Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged Kareena Kapoor
Kajol-Kareena call a truce
Jul 29th
Only Karan Johar could have managed this…
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 29, 2010)
Can two mothers make a home? And can two powerhouse actresses exist peacefully on the same set? Yes, if you have Karan Johar trouble-shooting. Once again Bollywood’s premiere filmmaker has managed to pull off another first. Dharma Productions’ We Are Family that will hit the screens on September 3, is an intimate, emotional film. “UTV and I decided to release it on September 3 because it’s a film meant for women and family audience, and we wanted an opposition-free clean week,” says Karan. He adds, “It’s the first official adaptation in Bollywood of a Hollywood film — Step-Mom in this case.” He points out that Dharma is fortunate to have a good equation with Hollywood giants such as Fox (My Name is Khan) and now Sony Pictures (We Are Family).
And whether it is getting the lyrics of a song — like he did with Pretty Woman for Kal Ho Na Ho or whether it is adapting the 1998 Susan Sarandon-Julia Roberts film Step-Mom, Karan believes it must be done officially. “There is just no other way to do it than in collaboration with the foreign studio or with getting the official remake rights,’’ says he. He is happy, too, that UTV Motion Pictures is also on board this project that brings together two of his favourite actresses — Kajol and Kareena Kapoor.
“These two return as a pair after they worked with me in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Siddharth Malhotra, my director, has brought these two women of substance, in substantial roles, for the first time. And, as a viewer and a cinegoer, I was truly excited to see their pairing. I’m also happy that Arjun Rampal has solidly held his own despite being thrown in with these two solid performers in what I describe as an intimate family experience.’’ Karan is particularly proud of the fact that the debutante director has managed to get the desired performances from his actors. “I personally think WAF will provide the audience a happy laugh and a good cry.’’
KJo directs emotional scenes of Ra.One?
Jul 27th
King Khan has summoned Karan Johar to London to direct the emotional sequences of Ra.One
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 27, 2010)
Karan Johar is currently in London and shooting for Shah Rukh Khan’s film Ra.One. Karan is directing a couple of scenes for best friend Shah Rukh Khan’s magnum opus since SRK feels that Karan is the lucky mascot. He wants all the luck possible for this film.
Our source said, “Shah Rukh is extremely close to Karan and some days back he had tweeted, inviting Karan to come and direct a couple of scenes for him. SRK wrote that Karan is his lucky mascot and that’s why he wants Karan to do it.
Karan accepted the invitation and so Karan is currently in London shooting a couple of emotional scenes which are his forte, with SRK and Kareena. The schedule of the film has been split into two units for a couple of days. The original director, Anubhav Sinha, will continue to shoot the primary montages and action-packed sequences of the feature. Karan, in the meanwhile, will be shooting the mushier bits.
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“Karan left for London on Friday night and has also begun shooting from Monday. He is going to shoot for two days and after that Anubhav Sinha will once again take over as the director of the film,” said a source.
Incidentally the combination of SRK and Karan has not failed at the box-office so far, starting with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai up to the recently-released My Name Is Khan. Let’s hope that this superstitious arrangement doesn’t cause any tears for King Khan.
KJo in the meanwhile was too busy shooting to comment.
Yes, I’m seeing Kunal: Soha Ali Khan
Jul 26th
A year after Mumbai Mirror broke the news (June 3, 2009) that Kunal Khemu and Soha Ali Khan were in love, the actress finally opens up to her relationship with her beau
Diksha Kamra (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 26, 2010)
It was always an open secret, but Soha never acknowledged it in public. But seems like the actress is in the mood to talk now. Wonder if Saif’s open-to-all relationship with Kareena Kapoor helped sister Soha warm up to the idea…
It takes some prodding but the actress finally gives in, “Okay, I am seeing a wonderful actor called Kunal Khemu (you mean a wonderful person). And he is lovely. It’s not a secret, but it’s not something that I am going around announcing either. You know, we both are young and are exploring films.
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| Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Khemu |
But we both enjoy spending time together. Your happiness is doubled and your sadness halved when you share it with someone. It really helps in both situations.”
You wonder if Soha and Kunal quarrel like most couples. “I fight a lot,” she says, “Whenever we both are fighting, it’s my fault. I never admit it, but I argue a lot and am very difficult.”
Soha loves being pampered. She admits, “Yes, I love to be pampered. And I’m emotionally high-maintenance, if not so much physically. But I argue a lot.” Does that mean Kunal is more understanding? “He is also very argumentative,” Soha says, “But has less pride. So he’s the one to say, ‘Okay, let’s forget it. Let’s move on.’”
Good for them. But are Soha’s parents okay with the relationship? “Oh, we’re not onto the family stage yet. We both like spending time together. My parents have met him and they like him.” As for marriage, Soha says, “Marriage is far away. I want to achieve a lot before I get married. And after that, I can devote myself to whatever life asks for.” Or whatever Kunal asks for, right?
Imran’s got Katrina and Priyanka panting
Jul 26th
Both hotties are now eyeing the light-eyed boy
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 26, 2010)
In the flaky world of films everyone is as good as his last Friday. And the light-eyed Imran Khan, who had a hit in I Hate Luv Storys, is suddenly the object of Bollywood’s desire. Super-hotties Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra, who were chasing Ranbir Kapoor fast and furiously, completely over-looked Imran who was standing in the bylanes post those disasters Kidnap and Luck. In fact, when Sanjay Gadhvi’s 7 Days in Paris with Imran and Kat fell by the wayside after these two actors reportedly had “issues”, Kat didn’t even blink her mascaraed lashes. And PC, too, seemed in no hurry to come to the rescue of the pariah called Imran.
But all that stands changed post IHLS. And, why aren’t we surprised that the hoity-toity actresses now have a different stance on Aamir Khan’s light-eyed nephew. Reliable sources say that after Karan Johar announced his Short Term Shaadi (working title) with Kareena Kapoor and Imran, he reportedly got a message from Kat asking him why she was not selected for the Imran film. It is said that Karan assured her that his banner would be making many more films with Imran and, of course, Kat would be definitely considered for a role with the boy.
Sources close to Priyanka say that she has to choose between two films currently. One is said to be with Imran and the second could be Kunal Kohli’s film with Saif Ali Khan. PC is now in a dilemma on which of the two she should green-light. Her feelings for Imran are ditto that of Kat’s. Post IHLS the boy has the halo.
So, the clever PC is expected to do a photo-session with Imran to check out how good they look together. It clearly means that without saying anything, PC is making her preference evident. Or she may say yes to the Saif film, as well as the Imran one. Till yesterday, Kareena was envious of the fact that Kat and PC had a Ranbir in their kitty. Today the shoe is on the other foot. Both these girls want what Bebo has. Honestly, in this dog-eat-dog industry, the bone of contention is constantly changing. Now Imran has them all panting!
Bebo’s dog in Golmaal 3 named Facebook!
Jul 23rd
The actress will be seen with a pet dog named after the networking site, in Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal 3
Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 23, 2010)
Though not on any of the networking sites herself, Kareena Kapoor will walk around with a pet dog called Facebook, in her next Golmaal 3.
Apparently director Rohit Shetty has named the dog Facebook. The dog belongs to the Boxer breed and was seen earlier in All The Best.
A source reveals, “Golmaal 3 is funnier than Golmaal Returns, in which Kareena’s role was a spoof on Ekta Kapoor. In Golmaal 3, she plays a tomboy and has a pet dog called Facebook.
Kareena will sport a lot of t-shirts with funny one-liners written on them like, ‘Crime master gogo’, Mogambo khush hua’ to name a few.”
Rohit found the name Facebook ideal for the dog and thought it will be popular with the audience.
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| Rohit Shetty with the dog |
The source adds, “When Rohit mentioned the idea of naming the dog so, the entire cast was in splits but they all loved the idea.
In fact, the director has decided to name his first pet Facebook, if he ever keeps one that is.”
Whether Facebook will accept Kareena’s friendship requests, depends entirely on how good she is with animals.
SRK’s biwi on TV
Jul 22nd
Shah Rukh will act with his wife Gauri in a TV commercial
Sonal Chawla (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 22, 2010)
Now that Shah Rukh is taking time off from shooting for his various endorsements to concentrate on RA.One, wife Gauri Khan is exploring unchartered territory. She has bagged her first brand endorsement with her husband.
Very soon, the couple will be seen in a television commercial. The buzz in the industry is that they will endorse a very popular furnishing house. The shoot for the commercial is likely to take place in Mumbai.
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| Gauri and Shah Rukh Khan |
Ad filmmaker, Sunhil Sippy, (who directed Snip) will be directing King Khan and his wife in this commercial. And in this stint, Sunhil seems to have got by with a little help from his friends Makarand Deshpande and Saurabh Shukla actively helping him out wherever possible.
Gauri, who has always maintained a very low profile in the industry, is known to have designed costumes for her husband during his Baazigar (1993) days. She turned producer with Main Hoon Na (2004) and Om Shanti Om (2007). According to the source Gauri is finally letting go of her shell.
“Gauri has been approached for commercials earlier but somehow things never worked out. This commercial with Shah Rukh will be her first full-fledged assignment in front of the camera,” added the source.
Be it Saif Ali khan and Kareena Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai or Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna, star couples have always sizzled on the small screen.
Imran & Shakun fight over title of KJo’s next
Jul 21st
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 21, 2010)
As we reported recently, producer Karan Johar has cast Imran Khan in his next, which is being directed by debutant Shakun Batra.
This romantic comedy will have Imran romancing Kareena Kapoor.
Turns out, Imran and Shakun can’t see eye-to-eye all of a sudden. Imran was apparently very keen on calling the film Short Term Shaadi, which had temporarily become the working title for the film.
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| Imran Khan | Kareena Kapoor | |
Director Shakun Batra has rejected Imran’s title despite the fact that Imran and the film’s writer Ayesha Devitre had strongly endorsed it.
You might wonder why Shakun should be obliged to take Imran’s suggestion anyway. That’s because Shakun and Imran actually go back a long way. The two became friends during Imran’s debut film Jaane Tu… in which Shakun was assisting Abbas Tyrewala. It was Imran who recommended Shakun to Karan Johar.
Clearly, the favour wasn’t unconditional because Imran’s now quite miffed with Shakun for turning down the title he had suggested.
Commenting on this, Karan says, “Yes Shakun didn’t like the title Short Term Shaadi. It was only a working title in the first place. Imran and my writer Ayesha were kicked about Short Term Shaadi.
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| Karan Johar |
But Shakun would hear none of it. We at Dharma go completely by the director’s vision. So we’re hunting for a new title now. What is decided for sure is that the film will be shot in Las Vegas.’
Meanwhile, Karan has left for an unknown part of the world to write his next script. “I’m tired of people asking me what I’m directing next. Even I want to know. I am not coming back this time without an answer.” We’re sure to get to know of it first
Manjrekar gets Bebo-Dutt jodi
Jul 21st
To make film he planned with Kareena Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt 10 years ago…
Subhash K Jha | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 21, 2010)
Firstly, Sanjay Dutt and Mahesh Manjrekar are friends again. It happened in Sri Lanka at a recent awards event where Dutt hugged his old friend warmly and said, “Even if we don’t do a film together at least let’s meet up like old times.”
Matters moved quickly from that point of reconciliation. And now Dutt and Manjrekar have decided to revive Ek Anokhi Prem Kahani — their dream project about a blind girl and a grotesquely disfigured man. Dutt and Manjrekar were the thickest of friends who collaborated on a series of films from Vaastav to Viruddh. Then Manjrekar backed off because he did not see eye-to-eye with Dutt on the company the actor kept. And their ambitious project remained on the backburner. They reconnected when Dutt requested his filmmaker friend to do a small role in Lamhaa. Says Manjrekar, “Ek Anokhi Prem Kahani was planned with Sanju and Kareena right after she made her debut in Refugee. She projected a pristine beauty and innocence that I needed to play up against Sanju’s character. Though Kareena has matured in 10 years, I find the same quality of unspoilt beauty and grace in her. Sanju also has aged wonderfully. To me they still work as the characters in my love story.”
The filmmaker feels the pair has never been tried before and has a certain crackling currency about it. Now all Dutt and Kareena need to do is find the time to co-ordinate their dates.
Vidya out of Dhamaal 2?
Jul 20th
Vidya Balan is no longer a part of Dhamaal 2. She was unhappy with her remuneration as well as the character she was playing
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 20, 2010)
Vidya Balan is out of Inder Kumar’s next Dhamaal 2. The buzz in the trade is that Vidya was neither too happy with the money she was being offered for her role, nor with the role per se.
A source says, “Vidya asked for a price which she deserves after she catapulted to the top bracket of actors, post the success of Paa and Ishqiya. She asked for Rs 1.5 crore (approximately). Like any other actor would in her place, she too has hiked up her market price.”
According to the film industry standards, the market prices of Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif are believed to be Rs 1.5 crore (approximately) and that of Priyanka Chopra’s around Rs 1 crore. Hence, given Vidya’s career graph in Bollywood, it is surprising that neither Inder Kumar nor Ashok Thakeria, the producer of the film, objected to Vidya’s exit from the film. “Inder and Ashok failed to understand the need of the hour. Despite discussions, the makers of the film and the actress could not meet at a common consensus,” adds the source.
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Meanwhile, Vidya’s friend insists the actress quit the project for qualitative reasons. She stands up for Vidya and says, “Yes, the news is true. Vidya is definitely not doing Dhamaal 2. But that’s simply because she didn’t find any meat in the portrayal of her character. She would have loved to attempt comedy with this film but it’s okay. There is always a next time.”
Interestingly, Vidya has locked horns with her Dhamaal 2 co-star Kangna Ranaut in another film Bullet Train, which is to be directed by Priyadarshan. Bullet Train, which stars Anil Kapoor and Ajay Devgn, is largely going to be shot on a train from London to Glasgow.
Producer of Bullet Train, Ratan Jain has clearly worked out the economics of his film much in advance. He has no qualms in giving the lead role to the actress who is willing to settle for the price he has to offer. He confirms, “Between Vidya and Kangna, whoever agrees to do the role at a lesser price, will get to play the part in my film. The availability of dates will of course be another important factor.”
Despite repeated calls and text messages, Vidya remained unavailable for comment.
Everybody wants a national award
Jul 20th
All the reigning stars want it by hook or by crook
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; July 20, 2010)
The National Award has become the bone of contention in Bollywood with everyone, from truly competent actors to cardboard cut-outs, fantasising about it. Like Aamir Khan, who cold shoulders popular film awards, but made it a point to accept the National Award for Taare Zameen Par. Priyanka Chopra, who won the National Award for her role in Fashion, mentions this acting honour in every personal and professional conversation without fail. Katrina Kaif and Vidya Balan are hopeful that their names will feature in the nominations for Raajneeti and Ishqiya this year. Prakash Jha has already predicted that his lead pair, Ranbir Kapoor and Kat, will pick up National Awards for their performances. And Kareena Kapoor has only one clear objective in doing Madhur’s Heroine. A source close to the actress says, “She wants to win the National Award come hell or high water.’’ While Madhur, who has picked up the National Award for Chandni Bar, Page 3 and Traffic Signal, and calls it the Oscars of India, says, “These awards mean the world to me. I definitely feel my stock has gone up having bagged them.’’
But, of course, there is also a more interesting flip side to this new-found Bollywood obsession. A trade analyst says, “The National Award is just an ego massage for the actor/filmmaker that gets it. They have no bearings on the box office. Shah Rukh Khan hasn’t won a single one so far. He was a close contender for Swades but they overlooked him for some strange reason. Yet there is no denying that he is Bollywood’s biggest box office draw.’’
It is alleged that the National Awards are also shrouded in controversy. While the grapevine insists that some amount of wheeling-dealing in the corridors of power has helped one veteran filmmaker bag an award in some category or the other, there is also the instance of how these acting honours were deferred one year because of some mud-slinging between disgruntled jury members. Saif Ali Khan’s award for a film like Hum Tum came in for a lot of flak just the way Raveena Tandon’s award for Daman did. And when Arjun Rampal picked up his National Award for Best Supporting Actor for Rock On recently, a serious actor joked, “I have hidden my National Awards in the basement now.’’ And another actor’s cellphone status said, “Awards are like haemorrhoids, sooner or later even the undeserving get it.’’ But criticism and caustic comments apart, Bollywood continues to be obsessed with India’s highest acting honours.
