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Bachchans more important than Kareena at IIFA
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 5:20 pm "Kishore Kumar was my soul and I was his body" - Rajesh Khanna
They say that if there was ever a superstar in the Indian Film Industry, it had to be Rajesh Khanna. There may be romantic leading men and icons in Bollywood but there is and will be only one superstar for his ability to take cinematic love to legendary heights. Why couldn't anybody replace him? Why since four long decades 'Kakaji's' superstar status is still not passed on? Because he had the biggest and the maddest fan following, especially his female fans. They would write love letters to him soaked in blood. They would kiss his car and faint. They wouldn't marry anybody in their life for they dedicated their life to Rajesh Khanna. His fashion and style statement was evident in all the colleges across India. Such was the impact of a man who, with the rigorous use of his voice to communicate a character's lines like 'Pushpa...I hate tears' and 'Babumushai...zindagi jo hain woh badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi' express emotions, which he achieved through attention to diction and commitment to his character. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent met the real and the reel superstar who, with his trademark smile and pose, delivered those famous lines from his film Anand and in the ten minutes which we were given, spoke in length about his IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award, how the word 'Kakaji' was born, his superstar status, his film Anand which inspired the country, his first love and first super hit Aradhana, his one liner to describe Kishore Kumar and Bollywood's next superstar, his grandson Aarav.
Congratulations on your Lifetime Achievement Award you've received at this years IIFA Macau.
Thank you so much. But this is not my first Lifetime Achievement Award. I've already got a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement when the black lady turned into gold. Then I was presented one during the Stardust Awards too. IIFA is a different feeling all together. IIFA is a very prestigious award and is no less than an Oscar. IIFA is a heritage of participating to highlight the culture of India to the various countries of the world. This is also the first time I'm attending all the three days of the IIFA Weekend and I'm really looking forward to it.
The entire world knows you as 'Kakaji'. Please tell us how the word 'Kaka' became so synonymous with Rajesh Khanna?
That's interesting. 'Kaka' in Punjabi means a small little baby. When I came into films, I was called 'Kaka' because I was young and small and with a bit of respect they added 'Ji'. That's how the world famous 'Kakaji' was born.
'Kaka' in Punjabi means a small little baby. When I came into films, I was called 'Kaka' because I was young and small
Indian Film Industry's first ever superstar. Women kissing your car, women writing love letters to you in blood, your style of dressing and talking. Everything you did was tagged as superstar.
No matter who they are. Whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian or any other community, I will always be grateful to my audience. In the corner of their heart, all of them have given me a small little space, stored and bestowed me with their love and affection. I would also like to thank my co-stars who've made me become an actor, then a star and then a superstar. Being a superstar isn't an individual achievement but it's the almighty above there who thinks he likes me. All departments of our film industry made me an actor to a star to a superstar.
I would also like to thank my co-stars who've made me become an actor, then a star and then a superstar
When people are on the verge of a near collapse and some who don't have much time to spend with their loved ones, all advice to watch Rajesh Khanna's Anand.
How did you come to know this? You're right. Even today, people advice to watch Anand simply because it was a path breaking film which had a path breaking dialogue, "Hum toh is rang manch ki katputliya hain aur hum sab ki dor upar wale ke haath mein hain. Kaun kya kab yeh koi nahin jaanta. Isliye babumushai...hey babumushai, zindagi jo hain woh badi honi chahiye, lambi nahin honi chahiye. Itna pyaar zyaada accha nahin hain". People cried a lot during this final scene of the film because somewhere it touched their sentiments. Anand also gave them an inspiration and a reason to live.
Let's talk about your first big super hit Aradhana.
Aradhana was the first stepping stone towards my success. After that film, I never had to look back. For that, my tribute goes to my favourite Late Mr. Shakti Samant. I've worked with him in lots of films. He gave me lot of encouragement, lot of affection and never made me feel that Aradhana was my first super hit. Not many know but I was working with yet another superstar heroine Sharmila Tagore in Aradhana. At that time she was more famous than I was and did not give me the complex that I was a newcomer. She is one of the most beautiful and sophisticated ladies I've ever seen. Aradhana will always be my first love.
During Aradhana, Sharmila was more famous than I was and did not give me the complex that I was a newcomer
They say that you were the one who gave Kishore Kumar his second innings with Aradhana.
I will just sum this up in one sentence. I told Shakti Samant that Kishore Kumar was my soul and I was his body.
How is the relationship you share with your son-in-law Akshay Kumar? Can you recall those moments of sweet gestures between you two, the fatherly advice, etc?
I told Akshay that he works in nice films. My advice to him was that he should dance, he should entertain, he should do good action but overall I did tell him to work in films that have a purpose and stop working in films like the Khiladi series. Other than that, Akshay is doing a fine job.
I did tell him to work in films that have a purpose and stop working in films like the Khiladi series
You proud of your family tree?
Of course yes. I am very proud of this family because of the family tree. It's coming down from Rajesh Khanna to Dimple Kapadia. From Dimple to Twinkle Khanna to Rinke, it moves to my son-in-law Akshay Kumar and to my grandson Aarav. I'm, saying this in public today that after Rajesh Khanna the superstar, the next in line will be Aarav, and I'm not saying this because he is the son of Akshay Kumar but because he will carry the talent, the dedication and the sacrifice which everyone of us has carried in our family. Aarav will be Indian Film Industry's next super star.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 8 Jun 2009 | 4:49 pm Bhojpuri industry wants to ban piracy
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 4:28 pm Soha Ali Khan chooses to host game showActress Soha Ali Khan is set to make her debut on the small screen as a game show host and says coming on television was an "obvious choice".Source: Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 3:38 pm Shah Rukh Khan signs 3 year deal to host IIPM quiz
That's what SRK says to all B-School students as IIPM signs up SRK for a three year deal to host IIPM's B-School Quiz!
Be it placements at IIPM or its global initiatives, IIPM clearly seems to have remained untouched by the economic recession. At a time when even Bollywood has put its projects on hold, in a first of its kind trend setting move, the institution has now roped in the Badshah of Bollywood, SRK to host their annual business and marketing quiz, for three years. To be held in association with Planman Media's magazine, 4Ps Business and Marketing it promises to become India's premiere B-School quiz event!
When Bollywood Hungama contacted Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri, the Dean of IIPM said, "IIPM is all about bringing World-Class in terms of education as well as campus life experience for the students. The IIPM B-School festival, Amaze, is in any case the largest B-School festival in India with huge participation from International B-Schools as well. This B-School Quiz also promises to be a big international event." When quizzed about bringing King Khan to host the event, he said, "Everything we do at IIPM is grand, distinct, pioneering and above all else global. Who else in India can make an event big just by his global popularity than SRK? And to top it all he is perceived as the intelligent face of bollywood because of his economics education background, his suave marketing skills and sharp intelligence. He obviously was the natural choice. IIPM is honoured and proud that he accepted our request!" The show will be held at the IIPM campus in Satbari, Delhi.
While the King Khan of Bollywood says, "I am coming to IIPM and it will be nice to be there!"Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 8 Jun 2009 | 3:20 pm Review: Mayandi Kudumbathar
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 2:59 pm Review: Kulir 100
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 2:57 pm Paris Hilton denies nudity
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 2:36 pm Soha to host a game show on TV
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 1:36 pm I was nervous while working with mom: Soha Ali KhanSoha Ali Khan, who teamed up with her mother Sharmila Tagore in a British movie, says she was nervous while working with her.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 8 Jun 2009 | 1:32 pm AMU confers honorary doctorate on ARR - IndiaGlitz
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 1:27 pm Deepika, the first Indian on Latin Vogue
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 1:17 pm Preview: Kambakkht Ishq
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 12:50 pm Daniel Radcliffe to quit acting?
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 12:17 pm Kyra Sedgewick empathizes with Jennifer AnistonLondon (ANI): American actress Kyra Sedgwick got over the financial woes she and her hubby Kevin Bacon suffered this year, after she realised that celebrities hounded by the press were worse off. The Hollywood couple had made headlines after they lostSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 12:08 pm Victoria wants to become an actress
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 12:08 pm Kareena Kapoor is excited! - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 12:01 pm Audrina Patridge's steamy ad for Carl's Jr burgerNew York (ANI): Actress Audrina Patridge will soon be seen digging into a mouthwatering burger in a steamy TV commercial for Carl's Jr. The Hills star apparently sported a barely-there gold bikini on Malibu beaches while diving into the fast foodSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 11:51 am Kareena Kapoor is excited!Kareena Kapoor is super excited now that movies are finally going to release in multiplexes. Her excitement appeared doubled at the media meet of her upcoming next, Kambakkht Ishq at a Mumbai star hotel. “I am as starved as the audiencesSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 11:48 am Montag-Pratt's torture allegations 'untrue'Washington (ANI): After allegations that Heidi and Spencer Pratt were “tortured” on the set of NBC’s ''I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!” emerged, a source close to the show has claimed that they were “untrue”.The couple had returned back toSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 11:38 am Carradine's family threaten to sue Thai newspaperLondon (ANI): 'Kill Bill' star David Carradine's family have threatened to take legal action after a Thai newspaper allegedly published crime scene photographs showing the dead actor hanging in a hotel closet. Carradine's body had been found hanging in a hotelSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 11:35 am Gul Panag falls from a bikeIt is learnt that Gul Panag was involved in a minor accident in Mumbai on Saturday, June 6 the evening while she was riding pillion with her brother. Our sources revealed, "Gul was on an Enfield 350 Electra 5S with herSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 11:32 am Mel Gibson trims down $5m from mansion priceMelbourne (ANI): Mel Gibson has reportedly taken off 5 million dollars from the price of his Tudor-style mansion in Connecticut.The legendary actor, who is in the middle of a divorce with wife of 28 years Robyn Moore, was said to haveSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 11:21 am Gillian Anderson may snub X Files film sequelLondon (ANI): Gillian Anderson may refuse to star in the X Files sequel, if reports are to be believed. The 40-year-old, who appeared in the film The X Files: I Want To Believe last year, is said to be looking toSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 11:18 am Danny Boyle left startstruck after meeting Clint EastwoodWashington, (ANI): Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle was left starstruck when he met legendary actor Clint Eastwood during this year's awards season in Los Angeles. Boyle revealed that he had a reason to be so excited about his encounter withSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 11:16 am Susan's story is ‘perfect cinema script’London, (ANI): The story of Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle will certainly end up on the big screen, according to Barry Norman, former presenter of the BBC’s Film programme. The 75-year-old thinks that the Scottish singing sensation’s story is perfectSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 11:11 am Wish the curvaceous babe Shilpa Happy birthday! - GlamSham
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 10:57 am Noted playwright Habib Tanvir deadVeteran theatre personality Habib Tanvir died here early today after prolonged illness, family sources said.Source: Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 10:16 am "I had to get familiar with 70's fashion, lingo for Sadiyaan" - Luv Sinha
If all had gone according to plans, Shatrughan Sinha's twins Luv and Kush Sinha would have made their simultaneous debut in a
home production. The scarcity of the proper script to accommodate the twins prompted Luv to sign a film away from the family.
Says the young aspirant, "Not surprisingly, I'm very, very close to my twin brother. We aren't identical twins. But, if you
see us together the resemblance is uncanny. The thought of being cast together did cross our family's mind. But what can we
do together? A comedy with both the brothers falling in love with the same girl? Neah. Too common. We must be the only twin
actors in the whole world. When we come together the vehicle has to be just right," says the super-confident Sinha scion who
walked straight into acting.
Brother Kush took the long winding road, learnt acting and direction in New York, assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali on
Saawariya and decided he wanted to be an actor. While both of Shatrughan Sinha's twins Luv and Kush have decided to
take up acting as a career, Luv has raced ahead in terms of his debut. He is all set to be seen playing Rekha's son in Raj
Kanwar's cross-border drama Sadiyaan which is complete and is ready for release.
"Please don't ask me when it will be released. Due to strike that was on, it might get delayed. But I'm not worried. This is
what comes from being born in a family where cinema is a given. You've seen your dad go through so many ups and downs, a
little bit of delay in your first film's release causes no concern."
Shooting Sadiyaan was a cakewalk. "Hema Aunty, who's like a member of our family, and Rekhaji (yes it's Hema Aunty and
Rekhaji for me, I don't call her 'Aunty') really looked after me, pampered me and made me feel totally at home. I guess it
comes from being who I am."
Sadiyaan is set in the 1970s. "This was when I wasn't even a passing thought in my parents' mind. A long way from
being born. So, I had to get familiar with the fashion, lingo, etc. It was a challenge. But you must remember both my parents
are actors."
A natural fan of his Dad, Luv has seen all of Shatrughan Sinha's films. "I love his style. But, I won't even dare to copy
him. Being called my dad's replica is the worst thing that can happen to my career. I love my Dad's performance in
Kalicharan, Vishwanath, Khudgarz, Kala Patthar and Kalka. I also freak out on Amit Uncle's (Amitabh Bachchan)
cinema."
Talk veers to sister Sonakshi. "She's more interested in modelling at the moment than acting. Let's see." Recently, the whole
Sinha family was in Patna to support the patriarch's political maneuverings. Says Luv proudly, "Actually, my Dad didn't need
us to get the votes. We just want to be with him for support. The best thing about being Shatrughan Sinha's son is you feel a
positive pride from within. Beyond that, he has made sure to let me make my way in the industry on my own. My father has
never worked with Raj Kanwarji. I got Sadiyaan on my own."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 8 Jun 2009 | 9:56 am Shahid, Genelia bring traffic to a halt! - Times of India
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 9:31 am Director Mehul Kumar's daughter Jahaan turns heroineShe played the daughter of Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Prada in "Kohraam" a decade ago.Source: Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 9:31 am Down memory lane with screen baddie Ranjeet
As Bollywood mourns the disappearance of hardcore anti-heroes from the screen, baddie supreme Ranjeet defends his reputation as the filmdom's ratified rapist over four decades now
Ranjeet's bungalow is a landmark in the posh Juhu neighbourhood in Mumbai. Tastefully done up interiors with a Mediterranean touch lead up to the terrace garden with a cobbled pathway and a swimming pool and jacuzzi on the other side. There's a dart board with a scoreboard in another corner. This could well be a scene from one of those masala films in which he used to act. Just then his man Friday ushers you to the office-cum-bedroom where from across a wide table, the man, dressed in chequered night-suit, offers a warm hand shake.
Welcome to Ranjeet's den! ''I don't smoke, I drink only socially, I am a vegetarian and I never watch any films,'' he dicloses by way of introduction. In his signature style, his shirt is unbuttoned till the waist and the naughty smile is firmly in place. However, the affluent surroundings of the filmi villain reflect investment savvy and the steady life he leads in real life in a stark contrast to his rakish reel life.
No dates, no rates
He begins by paying a tribute to his dear departed friend Prakash Mehra, who cast him in every film of his since Haath Ki Safai. ''He never discussed dates or rates with me - he would just go ahead and announce my name in his films,'' Ranjeet recalls. Mehra's was the only film office other than Sunil Dutt's that Ranjeet visited. ''He never lost his temper. He was a cool-headed man. He was a simple, emotional and passionate filmmaker. He wasn't an opportunist at all,'' he asserts. ''We were close friends and discussed everything from films to our affairs. But he never exploited his heroines,'' he adds. Mehra, he admits, offered him the best of roles in films like Namak Halaal, Sharaabi and Laawaris. Those were the days when a film was known by its director, like Manmohan Desai's Amar Akbar Anthony or Prakash Mehra's Zanjeer. There was a great rivalry between the two filmmakers since both made films essentially with Amitabh Bachchan in lead. ''A misunderstanding between the maker and muse led to his downfall. Mehra launched Ghungroo thinking he would create another star out of a new tall hero - Kunal Goswami. He also presented Chameli Ki Shaadi without his pet hero,'' he shrugs, as he analyses the downfall of the great filmmaker.
Air Force's loss
Born in Amritsar as Gopal Bedi and better known as Goli in film circles, Ranjeet is the nom de screen given to him by Sunil Dutt in his debut venture Reshma Aur Shera. Eldest of a brood of four with two younger brothers and a sister, Gopal was a keen sportsman. He enjoyed a good game of soccer any time. His father, Dwarakaprasad Bedi, had a factory of electrical accessories in Delhi and was rather orthodox. Young Gopal took the National Defence Academy entrance exam ''just for a lark with a bunch of friends.'' His father came to know of it only when he approached him for the official consent letter. Gopal was training as an Air Force cadet when he got romantically involved with his instructor's daughter - and as a result he was sent home packing. ''Look how destiny led me to films,'' he remarks.
Glorious intro to star-matazz
Back in Delhi, Gopal re-joined his football team and watched Dev Anand's Guide and Hum Dono 20 times each and he could mimic every mannerism and line from the two films. ''I was such a great fan of Dev saab's,'' he adds. A chance meeting at a party with a UK-based film enthusiast from Kota's royal lineage, Ranbir (Ronny) Singh changed the course of Gopal's life. He offered the 5'11'' tall, fiery young Gopal the lead role in his film Zindagi Ki Rahen, in which he was to play the cleaner boy while Jayant was to play the truck driver. The film never got launched but it sure led Gopal to Mumbai. Ronny Singh invited him over and in 1968 he flew in to the showbiz capital. ''I requested my father to let me visit Mumbai on the pretext of sightseeing,'' he guffaws. Since Ronny was well-connected in the industry, Gopal became his constant companion, consequently spending his first night in Mumbai at Chetan Anand's bungalow! ''Imagine, Priya Rajvansh served us slivers of ripe mangoes after dinner,'' he relates. The second night he was dining with Sunil Dutt and Nargis and the third night was spent in Raj Kapoor's company where he showed them the rough cut of Mera Naam Joker. ''Such was my glorious introduction to Mumbai, but I still had no job or role,'' he observes candidly.
Beach-riding with Dutt
Although Gopal became a production assistant of sorts to Ronny and started living at his hired office premises in Juhu, Mumbai, he still didnât have any work to do. ''I would run on the beach and then take a dip in the sea. I would play badminton with Feroz and Sanjay Khan in the evenings,'' he describes his daily routine. That's when he noticed Sunil Dutt riding on his white steed every morning and then having a tender coconut, and he hung around. Dutt recognised him as Ronny's pal and invited him to join in for a ride. ''Then on we raced, rode bareback together and became very close,'' narrates Ranjeet. By now Ronny had fought with his financiers and walked away in a huff. Gopal was left to fend for himself and since no film roles were forthcoming, he decided to call it quits and join his father's business partner who wanted to send him to Germany to start off a pharmaceutical factory. ''And that very day I got a call from Mohan Segal for the part of Rekha's brother in Sawan Bhadon, I went to meet him just to excuse myself from the film. But my gut feeling urged me to accept the role and bid goodbye to Germany instead!'' he says. Soon Sunil Dutt summoned him for a role in Reshma Aur Shera.
First take with Rekha
Dutt made him change his name to Ranjeet to suit the rough-hewn Rajput character he was to play in the film. But his first shot was not for Reshma Aur Shera, but for Sawan Bhadon. ''Mehboob Studio was buzzing with activity as it was the first day of the shoot. I was dressed in pyjamas with dangling drawstrings, a big bamboo in one hand and a lauki (white gourd) in the other. I had the entire scene by heart, I knew my lines as well as Rekha's and Navin Nischal's and director Mohan Segal was so pleased with my first take that he called me a watermelon - baahar kuch, andar kuch,'' he reminisces, happily. Sawan Bhadon was his debut venture as well as Rekha's. The two struck an instant rapport and even now when they meet, Rekha calls him Goli.
Lamenting a ''rapist'' son
Soon he accompanied Sunil Dutt and his retinue to the deserts of Rajasthan where the entire cast and crew was put up in tents for months. Ranjeet played the role of Reshma's (Waheeda Rehman) brother married to Raakhee who is shot down by Shera's (Sunil Dutt) brother Chhotu (Amitabh) in a family feud. ''I shared a tent with Amitabh, Ali Raza and Thapa,'' he says. This lavishly-mounted film turned out to be a box-office dud but by now Raakhee had recommended Ranjeet for the role of a molester in Sharmeelee. ''I invited my entire family for the premiere in Delhi and when they saw me trying to rape the heroine, they walked out of the theatre before the interval. When I went home that night, I faced the wrath of the family. 'What face do we have to show in Amritsar?' they lamented,'' he recalls, with a laugh. Sharmeelee was a blockbuster and Ranjeet's career was on a roll, albeit as a rapist!
Compulsory blind
Nothing succeeds like success and nothing thrives like a hit stereotype in Bollywood. So rapist Ranjeet starred in several baddie avatars, ''From a rustic dacoit, urban ruffian to a malicious cop - you name it and I have done it,'' he says. Soon Ranjeet became what the filmwallahs call ''a compulsory blind''. Producers would tell Hrishikesh Mukherjee to insert a nightmare sequence with my rape scene,'' chortles Ranjeet, adding, ''I laugh it off when people call me filmdom's ratified rapist. That was my job.''
Hulchul, Dost Aur Dushman ('71) Raampur Ka Lakshman, Victoria No. 203 ('72), Jheel Ke Us Paar ('73), Khote Sikkay, Aap Ki Kasam, Haath Ki Safai ('74), Dharmatma ('75), Laila Majnu ('76), Amar Akbar Anthony ('77), Vishwanath (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar ('78), Lahu Ke Do Rang, Kartavya, Suhaag ('79 ), Aap Ke Deewane ('80), Namak Halaal, Laawaris('82), Rocky and Hero('83), and Sharaabi, ('84) were some of his big hits through the '70s and '80s. ''I worked 5-6 shifts per day. I had become a workoholic,'' he surmises. He would dash from one set to the other and it showed in his work, ''I was shooting for two film simultaneously. In one I played a cop and in the other a dacoit. Both the characters had different moustaches, but in all that hurry I ended up shooting the climax scene of Bundalbaaz with the dacoit's mouche instead of
the cop's one,'' he points out.
As for competition from other villains, he shrugs off the suggestion, ''No actor lives above the role and no role lives above the director. Why do you think people don't ever talk about any other film than Sholay about Amjad Khan?'' He adds that he had also been offered Gabbar's role after Danny Denzongpa, with whom he was also shooting in Afghanistan for Feroz Khan's Dharmatma. ''I had asked for Danny's 'no objection' certificate which they never got,'' he says.
Ranjeet's 'filmi' club
For the longest time, Ranjeet was a bachelor known for his spacious bungalow and warm hospitality. But naturally, his bachelor pad became the party hub for Bollywood denizens. ''I would call it Ranjeet's club - Zeenat Aman, Parveen Babi, Neetu Singh, Rekha, Moushumi Chaterjee, Reena Roy, Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Jeetendra, Dharmendra, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, Vinod Khanna and Vinod Mehra were the regulars at my parties then,'' he enumerates. Fond of good living, Ranjeet was the first actor to import a Volkswagon camper with a bed, cooking range and refrigerator. Steadily, he was turning out to be a gypsy of sorts.
Production and sanyas
In the late '80s, Ranjeet found himself trapped in the monotony of work. ''I got so busy that I couldn't go and receive my mother at the airport and I couldn't even attend my brother's wedding,'' he relates. It was during this listless period that Ranjeet wrote the script of Kiske Liye which his well-wishers forced him to call Kaarnaama ('90) instead. ''They felt the earlier title sounded like Gulzar's film and did not go with my action image,'' he says, with a shrug. He also made Gajab Tamasha('92) thereafter starring Anu Aggarwal and Rahul Roy, ''But I failed as a businessman,'' he admits. Disillusioned, he decided to call it a day, ''I had 80 films on the floors then, which I completed,'' he clarifies emphatically.
Son-rise
Ranjeet returned to acting in the teleserial Baat Ban Jaye and his Colonel Khanna act made him a household name. He also was seen in two comic plays - Hanky Panky and Papa Don't Preach, ''Theatre calls for plenty of improvisation,'' he says. Currently, he's busy shooting for comedy serial, Jugni Chali Jallandhar on SAB TV.
On the family front, Ranjeet is a happy man. Divyanka, his elder daughter, is a prize-winning fashion designer and son Chiranjeev is a keen Formula One race driver. ''He's still young but in the next two years he will certainly be in films. I have a script in mind for him,'' he informs. Wife Alokaa aka Naazneen pops in to check if all is going well and Ranjeet beams proudly saying, ''She's the manager of the house, we have done up the house together. We have come a long way from the early days of our marriage when her aunt would ask if I ill-treated her.''
It's showtime and the Bedis get ready for a photo-session. Ranjeet is in form, striking the right pose with his buttons undone right uptill the waist! Some things don't change.
Screen IndiaSource: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 8 Jun 2009 | 9:24 am IIPM ropes in Shahrukh Khan to host quiz - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 9:21 am SRK, Kajol head to San Francisco for My Name Is Khan shoot
Last week, Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol joined Karan Johar in San Francisco for nearly two months of non-stop shooting for My Name Is Khan. It is the longest-ever shooting stint away from home for Kajol and especially tough on her husband who is unlikely to visit her in the US during the long shooting.
Says a source, "Ajay is not the kind of guy who can hang around his partner's sets. If it was another unit, perhaps Ajay would've considered visiting his wife, but not Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan. Though outwardly, Ajay is normal with them, there's actually no love lost between him and the Khan-Johar team. He would never be seen anywhere near their shooting even if it means being away from his wife and daughter for months."
Staying away from his daughter for almost two months is especially hard on Ajay. Considering the long absence from Mumbai, earlier this week Kajol flew down with her daughter to join her husband in Goa where he's shooting. She flies to San Francisco with Shah Rukh on Thursday, for one of the toughest shooting schedules ever.
Says a source, "With the swine flu fear in the west, Karan Johar is more tensed about this schedule in the US than ever before. In fact, fearing a fan invasion, Karan didn't want it to be known that he was shooting in San Francisco. Also, the sensitive theme (post-terrorism Islamic threat) automatically makes the project suspicion in the minds of the American authorities. Karan wants to avoid all the hassles he went through in his last American schedule when some members of his cast were denied visas, then he was denied permission to shoot in religiously sensitive places in America and finally Karan was pulled up for default of payments. Karan wants to keep it completely low profile."
However, with Kajol and Shah Rukh around, can any shooting be low profile?Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 8 Jun 2009 | 8:41 am Wishing Shilpa Shetty a very happy Birthday
Recently, in a class test, all the students were asked to write the degrees of the word 'hot'. Mostly all the students wrote it as 'Hot, Hotter, Hottest'. But, the boy who actually topped the exam was the one who answered as 'Hot, Hotter, Shilpa Shetty' (for the very reason that she is the 'Hottest' person in the world today).
Well, besides the universally known fact that Shilpa baby is the 'Hottest' actress in Bollywood, it also happens to be her Birthday today! Having started her career with the smash hit film Baazigar, Shilpa went on to do films that escalated her to what she is today... one of the most respectable names not jut in India, but also globally. Which is an 'achievement' of the highest order that only a handful of Bolly's heroines can boast of! Shilpa Shetty 'the actress' got transformed into Shilpa Shetty 'the brand', immediately after she shot into the international limelight with her 'Big Brother' show. Today, she is no longer a mere actress, but also a shrewd businesswoman par
excellence (recent example being her stake 'acquisition' in IPL's Rajasthan Royals team).
Join Bollywood Hungama as we wish her a very happy Birthday by posting your messages below:Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 8 Jun 2009 | 7:49 am Preview: Kal Kissne Dekha - NDTV.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 7:49 am Kangana, Adhyayan break up! - NDTV.com
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 7:49 am Soha to host game show, says TV was obvious choiceActress Soha Ali Khan is set to make her debut on the small screen as a game show host and says coming on television was an 'obvious choice'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 8 Jun 2009 | 7:30 am I'd love to repeat Abhay in a film: Anurag KashyapStill riding high on the success of his last venture "Dev D", his career's commercial best till date, director Anurag Kashyap says he would like to team up again with the film's lead actor Abhay Deol.Source: Entertainment News | 8 Jun 2009 | 7:21 am Prabhu Deva secretly marries Nayantara - Oneindia
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 8 Jun 2009 | 6:54 am Director Mehul Kumar's daughter Jahaan turns heroineShe played the daughter of Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Prada in 'Kohraam' a decade ago. Now Jahan Bloch is all set to debut as heroine in 'Krantiveer - The Revolution', being directed by dad Mehul Kumar.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 8 Jun 2009 | 4:32 am 'Kal Kissne Dekha' - of love and supernatural powers'Kal Kissne Dekha', producer Vashu Bhagnani's launch pad for his son Jackky, is the first film to roll out from the Bollywood stables after the resolution of the revenue-sharing row between producers and multiplex owners, ending the dry spell at the box office.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 8 Jun 2009 | 3:30 am I'd love to repeat Abhay Deol in a film: Anurag KashyapStill riding high on the success of his last venture 'Dev D', his career's commercial best till date, director Anurag Kashyap says he would like to team up again with the film's lead actor Abhay Deol.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 8 Jun 2009 | 2:30 am Millionaire City sways to Slumdog child stars' tunes - Daily News & Analysis
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 7 Jun 2009 | 10:01 pm 'Slumdog' may become English's millionth word - Hindu
Source: Google News India - Entertainment | 7 Jun 2009 | 9:29 pm Gracy Singh to shoot for Malayalam filmBollywood actress Gracy Singh will begin shooting from Wednesday for a Malayalam film opposite superstar Mammooty, director Jayaraj said today.Source: Entertainment News | 7 Jun 2009 | 6:09 pm 'Kulir 100': same old drill, avoidableFilm: 'Kulir 100'; Direction: Anita Udeep; Cast: Sanjeev, Aditya, Riya; Music: Bobo Sasi; Cinematography: L.K. Vijay; Rating: * 1/2Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 7 Jun 2009 | 3:00 pm 'Mayandi Kudumbathar': family troubles and audience woesFilm: 'Mayandi Kudumbathar'; Cast: Manivannan, Seeman, Tarun Gopi, Poongokodi; Music: Sabesh Murali; Cinematography: Bala Bharani; Director: Rasu Madhuryan; Rating: *Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 7 Jun 2009 | 1:31 pm Gracy Singh to start shooting for Malayalam film WednesdayBollywood actress Gracy Singh will begin shooting Wednesday for a Malayalam film opposite superstar Mammooty, director Jayaraj said Sunday.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 7 Jun 2009 | 12:30 pm
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