Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged march 10
SRK welcomes Akon in style
Mar 11th
SRK charmed one and all with his inimitable wit and charm while welcoming rap icon Akon to India
By TNN; March 10, 2010
Shah Rukh Khan never disappoints. Even as he kept the media waiting for about two hours, the king of Bollywood made up for the delay and wooed the audience with his non-stop wit and charm.
He decided to welcome the international rap singer Akon in a traditional manner and showered him with flowers, whereas his heroine of Ra. One Kareena Kapoor put ‘tikka’ on his forehead and garlanded him. And when Shahrukh noticed that flummoxed look on Akon, he quipped with a dimpled smile, “In India, once the actress garlands you, you are married to the hero.” And when a member of the press pointed out that how all three of them wore black and white, Shahrukh remarked, “Now that we are married we will be coordinating clothes as well.”
Shah Rukh met Akon for the first time in New York, “and I became his big fan,” said the star, looking boyish in black T-shirt and jeans with short gelled hair. By introducing Akon, Shah Rukh Khan ‘kickstarted his production’ Ra. One, a superhero flick touted to be a 100-crore extravaganza which will be directed by Anubhav Sinha. “Don’t ask too many questions or too many details as we don’t know what we are making. And ask only funny questions to Akon, he doesn’t know anything,” said Shahrukh good humoredly.
However, he decided to give out some details such as him playing the character by the name Jeevan who has the power of solidifying electricity. “Now I can’t give out any more than this,” said the actor-filmmaker. “Yes, you will see me flying in a body suit and I will wear my underwear outside,” he laughed, talking about his attire in the film.
When asked whether he expects any controversy to happen since Mani Ratnam’s Abhishek-Ash starrer is called Ravana, and both the film names sound similar, Shahrukh’s clever reply was, “If you don’t create a controvery it won’t happen.” He further added, “And that film is the modern version of the epic whereas this is a superhero.”
At his diplomatic best, Shah Rukh Khan termed the earlier superhero films – Hrithik-starrer Krrish, and Abhishek’s Drona as wonderful, and moved on to say that he was trying the genre for the first time. “Not many superhero films have been made. This is going to be a little different. There is a superhero, a good guy, a bad guy and a beautiful girl. But it is certainly not a kiddie film,” he clarified.
Akon, who will be singing as well as composing for Ra.One, said that India is his next main focus and has decided to give different versions and options of music for the makers to select from. “I have got a lot of support and my goal is to be part of the Indian environment,” said the singer who is most eager to start work here.
“He refuses to party, we have to literally force him. He only wants to know when he goes to the studio and start work,” said Shah Rukh, who clarified that there was no business deal between them. “Akon is just being gracious. Unlike me, who charges for everything (winks), there is no business deal between us,” said the actor tongue-in-cheek.
There are also talks of Akon singing for Shah Rukh’s IPL team. “I would love to have him sing for Kareena as well (laughs) not only for my cricket team, but at present it is only the film. He will do lots of songs and will do some Hindi lines as well,” said Shah Rukh, who fielded the question sportingly when asked whether he was following his rival Akshay Kumar in getting international stars to sing for his film. “I am just a follower, I never set a trend,” he remarked, with a tinge of sarcasm.
And the meet ended with Akon singing few lines from his famous song, Beautiful on Kareena’s request. And the superstar while pretending to hold a guitar, sang, “I always wanted to be a rock star…”
MUMBAI MIRROR.COM
Shraddha Sharma breaks off with Raja Chowdhury
Mar 10th
Shraddha Sharma and Raja Chowdhury have called off their relationship
By Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 10, 2010)
Controversial actor Raja Chowdhury and item girl Shraddha Sharma have broken up.
Both of them had been going steady for nearly a year now and were even supposed to get engaged by the end of this month, but things went kaput after Shraddha found Raja cheating on her with two girls. His escapades were caught on camera by the team of a reality show.
When contacted Shraddha Sharma said, “This is shocking for me. It’s all over between us. He is constantly calling me but I don’t want to have anything to do with him anymore.
Many of my friends warned me about getting into a relationship with him, but he always showed how caring and nice he was. He called me and told me that he was under the influence of alcohol but that’s no explanation.”
Speaking about dealing with the trauma Shraddha said, “I guess everything happens at the right time. I am busy doing films down South. One of my films Jeeva has just released and I am shooting for one more film Jaye Ho. I am also doing a couple of reality shows, so life is busy – it will divert my attention from all this.”
Shabana takes a break
Mar 10th
The actress bravely performed a play despite breaking her leg, but the fracture has put her out of action for the next six weeks
By Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 10, 2010)
On Sunday, Shabana Azmi slipped on the stairs of her home, fractured her leg but still managed to climb on stage the same evening to perform a complex double role in the play Broken Images. But now all further shows of Broken Images in Delhi, Bangalore and Chandigrah will have to be cancelled till Shabana’s broken leg is healed.
“Yes I’ve fractured my left foot, but it has nothing to do with my Leftist leanings,” she grimaces. “My foot will remain in a cast for the next six weeks. We just wrote in a sprained ankle for my character on Sunday. I went on stage pumped up with two injections and four painkillers. No one got to know that my character’s ‘sprained’ foot was actually a real broken bone. That’s acting, my dear.”
But never having been incapacitated like this before, Shabana is at her wit’s end. “I feel so helpless. Maybe this is destiny’s way of making me rest. Until forced, I’d never be at home for more than two days at a stretch. What worries me are all the cancelled shows of Broken Images.”
Though the play’s director Alyque Padamsee has assured her there’s no need to fret, Shabana remains worried. “This is the first time I’ve had to cancel my commitments. And I feel miserable about it. In April I’m supposed to go to London to promote Gurinder Chadha’s It’s A Wonderful Afterlife. I hope I’m able to make it.”
For now, Shabana has plans of taking care of things around the house for the next six weeks. “My domestic staff is in a state of panic, running helter-skelter wondering how they’ll cope with me in the house for six weeks. I wonder how I’ll cope with myself for six weeks!”
Sridevi’s painting to go under the hammer
Mar 10th
Sridevi’s painting Thoughts to be auctioned by an international art house
By Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 10, 2010)
Sridevi’s newly developed passion for painting has gone international. Her painting Thoughts has been accepted by a reputed international art auction house. The proceeds from the auction will be donated to Sridevi’s favourite charity.
At the moment, Sridevi is in unwilling to talk about her passion for painting. However, her husband, Boney Kapoor confirms the news and says, “Yes, Sri’s painting has been accepted for an auction by a well-known international art house.
The auction will take place in April and all the money that Sri gets from it will be donated.” Incidentally, this is the first time that the now reclusive actress has made her paintings public.
“Only two friends, Salman Khan, after he was released from the Jodhpur jail, and fashion designer Manish Malhotra, have been gifted a painting each by her. She has been painting religiously for some time now,” says her proud husband.
Boney says his wife spends 4-5 hours a day painting. “It is generally in the evening. After she has finished with household duties and is done with our daughters’ homework, Sri locks herself away to paint,” adds Boney.
A painting by Sridevi
“After me and the kids, painting is her main passion. Now her paintings have reached a level of professionalism where they can fetch a handsome price.”
Where does this new passion leave Sridevi’s plans to return to acting? Boney replies, “Sri has been acting since the age of four. She is the only child artiste to have reached the number one position in Hindi films. She will return to acting only when something special comes her way.”
Nana gets furious on Deepika?
Mar 10th
Nana Patekar went ballistic when Deepika Padukone started suggesting changes in the script he had approached her for
By Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 10, 2010)
The capricious Nana Patekar is at it again. This time the easily upset Nana gave a earful to Deepika Padukone.
The story goes that Nana approached Deepika for a film which he is scheduled to direct for Prakash Jha. However, when Deepika suggested a couple of changes in the script, Nana got upset and gave her a piece of his mind. Deepika chose to remain unfazed by maintaining a dignified silence.
 |
 |
|
| Nana Patekar | Deepika Padukone | |
A source said, “Nana had met Deepika on the sets of Raajneeti when she was in Bhopal to meet Ranbir Kapoor who was her boyfriend then. That’s when Nana told Deepika that he is writing a script and has a role in mind for her. Deepika told him that she would love to meet him when he is ready with his film.
Recently when Nana took his script to Deepika she suggested a couple of changes, which didn’t go down well with Nana. He refused to acknowledge her suggestions and was furious with her. Despite Nana going to the extent of saying that he has immense experience in the film industry and how can a newcomer like Deepika suggest he make changes in the script, the actress did not say anything even when Nana stormed out.”
A close friend of Deepika confirmed and said, “Yes, Nana had approached her with a script however Deepika refused to do it as she could not connect to it. Nana did not have a verbal argument with her and she is not aware if Nana is upset with her. She did not do the film as it was something that she just did not want to do. That’s it.”
Nana Patekar remained unavailable for comment.
Rajeev Khandelwal to exchange rings in May, wed in December
Mar 10th
Rajeev Khandelwal to get engaged in May, will marry his girlfriend Manjiri in December
By Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 10, 2010)
Rajeev Khandelwal is going through a great phase in his personal life. On July 22, last year, Mumbai Mirror reported that Rajeev Khandelwal was in a serious relationship with Manjiri Kamtikar, who works for an ad agency. The couple will now take their relationship to the next level.
The wedding is slated for December 2010. The engagement will take place in May. While the marriage will be a big bash, to be held most probarbly in Mumbai, the engagement will be a low-key affair outside Mumbai.
Rajeev and Manjiri’s parents had met briefly in Mumbai, before they had a long chat in Ooty recently and decided that their kids should legalise their relationship. Interestingly, that meeting was incidental. Rajeev had hosted a surprise party for his parents’ 40th wedding anniversary (February 28) to which he invited Manjiri’s parents too.
Her parents were not aware of the cause of the celebration, until they reached the venue (a hotel). A source says, “There was a campfire and lovely music by a professional pianist. The setting was just perfect for something very romantic to happen.”
Confirming the news, Rajeev said, “Yes, Manjiri and I will have a ring ceremony in May. I am very happy today. And I still remember that day when I went up to her parents a few hours before you guys printed the details about her and told them that I love their daughter.
It seems just like yesterday. For me, Manjiri is the mos
t beautiful girl. She is the epitome of today’s woman who has her head firmly on her shoulders.”
His fiancée-to-be, Manjiri, added, “I’ve known Rajeev since quite some time now. We are very familiar with each other’s virtues and flaws. In fact, we balance each other’s weak points. We match each other perfectly.”
We wish the well-matched couple lots of luck.
Today everyone is a showman-Subhash Ghai
Mar 10th
As his multi-starrer film Right Ya Wrong readies for release, a mellowed Subhash Ghai decides to take the middle road
By Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 10, 2010)
• What is your forthcoming film Right Ya Wrong about? How much does it reflect what you think?
The film is about four people who think they are right. Sunny Deol is out to break the law, Konkona Sen Sharma is out to break relationships, Irrfan Khan wants to break all the rules and Issha Koppikar wants to break all morals. The climax decides who is right and who is wrong. As for my way of life, well, I may have done something right, which you thought was wrong – and vice versa. It’s a matter of opinion.
• Was it tough to handle the egos of two strong actors, Sunny and Irrfan?
They are two big bulls. I don’t know what happened on the sets. Neeraj Pathak (the film’s director) may have dealt with that. But I can see the way these two have tried to overpower each other in the film.
• Many acting schools are coming up these days. Isn’t your Whistling Woods beyond the reach of common man?
I don’t think that applies to Mumbai, where even the fees of a student in class three is equivalent to what a student pays at Whistling Woods. Moreover, I am reaching out to smaller towns, Hyderabad to start with, where the fees will be within the reach of the common man.
• Why are the films you direct these days not doing well at the box-office?
Talent can never be destroyed. Doesn’t Sachin Tendulkar too fail on a couple of occasions? I have an 80 per cent success rate in filmmaking. Subhash Ghai will always be Subhash Ghai.
• If you were to pass the mantle of showman, whom would you pass it to?
Today, everyone is a showman. Even the comedian Raju Shrivastava is. Please understand that this is not a legacy which I have to pass on. This is a title given by the media. Let the media decide. I am not competing with anybody except myself.
 |
| Right Ya Wrong |
Akon rocks Mumbai
Mar 10th
International singer Akon shook a leg with the Bollywood Badshah at SRK’s IPL bash
NICOLE DASTUR Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; March 10, 2010)
It’s indeed a treat to see international R&B and hiphop sensation Akon belt out his chartbusting numbers live, and when Shah Rukh Khan joins him in doing a little jig, it just gets better! All this and much, much more transpired on Monday night at JW Marriott at Shah Rukh Khan and the man behind XXX, Sachiin Joshi’s IPL bash. Akon was the cherry on the cake, the star performer of the night, and true to his fans, he gave a mind-blowing performance – despite having flown in from the USA barely two hours ago!
It all began when King Khan made a red carpet entry, blowing air-kisses to his fans gathered outside. The temperature got hotter as cricketers Wasim Akram, Sourav Ganguly, Ishant Sharma and Murali Kartik followed in quick succession. And then, at the stroke of midnight, you heard the familiar opening chord of Akon’s iconic number ‘Right Now (Na Na)’. As girls screamed with hysteria, some jostling to touch the singer, others recording the moment on their cellphones, he rapped to his other popular numbers ‘Smack That’ and ‘I Wanna Love You’. Akon then dedicated ‘Beautiful’ to all the beautiful ladies in the crowd but it was when he began singing his current chartbuster ‘Sexy Bitch’ that the hysteria reached an all-time high. And if you thought it couldn’t get better, then it just did, for SRK joined Akon on stage for a delightful little jig! XXX promised to unleash raw energy, and that’s what Akon’s performance was all about! Electrifying, energetic and exhilarating. Yes, we did Xperience Xtreme Xcitement!
So what, I enjoy thrillers-Subhash Ghai
Mar 10th
Bollywood’s original Showman, Subhash Ghai, defends his thriller releasing this Friday when comedy is the flavour of the season…
HARSHADA REGE Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; March 10, 2010)
Subhash Ghai, that great Showman of Bollywood, has got a new release this week in Right yaa Wrong — the Sunny Deol, Konkana Sen Sharma, Irrfan Khan and Eesha Koppikar starrer that he is most excited about. The ghost of Yuvraaj, his disaster of 2008 starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, has been exorcised and his production house, Mukta Arts Ltd., has not only funded and will distribute Right Yaaa Wrong across India, but also control its world rights. The film, directed by debutant Neerraj Pathak, is a thriller… yes, in this day and age of comedies. Subhash Ghai valiantly defended the decision to make a thriller in this Q&A session with BT…
BT: When comedy is the flavour of the season, why a thriller?
SG: Wasn’t Ghajini a thriller, too? I am sure audiences will like Right Yaaa Wrong because it’s made with passion and a pace for the big screen. The plot, the performances, the climax… let me stop here… will surprise people.
BT: After a thriller like Khalnayak and love stories like Pardes and Taal… what impressed you to produce and fund Right Yaaa Wrong?
SG: I enjoy thrillers. I see most from Hollywood. The drama, riddles, passion, speed, the excitement, the rhythm dominated background score and intriguing cinematography… just waiting for the end to know what’s going to happen, isn’t that great fun?
BT: How important is it to market a film well these days?
SG: It plays an important part in reaching the film to the audience but nothing more than that… nothing matters till the audience from the first day first show SMS their friends saying the film is ‘good’, ‘bad’ or ‘great’. That is the final fate of the film. This message goes faster than any media can voice it.
BT: Is it right ya wrong that you had your hands full with tension on the sets between Sunny and Irfaan?
SG: Nonsense! They’ve put in great performances, especially their scenes of friendship and confrontation, both are so real.
BT: And that the now-married Eesha regretted her bedroom scene in the film, but you wouldn’t delete it?
SG: Bedroom scenes are part of the story. Eesha accepted this when hearing the script. She comes out as a performer rather than a sexy girl in a bedroom scene…
BT: What makes a film a superhit ?
SG: God knows! But, in my experience, any film like 3 Idiots which brings the audience back to the theatre again and again, is a superhit.
