny Lever, Parikshat Sahni, Bina Kak, Howard Rosemeyer, Suchitra Pillai, Viveck Vaswani himself and debutant Isshita Sharma, Dulha Mil Gaya is written and directed by Mudassar Aziz. Lalit Pandit is the composer while choreography is by Ahmed Khan and Howard Rosemeyer.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 19 Feb 2009 | 12:45 pm 'Heaven On Earth' to be released as 'Videsh' in IndiaThe Hindi version of NRI filmmaker Deepa Mehta's Punjabi film 'Heaven On Earth', about domestic violence in the immigrant community in Canada and Preity Zinta in the lead role, will release in India as 'Videsh'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 19 Feb 2009 | 12:32 pm
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