Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged march 5
Akshay’s the new don
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Akshay Kumar gets the look right to supposedly essay the role of Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar
Prithwish Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; March 5, 2011) Akshay Kumar returns to action films with the sequel to Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai. It’s been a while since the actor has done a gangster film that earned him rave reviews in films like International Khiladi and Khiladiyoon Ke Khiladi. Naturally he is excited. “I have been waiting for the right script to stamp my return to action and finally I found it. My look in the film has been completely my director Milan Luthria and producer Ekta Kapoor’s call. They have worked in tandem to give me this intense look,” he says.
Akki’s character is the older version of Emraan Hashmi’s character, Shoaib Khan, from the prequel. The buzz is that the character is based on underworld kingpin Dawood Ibrahim. However the actor says it’s untrue, “I play a gangster of the 80s and it would be unwise to say that I’m playing Dawood even though the world is saying so.”
Meanwhile, Ekta reveals that he will have three looks in the film. “Akshay ages through the film. It begins with 25 and then 30 and then 35 is the age span that we cover. So he will have three looks in the film. We combined how a gangster of the 80s looked and mixed Akshay’s natural charm to his dreaded on screen persona,” the producer adds. Sources have it that Akki will be taking help from prosthetics to make him to look similar to the real Dawood and will also More >
Aftab injured by horse
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
The animal kicked him, hurting his right leg while shooting for Bin Bulaye Baarati
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 05, 2011)
Aftab Shivdasani had a terrible injury on Friday afternoon when a horse he was shooting with, for Chandrakant Singh’s Bin Bulaye Baarati, kicked him on his right leg.
The shooting was stopped and Aftab was rushed to a hospital.
Thankfully he did not have a fracture but his chances of playing in today’s cricket match between Mumbai Heroes and Rest of India is now a question mark.
Aftab is one of the main batsmen of the Bollywood team.
When contacted Aftab said, “The poor animal got nervous as there were so many people on the sets. I was trying to climb on him when he kicked me very badly.
The impact was so bad that it really hurt me. There is a huge mark and I have an ice pack on it. I rushed to take an X-Ray but thankfully there is no fracture. I am in terrible pain though.
My biggest issue is that I have to play for Salman’s team tomorrow and I was disappointed.
I am hoping that the pain does not increase and I am fit enough to play. It’s a big match and we were looking forward to it.”
Say Thank You, Bobby Deol!
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
After the success of Yamla Pagla Deewana Bobby Deol has hit it with the filmmakers. Now the actor has an equal footing with Akshay Kumar in Anees Bazmee’s Thank You
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 05, 2011)
It is the industry norm. After every successful film, the market status of its stars is capitalised on in the next projects that they do.
Post the box-office success of Yamla Pagla Deewana, Bobby Deol is one person whose market demand has been most benefited from by the producers of his forthcoming films. In turn, he too seems to have gained the most out of the biggest hit of the year as yet.
The actor who was one of the leads in Thank You has now been put at par with Akshay Kumar in all the promotions and publicity materials.
Explaining how the producers were forced to change their marketing strategies after Yamla Pagla Deewana a source said, “The combination of Anees Bazmee and Akshay is amazing and all the films that they have done in the past have been huge hits.
Their last film Singh Is Kingg was a blockbuster. So, keeping that in mind it was clear that the film would be promoted as an Akshay Kumar film. However, with the success of Yamla Pagla Deewana, Bobby now finds himself everywhere in the promotions.
Even the promotional interviews of the cast will now kick off with Bobby Deol in the next couple of days and the rest of the cast will follow. Since, Akshay is in Chandigarh shooting for Joker, he will join later.”
Bobby, who has More >
Now Sanju walks out of Power?
02 years ago
Sanjay walks out on Rajkumar Santoshi’s Power due to scheduling delays
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 05, 2011)
Rajkumar Santoshi, director of Power seems to be losing all his ammunition, one actor at a time. It all began with Ajay Devgn, who walked out on the film because Power cast one too many powerful heroes.
Our source tells us, “It was Ajay who first chose to walk out of the film, as he was not keen on doing a film, which cast many heroes.
As a result of him walking out on the film, the schedule went for a toss. After a lot of persuasion, Ajay decided that he would do the film again.
However, this affected the schedule of the film again causing a delay of over four months.”
Tired of playing the waiting game, Sanjay Dutt now has decided to bow out of the film. Our source adds, “It now seems that Sanjay Dutt has also walked out of it.
Dutt was tired of waiting for the film dates to be accommodated, since it is a multi-starrer with Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor and Amisha Patel apart from himself.
Dutt’s schedule is also very tight because he is busy with Rascals, the remake of Agneepath and the remake of Satte Pe Satta.
The film is again in jeopardy and with one more actor to be finalized, it seems like a uphill task for Rajkumar Santoshi and producer Firoz Nadiadwala to get the film back on track.”
When questioned about Dutt’s exit, Santoshi tells us, “He has not told me or Firozbhai anything of this sort. Sanju is a friend and I More >
Bush shoethrower to be depicted in a play by Mahesh Bhatt
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Imran Zahid will essay the role of Muntazer Al-Zaydi, the Iraqi journalist who flung a shoe at George Bush. Al-Zaydi will also be present
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 05, 2011)
Imitation is said to be the best form of flattery! Well, lets just hope that the shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist, Muntazer Al-Zaydi, will be delighted with the re-enactment of the incident in the play, The Last Salute, directed by Arvind Gaur and produced by Mahesh Bhatt.
The young upcoming actor Imran Zahid will essay Al-Zaydi’s character in the play, which opens on May 14, in Delhi, with Al-Zaydi himself in the audience.
Imran ZahidFor those that are not aware or have forgotten the incident, Al-Zaydi angrily shouted, “This is a farewell kiss from the Iraqi people, you dog,” as he threw his shoe at then US President, George W Bush Jr., on December 14, 2008, at a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Palace in Baghdad.
Al-Zaydi’s untamed animosity for President Bush made him throw his other shoe at him as well, as he ferociously protested, “This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq.”
Zahid has been in constant contact with Al-Zaydi to understand the mindset that led to his protest against the American regime Apparently, Zahid is a bit lost in translation, as he finds it difficult to decipher Al-Zaydi’s Arabic emails. Zahid tells us, “To play Muntazer I needed to understand the man’s motivations as a human being, journalist and More >
Mink gets 15 lac offer from pimp
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Small time starlet Mink allegedly got a call from a pimp for a one night deal. Despite all the details, which she was rather forthcoming with, why was Mink willing to have coffee with him?
Vivek Kar (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 05, 2011)
Everyone knows that there is a sordid side to Bollywood. No one talks about it, but there are unconfirmed stories of many leading actresses being available for a price for celeb-crazy rich businessmen.
Shady modelling deals and events in foreign lands are often a cover up for these dirty games, people claim.
One actress who is being very vocal about her experience with one such ‘coordinator’ is the small-time starlet Mink. She participated in Zor Ka Jhatka most recently.
A jhatka she wasn’t expecting though was a call, allegedly from a pimp, a man who she claims was rather vocal about his offer.
In an exclusive to Mumbai Mirror, Mink revealed, “I had been getting calls from a pimp for a one night stand with some businessman. I got the first call when I was out of town. The person called me and introduced himself as a coordinator.
He asked me if I was interested in modelling for a brand of saris and asked me if I had modelled for any sari brand earlier. I replied saying that I had not. Later he called me and said that he would give me Rs 10 lakh for the ad.
I was shocked at hearing that and became slightly suspicious because I know that no one gets paid 10 lakhs to model for a saree ad.”
“But I didn’t follow my suspicious More >
Imran scores over Ranbir
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
…lands a plum endorsement for being a ‘dependable’ and ‘dedicated lover’, Ranbir loses out for ‘womanising’
Prithwish Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; March 5, 2011) A telecom giant wanted to sign a young and happening male actor for their product. Imran Khan and Ranbir Kapoor were shortlisted. In closed door meetings, it was continuously discussed and debated who was a better choice as the entire campaign was weaved around a guy with a ‘strong character’ (read: Mr Clean). Finally the company chose Imran over Ranbir as he was viewed as a dependable guy considering his dedication to his girlfriend of many years, and now wife, Avantika Malik. Ranbir was seen as fickle-minded for constantly changing his girlfriends. His wandering ways cost him the plum assignment. This round goes to Imran. The faithful actor will laugh all the way to the bank, as his ‘good behaviour’ has won him a six-crore-a-year deal. More reason for him to serenade his wife with ‘hello, hello bol ke, tere aaju baaju dol ke…’
Penelope-Shekhar part ways?
02 years ago
The actress who wanted him to direct her pet project is now looking for a Hollywood director
Prithwish Ganguly (BOMBAY TIMES; March 5, 2011) Shekhar Kapur was approached by Penelope Cruz to direct her ambitious venture, based on an adaptation of award-winning novelist Javier Moro’s Passion India. The sexy siren got the rights of the novel four years ago. However, the acclaimed filmmaker came into the picture early last year, when they talked about him handling the project. Impressed with his work in the Oscar-winning Elizabeth, she entrusted him with her pet project.
But now Kapur is no longer part of the film. It will be directed by a top Hollywood filmmaker, who’s likely to be finalised soon. Apparently, Shekhar got too busy with Paani, a film that might star Hrithik Roshan and Twilight star Kristen Stewart. Informers claim that it is the director’s dedication to Paani that has cost him Penelope’s project. “After they spoke on Passion India, Shekhar did not actively pursue the project with the Spanish bombshell. She felt he was not interested or committed enough and decided to approach other directors.”
The film was to be shot in Spain and India and Shekhar was to hunt for locations for the same, but it never got to that point. “No contract was signed between them and his ‘ouster’ wasn’t a jolt. Just that they both have different priorities at this point,” says the source.
According to the buzz in Hollywood, Shekhar might soon More >
Combining work with pleasure…
02 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Shoot stress and personal insecurity makes Bollywood couples opt for working holidays
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; February 25, 2011)
Till the end of 2010 Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan took five vacations annually. And this superstar couple hid their exorbitant travel bills from their immediate family because they didn’t want to get lectured on how “they were blowing it all up.” In 2011 though, the star couples are getting more prudent in their approach to their breaks. “Earlier stars would hesitate to join their partners during work. Landing up on a film/commercial set wasn’t considered an ideal way to spend quality time with one another. However, now, there seems to be little choice. Even the most established actors are working around the clock this year,” says an insider. “And vacations will have to be ruled out unless they happen on the shooting location.” On February 23, Kajol boarded a flight to Bangkok to ring in her wedding anniversary (February 24) with Ajay Devgn. The actress is going away till March 5. “We take a holiday every year for our anniversary,” says Ajay. “This year I don’t have the privilege because I’m shooting back-to-back.” Kareena Kapoor flew to Bhopal to squeeze in three days with Saif. Says Bebo, “Aarakshan was planned as a one schedule film. It is set to release in August. It has a heavy duty combination of Amitabh Bachchan, Saif and so many other actors. It’s impossible for Saifu to fly down to More >