News & Views

Govinda's ace

          Govinda's films lately have not been doing well at the box office and his last two releases 'Raja Bhaiya' and 'Ek Aur Ek Gyarah' miserably failed. But, no hope is lost on the actor's side and he is still trying his best to be darling of masses with his latest comedy caper called 'Hum Do Hamara Ek', produced by Smita Thackery. The soundtrack was recently released at Mumbai's Tulip Star by the makers and the star cast where cassettes and CDs of the film were given to the orphan kids of Mumbai by Govinda and Smita Thackeray. The film stars Govinda with Raveena Tandon and Mahima Chaudhree alongside Satish Shah and Anant Mahadevan as supporting cast.
-Nov 12,   2003

Wedding Bells ! Madhur Bhandarkar

           Madhur Bhandarkar, National Award winning director, is soon expected to tie the knot with interior designer Renu Namboodri. The couple has known each other for the past seven years. Renu is not a Hindi movie buff but she has watched Bhandarkar films on and off, a way of keeping in tab with what he does best! Meanwhile, Bhandarkar is relaxed about the whole affair, he is not tied in knots and quite prepared for the nuptials. He says, "The marriage is going to be a private affair with only close relatives and friends present."
-Nov 11,   2003

The Gift, Bollywood Style!

          Actor, businessman and now producer Suniel Shetty is all geared for his second release Rakht which is nearing completion. The film has been scripted on the lines of the Hollywood film Gift with a lot of 'indianisation' as Suniel puts it. The lead cast has chocolate boy Dino Morea who for a change has been cast as a wife-beating villain, which should be an interesting change. Wonder if he would be convincing it should not turn out like 'Khel'. Suniel says, " the storyline in Rakht is about a girl who gets some glimpses into the future through Tarot reading. It is a supernatural thriller."
-Nov 11,   2003

Naseeruddin Shah back to theatre

          Naseeruddin Shah the multi-faceted actor is back to his first love that is theatre. After Ismat Chugtai and Saadat Hasan Manto, actor-director Naseeruddin Shah now takes on Kahlil Gibran's writings. He will enact Gibran's Prophet as a finale to the on-going Prithvi Theatre Festival 2003 in Mumbai. The setting of the two-hour long paly is a hospital room "which most humans consider the last stage of their existence. The play has Shah along with child artiste Rishabh Thakker, son of set designer Mihir Thakker.The Prophet will be staged at Prithvi Theatre on November 11 at 9 pm and on November 12 at 11 am and 9 pm.
-Nov 10,   2003

Sanjay in item number

          Sanjay Dutt will be seen in an item dance number in Mahesh Manjrekar's 'Rakt'. Accompanying him will be the hot and happening Babuji girl Yana Gupta. Sanjay Dutt has done many item numbers before including the famous Tamma Tamma, Ishq Samander and the recent 'Yaara' number in Plan. The song is choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant. This song is currently been pictured at Mumbai's Mikanos Discotheque where Sanjay Dutt's earlier song like Ishq Samunder from Kaante and Yaara from Plan was been shot.
-Nov 10,   2003

Amisha and Akshay paired together

          Amisha, Akshay and Karisma will now be seen together in Mere Jeevan Saathi, a love triangle. In the movie, Akshay plays a pop singer and sports a very different look. Amisha is paired opposite Akshay for the first time and plays the girl next door who is besotted by Akshay. She is hopeful of the film and is confident of the job done by Sunil Darshan. She does not feel threatened by the presence of a veteran actress like Karisma Kapoor, in the film.The film's music is by Nadeem Sharavan.
-Nov 10,   2003

Madhur to tie the knot

Mumbai, Nov 10: The latest on the grapevine is that ace director Madhur Bhandarkar is all set to tie the knot and put an end to all those rumours about him being involved with his actresses. The lucky girl is none other than his long-time girlfriend, Renu Namboodiri, who is an interior designer. The wedding, in all probability, will take place in December.
-Nov 10,   2003

Ash-Akshay chemistry

           Aishwarya Rai, who has been paired opposite Akshay Kumar for the first time in 'Khakee', is all praise for the film's director Raj Kumar Santoshi. This is her first film with the director and she is extremely excited about the role, despite the fact that the film, with a huge entourage of male actors, is largely a male-dominated script. Her accident during the making of the film was a setback but she is very appreciative of her co-stars who helped her during this difficult period. The actress is very tight-lipped about the plot of the movie and her role in it.

          Post-production work is almost complete. The film stars Aishwarya, Ajay Devgan, Tusshar, Akshay and Amitabh Bachchan in lead roles. However, there was a song that remained to be shot all this while. The song Dil Dooba with Akshay was supposed to be shot in the days when Ash suffered a leg injury on the film's sets. When Ash returned for the shooting, the song kept on getting delayed for one reason or the other till Santoshi decided to shoot it in a start to finish schedule.
-Nov 9,  2003

Madhuri's back in Mumbai

          Mrs Nene paid her first visit to Mumbai on Friday after delivering a baby boy, Arin. She along with her nine-month old son visited her friends, family and relatives. She is likely to stay in the city for two months during which she is likely to sign a couple of good projects in Bollywood. Offers have already started pouring in from the likes of Yash Chopra, Rituparno Ghosh and Rajkumar Santoshi. It is learnt that Madhuri has also read the script of Farhan Akhtar's sister Zoya's directorial debut that is tentatively titled 'Lucky by Chance'.
-Nov 8,  2003

Urmila's Pinjar is a refreshing change

          Pinjar comes as a refreshing change for the audiences who are tired of watching the same kitsch over and again. The highlight of the movie is the emotionally moving story and commendable performances by the star cast. It has been noted that Urmila's performance as Puro is the most talked about, where she played a young Panjabi girl kidnapped by a Muslim and how love develops between them amidst partion and communal hatred. Along with Urmila co-stars Manoj Bajpai, Priyanshu Chatterji, Sandali and Lillete gets under the very skin of their character. Based on a novel by Amrita Pritam, Pinjar tells the tale of a number of characters caught in the turbulent times of riot and chaos during the partition of India in 1947.
-Nov 8,  2003

Shilpa stars in Revathy's film

          After getting good reviews for her directorial debut 'Mitr: My Friend', starring Shobhna which also won the National Award, Revathy is ready to direct her second film. Revathy's husband Suresh Menon will produce the film. Shilpa Shetty will play an AIDS victim in this film which is reportedly based on Hollywood hit 'Philadelphia'. In the original Tom Hanks played a gay AIDS victim with Antonio Benderas as his boyfriend while Denzel Washington played his lawyer. There are talks that Abhishek Bachchan will play her lawyer in the film, though nothing is confirmed as yet.
-Nov 8,  2003

After Jism, another sizzler

          Off screen or on screen Bipasha and John do make a hot pair. The two were seen together in Jism and would soon be seen in Vikram Bhatt's movie Aetbaar along with Amitabh Bachchan. And again you can have your own share of the pair in yet another film titled Mumkin. To be produced by Anil Sharma, who had earlier done Suhaag and Aashiq, the movie will be directed by writer-turned-director Tanveer Khan. It is learnt that Priyanshu Chatterjee will also play one of the leading roles in the film and TV serial Kasuati Zindgai Ki's lead actress Prerna will also be making her debut in this film. Currently the shoot of the film is on at Mumbai's Cinevasta studios.
-Nov 8,  2003

Suneel Darshan is back with another romantic film

          After giving hits like "Raja Hindustani", "Dhadkan", "Ek Rishta", "Haan...Maine bhi pyaar kiya hai", director Suneel Darshan is back with another romantic film,- "Mere Jeevan Saathi". Starring Akshay Kumar, Amisha Patel and Karishma Kapoor, the film is a love triangle set in a music backdrop. Akshay plays the role of a pop singer, and Patel is playing his love interest. Patel, who has been paired opposite Kumar for the first time, says her role in the film is quite of a soft-spoken girl. "The role which I am playing is of an Indian girl. The girl is very soft-spoken and this is a very hard role for me to handle," said Patel during the shooting of the film in Mumbai. The film made with a budget of 140 million, has music by Nadeem-Shravan and lyrics have been penned by Javed Akhtar.

          "Mere Jeevan Saathi" would be Karishma Kapoor's first film after her high-profile marriage to New Delhi-based businessman Sanjay Kapoor. Suneel Darshan, whose last movie "Talaash" was a damp squib at the box office, is quite hopeful of his musical. "Well the music has been the highlight so far. Besides some great performances, there is some great music. Nadeem Shravan are at their best. This is the song, which establishes Akshay, he is a big rock star. The music is the best thing in the film," said Darshan. The music scorers Nadeem Khan and Shravan Kumar still compose music together despite Khan living in Britain since his runaway from India following his name figuring as an accused in the murder of music magnate Gulshan Kumar. The film, which will be shot in picturesque locales of Egypt, Switzerland and Holland will be released by March 2004.
-Nov 8,  2003

An all-male cast!

         Sujoy Ghosh of the 'Jhankar Beats' fame plans to bring together the country's most talented actors, Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah, in his mega venture 'Borivali'. The film has an interesting concept with no female artistes and has an all-male cast only. Ghosh has just completed his film based on Rabindranath Tagore's book 'Minds Without Fear' and will start off with 'Borivali' in mid 2004.
-Nov 7,  2003

Mahima and Anupam paired in Chess!

          Mahima Chowdhary and Anupam Kher have been teamed up in Chess - The Game Plan. Mahima is quite excited about the project as it will provide her with a platform to showcase her talent as Sujoy Ghosh has dealt this film quite differently. Spice Team Entertainment, the producers of the film, also announced two other films - Kuch Din Kuch Pal starring Sudhanshu Panday, Fllora and Sonu Sood and Shukriya starring Aftab Shivdasani and Anupam Kher. The new production has already completed Kaun Hai Jo Sapno Mein Aaya starring Rakesh Bapat and Richa Pallod in the lead. All the three films are being represented by UK-based production companies Inspired Movies and Prickly Cactus.
-Nov 7,  2003

Choker Bali premiers

          Choker Bali, Aishwarya's first regional film, was finally premiered at Mumbai's Fame Adlabs on Thursday. The event took place along with a special screening for the invitees and the Press. Aishwarya, who plays Binodini alongwith Prosenjit and Raima Sen, spoke at length about the film. The film, which is based on Rabindra Nath Tagore's novel, will be released in the rest of India with English subtitles.
-Nov 7,  2003

Clash of the titans

          The coming month will witness lots of clashes as many big films are lined up for release. The biggest movies are Raj Kumar Santoshi's 'Khakee' and Karan Johar's 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' and they will be pitted against each other on the same day. This is definetly not good news for the box-office. Hope the producer of Khakhee, Keshu and Karan Johar take notice and work out a suitable solution.
-Nov 7,  2003

`Koi Mil Gaya' completes 100 days!

          Rakesh Roshan's sci-fi film 'Koi Mil Gaya' has completed 100 days all over India. The film was able to woo the audiences and is being touted as Hrithik Roshan's come-back film. This was India's first alien movie and Hrithik Roshan's performance of a mentally challenged guy got rave reviews from audiences and critics alike. The film had Hrithik and Preity Zinta in the lead roles. The film also starred Rekha, Rakesh Roshan, Johnny Lever and a Chotu Dada in the role of alien Jadoo.
-Nov 7,  2003

Out of Control is a laugh riot

          Vashu Bhagnani's Hindi-English bilingual film that will be released next week promises to be a laugh riot. The film tells the story of a Punjabi guy Jaswinder played by Ritesh Deshmukh who meets Sally (Brade Rodricks) from LA. They fall in love but Jimmy's father played by Amrish Puri has grand plans of getting him married to a desi kudi Richa played by Hrishita Bhatt. Jimmy marries Richa and every man's fantasy of having two wives now becomes Jimmy's biggest nightmare. Jimmy has to go back to America where Sally is waiting for her. It is a rib tickling situational comedy of lives and wives with an international feel but Indian at heart complete with the song dance routine. Raman Junega and Apoorav Asrani have directed the movie and music is by Anand Raj Anand. The movie made news ever since it was launched because of Vashu Bhagnani's unique promotional strategies that included the Passport format press kit and mid-air music release. Moreover, the casting of a Hollywood starlet Brande Roderick of Baywatch Hawaii series fame in a full-fledged role is a completely new trend in Bollywood.
-Nov 7,  2003

Manisha goes from hot to hotter!

          After playing a hooker in Jaiprakash's 'Market', Manisha Koirala is gearing up for yet another sizzling role in the same director's next film "Garmi". In fact, Manisha is so interested in the project that she is thinking of producing it herself. It is learnt that Jaiprakash is all set to launch a double hero, double heroine project. The film is an intense love story with Manisha, Dino Morea, Aryan Vaid and Mallika Sherawat in leading roles. Manisha and Aryan had paired in 'Market' too. Talks are abuzz that when Manisha read the film's script she was so impressed that she offered to produce the movie under her banner Moving Images. Earlier, the director had the plans to invest in the movie himself, but now, after Manisha's offer, he is reported to be thinking of letting Manisha produce the film. However, nothing has been decided so far. The film is expected to go on floors by the end of the year.
-Nov 6,  2003

Aftab's UK film

          Aftab Shivdasani has been signed to play the leading role in Spice Team Entertainment's movie titled "Shukriya". The film, to be directed by new-comer Anupam Sinha, was launched recently at the Club, Andheri (West), Mumbai. It is being presented by UK's Inspired Movies in association with Prickly Cactus Ltd. Shukriya will star Aftab with Telugu superstar Shriya in the main lead. The film is believed to be an emotional drama that revolves around a number of characters that can't seem to come to terms with the harsh realities of their lives. It is likely to hit the theatres early next year.
-Nov 6,  2003

Urmila's husband

          After playing lovers in Deewangee and Kudrat, Akshaye Khanna and Urmila Matondakar are likely to play husband and wife in Milind Soman's next production venture titled Mia Biwi Aur TV. After the success of his first production "Rules - Pyar Ka Superhit Formula", Milind is ready to produce another light entertainer. Urmila Matondakar is said to have given her consent to act in the film. Milind will play the second lead, while the leading lady opposite him is yet to be finalized. Based on script by Ajitabh Mennon, Mia Biwi Aur TV will be directed by Parvati Balagopalan.
-Nov 6,  2003

A break with cinema of substance

           Rani Mukerjee will be doing two period films this year, Baji Rao Mastani and the Rising. Both the films have been researched well and are expected to do well, considering the kind of alternative cinema like Oops, Ssshhh, Joggers' Park, Hungama etc. In the film Baji Rao Mastani, Rani plays the role of Mitthibai, wife of Baji Rao Mastani and in the Rising as the love interest of Mangal Singh aka Aamir Khan. Rani says she has not done any research for her role in the the Rising. "Ketan Mehta as a director has done a perfect research and all I do is follow his instructions", she says. "This is also the second film (first was Ghulam) I will be enacting as the love interest of Aamir Khan. I hope it will once again prove to be a lucky role for both of us". Well we can just wish a good luck.
-Nov 5,  2003

Making noise about Tanisha!

          Tanisha, younger sibling of Kajol, has performed quite well in her debut film Ssshhhh. There are glimpses of Kajol in her, the same fiery and yet sensitive performance, to be honest in some shots of Tanisha, even the facial resemblance looks strong. It can be deduced that talent runs in the family blood. However, only time can tell whether she will be as popular as sis Kajol or even cousin sister Rani Mukherjee.
-Nov 5,  2003

Basu Chaterjee, back in the foray!

          Veteran director Basu Chatterjee who had given us hilarious films like Shaukeen and Baaton Baaton Mein is back in the foray with a new film. This time round he is all set to direct a film on Tarashankar Bandopadhayay's novel Saptapadi, which stars Diya Mirza, Jimmy Shergill in the lead, actors Anupam Kher and Govind Namdeo in other important roles. This film also has 80's actress Zarina Wahab, which is her comeback film.

          It's a love story between a Christian girl and a Hindu boy but Chaterjee says that this is different and has more to it than just a love relationship. "There is much more to it. The girl learns about her roots and attempts to rectify the injustice done to her. She is shocked when her father tells her that she is an illegitimate child. She wants to marry against her father's wishes and ultimately unites with the Hindu boy who stands by her." The film still sounds clichid but with veteran director like Basu Chaterjee we can still expect some good story telling on screen.
-Nov 5,  2003

The new muscleman!

           The Roshan father-son duo really seems to be experimenting with atypical scripts and roles. It is believed that the third film will be an action thriller. Hrithik Roshan's debut film Kaho Na Pyaar Hai was a love story, the second film with his dad Koi Mil Gaya was a science fiction film. And now the father-son duo's third film together will be an out-and-out action flick. Reports say Rakesh intends to start shooting for film as soon as Hrithik returns from Ladakh, where he is shooting currently for Farhan Akhtar's 'Lakshya'. Hrithik it seems might just be the next action man of Bollywood after all!
-Nov 5,  2003

Khakee to be released a month late!

           Rajkumar Santoshi's film Khakee was to hit the theatres on November 28 but will now be released in December. Keshu Ramsay admitted that Khakee's release has been postponed to December. It may be noted that Khakee was to release on the same day as Nikhil Advani's Kal Ho Naa Ho. Rumours has it that Shah Rukh Khan called up Kishore Lulla, the overseas distributor for Khakee as well as Kal Ho Naa Ho, and requested him to delay the release of Khakee. Shah Rukh Khan has point-blankly denied his intervention in the matter saying that he had nothing to do with Khakee's delay. Kishore Lulla in an interview to the press maintained that he did not want two big films to cut into each other's profits. "I'm a businessman. I want to make the most of the films I distribute. I don't mind Khakee being released later".
-Nov 5,  2003

Prince Charles launches Bollywood film on 1857 uprising

          Prince Charles, on a nine-day trip to India, sounded a clapperboard on Tuesday to launch the filming of a Bollywood movie on the first major Indian uprising against British rule. "Muhurat shot, take one," said Charles as he launched the period film, "The Rising", in Mumbai, the heart of India's film industry which churns about 1,000 films a year. Bollywood's glitterati was out in force for the "muhurat," held in an upmarket five-star hotel. Later, the film's two lead actors, in red and gold military uniforms, performed a scene in which a British officer pleads with an Indian soldier not to rebel.

          Bollywood's most admired actor, called the "perfectionist", Aamir Khan, who stars as the legendary freedom-fighter Mangal Pandey clarified that the film was not based on anti-British sentiments. "It's not really an anti-British message. I would like to actually correct that, because it's not anti-British really. Towards the end of the film Mangal (Indian freedom-fighter Mangal Pandey, lead character) says that he realised that even he was wrong because he treated Nain Sukh, another character, as an untouchable, so he realised that even I am unfair. As an Indian I don't treat everybody equally. The realisation that all humanity should be treated on an equal basis is what the message of the film really is," Khan told reporters after the muhurat.

          The film also stars Bollywood's latest reigning queen Aishwarya Rai and Rani Mukherjee, alongwith Hollywood star Tobey Stevens. "The Rising" is based on an 1857 uprising by Hindu and Muslim soldiers in British colonial India who believed the cartridges they had to bite before loading their guns were greased with the fat of cows and pigs, which is forbidden by their religions. The uprising, which the British called a mutiny and the Indians the first war of independence, resulted in Britain taking over rule of the country from the East India Company. The movie is the story of an Indian revolutionary Mangal Pandey and his friendship with a British commanding officer Gordon. Pandey was executed for leading the revolt that killed many British officers.
-Nov4, 2003

UK storms Bollywood

           India and UK share a very special relationship since the time the British ruled India. Films like Bend It Like Beckham, Guru, Bride and Prejudice are testimony to this fact. Now another UK-based film company enters Bollywood and has launched three films in a row. They have launched three films - Kuch Din Kuch Pal, Shukriya and Chess - the Game Plan. All these films have both big as well as small names from Bollywood like Anupam Kher, Aftab Shivdasani, Mahima Chaudhary and new-comers like Sonu Sood and Shriya Saran. Noteworthy among them is 'Chess the Game Plan' which stars Anupam Kher and Mahima Chaudhary. Interestingly, Anupam Kher is for the first time playing a romantic lead and this is Mahima's first English film. Anupam is currently shooting for Bride and Prejudice.
-Nov 3, 2003

Lara competes with Priyanka

           Lara, who shed her clothes without any inhibitions in Andaaz, is reported to have confessed that 'No Entry' is having far more explicit in its oomph content than her debut film. If Lara had Priyanka Chopra for competition in Andaaz, she has Bipasha to counter in 'No Entry', whose propensity to take off her clothes and give sizzling scenes is well-known. The eye-popping audience may also notice that 'No Entry' also stars Anil Kapoor and Salman Khan.
-Nov 3, 2003

Suri bounces back

           For actor Sanjay Suri, the last three years in Bollywood has been marked with a slow progress with only a handful of films being released. However, lately, the young actor's acting career seems to be gaining some momentum. Sanjay, recently seen in a commendable performance in Chandraprakash Dwivedi's Pinjar, has begun to get a firm foothold in the tinsel town of Mumbai. Although leading roles are still hard to come by for this handsome actor, there are still a number of second fiddle roles for which Sanjay is deemed suitable. It is also learnt that Sanjay will play a negative role in editor-turned-director Onir Ban's first movie titled 'Fidaa'. The movie, to be produced by Pritish Nandy Communications, will be a psychological thriller with three main characters. Others in the cast are yet to be finalized. Speculations are also rife that Sanjay might also snap another plum role in Chandrapraksah Dwivedi's next flick, which will be a period drama, based on the literary works of Sadat Hassan Manto.
-Nov 3, 2003

Age is just a number, Shah Rukh

           Shahrukh Khan doesn't believe in celebrating his birthdays because it means adding yet another year. So, it's only a small get together with his close friends and family on 2nd November every year. When this Bollywood heartthrob came to Bombay he was as 'Kadaka' as can be. Name, fame, contacts or money were what he lacked most. But what he had was conviction and confidence in himself, and you know the rest. Today all he wants to do is remember those days, in fondness and with pride definitely.
-Nov 2, 2003

Dhoop's special screening

           In an attempt to garner audience reaction the producers of soon-to-be-released film 'Dhoop' plans to host special screenings for the section of the society that can directly identify with the theme and the events shown in the film. Since this is a real trail of a martyr's father and attempts to bring forth the existing government bottlenecks, the producers of the film plans to hold special previews for the parents of the Army and Navy officers, the NDA students and the Government bureaucrats in Mumbai and Delhi.

          The first screening in Mumbai was held for the parents of the Army and Navy officers who have either lost their sons in Kargil war or are posted at some frontline. The preview was held on Saturday, at 4.00 p.m. at Eros Theatre, Churchgate. Around 60 parents watch the movie along with the cast and crew who share their feedback. This will be followed by a special preview for the Mantralay bureaucrats on Tuesday at 6.30 p.m. at Eros Theatre.

          Releasing on November 7, Dhoop is a post Kargil drama - a story of the parents of a young Captain who lays down his life in the war, and their struggle to get Kargil hieghts-up the petrol pump allotted to him by the government in memory of his son. Produced by Parth Arora and Saket Bahal and directed by Ashwini Chaudhary of Laado fame, the cast includes Om Puri, Revathi, Gul Panag and Sanjay Suri.
-Nov 2, 2003

Scorpios' B'Day!

           November sees two very popular Scorpios celebrate their birthdays in a row; while Aishwarya celebrated her 30th birthday on Saturday, Shahrukh Khan, celebrates his birthday on Sunday. He turns 38. The two actors have been very successful in their films and between their first films till date, they have grown to be superstars in their own rights. The other Scorpio who will soon be celebrating her birthday this month is Sushmita Sen, who will turn 26, and who too remains popular with the mass. The release of her film "Samay" has garnered suitable attention for the lady. Incidentally "Samay" was supposed to have been made on the lines of super cop Kiran Bedi's real life role.
-Nov 1, 2003

Ash may sign fourth film with Vivek!

          Subhash Ghai recently announced "Kisna" with Vivek Oberoi in the lead role but no female lead was mentioned. Buzz doing industry rounds is that the showman has approached none other than Aishwarya Rai for the role. If Ash signs Kisna, then this will be the fourth film that she has signed with Vivek. The duo is already acting together in Samir Karnik's Kyon? Ho Gaya Naa and Roland Joffe's 'The Invaders' and Samarjit Dasgupta's yet-to-be titled venture. We are yet to see the two on screen. Will they sizzle on reel life? It's not a coke ad!
-Nov 1, 2003

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