bollywood gossip

Amitabh Bachchan apologises for smoking poster...

Indo-Asian News Service

Panaji, Jan 10 (IANS) Superstar Amitabh Bachchan Tuesday tendered a written apology after receiving a legal notice for featuring on a film's poster with a cigar in his hand.

"I am deeply apologetic of the advertisement that has hurt the sentiments of the people at large and organisations such as yours," Bachchan said in a letter to the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), the anti-tobacco group that had served him the notice last week.

NOTE secretary Shekar Salkar, a Goa-based cancer surgeon, had served the notice for violating Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act of 2003 as promos of Bachchan's movie "Family" feature him with a cigar.

"Bachchan, being the icon that he is in India, is bound to have an indelible influence on youth," Salkar had said. "This was the only consideration that prompted us to act and serve him the notice."

In his letter, Bachchan said that he had no knowledge of the publicity campaign.

"I have made a note of anti-tobacco legislation and informed my producers and told them to take immediate steps so that no such violation takes place as far as I am concerned," he said.

The actor further said that he had not touched wine or cigarettes for the past 30 years except for film shots.

'Family' - underworld drama about bonds and conflict...

Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, (IANS) Rajkumar Santoshi, one of Bollywood's most versatile directors, is ready with his latest action film, "Family - Ties Of Blood" starring Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar.

Santoshi's second film with Bachchan after the critically acclaimed multistarrer cop drama "Khakee" releases this Friday.

"Family" brings together Bachchan and Akshay Kumar for the seventh time. They appeared together in - "Ek Rishta", "Aankhen", "Khakee", "Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Sathiyo", "Khakee" and "Waqt: Race Against Time".

The director has not given any mega hit in recent times and is banking upon Bachchan to bail him out.

"Family" is an underworld drama laced with emotions and is said to be one of the most exhilarating thrillers of the year. It has Bachchan playing a cynical gangster and Akshay Kumar a chef with his own catering van. The story revolves around them and their families who live side by side.

The story goes like this -

Continue reading "'Family' - underworld drama about bonds and conflict..."

Aishwarya: All set to ooze sex appeal!

By Madhureeta Mukherjee

If you've been wondering where Aishwarya Rai has disappeared to after flooring everyone with her Kajra Re number, here's the low down. The actress has just completed shooting for JP Dutta's film Umrao Jaan in Jaipur and is now set to zoom off for a schedule for Dhoom 2.

From what we hear the actress has made up her mind to show her detractors and competitors what sex appeal is all about – if one goes by her character and attire in the latter film. "Ash is wearing sexy clothes in the sequel to Dhoom – from cat suits to minis. But she's not wearing a bikini like some sections of the media reported. She's worked on her body and she's looking gorgeous. She's going to teach the other actresses what it means to be sexy," claimed an insider close to the actress. Well, with that kind of resolve, we think the competition is already running for cover!

Source: www.indiatimes.com

Hrithik Roshan has lot at stake with 'Krrish' ...

By Arpana, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) As Hrithik Roshan turned 32 Tuesday, his fans braced for a rocking comeback by the actor who has deliberately been out of circulation for more than a year.

Hrithik has just wrapped up his home production "Krrish" which is to release in June or July and is busy with other projects - "Dhoom 2" and "Jodha-Akbar", his secretary Ashok Vashodia told IANS.

His hibernation was a planned move. After delivering several flops, the actor decided to play safe and do one film at a time like his colleague Aamir Khan.

But Aamir's strategy didn't work as was evident from the failure of his last release "Mangal Pandey" where he resurfaced after a gap of four years. Hence, many are wondering if it's advisable for Hrithik to stay away from the limelight, especially when his competitors are moving up speedily.

His contemporary Abhishek Bachchan, who appeared with him as a second fiddle in Sooraj Barjatya's flop flick "Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon", has grown by leaps and bounds and created a niche for himself by giving hits like "Bunty Aur Babli" and "Bluffmaster".

Continue reading "Hrithik Roshan has lot at stake with 'Krrish' ..."

'Shikhar' director upset with media ...

By Manissha Despaande, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) Director John Mathew Matthan, whose second film "Shikhar" met with a poor response at the box office, is upset over the media attack on his film.

"A few leading publications tried to rip apart the film. One newspaper went to the extent of giving it half a star. It was like assassinating the film. It appeared to be a very calculated attempt to finish the film," Bollywood Trade quoted him as saying.

Trade pundits attribute the film's failure to its release date, Dec 31, but Matthan explains he had no option other than releasing it on the stipulated day.

"It was solely subject to theatre availability. I had earlier planned a Dec 16 release but I wasn't getting the theatre bookings," he informed.

There was talk that he was contemplating trimming the second half of the film after the first three days but Matthan denies it.

"A few of my friends in the trade did suggest that I edit the film but I felt it was a bit too late in the day to make changes," he said.

Meanwhile, his friends have suggested he seek tax-exemption for the film.

Continue reading "'Shikhar' director upset with media ..."

Celebrity Interview: Sanjay Leela Bhansali ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Jan 9 (IANS) Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Black" has been selected by Time magazine's influential critic Richard Corliss as one of the 10 best films of 2005 - and the filmmaker is extremely elated.

"It is a great victory for Indian cinema and all my cast and crew. It feels very comforting," an exultant said.

Corliss, citing his reasons for choosing "Black", had written: "This is an unusual film for India... the ultimate Bollywood love story."

"I feel extremely reassured. It feels as though my hard work has paid off," Bhansali told IANS.

The others in the list include Werner Herzog's "The White Diamond" and "Grizzly Man", Ingmar Bergman's "Saraband", Fernando Meirelles' "The Constant Gardener" and Rob Marshall's "Memoirs Of A Geisha".

Excerpts from the interview:

Continue reading "Celebrity Interview: Sanjay Leela Bhansali ..."

The second coming of John Mathew Matthan ...

By Priyanka Khanna, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, (IANS) The verdict is in - yet another second-time director has failed to live up to the standards set by his debut.

Filmmaker John Mathew Matthan's "Shikhar" has been panned by critics, and according to the first week's collections, it has bombed at box-office as well.

Matthan, who bowled over the Hindi film industry with his critically acclaimed and commercially successful debut "Sarfarosh" (1999) that starred Aamir Khan, is in for a setback with his second outing.

Though the Ajay Devgan-Shahid Kapur starrer is a sincere endeavour, its narrative is too preachy, say critics. The fact that the film was advertised as the second movie by Matthan made matters worse.

Matthan joins the not-so-envied club of directors who have tasted defeat in their much hyped second coming. Sujoy Ghosh and his latest venture "Home Delivery" top this list.

The film starring Vivek Oberoi, Boman Irani, Ayesha Takia and Mahima Choudhary was among the last few releases of 2005. Though its sleek promos fetched it good initials, the film could not sustain interest.

In a recent poll, "Home Delivery" was voted the worst film of 2005. For the maker of the laugh-riot "Jhankaar Beats" in 2003, the absolute rejection of the film was a surprise.

Continue reading "The second coming of John Mathew Matthan ..."

Celebrity Interview: Ekta Kapoor ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) The ever-forthright Ekta Kapoor has no qualms about admitting she had a minor scuffle with Sony Entertainment - or its head honcho Tarun Katial to be precise.

"I was rather annoyed with Tarun. They had left out my soap 'Kkusum' from the invitation card of their party celebrating their successful soaps. Though Tarun said it was an oversight, I thought it was a deliberate attempt to push our 'Kkusum' hastily out of sight," Ekta told IANS in an interview.

"Come on! Just because the soap was winding up it didn't mean it shouldn't have got a decent send-off."

The minor fracas is now forgotten. And the workaholic TV tycoon is now working on her new show - a TV gossip magazine called "Kandy Floss" for Sony.

Giving the details of the format for the first time, Ekta says: "We've never really had a gossip-and-information show about TV on TV before. Also Balaji Telefilms hasn't really done much non-fiction...though we did do the Sunita Menon show on Zoom, which was very successful. But, yes, 'Kandy Floss' is a first for us. And we're excited."

Besides a regular female anchor, "Kandy Floss" will have an animation creature called Kandy who'll take viewers through the party-gossip-info circuit on television.

Continue reading "Celebrity Interview: Ekta Kapoor ..."

Abhishek stepping into dad's shoes ...

By Nidhi Pathak and Nitin Sethi, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) The year 2005 truly belonged to the Bachchans. Dad Amitabh ruled with major hits while son Abhishek won the title of 'The Entertainer of the Year' from a major television channel.

In 2006, Bachchan junior is all set to woo audiences with a number of releases like "Umrao Jaan", "Dhoom 2" and "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna," reports Bollywood Trade.

Crowned the most successful entertainer by CNN-IBN news channel, Abhishek kick-started 2005 by powerful performances in "Dus", "Sarkar", "Bunty Aur Bubbly" and "Antar Mahal" and cameo roles in films like "Salaam Namaste" and "Ek Ajnabee".

He not only did a variety of roles last year but made viewers dance to his tunes in "Dus" and "Bluffmaster." He has also sung a rap 'Right Here, Right Now', making female fans swoon over him.

Continue reading "Abhishek stepping into dad's shoes ..."

Movie Review: Jawani Diwani ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Film: "Jawani Diwani"; Starring Emraan Hashmi, Celina Jaitley, Hrishita Bhatt, Mahesh Manjrekar; Directed by Manish Sharma; Rating: *

What a phoney start to the New Year! Don't even think of Narendra Bedi's "Jawani Diwani" from the 1970s where we had the wonderful Jaya Bhaduri and Randhir Kapoor whipping up a buoyant beach-party ambience, thanks to the wonderful music by R.D. Burman.

Not a single tune in the new "Jawani Diwani" registers as anything but pedestrian. Not a single dialogue gets anywhere close to your heart. That isn't where this cheap comedy targets itself.

The bigamous love triangle has Emran Hashmi making faces into the camera, trying to be funny, sassy and suggestive. But Govinda did the bigamous boudoir comedy much better in "Saajan Chale Sasural".

David Dhawan meets Sawan Kumar in this comedy of marital errors. Running helter-skelter in search of libidinous liberation would have been amusing if the spoken lines had substance and the performances were more situational than sleazy. Unfortunately the dialogues aren't even embarrassing. They're plain dull. Such double meaning drivel went out of fashion a decade ago when the Marathi maestro of ribaldry Dada Kondke passed away.

Continue reading "Movie Review: Jawani Diwani ..."

It's award time for Sahara One ...

By Nitin N. Sethi, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) Sahara One Motion Pictures' three critically acclaimed films "Page 3", "Yahaan" and "Bose - The Forgotten Hero" are nominated for two of the most prestigious awards this year.

Hero Honda Screen Awards 2005 and 2nd Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards have nominated these films in several categories, reports Bollywood Trade.

Sandeep Bhargava, Chief Operating Officer, Sahara One Motion pictures said: "It is a matter of pride that three of our films 'Page 3', 'Yahaan' & 'Bose' have been nominated for two prestigious films award. I am confident that all our movies will be received very well at the Awards."

"Yahaan" staring Jimmy Shergill and Minissha Lamba has been nominated for 11 categories in Hero Honda Screen Awards 2005 including the Best Debut Director - Shoojit Sircar, Best Film - "Yahaan", Best Promising Newcomer Female - Minissha Lamba and Best Lyrics - Gulzar for "Naam aada likhna".

Continue reading "It's award time for Sahara One ..."

Aishwarya - Abhishek combination is lethal ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Jan 7 (IANS) At the City Palace in Jaipur, the stillness of the night reverberates with the sound of Aishwarya Rai dancing before Abhishek Bachchan for "Umrao Jaan".

Director J.P. Dutta's wife Bindiya Goswami says: "Abhishek and Aishwarya seem eminently made for each other. And why just them? Shabana (Azmi) and Ash look so perfectly compatible they could've been mother and daughter in their last lives."

Bindiya adds: "You've to admit the Ash-Abhishek combination is lethal. J.P. is surrounded by these beautiful women. I was apprehensive about how he would cope since he's used to doing men's movies."

The plush premises are closed to the public.

"Which is a blessing for us. Because it automatically eliminates all chances of intrusion. J.P. has been on tenterhooks for the last two weeks," says Bindiya.

Is it because Abhishek's arrival to Jaipur was delayed because of his father's illness? "Not at all," Bindiya replies.

"All J.P. had to do was to shoot the later scenes first before Abhishek arrived. So in principle the only change is that he couldn't shoot chronologically as he has done all his films. Otherwise everything is in control.

Continue reading "Aishwarya - Abhishek combination is lethal ..."

Star vows to press on with 'KBC2' ...

Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, (IANS) The last two episodes of the game show "Kaun Banega Crorepati 2" filmed by superstar Amitabh Bachchan before his recent illness will soon be aired, but Star India has already drawn up plans to forge ahead with the series.

The 60th episode of KBC2 Friday was the second last that Bachchan shot as its host before he fell ill. It will be followed Jan 13 by another episode hosted by him, the last one from the current bank of recorded episodes.

The Big B is expected to be back on the show by February.

Deepak Segal, executive vice president (content) for Star India, said: "We have devised a mix of fresh KBC2 episodes and Hero Honda 12th Annual Star Screen Awards to provide complete entertainment for the next two weekends.

"After that we are working things out and will have our plan in place by early next week."

Those who missed out on special episodes of KBC2 - with Bollywood stars like Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, John Abraham, Bipasha Basu and many more - can now catch up with them in the coming weeks.

Many firsts in Screen awards this year...

Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) The film award season is almost upon us with the first of the lot, the Hero Honda 12th Annual Star Screen Awards, on Jan 11.

This year's award function at the NSE Grounds in Mumbai is going to be different in many ways. For the first time, the evening will have a theme -- 'Amchi Mumbai'. Then, unlike other award functions where stars anchor the show, the hosts this time are STAR TV's five laughter champions -- Raju Srivastav, Sunil Pal, Naveen Prabhakar, Bhagwat Man and Ahsaan Qureshi.

They starred in the hit STAR One TV show "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge".

Also, of course, Amitabh Bachchan, a regular at most award functions, will be conspicuous by his absence as he is still recovering from his intestinal surgery.

Said STAR India's Senior Marketing Vice President Ajay Vidyasagar: "Amitabh Bachchan was unwell. Though he is recovering, I don't think he would be able to attend the function."

Asked why he chose STAR TV's laughter champions to host the show, Vidyasagar told IANS: "Laughter champions are one of the best things that have happened to STAR. In the past we have had celebrity hosts from the film and television industry. Last year, we had Sajid Khan so this time we wanted to do something different and the laughter champions were the best option."

Continue reading "Many firsts in Screen awards this year..."

Rohan Sippy to repeat Abhishek in next film ...

Manissha Despaande, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) After the success of "Bluffmaster", director Rohan Sippy is determined to cast buddy Abhishek Bachchan in his next film as well.

The film will have an undercurrent of humour and will once again be a stylised feature, characteristic of Sippy's style of direction, reports Bollywood Trade.

"I cannot make a film and not have Abhishek in it. He's an extremely talented actor, a great friend and he can carry any role effortlessly, whether it is a comedy or a romantic film," says Sippy.

The young director is pleased as punch with the response to "Bluffmaster", which continues to retain its hold in its third week at some places.

"It is among the handful films besides "Garam Masala" and "Apaharan" that brought a smile on the faces of distributors," says Sippy.

Continue reading "Rohan Sippy to repeat Abhishek in next film ..."

No regrets for chucking wine, says Raveena...

Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) Everyone is talking about Raveena Tandon's run-in on New Year's eve with husband Anil Thadani's ex-wife Natasha Sippy, the daughter of producer Romu Sippy, at Ritesh Sidhwani's party.

Spunky as ever, Raveena doesn't deny there was a run-in which ended with her throwing a glass of wine in the other lady's face. According to several guests, Raveena and her husband were being provoked throughout the evening.

Raveena told IANS: "There's nothing between Anil and Natasha Sippy. Everything about Anil has to do with me and everything about me has to do with Anil. He and I are one.

"And I don't regret what happened. My husband Anil is the purest cleanest person after god and my father. I won't allow anyone to cast aspersions on him. Any insult to him is an insult to me. No one can sully my family and get away with it."

Continue reading "No regrets for chucking wine, says Raveena..."

'Holiday' postponed: Is it superstition?

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) The release of Pooja Bhatt's new production "Holiday" has been postponed and she has been advised to release it as a Valentine special.

The film, featuring Dino Morea and newcomer Onjolee Nair, was scheduled for this Friday with Aparna Sen's "15 Park Avenue" and Babloo Pachisia's "Jawani Diwani".

It has been yanked out suddenly. What happened? Is it because of the feeling that films released in the first month of a new year are doomed?

"Nothing of the sort," chuckles Dino Morea. "The producer (Pooja Bhatt) just decided we needed to give time to the film to grow. There just wasn't enough buzz about the film."

The question is how much of a buzz can there be for a film that seems to be take-off on "Dirty Dancing" and features Dino with the debutante doing salsa, a dance form that would interest a very small section of the movie-going audience?

Says Dino: "'Holiday' isn't only about dancing. It's essentially a love story between a dance instructor and his protge. The guru-shishya (teacher-disciple) theme is very hot after 'Black' and 'Iqbal'.

Continue reading "'Holiday' postponed: Is it superstition?"

'Bluffmaster' tops the music charts this week..

Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS) There has been major reshuffling in the top 10 music charts since last week but "Right here right now" from Rohan Sippy's latest venture "Bluffmaster" still retains its number one position.

The top 10 Hindi songs are:

1. "Right here right now" - Film: "Bluffmaster"; Singers: Abhishek Bachchan and Sunidhi Chauhan; Music: Vishal-Shekhar. This rap song, which marks Abhishek Bachchan's debut as a singer, is fast turning into a money spinner. Sunidhi Chauhan teams up with Abhishek in the slow and rhythmic number.

2. "Jiya dhadak dhadak jaaye" - Film: "Kalyug"; Singer: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan; Music: Faisal Rafi, Rohail Hyat. The song, so reminiscent of the soft romantic numbers of the late 1960s and early 1970s, grows on you slowly but surely and hasn't budged from its position in one week.

3. "Rang de basanti" - Film: "Rang De Basanti"; Singer: Daler Mehndi; Music: A.R. Rehman. The film is scheduled to hit screens in the third week of January and its foot tapping title song is constantly moving up the music charts. The song is a treat for bhangra-king Daler Mehndi's fans.

Continue reading "'Bluffmaster' tops the music charts this week.."

Rewind 2005 - top albums of the year that was ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) As always, the best weren't necessarily the bestsellers. Though the year remained sharply slumped, for the music industry there were bright spots throughout 2005.

You wished Himesh Reshammiya's work in "Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye", Vivek Philips's "My Brother Nikhil" and Vishal-Shekhar's "Home Delivery" were more appreciated. But what the yell! You've to take the sounds that come your way and be content with the echoes.

Here's looking at the creatively and commercially successful soundtracks of the year:

1. "Mera Kuch Saaman": Gulzar should celebrate his birthday every six months. At least the music companies would ensure there's an album of this calibre at least twice a year. An anthology where the poet-lyricist-moviemaker-scholar-thinker handpicked his lyrics. What's more, the collection featured a list of every single lyric that Gulzar saab ever wrote.

Result? An album you can go back to repeatedly without getting tired. Definitely one of the musical highlights of the year, "Mera Kuch Saaman" garnered the best sales among the anthologies of the year.

2. "Bunty Aur Babli": From "Kuch Naa Kaho" to "Kal Ho Naa Ho" to this massy and rumbustious ode to spirited musicality, Shankar-Ehsan-Loy have been evolving rapidly. The songs in "Bunty Aur Babli" demonstrated verve and vitality. Singer Sunidhi Chauhan's opening invitation in "Dhadak dhadak" set the pace. By the time the album chugged to its feverish finale with the epoch making qawwali "Kajra re", the verdict was out: the score has been Yash Raj music's biggest money-spinner to date.

Continue reading "Rewind 2005 - top albums of the year that was ..."

Celebrity Interview: Sooraj Barjatya ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) After a string of flops, filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya has launched a new film "Vivah" with Amrita Rao and Shahid Kapur, which he describes as his toughest from the writer's viewpoint.

Admitting that the Rajshri dictum of depth in relationships and romance had been missing in his recent films, Sooraj says his latest film is "only about the gradual growth" in the relationship between a Delhi boy and a Mathura girl.

Unlike his earlier films, "Vivah" is not about festivities and celebrations, but tackles the definitions and dynamics of a marriage.

"Today, I feel youngsters are losing touch with the whole beauty and relevance of a relationship. My film starts with an engagement and ends with a marriage."

Sooraj says he went through a period of "creative uncertainty" after "Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon". Stressing that he trusts his father's judgment completely, he says, " 'Maine Pyar Kiya', 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun' and 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' were subjects chosen by my father, 'Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon' was chosen by me."

Continue reading "Celebrity Interview: Sooraj Barjatya ..."

The best of Bollywood 2005 ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Jan 2 (IANS) This year at the movies I felt like a child at a toy shop. So much to choose from. So many colours of life, so many vibrant styles of cinema.

From wacky satires that didn't work (Kamal Haasan's "Mumbai Express") and historicals that were hysterical (Ketan Mehta's "Mangal Pandey - The Rising") to period films that were noble failures (Subhash Ghai's "Kisna", Akbar Khan's "Taj Mahal"); from sleazy cornballs (Ashu Y. Trikha's "Sheesha", Jai Prakash's "Chaahat Ek Nasha") and unclassifiable oddballs (Chandan Arora's "Main Meri Patni Aur Woh, Ruchi Narain's "Kal", Kannika Verma's "Dansh", Ashwini Chowdhary's "Siskiyan") to ragas of finesse (Onirban's "My Brother Nikhil", Pradeep Sarkar's "Parineeta", Jahnu Barua's "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara") and slick eye-candy (Siddharth Anand's "Salaam Namaste", Shaad Ali's "Bunty Aur Babli"), and finally an outright classic (Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Black")... yes, I saw them all.

Here's looking back at my favourite films in 2005:

1. "Black": Sanjay Leela Bhansali's passionate interpretation of Helen Keller's brave struggle to overcome her handicap is truly the most inspired and inspiring film of the year. While telling an inspirational tale, the director never loses track of his main aim as a filmmaker: he grips, entertains and rivets viewers as the teacher (Amitabh Bachchan) and the taught (Ayesha Kapoor/Rani Mukerji) blend into an enraptured embrace. Seamless as it is flawless, "Black" is a truly universal film with the Bachchan giving what history might well judge as the single finest male performance in Indian cinema. Yup, the real miracle worker is Bhansali.

Continue reading "The best of Bollywood 2005 ..."

Bollywood music tunes into Generation X ...

By Uma Nair, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Jan 2 (IANS) Bollywood music is singing a new tune these days - replete with kitschy lyrics, racy beats and a cool-dude attitude - to get Generation X's ear.

The chartbuster "Right Here Right Now" from Rohan Sippy's film "Bluffmaster" and "Kajra Re" - a mujra featuring Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan memorably with Aishwarya Rai in "Bunty Aur Babli" - combine hip-hop with urban chic that appeal to the young.

Over the past few years, music in Hindi films has undergone radical changes as taste eventually won over tradition. Today's music is composed keeping in minds the likes and dislikes of Gen X.

Veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra, known for introducing new trends in Bollywood, said: "Today's world is anchored to the thought processes of urban youth. That is why the tone of music and the choice of words in songs have also changed."

Lyricist Javed Akhtar said: "Writing lyrics has become an exercise that celebrates aesthetics and lucidity. I think when I composed lyrics for 'Saagar' it was in another mould, another mood.

Continue reading "Bollywood music tunes into Generation X ..."

The song that rocked the nation year 2005 ...

Kajra Re is our choice for song of the year 2005!

Singers: Alisha Chenoy, Javed Ali, Shankar Mahadeva

Film: Bunty Aur Babli

'Black' - filmmakers' favourite in 2005 ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Jan 1 (IANS) Sanjay Leela Bhansali's critically acclaimed "Black" is the top choice of most Bollywood filmmakers and actors among the films of 2005 with Ram Gopal Varma's "Sarkar" a close second.

Filmmaker Karan Johar's favourite films are:

1. "Black": If I had to list my favourite films from 1 to 20, the list would just have 'Black' on it. "Black" is the best film I have seen in a long time. It proves what a master Sanjay Leela Bhansali is. I am haunted by "Black" even now months after seeing it.

2. "Sarkar": Dark, stylish gangster epic with performances to die for by Amit uncle (Amitabh Bachchan) and Abhishek (Abhishek Bachchan). Ramu's (Ram Gopal Varma) best work.

3. "Salaam Namaste": Yash Raj Films is my home territory. Of all their films this year, I really loved this feel-good but seriously underlined love story. Great chemistry between Saif (Saif Ali Khan) and Preity (Preity Zinta).

Director Madhur Bhandarkar:

1. "Sarkar": Ramuji's best since "Company". I loved the way the film told a real-life story with "The Godfather" as a reference point. Amit ji and Abhishek were in full form. Really gripping stuff.

2. "Iqbal": Simple but heartfelt film with endearing performances. I like the way the film moves ahead without creating unnecessary drama. Very honest and direct.

3. "Kalyug": (Mahesh) Bhatt saab's film was about blue films. But it didn't have anything sleazy about it. Very powerful plot and good performances by Amrita Singh and Kunal Khemu.

Director Nikhil Advani:

Continue reading "'Black' - filmmakers' favourite in 2005 ..."

Can Bollywood biggies defy the January jinx...?

By Priyanka Khanna, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Jan 1 (IANS) It is New Year and Bollywood, the biggest movie-making industry in the world, is hoping to deliver a robust box-office report card in January breaking an age-old jinx.

Over the years, the first month of the calendar has always proved to be a cruel month for the tinsel-town. Films released during this month routinely die at the box-office and trade watchers display an almost weary resignation to the fact that the January jinx is stronger than any product the industry comes up with.

Even January 2005 saw a lull after the storm brought on by end-2004 releases like "Veer-Zaara", "Mughal-e-Azam" and "Hulchul". It took the combined prowess of Sanjay Leela Bhansali-Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerjee in "Black" to perk up spirits in last year's first couple of months.

It was the only silver lining for an industry reeling under the shock of a mega flop by Subhash Ghai, Hindi filmdom's most successful showman, whose "Kisna" sank without a whimper.

The dream merchants of Mumbai-based film industry are now hoping to get a good start in 2005. Giving credence to their hopes is the fact that the last big film of 2005 - "Dosti: Friendship Forever" - has set the cash registers ringing and more action is slated for the days ahead.

Continue reading "Can Bollywood biggies defy the January jinx...?"

Emraan Hashmi has a good ear for music ...

By Manissha Despaande, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Jan 1 (IANS) Apart from being a serial kisser, actor Emraan Hashmi is also known for starring in many chartbusters. But few know that he has a good ear for music too.

The "Jawani Diwani" chartbuster "Sine Ne Sine Ne" was actually recorded by composer duo Siddharth-Suhaas for "Kalyug". However Emraan, on whom the song is filmed, felt the song fitted the mood and situation of producer Babloo Pachisia's "Jawani Diwani" rather than "Kalyug", reports Bollywood Trade.

Says Emraan: "I realised that the song was too funky for 'Kalyug', and so I made Babloo hear the song. He freaked out and wanted to use it for 'Jawani Diwani' instead."

Adds the elated producer: "Emmi has a good ear for music. He has got this uncanny ability to pick out winners. He instantly thought that the song would go well with my film. I trusted his vision.

"'Sine Ne Sine Ne' is a chartbuster already and I am thankful to Emmi for this."

The video, which is on air featuring Emraan, is directed by Stan Lee.

Must say be it his lip-locking traits or chartbusters, Emmi knows how to connect with his audience.

Continue reading "Emraan Hashmi has a good ear for music ..."

Movie Review: Shikhar ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Film: "Shikhar"; Starring Ajay Devgan, Shahid Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Amrita Rao, Jawed Shaikh, Sushant Singh, Farah; Directed by John Matthew Matthan; Rating:***

It's the easiest thing in the world to get cynical about a film that embraces idealism and a vision of corruption-less India.

Like Ashutosh Gowariker's "Swades", which came exactly a year ago, "Shikhar" attempts to look at life in the rural hinterland as idealistic, unspoilt and desirable. The city folks represented by an utterly materialistic Ajay Devgan air-drop into this world of looming idealism to bung a spanner in the works.

Still the film works...and how! It peels away layers of our saturated sensibilities to give us the glimpse of a world where principles of beauty and innocence still reign supreme.

Into this ecological arcadia comes the ruthless builder with his obscene designs and vulgar vision. GG (Ajay Devgan) wants to turn Guruji's (Jawed Shaikh) utopia into a concrete jungle. "Just like Las Vegas," he dreams away, with his girl Natasha (Bipasha Basu) being a nubile spectator.

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Salman Khan: enfant terrible at 40?

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Dec 31 (IANS) It's very easy to brand Salman Khan an unholy terror and be done with it. After all, he has been in trouble in the past...and will probably continue to be on the wrong side of the morality line.

Then why does he command so much hysterical adulation from family, friends and fans?

"It's a tricky question," says a very close friend of Salman. "I've seen both sides of Salman. I've seen him as the enfant terrible and I've seen him as the absolutely gracious and kind soul who will go out and do anything for his friends. Salman is what we call a 'yaaron ka yaar'. There's little that he won't do for someone he cares for."

That's one side of Salman. The other, far more strongly assertive, side is the one that surfaces when inebriated or pushed to the corner.

This is the side that surfaces when Salman turns into a child-like attention seeker. It's the side that Aishwarya Rai got to see when she was with Salman.

The love affair, like all love connections, started beautifully enough on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam". By the time Sanjay started work on his next film "Devdas", their relationship had taken a sharp violent and irreversible turn.

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Here's how Bollywood stars will usher in the New Year...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Dec 29 (IANS) A slew of Bollywood actors, filmmakers and musicians are heading for Goa to ring in the New Year. But there are exceptions like Rahul Bose who prefers to spend his time in tsunami-affected areas.

Here's what they told IANS about their New Year celebration plans:

Rahul Bose: "It's been a year since the tsunami. I'm in Andaman Nicobar for Christmas and the New Year to relive the trauma, to understand that such situations aren't a one-off thing. They can happen any time again. We need to be more prepared.

"I want to see how much progress has been made with the relief operations. For me, that's the most comforting way of celebrating the year-end. I don't know why everyone heads for Goa on New Year eve. It just gets so crowded. I'm not a crowd person. I'm not even a party person. I like solitude even on new year eve."

Deepti Naval: "I'll be in Madh Island...Bringing in the new year in my new home, spending time with my mom who's coming from New York. Friends are welcome to drop in. We'll hang out on Ketan and Deepa Mehta's terrace in the same building till we ring in the New Year."

Karan Johar: "Goa, of course! Where else? It's almost tradition. Isn't that where everyone heads? I'm tempted to say I'm going elsewhere this New Year. But that would be just fooling myself. No matter how hard I try to change my plans, it's always Goa for me. I badly need a break after the long and gruelling spell of 'Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna'. This is my chance."

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Sex didn't sell at box office in 2005 ...

By Arpana, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 29 (IANS) Bollywood seemed obsessed with sex and sleaze in 2005 but the flirtation rebounded, with the dozen-odd movies of this genre fading out without a whimper.

It started with actress-turned-director Pooja Bhatt's "Rog" starring Irrfan Khan and South African model Ilene Hamann. A murder mystery, the film was a mixture of sleaze and suspense.

Bhatt has been pushing the envelope ever since she ventured into direction with "Paap" in 2003 and tried the same formula in her second film. Unfortunately, neither box office nor audience enjoyed watching steamy scenes on screen.

After "Rog", a slew of unimpressive films hit the marquee and one of them was debutante director Leena Yadav's much talked about "Shabd". It revolved around a prize-winning author, played by Sanjay Dutt, facing a writer's block after the failure of his second novel. Aishwarya Rai played his wife Antara and Zayed Khan her lover.

Certainly, Yadav chose an unconventional theme for her maiden venture but failed to convert a viable script into a convincing film. It had nothing to talk about except a few sexually explicit scenes featuring Sanjay and Aishwarya.

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Aamir Khan marries ...

Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood star Aamir Khan tied the nuptial knot with "Lagaan" assistant director Kiran Rao Wednesday at a civil ceremony here, sans the hype and hoopla.

The marriage took place at his Pali Hill residence in the western Mumbai suburb of Bandra, where a government registrar solemnised the ceremony that began around 7.15 p.m. and lasted about an hour.

Clad in a black suit, Khan sported a simple look. Rao was even simpler, wearing a white salwar-kameez and a green dupatta.

As with his films, Khan was choosy with his guests too. Those among the invitees included lyricist Javed Akhtar, brother-in-law and actor Raj Zutshi and Rani Mukherjee, who filled in as a bridesmaid.

Khan, 41, met Rao during the making of his 2001 hit film "Lagaan" (Tax), which was nominated for an Oscar in the foreign film category. Rao was one of the assistant directors of the film.

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Celebrity Interview: Farah Khan...

By Prashant K. Nanda, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 28 (IANS) Choreographer-director Farah Khan says Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will feature in all her future projects as he is a great friend and well-wisher.

"More than professional reasons, my relations with Shah Rukh are very personal and he will be there in all my future projects. At this point of time, I cannot think beyond him," Farah, clad in jeans and a bright pink kurta, told IANS.

"Whether as an actor or as a producer of my film, King Khan will always be there. I think he is not only a big star but also a great actor and stage performer. He is simply a great friend and well-wisher," she added.

She was in the national capital to promote Sony Entertainment's popular reality show "Indian Idol-II". Farah is one of the judges for the show, the others being Sonu Nigam and Anu Mallik.

When asked about her association with "Indian Idol", Farah, who loves to read books and watch films, said: "Talent hunt shows are providing the necessary platform to youngsters and it's definitely good news for Bollywood.

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The A-Z of what you didn't know about the stars...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Dec 28 (IANS) Did you know that scriptwriter Gulzar is a keen tennis player, or that Hema Malini misses a man's presence in her life, or that Lata Mangeshkar loves a good joke?

Here's a low down on the lesser-known facets of some of Bollywood's most famous personalities.

Amitabh Bachchan: Every one knows him to be this flawlessly well-behaved public persona. Only his close friends know what a 'yaaron ka yaar' he is. Trust me, I know. Some time back a Kannada filmmaker wanted Mr. Bachchan to make a guest appearance as himself in a film. After having failed to get access, the anxious filmmaker asked me. I spoke to Amitabh. He not only readily agreed to do it for my sake, he also refused to charge a single penny for his precious time and attention.

On the other hand, nothing can make Amitabh do what he doesn't want to. Some time ago this Bengali filmmaker from the US had nearly finalised him for his second directorial venture. Then something happened. The desperate director even offered to change the script, producer, whatever to have his main lead on board. Amitabh didn't budge. "What can be said about the convictions of a man who's willing to change everything in his creative vision for the sake of one actor? Thanks, but no thanks." That's what legends are all about. They know.

Shah Rukh Khan: One of the best minds in the film industry and a very loyal friend. Ask his buddies like Karan Johar and Farah Khan. They would give their left arm for him, and probably throw in the right one too. Shah Rukh doesn't demand, he commands that kind of loyalty. Though we share the same birthday, I can't claim to have him as a close buddy. But whenever we talk he warns me to make a clear demarcation line between my professional and personal interests in Bollywood.

Continue reading "The A-Z of what you didn't know about the stars..."

'Bluffmaster' is musical toast of the season...

Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) "Right here right now" from Rohan Sippy's latest venture "Bluffmaster" is sitting pretty atop the music charts this week.

The top 10 Hindi songs are:

1. "Right here right now" - Film: "Bluffmaster"; Singers: Abhishek Bachchan and Sunidhi Chauhan; Music: Vishal-Shekhar. The song marks Abhishek's debut as a singer and Sunidhi gives him company in the rhythmic number.

2. "Jiya dhadak dhadak jaaye" - Film: "Kalyug"; Singer: Rahat Fateh Ali Khan; Music: Faisal Rafi, Rohail Hyat. The song, which reminds one of the soft romantic numbers of the late 1960s and early 70s, grows on you slowly but surely.

3. "Jhalak dikhla ja" - Film: "Aksar"; Singer: Himesh Reshammiya; Music: Himesh Reshammiya. The music director is going places as a singer. The most recent one to enthral his fans is "Jhalak dikhla ja".

4. "Zinda hoon main" - Film: "Zinda"; Singer: Shibani Kashyap; Music: Shibani Kashyap. The title song composed and sung by Kashyap, which was in the number one position last week, has slipped down to number four. The song will appear in three versions in the film. Virag Mishra has penned the lyrics.

Continue reading "'Bluffmaster' is musical toast of the season..."

Betrayed by time-pass cinema ...

By Subhash K. Jha

Gosh, I'm thoroughly confused about the movies in the past weeks.

They came in a sweeping swamp of genres, styles, moods and tempo - from the metro-centric "Home Delivery" to the salacious "Neal 'N' Nikki", from the Bangkok-bang-bang "Ek Ajnabee" to the bluffer's guide "Bluffmaster" to the earthy "Kalyug".

"At least when Superman wears his underwear on top he doesn't forget to put on his clothes underneath," I told my friend referring to the girl, played by Tanisha Mukerji, in "Neal 'N' Nikki".

Honestly, I thought I had suddenly become hopelessly out of step with the films being made nowadays. I had a major problem connecting with at least a dozen films in recent months. Among them Vivek Agnihotri's "Chocolate", Suparn Verma's "Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena" and Antara Mali's "Mr Ya Ms."

The worst blow was "Neal 'N' Nikki". Director Arjun Sablok is a friend. I had seen his first film, "Na Tum Jano Na Hum", in 2002. In the year when one of Indian cinema's best films ever - Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Devdas" - was released, Sablok's miniature work of art stood out for its quiet elegance and gentle old-world charm.

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Performance as important as singing: Farah Khan...

Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Dec 26 (IANS) Bollywood film director and choreographer Farah Khan has said that both performance and singing are equally important for success in any television talent hunt show.

"Talent hunt programmes like 'Indian Idol' are not purely based on singing talents. You need to be an equally good performer on stage," Khan said.

She is currently in the national capital to promote Sony Entertainment Television's (SET) popular reality show - Indian Idol-II.

Khan said the 12 finalists of the show have enough talent to go ahead but have to better their stage performances.

On Monday, five of the 12 finalists - Ravi Tripathi, Sagar Arun Sawarkar, N.C. Karunya, Monali Thakur and Neha Kakkar - performed here.

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Bollywood scripts box office success in 2005...

By Priyanka Khanna, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, (IANS) Robust growth in box office returns made 2005 among the best years for dream merchants of the Mumbai-based Bollywood film industry, but with stakes in 2006 reaching dizzy heights no one is cracking open the bubbly yet.

The Bollywood factory churned out more low-budget big-earner films since the beginning of this millennium but a cautious industry is not willing to go to town with its success and invite the ire of an evil eye.

Even the fact that most films that kept the balance of flops and hits tilted towards the latter were not the typical big budget ventures, has not enthused them to break free from old mindsets and write a whole new script.

"With satellite rights, DVD sales and collections in overseas markets, most well-made films now stand a fair chance of making money. But the real money churners that fuel the growth of the entire industry will come in 2006," a trade analyst said.

Now everyone is crossing fingers for the New Year when big filmmakers like Karan Johar, Rakesh Roshan, Rajkumar Santoshi, J.P. Dutta, Sooraj Barjatya, Yash Chopra and Subhash Ghai will unveil their latest offerings. Clearly, these old horses continue to hold sway on the sentiments of the industry.

But another year of success of middle-budget films is sure to change all that.

A private financial institution has estimated this year's gross box office collections at consumer spending level for all Hindi films to be in the range of Rs.10.60 billion ($235 million).

Continue reading "Bollywood scripts box office success in 2005..."

Shah Rukh is a livewire for New Delhi crowds...

By Arpana, Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, (IANS) He came wearing a dazzling white suit, shimmered in the spotlight and Shah Rukh Khan soon had thousands of fans eating out of his hands at his first dance show in the national capital Saturday.

The 20,000-odd people at the Indira Gandhi Stadium here went positively berserk as the superstar performed at the over three-hour-long Temptation 2005 event. "Shah Rukh, we love you," people shouted, while thousands others whistled and jumped with joy.

Girls, in particular, who were just dying to see him, hear him and shake hands with him, were in the end contented if he just looked in their direction or blew flying kisses.

The bright winter afternoon turned into a starry wonder inside the stadium as the sold-out show - which has seen around 40 performances across the globe - kicked off with a galaxy of Bollywood stars.

The first hit number, "Dhoom macha le", saw Esha Deol jiving on the simple but big stage followed by Zayed Khan who danced and wooed fans with "Mohabbat hai mirchi".

Priyanka Chopra, dressed to kill, then zoomed in with her hit number "Jawani fir na aaye". After Shah Rukh, she was certainly the biggest show-stealer and even sang a medley of her favourite songs.

Continue reading "Shah Rukh is a livewire for New Delhi crowds..."

When it's a director's special...!

By Sameer Wadekar, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) Saw Rohan Sippy in the promotional music video of "Bluffmaster", shaking to and fro to the tunes of "Right here right now"? It reminds one of many other directors who have graced the screen in the past.

Some of the directors made screen appearances as fillers only. Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg had walked on in the music video of Michael Jackson's haunting song "Liberian girl", reports Bollywood Trade.

Bollywood boasts of some great director-actors in the past who left their indelible mark in cinematic history. The two names that instantly come to mind are Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt.

Raj Kapoor, known as the showman of the Hindi film industry, directed and acted in almost all his movies like "Sangam", "Awara" and "Shri 420". Guru Dutt made some of the masterpieces that gave him cult status. Dutt's untimely death was a mighty blow to the industry but his films "Kagaz Ke Phool", "Jaal" and "Pyasa" are regarded as the epitome of excellent craftsmanship.

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What, Dad ill? He was sitting with me: Bobby Deol...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) Bollywood actor Bobby Deol denies rumours about his father Dharmendra's illness, saying it was his mother who wasn't keeping well and he was sitting with his father when the news was flashed on television.

"In fact, I was sitting with dad in Chandigarh when we heard the news on television that he had been taken ill. I was like, 'What?' I looked at him to make sure that he was well. But, seriously, such rumours can really cause terrible stress. When my sisters heard it on the news they were frantic," Bobby told IANS over the phone from Chandigarh.

He was in Chandigarh shooting for Anil Sharma's "Apne", which stars all the three Deols - papa Dharmendra along with sons Sunny and Bobby.

"Forget about a heart attack, my dad is as fit as can be. Touchwood, we hope he remains that way. But I must say a section of the media is going loony chasing the so-called news.

"Why couldn't they confirm with any one of us in the family before writing such baseless things? My dad is always accessible. They could've called him directly and asked him. I guess a star falling ill makes big news," he said.

"It wasn't my dad, but my mom who wasn't feeling well. Our doctor-friend from America was treating her. He accompanied us to Chandigarh where he came to kick off an emergency ward in a hospital. I guess seeing the family doctor around just fuelled the baseless rumour. Dad is fine. We want him to remain that way," the young Deol added.

Movie Review: Dosti ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Film: "Dosti"; Starring: Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol, Kareena Kapoor, Lara Dutta, Juhi Chawla, Kiran Kumar and Lilette Dubey; Directed by: Suneel Darshan

So you think films about masculine friendships are outdated? Suneel Darshan's old-world film wallows in truisms and ties that we had left behind with films about 'true' friendship in the 1960s like "Sangam" and "Dosti".

The old-world values stretch from the main characters to the peripheral ones. Kiran Kumar and Lilette Dubey playing rich socialites could be Pran and Sonia Sahni in Raj Kapoor's "Bobby" 30 years ago. They neglect their only son and choose to attend meetings and kitty parties.

Long live the bourgeois class!

But that's another story. In "Dosti" we meet two friends who are ready to die for each other. The rich one, Bobby Deol, spends his time making out with sundry floozies in girls hostels (watch out for the vulgar booby-traps) while the poor one, Akshay Kumar, keeps bailing him out (watch out for Akshay The Comedian).

Akshay and Bobby with their Punjabi bravado look comfortable enough coping with the buddy-buddy business. It's a miracle they can go through the me-dost-you-the-most paces with such gusto.

Akshay has the superior part. He's fairly in charge here going through the light and cumbersome moments with melodramatic confidence.

Continue reading "Movie Review: Dosti ..."

With dad recovering, Abhishek resumes shooting...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) The three-week ordeal at the Bachchans' finally seems to be coming to an end.

On Monday morning Amitabh Bachchan was strolling in the lawns of his house 'Prateeksha' and waving to the swelling crowds outside. He has started to eat, sleep and talk normally. He meets visitors and spends a reasonable amount of time talking with them.

Though Amitabh would take a while to get back into the studios, it's time for the devoted son to do so.

Abhishek has reluctantly resumed shooting. Though he'd have liked to be with his father for a bit longer, he left Monday afternoon for Jaipur to join the waiting unit of director J.P. Dutta's lavish costume drama "Umrao Jaan", which has Aishwarya Rai in the title role.

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Celebrity Interview: Priyanka Chopra ...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) Though she is being offered plum assignments, Priyanka Chopra chose to play what she describes as a relatively small role in "Bluffmaster" and doesn't regret her decision.

"See, Abhishek (Bachchan) plays the title role. I knew exactly what I had to do. And I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I'm only doing the films I know I'll be proud of. And 'Bluffmaster' is certainly one such film," Priyanka told IANS.

"Being a female actor it's unlikely for me to play the title role in 'Bluffmaster' or 'Don'. But I was the only girl on the sets. I play Abhishek's love interest. But Abhishek and Riteish (Deshmukh) make a pair. They're fantastic. Their chemistry together is unbelievable."

The film by director Rohan Sippy was released Friday.

"Abhishek is a fantastic actor. He knows exactly what to do and how the film will turn out. When he was acting I realised how intelligent he is as an actor."

Continue reading "Celebrity Interview: Priyanka Chopra ..."

Manjrekar's 'Vaah' to take kids for joyride...

Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, (IANS) Here comes a fantasy film from the maker of the gritty underworld thriller "Vaastav". Director Mahesh Manjrekar treads a new path full of fun and frolic with "Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi", which releases Friday.

Manjrekar wrote the script some nine years ago and wanted Amitabh Bachchan to play Sanjay Dutt's character and Dutt for the role now played by Shahid Kapur.

The film has Sanjay Dutt playing a soft-hearted Yamraj, the Hindu god of death, who works on a laptop, wears designer suits, teases girls and bursts into tears on small issues.

Will the audience accept the macho actor in such a soft role?

The film revolves around Aditya Singh (Shahid Kapur) who has the responsibility of the entire family, including his grandmother, sister and his brothers' children. The kids fondly call him Adi chachu and life is a merry-go-round for them especially when his girlfriend Piya (Amrita Rao) is around.

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'Apaharan' is a film with conscience: Nana Patekar...

By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) Nana Patekar is all set to wield the megaphone for Prakash Jha's next project and says he is very happy with the way the director handled "Apaharan" that deals with Bihar's kidnapping industry.

"Picture achi bani hai (It's a well made film). He has chosen a very hard-hitting subject and not tried to over-commercialise it. 'Apaharan' remains true to its subject. It's a film with a conscience," Nana told IANS.

"My character in 'Apaharan' was modelled on a real-life politician. But I didn't study the real character. I played it the way the director envisaged it," said the talented actor.

He is currently working in Gautam Ghosh's "Yatra" where he plays a writer.

"Gautam has been making films his own way, not thinking about whether they work or not."

Continue reading "'Apaharan' is a film with conscience: Nana Patekar..."

Dad has lost some weight: Abhishek...

Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, (IANS) Amitabh Bachchan's three-week stay in the hospital has left him lighter. "He has lost some weight. But by God's grace, he's recovering," says Abhishek, his son.

The Bachchans' three-week ordeal ended Saturday morning when he finally left Lilavati hospital in Mumbai to return to his mother's residence Prateeksha.

Earlier during the day Abhishek had driven into the hospital wearing a T-shirt that read 'Superman'. The minute Bachchan saw his son he caught on, "That T-shirt is for me."

A crowd of at least 200 people had already got wind of the Bachchans' plans. They waited anxiously outside his house when Abhishek drove his dad home.

The entire family is now gathered at Prateeksha where the steadily recuperating superstar is now re-gaining his strength.

It's unlikely that he will resume shooting for a while. Abhishek says the decision is entirely his father's. As soon as he feels up to it, he will be back at work, though it seems unlikely he would do so in the next two weeks.

Continue reading "Dad has lost some weight: Abhishek..."