Where Bollywood Comes Alive
Posts tagged wife
Ali Zafar to move to Mumbai
Aug 17th
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 17, 2010)
Pakistani pop star Ali Zafar who returned to Pakistan after the promotion and release of Bollywood comedy Tere Bin Laden is in the process of moving to Mumbai with his wife and five-month old child.
Just before Ali had returned to Pakistan he had said to this writer, “There are more avenues and prospects here. So if the God above and the politicians down below permit I’d love to move to Mumbai. My first home is Lahore. But I’d like to make Mumbai my second home.”
Tere Bin Laden director Abhishek Sharma confirms that Ali Zafar is moving to Mumbai. “He has some really good offers in Mumbai. And he is planning to relocate himself into Mumbai.”
The grapevine has it that Ali has been signed on by a major studio in the city. Watch this space for more.
Manoj Tiwari, wife living separately?
Aug 11th
While sources say that Manoj Tiwari and his wife Rani’s marriage is on the rocks, the couple is strangely elusive about it
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 11, 2010)
All is not well between Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari and his wife Rani. Apparently, the couple is living separately. While Rani is now staying at Lokhandwala, where the couple lived in their happy days, Manoj has moved to a house in MHADA (Andheri), when he is in Mumbai that is.
Says a source, “Manoj is not seen much in his building. He and Rani developed friction in their relationship. Before it became too ugly, they decided to live separately.”
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| Yogen Shah |
We visited Rani’s residence last afternoon and she said, “Which marriage does not have a problem? We had issues. We have issues.” When asked if she and Manoj are living separately, she said, “Whenever Manoj is in the city, he stays here.” When we tried probing further, the lady excused herself and walked away on pretext of some urgent work.
We contacted Manoj, who said, “Rani and I did have issues. But we are fine now.” Manoj added that Rani wanted to stay alone for sometime. “We were living separately for five months but everything is fine now,” he reiterated.
The causes for the so-called “issues” were several but Manoj pointed at an important one. “Somebody brainwashed Rani that I disapproved of her music endeavour. However, she wanted to stay separately as she started feeling I was not supporting her in her music activities.
But if you recall, I was present at her music album launch (which happened in September 2008 and was attended by India’s cricket captain MS Dhoni),” said Manoj.
We sure hope harmony prevails soon.
Ajay unhappy with Karan?
Aug 11th
The actor apparently doesn’t like the way Kajol is positioned in KJo’s latest film
Meena Iyer | TNN (BOMBAY TIMES; August 11, 2010)
It is almost as if Ajay Devgn is discovering new dimensions to his relationship with wife Kajol. If a very reliable trade source is to be believed, the actor is openly singing paens about his wife’s talent. This is rather strange because Ajay and Kajol have been married for 11 years. And neither has gone gaga about each other in public, until now!
Anyway what prompted this diatribe is information saying that Ajay is not happy with the We Are Family promotions.
The source says, “Ever since the first interview for WAF appeared, Ajay felt that Kajol should have been positioned differently from Kareena.”
According to information available, it is said that Ajay feels Kajol (quite obviously) is in a different league as an actress as opposed to the younger Kareena. And so he feels that Karan should give Kajol a different kind of placement in the whole publicity campaign instead of making it seem like Kajol and Kareena are on par.”
BT asked Kajol if she was aware of her husband’s “anguish” and as usual she spoke her mind. “Listen I don’t know if Ajay is anguished or any such thing. If you say that he wants me to be more prominent than Bebo in the WAF campaign, I will understand. After all I’m his wife and he is bound to be biased towards me.”
Kajol even joked that if this matter is true, then she would go home and advise her husband to take up the issue with her best friend Karan. Ajay, in defence of his bias, said, “Kajol is the best actress Bollywood has. I will naturally look out for her interests in every way and in every campaign. But honestly, who am I to complain about how Karan should go about with the publicity of his film? As for me being unhappy with Kajol being placed on par with Kareena, that’s not entirely true. Like I said, Kajol is the finest actress around but Kareena is also very good in her own place. Bebo is a friend. She is also my heroine. I’ve done Golmaal Returns and Omkaara with her. I’m currently shooting with her for Golmaal 3. This is a very sensitive issue. I won’t be a hypocrite and say that I like Kajol and Kareena equally. But I don’t wish to start any controversy.”
Of course, when pushed to say who he would give his vote to, Ajay grinned sheepishly and said, “Kajol. She is terrific.” Guess after Ajay it will be Saif Ali Khan’s turn to pick his favourite. And no prizes for guessing which of the two Ks Saif will choose.
Sunny undergoes back surgery
Aug 10th
Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 10, 2010)
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| Sunny Deol |
As per the Mumbai Mirror report on July 3, 2010, Sunny Deol had been flown to the US because his recurring back problems were becoming insufferable for him.
Though many denied this report, we have now learnt that the actor underwent back surgery a few days ago. A source said, “Sunny’s wife Pooja is with him. He is much better now.” Sunny’s man Friday Tolaram, who has been working for him since his debut in Betaab, did not deny that Sunny underwent a back surgery recently. “Abhi saab theek hai,” he said. Sunny apparently has to resume shooting for Jat Yamla Pagla Deewana by the 25th of this month. And the film has a very big action sequence in it.
We hope Sunny is well enough by then to pull it off.
Nitin Manmohan’s wife assaults him for cheating on her
Aug 8th
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, August 7, 2010 – 15:09 IST
Veteran producer Nitin Manmohan, who has produced films such as Baaghi, Bol Radha Bol, Shool, Chal Mere Bhai and Dus, found himself in a soup when his wife Dolly Panchamia assaulted him for cheating on her.
According to a report published in Mid-Day, Nitin Manmohan was having an extra-marital affair and his wife got to know of this. She even hired the services of a detective to verify the same and when it was verified her anger knew no bounds. She confronted Nitin and began assaulting him physically, even dragging him 11 floors down their apartment in Juhu. In a fit of anger, Dolly even hurled a brick at his Mercedes car thereby damaging it.
The incident happened in full public view in their building. Nitin Manmohan has now moved out of his place and is apparently staying in a rented apartment at Versova.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Desperately seeking Kajol
Jul 24th
Director Siddharth Malhotra wanted Kajol so badly for his film We Are Family, that he made a mannat to Lord Hanuman for her
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 24, 2010)
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| Kajol |
To ensure Kajol’s presence in his film director Siddharth Malhotra promised Lord Hanuman that he would visit his temple every Saturday, for the rest of his life, if Kajol agreed to act in his film. Now that Kajol has agreed to do the film as well as publicise for it, turns out, Siddharth is having trouble fulfilling this vow.
Says Siddharth, “That’s how much I needed Kajol to do Susan Sarandon’s role from Stepmom. Only Kajol fitted the role.
If she had said no I wouldn’t have made the film. So yes, I have to fulfill the mannat. I’m not a religious person at all. This was my wife’s idea.”
Kajol is Siddharth’s family friend (Umm, then why the mannat Siddharth?) “Kajol’s mom Tanu Aunty (actress Tanuja) and my father (actor Prem Kishen) go back a long way. I’ve known Kajol and her sister Tanisha for long,” says Siddharth.
Now that Kajol is on board, Siddharth can’t stop raving about her. “Kajol was a dream. She’d arrive at 9 am, be on the sets for the first shot at 9.30 and we would pack up by 6 pm, so she could return to her baby.
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| Siddharth Malhotra |
To me she was the ideal actress wife and mother, and that’s what she plays in my film.”
Siddharth can’t wait for Kajol to have her second baby so he can make another film with her. Says the besotted director, “Kajol is addictive.
She kept me on my toes. If you work with her you better do your homework, or she will grill you.”
Akshay plans a motorcycle diary
Jul 21st
After his new film releases, the star and his wife Twinkle intend to rough it out in the mountains of Jammu’s hinterland
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 21, 2010)
After Toronto, Akshay Kumar has found another paradise on earth. He’s so impressed by Jammu that he intends to return there for a trekking holiday with his wife Twinkle. He intends to explore remote areas of Jammu with his wife, that too on a motorcycle.
Whether he will write his own motorcycle diaries on the way, Akshay won’t say, but maybe his articulate wife could do the needful. But Akshay is certainly kicked by the idea of exploring Jammu as soon as his new film is released.
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| Twinkle and Akshay |
The brainwave came to Akshay last week while he was shooting for a song for Action Replayy.
“I returned to Jammu after five years. Nothing had changed. I was stunned by the natural unspoilt beauty of the place. Jammu has not turned into a concrete jungle. It was so soothing and peaceful. Sometimes I just want to get away from all the stress,” says Akshay.
The actor is especially impressed by the hinterland in Jammu. “There are endless stretches of mountains and valleys waiting to be explored. And the only way to do it is on two wheels. As we travel we’ll pitch a tent anywhere in the night. It would be fun and adventurous,” he says.
As for being recognised and accosted on the way, Akshay has come to terms with pitching his tent in crowds. “My promotion of Khatta Meetha as a common man has taught me how to deal with crowds.
Last week I was in Nagpur and there were at least 15,000 people in an open field. Not once did anyone make a grab for me. People are fine as long as one doesn’t behave like a star in crowds. Yeah , we’ll be fine traveling alone.”
Ali Zafar wants to relocate to Mumbai…but can he?
Jul 19th
By Subhash K. Jha, July 19, 2010 – 12:05 IST
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“Keep politics out of art and culture,” says Pakistan pop singer Ali Zafar who arrived in Mumbai this month. He would like nothing better than to move to Mumbai and become a singing actor like Kishore Kumar. But would the current milieu of hostility allow him to make that move?
“Things have to get better between the two countries,” Ali says optimistically. “The sooner the better. Because the present hostility is unbearable. We from the entertainment industry in Pakistan are hard hit by the suspicion between the two countries.”
Ali Zafar is honest enough to admit there’s more scope for him to function in India than in Pakistan. “I’ll be honest. There are more avenues and prospects here. So if the God above and the politicians down below permit, I’d love to move to Mumbai. An artiste knows no bounds and boundaries. My first home is Lahore. But I’d like to make Mumbai my second home.”
Ali has a wife and a 3-month baby boy back home. “When I left home I kept looking back at my home and loved ones. I wish they could come with me.” Ali expects his wife to join him in Mumbai later during his current trip to the city, his first after 26/11.
In the last 6-7 years, he has been to Mumbai at least 20 times.
However, he was unable to return recently because of the current political scenario. “Things have changed. My last visit was before 26/11 and I remember how pleasant the mood was in Mumbai. I was free to move around and roam freely on the streets of Mumbai. I cannot deny there’s tension between the two countries. Earlier aana jaana laga rehta tha. Initially, we artistes from Pakistan used to get multiple visas quite easily. Yes now it’s different, and sadly so. However, I feel singers and other artistes should be exempt from politics.”
Ali thinks it’s easy for him to incorporate singing into his acting because he uses a lot of acting expression on stage. “I wanted to do something different from what my colleagues from Pakistan do in India. I always thought my first acting experience would be something different and special. I’ve no leading lady in my first film Tere Bin Laden. I was determined that when I act for the first time, I’d sing for myself and not sing for others on screen. When I met the director Abhishek Sharma for Tere Bin Laden in Mumbai, I knew this was the project that I wanted to start my big-screen acting career with. I laughed so much when I heard the script. I was sure audiences would love it too.”Being married doesn’t diminish Ali’s popularity. “On the contrary female fans trust married men more than unmarried men. Married men are considered stable.”
About being inspired by Kishore Kumar, Ali Zafar shoots off, “He’s my definite inspiration, just as Kishore Kumar Saab was inspired by K.L Saigal.”
Ali is on the verge of signing new films in Mumbai…and moving in Mumbai. “I love the city. I want it to love me back as much as I do.”
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Irrfan undergoing ‘tough treatment’
Jul 6th
Irrfan Khan says that acting with Gabriel Byrne is proving to be the most stressful challenge of his career
Subhash K Jha (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 06, 2010)
Irrfan Khan who is currently shooting Season 3 of the hugely-applauded American series In Treatment in New York with legendary Irish actor Gabriel Byrne, is going through the most stressful characterisation of his life.
Playing psychiatrist Bryne’s patient with a past, Irrfan has to reconstruct the man’s trauma on the couch. Speaking from New York, the discernibly stressed method actor says, “I’m not allowed to speak about my role at all. But the character I play has lost his wife. And I need to reconstruct my character’s trauma on the couch without moving out. There’s just me and my therapist, played by Byrne.”
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| Irrfan Khan | Gabriel Byrne | |
Says Irrfan, “It’s the toughest assignment of my career. That I have an actor of Gabriel Byrne’s stature with me and no other co-star, is both a blessing and a challenge. After co-starring with Angelina Jolie and Natalie Portman (in A Mighty Heart and Kosher, Vegetarian) Byrne is my first major international co-star.” Irrfan and Gabriel are bonding both on and off camera since there’s no other actor present.
Adds Irrfan, “I’ve been an admirer of his work for the longest time. In fact Miller’s Crossing is one of my favourite films. While I was shooting with Sudhir Mishra for Dil Dar-ba-Dar, Sudhir recommended Miller’s Crossing again. I watched the film just before I came to New York. So was in a position to discuss its nuances with Gabriel.”
