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Posts tagged Mumbai Mirror
After abusing journalist, Nagarjuna waves the white flag
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Tollywood actor Nagarjuna lost his cool with a female cine critic who gave him negative feedback on his films; he allegedly hurled abuses at her and threatened to ‘kill’ her
P Pavan (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 03, 2011)
Under the Indian Penal Code sections 506(criminal intimidation) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills police registered a case against Tollywood actor Nagarjuna Akkineni, on Saturday.
The actor reportedly lost his temper with a female cine critic, at the Annapurna Studios on September 29. And now we hear that since the complaint, the actor has been trying to make amends with the freelance journalist.
The journalist, who is a member of the Film Censor Board, alleged that Nagarjuna had approached her when she was interviewing a heroine at the studio. In the police report, she claimed that Nagarjuna had asked her what she thought about his films Dhamarukam and King.
When she gave Nagarjuna negative feedback on his films, he supposedly verbally abused her and even threatened to kill her. In the report, she stated, “All this happened in the presence of a few film persons.”
Reportedly, the police did not conduct any probe into the case right until Sunday evening.
A source explained that Nagarjuna’s aides had conveyed to the authorities that the actor was trying to make peace with the journalist. “Based on an apology, the woman is free to withdraw the complaint. If she stands firm on her complaint, More >
International producer offers 500 crs for Munna Bhai rights?
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
A leading international production house offered Vidhu Vinod Chopra Rs 500 crore for the superhit franchise
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 03, 2011)
Circa 2003, Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s film about a goon and his sidekick hit the theatres and became an overnight success. Munna Bhai MBBS, directed by Rajkumar Hirani became a cult by itself. Never before, in Hindi cinema was a goon so loved by the masses.
In fact, when three years later, Lage Raho Munna Bhai released, audiences received their favourite goon with a lot of love, yet again. But none of this probably could’ve prepared Vidhu Vinod Chopra for the offer he recently received.
The filmmaker and his production house were offered a whopping sum of Rs 500 crore for the rights to the Munna Bhai franchise. An international production house wanted to buy the successful film title.
A source informed Mumbai Mirror, “An international film production house offered Vidhu Vinod Chopra Rs 500 crore for the Munna Bhai franchise. This includes the rights to produce Munna Bhai films, Munna Bhai merchandise and also the rights to publish Munna Bhai comics in the future.”
According to the source, the international corporation conducted a survey in the Indian film industry, where Munna Bhai emerged as the most recalled movie franchise. “In fact, the third part of the film is one of the most eagerly awaited films even though the script has not been finalised yet. Needless to say, the production house wanted to buy the rights to More >
Rajinikanth finally shoots for Ra.One
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Putting health problems aside, the superstar arrived in Mumbai to shoot with SRK. Here’s what happened
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 03, 2011)
October 2, 2011, Rajinikanth returned in front of the camera. Thanks to Shah Rukh Khan. The superstar shot for Khan’s opus RA.One at Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Woods studio on Sunday. Accompanied by his daughter Soundarya, Rajini shot for the much publicised scene with Shah Rukh taking a one day break from his acting sabbatical and process of recuperation.
Though his family had earlier mentioned that the iconic south Indian star would not be travelling to Mumbai for the single shot, Rajini arrived in the city with Soundarya and a team of technicians on Sunday morning. After a brief rest, the actor headed to Ghai’s Whistling Woods studio and shot for the scene.
Bidding the superstar farewell, SRK and RA.One team headed back to the post-production studio to put in place the scene that officially completes the RA.One shoot.
An eyewitness informed Mumbai Mirror, “Shah Rukh Khan and Rajini Sir hit it off instantly. Rajini Sir’s daughter Soundarya had brought along her team of technicians from Chennai to make sure no time was wasted. She made it clear that her father would not be able to shoot for more than a couple of hours. The shot however, was wrapped up well within the time limit.”
Shah Rukh, it seems, went out of his way to make the superstar comfortable during the shot. “They were extremely relaxed with each other. Shah More >
Manish Malhotra talks about his bond with Kajol
11 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Designer Manish Malhotra talks about the deep bond he shares with his most ‘unglamorous’ actress Kajol
Mitali Parekh (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 02, 2011)
This is a photograph of me and Kajol at the Universal City Walk in Los Angeles taken when we were shooting for My Name is Khan. It is a small memory of the years and years we’ve been together.
I first met Kajol and Tanisha on Aditya Chopra’s lawns in 1993. I was supposed to be introduced to her the next day for the fittings of Hulchul, our first movie together. We went on to work together in Gundaraj, Dilwale Dulhaniya…, for her wedding outfit, etc. Since 1993, I am the only designer she has worked with 98 percent of the time. Off screen, she has a few clothes designed by me and she doesn’t mind wearing them again and again. She considers herself my most unglamorous heroine!
Kajol’s most unique quality is that she is very real and reaches out to connect with you. When we were all new to the industry, we’d all be busy running helter-skelter for fittings, sourcing, etc. One such day in 1995 she called me and asked, “What are you up to?” I told her I was just at home, taking a breather and she said, “Okay, I’m coming over.” I thought it was for work, but she said, “I’m just coming over to be with you”. Just like that, she connects from the heart and forges a bond.
She always insists on working with me. Even when she is doing just a special appearance in a movie and someone else is designing for it, she’ll say, “I only More >
Would love to have college experience; study psychology-Ayesha Takia
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Mirror reader Vinay Vishwanath meets a content Ayesha Takia who talks about doing all the things she loves after marriage
Baishali Chatterjee (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 02, 2011)
He paced anxiously outside the café where we were to meet Ayesha Takia. He tapped his foot against the wooden floor nervously. Finally, he walked up to her as she turned to him with a warm smile. For three years, Vinay Vishwanath harboured the desire to meet the bubbly and doll-like Ayesha.
From the word go, Vinay was comfortable chatting with Ayesha. He told her about his job as a research analyst, which impressed her, as she too has turned to research in the last few years to understand the restaurant business better. “Research is especially important when we’re deciding on a new menu. But the most fun bit is the tasting, which becomes more like eating for my family and me,” she laughed.
After her marriage to restaurateur Farhan Azmi, Ayesha took a backseat from films to learn the ropes of the business. “I had been working for ten years and though I love films, I needed a break. Everyone should do more than one thing so that life becomes more fulfilling. I knew that my shelf life is limited; someone else would soon take my place. I had to make sure that I had my life sorted.”
As she spoke about her work, Vinay got curious about her journey from the Complan girl to becoming an actress. “That was by sheer chance. The director of the ad film was my father’s friend, so when the main girl for the More >
Shakti Kapoor locked up with 13 girls? Aaauun!
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in TV News
Kunal M Shah and Mehul Thakkar (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 02, 2011)
The fifth season of Bigg Boss, the reality TV show that is the Indian version of Big Brother, is set to spring a strange surprise when it goes on air today.
Contrary to its normal format of having seven boys and seven girls as inmates in a house every season, this year’s show will feature 13 ladies, and only one man: Bollywood baddie Shakti Kapoor, whose numerous on-screen avatars were serial molesters of women.
For three months, Kapoor - of pelvic-thrusts and lewd-gestures fame - will be the lone man on the show with contestants ranging from fellow-thespians, socialites, a VJ, a gangster’s wife, and even a wrestler.
The producers are hoping how Kapoor reacts to them, and they to him, will add some spice to a show that’s starting to become predictable. Here’s the list of women who have their task cut out.
Pooja Bedi
Daughter of actor Kabir Bedi, Pooja has worked in several Bollywood films, including Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. Perhaps best remembered for a safe-sex campaign she endorsed in the ’90s, in Bigg Boss 2, Pooja had interviewed evicted housemates.
Raageshwari Loomba
Another blast from the past, Raageshwari has tried her hand at music, films and television. A former VJ, she suffered partial paralysis soon after the launch of her album Y2K in 2000. Fully recovered, her comeback album in 2006 was the first in India to be released in cinemas.
Mahek Chahal
The actress made her Bollywood debut in 2003 in More >
The rise and rise of Katrina Kaif
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
In the mom-and-pop shop that is Bollywood, the actress, who seems to have emerged from nowhere, is now perched on the top. What’s her secret?
Namrata Bhawnani (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 02, 2011)
In an industry that is still slave to dynasty and lineage, a British-Asian girl emerges from nowhere and attains vertiginous heights in Bollywood.
Boom’s producer Ayesha Shroff is more forthcoming, “During the course of some research, Kaizad chanced upon her.
He tells me that a few days later, she went to his house and asked him, ‘I’m interested in India. Do you think I have a future in India as a model or in films?’ She came down to Mumbai, auditioned and got the role. I think she had done some modeling in London. I thought she would have a career here. At that time, there was nobody with a good body, no one was wearing bikinis.”
But where did Kaizad meet her? Ayesha refuses to say. “I can’t talk about it. What’s the point? What she has achieved is admirable and it’s not easy for a woman to pull herself out of nothing and make such a huge name for herself.”
What she does talk about is how Katrina got her last name. “Her passport says Turquotte. We created an identity for her. She was this pretty young English girl, and we gave her the Kashmiri father and thought of calling her Katrina Kazi. We thought we’d give her some kind of Indian ancestry, to connect with the audience. Those times were different, now people are more accepting. But then we thought that Kazi sounded too… More >
Ashutosh Gowariker to direct UTV’s next
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
Kunal M Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 01, 2011)
Ashutosh Gowariker and UTV Motion Pictures are reportedly all geared up to work together on a film based on the best seller book Chankya Chant by Ashwin Sanghi. A source informed us that UTV had bought the rights of the book sometime ago. And so, now the production house has brought Ashutosh on-board to direct the film.
The source said, “Chankya Chant was released on January 26, last year and became a national best seller within two months. UTV recently bought the rights and after giving it much thought they decided that Ashutosh Gowariker would be the best person to direct the film.
UTV and Ashutosh previously worked together in Swades, Jodhaa Akbar and What’s Your Rashee. The officials of the production house have already met with Ashutosh, who loved the book. As of now, the technicalities are being worked out. The rest of the details are yet to be finalised.”
When contacted both Ashutosh Gowariker and officials at UTV remained unavailable for comment.
Raju Hirani’s fake Twitter account removed
01 year ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
The director, who rarely uses the social networking site, learnt of a fake profile account in his name that took pot-shots at the industry’s leading men
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 01, 2011)
Leading director, Rajkumar Hirani was the recent victim of identity theft. Reportedly, the director learnt of his Twitter imposter only two months after the fake account was created. And to top off his woes, the unidentified individual used the account to take pot-shots at the leading men of the industry.
A source informed us that Hirani, who does not use the social networking site frequently, was alerted about the fake profile by his friends.
The source explained, “Raju is not a Twitter person. He has an account, but he barely tweets. A false twitter profile in Hirani’s name was created.
The person began tweeting about Shah Rukh Khan and Abhishek Bachchan in a disrespectful manner. When Raju came to know about this, he was shocked.”
Initially, the tweets were not very offensive and so many of the people they were targeted at, chose to ignore them. However, the source said that the comments gradually became vicious. “It was a cause of major embarrassment to Hirani and he was flabbergasted at the profane remarks,” added the source.
When contacted, Hirani said, “Yes, it is true that there is an imposter who would keep tweeting offensive thoughts. I have filed an official complaint about it to the Twitter head office.” Reportedly, after he filed the complaint, the Twitter More >