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Antara Mali goes bald for Amol Palekar's film
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 9:16 am Kangna Ranaut walks the ramp for JJ Valaya
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 8:45 am Pitt, Jolie splash $40m for Italian mansion
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 8:30 am Zsa Zsa Gabor fighting for life after stroke
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 7:09 am I have a darker side: JolieHollywood actress Angelina Jolie says that she has "a darker side". The actress credits beau Brad Pitt with making her "a better person".Source: | 24 Jul 2010 | 6:58 am Sonam is not going West, says Anil Kapoor
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 6:40 am Antara Mali goes bald to play monk in Amol Palekar's film
The 'once-upon-a-time hot' actress Antara Mali, who was last seen 5 years ago in the forgettable flick Mr Ya Miss, is all set to make a comeback of sorts and that too in a new avatar. Antara would be seen playing a Buddhist monk in Amol Palekar's film And Once Again. For the part, Antara has gone ahead and taken the bold step of shaving her head.
While dealing with the intricacies of man-woman relationship, And Once Again subtly talks about repercussions of violence on human life and its lingering shadow on all of us with its startling shades. Besides Antara Mali, the film also stars Rajat Kapoor and Rituparna Sengupta in lead roles. The film has been shot in the picturesque locales of Sikkim.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 24 Jul 2010 | 6:22 am ICU woes for Madhur Bhandarkar as he attends to unwell mother
For Madhur Bhandarkar, the shooting of his first ever comic outing is well turning out to quite a distressing experience in real life. Even as he is neck deep into the first schedule of Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji which is currently on in Mumbai, his personal life has gone astray due to his mother keeping unwell. Diagnosed with problems related to intestines, she is currently lodged in ICU for last few days.
Says a close friend of Bhandarkar, "For Madhur it is turning out to be a 24X7 schedule. He can't make any changes because the dates for all his star actors are already locked. But then he also wants to be his mother because she is currently under intensive care. So while he is busy shooting the entire day, he is in the hospital during the night. It is taking a toll on his own health."
The comedy starring Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Omi Vaidya and Shruti Hassan didn't have the best of the starts when the first few days of the shooting had to be rescheduled due to rains in Mumbai. Now that the film finally managed to get on floors, the personal trouble of Bhandarkar has resulted in further stress.
The good news is that Madhur's mother is recovering which means a reduction in emotional and physical stress for Bhandarkars.
Continues the friend, "Initially Madhur was quite disturbed with the state of his mother's health. It was during this duration that his wife and sister were pillars of support as they stayed in the hospital during the day time and attended to his mother. Still, he insisted that he is there during the night at the least."
No wonder, the normally upbeat filmmaker is unusually quiet and physically a bit low over the last few days. However, he is keeping a brave face and doing his best to get his actors flex their facial muscles while enacting comic scenes.
Madhur Bhandarkar was unavailable for comment as he was busy shootingSource: BollywoodHungama.com News | 24 Jul 2010 | 6:08 am Aryan to star opposite papa KhanKing Khan's little cub Aryan is all set to be a movie star! Believe it or not, King Khan's 12 year old son, Aryan has been offered a movie along side dad Shah Rukh Khan.Source: | 24 Jul 2010 | 5:24 am Lamhaa team to start NGO for Kashmiri kids
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 5:24 am Designer Marc Jacobs posed naked for perfume ad
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 5:12 am Kareena's pet dog named Facebook
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 5:01 am John to start football academy
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 4:52 am Gere to come to India for The Double's premiere?India’s most successful Hollywood producer wants to bring star Richard Gere to India for the premiere of his upcoming thriller, The Double. The film is an action thriller that deals with CIA agents, Russian spies and the secret service at the time of the Cold War.Source: | 24 Jul 2010 | 4:47 am Big B to promote Champions League T20 tournament on ESPN
In India, they say that there are just two things people thrive on: Cricket and Bollywood. In a country where 'Cricket is not a game, but a religion' and the legendary man called Amitabh Bachchan is considered as God, one can only imagine what to expect when these two come together!
Amitabh Bachchan has now been signed up to endorse the sports channel ESPN and will be promoting the forthcoming Champions League T20 cricket tournament on the channel. The tournament is going to be held this year in South Africa from Sept 10 onwards. Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore are the three teams from India that will take part in this tournament.
Confirming this news, Big B writes in his blog, "I have been signed on to endorse ESPN for the Champions League Cricket T20 tournament to be held in South Africa in September. And because of paucity of time we had to shoot all the promotional films and stills for print and short seconders for TV and dub it by the evening in order that they are able to release the publicity soon. Thankfully it has all gone off well and I have just completed the dub for what we shot in the morning. But the rush and the speed with which it all had to be done was some kind of a marvel."
With Big B adding his magic touch to this eagerly awaited cricketing extravaganza, the excitement only doubles up.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 24 Jul 2010 | 4:39 am Bones star David Boreanaz sued for sexual harassment
Source: NDTV Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 4:28 am Akshay, Anushka’s Valentine dateThe actors’ Patiala House to release next February, instead of November. Read on for more.Source: | 24 Jul 2010 | 4:27 am Subhash K Jha speaks about Khatta Meetha
First things first. This is not, repeat not, a comedy. Not by any yardstick. For those expecting a typical Priyadarshan-Akshay Kumar comedy Khatta Meetha is not your cup of tee-hee. For those who know there's a more reflective and ruminative side to both the prolific director and the leading man, here's the thing.
Khatta Meetha takes stinging satirical swipes at the epidemic disease of corruption that has taken over the Indian ethos. Tragically the treatment is quite often heavy-handed. But the statement never drowns in the diatribe. Priyadarshan tends to fill up the outer edges with a profusion of incidental characters and over-elaborate gags and jokes that hold themselves in place in a world of unmitigated chaos like De Dana Dan.
Here the clutter and the clamour just make you feel the director needed to respect his own tone of sobriety in this longish tickling treatise on malpractices in the middleclass.
The plot is a bit of a tangle. Akshay Kumar's family of discontented mal-paani-practitioners is a universe of brutish brothers and screechy sisters-in-law, and silently-suffering parents (played by those wonderful actors Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Aroona Irani).
It's a family of corrupt road contractors and initially, Akshay seems the most wickedly immoral of them all. But hang on! As the narrative-at time plodding-moves forward we begin to understand the wacked -out sinister yet satirical, chaotic yet orderly, corrupt yet weirdly-ethical world of Sachin Tichkule.
Here's a character that seems to have been written only for Akshay Kumar. And he gets hold of the 'muddle'-class morality of Tichkule's world with delightful earnestness. Frequently Akshay is exasperating in his efforts to explain why the middleclass is in a state of self-destructive decline. But it isn't the actor to blame. It is the nature of the material offered to the actor.
The domestic and professional world of Scahin Tichkule is not easy to penetrate. Akshay, demonstrating a primetime ripeness in his body language and repertoire of Chaplinesque expressions, enters this wacky wounded world of the exploited and the damned with extraordinary empathy.
Akshay's is a performance that is far more accomplished than it may seem to the popcorn province. He's exasperating in his directness. He's partly a cartoon character, partly an emblem of our times and wholly entertaining in his chaotic comprehension of the inadequacies of world we've inherited from the freedom fighters and brutally disfigured.
But alas. Akshay's character is much much too wordy in his tongue type. The hallmark of Charlie Chaplin's social comment was his silent expressions of protest. Akshay's character and the film on the whole are much too verbose. The characters are constantly talking, as though not speaking would take away the audiences' attention. A film making a social comment didn't have to over-state its case so blatantly.
But the words do not cut into the narrative's basic flow of tongue-in-cheek satire. Some sequences such as the one involving the steamroller and the elephant consume too much footage. The art of understatement eludes this political statement.
Trisha Krishnan wearing chunky ear-rings and severe bureaucratic expressions makes an unusual debut. She is different from the short-skirted hotties. But whether that difference makes a difference in Hindi cinema, time will tell.
Khatta Meetha stands tall in its message of restoring a semblance of moral order in the middleclass. The last half-hour after Sachin Tickule's sister is murdered, is thoroughly gripping. And the fight between Akshay and the corrupt goons in the crowded lanes is chilling in its realism.
Realism is a remotely but decidedly obtainable component in this parodic parable on the rotten fruits of excessively materialistic aspirations in post-Independence India.
Technically polished and many notches superior to Akshay Kumar's other recent entertainers Khatta Meetha conveys that sweet-sour taste of a universe that has rapidly degenerated into absolute self-gratification.
See it for what the film leaves unsaid, though that's hard to do when everyone is ceaselessly talking.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 24 Jul 2010 | 3:46 am 'Khatta Meetha', a satirical swipe at corruptionFirst things first.Source: Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 3:40 am Woman power in Bollywood: 'Aisha' proves a pointProducer, director, screenplay writer, lead actor.Source: Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 3:08 am 35 years on, the 'Sholay' fire still burnsIt drew its inspiration from multiple Hollywood movies but went on to become the quintessential Indian film, perfectly balancing drama and tragedy, romance and violence, comedy and action.Source: Entertainment News | 24 Jul 2010 | 3:01 am Sunny Deol's back problem delays Yamla Pagla Deewana shoot
There seems to be no end to Sunny Deol's troubles. He's back again in bed for a prolonged rest with his chronic back problem. And to compound his woes this time stones in his kidney were also detected.
Director Samir Karnik who's making a family film for and with the Deols entitled Yamla Pagla Deewana is in a fix. Just when he needed to shoot a high-voltage action sequence with Sunny, the actor with a chronic back problem is laid up with a back problem thereby putting a question mark on the action sequence.
Now Karnik has no choice but to push forward the action sequence indefinitely and proceed with the post-production of the film.
Informs Karnik, "Everything except the action sequence is done. Now I'm going ahead with the post-production. I'll wait for Sunny to recover."
That is easier said than done. Along with his back problem, Sunny also had stones in his kidney which he has currently gone to the US to get removed.
Says Karnik, "But for his back problem there's no remedy except complete bed rest. So even after the stones were removed by injection in the US, Sunny is still bedridden until his back is completely healed."
Even then would Sunny be able to perform the stunt for Karnik's film? Says Karnik, "I'll wait. I've planned Ghayal kind of stunts for Sunny with the Ghajini action director Peter Heines. And if he is not up to it, I'll cancel the action sequence. But I'm told after bed rest, Sunny's back will be as good as new."
Sunny Deol's back problem can easily be considered chronic. For many years he has quietly and not so quietly suffering from a chronic back problem.
On many occasions in his career recently, Sunny has been laid off because of his back. This is his fourth enforced holiday due to his back. How long it lasts depends entirely on Nature.
Incidentally, Akshay Kumar also has a chronic back problem which he recently solved with water- therapy treatment in Germany. Shah Rukh Khan too suffers from a bad back.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 24 Jul 2010 | 2:57 am Indudhar hanged himself after murdering wife?The mysterious death of Sandalwood star couple has shocked and created confusion in the Kannada film industry. Everyone is trying to speculate the reason behind their suicide. But the police sources claim that actor Indudhar, whose body was found hanging toSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 24 Jul 2010 | 2:56 am Aryan to star opposite papa Khan - Hindustan Times
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 24 Jul 2010 | 2:54 am The new Anandi has a different charm - Rediff
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 24 Jul 2010 | 2:47 am Dr. Raj Cup Twenty20 Cricket shifted to DavangereDavanagere is becoming the hub of Kannada film activities these days. Several filmmakers are using it as a platform to launch music of their movies. The reason behind this development is that the city has got huge number of movie goers.Source: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 24 Jul 2010 | 2:43 am Subhash K Jha speaks about Khatta MeethaFirst things first. This is not, repeat not, a comedy. Not by any yardstick. For those expecting a typical Priyadarshan-Akshay Kumar comedy Khatta Meetha is not your cup of tee-hee. For those who know there's a more reflective and ruminative sideSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 24 Jul 2010 | 2:19 am Kicha's 11, Lens Kings win in first day SPL matchKicha's 11 and Lens Kings have beaten Thriller Cobras and Legislative Lions respectively in the first day match of Sandalwood Premier League (SPL) 2010 in Dr. Rajkumar Cup Twenty20 Cricket Tournament held at District grounds, Davanagere. The Cricket match was organisedSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 24 Jul 2010 | 2:11 am Salman finds Kangana sweet - Times of India
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 24 Jul 2010 | 1:59 am Sonam is not going West, says Anil Kapoor - NDTV.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 24 Jul 2010 | 1:26 am Food poisoning postpones Elton John’s concertIn recent news, Sir Elton John had to postpone his concert and had food-poisoning is to blame for that. A session of food caused this delay and postponing of the concert. He was to appear and perform at a scheduled concertSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 24 Jul 2010 | 1:12 am Eminem tops Billboard Hot 100Controversial white rapper Eminem will soon be posting the first ever back-to-back Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers chosen from his career. His song ‘Love The Way You Lie’, features Rihanna, is about to hit the No.1 spot on the music charts.The rapperSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 24 Jul 2010 | 1:10 am Mel Gibson is just a liar, says ex Oksana GrigorievaWashington (ANI): Mel Gibson's ex girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva has broken her silence about the extortion claim, saying that the actor is lying. The 40-year-old broke her silence when she encountered paparazzi outside her lawyer's office in Century City, California.She slammed theSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 24 Jul 2010 | 12:58 am Angelina Jolie says she still has a wild sideWashington (ANI): Salt actress Angelina Jolie has admitted that she isn’t completely sane. "There's certainly a side of me that isn't completely ...Sane. Or completely 'even' all the time. We all have our dark sides,” Usmagazine.com quoted her as telling newSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 24 Jul 2010 | 12:53 am Sakudumbam Shyamala opens in 60 theatresMalayalam film Sakudumbam Shyamala starring Kunchacko Boban, Urvashi, and Bhama is releasing in 60 screens all over Kerala. Central pictures, one of the distribution firms of the Malayalam film industry, is distributing the movie, which is said to be a humorousSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 24 Jul 2010 | 12:49 am Lady Gaga spends time at a Cleveland yoga studioAmerican cultural icon Lady Gaga reportedly had a private yoga session in Cleveland (Ohio, USA) before she performed at a sold-out Quicken Loans Arena recently.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 24 Jul 2010 | 12:43 am Review: Khatta Meetha, a satirical swipe at corruption - NDTV.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 24 Jul 2010 | 12:21 am I like only my movies: Aamir Khan - Hindustan Times
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 23 Jul 2010 | 11:57 pm The lyrical assets of film worldGulzar's career spans almost four decades and has won maximum number of filmfare awards for his writing is Gulzar, his poetry has almost become a brand.He has found his alter-ego in Vishal Bhardwaj of late and is again on the roll.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 23 Jul 2010 | 11:31 pm Rashid Irani's Review: Salt - Hindustan Times
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 23 Jul 2010 | 11:31 pm Priyanka Chopra wants to wed a Punjabi manIt is confirmed that the beautiful Priyanka Chopra, wishes to tie the knot with a Punjabi guy. The Bollywood actress who has won several national awards for her acting excellence, says it all about her proverbial ‘dream partner’.She would love toSource: Oneindia.in - Entertainment | 23 Jul 2010 | 11:24 pm Azharuddin denies affair with Jwala Gutta - NDTV.com
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 23 Jul 2010 | 11:03 pm Salt: Angelina Jolie returns as the queen of actionAngelina Jolie's latest action-packed blockbuster, 'Salt', in which Angelina Jolie is playing a CIA agent is a suspense thriller. Salt is being considered as year's one of the better action films.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 23 Jul 2010 | 2:02 pm Salman changes colour! - Times of India
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 23 Jul 2010 | 1:58 pm "Dunno Y..." going to Indian film fest of LondonSanjay Sharma's "Dunno Y.Source: Entertainment News | 23 Jul 2010 | 1:14 pm Colombian Salsa music troupe to perform in DelhiSalsa, the scintillating Latino dance music from Colombia, will set the capital rocking to its raucous beats July 30 to mark 200 years of independence of the South American country.Source: Entertainment News | 23 Jul 2010 | 1:01 pm I like only my movies: Aamir KhanActor-filmmaker Aamir Khan says he enjoys his own movies because they have universal appeal, something that other films lack.Source: Entertainment News | 23 Jul 2010 | 12:46 pm Live Chat: Trisha Krishnan on July 24 at 1330 Hrs IST
She is southern India's yet another import to Bollywood. But this one promises to be totally different. Well, if we were to judge the book by its cover, then, man o' man! Trisha is surely something different. Not only she has what it takes to be a part of the Bolly brigade, but also to reach the Numero Uno spot.
And if the promos of her debut film Khatta Meetha are anything to go by, we announce that the situation for the post of Numero Uno actress in Bollywood has now been taken! Welcome aboard, Trisha!
Bollywood Hungama proudly brings to you Trisha Krishnan exclusively on Celebrity Video Chat section, on Saturday, July 24 at 1330 Hrs IST.Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 23 Jul 2010 | 10:05 am Spotlight on Indian movies at Melbourne film fest"Peepli Live", "Ishqiya" and "Love Sex Aur Dhokha" will be amongst the films screened at the ongoing Melbourne International Film Festival's (MIFF) section Not Quite Bollywood.Source: Entertainment News | 23 Jul 2010 | 8:25 am "My father had tears in his eyes after seeing Dabangg promo" - Sonakshi Sinha
Ok...so I get up late on a Friday. It's 12pm and the first thing I do before I sip my hot cuppa chai is log on to Twitter and Facebook. Cut to Thursday afternoon. When you log in, you see the entire world awake, Bollywood celebrities going ga-ga about the Dabangg promo. From veterans like Satish Kaushik to new comers like Imran Khan, the list was endless. I too send a text message to Sonakshi congratulating her and the promo. She replies in affirmative saying that she will call up once she gets a bit free from her prior commitments. Cut to Friday. It's 12.15pm. I sip my tea and comment on the twitter page of Sonakshi Sinha, "You didn't call. OMG." At 12.16pm, my phone rings and my blackberry signals, 'Sonakshi Sinha calling'. I love Twitter, we all do, don't we? But we all love Sonakshi Sinha too. Yes, it just wasn't the promo which took the tweetiepies by surprise, oh no! It was the fact that the word 'beautiful' had a new meaning and it all changed on a mystic Friday afternoon. Welcome Sonakshi Sinha. Welcome to the world where dreams are sold, welcome the newest of the many Sinha's who've taken our cinema to new heights.
So elated is this beautiful girl, that she spoke her heart out, "I spoke to Rani Mukerji, my favourite actress. I got hundreds of text messages, my Twitter page was all filled up and my mother was keeping track on all of it."
So when asked, what did the eldest of the Sinha member, Mr Shatrughan Sinha thought of the Dabangg promo, Sonakshi answered, "My father and I saw the promo together and instead of me watching the promo, I was looking at him. He had tears in his eyes after seeing the Dabangg promo. He loved it and that for him, was his most emotional moment. For me too."
But it's not only Dabangg which she wants to talk about, the daughter of Shatrughan Sinha is very excited and anxiously waiting for his father's best ever role to come out in RGV's Rakta Charitra. She quotes, "I am eagerly looking forward to Rakta Charitra. I did visit the sets with my mother one day while he was shooting one of the key scenes with Vivek Oberoi. Whatever I saw, I had no words to describe it. It's like sounding too biased but it's still the truth. He is a class apart."
But before we parted ways, I had to ask the debutant, what she thought when people commented on Dabangg to open with a bang at the box office this Eid. "It's obviously going to work well for me as an individual if that's what the trade pundits have predicted. It's going to do even better for the Khans (Arbaaz, Salman) and Shree Ashtavinayak, as we all have had faith in this project right from the day of its inception. Never before has anyone commented so much in advance before a Hindi film's release and that too on networking sites. Thank you Twitter and Facebook."
Now imagine a life without these networking sites. For starters, it's working...and how! And as I write the final words to end this brief but beautiful talk with Sonakshi, two more Bollywood celebrities, Riteish Deshmukh and Kunal Kapoor tweet - "Extremely happy for my friend Arbaaz 'Robinhood Pandey' Khan and Dabangg looks like a Hindi pulp movie. Really looking forward to this one."
I hope Mr Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe are following our Indian 'Robinhood' Pandey. A much needed inspiration for them!Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 23 Jul 2010 | 7:45 am Salman, Sonakshi and Arbaaz at Dabangg party
One look at Dabangg promo and the only thought that comes to our mind is Sallu-Mania is back! Since the unveiling of the promo yesterday, film buffs and Salman fans just can't seem to stop raving about Sallu's antics in it. It's the superstar's towering presence that steals the show.
Well, like in the family, the Khans too had their way of celebrating the success of completion of their dream venture Dabangg. One saw the presence of Arbaaz Khan, alongwith leading lady Sonakshi Sinha and of course Salman Khan. Amongst everybody, the one man who made his presence felt was none other than the Chunky Pandey! Salman posted the pictures of the party on his twitter page recently.
If the pre-release buzz created by the film is anything to go by, then it looks like it will be setting new records at B.O.!Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 23 Jul 2010 | 6:57 am Sonam Kapoor features in M
Sonam Kapoor has never been presented before, like the way she is featured in the current issue of M. If photographs can speak, then, these snaps speak defying all the sound barriers! Sonam, in this issue, talks all about herself. Be it the meaning of her name, till the best part of her job, her alternate profession if she wasn't an actress, her three biggest fears, the fashion designers whom she admires, her dad's favorite films, the most important part of her body and many others.
All in all, Sonam Kapoor is surely the flavour of the season!Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 23 Jul 2010 | 6:32 am Maryada Ramanna - Review - Oneindia
Source: Entertainment - Google News | 23 Jul 2010 | 6:25 am Kathak by Chinese, kathakali by German at global festBharatnatyam by a Malaysian and a South African, kathak by a Chinese dancer and a German performing the kathakali dance-drama form - eight exponents of Indian classical dance cutting across religious and geographical divides showcase their talent in a three-day international festival here on Aug 2-4.Source: Entertainment News | 23 Jul 2010 | 6:17 am Ang Lee's retrospective in Delhi from July 25The Directorate of Film Festivals will host acclaimed director Ang Lee?s Retrospective Film Festival from today till 25 here.Source: Entertainment News | 23 Jul 2010 | 6:14 am I'm itching to direct: Sonam KapoorThe gauche, overweight youngster who started her Bollywood career as director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's assistant is the graceful star well on her way to success.Source: Entertainment News | 23 Jul 2010 | 5:19 am Katrina Kaif's name associated with fake scandalous videoShe is pretty upset with her association with a scandalous video. Celebrity names are a crowd puller, hence the miscreants have used Katrina's name to promote the video having explicit content.Source: merinews: Entertainment News Articles | 23 Jul 2010 | 3:29 am "Twitter has caused problems to people" - Akshay Kumar
Khatta Meetha releases today and Akshay Kumar is sounding as calm as he has ever been. No pre-release blues, no anxiety, no worried lines on face. Even as he battles mini controversies around his visit to RK Laxman, Priyadarshan's apparent displeasure around the film being totally sold as a comedy and detractors not quite giving him or his film Housefull the due credit of being one of the biggest successes of 2010 so far, Akshay is merrily smiling it all away. In the second part of an exclusive conversation with Joginder Tuteja, Akshay Kumar calmly comments on all the controversies surrounding him and how he is happy to leave them all behind and cherish a life which, in his own words, couldn't have been more beautiful.
Priyadarshan, in a recent interview, said that the film is more of a drama rather than a comedy. Is that a fact?Absolutely. There is a lot of drama as this is no happy-go-lucky slapstick comedy. This film has more emotions than I have performed in a long time. Priyadarshan has made a wonderful movie and people from all walks of life will be able to appreciate it. Well, as long as they have a heart that is and a funny bone (smiles).
Not every film that Priyan or I do is a comedy
He also seemed to be upset about the fact that the film is being sold entirely as a comedy. Did you have a discussion with him around this?
It's very hard to make people understand that not every movie that either I do or Priyadarshan does has to be a comedy. He has every right to feel upset. This is his movie and he wants people to walk in knowing what they are going in for. Everyone knows that there is nothing more disappointing than paying to see a movie that doesn't fulfil you. When I want to see an action packed film, I expect to see some action and not come out crying without knowing. Believe me, Khatta Meetha is deep and funny and common and dramatic.
From the economics standpoint, there is a belief that Khatta Meetha has been made at a very reasonable budget and also sold at a price lesser than regular Akshay starrers. Also, because you are also the producer of the film, the film looks like a winner commercially. Do you wish to detail on the economics part here?
There was no need to make a high budget movie. It's about a common man and common everyday problems. It's not an Avatar or Blue kind of a film. We are not trying to change cinema with this one; we just want to tell a story and make you feel things that you haven't felt for a while. The economics of the film are simple. What we needed visually, we got and paid for. We sold it for what was right and the rest isn't written yet.
On a different note, even though Housefull turned out to be a good earner for all, not many have still been giving credit to the film for what it deserves. Isn't it disheartening?
Oh how I love your different notes (winks). To be honest, nothing is a shock to me anymore. It doesn't matter what you do or what you prove, it is never enough, so why fight the inevitable. I witnessed the rapture inside theatres all over Mumbai, London and Canada. I had proof enough of how much people enjoyed Housefull; that's all I need. And that's all Sajid Khan needed. People will never let you walk up the mountain of Bollywood without the impossible struggle. It's what we call human nature unfortunately and I'm incredibly used to it by now.
Life couldn't have been better
Of course one can guess so. After all there is this entire controversy around the RK Laxman visit as well. Really, that seems to be in a really bad taste, isn't it? After all it seemed like a harmless visit.
I really don't want to get into it. What was said was extremely distasteful. Yes, you are right, but I am not going to delve into it. I was officially invited to visit Mr RK Laxman by his wife and the Times Of India. Even they feel bad for the outcome of such an innocent visit. But as always I can't, in fact no one can stop people from saying or writing what they want. Also, it's not the first time that Twitter has been the cause of problems. All one can do is deal with it, and move on.
In such a situation, it was none other than Amitabh Bachchan who supported you. That must have been a humbling experience?
I know. You couldn't imagine how very touched and humbled I was. I was actually shooting in Manali at that time and wasn't really in touch with the world. I had to be told about the situation. Still, for Mr. Bachchan to stand his ground and support our fraternity yet again is just inspiring. I have said this for years that our entire industry actors/media/reporters/producers - everyone would be so much better off if we all had a touch of Mr Bachchan's dignity. He is one of India's greatest role models and no one can deny that fact.
Finally, is life beautiful for Akshay Kumar?
Life couldn't have been better (smiles). I just had a wonderful month long holiday with my wife Tina and my son Aarav with our good friends from New York. I have one of my favourite movies releasing today, my son was just awarded his green belt in karate, me and my wife have just opened our office together in the very building we live in, and I've just wrapped Action Replayy. I am a very happy man right now.Source: BollywoodHungama.com Features | 23 Jul 2010 | 3:08 am "My second Hindi film is love story with me and Prateik in central roles" - Trisha
Another South Indian screen-queen Trisha Krishnan is all set to invade Bollywood. And this Tamilian follows the trend of making her debut with a leading man far older than she. After the 43-year old Akshay Kumar, 27-year old Trisha's co-star is going to be the 24-year old Prateik Babbar.
Says Trisha, "The second Hindi film is a love story with just me and the guy in central roles. It's a subject that can't go wrong. I've already done the Tamil version of this film Vinaaithandi Varuvaaya. Now the same director Gautham Menon is remaking it into Hindi with Prateik and me. I think we should be kick-starting it in August. I am excited because unlike Khatta Meetha where I don't have a central part, this one has a central role for me."
Trisha sounds wiser than her years when she says, "It was important for me to line up a second Hindi film before the first was released."
More blunt talk from this unusual beauty? Coming up! Trisha actually confesses she had her lines in Hindi dubbed in her first film. When you tell her that Akshay Kumar said she spoke Hindi well, Trisha laughs it off. "Did he say that? I must thank him. The truth is, I was a bit nervous about doing my own lines in Hindi. I've done so many Telugu films. But I don't know the language at all. I know the grammar in Hindi but I can barely manage to speak it."
'Toh aapki Hindi achchi hai?' I ask. 'Han Achchi hoon (sic.),' she replies.
Trisha continues, "In Chennai no one talks in Hindi. I was a little worried about my Hindi since my character in Khatta Meetha is from a fluent Hindi-speaking belt. So both Priyan and I decided I wouldn't dub my own lines. But it's not a problem. I know I'll soon master it. It's simpler than the South Indian languages."
Trisha is a 27-year veteran of Tamil and Telugu films. "I was so busy doing Tamil and Telugu films that I didn't get time to consider Hindi films although offers did come. Also I wanted to do something that would give me a wide audience. I chose Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar. It can't get any more massy than that. Their combination always works."
Trisha is candid enough to admit she doesn't have that much to do in Khatta Meetha. "It isn't a heroine-centric role. But I felt it would give me visibility. Look, I may be known in the South. But in Bollywood no one knows me....not yet. I just wanted to be seen. When I started in the South I did smaller parts with big heroes. That always worked for me. One needs to be a part of hit films especially at the start."
Priyadarshan is Trisha's Christopher Columbus. "He launched me in the South 7 years ago. Now he's launching me in Hindi in Khatta Meetha. He had promised he'd launch me in the right vehicle. In five minutes I knew I wanted to do Khatta Meetha. I want to first make sure I establish myself in Hindi before I do more experimental roles. This is the trend I followed in the South as well."
On working with Akshay she says, "In the Khatta Meetha unit, Akshay was the only person I didn't know. And he wasn't just my co-star he was also my producer. He was really sweet. Priyan and Akshay are by now like family to one another. They made sure I was comfortable. This was one of the most professional units I've worked with."
She's pretty cool about the age difference. After all she's currently doing a Tamil film in Europe where her co-star is the 55-plus Kamal Haasan.
Trishna says "I've been away from home for almost forty days. Though I've my mom with me I do miss home. But the shooting with Kamal Sir and Maddy is great fun."
Trisha is ready to settle down in Mumbai. "It would depend on the offers. I've always had relatives in Mumbai. I've also done a lot of ads in Mumbai. Though my family won't move out of Chennai, I am hardly in one city any way."Source: BollywoodHungama.com News | 23 Jul 2010 | 2:35 am
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