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Dhanyawad Anil, says Tom Cruise!
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Tom Cruise thanks Anil Kapoor for lessons in Hindi…
Prithwish Ganguly | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; December 18, 2010)
Anil Kapoor is on a double mission. The Slumdog Millionnaire actor, who is shooting for Mission Impossible 4 with Tom Cruise, is also on a mission to teach the Hollywood superstar how to speak Hindi! Yes, BT has learned that Anil acts as Tom’s tutor on the sets of MI4 in Vancouver.
A unit source said the two actors, who began bonding in Dubai on an earlier schedule for the film, are pretty much inseparable. Tom, in his own way, makes sure that Anil feels at home on the Hollywood sets; while Anil returns the gesture by teaching his new friend how to converse in Hindi.
They sit together when pack-up has been announced and take up the Hindi lessons from where they stopped the previous evening. Anil talks to Tom in Hindi. And Tom valiantly tries to reply in the national language of our country. Anil, who plays a baddie opposite Tom in the film, said, “He is a fast learner, and a sport and fun to work with.”
The Mission Impossible actor has said that he is awed by India and is keen to travel the country with his wife Katie Holmes. Now he intends to speak the language when they arrive here so that he may wow Indian fans. Proof of his sincerity came this week when Tom thanked Anil on a social networking site. In broken Hindi! He wrote, “Thank-you, Anil Kapoor. Aaap dhanyawad!”
Movie Review: KHELEIN HUM JEE JAAN SEY by FENIL SETA
02 years ago
There has been revolts against the British right from the time they set foot in India. Unfortunately, today we remember only some of these heroes while the rest have gone lost in the pages of history. Even literature hasn’t done justice to them as they hardly get 2 lines of mention in books which at times run into thousands of pages. But there are some authors who help throw light on these unsung heroes through their books specially dedicated to them. One such author is Manini Chatterjee whose book Do And Die based on the Chittagong Uprising inspired Ashutosh Gowariker to come up with Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey. I don’t know about the book but the movie definitely impresses and enlightens about a fantastic chapter of history which we don’t know much about. However, the film has too many glitches which restrict the impact. More about it later!
The story of the movie: Surjya Sen (Abhishek Bachchan), a teacher by profession, is planning a major revolt against the British in his hometown Chittagong in Bengal. His plan is to attack the major British strongholds like the Cantonment, Police Lines, Telegraph Office, Railways and European Club all at once. The date is fixed-April 18, 1930. Surjya Sen has managed to get funds and also associates which include Kalpana Dutta (Deepika Padukone), Nirmal (Sikander Kher) and others and also around 45 teenagers. Finally, the D-day arrives and inspite of meticulous planning, things go wrong for Surjya and his team. For More >
Don’t we look great together?-Deepika Padukone
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Imran and Deepika represent the Internet generation in the new film releasing today…
Prithwish Ganguly | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; November 26, 2010)
Hardly are movies made in India that reflect the thought process of the internet generation. Break Ke Baad, co-produced by Reliance BIG Pictures and Kunal Kohli Productions, that releases today, attempts to do just that. Kunal, through the characters essayed by Imran Khan and Deepika Padukone, mirrors how the youth tackles complicated relationships and can relate to and even feel okay about taking a break from a relationship when things don’t work out.
This clearly goes against the goody-goody, moralistic films that Bollywood is known for that show how a couple’s pairing is made in heaven — and that once in love, they have to fight all odds to be together. Even if their relationship is bitter and they are unhappy, they will try to work it out. “I feel the movie is very realistic. I do believe that everyone will relate to it. People go through break-ups or even take breaks from relationships when things aren’t going great. Sometimes they patch up or else move on. This is very happening in the India that we are living in,” Imran tells BT.
Romance as a genre has been done to death in B-town. But Break Ke Baad with its fresh content is something different. From the script to the pairing to the look and music — the film oozes youthfulness. After the Saif Ali Khan-Deepika Padukone hit Love Aaj More >
Ra.One needs X-Men type SFX-Jeff Kleiser
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Interviews
By Money Sharma, November 24, 2010 – 18:22 IST
Jeff Kleiser is a name you may not instantly connect with. But in the coming few months, one could be sure that every Bollywood lover will instantly recall this name when the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Ra.One hits the silver screen. Reason? Well, Jeff is the VFX supervisor for this most talked about VFX heavy flick and also the CEO and Co-founder of US based Synthesian Studios.
On his recent India visit, Bollywood Hungama caught up with this VFX stalwart who is closely working with Ra.One VFX India team (Red Chillies.VFX) and is in the process of executing some rare VFX shots for the flick. Jeff Kleiser’s pioneering work in computer animation has spanned the history of the medium. He has contributed to films with groundbreaking visual effects including Tron, Stargate, Judge Dredd, Clear And Present Danger, Mortal Kombat Annihilation and X-Men to name a few.
In a quick Q n A with Money Sharma of Bollywood Hungama, Jeff shared tit-bits about Ra.One, Indian studios, their work culture and the industry.
Excerpts from the conversation:
Can you please tell us more about your background and credits… Apart from working on several Hollywood ‘VFX heavy’ flicks, I have served as senior visual effects supervisor on The One – a film starring martial arts master Jet Li, which required the development of innovative digital face replacement techniques. More recently, I also supervised visual effects for Son of the Mask, Fantastic More >
Pam lands for boob tube show
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Sonal Chawla got duty-free savvy and was the first journalist to speak to the Baywatch babe as she stepped out of her flight, an hour late but not as jet-sagged as we imagined
Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 16, 2010)
The world’s most famous pin-up girl landed at Mumbai airport late on Monday evening in a short ash-grey dress, high heels, and a bright smile that said nothing of her long flight or the grilling she was subjected to by immigration officials.
But 43-year-old Pamela Anderson convinced the officials she had no assets to declare and sailed out of the terminal into the waiting car that took her to the sets of Bigg Boss, where she is scheduled to be a guest for three days.
The hour-long delay caused panic attacks among media persons across the city (immigration officials were trying to figure out whether Pammy was here on ‘business’ or pleasure). But once Pammy stepped out in this casual grey dress and resplendent blonde tresses, not to miss the glam gogs and bag, you knew that Panvel (where the Bigg Boss house is at) will never be the same again.Mirror was the first to report about the 90s’ sensation entering the reality show to join the motley crew of has-beens and wannabes. On Monday night, Mirror again was the first to get a tete-a-tete with the Baywatch and VIP gal as she walked out of immigration, accompanied by her manager.
“I have done Big Brother Australia,” Pam told Mumbai Mirror, “I am More >
Is Bruce Willis coming to India?
02 years ago
Mauli Singh (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 15, 2010)
The Indian market is opening up and attracting a lot of Hollywood stars.
Shortly after the news of Pamela Anderson’s entry in Bigg Boss buzz is that Pulp Fiction star Bruce Willis is coming to India to promote his next film, Red, which is releasing on November 26. A source informs, “The Sin City star is coming to Bombay on November 24 and will attend Red’s premiere on November 25 which is most likely to happen at PVR Juhu.
Bruce WillisBruce will be accompanied by his co-star and the Academy award winner actor Morgan Freeman of Shawshank Redemption and Million Dollar Baby fame. The film also stars Mary-Louise Parker, John Malkovich, and Helen Mirren. Red is one of the biggest film of Willis so far and he realises the importance of promoting it in the Indian market.”
Deepak Sharma, the CEO of PVR distribution, says, “Yes, we are trying to bring Bruce Willis to India for the premiere of Red in Bombay. He is quite kicked about coming to India but there are some visa hassles.
If they get sorted he will definitely be here for the première. If he is able to make it the première will be a grand affair and the who’s who from Bollywood will be invited.”
P.S. our source close to the project confirmed that the visa problems have already been sorted out and that the actor will definitely fly to India soon but shhhh…
Robert’s bowled over by Aamir
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Hollywood actor is fascinated by Bollywood boogie
Prithwish Ganguly | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; November 4, 2010)
Hollywood’s acclaimed actor Robert Downey Jr, who’s done some wonderful magic on screen with his fabulous work in Ironman and Sherlock Holmes, is reportedly a big fan of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan. Aamir is known in Hollywood as the Tom Hanks of India due to his awe-inspiring performances and it was Lagaan that made Robert applaud the Indian star’s talent.
“I happened to see Lagaan and believe Aamir Khan was extra-ordinary,” Robert told BT. The actor also informed us that he is dying to come to India, a country whose culture and heritage he has been fascinated about. “India is a land waiting to happen for me and I would love to visit it as soon as I get a chance. All that comes to mind when I hear of this country is diversity, vibrancy and Bollywood boogie,” he adds.
Robert also has a keen eye for Indian beauty and he says, “What comes to my mind first if I were to describe Indian women would be dark eyes and hair which attracts me most.” He also reveals what turns him on in a woman and what puts him off. “I guess intelligence… oh forget it, I can’t fool nobody — she’s got to be HOT! For put offs, I would say … probably a blonde, oh no wait they are fun,” he adds. prithwish.ganguly@timesgroup.com
Avtar Bhogal on his film Honour Killing
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 02, 2010)
Remember Zakhmi Aurat, the cult shocker in which rapists were castrated thanks to the pioneering efforts of a club initiated by Dimple Kapadia (a victim) and co-victims Rama Vij and Aruna Irani? Shame on you if you don’t, because Avtar Bhogal is back.
And this time he’s making a film titled Honour Killing. Actors from India, Pakistan and the UK have just completed shooting for it.
A still from Honour KillingWhen contacted, Bhogal said, “Not many people are aware but there are at least 15 to 20 girls being killed in London every year but it is never reported. This is unfair and that’s why I wanted this story to be told.”
Speaking about his absence from Bollywood over such a long period, he said, “The economics changed and I was wondering what to do. After that I shifted to London for my daughter’s studies and I am flying back now for her convocation ceremony.
However films are and will always be my first love. Now that she is done with her studies, I will be making more issue-based films.” Fans await.
The Ups and Downs of MAMI
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
The good, the bad and the outright funny at the just concluded 12th Mumbai Film Festival
Satyen K Bordoloi & Suprateek Chatterjee (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 29, 2010) (From left) Yash Chopra, Oliver Stone and Jane Campion (Pics: Satyen K Bordoloi)
A film festival, as the name suggests, should be about cinema and only cinema. However, as filmmakers and audiences converge upon a festival with tight schedules, the good, the bad and the downright hilarious often creep in. The 12th Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI), which just concluded on Thursday, had its share of each.
With 215 feature films from 59 countries (including 44 for the Japanese retrospective), 15 documentaries, 20 short films and a crore rupees in prize money, it’s hard to pack such a strong cinematic concentrate. As Fardeen Khan and Raima Sen said at the closing ceremony, this might have been the largest film festival ever in terms of the number of films that were screened.
Here are some highlights that defined this year’s MAMI.
Global Cinematic Village For those who cared, many global filmmakers came to the city. There were of course the famous ones: Oliver Stone, Jane Campion and Samira Makhmalbaf. But for those interested in the art and craft of filmmaking, most of the directors of these 14 films in competition – from Denmark to Thailand, Germany to Singapore, Canada to Turkey, Spain to India, roamed around, perhaps, as one said during their press conference, trying to More >Delhi boy to star in Ang Lee’s next
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Delhi boy Suraj Sharma, 17, will play Pi Patel in Ang Lee’s upcoming adaptation of Yann Martel’s best-seller ‘Life of Pi’
MUMBAI MIRROR Online Bureau (October 28, 2010) Suraj Sharma, 17, will be playing the lead role in Ang Lee’s upcoming Life of Pi
Yes, India has much to rejoice about as Ang Lee has chosen 17-year-old newcomer Suraj Sharma to essay the role of Pi.
Suraj lives with his mathematician parents in Delhi. He has no previous acting experience and was cast following an extensive, months-long search. Over 3000 young men auditioned for the part.
Lee, whose many other honors include an Oscar nomination for his direction of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and whose Sense and Sensibility was a Best Picture nominee, will shoot Life of Pi in 3D, utilising groundbreaking techniques to capture the story’s epic scope.
Life of Pi is based on Yann Martel’s beloved book, one of the biggest publishing events of the past decade. The book has sold over seven million copies worldwide and continues to sell over 1,000 copies per week and has won the prestigious Man Booker Prize, and was a New York Times bestseller for over a year.
Yann Martel had this to say: ”I’m thrilled that Ang is adapting Life of Pi to film. He’s a brilliant, versatile director, with a stunning visual sensibility. He can capture the most intimate emotion as well as the most dynamic action. He’s the perfect filmmaker to bring Pi’s epic journey to the screen”
Life of Pi will take More >