Articles: Kareena Kapoor - Page 24

Movie Preview: RACE

Banner: Dharma Productions
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, John Abraham, Kareena Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh
Director: Soham Shah
Producer: Karan Johar
Music Director: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Cinematography: Santosh Thundiyil
Dialogues: Anurag Kashyap
Choreography: Farah Khan

Karan Johar has announced his next film which will be directed by Soham Shah, who had earlier directed 'Kaal' for the same production house. The film has been titled 'Race' and stars Sanjay Dutt, John Abraham, Riteish Deshmukh and Kareena Kapoor in pivotal roles.

The musical trio of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy has been signed to compose music for the film. The same set of music directors had earlier composed music for Dharma Productions's Kal Ho Naa Ho and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.

Javed Akhtar has been signed to pen the lyrics for the film. Farah Khan will choreograph and direct the dance sequences in the film. Apart from this, Anurag Kashyap will write the dialogues for the film and Santosh Thundiyil of 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Waqt: A Race against Time' and 'Krrish' fame will handle the cinematographic department.

Soham Shah's directorial debut 'Kaal' was an unusual entry in the film making era. The film was based on wild life and spirit. After his innovative stint, the young director will don the captain's cap yet again for a bigger 'Race'.

Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham will share the silver screen yet again after Sanjay Gupta's Zinda. Their performance was quivering in Zinda. The film also stars Kareena Kapoor which will mark her comeback in Dharma Productions after Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham. She was the first choice for the role of Naina Catherine Kapur in Nikhil Advani's directed 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' but due to money issues, opted out of the movie. Preity Zinta later did the role.

I share a great relationship with Kareena's mom: Shahid Kapur


It's become a journo norm nowadays.. and a convenient one for both sides. Sms a message, then the recipient messages back.. a time is fixed.. and in this case, the interviewee is on the dot when he calls back.

The sound is crystal clear, no interruptions.. though one can imagine the relative cool weather at the hill town he's shooting in right now.

Shahid Kapur sounds youngish, spontaneous.. though he does pause before questions that he feels are prying.. mercifully, he's not the sort to say, "Can we avoid that please?" He does his job, I do mine. The evidence:

Hello. From the look of things, you have cut down on your public appearances with Kareena Kapoor. Is that because, as a couple, you dread an overkill of publicity?
Kareena and I love going out. But when it comes to standalone bytes or quotes which have nothing to do with my film, I prefer not to talk at all.. in any case, we have both been out of town.. so where's the question of making public appearances?

You must have heard this. When Randhir Kapoor was asked to suggest a pet name for you on Koffee with Karan, he said, "Dodo."
(Laughs) Did he say that? That's so sweet of him. The Kapoor family is known for its humour.. particularly the one-liners.

Is it true that Kareena's mother, Babita, doesn't approve of your relationship with her?
(Sternly) I don't talk about these things. Why should she have a problem with me? I have great respect for every member of Kareena's family. In fact, I share a great relationship with her mom.

Your dance guru Shiamak Davar says that you should have stuck with him for a while.. instead of branching out as an actor. Is there any problem between Shiamak and you?
Not at all. I take that as a compliment. It's really kind of him to think that I should have been with him.

Okay, I hear you had a blast in Manali. (Laughs)
Kind of.. and right now it's pretty beautiful in Shimla. Kareena and I have been shooting for Imtiaz's (Ali) film for a month now. We've shot in Manali, Khandala and Patiala.. soon we'll be off to Jaipur. It's a road film.. that's why we've been hopping from one place to another.

Your screen chemistry with Kareena hasn't worked in three films. Isn't Imtiaz Ali's film a gamble for you then?
After Fida and 36 Chinta Town, I realised our pairing was bogged down by great expectations. I didn't anticipate such a strong reaction to our screen pair. That's when we sat back and allowed the storm to sweep by. It's after much deliberation that we signed this film.

Are you doing Raj Kumar Santoshi's film which pairs you with your father (Pankaj Kapur)?
I met Rajji. I'd love to work with him. But the ball is in my father's court. If he gives his go-ahead, the project should start soon.


What about editor Bela Sehgal's first directorial film with Rani Mukherji?
I don't know who the heroine is, but I can confirm that I'm doing Bela's film.

Can you tell me about Aziz Mirza's film with Vidya Balan?
It's a breezy love story, set mostly abroad.

Isn't it strange that your new bunch of films cast you opposite heroines who are older than you?
(Laughs out aloud) I never thought of that. I don't bother about such things. It's my director's prerogative to cast whoever he or she wants to.

Chalo, okay. Now what on earth are you doing in the star-packed Fool N Final?
I do have a substantial role. I did the film purely for emotional reasons.. for the director. Ahmed (Khan) has been a friend since years. And see, multi-starrers have clicked in the last few years. The advantage is that its success or failure can be shared by all the actors.. unlike solo hero films.

Look at Omkara.. there were so many actors..and all of them acted so brilliantly. (Laughs) I'd give a leg and a foot for Saif Ali Khan's role.

I can't imagine you playing Langda Tyagi. You look too young for the role.
You may be right.. perhaps after a few years, I could play such a role.

Do your boyish, chocolate looks sometimes limit you as an actor?
Not really.. other actors can't do what I can...and vice versa.

After Vivaah, is Sooraj Barjatya repeating you in his next film?
I do wish and hope that he casts me. But it's unlikely that he'll make a film in the near future. He takes time to make his movies. But let me wait patiently for his next film.. I'll call him then, (ha ha) I'll make a 1000 calls if I have to.

After Vivaah, you've become very pricey, going to the extent of hiking your price to Rs 1.5 crore a film. True?
(Laughs) Sorry dude, I don't discuss my price in print.. anyway, whatever I get after tax is very little. No yaar, just kidding.. I'm charging the price that I deserve.

For my first film (Ishq Vishk), I was paid less than Rs 1 lakh. At least, I'm in a better financial position today. Right now, my focus is not on making money.. it's on choosing the right projects.

Talk is that you've replaced Shah Rukh Khan in Aziz Mirza's camp and Salman Khan in Sooraj Barjatya's. Have you heard about that?
Yeah, I have. Someone told me about this.. and I could only laugh in response. I can never ever dream of replac ing the two actors that you've named. Com pared to them, I'm an under-achiever.

Also, I don't think there are camps in our business. (Laughs) Aren't they just tents of cloth in which people stay outdoors? No seriously, 'campism' is a media-created word. For some, it may mean a com fort zone.

If a director and actor like Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, have a com fort level, that's great. It's like in cricket.. if the opening pair of batsmen are getting in the runs, why should they be changed?

No Laxmi for Boney!
Friday, May 25, 2007 20:58 IST

The last few years have not been the best of times for Boney Kapoor. When sources insisted that steel magnate Laxmi Mittal was about step in to bail Boney out of the rut, we did think it was possible.

But the producer is quick to negate the story. Boney, who is Los Angeles at the moment, told us, "No this is absolutely false. There is no truth to these rumours."

Boney has not been able to release some films even after the success of 'No Entry' due to losses incurred after repeated earlier flops.

Naturally there are lots of expectations from his next venture - the Shahid Kapoor starrer 'Milenge Milenge'.

So when is the movie releasing? "Well, let's talk about this and anything else after I return to India," he ended. (contributed by Noyon Jyoti Parasara)

Finally we can stop believing in all the rumors that are going out these days ...that's great!! can't wait!!

'Making Of Omkara' on the shelves

We all have savored Vishal Bharadwaj's "Omkara" and now it is time to saor the making of Omkara. It was easily one of the best movies in 2006 and probably the best movie to be written a book on. Stephen Alter, the author known for his nostalgia-filled writing, is the author of this memorable description. He is also Tom Alter's First Cousin.

Steve refers that Hindi Cinema is not new to him, "Earlier Govind Nihalani gave me the opportunity to write the English dialogues of Tamas. This was different. Here I got to see how an idea is mounted on celluloid. I really liked Vishal's pursuit for perfection. Look the way he managed to mould the regular Bollywood stars to give once in the lifetime kind of performances. To make the book even more interesting I have included interviews of some of my favourites in the industry like Mahesh Bhatt, Shekhar Kapur, Javed Akhtar, M.F. Hussain and Prahlad Kakkar talking about how Bollywood has shaped up over the years. I wanted to include Karan Johar as well, but could not catch hold of him." The book will also have 16 Black and White stills from the film. So you movie buffs over there catch hold of the book before the stock ends.

lajjo has not been shelved: AR Rahman EnlargeAR Rahman has also composed the music of Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodha Akbar.
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His month-long U S tour kicks off on Sunday. Before whizzing off, A R Rahman was in town for quick chats with the media. Some questions:
News is that you've teamed up with Subhash Ghai again after Kisna.
Nothing like that. We were working on a movie called Motherland. It didn't happen because he had date hassles with his hero. But we've been in touch. Now, he's come up with Yuvraj.. which I've accepted.

You're judging the Tamil music band hunt show Oo La La?
Yes, with Vasundhara Das but it's not on a national level. Right now, we're only doing 20 episodes. It's restricted to Tamil Nadu. If it clicks there, we'll try to push it to the national level. Large-scale ventures are possible only if there's time.

What's the news on your music for the stage show, Lord of the Rings?
The preview is on in London already. It releases on June 19. The preview has drawn positive reviews. I'm quite overwhelmed with that because I've worked on it for quite a while.

After asking her to sing for me for 17 years, my sister did just that in Sivaji. I don't think I'll have to wait that long for Himesh. It's on the cards. It should happen soon. You're suddenly into several anthems.
(Laughs) No, no, it's just that lots of companies approach me for anthems. The idea has to connect with me instantly, as with Pray for me Brother. Taj is aimed at creating awareness to get the Taj into the list of the Seven Wonders of the World. Anthems seem to find me.

Is Himesh Reshammiya singing for you?
(Laughs) Of course, I remember he wanted to sing for me. After asking her to sing for me for 17 years, my sister did just that in Sivaji. I don't think I'll have to wait that long for Himesh. It's on the cards. It should happen soon.

What went wrong between Farah Khan and you for the music of Om Shanti Om?
She approached me for her film. I placed a condition for 33 per cent of the music rights. She refused that and the deal fell through. I forgot about it but I don't believe she has. I can't believe she's gone on record saying all kinds of things about me.

After that, everyone who comes to me is mentally prepared for my terms and conditions. These terms are followed all over the world, so why not here?

Sivaji seems to have generated quite a bit of buzz in Chennai.
Thank you. After a long time, I've composed music, which is completely commercial. It's quite peppy and entertaining with all the variety you can think of.

Why have you done fewer Hindi films?
(Smiles) I don't think so. I've done quite a few Hindi films. In fact people down South complain that I do more Hindi films than South Indian films.

Lajjo has been shelved.What happens to the compositions you've done for it?
Excuse me! The film has not been shelved. You can't take frivolous news reports and the Internet as your Bibles. No official word hasbeenissued.The film is on. I've finished 80 per cent of its score yesterday. Mani (Ratnam) and I worked on some details of its music last evening.
Don't you think you've become synonymous with period Hindi films?
I love doing history-oriented projects. They give me a broader canvas, whether it's Lagaan, Mangal Pandey or Jodha Akbar.

Aren't there 12 songs in Jodha Akbar?
Ooof! Who told you? There are only six songs in the film.

A qawwali is already being talked about. Really?
That's good news for me. But I can't officially talk about it right now.

What's next?
(Smiles) Mr Ghai's on my platter and Aamir Khan's Gajini.

Kareena Kapoor in a love story with Harman
20th May 2007 21.23 IST
By ApunKaChoice

The stories of 'cold war' between Kareena Kapoor and Harman Baweja can bite the dust.

Kareena had upset Harman and his father, filmmaker Harry Baweja, when she had walked out of their film Love Story 2050 after shooting a few scenes. The movie will be Harman's launch pad and is being directed by Harry.

Kareena's departure from the project did give a jolt to the movie's progress. But Harman's good friend Priyanka Chopra was promptly signed in to take Kareena's place in the film.

Ever since there have been talks and gossips of strained equation between Kareena and Harman.

But now, Kareena has reportedly agreed to act with Harman in a TIPS movie that will be directed by Mohit Suri . The film, yet untitled, will be a romantic story.

Kareena is quite an admirer of Mohit Suri's work in films like Zeher , Kalyug and Woh Lamhe .

Bebo also says she has no problems working with Harman. She also clarifies that there never was any kind of strain between them.