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'Hum Tum Aur Ghost': deadweight script, dead bore filmThe sheer delight of watching Arshad Warsi play the lead rather the supremely self-assured sidekick gives this otherwise pale romantic comedy a cutting edge.Source: Entertainment News | 26 Mar 2010 | 9:01 am Sonam Kapoor amused at being called 'Mrs'"Delhi 6" actress was very amused when she was addressed as Mrs.Source: Entertainment News | 26 Mar 2010 | 8:43 am Priyanka finds 'Saat Khoon Maaf' role most difficultNational Award winning actress Priyanka Chopra says her role in "Saat Khoon Maaf" is the toughest project she has ever taken up.Source: Entertainment News | 26 Mar 2010 | 8:33 am 'I Hate Luv Storys' to release on July 2Producer Karan Johar has finalised the release date for his "I Hate Luv Storys" that stars Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor.Source: Entertainment News | 26 Mar 2010 | 8:29 am Rahul Bose keen to work again with 'Antaheen' directorActor Rahul Bose is keen to team up again with "Antaheen" director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.Source: Entertainment News | 26 Mar 2010 | 8:21 am Lohan pushed into bush by paparazzi
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 Mar 2010 | 7:30 am Deepika Padukone cools up this summer with People
She is the Queen of Bubblegum generation. And who can forget the famous bubble gum scene in Om Shanti which blew everyone's mind! We are indeed talking about the one and only Deepika Padukone, who looks the look in the latest edition of 'People'.
This PYT, who looks gorgeous on People's cover, talks about range of subjects about her life that includes her last summer memories, her take on the reportedly fresh start with Ranbir, her styling trick, her plans for this summer... to name a few. This issue of People will surely prove to be cooler than a dozen cucumber put together!
All in all, an interesting read for all Deepika fans!Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 26 Mar 2010 | 6:46 am Sri Lanka to host 11th IIFA awards
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 26 Mar 2010 | 6:37 am Gautaman Bhaskaran’s Review: Mundhinam PaartheneyMundhinam Paartheney is sadly, a good theme that has not been crafted with care. Indeed, a classic case of an interesting plot spoilt by an awful narrative style.Source: | 26 Mar 2010 | 6:05 am Sri Lanka to host 11th IIFA awardsSri Lanka will host the 11th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards and a 20Twenty match between Bollywood stars and Asian cricketers during the three-day event.Source: Entertainment News | 26 Mar 2010 | 5:59 am Karan Razdan on his film Mittal v/s MittalThe director, whose Mittal Vs Mittal opens today, decodes the Domestic Violence Act 2005. He explains, how a wife can move court if her husband forces her to have sex against her will.Source: | 26 Mar 2010 | 5:24 am "In horror films, director is the star" - Vikram Bhatt
Shaapit has turned out to be a decent earner at the box office. A safe investment, though a mind blowing opening was never expected out of it, a decent fare was pretty much on the cards, hence turning this Vikram Bhatt directed film into a plus affair. As his horror trilogy (after Raaz and 1920) comes to a conclusion, Bhatt looks at the difference in the way horror films are treated in Bollywood v/s rest of the world.
"In India, we are required to make far more fuller films when it comes to horror", says Vikram Bhatt who is sure about 'selling fear' in each of his films to come, "You need to have a love story, great music, good locations, the works. Look at films like Woh Kaun Thi, Bees Saal Baad or Kohra from the past - you always need to do a lot more. Our films come from this lineage; this is where we got out horror germ from. Audience look for 'our' kind of films. We don't come from Ringu and Grudge lineage."
It is also often said that horror is the safest bet of all amongst all genres since it can be made 'cheap'.
"The term 'cheap' would be too harsh. In fact horror should not be treated as a cheap shot", protests Bhatt, "The bare minimum requirement is to have a production value, some nice songs and dances and overall a milieu which is scary. Now that is immensely tougher because you have to rely upon nothing but visuals here."
Still, one can't deny the fact that there is a lot of cost saving involved due to new faces that can be roped in for a horror tale. After all the star of the show is invariably the director and if he comes with good enough skill sets, the new actors (if reasonably talented) can pull through the film.
"Well yes, it is true that in horror films, it is the director who is the star", says Vikram, "In fact that's a trend across the world where most of the horror classics too haven't quite boasted of big actors. Have you ever heard of a Tom Cruise or an Arnold or a Stallone in a horror film? Having said that, the fact cannot be denied is that some of the talent which is launched in horror films goes on to be much bigger in films to come."
Narrating a few examples, Vikram consolidates his point, "Look at films like Final Destination or Paranormal Activity. Now who has seen these actors earlier? See, fear sells on its own, but you have to work equally hard to get your product noticed."
After 1920 and Shaapit, is Vikram chartering a set route where he would be working primarily with newcomers? Has he lost the appetite of working with stars?
"Well, that's not the entire truth actually", says Vikram after a brief pause, "I do believe that there are some films that cannot be made without stars. But then the bitter truth is that those who are available are not saleable and while the ones who are saleable are not available. In such a case, the best choice for a filmmaker is to make him a brand name. As far as horror films are concerned, I guess Vikram Bhatt is a brand name. Now as long as I have that core competence, I don't need a star."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 26 Mar 2010 | 5:11 am "Story and screenplay of Hum Tum Aur Ghost are mine" - Arshad Warsi
Arshad Warsi admits he had differences with the director Kabeer Kaushik of his first production Hum Tum Aur Ghost. "Yes we did have differences. There were some scenes which I thought should've been shot differently. The post-production was done by the entire crew. But of course Kabeer Kaushik would get credit as director. But the story and screenplay were mine. So it was my vision to begin with."
Arshad Warsi admits he has hiked his price after the success of Ishqiya. But he isn't sure if he'd be paid what he's asking.
Says the actor, "I'd have asked for what I deserve even if Ishqiya hadn't worked. I'm finally asking for the price I deserve. I was completely underpaid earlier. I'll ask for a certain price now (Rs. 3 crores). If I don't get it I'll continue to be an underpaid actor for films I believe in. For example if I am asked to do a sequel to Ishqiya, I wouldn't ask for money. I haven't ever asked for money for the Munnabhai movies. If I feel the film helps me in any way as an actor I'll cut my price."
But Golmaal, Arshad feels is a commercial film and therefore should be lucrative for him. "Golmaal doesn't help the actors at all. It only helps the director. Munnabhai does help the actors. Even Dhamaal whose sequel I'm doing doesn't help actors. Golmaal and Dhamaal mean another hit for me. Nothing more."
Between Golmaal 3 and Dhamaal, Arshad is doing Mani Ratnam's assistant Bijoy Nambiar's gritty real-life drama. "After Golmaal 3, I'll do a small-budget film before going into Dhamaal. It's the kind of film that enthuses me as an actor. I play a cop in a real-life setting in Mumbai."
Arshad was almost not in Golmaal 3 because of the price factor, though he gives another reason for his near non-presence in Golmaal 3. "I needed a gap of at least two weeks between the last day of my own production and the first day of the shooting of Golmaal. After running around like a mad man for the promotion of Ishqiya and completing Hum Tum Aur Ghost, I really needed a break. I've had no chance to relax. But now I'm starting Golmaal 3 on the day after the release of Hum Tum Aur Ghost. So no respite. I really begged them for time off."
He's also not sure if he's part of the Munnabhai franchise anymore. "In the last conversation that I had with Rajkumar Hirani he said he's working on his script. It looks like we might be doing it at the end of the year. But until it happens I can't be sure. What I'm sure of are the Golmaal and Dhamaal sequels."
Says Arshad, "I'm very much obliged to the makers of Golmaal for making me a part of their franchise. My equity is bound to increase with the sequels."
Arshad will now turn director in 2011. A real action thriller but very stylish in execution. "I'm ready to direct. It's a film called Akadd. It will be very realistic quirky action comedy. I won't be beating up 25 people in the film. The style of acting, dialogue delivery, the actors' body language would all be life-like. The heroine's role is very important."Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 26 Mar 2010 | 5:03 am Neil Nitin Mukesh busy shooting for ads in Bangkok
After a rigorous crash-course in Taekwondo in Bangkok, Neil Nitin Mukesh not only performed the martial arts for the camera he also directed the action scenes for himself.
A sure sign of this young actor's progression towards his ultimate goal, direction. In fact Neil's mentor, Yash Raj Films, have already reserved the rights verbally to launch Neil as a director.
Laughs the young actor, "That is some way off. But yes, I do plan to direct my own film some day, and not in the distant future. In the meanwhile I am here in Bangkok and I've directed all the stunts for an ad we shot for Gen- X innerwear. You could say my career as a director ha started."
It was Neil's idea that the ad should have plenty of adrenaline-pumping action.
Last week after his leading lady Deepika Padukone left to shoot with Imran Khan in Delhi, Neil Nitin Mukesh suddenly took off for Bangkok for a week to learn the popular martial art Taekwondo, shoot the action ad and then shoot another very erotic ad.
Speaking from Bangkok and sounding quite out of breath Neil said, "It was my idea to combine the shooting of two back-to-back ads in Bangkok after my dates for Yash Raj were readjusted. It's been a super-hectic time since I arrived here. I first shot an action ad for the innerwear and then I'm now shooting a really erotic ad for a deodorant with all these firang babes. It was supposed to be like first the action and then the araam."
Since the deodorant is aphrodisiacal Neil suggested the concept with a dozen sexy models.
Neil was seen in the company of at least a couple of these Caucasian models in Bangkok after shooting. A sure sign of his newly acquired single status.
"It's more a sign of the fact that I get lonely and bored every time I'm away from home. Fortunately, the work schedule here has been really tough so I've no time to get lonely. First the training in Taekwondo, then the shooting for the action ad. And then the erotic ad with the babes. I thought the first ad would be strenuous and the second one will be relaxing. But shooting with all those sexy women is even more hard work than doing stunts", Neil winks.
Incidentally, the Taekwondo training is not just for the ad that Neil has just shot in Bangkok. It's also for Dhoom 3 which Yash Raj is getting ready to shoot.
But Neil isn't talking about that yet. He returns to Mumbai on March 27.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 26 Mar 2010 | 4:38 am Mayank Shekhar's Review: Mittal vs MittalThis movie is basically B-grade version of a common emotional pornography. The viewer feels goodness in the heart than guilt, given the images are overtly meant to repulse you, not titillate.Source: | 26 Mar 2010 | 4:09 am Ranbir and Sanajy Dutt in 'The Game' - Oneindia
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 26 Mar 2010 | 4:02 am Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie to star in The Tourist?Washington (ANI): Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie may soon share the screen in new film The Tourist. The Pirates of the Caribbean star is reportedly in negotiations to strike a deal with Graham King''s GK Films, which will finance and distributeSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:29 am Indian Ocean to have a film on themWorld-famous Indian contemporary fusion music band, Indian Ocean, has a little surprise for their fans.India’s first music film, Leaving Home: The Life and Music of Indian Ocean will be releasing nationwide on April 2. It is based on the 19-year-old band.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:29 am Denzel Washington is America's favourite actorWashington (ANI): For the third year in a row, Denzel Washington has been named America's favourite movie star. The Training Day Oscar winner pipped Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood to grab the first position, reports Contactmusic.Late John Wayne and Hitch star WillSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:29 am Penelope visits gynaecologist with beau JavierWashington (ANI): Actress Penelope Cruz has fuelled rumours that she is pregnant after being spotted coming out of a gynaecologist's office with boyfriend Javier Bardem. The Spanish actress, who has been dating Bardem since 2007, was photographed stepping out of theSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:28 am Penelope Cruz in Sex and the City sequelWashington, (ANI): Penelope Cruz is all set to dazzle the Sex and the City sequel with her presence.The Oscar winning actress and Liza Minnelli have been roped in to join the original fab four – Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, KristenSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:28 am Penelope Cruz's perfectionism irritates co-starsLondon (ANI): Actress Penelope Cruz admits that her thirst for perfectionism can get very annoying for her co-stars, and says she often gets "thrown out of the set" for taking countless retakes."I always get thrown out of the set, because askingSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:27 am Chelsea Handler deems Paris Hilton 'stupid'New York (ANI): It looks like television host Chelsea Handler has no sympathy for celebrities she mocks on her E! talk show ‘Chelsea Lately’. While talking to Philadelphia Style magazine, Handler took the example of hotel heiress Paris Hilton."I think theSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:26 am Jim Carrey blasts Tom Cruise, Angelina JolieNew Delhi (ANI): Canadian/American actor Jim Carrey has blasted actors Tom Cruise and Angelina Jolie on US chat show ‘Chelsea Lately. Carrey, 47, was asked by host Chelsea Handler to start with Cruise, 47, and he jumped at the chance, reportsSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:26 am Kelly Brook strikes pose as Audrey HepburnLondon, (ANI): Kelly Brook has posed as Audrey Hepburn while re-enacting a scene from Breakfast At Tiffany's' for Sky Movies' Christmas schedule. Complete with pearls and cigarette holder, Brook did full justice to Hepburn from the classic 60s romantic-comedy. However, sheSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:25 am Ranbir and Sanajy Dutt in 'The Game'Ever played a game that gets you a chance to win Rs. 50 lacs while watching television? Get ready to show Youngistaan Ka WOW in ‘The Game’, Pepsi’s innovative, engaging and entertaining concept that brings to life the fun of gamingSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:25 am Mayank Shekhar's Review: Hum, Tum Aur GhostThe film reverses the premise of the incredible Shyamalan’s Sixth Sense. We already know that the leading man can see dead people. The object isn’t suspense or romance, it’s comedy.Source: | 26 Mar 2010 | 3:21 am Get ready for sequel after sequel in 2011Next year, 2011, is going to be the year of sequels in Bollywood with as many as five blockbusters getting ready with the next instalment of their stories -- "Race 2", "Dhoom 3", "Wanted 2", "Partner 2" and "Don 2".Source: Entertainment News | 26 Mar 2010 | 2:58 am Ray used Soumitra, I trust Rahul Bose: Aparna SenAparna Sen, whose long-awaited film "The Japanese Wife" will soon be seen in the theatres, says she couldn't trust anyone but old favourite Rahul Bose to play Snehamoy, the Sundarbans schoolteacher who falls in love with a woman he's never met.Source: Entertainment News | 26 Mar 2010 | 2:52 am The story and screenplay of HTAG were mine: Arshad - Oneindia
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 26 Mar 2010 | 2:48 am Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week kicks off in New Delhi - Daily News & Analysis
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 26 Mar 2010 | 2:32 am Mittal vs Mittal - Sify
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 26 Mar 2010 | 2:27 am Wedding bells ringing for NagmaNagma recently announced that she will get married this year and the news of her relationships with people like Ravi Kishen and Ganguly were only rumors.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 26 Mar 2010 | 1:57 am After Priyanka, Shahid saves Anushka's life - SantaBanta.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 26 Mar 2010 | 1:54 am Fourth woman claims affair with Jesse - Hindustan Times
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 26 Mar 2010 | 1:43 am Mittal vs Mittal: ReviewMittal vs Mittal seem to be a film focusing on domestic violence in the light of an unstable marital relation. Karan Razdan has gone over the board to sensitize the issue which has worked against the entire feel of the film.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 26 Mar 2010 | 1:43 am Sri Lanka to host 11th IIFA awards - NDTV.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 26 Mar 2010 | 1:30 am Kites music download: Hrithik launches Kites music on radioThe concept of the film came to Rakesh Roshan's mind when one day he was very enchanted by seeing two kites flying. The way the kites met and embraced each other, and then went their separate ways, was quite interesting for the director.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 26 Mar 2010 | 12:48 am Well Done Abba: ReviewThis is a story of a driver in Mumbai Armaan Ali(Boman Irani) who takes a month's leave from work in order to seek a matrimonial alliance for his daughter Muskaan (Minissha Lamba). Armaan heads towards his village near Hyderabad.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 26 Mar 2010 | 12:20 am Well Done Abba: Movie Review - Times of India
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 26 Mar 2010 | 12:12 am Big B at NDTV 'Save Our Tigers' campaign
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 25 Mar 2010 | 2:45 pm Stay away from drugs, Sanjay Dutt tells youngsters
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 25 Mar 2010 | 2:39 pm Sharman steps on Shah Rukh's turf! - Times of India
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 25 Mar 2010 | 2:12 pm Catwalk is no cakewalk: Minissha Lamba
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 25 Mar 2010 | 1:50 pm Stay away from drugs, Sanjay Dutt tells youngstersActor Sanjay Dutt, who has donned a new avatar of a Game Master in Pepsi's new interactive ad, urges youngsters to stay away from drugs.Source: Entertainment News | 25 Mar 2010 | 1:13 pm HC rejects Nithyananda advance bail plea - Deccan Herald
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 25 Mar 2010 | 12:57 pm Dame Edna on the View, new musical All About MeStars of the Broadway show All About Me, Dame Edna and Michael Fienstein will be on the talk show The View today, discussing the musical which released recently.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 25 Mar 2010 | 12:28 pm Is Beyonce Knowles pregnant? Find out hereSinger Beyonce Knowles is pregnant, this rumor is floating everywhere. Singer Beyonce Knowles and her hip hop mogul husband Jay Z are expecting their first child together.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 25 Mar 2010 | 12:13 pm Shatrughan's son to debut in Sadiyaan
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 25 Mar 2010 | 11:53 am Brigitte Daguerre, Jesse James mistress number three?Brigitte Daguerre is the third women who has come forward recently claiming to be a mistress of Jesse James, Oscar winner Sandra Bullock's husband. Melissa Smith and Michelle McGee have also claimed to be mistresses of the West Coast Choppers biker.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 25 Mar 2010 | 11:24 am "LSD is holding fort despite the IPL matches" - Dibakar Banerjee
He is among the new-age breed of filmmakers whose films defy the stereotype. His first two films Khosla Ka Ghosla and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye ! fetched him the coveted him National Award and his latest film Love, Sex Aur Dhokha (LSD) (which released last Friday) is already the hot topic of discussion. Bollywood Hungama's Nikhil Ramsubramaniam got chatting with one of the finest talents of new-age Hindi cinema- Dibakar Banerjee about his latest venture LSD
Last Friday was a memorable day for you as your latest film LSD released on the same day as you won your second National award. How was the feeling?
It was great though it was a bit hectic. I was mixing interviews between Oye Lucky and LSD (smiles)
LSD is touted to be one of India's Premiere Digital Film...what do you mean by that?
Even I don't know myself (laughs) I think it was something that we thought of during the promotion of the film to tell the people that it's not digital the way you've been expecting Digital. Its Digital in a way that not only does it use the Digital Camera but the aesthetics, the editing style, the shooting style, the story telling style comes from the digital medium itself which is from the world of MMS', YouTube uploads, downloads, Home Movies etc.
Apparently you wanted to call the film Pyar Sex Aur Dhokha but the title got changed to LSD
The title went through many revisions. It was called Pyar Ki Teen Kahaniyan, Love Cam, Pyarscope etc. until we finally went ahead with Love, Sex Aur Dhokha (LSD)
The title went through many revisions. It was called Pyar Ki Teen Kahaniyan, Love Cam, Pyarscope etc. until we finally went ahead with Love, Sex Aur Dhokha (LSD)
The film talks about voyeurism through 3 different stories...how did the idea first germinate?
It started with me being at a shop in Delhi where a security camera was being installed and I saw that people who were around started behaving differently. I realized that when people are on camera they start behaving differently. It also started with a story that I wrote about Honor Killing. It was actually a letter that I wrote a long time ago to Manmohan Desai from a guy who was dead. And the film is also based on the many MMS clips, YouTube downloads, Home videos, Marriage videos that I saw.
How much of the film has been drawn from real life MMS scandals or Sting operations?
The whole film has been drawn from real-life instances. However, it has not been drawn from any one single incident as such. Our life comprises of many such incidents and I have taken bits and pieces from all of them.
The critics have praised the film tremendously...what kind of audience reactions have you been getting?
Audience reaction has been very, very good. In the first weekend, we are the highest grosser among all the three films which opened this week. Our film is actually taking head on the IPL mania and all our shows are holding fort in spite of the IPL matches. Even on Monday, when Mumbai had a big match against Kolkata, most shows of LSD had very good collections which is really heartening.
Our film is actually taking head on the IPL mania and all our shows are holding fort in spite of the IPL matches.
Is the film targeted at the metros or do you think it has a pan India feel?
I think it would appeal mainly to metros and smaller towns and probably not the rural sectors.
Which among the 3 stories is your personal favorite and why?
I see all three stories as one story. I cannot have one without the other because if you see the way the three stories are connected in the film, you will realize that they are all just one story at the end of the day.
What was the reason behind casting new actors?
The film is based on found footage using real cameras so it was not possible to have a known face else the impact would have been diluted. Hence, we were very clear about casting newcomers for the film. We went through a 2 month casting process where we shortlisted a group of actors for each role and then my casting director took a very rigorous workshop with them and over the course of the workshop, we kept eliminating the contenders and arrived at our final set of actors.
Are you upset with the censors chopping a few crucial scenes?
I am not that upset with the censors chopping the sex scene because in my opinion, the sex scene is still intact in terms of the emotional impact of the scene. Contrary to some reports in the media, it's not a 7 and a half minute sex scene, it is a 7 and a half minute scene that leads to sex. Where I was a bit upset was when the censors removed all lines alluding to caste references in the first story and that in my opinion diluted the impact a lot.
I am not that upset with the censors chopping the sex scene because in my opinion, the sex scene is still intact in terms of the emotional impact of the scene.
The music of the film has become quite a rage even though the songs feature in the background in the film. Your comments...
The music has got a tremendous response. Both the songs (the title track and 'Tu Gandi Achchi Lagti Hai') are currently in the Top 10. Our music was released very late, just ten days before the release of the film, and in spite of that it has really caught on big time.
Ekta Kapoor the producer...how was she to work with?
Fabulous. Ekta is very intelligent, an extremely canny producer who knows what she wants to make and how she wants to make it.
Ekta is very intelligent, an extremely canny producer who knows what she wants to make and how she wants to make it.
After two National Awards you hope to get third time lucky?
I didn't hope for even the first or the second one. It just happened. I think Awards are something which are best enjoyed as unexpected bonuses. I think the only award that you can expect is that the audience likes your film
The buzz is that you are now making a political thriller with Abhay Deol next. Is it true?
Yes...I am making a political thriller next. It may or may not star Abhay Deol. It all depends on his availability of dates.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 25 Mar 2010 | 11:21 am Catwalk is no cakewalk, says Minissha LambaActress Minissha Lamba has almost become a regular showstopper at the Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW).Source: Entertainment News | 25 Mar 2010 | 11:18 am Miley Cyrus performed in American Idol 2010, Paige Miles eliminatedTeen sensation Miley Cyrus performed her song 'When I Look At You' on American Idol 2010 last night, March 24 on elimination night from her upcoming movie 'The Last Song'. On the second elimination night on Wednesday on American Idol 2010, Paige Miles eliSource: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 25 Mar 2010 | 11:10 am Well Done Abba hits cinemas todayVeteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal makes a comeback with Well Done Abba. This political satire stars Boman Irani and Minissha Lamba in the main lead.Source: | 25 Mar 2010 | 11:05 am Tom Cruise to play a Cowboy in new movie
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 25 Mar 2010 | 11:02 am Witherspoon acts as a schoolgirl with new lover
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 25 Mar 2010 | 11:01 am Robert Pattinson hates fights
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 25 Mar 2010 | 10:57 am "I know Balasaheb Thackeray very well; he's been very gracious to me" - SRK
He's known as King Khan of Bollywood and is one of India's hottest actors and producers. Shah Rukh Khan joins CNN's Talk Asia for an in-depth interview in Mumbai with host Anjali Rao. The global superstar explains why the time has come for developing nations like India to assert themselves internationally, discusses the furore surrounding the premiere of his film My Name is Khan and talks about his hopes for his Kolkata Knight Riders team in this season's Indian Premier League.
It's fantastic to have you on the show, you are easily Bollywood's biggest star these days. For those watching it might have seemed easy. You are so big they call you King Khan. Is this the way you saw you life panning when you started off as an actor?
Not at all, I still don't believe it. I still think it's like a dream. But when I started off, I never thought I would do anything else but wake up in the morning and work. But the only thing that's added to it, and I tell this to everyone, is that I still wake up in the morning and work but the only odd thing my kids find is that I'm a man and I wear make-up.
I still wake up in the morning and work but the only odd thing my kids find is that I'm a man and I wear make-up
We're doing this interview at your house and there are often throngs of fans waiting outside trying to get a glimpse of you. As they wait to see what crumb you might throw them, is that kind of a weird feeling - the immense scrutiny that you get.
I feel very embarrassed and odd. I don't even call them fans. I think they are people who appreciate what I do. My wife tells me on the weekends, especially because there's a crowd - a thousand people outside. So I go for five minutes and wave, then the cops get very angry because the traffic stops so they shout at me. So I'm really embarrassed. I feel really odd but I think when people come to visit me at house then I should be sort of kind to them and say hello to them. The scrutiny part, there was a time, I have a sense of humour and my family feels I should stop it because it's gets me into trouble. I say things and maybe people don't understand it or they give me more importance than to think, I am flippant. I should not be flippant. I should be more serious. But I feel I've never been like that and I just want to have fun and say things that are easy going but many a time, it's not taken like this and everything is scrutinized.
One of things that got you a lot of headlines recently was that as Muslims it was shame that the IPL hadn't picked up any Pakistani players for this season and you own an IPL team, The Kolkata Knight Riders. Your comments caused an absolute firestorm particularly with Hindu Nationalists, did you anticipate the furore those words would cause.
You know I did say in the interview, you know I do hope I don't get into trouble for saying this before I said that. But I didn't think it would go to this extent. It became strange. Strange things were said. And I said "the bottom line in my country is that, there is a certain amount of freedom of speech which we also restrain unto. We are not completely outspoken, we don't do strange things - at least I don't and most of the people I know, don't. So there's freedom of speech. This was my point of view.
They were burning effigies of you in the streets, some people I mean, people are absolutely going nuts about you.
Some guy had a slipper in his hands and was hitting poster. I want to find him. I want to meet up with him. He should try it when I'm standing in front. Not on a piece of paper.
The main Hindu Nationalist party, Shiv Sena, obviously took what you had to say extremely badly, they were the ones who campaigned against at this time and threatened to disrupt the premiere of your movie "My Name Is Khan". Were you worried at all about the safety of yourself and you family and your fans?
I'll be honest. I know Balasaheb Thackeray very well. He's also been very gracious to me. I know Uddhav Thackeray, he's been very helpful. I know them very well. We've never had ... and I've said this many times...
I know Balasaheb Thackeray very well. He's also been very gracious to me. I know Uddhav Thackeray, he's been very helpful
The top level of the Shiv Sena...
They meet me, I go over to their house, they're really gracious and wonderful with me, and we've never had ideological discussions, maybe they have a different ideology for the party that they run, but I'm not a political person so we've never sat down and "so, why is it like..", so we've never had this discussion. If there was genuinely a misunderstanding about what I said, which is quite possible, pick up the phone and I'd explain it, it would have been "oh, okay, that's what you meant? Sorry. We thought you meant this. You don't mean that." That's the way it should have been but I just think it became bigger than the personal relationship we share.
Your team the Kolkata Knight Riders hasn't had a terrible successful track record in the past couple of years, what do you think are the prospects for it to do better this time around?
The thing that I say, you've been very kind when you say they haven't been doing very well. The first thing - and I'm a little philosophical about this - is that I have to accept and the team has to accept, the truth is we haven't done well at all. We've accepted that. The second part is, it's very easy to do better when you're in the eighth position with only eight teams you can't go worse than this. So we are going to do better. I think what we tried to do is get the Indian part of the team stronger. I think the senior guys like Ishant and Ganguly, they just need to get into the groove. I think the main thing the coach and Dada have brought in this time is the fact we training the young guys just to make them enjoy themselves. 20/20 needs to be enjoyed, when you see a Matthew Hayden play, he's enjoying himself. I sense that. You have to enjoy it. You can't just have the test match pressure on your head. Or the one-day pressure on your head. You need to go and enjoy yourself. Have a good time. So yesterday when the team was leaving, somebody turned around, one of the managers and said we have to win only seven or eight and if we only lose five. And I said we can't lose anymore. We've lost too many. We've lost for the next four years. So I think we'll do better. I think we will do much better this year.
Let's discuss movies now, and specifically My Name Is Khan in which you play an autistic Muslim in America post 9/11. The film's done great and particularly well in Islamic countries, is that your intention. Were you trying to appeal to most of the Muslim audience?
The fact that, you said it so well and it was a convoluted plot, an autistic Muslim man in America post 9/11, when you put it so simply it sounds so complicated. No, you make a film, normally for a universal audience, the kind of films that I do especially I would like everyone to see them. Within them, I'll try to put in something different that appeals maybe, if you do hockey, maybe the hockey guys and girls will like it more. You do it about a bad guy recently, so when you do that thing and the youngsters like all the bad stuff, cool stuff. So, they like it. But the intention was never like that. I do remember the wonderful distributor Fox, they were going to say we'll release in UAE, and we'll release it in Morocco like this, and Indonesia and Malaysia and I said "why are they doing it so specifically". Maybe they understood the spot much better than we did because yes, it's record breaking in the Muslim countries, I never thought it would have been like that. I really thought the film was about humanity.
Yeah, this was the latest collaboration between you and director Karan Johar, you've worked together on countless movies but you're also best mates away from the set. What is it do you think that some sort of magic formula you have seems that helps you two work together so well?
I think the first thing is that's trust. I gave him a book the "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night" and I said you should make a film with a little kid who's autistic and a story of a father and a son. Obviously assuming if you took me as a father and a little child who's autistic. And then he came up with the script with me as autistic with this whole plot. And I'm like "this is a little strange" because when you make a film with me, as far as Karan and me are concerned, we normally make a little more commercially viable films. But he said no, this is what I want to do. So I trust him, I trust him completely.
I had told Karan that he should make a film with a little kid who's autistic and a story of a father and a son
One of the things that got a lot of publicity for the movie was when you were detained by US immigration which in a way which mirrors a scene in My Name Is Khan when you say "my name is Khan and I'm not a terrorist" to have it play out like that in real life, there was a lot of press on it, what was it like from your standpoint?
It happens to me every month, whenever I travel to the western world because of the name. But it's not only me. There are another 75 people in that line. It happens to my kids. And I say this again and again. I have no issue. I have no issue with it personally because this is the world that we have created. This is how it is. I think what happened that day was that it took a little longer. This was at the immigration for the first time - normally it happens at the security. I think the processes just went wrong and it took a couple of hours. I had to call the Indian Consulate because I had a meeting in Atlantic City, if I got caught up here, there was no point me going all the way to America. So I asked "can you get me out of here", so I think it just went out to the press and we have reached a stage in India and I think rightly so, when a developing nation is on the threshold on coming out and Inshallah taking over the whole world - in terms of economics, in terms of politics, in terms of business, I think certainly we have a voice. We've been pushed, all developing nations, I'm not just saying India and suddenly we have a voice in the world which matters and sometimes that voice is a little louder than it should be. So anytime anything goes wrong with Indians anywhere in the world, you notice all Indians get up. Not on the outside. It happened when the Shiv Sena thing happened - all the Indians came and said "no, this is wrong". I'm really glad we have a voice like that, and that's what happened "they stopped Shah Rukh, how dare they" and I was joking about it until about half a day actually, and I even joked that when the American Hollywood actresses come that I should be given the right to frisk them in India. I want to be the first guy. It's only fair.
I didn't do Slumdog Millionaire coz I didn't want to be the bad guy because I won't do it like that
You did say you wanted My Name is Khan to be a global hit like Slumdog Millionaire. You could have been in Slumdog Millionaire. You got offered the role of the quiz show host but you turned it down and Anil Kapoor got it. Do you beat yourself over that decision?
No, I really wanted that film to be made. I'd read the Indian novel. I'd bought it. I wanted to make it myself but an Indian film. When I read the script, I knew they'd made a much better film than I could ever.
Why didn't you want part of that fantastic film then?
One, I'm not offered many great films; honestly, I don't have an agent for stuff in the west. Also, I'd hosted "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". Here the host was a bit of a fixer. I only fixed "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" in a way that I felt bad for the people and I'll like "listen why don't you retire now, don't don't, this looks like a difficult question. So you've got half a million dollars, go back relax" then they say "no we want to play" and I'm like "can we go for a break". I used to feel really bad and I'm not allowed to say anything but I know this question's a little difficult young man. So, I just felt that I had so much fun doing it personally that I didn't want to be on the side where I take the guy into the loo and say "I can fix this for you". I didn't want to be the bad guy because I won't do it like that.
Watch this space to read Part 2 of the conversation with Shah Rukh KhanSource: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 25 Mar 2010 | 10:53 am Lamb of God in IndiaLamb of God (LOG), the Virginia-based heavy metal band known for hits such as Laid to Rest and As The Palaces Burn, is set to debut in India. The Grammy nominees will perform at...Source: | 25 Mar 2010 | 10:06 am Kevin Spacey wants to cast Kate Moss for his play
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 25 Mar 2010 | 9:58 am Johnny Maestro died battling cancerThe latest news is that singer, Johnny Maestro of the rock n roll and doo-wop band The Brookyln Bridge has died. Johnny Maestro died late Wednesday, March 24 in Florida. Les Cauchi, original band member confirmed the tragic newsSource: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 25 Mar 2010 | 9:55 am Videotic influencesNew crop of music stars derives inspiration from filmmaking geniuses for song videos.Source: | 25 Mar 2010 | 9:44 am Preview: Well done AbbaThis is the story of Armaan Ali, a driver working for a senior executiveSource: | 25 Mar 2010 | 9:16 am Live Chat: Rahul Dev on March 26 at 1500 hrs IST
Think of films like Champion, Asoka, Awara Paagal Deewana, Footpath, Kidnap and Blue and the one common link that binds them together is actor Rahul Dev. Known for his chiseled torso and mean on-screen persona, this talented actor was recently seen in last week's release horror flick Shaapit.
Bollywood Hungama gives you a chance to have an interesting Live Video Chat with Rahul Dev on Friday, March 26, at 1500 hrs IST and ask him all that you wanted to about Shaapit and his forthcoming films. Don't miss it!Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 25 Mar 2010 | 9:09 am Preview: Mittal vs MittalMitali, a successful model, meets Karan, the Mittal scion, the heir to one of the richest families in the country.Source: | 25 Mar 2010 | 9:08 am Preview: NineArrogant, self-centered movie director Guido Contini finds himself struggling to find meaning, purpose, and a script for his latest film endeavor.Source: | 25 Mar 2010 | 9:04 am "I am a terrible businessman and a very good producer" - Arshad Warsi
Yet another actor has joined the bandwagon of making films. Arshad Warsi, after being a part of the industry for close to a decade and a half, now has his first ever production - Hum Tum Aur Ghost - ready to hit the screens in a few hours from now. As the anxious producer-actor waits to gauge audience's reaction to his much romantic comedy with an element of 'ghost' thrown in, Arshad also maintains that 'for someone like him' in the film, Hum Tum Aur Ghost is quite expensive! In a free
wheeling chat with Joginder Tuteja, Arshad talks about the making of the film, his differences with director Kabeer Kaushik and the no-compromise stance that he adopted when it came to the film's cost.
So after the success of Ishqiya, has Arshad also become a '5 crore ka hero'?
[Laughs] I hope so. Woh alag baat hai ki koyi de nahi raha hai! On a serious note though, I never ask for an amount like that. Having said that, as per insiders and trade calculations, I do deserve this amount. Let's see, perhaps success of Hum Tum Aur Ghost would further firm up these calculations.
Perhaps someone else in my place may not have spent so much but then the requirement of the film was that we did not hold back on expenses
In fact for a first ever film of a newly turned producer; Hum Tum Aur Ghost does appear to be an expensive film.
Yeah, for someone like me in the film, it is actually quite expensive (smiles). Still, I do feel that there is a minimum amount that should be spent on the making of a film. I have done that and a little more in fact. All said and done, my actors are very happy. They are very proud of the film. See, the fact is that I don't cut cost and when people would watch the film, they would understand that we have actually spent good money. Perhaps someone else in my place may not have spent so much but then the requirement of the film was that we did not hold back on expenses. (Laughs) This is why I keep telling everyone that I am a terrible businessman and a very good producer.
Well, the promos do have a certain quality feel to them.
I knew that they would fetch a very good response the moment final edit was ready. There were two stages in which audience reaction had to be gauged. Once when the song promos were out and two when the talkie portions started playing. When you air the songs, audience basically get an idea on how much you have spent on the film. In addition, it's the newness and the freshness factor that is conveyed. However, the tougher part is to actually trigger an enhanced curiosity level in the audience; they should be interested enough to step into theatres and that can be made possible only if your talkie promos are cut well. Thankfully, the response has been very positive there and people are commenting that Hum Tum Aur Ghost is appearing as a 'mast' film.
Still Arshad, don't you feel that the promotion could have been a little more aggressive and on the face?
See, promos and publicity material is not in my hand; it is in the control of Studio 18. The way they have planned it all, they feel it is proper and if they feel it is proper then I have to be okay with that. My liking or not liking the way film is pitched is not in my hands. For my next film though, I would like that to be in my hands. I do feel though that the promotion could have been a little more aggressive.
I do feel though that the promotion could have been a little more aggressive
It was heard that you and director Kabir Kaushik differed on a few points during the making of the film. Did that lead to a lot of heartburn as well due to so much exchange of ideas and opinions?
Heartburn would be too harsh a word though the fact is that I couldn't let go if something was not going as per my vision. If anything like this happened then I used to explain to Kabeer the feeling of the film again. See the thing is that Kabeer ki sensibility aur hamaari film ki sensibility mein kaafi difference hain. He has made films like
Seher and Chamku while Hum Tum Aur Ghost is in a When Harry Met Sally zone. Inn dono genres mein connection bahaut door ka hai!
So do you have any regrets?
Well, I took Kabeer for Hum Tum Aur Ghost because this script has some very dramatic scenes. There are some very delicate relationships in the film and people who have seen the film do comment that how could we actually think about these well crafted scenes. Ours is the kind of film which is very delicate and had to be shot well. If not, then that could have led to a disastrous situation. Now the matter of the fact is, and let me put this on record, that Kabeer is very good at handling such delicate scenes. On the other hand when it came to humour, there were Boman and me sitting there to ensure that things fell well in place. We wanted romance to be real and humour to be of the kind which is not conventional. I think that people would be able to see it the way I had envisioned it all.
I took Kabeer for Hum Tum Aur Ghost because this script has some very dramatic scenes
While executing this vision of yours, weren't you ever worried that for a film with a title like Hum Tum Aur Ghost, audience may be left confused if it is a complete family entertainer or a horror film?
This is where the designing of posters and the font of your film's title comes into picture. This is something which is really required for effective marketing thing. Just this first look pretty much tells you what the film is all about. If only a different font would have been used, the same film could have looked liked a horror tale. However, I am positive that no one is thinking that this is a horror film because in all the interviews I have given and the press conferences that I have attended, only 2%-3% have thought that Hum Tum Aur Ghost could be a scary film. Arrey yaar, we have also got a U certificate for the film so doesn't it just say it all? Moreover, my image is such that people know yeh horror movie nahi banaega!Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 25 Mar 2010 | 7:26 am Salman Khan to star in Ready remake directed by Anees Bazmee
Bollywood seems to be back to its remake trend, the current one being remaking south Indian superhits in Hindi. Anees Bazmee is doing just that with the south hit film Ready. The original Telugu film that starred Genelia and Ram will be now remade with Salman in the lead.
Speaking to Anees we learn, "Yes. I am doing the remake of the south film Ready, and have also confirmed Salman Khan to play the male lead in it. However, as for the leading ladies, I cannot speak about it now, as it's really too early and we haven't decided on it as yet."
Further he tells us, "As for the film itself, there is a long way to go as we still have to complete the scripting process since we want to retain some of the original while changing the rest to suit the Bollywood audience and hence the title as well is still awaiting to be finalized."
What about the rest of the cast of the film? "In terms of other cast members again I would say wait a little longer and all shall be revealed," signs off Bazmee.
Ready remake will be produced by T-Series.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 25 Mar 2010 | 4:29 am Bobby Deol confirmed for Anees Bazmee's Thank You
The news has been out for sometime now that director Anees Bazmee's film Thank You will star Akshay Kumar and the pretty lass Sonam Kapoor. However, the latest update is that Bobby Deol has also been confirmed for a pivotal part in the film.
Anees says, "Yes. In fact, we had confirmed Sonam and Akshay way back, but then, there is this really important and pivotal role which needed to be filled. And that's when we decided to have Bobby Deol play the said part."
When quizzed for more details about Bobby's part in the film, Anees firmly states, "Right now, it's really early to go about talking about the character of any of the actors in the film. But, what I can say is that we will start shooting next month in Canada with Bobby playing a pivotal role in this romantic comedy."
Guess till then it's a wait game till the characters are finally revealed.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 25 Mar 2010 | 4:08 am Live Chat: Dia Mirza on March 26 at 1600 hrs IST
She is cool as cucumber and as fresh as a mint. She is Dia Mirza, who, true to her name, lights up the silver screen every time she smiles. After having made India proud with her emphatic win in the international beauty pageant, Dia followed the 'natural progression' path and lapped up Bollywood.
Well, the lady with the most electrifying smile that's complemented with a voice to match, is all set to capture your hearts yet again with a sizzler of a performance in the forthcoming film Hum Tum Aur Ghost, in which she stars opposite the powerhouse of talent Arshad Warsi.
Bollywood Hungama offers you a never before chance to get chat with the lady exclusively on Celebrity Video chat. Your appointment with this pretty damsel stands confirmed on Friday, March 26, at 1600 hrs IST.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 25 Mar 2010 | 3:41 am Sajid Khan dedicates Housefull to 7 directors who inspired him
Sajid Khan is dedicating his second directorial venture Housefull to the seven filmmakers who have inspired him the most.
Says the excited director, "It came to me in a flash this week that there are many directors to whom I owe my career as a filmmaker. I short listed the seven directors who have made the maximum impact on me. And I'll be putting in a credit card thanking them in Housefull."
The lucky 7 are Manmohan Desai, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, K. Raghvendra Rao, K Bappaiah, Narendra Bedi, Prakash Mehra and Blake Edwards.
Says the enthusiastic director, "These are the directors who have most inspired me, provoked me into becoming a movie director. I love masala movies. And these directors made the films I can never get tired of watching. I had dedicated my first film Heyy Babyy to all the girls who agreed to make guest appearances in the title song."
Sajid is aware some names in his list of 7 would surprise people. "But I feel someone like Narendra Bedi who made Jawani Diwani and Adalat shaped our commercial cinema. Both me and my sister Farah are hardcore commercial directors."
Though Farah has started directing her film Tees Maar Khan, Sajid is keeping as far away as possible from his sister's project. "I haven't read her script. She hasn't read mine. Though we'd give our lives for one another, we're two different individuals. She is extroverted. I am more into myself. I like to spend my evenings alone at home watching films every evening."
Sajid's greatest joy these days is exchanging Bollywood trivia with Boman Irani. "Boman and Viveck Vaswani are the most knowledgeable movie people I know. Add me to the list. If Boman was not an actor I'd still be friends with him just to share movie info with him."Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 25 Mar 2010 | 3:19 am Bhanu Kaur: The new Punjabi Telugu heroine starring in VaruduBhanu Kaur, who hails from Amritsar in Punjab is a Sikh girl. Varudu, a telugu movie which is scheduled for a release on 30th of March is expected to be a great hit.. Bhanu Kaur is grabbing all the attention as fans are bowled over by her beauty.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 25 Mar 2010 | 2:23 am
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