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Gowariker to direct a film on Buddha
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 4:51 pm Shankacharya calls Mallika Sherawat 'a pure soul'
Calling Mallika Sherawat "a pure soul", Shreemad Jagadguru Shankaracharya Shree Shree Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji, the 36th and present pontiff of Shree Ramachandrapura math, made a special invitation to Mallika Sherawat to visit his new ashram in Karnataka and organized a number of special pujas in her honour.
The Shankaracharya brought a number of high priests from Kerala and Mangalore for the special occasion, which included Miss Sherawat breaking ground for the pontiff's Hanuman project at the cave the where, Shankaracharya says, Lord Hanuman was born. Sherawat also initiated a new Hanuman temple on the site, where the largest Hanuman monument, over 15 stories, will be built.
Mallika received the Shankaracharya's invitation while she was in Los Angeles for the post-production of her new film Hisss. She made the trip back to India especially for the occasion, which included extensive pujas with 600 lotus flowers.
Sherawat returned the sentiment by inviting Shankaracharya to the United States during her stay there. If the pontiff accepts her invitation to visit the U.S., it would be the first time in history a Shankaracharya travels to America.
Sherawat said, "After having spent most of my time recently in the U.S., it was a great honour for me to make a special trip back to India to meet the Shankaracharya. In a very special way it reconnected me to my Hindu roots. The experience was truly one of the best of my life and one I will never forget."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 9 May 2009 | 4:31 pm Maa to Mom - The changing face of Bollywood Mothers
'Mere Paas Maa Hai'! This line of Shashi Kapoor's from the film Deewar has been the eternal saying in the world of Hindi cinema. However, from the times of Mother India, Bollywood has always portrayed mother as someone who not just faces hardships but also sacrifices the most. This Mother's Day, Bollywood Hungama takes a look at the changing phases of mothers in Hindi films.
The early days Hindi Cinema had onscreen mothers cry, weep, suffer and wait for their death to rid herself of her sorrows. But with changing times, this Bollywood formula has become outdated and is dumped. The role of a mother then went from being feebly weak to ultra strong in the late 80's. She had the power to take it upon herself and get things done on her terms. She took revenge for every injustice done to her.
Somewhere in the late 90's, there was another change. This time it was the proverbial term 'Maa' that underwent a metamorphosis to become the modern 'Mom'. It was then that the Bollywood moms evolved from the flowing drapes of a sari to move on to designer wears. No longer did she fall at the feet of a durga idol praying for salvation and seek justice. These moms moved forward with the new generation and became friends with their children rather than forcing themselves on them.
In early 2000's, single and working mothers also got incorporated into Hindi cinema. Veteran actresses such as Rekha and Kirron Kher, who played single mothers in Koi Mil Gaya and Hum Tum respectively, displayed such attributes with great stance and poise. Even Lara Dutta portrayed the urban single mother in Partner who single-handled managed both her career and home.
Raising the bar for onscreen mothers were actresses like Shabana Azmi, Lillette Dubey and Dimple Kapadia, who've completely shed the misery and helplessness act. They play the mothers who are always available to their children as friends without getting judgmental about their issue but at the same time, also give them space when required. They have also broken the stereotype of the Evil Stepmom (Shabana Azmi in Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.), proving that today's mother is mature enough to happily accept her 'step children' more openly than ever before.
With time, Hindi cinema's mothers have gone from 'Maa' to 'Mom' and from saris to jeans but they still remain the same at heart. Maa or Mom, whatever you choose to call them, still dote on their sons, still await their daughter's weddings, and still strive for the happiness for her family.
This Mother's Day, Bollywood Hungama salutes all the mothers for their unconditional love and every sacrifice that they've made for the joy of their children.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 9 May 2009 | 4:24 pm Anthem row: Effigies of Big B, RGV burnt
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 4:03 pm Aamir enjoys skiing lessons in Canada
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 3:43 pm Aamir Khan enjoys skiing lessons in CanadaBollywood actor Aamir Khan who is globetrotting with his two children, got a chance to take skiing lessons in Canada, something that he thoroughly enjoyed and is recommending to everyone.Source: Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 3:30 pm I'm shocked by Shruthi's divorce plea: Mahendar
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 2:13 pm Talat Mahmood's daughter pays homage to him in PolandIt was on this day 10 years ago that legendary singer Talat Mahmood died.Source: Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 1:04 pm Book Review: Noorjehan - The Melody Queen
This is one of the rare books that attempt at taking an honest and unbiased view of the subject in question. And the subject this time around is none other than Noorjehan, the singer/actress who has been fondly addressed 'Mallika-e-Tarannum' over the years. Author Aijaz Gul makes sure that he pays a tribute to Noorjehan through his write-up. But while doing so, he also makes sure that he doesn't come across as a star struck fan whose job was to only paint a 'perfect' picture of hers.
Never once does he go gaga in appreciation of the artist who has been hailed as one of the greatest ever of this century on either side of the border. He reflects the greatness of Noorjehan as an artist but doesn't fail to mention about her in numerous love affairs. He talks about how she had her heart in the right place for the needy but doesn't shy away from making repeated references to the immense wealth that she accumulated in her lifetime. He talks about the love that she carried for her two husbands and many children but also tells the story from their point of view, especially her first husband, who was bitter about her even when she was on deathbed. He presents extracts of her interviews from the past where she spoke in appreciation of the new talent emerging in the industry but also provides interesting anecdotes around her unique and manipulative way of handling rivalry. He hints of her love for her 'janmabhoomi' [Pakistan] and 'karmabhoomi' [India, at least for the initial phase of her career] but also shows her patriotic side which truly indicates where her heart really lied.
In this context, Aijaz Gul does really well in maintaining a very good balance throughout this book which brings to fore quite a few heard and unheard stories about Noorjehan for which Kaifi Azmi once commented - 'Noorjehan's voice and her stature could not be confined to one country!'
Of course for those belonging to the current generation, songs like 'Jawan Hai Mohabbat' have been heard only in the remix version but they were quite a rage when released more than half a century back. All of this and more is revealed in this book which could have easily become one boring thesis or a research exercise if not for the interesting storytelling that the author does. One has to give it to Aijaz for having painstakingly done his homework well as he goes down the memory lane and extracts unheard of songs from the past. Not just that, he also speaks to quite a few celebrities from that era as well as her friends and relatives who describe the personal and professional life of Noorjehan. Meanwhile, he digs down various interviews of hers to bring to fore some interesting stories that she had to tell.
But as chapters after chapters unfold and scandals/hidden skeletons/closet lovers in the life of Noorjehan are revealed, one senses a strong undercurrent of passion in Noorjehan's life. No, there aren't any bedroom talks that the author indulges in. Still, if one goes by the written words in the book, it is quite obvious that even though Noorjehan married twice (both being love marriages) and tried her best to be the perfect wife, there were temptations galore with situations being such that she had to eventually give in. Also, her passion for art was such that she could go to all lengths to not just deliver her best but make sure that her competition stood nowhere in the picture. That could follow any of the routes from 'saam-daam-dand-bhed' but no one could dare challenge Noorjehan. Well, at least in open!
This very aspect of Noorjehan's personality is also presented in great detail in this book which is quite relatable even till date. Though the events had happened decades back and the characters involved were the ones that belonged to the time of our grandparents, one can't deny that the situations shown are prevalent even in today's time.
Of course, what the book lacks though is a face value since other than die hard fans of Noorjehan or the followers of the great singer, there aren't many who would make a beeline to pick the book from the stands and know about her life. Moreover, even as a reader, first 20 odd pages have to be deeply absorbed before one starts getting a hang of things. However, once you have immersed yourself into the book and moved to that part of her life where she started becoming famous and much in demand, pages start turning by themselves.
The book also makes for an interesting read for those who love to know about the inside stories of the Hindi film industry (it wasn't called Bollywood when Noorjehan ruled). The games people played, casting decisions, manipulations, egos, sweet talks, back stabbing, broken trust, emotional blackmail, fake tears, real consideration, bitter memories, sweet remembrances - it's all there in the dramatic life that Noorjehan lived! In fact her ex-husband Shaukat once commented that 'Noorjehan was a dangerous woman who knew that art of seduction by heart!'
After reading the book, one thing which clearly comes out is that apart from her being a great artist (something that doesn't require any introduction or other detailing actually) Noorjehan also lived a colourful life. In fact Aijaz Gul makes this facet of her personality quite clear at the very beginning, hence paving the way for a reader to get further curious as the pages turn. Though the author does mention that he would maintain a line of decency in the book, even some clean writing by him is spicy enough for the book to be alternatively termed as 'Sex, Lies and Recordings'!
Price: Rs. 395
Rating:  Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 9 May 2009 | 1:01 pm Gattu Tales hits the stands
Gattu Tales, a set of comic books based on television actor Deven Bhojani, has hit the stands across India. Orient BlackSwan, in association with Star TV and BookBox, has launched the comic books.
The main character, Gattu, is based on the character from Baa Bahoo Aur Baby, a Hindi TV program broadcast on Star Plus. Gattu is one of the lead characters in the show and it is immensely popular with children. The animated version of the stories is available in a CD along with the 'Storytellers' books distributed by Orient BlackSwan.
Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Nirav Shah, COO, BookBox, shared, "BookBox has by licensing the character Gattu from Star TV, produced a series of 5 animated stories. We have been involved in this initiative right from the stage of story writing, artwork creation, narration and animation of the content for various platforms like internet, computers, TVs and mobile phones."
BookBox has currently made 5 animated stories based on Gattu & Baa. These stories are available as internet downloads, print books, CD-ROM/VCD and mobile phone content.
The makers also intend to come out with more stories on Gattu as well as other characters from Star TV along with the plans to bring out comics based on original stories.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 9 May 2009 | 12:50 pm John Abraham signed as the Brand Ambassador for Garnier Men
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He is the true youth icon. There's hardly anyone in the universe who must have not heard of him. He is none other than John Abraham. After having ruled the modeling world followed by setting the silver screen afire, he has now been signed by the cosmetic major Garnier, to endorse their men's range.
With the tagline that says, 'Fuel your skin with natural energy', John seems to be all set to take the cosmetic scene not just by storm, but by a whirlwind. Talking about the brand's association with the hunk, Garnier's spokesperson said, "Garnier Men is a brand that is about natural energy that fuels your skin and John Abraham simply represents this value for Garnier. He's got the charisma and the attitude. He is the face of the new Indian man who is confident and has got tremendous self-belief."
John, on him being associated with the brand, said "Today, Indian men are totally into grooming. They look after themselves and want to look good too. But there are not enough products of international quality to meet their growing needs. That is where the brand steps in." On a personal front, he added that, "When I act, I am always trying to improve my performance. The product too promises that using it daily helps improve your skin's quality. Looking good is about self-belief. It is about the confidence to be oneself. So that when you go out there, you know that you have got what it takes."
So, we will not be surprised to see Garnier's men's range being a sell out. And we also know who should be accredited if that happens. What say, Johnny boy!Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 9 May 2009 | 12:48 pm Amitabh Bachchan enjoys gondola ride after 30 years !It was in 1979 that Amitabh Bachchan enjoyed a gondola ride on the famed waterways of Venice for a song sequence in a Hindi film - and 30 years later the Bollywood superstar relived the ride Friday, but this time in Macau!Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 12:45 pm ``Phantom`` sequel delayed until spring 2010 !The wait is long for `Phantom` lovers, for a planned sequel to `The Phantom of the Opera` has reportedly been pushed back until spring 2010.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 12:45 pm Rapper Kanye West finds his successor!Rapper Kanye West claims to have found his successor in a little known British singer called Hudson.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 12:45 pm Rihanna`s hot -nude pics leaked on the net!!`Umbrella` hitmaker Rihanna`s six hot nude pics have reportedly been leaked on the internet!Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 12:45 pm My next character will surely make an impact: Priyanka Chopra!Priyanka Chopra is all excited about her role in `Kaminey`.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 12:45 pm John Abraham to romance director`s wife in `1:800 Love`!Actor John Abraham, who will be seen romancing the wife of director Abbas Tyrewala in "1:800 Love", says he is not feeling awkward and is prepared to take on the challenging role.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 12:45 pm Eminem blames mother for his `drug addiction` in new track !Rapper Eminem has blamed his mother Debbie Mathers for his drug addiction in his new track.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 12:45 pm Megan Fox has no idea how to handle her sexuality !Transformers star Megan Fox has revealed that she has no idea how to handle her sexuality.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 12:45 pm Meet the secular superstar: Amitabh Bachchan!Amitabh seems to be one of the most secular human beings in the Indian film industry.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 12:45 pm Brangelina are `Most Powerful Celebrity Couple on the Planet`!Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are the most powerful celebrity couple on the planet.Source: Zee News : Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 12:45 pm BIG Animation & Frameboxx come together for education initiative
Animation majors BIG Animation and Frameboxx Animation & Visual Effects have joined hands to come together for a unique partnership wherein they will supplement and nurture their education courses.
BIG Animation & Frameboxx have taken a new initiative Industry Academia Interface (IAI) under which they have joined hands with a number of institutes to give its' students an exposure to the production environment and also an opportunity to interact with world class artists at the studio.
To start with, Frameboxx has joined hands with BIG Animation and its recently launched education arm BIG AIMS. Speaking to Bollywood Hungama on the sidelines of Golden Cursor Animation Awards in Mumbai, Frameboxx CEO Naveen Gupta shared, "The courses which have been introduced by BIG AIMS are not clashing with any of the traditional courses available in the market. BIG AIMS offers specialization and finishing courses, which supplement the courses offered by Frameboxx."
This tie-up will provide the students of Frameboxx an opportunity to have an option to do the specialization course at BIG AIMS after doing the foundation course at Frameboxx. "This will help them to learn more about the real time production environment and make them studio ready as per industry's demand," he added.
As per the plans, Frameboxx will also setup a separate team at BIG Animation (BIG Animation) in Pune, and the faculties from both the institutes will be deeply involved in enhancing the course curriculum and structure which can provide with the best of creative and practical knowledge.
"This tie-up is one of the exciting associations in the industry. This initiative by BIG Animation & Frameboxx will provide students an opportunity to specialize in studio environment where they can learn the process of idea to script and script to screen under one roof," said BIG Animation CEO Ashish Kulkarni.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 9 May 2009 | 12:44 pm Hrithik, Barbara going to Cannes for Kites
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 12:40 pm Anthem row: Effigies of Big B, RGV burnt - NDTV.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 11:45 am Oprah Winfrey's home evacuated as Southern California wildfire draws nearWashington, May 9 (ANI): The Southern California wildfire have forced American talk show queen Oprah Winfrey's home to be evacuated.
Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 11:31 am Sarah Harding gets career boost from Gere, Prince, Gibson's talent agencyLondon, May 9 (ANI): Girls Aloud member Sarah Harding's solo career is said to be getting a boost from Richard Gere, Prince, Sylvester Stallone, Denzel Washington and Mel Gibson's talent agency.
Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 11:31 am Paris Hilton spending most of romantic break with beau TwitteringLondon, May 9 (ANI): Socialite Paris Hilton is apparently determined to tell the entire world how much she loves her boyfriend Doug Reinhardt, for she is spending most of her romantic break with him posting messages on Twitter.
Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 11:31 am "Nicole Kidman is irresistible when she is in front of the camera" - Arjun Rampal
Spending your best summer time in the Caribbean islands and being disturbed every five minutes is not what you'd be ideally looking forward to. But Arjun Rampal is. The actor who is currently spending quality time out with his family in the scenic Caribbean is on cloud nine after his mobile being inundated with multiple text messages from his friends and well wishers congratulating him on his latest Schweppes commercial that he shot with Nicole Kidman.
Speaking exclusively to Bollywood Hungama from the Caribbean islands, Arjun comments on the scene where Nicole Kidman walks towards him unzipping her dress. "It's a bit of a tongue and cheek humour towards the end when Nicole walks in the room and unzips her dress signifying to go for it. I'm sure it's up to the audiences to decide what I'm going for, Nicole or the drink", said Rampal with a bit of laugh.
He then described his co-starlet, the gorgeous Nicole Kidman, "She is tall and fab. Charming, beautiful, sexy, gracious, professional and a go getter." Arjun again laughs and we know why. The go-getter gets a bit serious. He quotes, "She was only there for three days in Udaipur but kept herself always fit. She is irresistible when she is in front of the camera." But before the excited 'Mr. Mascarenhas' (as we call him after his character name in Rock On) decided to plunge himself in the pool, he went on to give us some exciting news which he said no media in India was aware of.
We always say, don't we, that it's a Bollywood Hungama exclusive. He said, "The Schweppes people are flying me from the Caribbean to the Cannes because they were so happy with the commercial's response. They too have been getting numerous text messages and that's when they decided to call me and let me know of their plan to fly me down while I was enjoying with my family here. A special chopper is being arranged to make my trip a bit extra special. Whether or not I'll be attending the Cannes Film Festival, I don't know, but I am looking forward to spend my lovely 24 hours in Cannes with my family and I bet it's going to be quite a lot of fun."Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 9 May 2009 | 11:18 am Amitabh Bachchan goes to Macau to announce IIFA 2009
Now imagine Mr. Bachchan taking a Gondola ride after thirty long years. That's exactly what happened when the IIFA Brand Ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan reached the beautiful city of Macau to promote the upcoming 'IIFA Awards 2009'.
Like always, the IIFA Weekend is a culmination of mega events that brings Indian cinema to the world. The IIFA Weekend includes the high-profile FICCI IIFA Global Business Forum, the IIFA Fashion Extravaganza, world premieres of Indian films and the climax of the Weekend, the spectacular IIFA Awards.
The FICCI IIFA Global Business Forum 2009 will be held on the second day of the IIFA Weekend (12th June 2009). The Forum is an endeavour to bridge boundaries between India and the IIFA Weekend Host country and will be used to discuss further trade options between India and China. It is a dynamic global platform providing the industry with an opportunity to deliberate on a diverse range of business, bilateral economic and political issues. Her Excellency Mrs. Nirupama Rao, Indian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, Mr K K Modi, Past President, FICCI and Mr. M Damodaran, Former Chairman, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) among others will be among the speakers and chairpersons at this year's Business Forum.
Speaking at the press conference held in Macau yesterday, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, IIFA Brand Ambassador said, "On behalf of IIFA, I would like to thank everyone in Macau and China for welcoming the landmark 10th IIFA to this beautiful destination. This is the first time I have come to Macau and find it enchanting. 2009 celebrates a decade of IIFA magic that has enchanted the world with its enthralling experiences. We are very excited to bring the IIFA celebrations to The Venetian Macau-Resort-Hotel."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 9 May 2009 | 10:48 am Gwyneth Paltrow donating session with personal trainer for charityLondon, May 9 (ANI): Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow is donating a session with her personal trainer Tracy Anderson to a celebrity charity auction.
Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 10:47 am R 'n' B star Cassie Blase's topless pics leaked onlineLondon, May 9 (ANI): R 'n' B star Cassie Blase's topless pictures have leaked online, and the star claims that it is the work of a computer hacker.
Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 10:47 am Paris Hilton makes £7.5M a yearLondon, May 9 (ANI): Paris Hilton earns a whopping 7.5 million pounds in a year, it has been revealed.
Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 10:47 am Katie Holmes to fly to Melbourne for forthcoming flickMelbourne, May 9 (ANI): Hollywood actress Katie Holmes will be flying to Melbourne very soon to film her forthcoming flick 'Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark'. Holmes will spend her entire summer in Australia working on the multi-million dollar production.
Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 10:47 am Carrie Prejean being encouraged to surrender Miss California titleWashington, May 9 (ANI): Miss California Carrie Prejean is being encouraged to surrender her title, in the wake of recent controversy surrounding her anti-gay marriage stance and nude photos.
Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 10:47 am M.I.A. seeks Winfrey's help to stop attacks on Sri Lankan TamilsLondon, May 9 (ANI): British-born singer M.I.A., real name Mathangi Arulpragasam, has begged US talk show host Oprah Winfrey to help stop the attacks on Sri Lankan Tamils.
Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 10:47 am Mother's Day means Jonas Brothers get treat from mumWashington, May 9 (ANI): American pop boy band Jonas Brothers' mum likes to spend Mother's Day cooking up a special treat for her boys.
Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 10:47 am Priyanka confident about Kaminey role
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 10:34 am Kareena, Shahid shoot together
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 10:15 am Danny rescued when Om Puri, Naseer refused Frozen - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 9:39 am Aamir Khan enjoys skiing lessons in CanadaBollywood actor Aamir Khan who is globetrotting with his two children, got a chance to take skiing lessons in Canada, something that he thoroughly enjoyed and is recommending to everyone.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 9 May 2009 | 9:30 am 'Hatrick Hodi Maga' - another ordinary gangster flickFilm: 'Hatrick Hodi Maga'; Director: P.N. Sathya; Cast: Shivaraj Kumar, Nicolette Bird, Manju Bhargavi, Sharat Lohithashwa and Pavitra Lokesh; Music: Jessie Gift; Rating: *Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 9 May 2009 | 9:30 am Kareena-Akshay to walk the red carpet with Sylvester Stallone at Cannes
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Sajid Nadiadwala is taking his new big-budget film Kambhakkht Ishq to Cannes. And he isn't going alone.
The film's luscious lead will accompany him. Akshay Kumar who's currently shooting in Singapore and Kareena Kapoor who's in New York will be at Cannes to walk the red carpet.
And giving them company would be Sylvester Stallone who plays a key role in the film. Stallone has been making discreet inquiries about the release of the film. When informed of producer Sajid Nadiadwala's plans at Cannes, Stallone apparently readily agreed. He's extremely fond of both Akshay and Kareena.
"Is he?" chuckles Akshay from Singapore. "That's flattering. When in my early years I was working in Bangkok, I had three posters in my room, that of Sridevi, Bruce Lee and Sylvester Stallone."
Adds Kareena, "It would be lovely to walk the red carpet with Sylvester Stallone. How many of our actors would get that privilege?"
The details of the historic waltz at Cannes have almost being worked out. Says Sajid cautiously. "We're working on it. It will be in place soon."Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 9 May 2009 | 9:16 am Shreyas to setup an online gallery
Shreyas Talpade, who is in the process of setting up an online gallery to display his photos, talks on how his chance encounter with photography transformed into a serious hobby
"I had taken a digital camera, which I still own, to Rajasthan while shooting for Dor. During an unexpected break, my D.O.P. Sudeep noticed me taking random pictures and got down to explaining the basics like aperture, shutter speed, framing and composition. That's when I realised what an interesting composition and the right lighting can do to a picture. Of course, the fact that Rajasthan has one of the most photogenic landscapes also influenced my interest to a great extent," recalls Talpade about the episode that changed his outlook towards photography.
With Rajasthan being his experiment ground, is it landscape photography that fascinates him the most? "I am a people's person. I like faces, candid emotions, laughter... Of course, I mostly end up shooting when I am outdoors, be it in between on the sets or otherwise. And yes, the landscape helps," offers the actor who last undid the shutter on the sets of Hook Ya Crook in Hyderabad. Pointing to a set of frames, he says, "While shooting at a jail set in Hyderabad, I caught Sharad napping during a break. It made for an interesting picture since his face had an extremely serene expression even as he rested against the bustling prison backdrop. And yes, there was also an artificial potty right behind him!"
With moments as priceless as these in his portfolio, the actor, who has so far shied away from public display, is now working on a website to showcase his works. Though knowing well the embarrassing situation that celebrities often find themselves in when it comes to being caught off-guard by shutterbugs, Talpade is determined about taking permission from the people concerned before uploading exclusive photographs.
Talking about exclusive, the actor maintains that his favourite works continue to be ones that he shot while working on Dor. "I vividly remember this one frame where a man is standing on a dune and drinking water with the background sun adding to the moment. What made for another interesting picture was this group of people carrying away a small round bamboo hut that we created while shooting, with one of the men instructing the others."
So while human actions and reactions continue to be Talpade's favourite, who has had the rare opportunity of shooting stars unplugged, who is that one actor he would love to shoot? Talpade guesses, "It would have to be Mr. Bachchan. First, I completely idolise him. Second, I feel, as a photographer, you just have to kind of brief the person in one line and that should bring many expressions to his persona. There are not many others who I think would be able to do that."
Screen IndiaSource: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 9 May 2009 | 9:06 am Bollywood celebrities give animal welfare a boostJohn Abraham, Celina Jaitley, Shilpa Shetty and Malaika Arora Khan have something in common apart from their celebrity status.Source: Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 8:04 am I'm shocked by Shruthi's divorce plea: Kannada director MahendarKannada filmmaker S. Mahendar said he and his family members are 'shocked' by his actress wife Shruthi's decision to file for a divorce after 11 years of marriage. He added that their relationship was never strained, as claimed by Shruthi.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 9 May 2009 | 8:01 am Amitabh, Ram Gopal Varma burnt in effigy for 'twisting' national anthemActivists of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) burnt effigies of director Ram Gopal Varma and Amitabh Bachchan here for 'dishonouring' the national anthem in their movie 'Rann'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 9 May 2009 | 8:01 am John Abraham to romance director's wife in '1:800 Love'Actor John Abraham, who will be seen romancing the wife of director Abbas Tyrewala in "1:800 Love", says he is not feeling awkward and is prepared to take on the challenging role.Source: Entertainment News | 9 May 2009 | 7:59 am Any more patch-up will lead to marriage with Aamir: SRK - MSN India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 7:44 am Mom's the word for Bollywood celebritiesWhen music maestro A.R Rahman won his first Oscar, it was his mother whom he thanked even before god. He is not the only one - most people in Bollywood credit their mothers for being their reliable support system.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 9 May 2009 | 7:00 am Katrina is twice as sexy - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 9 May 2009 | 6:30 am I'm a worker, not youth icon: Raghu RamHe is known for his aggressive demeanour in the hit reality show 'MTV Roadies', and for thousands of youngsters Raghu Ram is the ideal rough and tough man. But Raghu dismisses any talk of him being a youth icon.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 9 May 2009 | 5:30 am My next character will surely make an impact: Priyanka ChopraPriyanka Chopra is all excited about her role in director Vishal Bhardwaj's new movie 'Kaminey' and says the character will 'definitely make an impact amongst audiences'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 9 May 2009 | 3:00 am Lack of new Hindi movies hits Bangalore's multiplexesDearth of big-budget Bollywood content following the stand-off between producers and multiplexes, coupled with the poor quality of regional films released in the past four months, has kept audiences away from local multiplexes, hitting their margins.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 9 May 2009 | 3:00 am John Abraham to romance director's wife in '1:800 Love'Actor John Abraham, who will be seen romancing the wife of director Abbas Tyrewala in '1:800 Love', says he is not feeling awkward and is prepared to take on the challenging role.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 9 May 2009 | 2:30 am Bollywood celebrities give animal welfare a boostJohn Abraham, Celina Jaitley, Shilpa Shetty and Malaika Arora Khan have something in common apart from their celebrity status. They have come forward to endorse a message for animal welfare in the country.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 9 May 2009 | 2:30 am Amitabh enjoys gondola ride after 30 yearsIt was in 1979 that Amitabh Bachchan enjoyed a gondola ride on the famed waterways of Venice for a song sequence in a Hindi film - and 30 years later the Bollywood superstar relived the ride Friday, but this time in Macau! "After Venice, I have experienced a gondola after 30 years at the Venetian Macau.Source: Entertainment News | 8 May 2009 | 8:34 pm Indian films bring people closer: Big B
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 May 2009 | 7:03 pm Akshay to romance Katrina again - Bollywood Mantra
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 May 2009 | 4:51 pm Goody had no talent: publicist
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 May 2009 | 4:09 pm 'Kites' at Cannes
BIG Pictures is gearing up to market KITES to the international buyers, distributors and media during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.
To begin with, BIG Pictures will host a press conference and an elite cocktail event at Cannes. BIG Pictures has also purchased time slots to screen the KITES teaser on two digital screens adjacent to the red carpet entrance of the Palais, for the entire duration of the festival. This is a regular feature for big-budget Hollywood films, but for the first time ever, an Indian studio will showcase their film publicity on that screen.
KITES stars Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori, Kangna Ranaut, Nick Brown and Kabir Bedi in pivotal roles. The film is produced by Rakesh Roshan's Filmkraft and directed by Anurag Basu. KITES is being readied for release in the last quarter of 2009.
Apart from KITES, BIG Pictures will market and publicize its art house film slate. The International Distribution team has also lined up meetings with officials from Hollywood studios such as Fox, Sony, Paramount, Disney, Warner, Universal, Lionsgate amongst many others in order to explore business propositions.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 8 May 2009 | 3:57 pm Autodesk launches 2010 slate of post production software
Autodesk has announced the India launch of 2010 editions of Autodesk Flame, Inferno, Smoke and Flint software for editorial finishing and visual effects systems. It also launched Autodesk Flare software as the creative companion to Flame and Inferno.
"This year, we're especially excited about two developments," said Pankaj Kedia, Regional Manager, Systems - Gr. China, India & South East Asia, Autodesk Media & Entertainment. "First, we are launching Flare, which will be a great creativity and productivity booster for customers of our flagship visual effects software. Second, we have expanded our RED workflow capability to provide extremely fast and flexible import options. Both are already huge hits with our beta customers. In this economic climate, our software gives entertainment customers a real creative and competitive edge."
Autodesk's visual effects systems have been used to create numerous blockbuster films, including all three of this year's Academy Award-nominated movies for Best visual effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight and Iron Man.
The 2010 releases of Flame, Flare, Flint, Inferno and Smoke are now available. Autodesk Lustre 2009 Extension 1 and Autodesk Incinerator 2009 Extension 1 are also available to Autodesk Subscription customers.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 8 May 2009 | 3:22 pm Kareena-Saif get an unexpected treat
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 May 2009 | 3:21 pm Adlabs sets up media BPO; targets the international marketAdlabs Films, a Reliance ADAG company, has announced the establishment of one of the world's largest digital restoration and content processing facilities in the world. The BPO is targeted at the international market and will comply with standards of the MPAA (Motion Pictures Association of America), the company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. The facility, spread over 90,000 sq ft, will increase the headcount to 1,200 from the current 300 within a year. It has already received an order from the state owned National Film Archive of India, Pune, for digitization and digital restoration of 1000 films. Over the last 4 months, Adlabs has also successfully transmitted several films over its optical fiber network to distribute movies in the US, the statement said. This is also expected to aid the newly set up facility. "The globalization of media services is well underway. Adlabs is uniquely positioned, having significant and several years of experience in handling film media in various formats. Coupled with the optical fiber network, the comprehensive services of the media BPO enable a distinctive and complete to our worldwide clients," said Adlabs Films CEO Anil Arjun. The services of BPO include: restoration, encoding, transcoding, compression authoring, format and standards conversion, duplication and dubs, Meta tagging, repurposing/versioning, QC and broadcast logistics and archiving.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 8 May 2009 | 3:20 pm Minissha Lamba sizzles on the cover of The Man
After her sexy bikini act in Kidnap, Minissha Lamba is every man's ultimate fantasy. Hence, it comes as no surprise to see the Bollywood hottie feature on the cover page of popular men's magazine 'The Man'.
Minissha, who features in 'The Man' magazine's May issue, talks about a number of interesting things right from how she would like to be wooed to her choice of films. The actress, who started out as the simple Kashmiri girl in Yahaan, also talks at length about how people within the industry and outside have started looking her differently post her glamorous avatar in Bachna Ae Haseeno and Kidnap. Most importantly, she also talks about things that give her an adrenaline rush (And just in case you are wondering ...she is referring to adventure sports like bungee jumping and kite surfing).
Minissha also gives a sneak peek of her character in her forthcoming film- Shyam Benegal's Well Done Abba. All these are good enough reasons for you to rush and pick up a copy of 'The Man' at the earliest. After all... you can then have Minissha by your side 24X7.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 8 May 2009 | 2:45 pm Adnan Sami, parents not be arrested till Monday: Court - Daily News & Analysis
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 May 2009 | 2:25 pm A new twist in actress Shruthi's divorce sagaSouth Indian film actress and politician Shruthi today said she will be marrying journalist turned film director Chandrachud alias Chakri after the court accepts her plea for divorce from director S.Source: Entertainment News | 8 May 2009 | 2:02 pm Nakul and Sunaina's perfect chemistry - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 May 2009 | 2:01 pm Vivek Oberoi gifts Kareena-Saif an impromptu holidayVivek Oberoi's magnanimity has completely floored Kareena Kapoor and her beau Saif Ali Khan.Source: Entertainment News | 8 May 2009 | 1:53 pm 44 years after Satyajit Ray's Ang, India gets the ZoozooForty-four years after legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray created the iconic dwarf Ang, which was adapted by Hollywood director Steven Spielberg as the E.Source: Entertainment News | 8 May 2009 | 12:27 pm
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