Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged screen tests
Penelope’s sis opp Nakuul in Spanish rom-com
13 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
And the Hollywood hottie’s younger sis is to romance Bollywood actor in Spanish rom-com
SHARIN WADER BUTANI Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; April 29, 2010)
Nakuul Mehta’s debut film Haal E Dil in 2008 didn’t create a flutter at the box office, but the newcomer has landed himself a role that many Bollywood’s biggies would perhaps kill for. Come August, and Nakuul will be romancing Penelope Cruz’s younger sister Monica in a Spanish romcom.
“I wasn’t supposed to be part of the film. Director Onil Ganguly Avemore had already done screen tests of young Bollywood actors and was on his way back home. That’s when he saw my film on the flight and called his casting director for my contact. I couldn’t believe my luck,” said Nakuul who plays a Bollywood actor in the film.
“Monica plays a flamenco dancer who comes to Mumbai and falls in love with me. But she’s oblivious of the fact that I’m a star. Then the rest is about me following her back to Spain,” revealed Nakuul, who is already learning Spanish to be able to interact with his onscreen love because she knows no English. In real life too, Monica, is an accomplished Flamenco dancer. She has worked in films like Last Hour, The Final Inquiry, The Blackening, Asterix At The Olympic Games (with Gerard Depardieu) and will be seen in Joshua Newton’s Iron Cross opposite Roy Scheider this year, besides doing Spanish televison shows like Un Paso Adelante.
Monica, 33, is a stunning replica of her More >
Bollywood was on my bucket list!-Sarah Jane Dias
03 years ago
by Fenil Seta
in Bollywood News
READY TO MAKE A SPLASH: Sarah Jane Dias and (inset) Ritesh Sidhwani
Perky new actress Sarah Jane Dias credits her Miss India title for the break in Bollywood
NIMISHA TIWARI Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; March 4, 2010)
Miss India aspirants, take inspiration from Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2007 Sarah Jane Dias, who has signed on a huge three-film deal with the Ritesh Sidhwani-Farhan Akhtar production house Excel Entertainment and is already shooting her first film opposite Abhishek Bachchan for them.
Mumbai is this 5’9 VJ-turned-actress’ city of dreams. She won the PFMI World title here. “I cannot forget the crowning moment. It took some time for it to sink in,” she recalled in a good luck message to the participants of PFMI 2010. That feeling was euphoric. “Just as my big break opposite Abhishek Bachchan is,” Sarah added, “how many newcomers would get that kind of a break?”
But, yes, she credits the Miss India pageant’s team of experts for giving her the edge. “Most importantly, they instilled the confidence in me to take on life in an effortless and beautiful manner. And thanks to the pageant, I am ready to take this forward,” said Sarah who came to Mumbai from Muscat when she was 21 and with no family around here to help her but just a set of close pals, made this city her home and working turf. She’s enjoying every moment of her work opposite Abhishek (Sarah plays his love interest in the film, lucky girl!) for Ritesh More >