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| John Abraham |
Don't be surprised if you see a leaner John Abraham run across Bandra Bandstand on an early morning.
The actor is also set to undergo extremely tough Shaolin exercises that promotes body stamina and metabolism rate under the supervision of a grandmaster from southern Shaolin.
It's a part of the actor's preparation for his forthcoming UTV film Football where he essays the role of an arrogant UK-based Indian soccer player.
The right look
Says the actor, "I need to attain different levels of fitness before appearing as a soccer player on celluloid. An average footballer runs 12 miles a day.
Also, as a soccer player I cannot be overtly bulky and sport a leaner look, which has led me to follow a separate regime. With the help of my personal trainer Kanishka Sharma, I have got a routine in place. Let me tell you these Shaolin exercises are very tough."
We hear that director Vivek Agnihotri has also incorporated Shaolin skills in soccer. The actors will display a few such skills on the field. Says Agnihotri, "My film isn't an action flick. But there are street brawls and of course, the players will be seen exhibiting a few antics on the field as well. John and the entire team will be training for that before we hit the floors in January."
Adds Delhi-based martial arts expert Kanishka Sharma, who was also the fight choreographer for Farhan Akhtar's Don, "In the coming weeks, I'll be training John in Shaolin light foot exercises called yijin jing. His lower back is a little stiff as well and for that he needs to train his tendons. My grandmaster Sitta Wang will be flying in from southern Shaolin to guide us and will be there with us on location."
Soccer prem
It's a lesser-known fact that Abraham had aspirations to take up soccer as his career before enrolling for his management studies. Says the actor, "It's true that I used to play a lot of soccer. But I gave it up for my MBA.
Interestingly, my parents encouraged me to take up soccer. But I decided otherwise thinking about the poor resources and facilities for the game in our country." He believes that the film will only provide a platform to the growing soccer culture among youngsters today.
"Today the youth are following soccer very closely, especially the FA Premier League. There're strong supporters of Chelsea and Liverpool supporters in the country. Post the release of this film I want to see every kid with a football."
Dhoom barabar Dhoom
He has quit the Yash Raj Films camp and joined the Ashtavinayak banner. Director Sanjay Gadhvi's Dhoom 2, releases this Friday. Here, he talks about what he calls a classical sequel. Read on...
Sanjay Gadhvi
Dhoom actors were ordered to lose weight?
Physical fitness is important when you are wearing costumes with visual impact. I needed super fit actors to make that sexy, hot impact. I needed the actors to look their best in what. Power yoga and gymming only added to that look.
In D2, the action unfolds across countries…
Dhoom 2 has been shot in Namibia, South Africa, Rio de Janeiro, Goa and Mumbai. I have finished all my pages on my passport travelling to and fro to these places.
Will there be a Dhoom 3?
That is mere speculative talk. I have finished my three-film (Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, Dhoom and Dhoom 2) contract with Yash Raj. As far as I know there is nothing on that front.
About your project with Ashtavinayak...
They have signed me on and there is nothing at the moment. Now, I am still looking at a new menu.
Kabir doesn't figure in D2?
Dhoom ends with Kabir falling into the water. That was his end. The sequel needed a new story so we could not continue with the same set of characters in the sequel.
Does D2 begin where Dhoom ends?
It is a different episode of Jai and Ali. The ball sets rolling again with a new case and characters and storytelling. Dhoom has become a brand, so viewers know what to expect — action, comedy and hot bods.
Night owl
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| Hanif Hilal and Pooja Bedi |
The duo are spotted at almost every bash in town.
We all know Pooja is a party animal and to affirm it she has been spotted wearing a h-u-g-e owl pendant around her neck. Is it her way of keeping awake all night long like the owl?
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| Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao |
It was a working birthday for Kiran Rao, a few days ago.
Hubby Aamir Khan is busy with his production, Sitare Zameen Par, which is being shot at Panchgani.
So it was an on-the-sets affair with the cast and crew at Khan's palatial old-world-charm home at Panchgani.
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| Daler Mehndi |
Just prior to the launch event of SAB's reality show, Fame X, at a Phoenis Mills nightspot, we saw Fame X judge Daler Mehndi tucking into burgers. What was intriguing about this quick munch, was that the king of bhangra was seated in a seafood restaurant and chomping on the burgers.
This eaterie certainly does not have Big Macs on its menu, but considering the Rang De Basanti singer is no fish lover, they let him be, even allowing him to dig into food from another restaurant! Haiyyo Rabba!
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| Paresh Rawal |
Paresh is Anurag's Gabbar
On his personal blog, Anurag Kashyap rants about finally finding the right guy to play the role of a character with the most innovative name — Shri shri prakash guru ghantal baba bangali sealdah wale. In Kashyap's words, Paresh plays a "a non-Kathiawadi, non-comic devil from North India."
He mentions that this is the same role for which he tried to chase everyone from Big B to Irrfan Khan. He also writes about John performing a 14-page long scene where he needed to look disturbed. The actor apparently stayed awake for 48 hours at stretch to get the look right.
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| Gul Panag |
Gul's extended family
Here's another house hunter on the prowl. Well, Gul Panag intends to shift into a bigger apartment with her pooches, Milo and Mila.
Presently, the two beagles are scampering in and around the actress' beau, Rishi's sprawling bungalow in Delhi.
The actress informs, "Mila is the new addition to my family. Milo turned a father recently and Rishi's pet turned a mommy. I wanted to keep one of the puppies.
Mila is about two months old. Hopefully, I should get them here sometime early next year."
No comparisons for Rekha
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| Rekha in Yatra |
La Re has been snapping at people these days. What's bugging her? The comparisons between her character of Lajwanti in Yatra and Ameeran in Muzaffar Ali's Umrao Jaan.
She stresses, "Lajwanti of Yatra has no similarities with Ameeran of Umrao Jaan. I do not like repeating myself. I have reached a stage in my career where I opt for offbeat characters that have no similarities with my previous performances. Both Umrao Jaan and Lajwanti are the writer's creations.
Whilst Umrao Jaan belongs to the late medieval period, Lajwanti is a contemporary character with lots of emotions and certain shades. Lajwanti is a character of flesh and blood and director Gautam Ghose has made me subtly underplay like I have never done before." Rekha underplaying… Maybe Sushmita Sen will follow... we live in hope.
RAZA'S BOLLYWOOD
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Q What would you call the cast of the film if Adnan Sami and Guddi Maruti played the lead roles in it?
A "Broad"cast.
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