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20 films in IFFI's international competition sectionTwenty movies have been chosen for the international competition section while eight films will be screened in the Indian premieres category at the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) that kicks off here this month.Source: Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:40 am Santosh Sivan to act as Raja Ravi VarmaAcclaimed film personality Santosh Sivan will make his first appearance as an actor when he plays the role of Raja Ravi Varma, the famous painter, in Lenin Rajendran's Malayalam film titled "Makara Manju".Source: Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 7:06 am Santosh Sivan to act as Raja Ravi Varma
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 6:42 am Amitabh Bachchan felicitated at MAMI
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 6:40 am Singer Atif Aslam to take on Bollywood
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:52 am "Audiences won't be distracted by skin show" - Neil Nitin Mukesh [Part 2]Download image as wallpaper Yesterday, Neil spoke about his journey from being a singer's son to doing Johnny Gaddaar and now being ready with Jail. In the second and concluding part of this EXCLUSIVE conversation with Joginder Tuteja, Neil spills further details about the USP of the film, his much hyped pant dropping inJail, how his mother broke the news to him as well as subsequent reactions of his parents, friends and that 'someone special'. Over to Neil. Getting into Madhur Bhandarkar's world of cinema must have been tough work though, isn't it? Honestly, I could relate to Madhur, his film and the character pretty soon. I could exactly grasp the kind of vision that he had for the subject, treatment and the characterisation. The beauty of the entire affair is that I just knew that Parag was me. Now that the film is hours away from the release, what do you think has turned out to be the USP of Jail? The film's surrounding, setting and the title. See, I will tell you a fact. More than 90% of the audiences for the film are disconnected from a term like Jail. They feel that something like that can never happen to them because they are law abiding citizens. In fact in real life, they don't even want to know anything about it. Moreover, whatever they have seen of a jail so far in movies is all larger than life. However, Madhur's projection of a jail is truly authentic. It tells audiences what actually happens inside and this is what brings in an awareness and shock value. It becomes educational. Moreover, I have to emphasize on the fact that even though the film's title is dark and treatment seemingly morbid, Jail is still a slice of life film. You will connect with the emotions of the character as well people in his life inside and outside the jail. Madhur's projection of a jail is truly authentic What happens inside the jail does sound quite intriguing, especially the much hyped and blow out of proportion 'pant dropping' sequence? Yeah, even I never imagined that this would be blown so much out of proportion. That was never the intent. There are so many other things to talk about the film as well. However, one can't deny the fact that this sequence too is an integral part of the film and was always there from the very beginning. We had visited Thane Jail and understood the procedures. Stripping is one process that cannot be missed by any inmate. Now that you are over and done with the scene, how do you look at it all in retrospective? I guess I could gather courage to indulge into frontal nudity mainly because I was confident of Madhur as a director. With his name and his brand, I was sure that things won't go wrong. Also, the way it would be presented on screen, audiences won't be distracted by the skin show. Instead, you would connect with Parag's mental state. Still, I can't deny the fact that as an actor; it was a scary moment for me to too. It was something forbidden and I was set thinking if my parents would be ashamed of me. After I did the scene, I was sure that they would be very proud of me. And so would be millions of other parents out there who could perhaps be watching the film with their children. I am sure no one would cringe in their seats. The way it would be presented on screen, audiences won't be distracted by the skin show. Instead, you would connect with Parag's mental state But how about that 'someone special' in your life? Didn't she cringe on seeing you dropping your inhibitions in front of the entire world, even though it was just for a film? To be honest, along with that 'someone special', I also had to think of my parents who are most special to me. In fact I will tell you something interesting about how the news broke. I had done the scene without informing my parents. I had thought of telling them about it when the film was closer to release. And then one fine day, my mom called me up and said that a tabloid had come up with a picture of mine. Oblivious to which picture was she talking about; I just said 'Wow, can you please read the article'. And then she said, 'Hold on son, this one is without clothes'. I just paused for a moment and asked her to read the piece. She spoke about the Full Monty thing and got quite anxious once she was through reading. I just asked her to relax and explained the entire process of how the scene was shot and would be shown on screen. Once she calmed down, she asked me if I found it all in good taste. Once I reassured her of that, she was cool with it. However, my friends weren't as nice (laughs). I was a butt of their jokes for days at stretch as they made fun of me for going nude. My father didn't react much because he has been a part of films for decades now. You still haven't answered the question about that 'someone special'? Aaah, you are back at that! Well, I won't get into details but all she said was - 'Ok, so what can I say now. I guess from here on, I would have to fight it out with all other girls.' But yes, she has been cool about it as well.Source: Indiafm.com Features | 6 Nov 2009 | 5:30 am Michelle Obama to star in reality show
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 4:56 am "Ranbir is going to take Bollywood by storm in the coming years" - Katrina KaifDownload image as wallpaper Some think that she has entered Bollywood and got lucky. Others think that any film she touches turns to gold at the box office. Her heavy British accent wasn't accepted when she entered the big bad world of movies. Her voice was dubbed in many of her films but now she is being accepted the same way as she walked in the very first time in Bollywood. Her outspoken nature has brought her fair share of critics, and if not the sexiest woman in the world, she still maintains that label in the Indian Film Industry. That's what we think. But did anybody listen to Katrina? ''Thank you but I don't look at it that way. I'm very fortunate and I think everything I've done has paid off on the big screen and at the box office. Hard work is secondary to what your destiny has in-store for you. If you believe that God gives you what you ask, then I can believe that. I don't think that looks is everything. Even if you're a good looking person, you still may have a difficult story'', she comments. The talented Kaif has worked with the who's who of Bollywood, the young and the old. We asked her what she had to say about the two generation of directors. 'The veterans are very clear cut about what kind of performance they want. The younger directors narrate you the characters and let you be them in their own way. It's good to work with different mind sets and different generation of directors'', she adds. On further questioning about her first time experience with Raj Kumar Santoshi, she answers, ''He is a person who thinks a lot about his characters. He doesn't see the bigger picture. He just treats his characters, he doesn't give you any leads and wants you to perform exactly how he visualises it. I think he is too vulnerable and that's why he is too good as a director.'' Santoshi's Andaz Apna Apna is still considered to be a cult classic in comedies. Katrina agrees too. ''Andaz Apna Apna was an amazing film directed by Raj Kumar Santoshi. If people come in to see APKGK with that in mind, I think they don't know what they're going to expect from this one. I got the word to describe Raj Kumar Santoshi: He's got a very veiny sense of humour''. And what about her opinion on APKGK? ''APKGK is definitely a romantic comedy. Yes, there is more comedy than romance in this one, that's about it.'' Kats, as she is fondly known as, has acted in many romantic comedies along with Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan, but when it came to talking about her romance and comic situations in the real life, things were as diverse as chalk and cheese. ''When I came to India, I was seventeen. Before that, I was very young and I must've been in college or school. I was painfully shy and didn't ever think that I was special. I didn't get a lot of attention and if I liked the guy, I could never go up to him or try to flirt with him. I didn't have any boyfriends in college'', she replies. This is the first time the leggy lady is working with Ranbir Kapoor. Or let's say a far more experienced lady is working with not so experienced actor. When asked whether or not she has given any feedback to Ranbir on his acting or whether she has taught a lesson or two to the Kapoor lad in acting, she answered, ''I don't think I need to give any tips or feedback to Ranbir as far as his acting abilities are concerned. He is very versatile. If I want to learn something from Ranbir, I see his zealous strength and that's what makes him a thorough professional. He is one of the most talented youngsters I've worked with. Believe me, he is going to take Bollywood by storm in the coming years.''Source: Indiafm.com Features | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:37 am Naked truth about Neil Nitin Mukesh's Jail - Oneindia
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:10 am The inside story about Shilpa Shetty's wedding plansInstead of the traditional ghoda bringing the dulha to Shilpa Shetty's doorsteps, Raj Kundra has decided to ride into his beghum's baraat on an elaborate chariot. That just about sets the tone for the elaborate yet exclusive Shilpa-Raj Kundra marriage on November 22 where, according to Shilpa's close buddy, "Tarun Tahiliani has designed a wedding outfit that no bride in Bollywood or outside has ever worn before." The guest list for the November 22 wedding is restricted to Shilpa and Raj's family only. Raj's parents and sister are expected any moment from London. His relatives from Ludhiana and Amritsar are expected to arrive closer to the wedding. The wedding will be conducted fully in the Bunt tradition, according the Mangalorean community that the Shettys belong to. Says Shilpa's close friend, "Shilpa's mom consulted the astrological documents and found that the next auspicious date was not before April 2010. Shilpa's first response was, 'Not without my sister.' But now that Shamita is well on the way out of 'Bigg Boss', Shilpa doesn't mind the rush, though she would be shooting until the very last moment for the Indo-Chinese production Desire in Hyderabad," says a very close friend of the Shettys. The last thing Shilpa wants to do at the moment is to work. "But a commitment is a commitment," says Shilpa's friend.Source: Indiafm.com News | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:05 am Idiot is not the same thing as stupid: Aamir Khan - Times of India
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:01 am When Abhishek carried his father piggyback - Times of India
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:01 am Raj Kundra plans to ride on chariot to marry ShilpaInstead of the traditional horse bringing the groom to Shilpa Shetty's doorsteps, Raj Kundra has decided to ride an elaborate chariot.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 3:00 am Shamita Shetty to quit Bigg Boss? - Oneindia
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:58 am Curtains down on MFF with glittering award ceremony - Indiantelevision.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:56 am Naked truth about Neil Nitin Mukesh's JailHard work never goes unnoticed. Bollywood upcoming actor Neil Nitin Mukesh is reaping a good harvest after putting in lots of efforts to his acting career. After the success of New York, he has once again earned accolades for his performanceSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:54 am Pamela grows weary of living in trailer parkLondon (ANI): Actress Pamela Anderson seems to have finally grown tired of living in her boyfriend Jamie Padgett's mobile home. The Baywatch babe who moved into a luxury trailer last year while her Malibu mansion was being renovated is nowSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:53 am Ajay Devgn attacks Khan trinity - Hindustan Times
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:51 am Teddy Riley says MJ was murderedLondon (ANI): Producer Teddy Riley has backed La Toya Jackson's claims that her brother Michael Jackson was murdered, saying that the late pop star had revealed names of some people who wanted to kill him.Although, the King of Pop's death onSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:49 am Robert Pattinson-Kristen Stewart fuel romantic link upYou may blame the media for all the speculations doing round Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, the lead pair of The Twilight Saga: New Moon, but on a closer look, you will release that the real source of their romantic linkSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:48 am Sharon Osbourne puts down Susan BoyleLondon (ANI): Brit music manager Sharon Osbourne has in a US radio interview put down Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle by saying that she looked like 'a hairy a**ehole'. Osbourne, 57, made several vicious insults about the singer’s appearance evenSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:46 am When Abhishek carried Amitabh piggybackFor a sequence in Paa, Abhishek needed to carry his father piggyback and trot across a vast field. An exercise in role reversal that had everyone on the sets petrified and apprehensive. After all, it is one thing to play yourSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:45 am Shamita Shetty to quit Bigg Boss?Shilpa Shetty has finally set her wedding date. She and Raj Kundra will tie the knot on November 22. Shilpa will make the announcement on on Bigg Boss 3 and ask Shamita Shetty to attend her marriage by quitting theSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:43 am 11th Mumbai Film Festival comes to a closeClick above for event stills The curtain closed on the 11th edition of Mumbai Film Festival organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) at Mumbai amidst the who's who of the of Indian and World cinema gracing the closure of the event with their presence. A glittering closing ceremony herald the closure of the 7 day Festival that laid out some real sumptuous fare for film-buffs in Mumbai. MFF is a Reliance Big Entertainment initiative and has the distinction of being the only international film festival in India to be organized by an independent body of practicing film professionals. MAMI committee led by Chairman Mr. Shyam Benegal and trustees Mr. Yash Chopra, Mrs. Jaya Bachchan, Mr. Amit Khanna, Mr. Amol Palekar along with the festival jury Members including: renowned Hollywood screenwriter and director Mr. Paul Schrader, Sri Lankan filmmaker Mr. Vimukthi Jayasundara, Philippine filmmaker Mr. Brillante Mendoza, Indian filmmaker Mr. Shaji N. Karun and former Director of Locarno Film Festival Ms. Irene Bignardi graced the occasion. Also present were Mr. Anil and Tina Ambani, Mr Amitabh Bachchan, Mr & Mrs Theo Angelopoulos. The evening was hosted by Kunal Kohli & Shefali Shah adding colour to the exciting evening were performances by singers Anushka Manchanda Kunal Ganjawala. "This Festival brought together some of the best cinematic talent from across the globe," says Mr. Shyam Benegal, chairperson of MAMI. "We watched some very well-crafted films covering a range of thematics and issues." Mr. Amitabh Bachchan was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award for completing 40 years in the film industry. His oeuvre comprises from rib-tickling comedies to tear-jerkers to subtle, nuanced performances in art-house films. It can be said without doubt that there is nothing in acting that Mr. Bachchan hasn't tried his hand at and succeeded. Mr. Theo Angelopoulos, the maestro from Greece received the International Lifetime Achievement award for giving us thought-provoking and visually appealing cinema. His distinctive style and work has influenced a number of your filmmakers. Mr. Dev Anand's production house Navketan Films was facilitated for completing 60 golden years in the film industry. As a modest first step towards setting up a full-fledged "Film Market," MFF introduced the Film Business Centre to provide a networking platform for Indian distributors, producers, television channels, foreign sales agents, and festival directors to enhance the international sales of Indian films. The festival was buzzing with International buyers/ sales agent, international film festival delegates from across the globe attended the festival as part of the Film Business Centre during the 11th Mumbai Film Festival. Sales agents from companies such as UniFrance, UK Film Council, Pioniwa Film Co. - Japan, Channel Asia - Japan, Hanway Films - France amongst many others were also present. International film festival delegates include Rada Sesic, Rotterdam Film Festival, TOM LUDDY & Gary Meyer, Co-Director Telluride FF, Marit Capla, director Goteborg International Film Festival. Film institute's includes the UniFrance, UK Film Council & Danish Film Institute.Source: Indiafm.com News | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:43 am Katie Green strips off for her 2010 calendarLondon (ANI): Model Katie Green has stripped to enter the bedrooms of her male fans. The former Ultimo beauty has shed her clothes and posed for a mouth-watering 2010 calendar with steamy pictures for every month.In fact, some of bare Katie'sSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:43 am Jail gets good reviewFilmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar must be happy that his latest offering Jail has received good review from the media. Its fate at the box-office is uncertain, as it has to fight out with Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, but it has gotSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:31 am "Ranbir is going to take Bollywood by storm" - Katrina KaifSome think that she has entered Bollywood and got lucky. Others think that any film she touches turns to gold at the box office. Her heavy British accent wasn't accepted when she entered the big bad world of movies. Her voiceSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:31 am Vinod Kambli to enter Bigg Boss? - Rediff
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 2:07 am I have acting offers from Bollywood: Pakistani singerPakistani singer Atif Aslam, who crooned his way into the hearts of Indians with Bollywood songs, has revealed he has acting offers from the industry and is open to them.Source: Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:52 am All you need is Prem - Rediff
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:49 am People have tried to pull me down: Emraan HashmiOne of Bollywood's most bankable stars, Emraan Hashmi, says people have contantly tried to pull him down.Source: Entertainment News | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:31 am Santosh Sivan to act as Raja Ravi VarmaAcclaimed film personality Santosh Sivan will make his first appearance as an actor when he plays the role of Raja Ravi Varma, the famous painter, in Lenin Rajendran's Malayalam film titled 'Makara Manju'.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:05 am Amitabh Bachchan felicitated at Mumbai film festOrganisers of the 11th Mumbai Film Festival have given megastar Amitabh Bachchan a Lifetime Achievement award for completing 40 years in the entertainment industry.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 6 Nov 2009 | 1:01 am People have tried to pull me down: Emraan Hashmi - Sify
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 5 Nov 2009 | 9:37 pm I have acting offers from Bollywood: Pakistani singerPakistani singer Atif Aslam, who crooned his way into the hearts of Indians with Bollywood songs, has revealed he has acting offers from the industry and is open to them. 'Artists don't belong to any nation,' he says.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm People have tried to pull me down: Emraan HashmiOne of Bollywood's most bankable stars, Emraan Hashmi, says people have contantly tried to pull him down. He also believes the new film 'Tum Mile' will present him in a new avatar, having mostly essayed roles with shades of grey.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm Are Indian women ready for beachwear?When Ritu Sen, 23, went on a holiday to the Andaman islands, she was the only Indian woman in a swimsuit while others on the beach either wore salwar kameez or saris. This was despite the many Indian designers who are launching chic beach and resort wear collections.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Nov 2009 | 9:00 pm Fashion defies threats in Karachi
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 2:03 pm Controversy over 'Vande mataram' irrelevant: Javed AkhtarVeteran Bollywood scriptwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar believes the controversy over the national song Vande mataram is obsolete and those who have any objection to it should simply not sing it.Source: | 5 Nov 2009 | 11:16 am Made in Pakistan stands alone in Mumbai film festMade in Pakistan, a documentary that gives a glimpse into the thinking of modern day Pakistanis, was the only film from across the border which was screened in the 11th Mumbai Film Festival.Source: | 5 Nov 2009 | 11:15 am Children's film festival to offer much more than moviesCan films be a part of the school curriculum? Why are children's films invisible in India? With open forums on such subjects, special workshops on animation and reporting, the 16th International Children's Film Festival in Hyderabad next week has much more to offer than just films.Source: | 5 Nov 2009 | 11:14 am Not many interested in making children's films: NanditaLamenting that they could not find even 12 good children's films made in India to make up an Indian section in the children's film festival, actor and now the chairperson of the Children's Film Society (CFSI) Nandita Das said that not many filmmakers are interested in making movies for children.Source: | 5 Nov 2009 | 11:13 am Mike Pandey to head IFFI jury for environmental filmsGreen Oscar winner Mike Pandey and documentary filmmaker Shaji Karun have been nominated as the heads of jury for the environment and documentary sections of the 40th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), an official said on Wednesday.Source: | 5 Nov 2009 | 11:11 am Specially designed clay pieces form my look in Paa: AmitabhMegastar Amitabh Bachchan, who plays a 12-year-old progeria patient in Paa, says he had to stick on several pieces of specially crafted clay to get the right look for the movie.Source: | 5 Nov 2009 | 11:09 am Shilpa Shetty to wed Raj Kundra on Nov 22
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 11:07 am PVR ties up with Summit EntertainmentPVR Pictures, the production and distribution arm of cinema chain by the same name, has inked a deal with independent American film studio Summit Entertainment for release of films under its banner in India, a statement said here Thursday.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Nov 2009 | 11:05 am Idiot is not the same thing as stupid: Aamir KhanAhead of the release of his new film "3 Idiots", Bollywood actor Aamir Khan today drew a distinction between the term "idiots" and "stupid", saying that "idiots are very normal persons" who at some point prove themselves in an "unconventional way".Source: Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 11:05 am Rahul Bose promises to strike back!He has hardly been seen this year. But actor Rahul Bose promises a wide variety of movies in 2010, saying he is confident he will not disappoint the way he did in Maan Gaye Mughall-e-Azam.Source: | 5 Nov 2009 | 10:32 am Ajay Devgn bored of intense roles?Doing just intense roles can get quite boring, believes Ajay Devgn who is happy to have worn a different hat in the out and out comedy All The Best even as he is on home ground in London Dreams.Source: | 5 Nov 2009 | 10:18 am Santosh Sivan turns actor, to play Raja Ravi Varma in filmEven as the fate of Ketan Mehta's "Rang Rasiya", based on the life of Raja Ravi Varma, remains uncertain, cinematographer-director Santosh Sivan has gone ahead and signed a Malayalam film, which will be dubbed into Hindi and English, and in which Santosh will play the role of the legendary artist.Source: Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 10:02 am Subhash Chandra honoured for contribution to TV industryZee Group chairman Subhash Chandra has been honoured for his "lifetime contribution to the Asian pay-TV industry" at the 16th convention of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) here.Source: Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 9:46 am Jazz takes on bluesStarting today, The Blues Club of India honcho will helm ‘Blues n Jazz for the Soul’ — a fest boasting of power-packed performances and divine melodies.Source: | 5 Nov 2009 | 9:24 am Santosh Sivan turns actor, to play Raja Ravi Varma in filmEven as the fate of Ketan Mehta's 'Rang Rasiya', based on the life of Raja Ravi Varma, remains uncertain, cinematographer-director Santosh Sivan has gone ahead and signed a Malayalam film, which will be dubbed into Hindi and English, and in which Santosh will play the role of the legendary artist.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Nov 2009 | 9:05 am Amitabh spends below Paa's Rs.150 mn budgetExpensive make-up and creative inputs by industry stalwarts notwithstanding, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has managed to produce his much-awaited movie 'Paa' within a set budget of Rs.150 million.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Nov 2009 | 9:03 am I would like to see Saifeena together: Soha Ali Khan - Daily News & Analysis
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 5 Nov 2009 | 8:56 am Danny Boyle wary of "Slumdog" kidsOscar winning director Danny Boyle is reportedly frustrated with the increasing financial demands being made by the parents of the child stars of "Slumdog Millionaire".Source: Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 8:50 am Remembering Sanjeev Kumar (July 9, 1938 – November 6, 1985)Best remembered for his roles in Khilona, Aandhi, Mausam, Parichay, Koshish, Anamika, Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay, Sanjeev Kumar covered the wide gamut of characters. Sanjeev Kumar was one of the most capable yet underrated actors of his times.Source: | 5 Nov 2009 | 8:49 am "With Jail, I have fulfilled my father's dream" - Neil Nitin Mukesh [Part 1]Download Jail wallpapers Lot has been said about the body expose that Neil Nitin Mukesh has indulged in his upcoming film Jail. However, behind all these talks (that have obviously garnered immense attention for the film) are the huge expectations from the man who, with bated breath, is waiting to catch audience reactions for an author backed role. He understands that any skin show, regardless of being shot aesthetically, is momentary and ultimately it will be the strength of the script, Madhur Bhandarkar's treatment of the subject and his own act that would count most and be remembered for years to come. Over to Neil in this EXCLUSIVE two part conversation where Neil goes back into the memory lane as he talks to Joginder Tuteja about the journey from being a singer's son to be one of the most promising emerging stars that Bollywood has today. Neil, after New York, you are suddenly being taken a lot seriously as an actor. Quite flattering, isn't it? Wow, that's quite a positive way to begin a conversation. Of course I am flattered, more so after you ask this question! To be honest, my entire motive from the very beginning was this only i.e. to be not just considered as a good face and a star but basically as a reliable actor. In fact I was very desperate when I had just started looking out for work. I wanted to create a niche for myself where people would identify with Neil as an actor. In fact many people came to me with this big question mark that why should they lay their trust in me. I don't just want to be a good face and a star but also a reliable actor Why was that so difficult? We are in the industry where an actor's son is supposed to become an actor and a singer's son should go on to be a singer. It was the same response for me as well. Considering the fact that my grandfather was a legendary singer and my father was equally popular, it was hard for people to digest that the third generation could have different aspirations. I had to break the myth that a singer's son could not become an actor. There are so many examples where a son hasn't quite followed the same profession as his father. In that sense, do you consider Johnny Gaddaar as the perfect launching pad for you? Asking this because while most other actors from your generation (Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan) started off relatively safe with a love story, you played a character that was mostly negative. Don't you feel a more conventional beginning would have helped? I am 100% sure that Johnny Gaddaar was the best start for me. This was a character oriented role and as you must have noticed, all through my short career so far, I have loved doing films like these. Whether it was Johnny Gaddaar, Aa Dekhen Zara, New York or now Jail, I haven't played a hero-hero anywhere. These all have been strong characters though with diverse shades. This is why I am so thankful to Late Jhamu Sugandh. He took notice of this fire in me and gave me a break with Johnny Gaddaar. I respect him till date. Whether it was Johnny Gaddaar, Aa Dekhen Zara, New York or now Jail, I haven't played a hero-hero anywhere However, if I remember correctly, it was the opportunity of working with Sriram Raghavan that excited you most. Right? Absolutely. The moment I heard that Sriram would be directing the film, I went mad. I mean he was the same guy who had made Ek Haseena Thi. I like such dark, edgy yet commercial cinema. I remember being on a flight and reading the script of Johnny Gaddaar. My mother also read it and her reaction too was that the film seemed damn interesting. She too was apprehensive though about the negative shades in the character but I was adamant that this was the only film with which I was going to debut with. In that sense, do you think that Aa Dekhen Zara was the right follow up? After all expectations had increased manifold in the time gone by? I think it was right. I continue to hold the film close to my heart. Regardless of how the film performed at the box office, I did get some more following after the film. From adults, I could get children as an audience as well after Aa Dekhen Zara. You won't believe it but kids have come and asked me - 'Ray Acharya (his character's name in Aa Dekhen Zara), do you still have that camera that can show the future?' Something similar also happened when I was in far off Simla. So you know, whichever film that you do, if you have done it with conviction, there is this memory point which is left amongst the audiences. I am sure it will be something similar with Jail as well where Parag (his character's name) would be remembered for the ordeal and the fight back he goes through. Apparently there wasn't much fight though for you to get the role in Jail? It's a funny story actually. It was on the day of the release of Johnny that I got a call from Ashok Pandit, who is Madhur Bhandarkar's friend. After a round of congratulations, he told me that there was someone who wanted to speak to me. When Madhur came on line, my phone literally fell down. I could barely reply in monosyllables and was a bundle of nerves. He called me over to his office a week later and offered me Jail. It was as simple as that. This must have been quite a jump so early in your career... More than the jump factor, it was the feeling of contentment since I could fulfil one of the biggest dreams of my father. He had told me earlier that Madhur is amongst the few directors that he had in his wish list for me. In fact I didn't even inform him before going to meet Madhur. Only when I had the film in hand, I went to dad and quietly told him that that one of his dreams had come true. Come back tomorrow for Part 2 of the conversation where Neil would spill further details about the USP of the film, his much hyped pant dropping in Jail, how his mother broke the news to him as well as subsequent reactions of his parents, friends and that 'someone special'.Source: Indiafm.com Features | 5 Nov 2009 | 8:08 am Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra to tie the knot on November 22Well it's finally confirmed. Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra will tie the knot this November. The wedding which is scheduled for the 22nd of this month will surprisingly be devoid of the usual Bollywood friends and glitter. This comes as Shilpa and Raj arrived at a joint decision to keep the affair short and sweet. However, two days after the actual wedding reception, Shilpa will be hosting another party for her colleagues from the industry, while the marriage itself is to be conducted at her business partner Kiran Bawa's farmhouse in Khandala. The venue of her wedding reception however, is still being kept under wraps. Shilpa's sister who missed the engagement ceremony while being locked away in the Bigg Boss house apparently might also miss the wedding as the show isn't scheduled to end till the date. The only option left is that she be evicted from the Bigg Boss house in time to make it for her sister's wedding.Source: Indiafm.com News | 5 Nov 2009 | 8:04 am Santosh Sivan to play Raja Ravi Varma opposite South sensation KarthikaEven as the fate of Ketan Mehta's Rang Rasiya, featuring Randeep Hooda as the father of mythological calendar-art Raja Ravi Varma and Nandana Sen as his muse, remains uncertain, cinematographer-director Santosh Sivan has very quietly gone and ahead and signed a Malayalam film (to be dubbed into Hindi and English) featuring himself as Raja Ravi Varma in the lead. The Malayalam film entitled Magara Manju (winter mist) starts shooting next week Cochin. It's to be directed by the arthouse director Lenin Rajandran. Santosh was at first hesitant to enter into a new arena at a time when his hands are full with cinematography and direction. "But the director Rajendra Lenin convinced me I was right for the part. I've grown up on the art of Raja Ravi Varma. When I was a kid my grandmother illustrated her stories with Raja Ravi Varma's paintings. I think I've acquired my visual aesthetics from this man," says Santosh as he prepares to face the camera with the new Southern sensation Karthika. Says Santosh, "Karthika is the daughter of the veteran Tamil actress Radha. I sort of liked the way we look together. But the main attraction for turning to acting is Raja Ravi Varma himself. I empathize very closely with his art. I also paint a bit. And I've photographed the film by M.F Husain and his son Owais. " The film will be shot in Trivandrum, Goa and Cochin. Incidentally, the only other occasion when Santosh Sivan has acted for the camera was in Aditya Bhattacharya's Raakh. "And after my shot, Pankaj Kapoor couldn't stop laughing," laughs Santosh.Source: Indiafm.com News | 5 Nov 2009 | 7:59 am Emraan and Soha indulge in 'twisted postures'Click above for movie stills When director Kunal Deshmukh informed Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan that for their film Tum Mile , they would have to indulge in some 'twisted postures', the actors certainly wouldn't have guess what was their in the offering. And no, before they could begin worrying about the intentions of Deshmukh and the Bhatts, Emraan and Soha could afford to breathe easy when told that it was just going to be a game after all. A game, which was called 'Twister', and was required to be played for a key sequence in the romantic number 'Tu Hi Haqeeqat'. Twister - The Game Twister is a giant board game with rows of circles with different colours. A dice rolled by a player decides which hand or leg should go on which dot - for example 'right hand/red dot'. With multiple players and many turns, there are situations when a player is practically 'twisted' with hands and legs in odd positions. If a player loses balance and falls down, he/she loses. The game is on When Kunal Deshmukh told Emraan & Soha that they would have to play 'Twister' for the shoot of a song for Tum Mile, they hardly thought it would cost them an arm and a leg - literally. Emraan says, "Kunal comes up with these ideas that haven't quite been explored before in a Bollywood film. Like who would have thought that a game like 'Twister' could be included in a romantic film and that for a song like 'Tu Hi Haqeeqat'. When he told me and Soha about the game, I asked him if he was serious. I mean not just is it a twisted game of sorts, it also could result in so many retakes as a person tends to fall down time and again due to the nature of the game. Of course, we were prepared for all the fun but I guess it was quite sweet of Kunal to be incorporating something like this." Soha too was so addicted to the game that she started indulging in it even when the camera wasn't rolling. The game soon became a pass time for many on the sets as it also came as a welcome relief from the generally tense and thrilling mood of the narrative. "It started just as a shooting necessity and ended up hooking everyone on the sets. People would just keep playing the game between the shots", informs Soha, "Even otherwise when the camera was rolling, we couldn't play it as per our will. Since Kunal believes in authenticity, he made sure both Emraan and I knew the rules and would have to play accordingly." And the winner is... "No one", says Emraan with a smile, "It was a draw. We both had our share of falls. But then I guess we both are equally twisted. The highlight though was that it was all really funny to keep seeing people in weird postures and keep falling down. Some had a really bad fall too. Everyone was having a laugh at other's expense."Source: Indiafm.com Features | 5 Nov 2009 | 7:57 am Amitabh spends below Paa's Rs.150 mn budgetExpensive make-up and creative inputs by industry stalwarts notwithstanding, megastar Amitabh Bachchan has managed to produce his much-awaited movie "Paa" within a set budget of Rs.Source: Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 7:51 am When Abhishek carried his father piggybackIn a role reversal of sorts, Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan needed to carry his father piggyback and trot across a vast field for a sequence in 'Paa'. To the relief of director R. Balki, Abhishek simply breezed through the difficult scene.Source: IndiaeNews.com: Bollywood News | 5 Nov 2009 | 7:03 am When Abhishek carried his father piggyback for a sequence in PaaFor a sequence in Paa, Abhishek needed to carry his father piggyback and trot across a vast field. An exercise in role reversal that had everyone on the sets petrified and apprehensive. After all, it is one thing to play your real life father's father. But to carry him on your back and run in paternal passion is quite another. To director Balki's surprise and relief, Abhishek simply breezed through the difficult scene. "Abhishek did it in one take. He carried his father effortlessly across the vast field. We shot the sequence near Cambridge in England at a place called Bury St Edmunds." The place was chosen not just for its green acres which facilitated Abhishek's run with his father on his back, but also to avoid large crowds of gawking Indians. On asked how he felt to be carried by his own son, the Big B quipped, "Carrying me piggyback was Abhishek's job. Jaya and I merely produced a strong boy! No, the most tedious part of playing the 12-year old boy in Paa was the makeup. I had to sit still for 4-5 hours every morning without moving, eating or even drinking water. For a sunrise shot I had to be up from 11 pm the previous night doing the makeup to be able to shoot on time the next morning."Source: Indiafm.com Features | 5 Nov 2009 | 6:27 am Prithvi Festival set to roll this weekend
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 6:14 am Brad Pitt sports beard like Johnny Depp
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 6:09 am Ranbir Kapoor beats Shah Rukh Khan
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 5:14 am Trailer: Paa
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 4:35 am "Ajay, Salman had no time to publicize London Dreams" - Vipul ShahPrakash Jha has a lot to be answerable for. If Ajay Devgn was unable to give time for publicity of London Dreams, it's because the dates that Ajay had allotted to promote London Dreams were used to shoot the climax of Jha's Rajneeti in Bhopal. "We knew we didn't have the stars until the 20th of October. Unfortunately there was a big problem with the climax of Rajneeti," Vipul admits. Frantic with worry when Ajay couldn't show up for the London Dreams publicity as promised, Vipul rang up Prakash. "I had a long conversation. Prakash explained the crisis he was going through. If I had insisted on taking Ajay away Prakash's climax would've suffered very badly. Prakash was in deep sh*t. And I couldn't let him suffer for my film's publicity. Ajay is in any way never keen on publicizing a film. He went out of his way to promote All The Best because that was his own home film. But that was it." As for Salman, Vipul explains, "We had to send him to Dubai and London because he wasn't seen much in the international market. In India I thought I'd hold fort with Ajay. With Prakash needing Ajay in Bhopal I was helpless." On Sunday evening, Vipul met his principal cast of Ajay Devgn, Salman Khan and Asin to plan some emergency promotional strategy for London Dreams. Vipul admits the stars haven't made themselves available for ample marketing events for his films. "I planned so many things with the stars because the director alone doesn't amount to much eyeballs on television or live events. I planned concerts with Salman, Ajay and Asin. They didn't have the time. Even my music composer -singer Shankar Mahadevan was in the US." Though he doesn't say it out loud, Vipul blames the lack of initial on his helpless dependence on supposedly saleable stars and their inability to promote the film. "But what do we do? We need stars to come and see our films." Regarding the unanimous panning of the music on London Dreams, Vipul offers his defense. "The music got submerged in a whole lot of other music scores. 20 music albums got released within a month. None of the music has worked. My music didn't get a chance. But if you look at the scores of A R Rahman, they're invariably written off and then go on to be cult successes." Vipul is confident the music of London Dreams is destined for greatness. "The last song 'Khwab' has the audience watching till the very end. I've been also criticized for showing foreigners cheering the Indian performances. But the audience is a mixture of Indians and foreigners at any such concert in Britain. If you go to any underground club in London all the goras are dancing to Indian songs. When we got a crowd of 8,000 concert watchers, there were 125 white junior artistes. How come only these 125 gora are being noticed?" Vipul has also been criticized for editing his material in a way where Salman's behaviour appears unexplained in the second-half. "Kaminey had so many editing inconsistencies. Why didn't people notice it? Why is there so much resistance against my work? Why do my films get written off in the first two weeks? First day we opened moderately. On the second, day we got better. But there was the India-Australia cricket match. By the third day our collections were steady." Vipul admits London Dreams got below-expectation opening. "That's because both Ajay and Salman had a release fifteen days earlier. They were busy promoting their home productions All The Best and Main Aur Mrs Khanna, respectively. When I got my release dates those films were not scheduled on those dates. Audiences can't go to see three Salman Khan films and two Ajay Devgn films in six weeks' time."Source: Indiafm.com Features | 5 Nov 2009 | 3:03 am 'Paa' is an emotional film: DirectorThe film "Paa", in which Amitabh Bachchan plays a patient of a rare disorder called progeria is not an educational movie, but in fact an "emotional story about a father and son", says director R.Source: Entertainment News | 5 Nov 2009 | 2:57 am Father of Bollywood stars in India's Oscar entryMUMBAI (Reuters Life!) - When Dhundiraj Govind Phalke decided to make a movie in 1911, he faced ridicule and a severe shortage of funds. Undeterred, he sold most of his belongings to create India's first feature film, "Raja Harishchandra", sowing the seeds for what is today the world's largest film industry.Source: Reuters: Bollywood News | 5 Nov 2009 | 1:52 am
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