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Bidaai team now in Kerala
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Feb 2009 | 7:02 pm Mumbai slumdwellers root for Slumdog
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Feb 2009 | 5:58 pm Dev, Frieda are a couple: Anil Kapoor
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Feb 2009 | 5:12 pm Delhi-6 rocks - Khabrein.info
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 4:41 pm Bhojpuri industry wants a film city
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Feb 2009 | 4:26 pm Slumdog Millionaire kids to attend Oscars
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Feb 2009 | 4:04 pm Starry night at the MAX Stardust Awards 2009What will happen if stars and the stalwart of stalwarts come face to face? Well, the resultant will be MAX! We are indeed talking about the one and only Mr. Amitabh Bachchan who alongwith practically the whole of Bollywood was present at the MAX Stardust Awards 2009 earlier this month. Needless to say that, it saw the coming together of over a zillion stars who bind Bollywood. And these star- names included the likes of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan with Amar Singh, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, Rekha, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, Ashutosh and Sunita Gowariker, Farhan Akhtar, Boney and Sridevi Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut and Adhyayan Suman, Amrita Rao, Asin, Neha Dhupia, Koena Mitra, Abbas-Mustan, Anu Malik, Genelia D'Souza...to name a few...Phew! While the event was hosted by none other than the host with the most Minissha Lamba and the humorous Tusshar Kapoor, the showstopper was none other than Anil Kapoor, who performed on stage for the first time in seven full years! No...the story doesn't end there as the 'Jhakaas' man danced to the tracks of some of his most popular numbers from Woh Saat Din, Ram Lakhan etc...He ended the medley with an exhilarating performance on the signature song 'Jai Ho' from the acclaimed Slumdog Millionaire saluting the spirit and success of Bollywood. In fact, in his acceptance speech for a special award bestowed upon him for taking Indian cinema global and completing 30 years in Hindi cinema, he remarked, "This is my Oscar!" If that was Anil, then, superstar Salman Khan did his bit by bringing the grand event to its close with a rocking performance! The event also saw two of the Living Legends in Bollywood were aptly honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards. To know who they are and also to find out about other firecrackers that had the entire audience spellbound, do not forget to watch out for the spectacular MAX Stardust Awards that's to be telecasted on MAX on 28 February 2009 at 8 pm. Watch it or regret it for the rest of your life!Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 21 Feb 2009 | 4:03 pm Prosenjit to play Byomkesh Bakshi in Rituparno Ghosh's trilogyThe famous fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi will soon be back on celluloid, courtesy director Rituparno Ghosh, who has roped in Bengali film industry's superstar Prosenjit to essay the role.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Feb 2009 | 2:32 pm Oscar hopeful Resul Pookutty's father wanted him to be doctorSound designer Resul Pookutty's father was keen that he become a doctor. But Resul failed the medical entrance examinations and went on to pursue his film industry dreams. Today, his family and friends are praying that he brings home an Oscar for 'Slumdog Millionaire'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Feb 2009 | 2:32 pm Bet even Farhan doesn’t consider himself a singer: Sonu Nigam - Zee News
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 2:23 pm Priyanka Chopra greets you with Hello!'Girl Uninterrupted' is exactly how Priyanka Chopra has been described in the latest issue of the fashion and lifestyle magazine 'Hello'! And we just couldn't resist agreeing to that. The article surely is a one-of-its kind interview, where Priyanka actually speaks her heart out on topics that have never been touched before! Not many people know that this hot chic had even got a marriage proposal from someone as old (read 'young') as 6 years! Priyanka confesses that "A six year old boy once said he wanted to marry me... and when I told him he was too young, he said, I will wait till I turn 18!". For the cool lady who gave us the smash hit Dostana, this is her take on friends! She says that "You cannot have 25-30 friends; if you have even four to five who go back to your childhood and who will vouch for you... consider yourself lucky." All this and more...only in the latest issue of Hello, a mast-must buy!Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 21 Feb 2009 | 2:01 pm Mumbai slumdwellers root for Slumdog - NDTV.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 1:53 pm Slumdog is favourite to win the Oscars
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Feb 2009 | 1:30 pm Aloo Chaat music launch with Himesh Reshamiya - Real Bollywood
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 1:25 pm 'Milk': Giving competition to 'Slumdog...' at OscarsFilm: 'Milk'; Cast: Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna; Director: Gus Van Sant; Rating: ****Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Feb 2009 | 1:01 pm Dev Patel, Freida Pinto spotted shopping for ring - Hindustan Times
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:34 pm 'Laadam': mindless gangster flickFilm: 'Laadam'; Cast: Charmee, Aravindh, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Jaya Prakash; Music: Dharan; Cinematography: Sukumar; Direction: Prabhu Solomon; Rating: *Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:31 pm Watch Kerala's coast, countryside in 'Bidaai'Kerala's lush green fields, idyllic backwaters and lagoons are being promoted for honeymoon tourism and glimpses of it can be seen in Star Plus' daily soap 'Bidaai'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:30 pm When Gulzar refused to bow to Shah Rukh`s lyrical pressure!Shah Rukh is known to take interest in the music of his films and that`s how he came up with the words "Love mera hit hit" for a song in his just released "Billu".Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:22 pm Dev Patel and Freida Pinto `spotted shopping for ring` !`Slumdog Millionaire` stars Dev Patel and Freida Pinto have fuelled dating rumours after being spotted shopping for a ring on Valentine`s Day.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:22 pm Police probe leak of battered Rihanna photo on Internet !The Los Angeles Police have launched an internal inquiry to find out who leaked a photograph purportedly of battered pop star Rihanna, which was posted online.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:22 pm Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra to make animation film now !After films like "Aks", "Rang De Basanti" and the just released "Delhi-6", filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says his next is an animation venture.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:22 pm Madhur Bhandarkar wants Neil Nitin Mukesh to sing in `Jail` !Director Madhur Bhandarkar is quite impressed with Neil Nitin Mukesh`s song in "Aa Dekhein Zara".Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:22 pm Dev, Freida go shopping for ring
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:22 pm Shankar Mahadevan is the best Indian composer today: Sonu NigamDespite the hype about music maestro A.R. Rahman's Golden Globe win and Oscar nominations, singer Sonu Nigam says Shankar Mahaden of the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio is the best Indian composer today.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:03 pm Love story 'Ee Sambhashane' treads the beaten pathFilm: 'Ee Sambhashane'; Director: Rajashekhar; Cast: Sandesh, Haripriya, Ramakrishna, Sumalatha Ambareesh and Sharan; Music: V. Manohar; Rating: **Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:03 pm 'Venkata In Sankata' - a good laugh riotFilm: 'Venkata In Sankata'; Director: Ramesh Arvind; Cast: Ramesh Arvind, Sharmila Mandre, Anusha, Meghana, Devadas Kapikar, M.S. Umesh, Umashri and Sanketh Kashi; Music: Ricky Kej; Rating: ***1/2Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:02 pm Kate's busy beating pre-Oscars anxiety - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 11:42 am Recording slum sounds live for 'Slumdog' was tough: Resul PookuttyRecording sounds live in the slums of Mumbai for Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire' was chaotic and far from easy, says Resul Pookutty, who has been nominated for an Oscar for sound mixing in the rags-to-riches story. He adds that none of the crew ever imagined the film would go on to become so big.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Feb 2009 | 11:33 am Thousands of Mumbai slumdwellers root for 'Slumdog Millionaire'Thousands of slumdwellers in Mumbai, many of them roofless and living beside gutters, are praying for the success of 'Slumdog Millionaire' at the prestigious Academy Awards Sunday, hoping it will change the lives of some of them.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 21 Feb 2009 | 11:03 am "My work in Gandhi My Father was far better than Slumdog Millionaire" - Resul PookuttyForget the much-hyped Oscar nomination that he has received for his exemplary work in sound-mixing for Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire (SM), India's best known sound designer has just won the prestigious BAFTA award for his sound editing in SM. And Resul can hardly contain his excitement. Because he been nominated for the super-prestigious Cinema Audio Society Of America's (CAS) award for sound. This is indeed a big moment for the much-neglected art of audiography in Indian cinema. "Quite honestly the CAS award is a much bigger honour than the Oscar nomination, though nobody knows about in India. I'm the youngest nominee for this award. When Danny Boyle called to tell me about it, I felt it was like getting a lifetime honorary badge that will open doors for me in cinema everywhere." But Resul is no mood for celebrations. His brother barely 50, has suffered a heart attack and he's currently attending to the family crisis. Working on SM was more an ache-walk than a cakewalk for Resul. "It was only after I saw the first cut, did I realize what we were up against. Doing all the sounds in the slums live was not easy. SM was a small-budget film to begin with. We never imagined it would turn out to be so big. As we shot we realized how new and unique Danny Boyle's language was. And I had to match the language," says the soft-spoken audio maverick who had designed the sound for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black and Saawariya. Interestingly, Madhur Bhandarkar's film on street people Traffic Signal also had its sound designed by Resul. "Yes. But that wasn't done in live sound. But every bit of the sound in Slumdog was done on location. Danny shot with multiple cameras on the crowded streets of Mumbai. During the first week there was absolute chaos. To shoot on location in Mumbai one has to be very patient." Resul changed his method of working. "I had to record the sounds of Mumbai. I used as many as sixteen microphones planted all over the roads and lanes with people running around with no knowledge of what wires they were tripping over. There would be a hundred people talking all at once in a crowd scene. I had to capture two people conversing in that crowd without resorting to artificial means of audiography. I had to go more by my instinct than the technique." What Resul thinks would tilt the audio Oscar his way is the raw lived-in quality of the sound in SM. "All the other nominees have very sophisticated polished texture of sound. In SM what we hear is the chaos of Mumbai, unfiltered." Resul admits that the sound design is a much-misunderstood and neglected art form. "Our industry is still quite ignorant about the use and quality of sound in cinema. After all these years I've received just one award, for Black. Even for that I didn't get the National award. And I think my work in Feroz Gandhi's Gandhi My Father and Saawariya are far better than SM. I got no recognition for it at all. In India, we always look at the commercial success of a film before recognizing it. I feel frustrated when I put my heart and soul into a work and then it goes unappreciated. I just want to keep doing what I'm doing. SM doesn't change that. Santosh Sivan once told me to shoot the rising sun is the greatest joy in life. I want to savour that moment that Santosh talked to me about." Resul shares the BAFTA, CAS and Oscar nominations with Ian Tapp and Richard Pryke. "I did the location sound mixing. I gave them all the raw material .The other two did the final mixing. I'd have liked to do the final mixing. But out there the work is very specific .And besides I couldn't take the time off for the final mixing. " Resul is currently looking forward to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next film. In the meanwhile he's doing the sound of Rajat Kapoor's Rectangular Love Story, Saurabh Shukla's Pappu Can't Dance Saala and new director Sharad's Rangeen In Love. "I make sure that I do one big film so I can support the rest of the films that I believe in."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 21 Feb 2009 | 10:54 am Subhash K. Jha speaks about Delhi-6So simple from above and yet so lusciously layered beneath, Delhi 6 does what its director's last work Rang De Basanti did so spectacularly. It pushes the boundaries of cinematic entertainment almost beyond the brink, but catches its breath just in time in an exhilarating exhalation of enchanting thoughts, images and characters that seem to convey the truth about life without obstructing the truth about cinema. As Abhishek Bachchan jumps from one building-top to another in the congested colony of old Delhi, Parkour meets the monkey-man in Delhi 6 in a mix that's zingy and intoxicating without trying to be either. In fact, the most cherishable quality of this film about the cultural diaspora and its tragi-comic resonances in a society trapped between the machinations of religion and politics is its transparency. Even when Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra makes deep comments on the culture and politics of religion in contemporary India, he keeps his narrative liberated of punctuation marks. The narrative flows in one seamless harmony of characterizations, music and satire bound by a vision that sees the aspirations of an Indian Idol contestant (Sonam Kapoor) in the same line of vision as the fornications of a chalu Delhi-chaap photographer and the self-serving pontifications of a saffron lady. The greatest virtue of Delhi 6 is its bustling mass of everyday commuters from Chandni Chowk whose lives converge in routine and not-so-routine ways to create a work of art that pays a heartwarming homage to the spirit of a city without idealizing and romanticizing the gulli culture of the backwater towns where jalebis are fried by street side halwais next to kids frolicking and defecating in the open sewers. As a society based on hierarchical and communal segregation collapses all around us, Rakeysh Mehra portrays this society in a flux with a mixture of pleasure and regret without getting overly nostalgic. There are lines which openly ridicule the 'dilli ke dilwale' who are supposed to be one big happy family although the family (warring brothers Om Puri and Pavan Malhotra) and religious communities (the green versus the saffron brigade) fall apart with an earth shattering heartbreaking thud. The dynamics of a culturally-decaying society are projected into scenes that come together as vibrant vignettes drawn with sincerity affection and transparency from the most enduring and endearing colours of life. And while we are on the colours of life, let me say right away that Binod Pradhan's cinematography is the real hero of Delhi 6. Pradhan captures the faded pastels of the crowded gullis of Delhi and the glorious miraculously aesthetic garishness of the Ram Leela with the feeling and fervour of a subtle celebration rather than a flamboyant festival. Mehra's mellow -drama completely avoids the touristic flamboyance that the theme (NRI boy returns to desi roots with dying grandma) could have happily embraced. By the time the narrative reaches a somber climactic 'reality' we're watching a work of art that transcends the power of the visual medium sneaks into the realm of dark poetry and them re-merges as a socio-political commentary without any tell-tale signs of battering obtained by the protagonist Roshan's long journey from innocence to grim awareness . I remember a young upcoming arrogant leading man telling me he rejected Delhi 6 because he didn't 'understand' the script. So glad he didn't do this film. Abhishek Bachchan, who plays a Hindu-Muslim NRI returning to his roots in Delhi, gets the point. Fully. It would be unimaginable to think of Delhi 6 without the gigantic cast of players who play who they do, and the way they do it. The vast cast is so much into the subtle satirical profound spirit of the film that you wonder which came first, the characters or the actors. It would be grossly unfair to single out any of the performances. At the risk of sounding prejudiced, mention must be made of Deepak Dobriyal as the innocuous Muslim jalebi seller who's pushed against the communal wall, Pavan Malhotra as a loud boisterous somewhat mean though by no means evil electrician, Divya Dutta as the mohallah's garbage collectorâ¦wonderfully warm in her caste isolation, Vijay Raaz as the neighborhood sadistic cop who's so slap-happy you wonder about his cheekiness, Atul Kulkarni as the naïve mohallah punch bag and finally Waheeda Rehman. So serene yet spirited as the dying grandma somewhat representative of the world that she comes to inhabit in Delhi with her grandson. But the film belongs to Abhishek Bachchan. What a triumphant home-coming. Delhi 6 is swarming with metaphors, some of them straightforward poetic, others like the monkey man motif, arching from first to finish in a curve that defies immediate interpretations. Peeling off layers of texts and subtexts, we arrive at a work that exudes the scent of true lived-in and experienced emotions. The hurt pain and anger of a socio-political system that has gone from corruptibility to destruction is hidden just beneath a warm sunny all-is-well (but not for too long) veneer so beautifully represented by Sonam Kapoor dancing with that dove perched on her head. What an idea, Sirji!Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 21 Feb 2009 | 9:48 am Vande Mataram completes shootingMalayalam superstar Mammootty and Tamil 'action king' Arjun's much-anticipated bilingual Vande Mataram (Aruvadai in Tamil), directed by T. Arvind, has completed its shooting. The film’s climax was shot in Sengundram with the lead actors and several junior artistes.Director Arvind expressed hisSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 9:37 am Jade Goody turns to the Bible in her last daysLondon (ANI): Jade Goody has turned to the Bible as she comes to terms with her death. The Brit actress, 27, is so influenced by the holy book and its teachings that she is planning to have her sons Bobby, five,Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 9:31 am Resul thinks Slumdog Millionaire is not his bestForget the much-hyped Oscar nomination that he has received for his exemplary work in sound-mixing for Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire (SM), India's best known sound designer has just won the prestigious BAFTA award for his sound editing in Slumdog Millionaire. AndSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 9:27 am Slumdog Millionaire favourite to win top Oscar prizeWashington (ANI): Slumdog Millionaire is most likely to win the best film award at the Oscars, according to a people's choice poll. The film, tracing the story of a poor boy winning a fortune in a reality show, has already wonSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 9:20 am Tweed to give unforgettable wedding to GoodyLondon (ANI): Cancer-stricken Jade Goody's fiancé has vowed to make their wedding nothing less than "magical". Jailbird Jack Tweed, who is set to watch his love walk down the aisle on February 22, revealed he wanted to give an unforgettable daySource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 9:15 am Masand's movie review: Valkyrie is not Cruise's best - IBNLive.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 8:27 am Third Twilight film in the pipelineWashington (ANI): With the success of Twilight still very fresh, Summit Entertainment has announced that they will be releasing a third series by the name of Eclipse. The release date for the film has been set as June 30, 2010, andSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 8:22 am Drona - ReviewNithin made his debut through Jayam of Teja. He gained loverboy image with his first movie and later bagged a couple of hits in his career. After Sye of Rajamouli, Nithin had no notable hit to his credit. After facing successiveSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 8:15 am Undeterred, Jade Goody all set for her wedding - IBNLive.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 7:42 am Venkata In Sankata - ReviewRamesh Arvind has once again proved that he is not only a comedy actor, but also a wonderful director. Venkata In Sankata is a string of laughter and the directer has picked fresh flowers and weaved a beautiful garland. Kannada audiencesSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 7:03 am Slumdog Millionaire bags fake Oscar AwardBad news spreads faster than the good ones. This year's Annual Academy Awards has been marred a bit due to the rumours doing the rounds that the list of Oscar winners has been leaked. It all started after a website publishedSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 6:39 am Veer makers fined Rs.20 lakh - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 6:29 am Veer makers fined Rs.20 lakhA while ago there was news about how the unit of Salman Khan's ambitious period film Veer was in trouble for causing damage to the Amer fort. For the uninitiated, the shooting at the sixteenth century Amer fort was brought toSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 6:13 am First Look: 'Aa Dekhen Zara' - MSN India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 21 Feb 2009 | 6:01 am The kiss in HissssBollywood may never show the kind of intense romance scenes as shown in Hollywood flicks, but gone are the days when Indian actors were reluctant to lock lips for a passionate steamy kiss in intense romance scenes.Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:00 am Aloo Chaat Music Release [Gallery]Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:00 am Knights and Angels - Press Conference [Gallery]Source: IndiaGlitz.com - News | 21 Feb 2009 | 12:00 am 'Slumdog' kids to walk Oscar red carpetLOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The "Slumdog Millionaire" child actors from the slums of Mumbai will be joining hundreds of movie stars on the red carpet at Sunday's Oscar ceremony in Hollywood, the studio behind the film said on Friday.Source: Reuters: Bollywood News | 20 Feb 2009 | 11:39 pm Leaked Oscar winners list a complete hoax
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 20 Feb 2009 | 8:20 pm 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 "Of my three films so far Delhi 6 is the most complicated" - Rakeysh MehraRakeysh Mehra speaks about why he had to shift Chandni Chowk To Jaipur and more about Delhi 6. You've shot Chandni Chowk in Jaipur? Yes. Delhi 6 is set in the walled city of Delhi. But we shot most of it in Sambar. We took over the entire town and recreated old Delhi there. To shoot on location in Chandni Chowk is not impossible. You can do so for a couple of days. But if you do it for prolonged periods you'll end up disrupting normal life. The locals won't mind. But Chandni Chowk is very congested. You wouldn't want to stop their lives. We did shoot on location but then we shifted to a fantastic town called Sambar which is 2 ½ hours away from Jaipur. Though it's deserted town the ancestral homes of the people who lived there. They served our purpose beautifully. Chandni Chowk is also pivotal to Nikhil Advani's Chandni Chowk To China? What's with this fascination with Delhi? That's because it's one of the oldest cities of the world. It's a microcosm of India. It embodies the spirit of older cities like Jaipur, Hyderabad, Amritsar and Patna. For me there's no native village. Only Chandni Chowk. It has taken me two other films to get back to my roots in Delhi 6. This would've been my first film. But I'm glad I made the other ones. I learnt so much during Aks and Rang De Basanti. Today I know a bit more about cinema than I did earlier. How closely did you recreate Chandni Chowk in Sambar? Chandni Chowk is a metaphor for a way of life. So we shot in Chandni Chowk. The rest of Old Delhi we built in Sambar. Sadly we had to dismantle our 'Old Delhi' in Sambar after shooting. Heartbreaking? Absolutely. But we filmmakers are gypsies. We build dreams, and move on. I even tried to buy one of the houses, the one that Waheeda Rehmanj's character occupies in the film. I got really attached to that house. But the owners were too attached to it to part with it. Waheedaji is a favourite, isn't it? Oh, no ways two ways about it. I had threatened to build my set in front of her house in Mumbai and shoot the whole film there.I must have done something good in my previous life to get to work with her in two films. I also got to work with extraordinary actors like Pavan Malhotra, Divya Dutta (what a firepower she is!) , Supriya Pathakji Abhishek and Sonam for the first time. And Rishi Kapoor? He's.....I don't have the words for him. He's so fabulous and complete. You wonder how he does it. These wonderful actors are the heart and soul of the film. I'll cherish the experience forever. There was so much give-and-take on location. We were all neighbours. We not only worked together we went out for morning walks and cycling, cooking and eating together. Must be heartbreaking when it ends? Not really. Bonds strengthen after the shooting. I'm still in touch with my crew and cast in Aks and Rang De Basanti. We can't celebrate Diwali and Holi unless we're together. We're all there for one another. How important is the background score for a film? It can take an ordinary scene and make is extraordinary. On the other hand it can kill an extraordinary scene. But the background music doesn't end my post-production work. Somehow a film always gets snatched away before it is ready. There's so much A R Rahman wants to do for Delhi 6. But the film will go out of his hands. How satisfying has Delhi 6 been? Of my three films so far this has been the most challenging. It's a difficult subject and a rough journey. Delhi 6 works on the conscious and subconscious level. I still haven't completed the journey. Rang De Basanti is an impossible act to encore? It's a fact about my career that I can't escape. It's part of my growth as a filmmaker. It shifted emotions within me. Luckily for me there're no similarities between Rang De Basanti and Delhi 6. Delhi 6 is your most autobiographical film? I spent quite a bit of my growing-up years in Chandni Chowk. In Rang De Basanti I drew experiences from my college days. In Delhi 6 I've drawn from my childhood. As you grow older you reflexively gravitate towards your roots. But it's a very contemporary story. The ambience, adventures, tastes and smells from my childhood You put the design for your title-logo to public vote? Yes, we had several designs for the Delhi 6 logo. We had nine options. We threw it open to the public. We put it on our Delhi 6 website, Orkut, etc. Over a thousand responded and chose the two logos that I liked the best. Delhi 6 is a people's film. The year 2009 is a period of turmoil for our cinema? But it's also a period of variety. It's interesting to see such diverse films coming out. I'm reminded of the 1950s when V Shantaram, Guru Dutt, Bimal Roy, Chetan Anand, Vijay Anand and Dev Anand Saab were all doing their own thing. They never needed to encroach on one another territory. The masters from the 1950s have shown us the way. We can't pretend to be lost. Post 26/11 will audiences find Delhi 6 entertaining? The genre is comedy-romance-social drama. Our job is to tell a story. But you've to draw audiences into the story. Entertainment is often confused with momentary pleasure. Cinematic entertainment is far deeper.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 20 Feb 2009 | 5:14 pm Slumdog Millionaire kids head to LA for the OscarsThere was absolute chaos (but a very 'cultured' one this) at the Mumbai International Airport yesterday as it saw the the supercool child actors of Slumdog Millionaire boarding their flight to attend the Academy Awards to be held in Los Angeles on Sunday. These young brats included the likes of Ayush Khedekar, Tanay Chheda, Madhur Mittal, Tanvi Lonkar and gang. This was one trip which was just heaven-sent to these kids, which was echoed in the feelings of their proud parents. Amidst all this excitement was a super-proud -but-slightly- tensed mother of one of the kids. And she had every reason to be so, for her son, after attending the prestigious Oscar ceremony that takes place on Sunday, has to rush back to Mumbai, to appear for his S.S.C. board examinations. Way to go, kids. We sincerely pray that the film wins the Oscar trophy.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 20 Feb 2009 | 4:54 pm "I have again become superstitious about the number 13" - Neetu ChandraClick above for more movie stills The recent days gone by were very troublesome for the lissome beauty Neetu Chandra, who, had been through hell and back (and that too for no fault of hers). She is back with a bang to the place where she truly belongs to: Bollywood! After having won hearts with her superlative performances in films like Garam Masala (in which she was both... 'Garam' as well as the 'Masala'), which was followed by the traffic-stopping performance in Traffic Signal... the lady with the most terrific smile and a personality to match is back with her latest offering 13b, a thriller of sorts. This film not just sees her being paired opposite talented R. Madhavan, but also marks the comeback of yesteryear's actress Poonam Dhillon. Man! These are reasons enough for anyone to throng to the theatres to watch 13B. Bollywood Hungama managed to catch up with Neetu Chandra, the livewire actress for an exclusive tete-a-tete. Here's what Mademoiselle Neetu had to say... Neetu, to start with, your fans were really shocked to hear of the infamous nightmare called 'Rajshekhar '. We are so very concerned to know the status of the same. The legal proceedings are going on. I have stopped talking about it, because it's my lawyers who are taking care of it. I am just not getting into it at all. Anyways, thanks for your concern. I have stopped talking about the Rajshekhar incident as the legal proceedings are going on We are so happy to hear that things are looking great. Now, let's actually start off this interview by asking you about your forthcoming and much awaited film 13B. There seems to be a lot of buzz about its unique title. Buzz obviously means the first step towards rumors. So, let's nip the rumors in its 'buzz-stage'...I mean... the 'bud-stage'. Why don't you tell us what's the film actually about? All that I can say is that it's a super natural thriller and a complete family drama which the whole family can watch together. Beyond this, I cannot say anything about the film because that will have me letting the cat out of the bag. But yes... I promise that 13 B is one of the best thrillers that anyone would have ever seen. I promise that 13 B is one of the best thrillers that anyone would have ever seen 13 B is a bilingual film (being made in Hindi and Tamil). Does that mean that we can get to her your sweet husky voice in Tamil as well? You can 'see' me talk in Tamil, but you will not hear my voice as it has been dubbed by someone else. As a matter of fact, my co-star R. Madhavan really helped me a lot in getting the language right as I do not have any hang of the (Tamil) language. All in all, it was really fun throughout! What's that one word or sentence that you have learnt in Tamil, which will remain with you for the rest of your life? It has to be the name of the film 'Yaavarum Nallam' (means 'Everything is Fine'). Besides this, I have also learnt a couple of other lines such as 'Yeppadi Iruukinga?' (How are you?), 'Nalla Irukkkiya?' (Are you alright), 'Unga Peyar Yenna?' (What's your name?)...The whole Tamil experience is quite cool in itself. The whole Tamil experience is quite cool in itself. Universally, the number '13' is considered to be an unlucky number (esp. in Bollywood). So, what made you sign this film? As we got to know that if you were number 13 in a queue, you used to either move back or step forward. Correct me if I am wrong! You are absolutely right about the queue part of it. But then, that used to happen when I was a kid yaar! Those times, I was really very superstitious. But then, as I grew up, I forgot all about these superstitions. But, let me also tell you that after doing this film, I have again become superstitious, especially about the number 13! After doing 13 B, I have again become superstitious, esp. about the number 13! There's a slight confusion about the film's title. As per our knowledge, the film was earlier titled as Flat No. 13-B Sab Khairiyat Hain, but later was renamed as Channel. And now, back to 13B. Help! All that I know is that Channel was the working title. As far as Sab Khairiyat Hain is concerned, I believe that they (the film makers) were only trying to translate the Tamil title in Hindi, before zeroing down on the final title as 13B. That's all! I hope that have solved all the confusions. The film has you and Maddy moving into a new house '13 B'. Will you ever do so in real life? Ya...why not! I am a very positive person. I do not see any problem in doing that in real life. Why to blame a mere number, but still, I will be very careful before moving into such house! (laughs) How was it working with your co-star R. Madhavan, who is popularly known as the Tom Cruise of South India? It's only needless to say that Maddy is not just a great person to be with, but also a great actor. He is a fantastic and superb co-star. I would love to work with him again and again. He is extraordinarily down to earth, very co-operative and helpful. To top it all, he has got an infectiously great smile, on which, I am sure that all the girls get charmed, swooned and swayed by...so am I (blushes)!!! 13B also sees the comeback of the graciously gorgeous Poonam Dhillon. We believe that she plays my mother-in-law, whom you quite lovingly call your 'Mom'. Right? Yaar, Poonamji is so very beautiful even at this age...Touch Wood! She takes care of me as a mother. It was simply amazing working with her. I strongly feel that she should have made her comeback in films quite some time back. But I really don't know why she didn't. Let me tell you that she is one of THE most gorgeous and classiest people whom I have ever met in my life! She was so very helpful when it came to me learning my dialogues (esp. in Tamil). Poonam Dhillonji is one of THE most gorgeous and classiest people whom I have ever met in my life 13 B centers around a TV programme. In real life, do you watch TV? Are you one of those zillion addicts of the never-ending 'saas-bahu' sagas? (Laughs). Actually I am not a TV freak as my profession does not give me that kind of time to sit before the TV and watch programmes. But a good TV show is always welcome. These days, one gets to see a lot of good reality shows which actually does it for me. My kind of T.V. programme will be something as real as like 'Khatron Ke Khiladi'. My kind of T.V. programme will be something as real as like 'Khatron Ke Khiladi'. All of the spooky films made in the past have got its directors and crew experiencing some or the other strange experiences whilst shooting for the same. Did you experience any such things during the shoot of the film? Throughout the film, we did encounter lots of spooky experiences. But what will always remain memorable in my mind was the day when we were shooting for a certain lightning sequence in the night, where all the people were supposed to be there. Even after the shot was through, no one came out. I kept on calling out for everyone, but nobody came out. I was so very scared. I can never ever forget this incident. We bet that there should be more such things... Hmmmm...yaa... For some strange reason, we just couldn't shoot at 1300 hours (1'o clock). We also were very careful about shooting on the 13th, as lots of things were just not happening in that day as per planned. No matter what we did...we just could not shoot! For some strange reason, we just couldn't shoot at 1300 hours (1'o clock). We also were very careful about shooting on the 13th Was there a pandit or a Vaastu person around on the sets to 'balance' the effects of 13? Yes, my director had approached some pandit to perform a pooja to avoid any untoward incidents on the sets. How was it to work with Vikram Kumar, the director? He is simply a great director. Besides being the director, he also happens to be the writer of the film. Trust me when I say that I have never seen such an original script ever in my life. Over and above everything, the execution of the film was done in a real superlative manner! How has the music of the film shaped up? What's your favourite song? All the songs are superb. But there's one song which goes as 'Aasmaan...' which one has to see it to believe it. The way the director has presented me and this song is simply unbelievable. The way the director has presented me in the 'Aasmaan' song is simply unbelievable The website of the film is offering cash reward of a whopping Rs. 1 lakh for someone with the spookiest experience in real life. We may not be able to offer you that much, but we will surely like to know that has Neetu Chandra been spooked in real life? If you offer me Rs. 2 lakhs, only then I will tell you! (laughs heartily) Bihari men like Shatrughan Sinha, Manoj Bajpai and Shekhar Suman have been ruling the Bollywood roost for quite sometime now. How does it feel to be Bihar's only girl in Bollywood? The way they ruled, I am also going to rule Bollywood too. The fact is that there are a lot of girls from my state (Bihar) who have been working in the technical department for quite sometime now and have been really successful in that. And as far as acting and being in front of the Bollywood camera is concerned, I am really happy that I am the first one to do so. And I really do not mind being a role model for other girls to achieve this feat. Deepika Padukone's stunts were quite appreciated in CC2C. When will we get to see Neetu Chandra, Taek-Won-Do's Black Belt wonder girl, winning the cine goers' hearts with her real life stunts? Whenever I get the right script, I surely will do. Whenever I get the right script, I surely will do heart-stopping stunts Neetu, now tell us, what's the status of the first-of-its-kind 3D mobile game 'Neetu - The Alien Killer Game Story: 3000 AD', where you play the lead character? How has been the response to that? The response to the game has been really very encouraging. It's really doing very well in the market and the makers have also sent it for an award. What's your all time favourite horror film in Bollywood and Hollywood? In Bollywood, it has to be RGV's Bhoot for sure. As far as Hollywood is concerned, there are so many of them! In 2003, you received the Best Student Award for Sports and Academics by the then Prime Minister of India. How does it feel when you look back? Frankly speaking, I am looking forward for more such awards now. That was just the starting; all that I can say is that God has been really very kind to me. Not many people know that Madhur Bhandarkar had offered you Konkona's role in Traffic Signal. Right? He had actually offered me both the roles. And since it was the starting of my career, I really wanted to do the role that I did in the film. Besides 13 B, what are the other films that are keeping you busy? I have five releases this year. There is Mumbai Cutting, a film with Vipul Shah, Raj Kanwar besides a couple of others. Lastly, do you know that Lara Dutta is doing an item song in Rajasekhar's film Satyameva Jayathe. It's the same song of Khaki that has been dubbed in the film. As far as Lara is concerned, all that I can say is that she is a great dancer, besides being an amazing actress.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 20 Feb 2009 | 4:53 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 The Dark Knight gets re-released in IndiaThe Oscar-nominated film, The Dark Knight created quite a stir in the filmi audience with theatres going house full for almost the entire time the film was running. Though some may attribute this to the awe inspiring and simply wondrous performance by the late Heath Ledger, others will certainly say that the film was good on its own. The film was hailed by both critics and audiences since its original release last July, and now once again the director Christopher Nolan (with the use of IMAX cameras to film some of the most challenging action sequences ever created) has planned on re-releasing the film. However this time the Batman film The Dark Knight shall be releasing in IMAX version at IMAX Big Cinemas, Wadala, Mumbai on February 20, 2009. So all you die-hard The Dark Knight fans get ready to see 'The Joker' this time in the IMAX version.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 20 Feb 2009 | 3:42 pm
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