Bollywood News: April 2008

See The copy of Aamir khan's Blog

Now a days blogging is became famous between the net user's. so many people's doing blogging even some star's also doing blogging in which amitabh bachchan and aamir khan are present. They have daily no sorry not daily almost monthly upadted his blog. they think that it's an easy way to connecting with their fan's. But some unsocial person's taking gain of that blog. One person called Ram Tiwari Copied all the post of aamir's blog and paste them into his blog named :- blog-of-aamir-khan.blogspot.com . When we asked to Ram Tiwari about this blog he says I am not a fan of aamir khan actually i am little bit intrested in blogging one day i seened the aamir's blog. even i make a user name on that blog . now it's my routine to check that blog some time's i get error like server not found or server down, it's totally make me upset thani decided to upload the copy of that blog for fan's of aamir. if original site shown some error's than visitor has a other way to read the post of aamir's blog.

Now it's totally depend's on aamir if aamir don't like my step i am ready to delete this blog.

Now Shahid Make A Pair With Hot Priyanka

After a recent sexy photo shoot Shahid and Priyanka are ready to star together in Vishal Bharadwaaj’s happier version of Shakespear tragedy Romeo Juliet.

Bharadwaj las two movies Maqbool and Omkara were inspired from Shakespear’s Macbeth and Hamlet and he makes it clear that his next flick will not be a transformed version of Romeo and Juliet.

“People would love to see me complete my Shakespearean trilogy after Macbeth (Maqbool) and Hamlet (Omkara). But I’m not doing Romeo & Juliet,” quoted Vishal.

Shahid has already signed on the dotted line, meanwhile the presence of Priyanka is yet to be confirmed, as the former Miss World is busy shooting Dostana in Miami.

But Vishal is adamant to sign Priyanka opposite Shahid that he has flew to Miami just to read the story out to Priyanka.

If you guys remember Kareena Kapoor hates Priyanka Chopra to the core and Shahid’s attempts in the past to reconcile the two actresses have always gone in vain.

But remember Shahid dushman ka dushman dost ka dost hota hai.;)

Smriti Never Affacted Trp Rating's : Ekta Kapoor

By Subhash K. Jha, Mumbai, April 21: TV tycoon Ekta Kapoor rubbishes rumours that she has brought Smriti Irani, the popular small screen bahu Tulsi, back on her show "Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" at the behest of STAR.

"No channel has the guts to ask me for any actor. They never do it. They never will. We at Balaji have that much credibility at the channels," Ekta told IANS in an interview.

"When Smriti came to our office, we met with an open mind. I find we are very comfortable with each other again. We had a very pleasant and warm discussion. Looking back we realise there was a lot more to our relationship than 'Kyunkii Saas...'," she added.

Although Smriti is back, Ekta says her absence from the show made no difference to the TRPs.

"I'd say she's a brilliant actress, very powerful performer. She gave 'Kyunkii...' a lot. When she wasn't on the show, she was missed by one and all. But she made no difference to the ratings. People love the show and Tulsi. They didn't stop watching without Smriti. The TRPs are decided by the content, not the actors. TRPs change from week to week."

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: How is Smriti Irani going to re-enter "Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi"?

A: That's the exciting part. For two months there'll be two Tulsis on air. Gautami's character is going to acquire a sexy edge now. She's now going to play that aspect of Tulsi that no one ever expected.

Q: What happens to Gautami after two months?

A: I've very special plans for her. Gautami is my jaan. She's so humble and warm. The woman is unbelievable. And I'm doing something very special with her. It's an honour to be associated with her. If I hadn't re-worked my equation with Smriti, Gautami would've been Smriti forever.

Q: Do you feel guilty about Gautami's ouster as Tulsi?

A: I'm very clear about one thing. I'll make sure Gautami doesn't get even one day off from Balaji. I'm giving her a vehicle that's worthy of her. Getting back Smriti is like a double whammy. I'm getting Smriti to do Tulsi while I'm getting Gautami to do something that I've planned for her. My new project with Gautami is a rare challenge for me at this stage of my career when I don't believe in challenges.

Q: What's the show?

A: All I can say is, it isn't a run-of-the-mill soap. That new show with Gautami has me shivering in my knees and weak in my boots. It isn't a Tv serial. It's something that makes me get up from my bed faster every morning. I don't know what the outcome will be. I need everyone's good wishes.

Q: It isn't fiction?

A: I won't say that, but it's something totally new to me. I'm so happy Gautami is a part of it. I was planning it for a long time. But because of Gautami's baby she couldn't do two shows at the same time. I rate Gautami on a par with Sakshi Tanwar. Both are much more than just Parvati and Tulsi. Sakshi is the only TV actress who had two daily soaps "Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki" and "Devi" running at the same time.

Q: How did Smriti make a comeback in "Kyunkii..."?

A: (Smiles) She re-started shooting on April 6, which was a very auspicious day in the Hindu calendar. Smriti was extremely gracious about dancing at my first awards function. And she refused to take money. See, today, my production house doesn't depend on any one serial or actor. It's all about personal equations. When an actor works with Balaji, you've to go by my rules. And you can call me Hitler, Dictator, whatever. I met Smriti professionally with an open mind ready to close discussions if the issues were not sorted out. Luckily Smriti was okay with most of our pre-conditions.

Q: People feel Smriti was doing a takeoff on Tulsi in Zee's "Teen Bahuraniyaan"?

A: I wouldn't like to comment on this, since I'm too fond of the people involved with the show. All I'll say is imitation is the best form of flattery.

Q: Did STAR ask you to get Smriti back?

A: No channel has the guts to ask me for any actor. They never do it. They never will. We at Balaji have that much credibility at the channels. When Smriti came to our office, we met with an open mind. I find we are very comfortable with each other again. We had a very pleasant and warm discussion. Looking back we realise there was a lot more to our relationship than "Kyunkii Saas...".

Q: Would you say Smriti's absence from the show made no difference?

A: I'd say she's a brilliant actress, very powerful performer. She gave "Kyunkii..." a lot. When she wasn't on the show, she was missed by one and all. But she made no difference to the ratings. People love the show and Tulsi. They didn't stop watching without Smriti. The TRPs are decided by the content, not the actors. TRPs change from week to week.

Q: Smriti used to consider you her 4 a.m. friend?

A: That friendship is still there, but we had to keep the professional equation out. There were articles that said we were abusing each other. We were on the phone at that time laughing off the quotes attributed to me. See my rapport with my actors doesn't depend on an individual serial. I've already made 57 serials. I'll probably make 60-70 more during my lifetime. I don't need to get out of my comfort zone for one show. I'm outside the competitive zone now. For me personal equations matter more than the professional. Serial production is still exciting for me. But it isn't a challenge. I leave the challenge to the other producers.

--- IANS

Kissy Attack on sonu by a girl

She came, she kissed and her nails left their mark on his chest.. That's the story of Sonu Nigam, when he was performing at Mumbai, on the evening of 20th April.

Sonu Nigam is currently on a whirlwind tour of India. Known for his romantic songs, the singer was completely immersed in his music, when suddenly a young girl, jumped on to the stage and started throwing herself into Sonu's arms. She then proceeded to kiss him. Even as security guard came to the rescue of the singer and tried to pull her away from Sonu, the fan clung on.. As she was being dragged away, the girl scratched Sonu on his chest.

And if you were wondering what was Sonu doing while he was being accosted on stage. Would you believe, singing.. Yes the singer never lost his rhythm right through the song. Must hand it to Sinu Nigam.. and what happened to the girl? well before they could catch her, she escaped from the security guards..

The price of being a star!!!

Amitabh Bachchan starts his own blog

The stars are on the internet. After Aamir Khan became the first actor in Bollywood to start his own blog, legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan too has been roped in by ADAG's youth networking site, bigadda.com, to start his own blog.

Like his signature style he begins by saying, " I am still illiterate towards this medium and beg to be excused for any errors or expectations from me. But as time goes by and the systems fall into place, there shall hopefully be a more refined presentation. "

Writing his first blog on Friday, Bachchan has described his blogging experience as an overwhelming revelation. " It seems like a new life altogether," he says expressing his " love and my regards to all the readers for entering my heart and providing me an opportunity to enter yours..." "April 20th is Abhishek and Aishwarya's 1st wedding anniversary. They are in Miami. He is shooting there for Karan Johar’s ‘Dostana’. On the same day Ram Gopal Varma is having a promo launch for our film 'Sarkaar Raj' the sequel to 'Sarkaar' at the JW Marriot Hotel, Juhu, Mumbai. And I think for the first time in film press history here, we shall be getting Abhi-Ash on a video conference during the press meet, so that they can be in Miami but still be a visual interactive part of the function ," he adds.

" My blog will allow me to express myself, share and reflect my emotions, thoughts, opinions and listen to what people have to say to me ," says Big B.

The users can access the superstars' blog at www.bigb.bigadda.com. The actor has promised that he will reply to his viewers if they write to him on his blog.

"This would help me to show the audience the real side to my larger-than-life image that they usually see through the media. Here, I can control and share my unedited thoughts ," Amitabh stats.

He adds: " Now I can share consequential replies to the inconsequential gossips that keep doing the rounds. My adda (blog) will be the only destination where I'll openly state my views and also discuss the same with all."

Rajesh Sawhney, president, Reliance Entertainment, under whose aegis bigadda.com works, says: "We are happy that Amitabh has chosen our site to express him and connect with the masses."

Bigadda.com has gained a user base of 1.6 million, where 40 per cent users are from tier II cities like Tuticorin, Bhilai, Amritsar, Guwahati, Surat and Nashik.

The site gets almost 10 per cent of users from countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and from Indians from Dubai, United States and United Kingdom.

Shweta Tiwari Big Star Of Small Screen

If you thought you were seeing a bit too much of your favourite celebrity on TV, you are right. Celebrity usage in TV advertisements, say data, simply took off last year.

A research report by Adex India brought out by TAM, says that there has been a 49% growth in celebrity endorsement ad volumes during 2007 compared with 2006. And since 2003, a celebrity endorsement volume on TV has exploded more than six times. Not much of a surprise, says brand consultant Harish Bijoor. "Celebrity endorsements seem to be dramatically helping raise brand recall in India. There is an instant brand culture now, which is contributing to this. Earlier people had a lot of time for brands to establish themselves. That is not the case now."

When it comes to endorsements, Bollywood faces leave cricketers far behind, dominating 81% of the overall share of the endorsement ad pie.

Of this, male actors dominated half of the advertisement volumes, while female actors made up 31%.

Yes, Shah Rukh Khan is the most popular among all celebrities with the maximum number of endorsements. But what is not known is that serials actor Shweta Tiwari has the maximum number of brands riding on her appeal after Shah Rukh and Amitabh Bachchan.

TV celebrities formed 5% of the entire celebrity endorsement volume. Sports, primarily cricket, split films and TV celebs with a 14% share.

When it comes to categories of usage, with so many different brands all trying to outslug each other; it was the aerated soft drinks category that saw the most number of celebrities battling it out.

It had a 7% share of the total celebrity secondages and was closely followed at 5% by cellular phone services and toilet soaps, and at 4% by biscuits. Ultimately what matters is if these brands can convert all the celebrity-aided brand recall into hard cash from the consumer's wallet. And that is where they could fall short.

Harish Bijoor says, "While celebrities aid brand recall, they are not too efficient when it comes to converting this into actually influencing buying behaviour."

Ash-Abhi to celebrate first anniversary in Miami

It’s almost a year since Abhishek and Aishwariya tied the knot. The beautiful couple will celebrate their first anniversary in Miami, not that they planned the special occasion “It just happened” according to Big B.

Senior Bachchan said, “Abhishek is shooting in Miami for Dostana on their marriage anniversary. And Aishwarya is going to be with him.”

“We’ll get them by a new technology called skyscape to speak from Miami to media persons in Mumbai at the launch of Sarkar Raj - which happens to be on the same evening as their wedding anniversary.”

That’s cute. Hope the stunning couple have many more beautiful married years ahead.:)

Soha Ali Khan pulls out of Olympic torch relay

MUMBAI, April 15: After Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia and India’s first woman IPS Kiran Bedi, Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan has opted out of the Olympic torch relay in New Delhi on Thursday. Soha Ali Khan announced her decision here on Tuesday saying she was pulling out of the event citing “very strong personal reasons.”

Significantly, Soha’s decision came on a day when the new Sports Minister M S Gill said he was not in favor of stars or politicians to be associated with the relay on Thursday and those only real athletes should carry the torch. “I fully support the Olympic relay and am saddened at the disruptions in its path in various parts of the world as well as the violence in Tibet. But I can’t run due to very strong personal reasons,” Soha told reporters.

On suggestions from Sports fraternity that only sportspersons should run the Olympic torch relay, Soha said representatives from various fields belonging to the country through which torch relay passes, should be welcomed to run.

Katrina Kaif is the face of Vijay Mallya's IPL team

Mumbai, April 16 : Katrina Kaif joins the list of celebrities associated with Indian Premier League cricket teams. The gorgeous actress will support Vijay Mallya's Bangalore team.

"Let me clarify that Katrina is the face of Vijay Mallya's cricket team but not a brand ambassador to his Royal Challenge products," said a source close to the actress.

The actress, who sizzled in the recently released thriller "Race", will be shooting an exclusive solo music video for Mallya's team to be directed by Sanjay Gupta.

After starring in four hits last year, Katrina today ranks amongst the top league of actresses. Her next release is "Singh is King".

Don't starve yourself, Urmila tells young girls

Pune, April 16 : Size-zero models have become a rage among young girls and they are starving themselves to be like them, but "Rangeela" star Urmila Matondkar disapproves of this and says staying slim doesn't necessarily mean being on a starvation diet.

The actress says the secret to her much talked about figure is a combination of diet and exercise.

"More than staying slim, I aim for a healthy body, I am also thankful to god for good genes. I would advice youngsters not go on starvation diet and spoil their health. They should rather eat healthy and exercise," said Urmila, who was in town to inaugurate a slim instant obesity centre with French technology.

She also feels that the Maharashtrian diet keeps her going.

"Thankfully, our diet is not very greasy or heavy. At the same time it is wholesome, perhaps I am able to maintain because I stick to home cooked food."

A regular visitor to Pune, Urmila finds the city very concrete now.

"I have been coming to Pune since childhood. The city seems to have lost its freshness."

With respect to her acting career, Urmila said: "I don't plan much. I am not very picky. I am ready to accept any kind of roles offered to me."

The '90s dancing sensation is currently busy with Sony's music based reality show "Var Parivar". In this show, the entire family will participate.

"It is going to be very interesting, watch out for it."

Capital to host B.R. Chopra film festival

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Capital to host B.R. Chopra film festival

New Delhi, April 16 : Known for making socially relevant films and catering to popular sentiments, B.R. Chopra turns 94 next week and a special tribute will be paid to the veteran filmmaker by screening nine of his masterpieces here from April 18.

Chopra's much talked about film "Insaaf Ka Tarazu", starring Raj Babbar, Zeenat Aman and Padmini Kolhapure, will start the three day festival at the Siri Fort auditorium. Apart from Raj Babbar and Ravi Chopra, other prominent film personalities like Basu Chatterjee, music maestro Ravi, Raj Tilak and Bobby Bedi will attend the inaugural session.

The Film and Television Producers Guild of India is organising the event as a part of their initiative titled "Guild Greats". Co-organised by Assocham, the festival is being sponsored by Time Broadband Services Group's 'My Time'.

Other classics to be showcased include "Hamraaz", "Waqt", "Ittefaq", "Baghban", "Gumraah", "Nikaah", "Naya Daur" and "Chhoti Si Baat".

Almost all these films were either made with a social objective, or broke new ground.

While "Naya Daur" exhibited the Nehruvian look to a newly independent country and the responsibility of its people towards nation building, "Insaaf ka Tarazu" dealt with some laxity in the legal system, "Nikaah" questioned the law of divorce in Islam and "Baghbaan" focussed on the problems faced by ageing parents.

While the opening ceremony will take place in the main auditorium, the other films will be screened in Siri Fort II.

I want to direct films, but later: Manisha Koirala

Mumbai, April 16: After staying away from the arclights for a couple of years, Nepali beauty Manisha Koirala returns with "Sirf - Life Looks Greener On The Other Side". The actress also plans to take up direction in a year or two.

"Definitely, I do want to direct films. But right now the priorities are different. May be in a year or two I will start direction too," Manisha told IANS.

"But believe me, being an actor is the most blessed position because they are the most pampered lot," said the 30 plus actress who comes from a politically prominent family in Nepal. Her granduncle G.P. Koirala is the current prime minister there.

She debuted in Bollywood with Subhash Ghai's super hit "Saudagar" and went on to star in films like "1942: A Love Story", "Bombay", "Gupt", "Dil Se" and "Kachche Dhaage".

After Kamal Haasan's "Mumbai Express" in 2006, "Sirf" is the first film in which she will be playing the main lead. She made sporadic appearances in duds like "Darwaza Bandh Rakho" and "Anwar". She also went off to the US for a film course.

Manisha is paired opposite Kay Kay Menon in "Sirf", a film about four couples that has been directed by Raajatesh Nayar, erstwhile assistant of Raj Kumar Santoshi.

"I am playing the character of Devika who is married to Kay Kay. I own an ad agency. My character is very lonely because her husband is too busy with his work. But she is strong too and holds her own even when the odds are totally against her," Manisha said.

Manisha says she doesn't identify with her character in the film except that she too is a strong person in real life.

"Yes, I am a strong woman, but Devika is not me completely. In some places I do connect with the character and that's all. The film is about vacuum in people's life, how they think everybody else has more than them. I have never had that kind of misconception."

The film also strars Sonali Kulkarni-Ranvir Shorey, Parveen Dabbas-Rituparna Sengupta and Ankur Khanna-Nauheed Cyrusi as couples.

"I have worked with Kay Kay, Parveen and Ranbir. While Kay Kay is an extremely strong but subtle artiste, Parveen is extremely expressive and casual about it. Ranvir is good. They all had their own style and each is very good but Kay Kay is brilliant. He can enact the most intense scene without any histrionics."

About the director, she said: "I have worked with Raajatesh during 'Lajja'. So technically I do know him. He is a very good and clear-cut director. He has a very clear vision of what he wants. Although he had trained under Santoshi, his style of filmmaking is very different."

"I think 'Sirf' is closer to 'Life in a... Metro' than any of the films made by Santoshi. Because of his training and exposure, Raajatesh has shown a lot of maturity in handling the subject," she added.

All the four couples belong to different levels of society and each has its own problems to deal with, but somewhere they all come across each other. En route the film has humour and also pathos at times. The film is scheduled for an April 25 release.

Talking about her forthcoming projects, she said: "I am in talks with many makers for various international projects. I will choose with care. Then 'Chehra' is on the floors. In this film I play the role of a complete diva."

'Khuda Kay Liye' is a rare testament to our troubled times

By Subhash K. Jha, Nothing you say or do can exonerate you from the sin of missing "Khuda Kay Liye", written and directed by Pakistan's Shoaib Mansoor.

No review on either side of the border, or the ones by our learned critics elsewhere have done justice to the film's thematic power and enrapturing, almost mesmeric, execution of a plot that takes the director through three geopolitical zones without stumbling during the historic journey.

"Khuda Kay Liye" is that rare historical testament to our troubled times that puts forward groundbreaking rousing and disturbing ideas on religious and cultural identity as defined by western imperialism.

The brilliantly structured plot takes the Pakistani characters through three continents. In Lahore, writer-director Shoaib Mansoor introduces us to a liberal Pakistani family where the two sons, both musicians, follow separate paths.

While the younger son, played by Fawad Afzal Khan, is brainwashed by a charismatic mullah (Rasheed Naz) into embracing fundamentalism, the elder son (played by Pakistani superstar Shan) sets off for Chicago to study music.

In the US, another kind of music awaits Shan. As he gets falsely implicated on charges of terrorism and is tortured in jail, the director cuts back into the younger brother's life and his Pakistani-British wife (model Iman Ali) who's tricked by her father into abandoning her British boyfriend to marry Fawad Khan who first tries to be a gentle and patient husband (a la Manoj Bajpai in Chandraprakash Diwedi's "Pinjar") and then gets harsh with his woman, like all 'strong' men are expected to.

The narrative builds so many layers and levels of socio-political relevance you wonder how the pyramid of pronounced significations underlining the emotionally and physically tortured characters doesn't collapse under the weight of messages and meanings.

If the plot in "Khuda Kay Liye" doesn't do a 9/11 in the narrative, it's because the director yokes his thought processes to a vision that goes beyond aggressive propaganda. We get swept into the culturally and religiously challenged world of these derelict misbegotten characters not because they have political statements to make but because their politics and religious identity emerge from their individual conflicts and conscientiousness rather than their ability to assume emblematic shapes.

First and foremost, "Khuda Kay Liye" is a human-interest story. We watch the distant yet unified destinies of the two brothers acquire colour and motivation through a skilled and seamless weaving of three cultures and myriad strands of impulses emerging from the dichotomies that manoeuvre the characters from their roots to their ricocheting destinies in worlds that are torn apart by emotional and political strife.

Do not make the mistake of presuming this to be a message-mongering piece of propagandist cinema. What director Shoaib Mansoor has to say about Islamic radicalism and western liberalism has a direct bearing on how we Indians live our lives.

The film is surprisingly skilled in technique. The camera stalks the three continents with the reverence of a pilgrimage but without the accompanying subservience. Some portions of the narrative involving Shan's interrogation in prison get too explicit for comfort.

But then this film hasn't been made to lull you into a false all-is-well-in-the-world sense of bonhomie. There's an irrevocable sickness at the heart of humanity and this film has no qualms in admitting it with a stunning simplicity of movement that leaves the narrative completely liberated of gimmicks and affectations.

The performances are all first-rate and I'm happy to see such talented actors in Pakistan (the ones who have come here so far are laughably meagre in their abilities). Yes Iman Ali as the British girl who goes through the gruelling process of being conned into visiting and marrying at home (remember Vipul Shah's "Namaste London"?) does seem somewhat affected at times.

The affectations, if and when they occur, are far too rare in this film to affect its innate power and energy to alter, if not transform, the way we look at life in a closed society. When Naseeruddin Shah in an all-pervasive cameo opens the windows of the mind and tells us that music can never be haraam, we actually hear the sound of music wafting out of a hidden corner of our wounded hearts.

"Khuda Kay Liye" isn't just music to our ears. It's an eminently welcome departure from the namby-pamby depiction of religious and cultural fundamentalism we've seen so far.

This one tells it like it is. No punches pulled, no paunches sucked in.

'Taare Zameen Par' missing from IIFA nomination list

New Delhi, April 15: Aamir Khan's feted directorial debut "Taare Zameen Par" was absent from the 9th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards nomination list announced here Tuesday as the actor didn't forward his film for the awards shortlist.

"You won't find some important film names mentioned in the nomination list. It is because of the selection procedure," Sabbas Joseph, director Wizcraft International Ltd, said at a press conference.

"The rule for getting a nomination in the IIFA awards popular categories, producers have to fill up a form and send it to us. 'Taare Zameen Par' is one of my favourite films, but the producer didn't send his film, hence it is not in the list," Joseph said.

Notwithstanding the reported cold war between Shah Rukh Khan and IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, "Om Shanti Om", which is King Khan's home production, and "Chak De! India", another of his major hits, were nominated in all the main categories.

Addressing the gathering, Amitabh said: "It was my earnest desire to see a produce of Indian origin go oversees. IIFA in its ninth edition has continued the tradition of taking Indian cinema beyond our shores."

"Whenever a country does well in the economic sector, everything about it becomes beautiful. Ever since India has opened its economic bindings it has been growing," he added.

Amit Mitra, secretary general Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), was also present.

Mitra said: "FICCI partnered with IIFA in Amsterdam and we went to Dubai and Yorkshire. With IIFA and Wizcraft we are trying to create little pebble, which will have its reverberations in economic and business forums."

This year, the IIFA Weekend will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 6-8.

Sanjay Dutt and Kangana Ranaut signed for a T-Series film

Sanjay Dutt and Kangana Ranaut will share the screen space for the first time in a film directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru. The film which is yet to be titled is a romantic-comedy and will be made under the banner of T-Series. The makers of the film are on look out for another female lead.

When contacted, a representative of T-Series said, “Yes, Sanjay Dutt and Kangana Ranaut have been paired together for the film whose title is yet to be finalized.”

The film will be shot in US and India.

Himesh replaces original music in ‘Karzzz’

Subhash K. Jha: Himesh Reshammiya has decided to do away with the entire music score of Subhash Ghai’s “Karz” and substitute it with swanky new compositions in his version of the film titled “Karzzz”.

Though Reshammiya remains tight-lipped, Satish Kaushik, who is directing the film, is more forthcoming.

Kaushik told IANS: “We did plan to include some songs from Ghai’s ‘Karz’ by Laxmikant-Pyarelalji. But then things started changing once we started shooting.

“The original ‘Karz’ doesn’t have a title song, but Himesh has sung and composed a fabulous title song ‘Ishq mere tere karz’. He loves (Mohammad) Rafi saab’s ‘Dard-e-dil’ and had the situation for our film. But then he created an entirely new track in place of ‘Dard-e-dil’.”Could the fact that “Dard-e-dil” has already been parodied as “Dard-e-disco” in “Om Shanti Om” have something to do with the decision to do away with the original song situation in the new film?

Apparently, the decision comes from veteran composer Pyarelal’s unhappiness over the way his contribution to the music of “Om Shanti Om” was treated.

A hurt and angry Pyarelal said: “Though I was initially reluctant, Vishal-Shekhar and Farah Khan were insistent. So I relented. Finally, after all my hard work there was no mention of my contribution in any of the film’s promotion and publicity. Not even in any of the credits for the songs in the album’s CDs when in fact, I had been asked to compose three songs, including the theme music for ‘Om Shanti Om’.”

This experience has definitely soured Pyarelal towards the film industry.

“It’s an industry I don’t understand any more,” said Pyarelal.

Reliance Entertainment In Us

Mumbai, April 2 (IANS) Reliance Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (REPL) is all set to start its cinema chain in the US under the brand name Big from next month. More than 200 theatres will screen Hindi as well as regional films from India.

Confirming the schedule, a company official said: "We are still renovating and refitting the cinemas we have acquired in some cities there. A formal announcement about their opening will be made later."

Over the last one year, Reliance Entertainment has acquired over 200 cinema halls in 28 North American cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit and Washington.

Taken on a long-term lease, these theatres will bear the company's entertainment brand name Big, and not Adlabs, as REPL's cinemas in India are called.

It is learnt that REPL has also bought over an American theatre management firm to oversee the operations of its Big cinema chain.

REPL may also distribute movies overseas. Since it is already into producing movies in Hindi and other Indian regional languages under the Big Pictures banner, its exhibition outlets abroad will help it firm up its distribution venture.

In order to expand its overseas exhibition network, the company is now scouting for more cinema halls in other countries as well.

The Big cinema chain in the US will not only screen Bollywood movies, but will also run Indian regional language movies, particularly the productions from the south, and movies from other Asian countries to cater to large expatriate populations.

These 200-odd cinema halls are located in cities where there are large concentrations of people from the Indian subcontinent and other parts of Asia.

The chain will be marketed as any other American cinema chain. Mainstream Hollywood movies, art house productions and movies made by the independent producers will also adorn the marques of the Big cinemas.

REPL's cinema operations in the US, spread across different cities, will go a long way in making the presence of the Bollywood movies, in particular, more prominent there and help them reap good harvest from the US box-office.

Already, some recent Bollywood movies have made it to the top of the US box-office chart. UTV-distributed Tip Films' "Race," for example, has secured 18th position in the US box-office in the first week of its release on 96 screens.

Topless Image Of Aishwarya Rai

A site has published a topless photo of Aishwariya Rai Bachchan taken way back in 90s. Aishwariya Rai and other top models like Milind Soman, Madhu Sapre and Colleen Khan posed topless for the flick, which featured in a magazine. But the authenticity of the image is still to be verified as the models posed their bare back for the shutter.

Apparently the Bachchan khandaan is very upset about the incident, especially hubby Abhishek Bachchan. Abhishek did not want the controversy to blow out of proportion and clearly branded the image as morphed, denying his wife’s presence in it.

The ghost of past is very dangerous and Ash should realize that it will leave no stone unturned to haunt her.

Kareena Bikini Babes Of Tashn

There was lot of buzz about Kareena’s famous bikini shot for her upcoming movie Tashan. But the actress has denied donning the bikini for Tashan. Yashraj has cunningly used the hype caused around these alleged bikini shots for the publicity of Tashan.
A close friend of Kareena said, “Kareena’s successful film Jab We Met gave a boost to her career. She has managed to get that girl next-door image. That role and film has not only given her several best actress awards but has also made her the highest paid actress in Bollywood. Apparently Kareena is apprehensive about her bikini scene which may kill her new found girl next door image.”
When Bebo was asked about her upcoming bikini scene in Tashan, she denied doing any bikini shoot and said there is no bikini scene in Tashan.
But Bebo, your skimpy dresses in Tashan are almost equal to a bikini.
Bikini or no bikini ki faraq paenda hai?

Versatile Ajay turns 39

April 2 : Once tipped as the 'action hero' of Indian cinema, versatile Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan, who turned 39 Wednesday, has proved his mettle in every genre. This year, he also turns director with "U, Me Aur Hum".Ajay got an early birthday gift Tuesday when his entire family landed up on the sets of Zee TV's reality show "Rock N' Roll", which he is hosting with wife Kajol and mother-in-law Tanuja. The family arrived to cut a cake with him.

His parents Veeru and Veena Devgan, sisters Neelam and Kavita and his nephew Aman were part of the entourage.

"I was pleasantly surprised, considering my parents never go on television. It was one of the most beautiful gifts I've ever received," said Ajay.

After a successful acting career spanning 16 years, the actor wanted to make a film through which he told people a story he really believes in.

"People often ask me if this is the right time to venture into direction. Frankly speaking, I don't know whether it is the right time or not, but I have always wanted to tell people a story I strongly believe in.

"I had this story idea in my mind for a long time and then I sat and wrote it down. Later when I gradually developed the screenplay, I felt that unless I directed the film myself, it would not be presented the way I want it to be," Ajay told IANS.

Even before he started off as an action hero in the 1991 hit film "Phool Aur Kaante" for which he won the Filmfare award for best debutant actor, Ajay had worked with internationally acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur as an assistant director.

"I had worked with Shekhar and when I was eight or nine years old, I also used to take part in editing and other technical areas of filmmaking with my father," he said.

The actor has been among the first few of his generation to turn producer. In 1999 and 2000 he produced "Hindustan Ki Kasam" and "Raju Chacha". Though the films bombed at the box-office, Ajay is now confident that his directorial debut releasing this month will do well.

Early in his career Ajay showed his penchant for action in films like "Jigar" (1992), "Divya Shakti" (1992), "Vijaypath"(1994), "Hulchul" (1995) and others that one could only expect from the son of well-known action director Veeru Devgan.

In 1999, Ajay married his co-star and friend Kajol and they have a four-year-old daughter named Nyasa. The couple will be seen together after a long time in "U, Me Aur Hum".

After his action period, Ajay surprised the audience with his comic performances in "Ishq" (1997), "Golmaal - Fun Unlimited" (2006) and his ability to emote in "Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha" (1998) and "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" (1999).

His powerful acting in "Zakhm" (1998), "The Legend of Bhagat Singh" (2002), "Company" (2002), "GangaaJal" (2003), "Yuva" (2004), "Raincoat" (2004), "Omkara" (2006) and others won him critical acclaim.

On the actor's versatility, director Rajkumar Santoshi, who has made some of his best films with Ajay, said: "One of his strengths is that he can get under the skin of any well-written role and make it his own. He has sharp, expressive eyes. And he appears to be very natural in all the challenging characters he has played so far."

Ajay has won two National Awards - the first one for Mahesh Bhatt-directed "Zakhm" and the other for Santoshi's "The Legend of Bhagat Singh".

This year, he doled out a power-packed performance in Santoshi's "Halla Bol" and Rohit Shetty-directed comedy flick "Sunday".

His upcoming films include "U, Me Aur Hum" and animation film "Toonpur Ka Superstar" which he is producing himself.

--- IANS

Preity Zinta hurt at IPL launch

Mumbai, April 2 : Actress Preity Zinta, co-owner of the Indian Premier League's Mohali team, suffered a minor injury during its formal launch in Mohali, on the outskirts of Chandigarh."I don't know how it happened," Preity said. "But in the melee at the launch (Monday), an elbow came and hit me straight in the eye. I had to go through the event with a black eye wearing dark glasses."

Eyewitnesses said there was a huge rush at the launch, and somebody appeared to have thrown something at Preity. As one of her bodyguards lunged to catch whatever had been thrown, his elbow appeared to have hit Preity in the eye.

After the event, the actress spent the evening nursing her eye with ice packs.

"It will swell a bit. I guess it's bound to happen when one is in such situations," she said.

The IPL Mohali team is led by Yuvraj Singh. The tournament starts April 18.

I will make my mother watch my new movie: Esha Deol

Mumbai, April 2: Actress Esha Deol, who has played a loud Tamilian in the comedy "One Two Three", has one regret - that her mother Hema Malini, a true-blue Tamilian, was not around to watch her recently released comic caper."My mother has become quite a jet-setter travelling all over the place for her dance recitals. She's in Kolkata right now. I'll make her see 'One Two Three' as soon as she returns," Esha told IANS.

The boisterous bit on screen notwithstanding, Esha stood out at the premiere of the movie in her chic makeup and elegant gown. "I guess I wanted to create a contrast to my loud brassy character in the film. People see me as a tomboy. But I can be quite a lady if I want to be," she said.

Esha is now gearing up for the release of her first action film "Hijack".

"But let me warn you, I don't do any of the kickboxing and all that stuff I'm dying to do on screen one day. Though this is a hijack-adventure story, all the action converges on Shiney Ahuja. I'm the airhostess and therefore very timid and gentle. The director, Kunal Shivdasani, made sure I don't jump out of character suddenly. It's a very realistic action drama," the actress said.

She dismisses stories of her differences with Shiney. "I don't know where that came from. Shiney and I had a great time shooting 'Hijack'," Esha said.

"Hijack" would be Esha's last film for a while. "I haven't signed anything. And I won't until something worthwhile comes along."

Madhur Bhandarkar isn't trying to be mean: Harsh Chhaya

New Delhi, April 2 : Well-known TV artist Harsh Chhaya, who is playing a gay designer in Madhur Bhandarkar's "Fashion", says the film may have been inspired by real characters, but the director is not trying to be mean to anyone in the fashion fraternity."It is very much close to reality because Madhur is making it. But it is very well researched also. I am sure, to a large extent, all the characters have been based on real people but they are not exactly lifted because it is not a nice thing to do," Harsh, who was in the capital for a play, told IANS.

"The filmmakers take care of such issues and try not to offend or hurt people. Even if real people inspire characters in 'Fashion', Madhur is not trying to be mean to anyone. He is not trying to get back at someone.

"He likes to base his films on reality but at the same time make it entertaining. That is the nature of work that Madhur is known for anyway," added Harsh who was recently seen on the big screen as Rani Mukerji's mean boss in "Laaga Chunari Mein Daag".

Harsh carved a niche for himself on the small screen with his performances in serials like "Hasratein", "Swabhimaan" and "Astitva".

"Fashion" stars Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranauat in the lead roles. This is Harsh's second film with Bhandarkar after "Corporate", but he was nowhere in the picture when the director was finalising the cast.

"It is interesting how I got the part. I was nowhere among the probables for this part. One fine weekend in a Mumbai Plus issue I read this piece that Madhur is looking for an actor to play gay. I sent him an SMS that I would be interested in playing this part. And he replied, 'Okay, I will keep in mind.' It was, I guess, a polite way of saying 'no', which is understandable.

"Next weekend I read the same thing and what I did was I bought a few costumes, wigs, took a whole gay getup and made a five minute DVD. I went to meet Madhur with the DVD and requested him to see it. I said 'don't cast me if you don't want to but have a look'. After a week or so I got a call that 'you are on' for the role."

Harsh plays a big time fashion designer in Bhandarkar's film.

When asked why he was so keen to play a gay, Harsh said: "I want to do it because as an actor it is a challenge. It is exciting for me especially when people around me don't expect it of me. Any professional would like to take challenges because playing safe all the time gets boring."

Another TV artist, Samir Soni, is also playing a gay designer in the movie.

"There are different types of gay characters in the film - some gay characters are not feminine and some are and I am playing a feminine gay," he said.

"I made the video with supporting props but it has worked out in a way that it has given me and the director enough confidence to just go along without props, which as an actor I think is a much better thing because it becomes much more challenging.

"I face the camera the way I am and within that I try and play the character," he said.

Bhansali has No Plans For Nest Film

Mumbai, April 2 : Premature reports on his next project have director Sanjay Bhansali flabbergasted and irked."It isn't ethical or healthy to announce projects on my behalf, and that too naming the actors in the cast," Bhansali, who has just returned from Paris after directing "Padmavati", told IANS.

After his last film "Saawariya", the director went to do his first opera "Padmavati" for prestigious Theatre du Chatelet. At the moment he is far away from deciding what he wants to direct next.

"I've just returned from Paris after directing the opera. I'm physically and creatively exhausted. My next film is not happening so soon. I haven't even been able to decide what I want to do next. Where's the question of deciding the actors?"

Bhansali, however, has several ideas on the anvil.

"At the moment all I'm certain about is that I'll make exactly what my heart tells me to," said the director who made films like "Devdas" and "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam".

Fools Of Bollywood

Subhash K. Jha : The Bollywood brigade has some interesting anecdotes related to April Fool’s Day.

Amole Gupte: On April 1 last year I was chosen by Aamir Khan to begin work on “Taare Zameen Par”. Good joke, that one! And I don’t remember pulling a joke as cruel as this on anyone, fool’s day or no fool’s day.

Anupam Kher: My cover for Cine Blitz magazine when I posed for the femme fatale Prabha Devi. That was historic. No one knew it was I - Prabha Devi was flooded with proposals.

Neil Nitin Mukesh: The worst April Fool’s joke I pulled was on my cousin Naman. He was waiting anxiously for his exam results. I told him he had fared poorly. Poor guy bought it. I had to quickly tell him it was a joke. The joke was on me when I was looking for work and one of my cousins called up pretending to be Karan Johar. When I landed up at the address given, my cousin opened the door grinning. If looks could kill…

Kushal Punjabi: No one has gotten away with an April Fool’s joke on me. I’m too sharp and my antenna is always up on April 1. I played a prank on my girlfriend when I told her I was leaving for the States, took some suitcases and bid her a tearful goodbye at the airport. When I showed up at her door she was livid rather than relieved to have me back. These girls, I tell you.

Ranvir Shorey: The joke is normally on me since I never know when April 1 comes along. Friends take full advantage of my calendar blindness.

Sonu Sood: Once my cousin called me for her wedding in Punjab. I was surprised and thrilled. They told me it was arranged all of a sudden and that I was required over the weekend. I quickly booked my tickets, left my work and got there… only to be told the family had fooled me into coming since they were missing me. My biggest prank was on an assistant director (AD) when I hid my clothes and pretended to get angry wit him when he couldn’t find them. While the man looked frantically for my clothes, I stood right in front of him wearing the ‘lost’ shirt. The entire unit was in splits, but the AD wasn’t amused.

Rensil d’Silva: Once I told some media trainees they had to provide their stool and urine samples in the morning to the ad agency’s resident doctor. All of them dutifully marched to the doctor’s door and handed over their invaluable packets to the man’s wife.

Anurag Sinha: When I was a child, my parents pulled an April Fool prank on me by saying they were sending me to a boarding school. They later told me it was only to discipline me. However, the gag turned true when some time later they did pack me off to the Scindia School in Gwalior. Since the school is situated at a historical fort, we would tell our juniors ghost stories and appear out of bushes covered in white sheets to scare them on April Fool’s Day. After a while the prank stopped working. Such is life.

Amrita Arora: I haven’t pulled any prank, but I got one pulled on me once. My friend from school told me she had run away and gotten married and that I had to inform her parents. Later it turned out to be just a hoax.

Sophie Chowdhary: The worst one I pulled was back in college exactly at 12.01 a.m. I was chatting with a guy I had just started seeing. For no reason at all I picked a fight with him and decided to break up. He couldn’t believe it. Everything between us was so perfect he just couldn’t understand what had happened. He kept calling and I didn’t take his calls. The twist in the tale is that he didn’t take my calls. He had figured out my prank and decided to make me pay for it. I was so miserable thinking he had taken it all so seriously. At the end of the day we decided to call it quits and had a hearty laugh. I guess I had met my match.”

Dino Morea: The best prank would be telling my folks I got married a couple of years ago… The worst prank pulled on me was in school where I was dying to be a school captain. Friends came running on April 1 to say the principal was looking for me to give me the good news. I ran into the principal’s office only to be told, ‘What can I do for you, son?’ That’s when I got it.

Race Near To HIt

Writer Ashwani Dheer‘s directorial debut One Two Three is coming this Friday in the theatres. We just hope that it would be a fine piece of comedy and romance with some trickling confusions. The triplet of Sunil Shetty, Paresh Rawal and Tusshar Kapoor are playing the role of three different persons as one name.

One Two Three is about some precious stolen diamonds which circumstantially fall in the lap of a young couple Chandu & Chandni (Upen Patel and Tanisha Mukherjee). The diamonds were stolen by a dangerous don Papa (Mukesh Tiwari) but the love couple conceals them in a car. Here are don’s two half-wit felons Albert (Vrijesh Hirjee) and Pinto (Manoj Pahva) who searching the diamonds with the boss.

Police officer Mayavati Chautala (Neetu Chandra) who is short-tempered and very keen to arrest the criminals. Three confusing characters enter in the film one by one for the different purpose but under a same name Laxmi Narayan.

The first Laxmi Narayan who wants to prove himself as a mafia that is why he goes to kill don Papa in the hotel Blue Diamond. The second Laxmi Narayan (Sunil Shetty) comes from Darjeeling and was sent to receive a new car for his Boss from Laila (Sameera Reddy) in the same hotel Blue Diamond.

Finally enters another Laxmi Narayan (Paresh Rawal) who has made so much money by selling underwear on the footpath and has established a lingerie factory for his son. He also goes in the hotel Blue Diamond to pick up some lingerie samples from a designer Jiya (Easha Deol).
At the same time and same place these comic characters meet each other and create some wrong situations. Wrong people get the messages and laughing belt begins by all the actors. The people watched the last comic caper movies like Welcome and Sunday, so the next movie what’s has new in its treatment this will know after seeing the movie.

Aishwarya Rai : Highest Paid-up Actress In Bollywood

There is no wonder like our cricket players our Indian film Industry also improving its financial conditions. Its fresh instance is Bollywood queen Aishwarya Rai who has achieved the honor to become the highest paid actress in bollywood. Aishwarya Rai accepted the package of Rs.40 million for playing as a leading actress in director Shankar’s next big project Robot.

Aishwarya Rai will work with the trendy actor Rajnikanth in the film, who is also the highest paid actor in bollywood. Aishwarya Rai has a list of her last hit movies like Guru, Dhoom 2 and Jodhaa-Akbar, as a richest actress now she is above the all bollywood sizzling actresses.

South Indian filmmaker Shankar’s last blockbuster Sivaji-The Boss was also with superstar Rajnikanth or Rajnikant liked very much by all. Sivaji-The Boss was a huge project in Rs.80 crore so hopefully Shankar’s next film Robot will make in the big amount of 100 cr. It seems now bollywood actors are aware for their future and taking interest in money with acting.

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