Karan Johar Says " My Name Is Karan "

Blogging seems to be the latest trend in Bollywood and the latest to join the bandwagon is none other than Karan Johar. The director's blog would come online tomorrow (June 19). Lets see if this venture gets as popular as his movies..

YES, THE latest to join the bandwagon is Karan Johar. My name is Karan is the name of blog by Karan Johar, which comes online tomorrow. Karan would keep his blog updates with two or three posts every week.

Karan Johar (K Jo) surely knows how to make people laugh or cry. He has the knack to keep the audience glued to their seats when they are watching a movie directed by him, perhaps why only movies, his show ’Coffee with Karan’ topped the popularity charts as well. Where ever there is K Jo, there is fun, that’s for sure. It is being presumed that his blog would be a hit just like his movies.

In an interview given to a leading Mumbai newspaper, he said that he’s all set to start blogging. He sarcastically said that everyone knows what sort of a person he is and as originality has never been one of his virtues, he has decided to follow the footsteps of others who have recently started blogging.

He further added that he is never the one to set a trend, but follows whatever is ’in’. On a serious note he said that he wanted to create a buzz around Dharma Productions website, as it was his dad’s dream to make Dharma a well known brand. The blog would be another step in this direction of extending their production base. He said that the blog would not fence around films but would have anything that Karan feels like mentioning – that could range from what dream he had to things related to our country. He would share with people what he has to say.

Karan, who likes to keep away from controversies said that the blog will neither be offending nor defending. Criticism about anyone will not have any place in his blog.

He further added that he was totally computer illiterate and hoped to change that status, as the only thing he did on the Internet was Google his name and read the things people wrote or said about him.

If it’s an interview of Karan, how can he not mention our King Khan (Shahrukh)? He said that he would love to read blogs by Shahrukh Khan and further added that he had read parts of the book that Shahrukh is writing since the last few years, and every chapter has heart, soul, emotions, drama. The book has all the ingredients to keep a reader completely engrossed.

After ’Coffee with Karan’, this seems to be another interactive session from the Johar kid.
So let’s wait for tomorrow and see what Karan has in store for us.

Read more...

Shweta Tiwari's Final good bye to Star Parivaar

“I lived life as Prerna,” says Shweta

Kasautii Zindagi Kii may have ended, but Prerna’s character played by Shweta Tiwari will never fade away from people’s minds. But as has been the trend, the younger generation replaces the older one. This year’s Star Parivaar Awards will have Prerna performing for the last time on stage.
“Yes, it will be my last performance at the awards night. I am grateful to Ekta, Shobaji and Star Plus who gave me an opportunity to play such a good character. While the serial was on air, I lived like Prerna in real life too. Somehow, I knew more about Prerna than Shweta Tiwari! It was a wonderful journey from start to the end. What mattered to me most is that I lived and died as Prerna in the serial,” says Shweta.

Shweta has always been interested in art and she was sure of pursuing it on or off the screen. Now that the serial has ended, Shweta is concentrating on her acting career, but will always be ready to do a role television if she is offered anything different.

Read more...

Before being typecast, I jump out: Vivek Oberoi

By Arpana, Bangkok, June 7 : His last film was an action thriller and the next titled "Mission Istanbul", with focus on terrorism, is in the same genre. But Vivek Oberoi says that he won't allow himself to be typecast.

"Whenever I feel that I am becoming stereotyped or typecast, I jump out and do something new," Vivek, who was last seen in "Shootout At Lokhandwala" in the role of gangster Maya Dolas, told IANS here.

Vivek is in Bangkok to participate in the 9th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards. The music of his film "Mission Istanbul" was launched here, and he is scheduled to perform at the gala night Sunday.

Commenting upon his back-to-back action releases, Vivek said: "It's not a conscious decision to do action films. Apoorva offered me the role and the script was fantastic, so I accepted it. The USP (unique selling proposition) of the film is that it is technically brilliant. It has a new idea and concept. It has a global perspective on terrorism and how India is involved in that global framework."

The actor says that he has fallen in love with his character in the film.

"I am really excited about this movie. I love my character. It was fun playing him. Everything you imagine as a young kid while watching action movies, all those fantasies came true.

"Music of the film has been used very intelligently. It's not that suddenly the narrative stops, and a song is inserted. It is used in the backdrops. The story has international flavour so we didn't want to create any breaks. It is a non-traditional script."

Vivek says unless he gets a substantial role in Hollywood, he won't take a chance there.

"Every actor wants to have a global platform. If I find the role challenging and exciting I will do it. I wouldn't want to be Indian taxi driver in a Hollywood film."

Reportedly, there was a competition between Vivek and is co-star Zayed Khan to outdo each other in the action scenes of "Mission Istanbul".

But the actor says: "It was camaraderie. We had to jump from 44th storey of a building and we were like, 'Okay we have to jump from there and we said it's cool and we jumped'. We ended up doing it six or seven times till the graphic expert came and asked us to stop, saying you guys are going to burn the ropes."

"My next (film) is for Tips which is really a big extravaganza. I am shooting the film in South Africa. Then I am doing a film for Karan Johar, which is being directed by Renzel D'silva with Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor. The role is very interesting and a complete departure from what I have been doing till now."

--- IANS

Read more...

My next film is about black magic: Ram Gopal Varma

Bangkok, June 7: After the underworld, Bollywood director Ram Gopal Varma is set to focus on black magic in his next film.

"'Phoonk' is all about black magic. I am working with a new team. It's a subject I want to experiment with images and with characters. I can do that only with new people," he told IANS in an interview here.

"Stars have certain baggage because of their stardom and their limitations about how far they can push their character," explained Varma.

"Also, I don't give chances to people, I take chances," maintained the director who premiered his much-talked about "Sarkar Raj", starring Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, at the 9th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) weekend here.

He also showcased his next release "Contract" Saturday.

How is "Contract" different from his other films?

"'Contract' is a basically about underworld-meets-terrorism," Varma replied. "I didn't deal with this link in my earlier films. 'Satya' gave an inside view of the underworld, 'Company' was an overview of its organisational structure.

"In 'Contract', I speak about what can happen when the underworld and terrorists come together on a platform."

The film will be released in July.

Asked how he sourced information for his underworld dramas, Varma said: "I mostly get information from the media. The media keeps reporting about what is happening and I just have to pick pieces from here and there and join it all together.

"I am interested in anything larger than life and people who create an impact, whether negative or positive. I am interested in doing a psychological study of these people," he added.

Lately, the director has been ridiculed for making films like "James" and "Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag", but he says he makes film for his personal satisfaction and thus is not bogged down by criticism.

"I don't feel anything (about the criticism). I have a lot of fun while making a film. I enjoy every minute of it. I make films for my personal satisfaction.

"I am a storyteller. I have a story, various actors, situations and locations and I compile them all together to create a visual impact. That is my high in life," Varma maintained.

A lot has been said about three Bachchans in "Sarkar Raj" but that's no big deal for Varma.

"I don't have this sense of achievement that I brought the three Bachchans together. For me, they are three separate and highly professional actors.

"Whether they are in one family or not doesn't make a difference to me," Varma contended.

--- IANS

Read more...

Bachchans, Kapoors bury the hatchet at IIFA (IIFA Diary)

By Arpana, Bangkok, June 7: The Bachchans and the Kapoors - the two leading families of Bollywood - have maintained a distance ever since Karisma and Abhishek's engagement broke off several years ago. But to everyone's surprise, Randhir and Rajeev Kapoor walked the green carpet at the premiere of "Sarkar Raj" here.

Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, the film starring Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai, had its world premiere Friday evening at the Ninth International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, of which the Big B is the brand ambassador.

While Jaya Bachchan extended a warm welcome to Randhir, Kareena is set to perform at the IIFA awards night.

The Bachchans, however, were the cynosure of all eyes at the Paragon Cineplex, where the movie was screened as part of the three-day IIFA extravaganza that kicked off here Friday.

Other Indian stars at the premiere included Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, David Dhawan, Zayed Khan, veteran actress Mumtaz and Neil Nitin Mukesh.

-*-

Where is Shah Rukh Khan?

A bevy of Bollywood stars including Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Preity Zinta and the four Bachchans have descended on Bangkok but Indians living here are missing Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

"Is Shah Rukh Khan coming?" is what most cine fans are asking the visiting Indian media.

They wear a disappointed look on learning that their favourite actor will be giving the show a miss. Many families here say they bought passes for the award night just to get a glimpse of King Khan.

-*-

Foot massage, shopping tops Bollywood stars' to-do list

Whether it is Viviek Oberoi, director Apoorva Lakhia or Kareena Kapoor - many stars here are waiting for an opportunity to shop and get their feet massaged.

"Thailand is known for its foot massages. So I'm looking forward to getting a foot massage and would suggest everyone experiences it," said Viviek.

IIFA officials said that quite a few stars were enquiring about the foot massages and where they could get one.

--- IANS

Read more...

Ash and I don't have to play couple on screen: Abhishek

By Subhash K.Jha, Mumbai, June 7: Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, whose much awaited film "Sarkar Raj" was released Friday, does not feel that he should always be paired with his wife Aishwarya Rai in a husband and wife role.

"Just because we're husband and wife doesn't mean we should play the same roles in all our films," Abhishek told IANS in an interview.

Earlier, the duo was seen together in Mani Ratnam's "Guru" in 2007.

In "Sarkar Raj", which also stars Aishwarya and Abhishek's father Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya has not played his wife. "In fact there is no relationship between Aishwarya and me in "Sarkar Raj"," Abhishek said.

The actor, who is used to experimenting with his body language and weight to get into the skin of a character, says that if the audience doesn't become one with the character while watching his film, it is his failing as an actor.

Excerpts: Q: How different are you and your father in "Sarkar Raj" compared to "Sarkar"?

A: In "Sarkar Raj", Pa (Amitabh Bachchan) would be seen with an added slouch. Pa had to be shown more aged than the first part of the film. A lot of time has passed and we see it in both our performances. My character has more responsibility on his shoulders unlike my earlier character, which was that of a hungry and lean man who was eager to prove himself. Now, my character is a confident and successful man.

Q: I believe you've put on weight for the role?

A: I have. We wanted to show Shankar Nagre as a healthier man as he was in the first part, just as a successful and well-settled man. Even my clothes in "Sarkar Raj" have changed. In "Sarkar", I was more casually dressed but in "Sarkar Raj", I am more formally attired in a suit all through.

Q: Do you know more about sequels than your colleagues?

A: "Sarkar Raj" isn't my first sequel. I have also done "Dhoom" and then "Dhoom 2". But there is a difference. For "Dhoom 2", Aditya Chopra's brief was to take the brand further. He wanted to make the sequel bigger and better. Otherwise, he reasoned, why would they come to see it? "Sarkar Raj", on the other hand, moved the other way. It is not a candy floss entertainer. We had to be true to the original characters. The characters moved in a specific direction from the first part to the second. So there has to be a lot of intensity in the presentation. In "Sarkar Raj" we couldn't afford the liberties that we could in "Dhoom 2".

Q: Are experimenting with your body language and weight a part of your acting grammar?

A: I guess today an actor has to work hard to be noticed and so does the director. In "Sarkar Raj", it is not just my character's weight that has changed. Even the house that the characters live in has become plush.

Q. This time have you taken centre-stage in the drama?

A: "Sarkar" is Subhash Nagre, which is dad's character. But now, in "Sarkar Raj", Shankar is running the family business. But his father is still the head of the family. So we're in it together.

Q. But you and Aishwarya are not a couple in "Sarkar Raj"?

A: Does that matter to the audience? Once the lights go down in the theatre, the audience becomes one with the characters. If they don't, it's my failing as an actor. They will be swept away with the characters. Whether we are married or a couple in the film is of no consequence. I think such cheap publicity gimmicks don't work. And yes we haven't tried to hide the fact that we aren't a couple in the film. No point in lying to the audience. In fact there is no relationship between Aishwarya and me in "Sarkar Raj". And that should be no problem. Just because we're husband and wife doesn't mean we should play the same roles in all our films.

Q: But what about the strong image that the media has created of the two of you as a couple?

A: No, I'm convinced that the audience isn't going to take that factor into consideration. My father and I do play father and son in "Sarkar Raj", but we weren't related in "Bunty Aur Babli" in any way. In fact he was hunting me down throughout the film. And yet it was a resounding success.

Q: How much have you evolved as an actor since "Sarkar"?

A: I would like to think that my character has evolved since the first part and that I have evolved accordingly. But like Jai Dixit could change his looks and clothes from "Dhoom" to "Dhoom 2", I don't think it would look believable to see my character in a T-shirt, jeans and in a clean-shaven look in "Sarkar Raj". As for myself, without sounding arrogant I would like to say that I do think I have evolved as an actor. I am still learning and I will be learning till the day I'm an actor. Look at my father at 65. He continues to evolve. In comparison to him, I have a long way to go. I would like to believe that I'm evolving.

--- IANS

Read more...