Shootout at Wadala
got an overwhelming response from the audience.It comes as no surprise that film's actor; John Abraham decided to gift a brand new bike to his director friend Sanjay Gupta.
Well...we are waiting for more hits from both of you in future...
They were sharing a public platform after a long time. Sunny Deol had not really gone out of his way to be seen with Shah Rukh Khan ever since he felt shortchanged in Darr. Aamir Khan and SRK had not been BFFs after a prolonged season of jibes. But on Tuesday night, they put aside their differences to celebrate the music launch of Yamla Pagla Deewana 2.
And while the pictures of the starry guest list - featuring Hrithik and Papa Roshan, Aamir, SRK, Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Sunny, Dharmendra - have since been doing the rounds,TOI gets you the insider's view of what really happened when they all came together.
The buzzing suburban venue saw Aamir walk in early and take his seat. The Deols and the media greeted him warmly. But all that changed once SRK walked in. Thanks to the simmering controversy around his Wankhede episode, all eyes and ears were on the actor, who was bombarded with requests for a comment and a photo op.
Aamir got up from his seat and greeted his peer cordially, but as soon as it became evident that the media and the guests were keener to get a piece of SRK, he moved away, maintaining a dignified distance from him.
SRK was also much in demand by Papa Roshan, who pulled him aside and engaged him in a serious conversation for a good few minutes. We wonder if they were exchanging notes on superheroes. On the other hand, a visibly cheerful Juhi shared a few moments with SRK, who seemed to be sweating under his collar, despite the air-conditioning.
Once it was time to launch the music, SRK took the lead in getting all the actors in one happy frame. Even as the star guests stood shoulder to shoulder for the photo op, perhaps a little awkward in their newfound camaraderie, SRK broke the ice by requesting Dharmendra to do his signature, Yamla Pagla dance move. It worked like a charm as all of them suddenly let go of their inhibitions and broke into a jig, making it a moment to cherish.
As for Aamir and SRK, the two of them made it evident that it was time for mature interactions in public spaces.
Actor Hrithik Roshan, who has been working on his physique for a distinct look in 'Krissh 3', feels he has the best body in Bollywood, and would like to pass on some health tips to everyone on fitness.
"I think I have the best body in Bollywood," the 39-year-old said at a book launch event.
"There are some really good action scenes in 'Krrish 3'. You will see me jumping from tall buildings, doing nice punches and kicks," he said.
The Rakesh Roshan directed movie also stars Vivek Oberoi, Kangana Ranuat and Priyanka Chopra in lead roles.
International trainer Kris Gethin, who has helped Hrithik achieve fitness for 'Krrish 3', launched a book.
The actor said he would love to recommend this book to everyone in Bollywood and pass on the health advice to all including his fans.
"One need not starve to get a perfect look. One needs to be happy with their body," he said.
Hrithik will be seen next in Siddharth Anand's film 'Bang Bang' in which he is paired opposite Katrina Kaif. It is a desi remake of English film 'Knight and Day'.
"We will start shooting for it in five days. I am looking forward to it," he said.
There's a thin line between "naughty" and "sleazy", he believes.
Why is comedy all about sleaze nowadays?
"Everything should have a representative, I guess! So, also have a branch of comedy, which is sleazy, but I suppose there is an audience for that as well. There are different kinds of people in our country, and you've got to cater to all."
"But I don't think I want to make a sleazy film. I'd rather make a naughty one," the 42-year-old told IANS over phone from Mumbai.
"Go Goa Gone", his production and acting venture, releases May 10. Starring Kunal Kemmu, Vir Das and Anand Tiwari in key roles, the movie, as Saif believes, is a "naughty" kind!
Narrating a scene from the movie, he said: "There's a scene in which Kunal's character goes and buys condoms. The shopkeeper asks him, 'So what kind of condoms do you want?' and then Kunal's character says, 'Well, the ones for having sex!'
"So this, I think is naughty and funny, but not sleazy."
While the movie has been heavily promoted as a 'zombie' film, Saif says it's not all that "zombie".
"It's a very urban movie, it's a funny one and not aimed at buying anyone into the theory of the zombie. It is essentially a story of these three boys and their ridiculous adventures. So, I think it's nice if we can just laugh a little bit without thinking what's a zombie and all of that," he said.
The idea behind "Go Goa Gone" was also to cater to the audience which wants "new and exciting" genres and storylines.
"The audience is ready and maturing. So it is up to us now to give them the content. I remember Kunal (Kemmu) came up to me with this script, and said this is a comedy about zombies. At first I was apprehensive to try something new, to produce something new, but then when I read the script, I laughed out loud quite a number of times."
"I believe the audience will laugh too," Saif said.
The budget for the film, he said, was "not very much". But he promises they haven't "cheated" the audience.
He said the crew shot a lot on beaches and in jungles of Mauritius, besides getting Hollywood experts to work on the zombies' make-up. Saif's own look is different in the film - he sports blonde locks.
"I liked the idea," he said.
There's a thin line between "naughty" and "sleazy", he believes.
Why is comedy all about sleaze nowadays?
"Everything should have a representative, I guess! So, also have a branch of comedy, which is sleazy, but I suppose there is an audience for that as well. There are different kinds of people in our country, and you've got to cater to all."
"But I don't think I want to make a sleazy film. I'd rather make a naughty one," the 42-year-old told IANS over phone from Mumbai.
"Go Goa Gone", his production and acting venture, releases May 10. Starring Kunal Kemmu, Vir Das and Anand Tiwari in key roles, the movie, as Saif believes, is a "naughty" kind!
Narrating a scene from the movie, he said: "There's a scene in which Kunal's character goes and buys condoms. The shopkeeper asks him, 'So what kind of condoms do you want?' and then Kunal's character says, 'Well, the ones for having sex!'
"So this, I think is naughty and funny, but not sleazy."
While the movie has been heavily promoted as a 'zombie' film, Saif says it's not all that "zombie".
"It's a very urban movie, it's a funny one and not aimed at buying anyone into the theory of the zombie. It is essentially a story of these three boys and their ridiculous adventures. So, I think it's nice if we can just laugh a little bit without thinking what's a zombie and all of that," he said.
The idea behind "Go Goa Gone" was also to cater to the audience which wants "new and exciting" genres and storylines.
"The audience is ready and maturing. So it is up to us now to give them the content. I remember Kunal (Kemmu) came up to me with this script, and said this is a comedy about zombies. At first I was apprehensive to try something new, to produce something new, but then when I read the script, I laughed out loud quite a number of times."
"I believe the audience will laugh too," Saif said.
The budget for the film, he said, was "not very much". But he promises they haven't "cheated" the audience.
He said the crew shot a lot on beaches and in jungles of Mauritius, besides getting Hollywood experts to work on the zombies' make-up. Saif's own look is different in the film - he sports blonde locks.
"I liked the idea," he said.
As India-Pakistan bilateral relation continues to be under strain, Pakistani actress Veena Malik has said art remains the only bridge between the two neighbours.
"Today SRK, Salman and Amitabh are as big stars in Pakistan as they are in India. The only bridge which is still there between the two countries is art. Whenever someone says that send Pakistani artists back, then we should also understand that Indian films will also get banned in Pakistan as a result," Malik told during a visit to Kolkata.
Asked to comment on Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Ranjay, who succumbed to injuries earlier in the day following a scuffle with another inmate in a Jammu jail, she said, "It reminds me of what had Gandhi said - an eye for an eye will only make the world blind."
Pointing out that with the recent deterioration in relation between the two countries over various issues people to people relation has also got affected as a result.
"Whenever anything happens, they say send Veena Malik back. Artists are very fragile because their hearts are soft and so they are made soft targets," she said.
52-year-old Sanaullah, who was serving life sentence at Kot Balwal Jail in Jammu, was grievously injured in an attack by an inmate on last Friday and died in a Chandigarh hospital.
The assault came a day after the death of Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh who was brutally attacked by fellow inmates in a Pakistani jail.
"When this Sarabjit case happened, my heart cried because he was a guy who is already under trial and under the grip of the law. To kill him is inhuman," said Malik, the 26-year-old actress best known for her stint in 'Bigg Boss' in 2010.
She said harmony, love and peace should increase so that Sarabjit and Sanaullah cases don't recur.
"We (India and Pakistan) have bigger challenges. We are not enemies. Let's get over our past and move on into a new life," said Malik.
Raj Kumar Santoshi's upcoming film Phata Poster Nikla Hero will witness, the two of them coming together.
Shahid plays the role of a police officer but details about Salman's bit are kept under the covers.
A source close to the production house revealed that "They shot the scene with Salman Khan over the last weekend at a suburban studio. The shoot lasted for six hours or so. And Rajkumar wants it to be a surprise for the audience. So, no one - apart from the actors involved in the scene - is aware of what his role is."
Salman is a close friends with Rajkumar and thus when he approached, he readily agreed to be a part of the film.
Unfortunately, the leading lady of the movie, Ileana D'Cruz will not be a part of the scene. Apart from all this, the movie has almost been shot with some final touch ups left, that will complete in a month's time. When contacted Shahid's spokesperson, he confirmed the news saying, "Yes, Shahid and Salman shot together a few days ago."
Arjun Kapoor is back from Ahmedabad after wrapping up the first schedule of 'Two States'. He is impatient to see the first cut of 'Aurangzeb' when we catch up with him at a suburban studio. Excerpts from the chat.
You are quite a star.
(Interrupts) I am an actor, not a star. When you are a star you can't venture out in public.
What really annoys you at a public place?
I have seen this profession from very close quarters and I know there are small prices to pay. But when I am having a bad day or spending a private moment, I do wish I could tell people to give me some space. Also, I think it's disrespectful to secretly click pictures of me. I prefer to come out and talk to people when I have work to talk about.
You play a double role in Aurangzeb. Is it a calculated risk?
Hrithik played a double role in his debut film, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai. But there, the two characters didn't share screen space, like my characters do in this one. Aditya Chopra finalised me for the film after watching the rushes of Ishaqzaade. And when a producer shows such faith in you, it bolsters your confidence. Risk or no risk, I just went for it with conviction.
You play the spoilt child of a rich father. Does it have any parallels to your life?
I am the antithesis of my onscreen character. I never got swayed by my background. Had I been a spoilt child of a renowned producer, I wouldn't have been half as hard working as I am.
You have got some steamy scenes with Sasheh in the film. In Ishaaqzade too, you had done an intimate scene with Parineeti. People have already started commenting on how you seem to be ...
(Interrupts) Apparently I have become some expert on it or done some 78 films. It's a rubbish tag.
But you pulled it off well...
I think anybody can pull it off. It's the most natural thing to do. When a man falls in love, the first thing he will do is to kiss the girl. I think Emraan has broken the myth. Also, the audience today is sensible and understands the context of a scene. The lovemaking scene was an integral to Ishaqzaade and was done aesthetically. We did not do it to add sleaze. Also, Ranbir has done it in every film. I don't think I deserve this tag. I think Ranbir deserves the tag more. (Laughs)
What do you think of Ranbir?
RK is the star of our generation. He heads the pack. He has been doing quality work for the past five years and paved the way for all of us to experiment with roles.
Karan Johar says new-age fans are fickle and the stardom your generation enjoys is not as intense or long lasting as the previous lot. Your comments.
Karan is right. We don't have the hype and buzz that surrounded the older stars. Unlike them, we are not larger than life. Audiences are fickle today. But that is because they are looking for good work. We cannot afford to indulge in senseless cinema. Also, our generation of actors is playing characters which are more relatable and normal. We have to ensure there is a credibility attached to what we do.
Can you elaborate?
There is a subconscious understanding of what I am capable of pulling off. I cannot start imagining that I can do a Rowdy Rathore or an Ek Tha Tiger. Those stars have been working for over 20 years or so, and they have built their own audience. You need to know your worth. I am lucky I got accepted this early.
Do you think you are a better actor because of your training behind the camera?
Hundred per cent. It helped me understand my profession and craft better. That experience taught me that I have to trust the 200 people on the set who are putting the effort to make me look good. All I need to do is to concentrate on acting. I never felt any pressure when I faced the camera for Ishaqzaade.
You have come a long way, battling your weight ...
I was happy the way I was. I always wanted to be a director and for that, weight was not an issue. It was Salman who insisted I become an actor. It wasn't easy and it took me more that five years to get into shape. I had to change my entire lifestyle. But all that hard work paid off and today, I can stand without a shirt and give a shot.
Her daughter, Charulata Jagtap, who was located through a social networking site, said, "My mother was 86 years old and she was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. She had been bedridden for over two years."
Though Charulata had been taking care of Dulari, she had to shuttle between India and Australia, owing to the fact that her children are settled there. Interestingly, CINTAA was also clueless about Dulari's demise. The association's general secretary, Dharmesh Tiwari, said, "We have not been intimated by the family. But about four months ago, the bank informed us that her account had been closed."
CINTAA had started giving money to Dulari after actress Waheeda Rehman informed them about her ailing friend. So, was Dulari in such dire straits? Charulata said, "Not that bad, but the money from CINTAA was a big help. I am not working, so my children used to help her financially. "
Dulari's filmi career started with a small role in Bombay Talkies' Hamari Baat (1943). She was forced to work after her father fell ill. In 1952, she married sound recordist Jagtap and took a nine-year-break. She played big and small roles in almost 135 films, including Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1961), Mujhe Jeene Do (1963), Teesri Kasam (1967), Deewar (1975), Prem Rog (1982) and Agar Tum Naa Hote (1983). Her last film was Guddu Dhanoa's Ziddi (1997).
Superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan and others came together on stage to shake a leg with veteran actor Dharmendra and his sons Sunny and Bobby Deol.
Bollywood heavyweights including Shah Rukh, Aamir, Hrithik, Juhi Chawla, Rakesh Roshan, Ramesh Sippy, Subhash Ghai, Kunal Kohli, Anil Sharma turned up at the music launch of upcoming film 'Yamla Pagla Deewana 2'.
Among others who attended the event were Ritiesh Deshmukh with wife Genelia, Jackky Bhagnani, Chunky Pandey and Sasha Agha.
While launching the music of the film, SRK, Hrithik and Aamir danced with Dharmendra. They were later joined by Sunny and Bobby while others cheered.
The event also saw SRK and Sunny standing besides each another. The two actors have been reportedly sharing cold vibes since their film 'Darr' together.
Even SRK and Juhi were seen standing besides each other. It was reported that Juhi was upset with SRK as her brother was replaced from SRK's company.
Last year, mega star Amitabh Bachchan had come for the music launch of its first installment.
Dharmendra thanked all the stars for making it to the event.
Set in Gurgaon, the movie starring Arjun Kapoor in double role is about land mafia and features Jackie Shroff as a builder, while Rishi Kapoor plays a cop trying to nab him for being involved in illegal activities, hence the under-construction sites for press meets.
According to sources, the filmmakers feel that such locations are appropriate for the new style of press conference to take place so that the interviewers will get the feel of being a part of the movie.
Directed by Atul Sabharwal, "Aurangzeb" also stars Amrita Singh, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Sashaa Agha in prominent roles. It is slated to release May 17.
Actor Kunal Khemu says that although he and his actress-girlfriend Soha Ali Khan keep fighting like any other couple, neither of them is dominating.
We both fight a lot... We both are culprits! Both of us like to talk, debate a lot. All I can say is we are in good place today," Kunal told in an interview.
"Nobody dominates in our relation. I don't think any relation can work if one dominates. It has to be an equal relation for it to be successful and happy," he said.
The actors have been dating since quite some time and have been open about their relationship.
"We are in a very good place. I am really happy where I am. It is going great. We both respect each other as people and professionals," Kunal said.
The actor would be next seen in 'Go Goa Gone', a zombie-comedy produced by Saif Ali Khan. This is Kunal's first film with the Saif's banner Illumanti Films.
When asked why it took so long for him to do a film with Saif, he says, "It is a professional thing. It does not mean that If I am in a relation with Soha it automatically makes it mandatory for me to do a film with them. Even Soha has not done a film with Illumanti. It is not planned, it just happened."
Kunal has been a part of 'Go Goa Gone' right from the start. This will be his second movie with director duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D K after '99'.
"Raj called me up saying let's make a zombie film. So I became a part of their core writing team, came up with a story, I even wrote dialogues for the film. When we were finished with the scripting, I was not sure which character should I play, I left it to the directors to decide. They decided the role for me," he added.The makers are bringing the zombies first time on-screen and they say they have kept the story-line very simple.
"World over zombies are really big. Not everyone here would have seen zombie films. So keeping that in mind we have kept the story of the film very simple. It is not necessary for one to know what zombies are, as the characters also in the film are clueless about them," Kunal said.
Releasing on May 10, the film also stars Saif Ali Khan, Vir Das and Puja Gupta.
Kunal says he is happy with the response to the promos and hopes the excitement continues till and after the film releases this Friday.
Actor Arjun Kapoor, who did an intimate scene in his debut film "Ishqzaade", also shot a lovemaking scene for his forthcoming thriller " Aurangzeb" and seems to have mastered the art of doing them.
Directed by Atul Sabharwal, "Aurangzeb" is about land mafia and features Arjun along with Prithviraj and Sasha Agha.
Releasing May 17, the film is launching Sasha, daughter of "Nikaah" fame Pakistani actress Salma Agha, in Bollywood.
The director was apprehensive how comfortable she would be doing intense lovemaking scene with her co-star Arjun.
"Arjun explained to her the reason for the scenes and its nuances. Arjun also requested Atul that minimum crew members be present on the sets. After the shoot was wrapped up, everyone joked about how he has become a lovemaking expert as he seemed to have a complete command on the scene," said a source close to the film.
"Even in his debut film Ishaqzaade, he had intimate lovemaking scene with co-star Parineeti Chopra," the source added.
There is complete uniformity in what the Pataudis are currently wearing.
The entire family — Sharmila Tagore, her son Saif Ali Khan, daughter-in-law Kareena Kapoor, two daughters Saba and Soha, and Soha's beau, Kunal Kemmu, are wearing a tan after their eight-day break at Maldives.
Another thing in common at the family break was that most of them ditched their phones.
Saif is not a very communicative guy and was happy to keep his cell phone off, considering his amma, wife and sisters were at close quarters anyway.
Taking a cue from him, others from the family also decided to keep their phones switched off while they sun-bathed and made merry like true royalty.
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan got emotional when he met his fans in New York during the premiere of his Hollywood movie " The Great Gatsby".
Amitabh, 70, met his fans and says that it becomes difficult for him to see tears of joy on faces of his fans.
"Lovely meeting the Ef (extended family) and TwFmXt (Twitter family extension) and the FbXf (Facebook extended family). Such humility in them, such respect and admiration from them. They are the winner. I know that it was an emotional moment for many when we met up, but never forget it was equally emotional for me too," Big B posted on Twitter.
"Your tears of joy and emotion are difficult for me to take. I wish for only smiles on your faces, so lets see them please," he added.
"The Great Gatsby", directed by Baz Luhrmann, marks Amitabh's Hollywood debut. He plays Meyer Wolfsheim in the $125 million 3D project, a big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel of the same name.
The movie also stars Tobey Maguire and Leonardo Di Caprio and it will open the 66th edition of Cannes International Film Festival, starting May 15.
New kid on the block Shadab Kamal, who is making his full-fledged debut with " B.A.Pass", has gone all bold in the 'erotic human drama' with actress Shilpa Shukla. He says "Chak De! India" actress made the experience easy for him.
"I was quite nervous with the intimate scenes because I was worried about my co-actor. It's a very awkward situation, but when you have a confident co-actor, the job gets easier," Shadab told IANS.
There is an intimate scene between the two actors in the film.
Talking about the experience of shooting it, Shadab said: "She (Shilpa) was very chilled out, and the first shot I shared with her was the kissing scene and it went so well all thanks to Shilpa. Soon after the scene I went and I hugged her and thanked her for making me feel comfortable."
In the past, Shadab has featured in a small role in "Chittagong".
In "B.A.Pass", directed by Ajay Bahl, Shilpa plays a rich, married woman, who turns a sex guru for the boy. She teaches him the art of lovemaking.
"The film has many lovemaking scenes and one of them is quite long," said a source.
Releasing June 21, the movie has been awarded at various film festivals, and marks one of Shilpa's boldest role so far.
Priya was spotted sitting on one end of the Vigyan Bhavan auditorium in New Delhi Friday evening, while John took his seat on the awardees' side with "Vicky Donor" director Shoojit Sircar.
The movie, John's debut production won the best film providing wholesome entertainment award.
When John went up on the stage to collect the honour from President Pranab Mukherjee, Priya immediately took out her phone and went on clicking pictures, instead of joining the entire crowd in clapping and cheering for her beau.
However, her happiness was visible in the gleam in her eyes.
John was also being the perfect beau by taking care of Priya. He didn't go to his seat until she was comfortable.
The film, directed by Susi Ganesh, will be screened at French Riviera on May 22. On her part, Ameesha has roped in good friend and designer Manish Malhotra to design an outfit to fit the occasion.
She says, "It is a huge honour for me to be representing our cinema at Cannes. I am not going there as a brand ambassador. I am going there for my movie and that is a big deal. Manish and I have decided that since I am representing the country on a global platform, it would be perfect to be dressed in something that's truly desi. Nothing looks better on an Indian woman than a sari or lehenga. I have to walk the red carpet in the morning and the premiere is at night, so there will be two outfits."
Elaborating on the outfit, Manish says, "Keeping in mind Ameesha's complexion and personality, we have given her something very Indian, yet red-carpetish. Black and white, being classic colours, have been incorporated in her outfit that is high on Kashmiri and Chikankari work. We have also kept in mind the summer trends internationally."
We hear the 40-year-old suave filmmaker is doing a cameo in Hasee Toh Phasee, which he's producing in association with Anurag Kashyap and his partners.
While the details of his role in this Sidharth Malhotra-Parineeti Chopra starrer are not known, one hears that Karan, who has forged a deep relationship with Anurag, is also likely to be seen in a more extensive role, and that too with grey shades, in Bombay Velvet.
Yes, sources tell us that Karan has confirmed to play the part of Khambata, a Parsi industrialist. "Karan suits the character of Khambata as he's got the sophisticated personality required to play a Parsi industrialist," says our source, adding, "Karan's and the leading man of the film, Ranbir's characters are in direct conflict with each other and this is reportedly one of the major highlights."
We tried contacting Karan for a comment, but he was doing a photo-shoot for a television show and didn't revert to our text messages till the time of going to press.
She will be seen sporting different looks for a period film set in Mumbai, spanning four decades. We hear each decade demands a distinct look, which is the biggest challenge for the actor.
Since the film is set in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, it's also being said that the otherwise skinny Anushka will be made to look slightly fuller to fit into that era, when women weren't supermodel thin.
When contacted, designer Niharika Bhasin Khan said, "Yes, it's difficult to look different from the times you live in. We are undergoing a lot of dress rehearsals for Anushka at the moment. Given the era, her look will be a balance between her personality and the role requirement. A lot of research has gone into studying how the Maharashtrians and the Parsis of Mumbai dressed in the past."
It is very common factor where superstars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor get mobbed by fans during their promotional rounds across the country. However, actress Veena Malik was shocked to find herself in a similar situation.
The actress was in Jaipur promoting her upcoming movie Zindagi 50:50 where she got mobbed and had to cut short her visit as thousands of enthusiastic fans went out of control just to get a glimpse of her and meet her personally despite tight security. The movie is being dubbed in various languages, including Tamil, and is stated to release on May 24.
Speaking to TOI, Veena Malik said, "Jaipur is a very beautiful city and I am happy that I get a chance to come here and to meet my lovely fans who have always supported me. I am here to promote my movie Zindagi 50:50 where I am playing a very challenging role and I hope that people would love it. "
She is portraying a character of prostitute in the movie Zindagi 50:50.
Malik is also a part of The City That Never Sleeps, a movie based on night life and is being directed by Haroon Rashid and produced by Satish Reddy.
Anurag Kashyap, who has worked with Nawazuddin Siddiqui in 'Black Friday' and 'Gangs Of Wasseypur', shares a strong bond with the actor.
"Nawazuddin is a very good man. I love him a lot. With him, I share a silent relationship. We can even sit in a plane without talking for three hours straight," he said on a TV show.
The 'Dev D' helmer said he is an introvert and often faces problem to express his emotions.
"I have trouble expressing myself where it is essential to," he added.
After the success of anthology film 'Bombay Talkies', Kashyap is currently working on his next directorial venture 'Ugly'.
Kashyap, 40, has come a long way from the debacle that his initial films 'Black Friday' and 'Paanch' faced but the director says he still can't get over it.
"The most horrifying moment for me, worse than 'Paanch' being unreleased, was the re-release of 'Black Friday' in 2005 when I had got my first suit stitched for the premiere of the film.I wore that suit and headed for the premier."
"Just when I was about to leave my house I received a call. The film had got stalled again. Wearing that same suit I entered my room and didn't come out for three months. This has been my worst moment so far."
Aditya Roy Kapur, who charmed one and all with his intense performance in Aashiqui 2 claims that he never asked for help from his brothers, but always look upto them for suggestions.
On asked about help from elder brothers Siddharth Roy Kapur and Kunal Roy Kapoor, Aditya said, "We made a very conscious decision as we are three brothers, we don't want to get into helping someone more or someone less."
"I am managing my life and the day I will need them they will be there. But there is lot of advice that I take from my brothers as I am the youngest one. They give lot of advice to me," concluded Aditya.
Anubhav Sinha has dismissed reports that his upcoming Madhuri Dixit-Juhi Chawla starrer 'Gulaab Gang' is based on the life of Sampat Pal.
"It is not based on anybody's life, it's a fiction. Yes, there are some similarities like it has a women's gang and the pink colour but the film is not a documentation of Sampat Pal's life. A lot of people took it for granted that it's about the gang but it's not," Sinha told in an interview.
The 'Ra.One' director is turning producer with the film and admits that it was not an easy project to put together.
"Soumik Sen (director) told me the story while we were in Benaras and I was really impressed with it. Logistically, it was very challenging to put the movie together as it has no male protagonist, and then you have action and dance sequences."
"Also I knew it would not attract money easily as it is not a usual film. I went through many tough times but ultimately I enjoyed making this movie," he added.
With 'Gulaab Gang', 47-year-old Sinha brings for the first time the two divas and former rivals -- Madhuri and Juhi -- on the big screen.
"We approached Juhi and she was surprised with what was being offered. She has never been approached with something like this before but it took her just three meetings to say yes.
"Soumik had already met Madhuri once, before narrating the script to me. So he kind of had her in mind. Again this is something very different for her but she was hands on ready for it."
Sinha says it was his long-standing dream to start a production house and he is more than happy to have 'Gulaab Gang' as his first project under his banner, Benaras Media Works.
"I wanted to become a producer for the past 5-6 years. There are many reasons to it... One I feel there is a dearth of producers in our industry. We have people with good scripts but they find it hard to get it financed. It is a challenge to put a good project together and we don't have enough backing.
"Also after 'Ra.One' I was drained as a director... The movie took five years of my life and I wanted to give myself a break," he said.
Sinha is currently working on three scripts which he will be directing under his production house.
He has also wrapped up the production of his horror project 'Warning', which he aims to release this year. He is also producing 'Zid'.
"We were rehearsing a tough scene with Huma's body double.
The shot required her to drive a car through a gate. However during the rehearsals, the stunt girl had a car collision and hurt herself. Huma watched it and decided to do the scene herself." a source told.
"The car sequence was an essential part of a scene but I do not believe in compromising an actor's safety for it. But Huma was determined." Nikhil told.
A photographer called excitedly to say he spotted Aamir Khan outside a Mumbai massage parlour. Now, this is Aamir we are talking about. So don't entertain any irregular thoughts.
One hears that the actor is a regular at a spa because he has been advised to have body massages as therapy. One knows Aamir is on a strict diet and exercise regimen as he prepares for a role in one of his forthcoming films. It is also suggested that since his body weight is likely to fluctuate, he has apparently been asked to go in for some toning as well... and this is where the role of the massage parlour comes in.
According to sources, the actor is looking at a 5 BHK pent house or duplex ideally in SoBo and his staff is in talks with various builders. He may also buy an entire floor and convert two penthouses into one.
Aamir currently owns two flats in Bandra west. While, he and Kiran live in a 3 BHK apartment in Marina, his brother stays at a 2 BHK flat in Bella Vista. "He needs more space and ideally would have liked to stay on in Bandra. He was looking for a penthouse in one of the high-rises in the area but the deals fell through," a source told us adding: "Since, a two-month search has not yielded a property of his choice, he has decided to shift focus towards SoBo, and is now considering Lower Parel or Upper Worli. However, it will take some time to finalise the deal."
Interestingly, a source close to the developments had a slightly different story: "For the past four-five months Aamir has been scanning various properties. And now it seems he has finally found a place that he likes. Only his wife, agent and few close friends know the location."
Even after the deal is signed, it would take Aamir some time to pack all his belongings and memories — including an archive of rare family photos, vintage film costumes, innumerable awards and fan letters among other things, from the house where he has spent the most part of his life. With the actor busy shooting for Dhoom 3, it will be up to Kiran to oversee the shifting process.
Interestingly, both Salman and Aamir, who have been living in the apartments they grew up in, are shifting homes. Sallu is reportedly acquiring an entire building in Bandra west.
Legendary actor Pran could not make it to the 60th National Film Awards ceremony on Friday to receive Dadasaheb Phalke honour for health reasons. However, no one from his family was present either to receive the award on behalf of the 93-year-old.
The actor, who acted in over 400 movies in a career spanning over six decades and played a vast range of roles - from a hero to a villain to a character artist, was named for the highest civilian award in the field of cinema.
Pran became a symbol of villainy after his portrayals of a bad guy in a series of films including hits like "Madhumati", "Ziddi" and "Ram Aur Shyam".
If he played a villain to the hilt, he was equally good when he stepped into character roles and won many hearts as loveable Malang Chacha in "Upkar", thoroughly entertained as street-smart fraud in "Victoria No.203", and epitomised on-screen friendship in the role of a rough but kind Pathan in "Zanjeer".
Pointing out that recent cases of atrocities against women has "shaken the nation's conscience", President Pranab Mukherjee asked Indian film industry to use the powerful medium of cinema to reverse the erosion of the value system and portray positive societal values.
"The recent incidents of crime and against women and children have shaken the conscience of the nation. We must find ways to reverse the erosion of our values. In this context, I would like to stress upon the crucial role the cinema can and must play in resetting the moral compass of the nation", he said at the 60th National Film Awards function.
"It is the responsibility of everyone associated with the film industry to use this powerful medium of cinema to portray our positive societal values of building a tolerant and harmonious India," Mukherjee said.
He noted that the language of cinema in many ways transcends regions and boundaries and the number of people who watch and are influenced by it is very large.
The entertainment industry should be mindful and sensitive to these responsibilities and take all possible steps to provide cinema that is morally-energising, he noted.
Lauding the works of veteran actor Pran, who is the winner of Dada Saheb Phalke award but could not attend the function owing to his health, Mukherjee said the actor has exelled in various roles.
"We remember Pran not only for his artistry but also for what he is in real life -- a fine human being," he said.
On the occasion, he released postal stamps of 50 iconic personalities, including Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Yash Chopra, Geeta Dutt and Smita Patil, of Indian cinema to commemorate the century-long journey of Indian cinema.
On Wednesday Pinky had already told TOI, "He is not fit enough to travel to Delhi to receive the award.''
Asked if a family member will be going to receive on Pran's behalf, Pinky said, "No. They will not give it to anyone else. The ministry has to decide how they wish to give him the award."
It has been for nearly five years that the Hindi film industry has been recommending his name for the Phalke Award, but at the last minute some other artiste or technician would be given the award.
Although it has been a tradition that the winner has to go to Delhi to receive the award, it may probably be for the first time that an artiste will receive his award at his home.
A source said, "The I&B ministry and Pran's family have together decided that since he cannot travel because of his health does not permit him there is chance that committee may come home to give him the award.''
Pran has worked in films for 65 years and has to his credit about 350 films.
Gauri Khan and Kiran Rao Khan are independent women with a definite thought process in place. It was nice to see Kiran seek out Gauri in the foyer of a preview theatre and give her a tight hug.
It so happened that Kiran was watching her husband Aamir Khan's debut film Qayamat se Qayamat Tak with the rest of their families. And when she finished with the screening, she bumped into Gauri who was there to catch her friend Karan Johar's film.
The two ladies gave each other a hug and spoke warmly for a few minutes.
Only to be interrupted by Aamir, who was also very happy to see Gauri.
With Aashiqui 2, Bhatts who are known for thrillers, dark erotic films are returning to the romantic genre.
The Bhatt brothers are planning to make few family entertainers and about the same, Mukesh Bhatt said, "Yes, we are planning more romantic films. Bhatts are always trend setters. We have made erotic thrillers, horror films and with Aashiqui we have decided to make few clean family entertainers for the audience."
In 90s with films like Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin and Aashiqui, Bhatts entertained audience with romance on silver screen. On being asked whether they plan to make a franchise out of their other films, Mukesh claimed, "Yes, why not but it's too early to talk about."
Aashiqui 2 rang the bell at the box office and on asked about his plans to take the franchise to another level with addition to the film, Mukesh said, "Yes, why not Aashiqui 3 and 4. We will continue to do more films and franchise helps to an extend, but at the end a film to deliver craves for content."
"I am happy with the success of Aashiqui 2, but I am not shocked as I was confident about the film and its success," concluded Mukesh.
Massive chaos, ugly clashes and women being pushed around... this marked Salman Khan's visit to both Chandigarh and Ludhiana on Thursday.
The 'Dabangg' star, who was on a visit to the state to launch his charity merchandise stores in the two cities, too faced the fury of the crowd as he was shoved and cornered despite 100 odd security men, including his own entourage headed by loyalist, Shera.
The commotion first started in the morning at Silver Arch mall in Ludhiana. Despite a large posse of security staff cordoning off the mall entrance, thousands sneaked in.
A woman associated with the event, demanding anonymity, said, "Even the staff wasn't spared and some of them were manhandled. Windows were smashed and things got normal only after Sallu left."
When contacted Tejinder Singh Teji, event coordinator, said, "Despite assurances from the mall management and owner Ajay Nayar in Ludhiana that every outlet and entry to the venue will stay shut till 2 pm, nothing happened."
Sallu's security head Shera said, "I don't know what and how this happened. This was not expected."
In Chandigarh, the situation turned ugly after Salman turned up at Elante Mall. Bouncers could not stop the crowd and had a scuffle with them. A lady journalist was knocked on the floor by the overpowering crowd. Even security men came to blows with invitees and people screamed for help.
According to sources, excessive invitations to people and a public announcement of Salman's visit led to chaos. Chandigarh police said, "We were told that it will be a normal gathering, there will not be more than 500 people. But it became so big."
Inspector Narinder Patial, SHO of the area said, "So far, we have not received any complaint regarding manhandling." Sources say the police are looking into the matter and will carry out a probe.
Salman struggled to get out of the venue and was seen losing his cool. "What is this? Control," he told one of the enthusiasts. People even broke barricades to enter into the mall.
India's movie industry toasted its 100th birthday on Friday with the release of two films celebrating its humble origins in the silent era and the influence of glamorous modern-day Bollywood.
"Bombay Talkies" comprises four short stories inspired by India's love of cinema and the impact of the movies, created by some of the country's leading filmmakers.
"You usually celebrate birthdays and that's what we are doing today. Indian cinema turns 100 and we are acknowledging that," said Zoya Akhtar, who directed the film along with Karan Johar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee.
The acclaimed cast includes Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Rani Mukherjee, with a cameo from acting legend Amitabh Bachchan.
The film's theme song features Bollywood A-listers that include Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Vidya Balan, Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor.
The movie will have a special gala screening at the Cannes film festival this month, where India is to be honoured as the "guest country" in its landmark year.
"The four short stories are about passion for cinema and ingredients like drama, music, dance and entertainment. All of these ingredients are a huge part of our films and culture," said co-producer Ashi Dua.
Its release comes 100 years to the day since the opening in Bombay (now Mumbai) of "Raja Harishchandra", the first all-Indian feature film, based on the tale of a virtuous king from the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
It marked the birth of one of the world's most vibrant film industries, which produced almost 1,500 movies last year in various corners and languages of the country, with Hindi-language Bollywood leading the way.
While "Bombay Talkies" explores life in the present, the second film opening on Friday is the award-winning "Celluloid Man", which pays tribute to the founder of the National Film Archive of India, P.K. Nair.
The documentary, so far only shown at festivals, showcases Nair's lifetime dedication to preserving films that date back to the silent era, and it is peppered with clips from historic black-and-white productions.
Thanks to the efforts of 80-year-old Nair, nine silent films out of 1,700 made in India have been preserved, although no records remain of many others.
"Almost 70 percent of the films made before 1950 are lost, including some real gems like the first 'talkie'," Nair told AFP, referring to the first Indian film with sound, 1931's "Alam Ara".
Also on Friday, Indian president Pranab Mukherjee will join stars and filmmakers at the annual National Film Awards in capital New Delhi, following a six-day festival showcasing the colourful history of Indian cinema.
Award-winners, already announced, include "Paan Singh Tomar", a Hindi film starring Irrfan Khan about the Indian soldier and athlete who became a notorious bandit.
Newcomer Alia Bhatt, daughter of renowned filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, says she prefers to consult her mentor Karan Johar regarding her career over her family.
Johar had launched Alia with 'Student of the Year' last year.
"Karan is like my mentor. He has given birth to me when it comes to getting into this industry. So every decision that I make, I do consult him. He obviously wants me to take my own decisions. He wants me to make mistakes and learn. He is a very important part of my life and career," Alia told in an interview.
Alia, who is the sister of actor-turned-director Pooja Bhatt and cousin of actor Emraan Hashmi, says she doesn't take any acting tips from them.
"I don't take advice on acting but I do ask them about a film or what I should do or how I should behave. I do talk about these things. But I don't take acting tips from them," she said.
Though her father has a production company, Alia decided not to start her acting career with the Bhatt camp. Not only her debut film, but even her upcoming projects - 'Highway' and '2 States' - are not from Vishesh Films (Bhatt camp).
"For my first film I had decided not to start off with our family banner. I was more than excited to do 'Student of the Year' with Karan. But now if something comes up (from Vishesh Films) then I will definitely look into it," she said. Alia will be seen next in Imtiaz Ali's directorial venture 'Highway' where she is paired opposite Randeep Hooda. The film, a road trip, will see the two characters travelling to different places.
"I am more than happy to work with Imtiaz Ali in 'Highway' as he has been on my wish list of directors. I have finished one long schedule. It is emotional and physically draining, but it is all in a positive sense. It is amazing to work on the film and I feel like I want to work on and on...I don't want to stop shooting for it," she said.
Her other film is Karan Johar-Sajid Nadiadwala's joint production venture '2 States'. The film is based on the novel with the same name, written by noted author Chetan Bhagat. The film is set to be released on April 18 next year and will see Alia romancing Arjun Kapoor.
"I have '2 States', which is a Dharma Production's film. I feel I am at home. My director Abhishek Varman is a very good friend, so working with him is not only exciting but also fun. I can connect with him very easily. And working with Arjun is again a lot of fun. I am having a great time doing this film," she said.A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Gujarat High Court seeking cancellation of the Censor Board's clearance to Hindi film 'Kai Po Che', claiming that it slanders the Hindu community with its depiction of 2002 communal riots in the state.
A division bench of Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala would hear the PIL on June 20.
The film, released in February to critical acclaim as well as box office success, is an adoption of the novel 'The 3 Mistakes of My Life' by Chetan Bhagat.
Advocate Bhautik Bhatt, the petitioner, says the film depicts incidents related to the riots "with biased intention and half-heartedly only with a view to defaming a particular group of people belonging to Hindu community".
He also demands that riot scenes be deleted or edited and " criminal action" be taken against producers "for defaming the group of Hindus at large".
Pending the final decision, the producers should be restrained from selling TV rights and releasing DVD/CD of the film, the petition says.
The judges scheduled the hearing for June 20 after the petitioner said he would provide an official DVD of the film to the court for its viewing.
"Bipasha Basu has agreed to work with me as the lead heroine in my next, Kashi, which will be based on the religious capital of India, Varanasi," claims Manoj Tiwari, who was in Allahabad recently, and adds, "Shatrughan Sinhaji will also be a part of this movie, shooting for which will start in August. It will be a 40-day schedule. Director Gajendra Singh, who has directed a number of reality shows, is going to direct this movie."
Drill him a little more about the story and Tiwari says with a smile, "Ab sab kuch abhi kaise bata doon!" He adds, "Varanasi is one of the very few cities in the world which has witnessed a large number of bomb blasts, but despite all that, the city has never lost its spirit. Woh shehar hamesha mast rehta hai and we will be highlighting this aspect in our movie." So, is this a movie about terrorism? "Yes, you can say that," he answers and adds, "that is going to be an important part of the movie."
Childhood crushes always remain special, and it isn't any different for Vivek Oberoi. The actor expressed his admiration for Juhi Chawla on the sets of 'India's Best Dramebaaz'.
Upon meeting Juhi up, close and personal on the sets of Zee TV's India's Best Dramebaaz, Vivek couldn't contain his emotions.
"I had a huge crush on you after watching Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak," Vivek told Juhi after watching her shake a leg to Gazab ka hai din from the same film, which completed 25 years since its release April 29.
Juhi, however, laughed out loud saying: "You mean you had a crush on me when you were 10 years old?"
Vivek is now 36.
"I very clearly remember watching the film as a kid, and had a huge crush on Juhi's character. She became the epitome of the woman I aspired to date. Even back then, her vivacious ways and cute smile were so endearing that I think all the boys in India fell in love with her," said Vivek, who is a judge on the reality show.
The actress was on the show to promote her upcoming film Hum Hai Rahi Car Ke along with her co-stars, Dev Goel and Adah Sharma. The trio was amazed by the wholesome talent on the show and was full of praises for all the kids.
The special episode will be aired Sunday.
The tumultuous personal life of 70s Bollywood superstar Parveen Babi continues to be the favourite fodder for filmmakers. Mahesh Bhatt made Smita Patil essay the role of his former girlfriend in 'Arth' (1982) and Kangana Ranaut too played the yesteryear sex symbol in Mohit Suri's 'Woh Lamhe' (2006).
Now, we hear that one of the lead characters from Vivek Agnihotri's next, Freedom, too is inspired by Parveen. South actress Payal Ghosh will be essaying the role.
Says our source, "In the film, Payal's track bears an uncanny resemblance to Parveen's reportedly turbulent relationship with Kabir Bedi. Parveen had a successful film career, but her personal life was tragic. Her insecurities and depression have been captured in the segment. Also, one of the segments will be based on Sanjay Dutt."
Vivek says, "I won't name the real-life people who have inspired me, as I don't want publicity. Besides, the characters in my film have been based on not just Bollywood actors, but also certain people from other walks of life."
Your chat show is slated to take off soon. What has changed in the film fraternity between the last season and now?
(Smiles) A lot. The people are pretty much the same, but everyone has a new lover, new enemy and a new controversy. And yes, there is a whole new generation which has come in. These people are candid, brave, have no baggage or a sense of caution that comes with success. They are irreverent and don't mind giving you an opinion. Their reflexes are unusual and they are great fun to watch.
You have worked with the stars and now you have surrounded yourself with young talent. Do you think the socalled star system is changing?
The stardom of Shah Rukh, Akshay, Ajay, Aamir, Salman, Hrithik and Saif is unattainable. But this kind of manic hero worship is going to diminish. There are too many younger stars. And by virtue of the numbers, stardom will be divided among the younger lot. You will not have that kind of euphoria or reach that ecstatic level...
Is diluted stardom just a function of numbers?
The younger generation of fans does not have the kind of reverence the older lot had for their idols. The young lot love and adore and move on quickly. They cheat on their idols quite a lot. Their loyalty does not have longevity. Much like in the West where there is a new teen icon every year. So you have a Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Will Smith at the end of their humongous stardom, now doing something else. Our country still loves the Khans and the Kumars and the Kapoors, but things are changing fast.
Do you think technology has played a part in killing the star?
Absolutely. With social media and smart phones, stars are literally in your bedroom, drawing room and bathroom on a daily basis and you cannot escape an overdose. The euphoria around a star has watered down. And to keep the young lot entertained and interested, I have to introduce new talent every year, which we are doing at Dharma.
When you swap an established and experienced cast with a completely new team, do you not miss out on the depth that the former would add to your film?
Intensity and depth mean different things to different generations. Some of the young ones are prolific and extremely evolved. But they grow up much faster. We were a lot more innocent in our 20s than them. I can have a complete conversation about life and philosophy with a 25-year-old, because they have seen the world. But yes, the whole poetry of life is a lot different for me than it is for them. Some of us grew up knowing and understanding what pain, love and heartbreak is. I fester, the younger generation just moves on. Their love and emotions run dry, their tears are very seasonal, my tears run every day. Even then, I would say they are a lot stronger.
As a filmmaker working with and for both generations, how do you find a balance?
One finds it eventually. I could never write a scene today like I did in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, where a mother meets a son in a mall after 10 years. Today, if I were to tackle the same situation, I would treat it differently - the slow motion, the music, the chorus and the drama would not be there, it would be very subtle, real. I would not do away with the situation, because I believe in that sense of drama.
With Bombay Talkies, you chose to focus on a complex husband-wife relationship, which has always been your strength. You could have moved in a completely different direction, why didn't you?
I actually liked the story which is about the grey area that the couple has to walk in life. Most relationships go through that grey patch. But I have always been intrigued with the fact that it is only in a marital relationship that you come out with deceit, betrayals and lies. You are far more honest with your parents, siblings or even friends. My attempt with Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna was to talk that zone, this is one step higher than that.
But KANK faced fierce criticism.
True. We were far more progressive in the 40s and 50s. We are celebrating hundred years of cinema but emotionally we have regressed.
How do you arrive at that?
There was a film called Sharda (1957) starring Raj Kapoor and Meena Kumari in which they are in love but eventually she marries his father and he has to touch his lover's feet. That gets accepted but Lamhe goes on to become an unsuccessful film. That is the unfortunately the travesty and the dichotomy of this country. Arth, made in the 80s, is niche but successful. Now you have the moral police breathing down your neck. But that should not stop any one of us. Cinema can change our moral fabric. But yes, I saw a completely new level of double standards in the vicious reaction to KANK. I admit, it was flawed, but the way the film's moral fibre was questioned, surprised me.
Was it because you were associated the cinema of wholesome family values?
(Nods in agreement) From loving your parents to leaving your wife, it was obviously a leap of faith. But if I don't take those leaps with cinema I will stagnate into oblivion.
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan feels people should engage themselves in charity irrespective of the reasons for it.
"Everybody in the industry does charity. Some people talk about it and some people don't. They say intent is important in charity, I don't believe it. Even if someone is doing charity to show off, I have no problems with it. One should just do charity for whatever reasons they want," Salman said.
The 47-year-old actor's NGO Being Human has joined hands with Fortis foundation to unveil the Little Hearts programme to provide care to children with congenital heart defects. Salman also opened his merchandise store in the hospital here.
"I think if you have money, you should use it to save life. I feel what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean," he added.
The 'Dabangg' star, who is fondly called 'Sallu Bhai', said that he does not like when ladies call him 'bhai'.
"I have four sisters and two of them are rakhi sisters . They are enough for me. I cannot handle people calling me 'bhai'. In fact I don't know how to react when a girl calls me 'bhai'," Salman said.
When asked about the secret of his fit and fabulous body even at this age, the actor said, "My father says after 30 years a man is responsible for his own looks. So, if you are a frustrated person then it will show on your face."
"Petty-minded" politics took away the life of Sarabjit Singh, Bollywood filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and veteran writer Javed Akhtar said, as Hindi film celebrities reacted strongly to the death of the Indian death row prisoner in Pakistan.
Here's what the celebrities posted on Twitter on his death:
Salman Khan: Freedom at last. Hope they give him to his family. We all tried, guess not hard enough. May god give his family strength and his soul rest in peace.
Madhur Bhandarkar: Pakistan should have sent his body earlier to India. Feel sad for Sarabjit Singh's family. For them, the long hopeful wait has come to a sad end. His death will always be a reminder of petty minded politics.
Javed Akhtar: Some day I may forget Kargil, but will never forget Sarabjit's murder. It is an act of extreme meanness by a very petty minded establishment.
Mahesh Bhatt: Sarabjit Singh's death has pushed the Indo-Pak relationship to the brink. The Pakistan civil society needs to push their government to act humanly.
Kunal Kohli: Dear Sarabjit's family. Like the families of Nirbhaya, the beheaded solider, the 5-year-old old raped girl. Your son too will not get justice.
Farhan Akhtar: With Sarabjit's death, Pakistan has painted itself a heartless villain, even in the most forgiving Indian's eye. Unforgettable insensitivity. RIP.
Sophie Choudry: RIP Sarabjit Singh. Strength, prayers and condolences to the family. Hate may have killed him, but red tape let him die.
Sonam Kapoor: I feel betrayed as an Indian.
Aadesh Shrivastava: Sarabjit ki mout ka zimmeydaar Pakistan ke saath saath hamari sarkaar bhi zimmedaar hai..bahut hi dukh ki aur sharm ki baat hai. (Our government is equally responsible just like Pakistan's government for Sarabjit's death. It is a matter of grief of shame.)
Sarabjit Singh died in a Lahore hospital Thursday, a week after being severly beaten up by two fellow inmates in jail. He had been sentenced to death for bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that left 14 people dead.
Four days after it was uploaded on a popular website, the trailer of 'Raanjhnaa', directed by Aanand L Rai, garnered over two million views. The movie stars Dhanush, Sonam Kapoor and Abhay Deol. While Sonam plays a girl-next-door, Dhanush portrays a rough and edgy local boy.
Says a source, "The characters of Sonam and Dhanush are real and their chemistry is pretty evident. Also, it's been a while since AR Rahman has scored music for a Hindi film. That has also been appreciated."
Director Rai enthuses, "This film is a product of great love and passion. We have worked really hard on it, so the accolades mean even more to us." Asked what his formula for a good film is, he replies, "There is no perfect formula. Every film is a journey where you search for the destination. I am glad that this search has been fruitful and the audience has found a connect with it."
Producer Krishika Lulla adds , "Such an unprecedented response has taken us by surprise. We are confident that the audience will embrace the film."
Raanjhnaa, produced by Eros International, releases June 21.
As Indian cinema turns 100 years old, one powerful Bollywood dynasty can trace the roots of their stardom almost right back to the birth of the national film industry.
"We have been there throughout. All the milestones of cinema, there has been some Kapoor or the other," says 60-year-old Rishi Kapoor, who has notched up nearly 150 Hindi film credits over a four-decade acting career.
It started with grandfather Prithviraj, a silver screen pioneer from the 1920s. Then came his son, the legendary Raj Kapoor, known as "the Showman" and "India's Charlie Chaplin" for his roles as a loveable tramp.
Raj's three sons followed him into acting, with Rishi leading the way as his generation's romantic hero. Now Rishi's son Ranbir, 30, is touted as "the future of Bollywood" and his niece Kareena is a leading actress.
That's not to mention the Kapoor spouses, cousins, in-laws and other relatives who have taken a shot at movie stardom with varying degrees of success.
"The audiences have always welcomed us and given an opportunity and we've lived up to it," Rishi tells AFP at his sprawling bungalow in the film capital Mumbai, which he shares with wife Neetu, an actress, and their rising star son.
The three of them will appear together in the film "Besharam", which Rishi is just back from shooting in New Delhi. He jokes that he is done talking in interviews about his son, whose fame is fast eclipsing his own.
"Whenever I talk about Ranbir... whatever I've said about him is in the headlines," he says in theatrical mock anger. "The article's about me, not my son!"
But he is clearly delighted that Ranbir is continuing the family tradition, which he puts down to "our purpose, our resolve, our passion for cinema".
The lineage keeps producing talent -- Ranbir won critical acclaim for his turn as the deaf-and-mute hero of last year's hit "Barfi!" -- but it also shows the power of a surname in an industry still mired in nepotism.
As Indian cinema marks its centenary this week, the main rivals to the title of "Bollywood's first family" are the Bachchans.
Veteran superstar Amitabh Bachchan married actress Jaya Bhaduri and their son Abhishek has followed them into the movies, albeit to much less acclaim, and married model and actress Aishwarya Rai.
Among other famous film families are the Dutts, the Bhatts, the Deols, the Akhtars, the Chopras and the Johars.
"I'm a brand ambassador of nepotism," admitted director and producer Karan Johar at a recent conference on cinema in Mumbai.
"If my father was not a film producer and he didn't have that kind of contact with other illustrious filmmakers, I would probably have been a fashion designer, I would have been in the world of advertising."
In showbiz worldwide it helps to have connections, but India is especially fond of its dynasties. In politics, 42-year-old Rahul Gandhi may run to be his family's fourth-generation prime minister in polls next year.
Indian businesses also tend to stay in the family, be they small roadside food stalls or sprawling conglomerates such as consumer goods giant Godrej and the Reliance energy and telecoms empires.
"Networks count for a lot in India. It's not just merit. If your father's in the business, he has an established network and that's very important," says Dipankar Gupta, a former sociology professor.
"Democracy tends to mask in India that the patron-client relationship is essential, it keeps things going at every level."
A few outsiders have managed to break into cinema.
Johar's nepotism comments were made at a panel titled "Gatecrashers who made the party: the Out of Towners in Bollywood", which highlighted a handful who have shown it is possible.
Megastar Shah Rukh Khan, ranked as India's top celebrity by Forbes, had no starry childhood but a middle-class upbringing in Delhi.
Half-British Katrina Kaif, one of Bollywood's highest-paid actresses, was brought up abroad, not speaking Hindi, and "had an ice cube's chance in hell of making it", according to an April edition of Filmfare magazine.
"I think it has become a more accessible space in the last 15 years. The pearly gates to the kingdom have opened up a little bit, especially for filmmakers," says film critic Anupama Chopra.
She adds however that nepotism remains a "big part" of the industry: "the son of an actor invariably becomes an actor".
Rishi insists that hard work and talent are crucial to make it to the top -- not every Kapoor has hit the big time. But if you are one of the lucky ones, he sees little sense in diverting from the family path.
"It's plain logic. Why would I want to become a rocket scientist when I'm good as an actor?" he laughs.
But while things are now looking upbeat, it has been nothing less than an ordeal by fire for Soni, who was diagnosed with cancer last year. As the elder son, he had no option but to put up a brave front for the sake of his family. What made things worse was the sad demise of his father in the interim period.
Reliving his arduous journey to TOI, he says, "The fact that I had a mother and younger brother to look after gave me the strength to fight the illness and come back. There was a lot of turbulence in my life. My father passed away. Lot of things were being said about the film's release."
Soni is deeply grateful to Preity, who stood by him through thick and thin, and postponed the release. "Preity insisted we had started this journey together, and we would walk together. It was very brave of her to face the losses. She is a very strong person. It wasn't easy for her to face the rumours. We could have released the film but I was going through the ordeal of my life, and she felt it wasn't the right time," says Soni.
Soni reportedly flew to Thailand in September last year and was there for four weeks for his surgery. When he returned to India, he was advised complete bed rest. Any lessons learnt from his experience that he would like to share with us? "I am glad I could identify real friends, and one of them is Preity. I look up to her, and have learnt a lot from her. She has been in the industry for a long time and knows how things work," he says.
Soni, who made his debut with the Salman Khan-starrer Main Aur Mrs Khanna, has fond memories of the star. "He was constantly in touch with me through my difficult times," he says, adding, "My relationship with Salman is not about work. He is all heart."
How does it feel getting back on his feet? "I am looking forward to life, and the only way to move up is fight back through good work. Ishkq In Paris has turned out to be a beautiful film," he says and adds: "There are always good times after bad times, and the bad times are over. My only regret is - my father is no more with me."
A writer has accused director Anurag Kashyap of copying his story in the compilation movie " Bombay Talkies" but the "Dev D" director has rubbished the claims, saying he would not allow "free publicity" at his expense.
Nishant G Ranjan claimed Kashyap's upcoming short film in "Bombay Talkies" is based on a similar story that he sent to the director in 2011. Ranjan has taken the matter to Film Writers Association.
The film, which releases on May 3, is a compilation of four stories by Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, Karan Johar and Kashyap.
"The basic premise of the story is same - the struggle and the last wish of a fan to meet his idol Amitabh Bachchan. I had given my story to Anurag Kashyap in 2011. He did not reply so I thought he did not like the idea," Ranjan claimed.
He also claimed that he did not get back with Kashyap because he thought the director did not like his idea and came to know about the similarities after reading articles in newspapers.
Reacting to Ranjan's claims, Kashyap tweeted, "Mr Nishant Ranjan, you have accused the wrong guy... I don't allow free publicity at the expense of my reputation."
Veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt is quite happy with the success of 'Aashiqui 2' and he does not rule out the possibility of coming out with the third and fourth instalment of the film, saying love stories don't have an end.
Bhatt directed the 1990 hit romantic film 'Aashiqui'. The film, starring Rahul Roy and Anu Agarwal, was a commercial success, particularly because of its music and songs.
'Aashiqui 2' has been directed by Mohit Suri and co-produced by Bhatts' production house Vishesh Films. The romantic musical, released last Friday, has reportedly earned over Rs 24.50 crore in box office collection till now.
"Love stories don't have an ending... they continue to go ahead. So we can have 'Aashiqui 3' and 4 and even more. There is no full stop to that," Bhatt said at the success party of the film.
"The film has achieved tremendous success and we are happy about it. This shows films with 'A and U' certificate can do well provided the story is good," he said.
'Aashiqui 2' starred newcomers Aditya Roy Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead roles.
Aditya described the film as a life-changing experience for him. "I thank everyone (makers) for having faith and trust in me and Shraddha. It (the film) is a life-changing experience for me," he said.
Suri said he is happy that his film has been accepted by the people. The makers are planning to add one more song to the film.
Actress Juhi Chawla imbibed the mannerism and dressing style of leading women politicians like Sonia Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj and Mamata Banerjee for her role in the upcoming film 'Gulab Gang'.
The 45-year-old former Miss India, known for her bubbly personality, admits that it was a challenge to get into the skin of a politician's character in the film, which also stars Madhuri Dixit.
"It is my second negative role after 'Arjun Pandit'. It's a slightly tough role for me because in real life I am completely opposite. I took inspiration from politicians like Sushmaji, Soniaji and Mamataji for this role. I have followed them closely and tried to learn their mannerism because it is a very different character," Juhi told in an interview.
'Gulaab Gang', which just finished shooting, is directed by debutante Soumik Sen and produced by filmmaker Anubhav Sinha. The release date of the film is yet to be decided. The film is about a group of women activists fighting social injustice.
Once considered competitors, Juhi and Madhuri will be sharing screen space for the first time and the actress said working with Madhuri was fun.
"Madhuri is a fine actress and secure about what she is doing. She is warm and friendly and working with her was like a breeze. Before starting the shooting for the film we met at our director's office and interacted with each other. That's how we broke the ice," Juhi said.
Starting her career with commercial films like 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak', 'Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman' among others, Juhi says she has come to love her roles in small-budget films like 'My Brother Nikhil' and 'I Am' more than her commercial hits.
"It has been wonderful journey of 27 years. I never thought that I would survive for so long. I have done many films and I am quite happy and proud about all my films but my career took a gradual turn when I did films like 'I Am' and 'My Brother Nikhil'.
"Initially, I was ashamed of talking about them because they were small-budget films but I realised later that being a part of these films was more fulfilling as an artiste."
Asked about her criteria for selecting a film, Juhi said, "I never consider whether I am playing a lead role or not. I would rather go for meaty roles than for lead characters."
