Issue-based films still a no-no for Bollywood producers

For decades, the world'''s largest movie industry by volumes has rolled out stereotypical scripts on boy-meets-girl romances, dramas and comedies. But in recent years, there has been a noticeable move towards bolder, more mature themes aimed at audiences interested in a good story, not just glitzy song-and-dance routines.

"Taare Zameen Par" - about a boy suffering from the learning disability dyslexia - achieved both commercial and critical success last year.

But Bollywood producers are not giving up on regular films just yet.

Shake Your Bollywood

It's 7 o'clock on a Saturday evening. In a new dance studio in Dubai, a technolike beat begins playing, accelerating as a high-pitched female voice sings in Hindi: "You are my world. Such is my love."

On the wooden floor, accountants, publicists, and other businesspeople dance with abandon. They shuffle their feet, twist and wriggle their hips, and flail their arms, taking cues for the Bollywood-style number from their dance teacher, Rinku, who until recently was working in Mumbai.

It's common knowledge that the Indian film industry is big business the 800 or so movies released in more than 25 Indian languages each year bring in $1.5 billion in revenue. Bollywood technically Mumbai's Hindi-language-films business accounts for a third of releases and is the most visible and popular segment of the Indian movie industry. And as its worldwide audience, now estimated at 3.6 billion, grows, so does the energetic dance style which mixes folk, classical, and pop influences it made popular.

Bollywood dance studios, which started popping up in India in the mid-1990s, are now spreading across the globe, to cater to some of the 22 million people of Indian origin living abroad. The lessons have been in demand among high-school and college students for years; now, adults are getting in on the craze.

Hrithik returns 30crore cheque

The buzz about the multi-crore deal that Hrithik had struck with Adlabs last year is that it's off! Hrithik wants to return the full amount to Adlabs. But the company is not willing to take a no for an answer.

According to a source, "Hrithik has given the cheque back. But they aren't accepting it. In fact they've asked him to keep the money and they'll make just one film instead of three films for that whole amount with him at a date convenient to him."

Hrithik won't comment on the status of his deal with Adlabs. All he'll say about star prices is, "The corporate companies are looking at the movie market expanding in the next 3-4 years. I agree many recent films haven't done well.

But Om Shanti Om and Jodhaa-Akbar reaffirmed the industry's faith in big films. Jodhaa-Akbar was a period film and above three hours long with no commercial trappings.

Theatres across India could've just four shows daily. And it's done 150 crore-rupee business worldwide. For me that's what matters, not the controversies that happened initially. It's my biggest hit ever overseas."

Cheerleaders can't wear saris: Celina Jaitley

Cheerleaders being wrapped cricketer being slapped, Is cricket turning into a Tamasha? Bollywood reacts...

Celina Jaitley: "No I don't think cricket has become a tamasha. I think everything that's happening at the IPL is being turned into a tamasha. Sreesanth being slapped is very unfortunate. I feel that the spirit of sportsmanship which makes every sport noble is now going out of cricket. Sad.

Hema Malini: "Yes, cricket has become a big tamasha. The dignity of the game is completely lost. Cricket by itself is so engrossing. Why does it suddenly need women to cheer on the players and the public?

There's absolutely no need for such distractions. The Indian public had no clue about such entertainment (cheerleaders) before this. And now there's slapping during the game! I am shocked.

Urmila Matondkar: "I don't think cricket is turning into tamasha at all. It's just that cricket has turned more glamorous exciting and bigger. As for the cheerleaders I don't think they serve any purpose at all. We don't need to copy the West blindly."

Naseeruddin Shah: "It's been heading towards that direction for a while. But hasn't everything becoming a tamasha? Look at the daily news."

Mahesh Bhatt: "The triumph of entertainment and the death of cricket. In the desperate effort to entertain our entire existence has become grotesque.

Sonu Sood: "No I don't think so. People in this country have a tendency to overeact. Cheerleaders add glamour to the sport. So why not treat it that way?

Sajid, Karan enact Shilpa-Gere kissing scene

Award shows have lost their dignity, pride and respect. They fail to give the due respect to the awardees and the guests. More or less, they have turned to be flattering shows. They become a unique occasion for the host to humiliate their guests by enacting those embarrassing moments that they had once gone through. On the whole, they have lost their charm and in turn lost the value of the awards. Karan Johar and Sajid Khan humiliated Shilpa Shetty by enacting the kiss sequence of Richard Gere at the Zee Cine Awards.

Karan and Sajid had done exactly what Shahrukh and Saif did at Filmfare awards. Karan played Shilpa and Sajid enacted Gere. Shilpa Shetty present on the occasion was quite humiliated with their re-enacting of the scene and had a blast. The two hosts tried to entertain the audience in all possible ways by making fun of others.

Shahrukh Khan was felicitated with best actor award for Chak De India, Kareena Kapoor for Jab We Met and best director award went to Aamir Khan for Taare Zameen Par. Chak De India swept away the maximum award. The award had a Q&A session and the host distributed 15 mobile phones to the winner.

Rani Mukherjee to endorse Margo soap

Henkel India has roped in Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee as its brand ambassador for the skin care soap Margo. In the highly cluttered and competitive toilet soap category, Margo claims to have a market share of close to 4 per cent in urban West Bengal and is a strong player in markets like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.

A Satish Kumar, Managing director, Henkel India Ltd, said, “We are happy to sign up Rani Mukherjee as the new face for brand Margo. Over the years, Margo has emerged as one of the key players in the soap category. We are confident of a positive synergy emerging out of this new relationship that could help in making the brand appeal to a wider audience.”

Amit Singh, Marketing manager, Henkel India Ltd, said, “As far as the new brand ambassador goes, our pursuit was to associate with someone who embodies a great mix of beauty and an endearing personality, and Rani Mukherjee was the unanimous choice. Margo is your quintessential Indian heritage brand. Germinated by three eminent and patriotic scientists as part of the Swadeshi movement in the 1920s, it has over the years built a strong and loyal consumer franchise. We hope the new initiative will take this hallowed brand to greater heights.”

Bollywood divas on billboards in Pak

Bollywood divas Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif are back on billboards in Pakistan’s troubled North West Frontier Province after the ouster of the previous hardline regime in the recent elections.

Such billboards were removed during the tenure of the hardline Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal government, which termed the display of women’s images as ”un-Islamic”.

With the new provincial government headed by the secular Awami National Party in place, billboards have been reinstalled at prominent junctions in Peshawar with the Bollywood actresses smiling down at Pushtuns who love music and dance.

Along with the Indian divas, cutouts of prominent Pakistani models too are up on the billboards.

Besides banning such billboards, the MMA government had shutdown cinema houses and the famous cultural hall, Nishtar hall, bringing all such activities to a grinding halt.

CD shops and cyber cafes were bombed by pro-Taliban militants and their owners took up other trades.

While most residents have welcomed the change, conservative forces are still opposing the installation of the billboards.

”Most of these boards have been put up outside girls’ schools and women’s colleges, which would certainly promote vulgarity in our society. We should discourage it. The government should also take measures to stop the practice,” Ameenullah, a resident of Peshawar, told a newspaper.

But university student Baryal Khan was happy to see the billboards back. ”This will help portray a soft image of the NWFP to the world,” he said.

Shah Rukh Khan sweeps Zee Cine Awards in London

Shilpa Shetty arrives at the Zee Cine Awards 2008 , ExCel, Docklands, in east London.
Anil Sinanan, Times Bollywood Film Critic

“London is my favourite, favourite place in the world!” Shah Rukh Khan beamed when he collected his Best Actor award for ‘Chak De! India’ at last Saturday’s Zee Cine Awards 2008 in London.

The ‘Bollywood Bafta’ was presented to him by Bollywood’s original diva, Rekha who stunned the sell-out crowd by reciting the rhyme ‘Jack and Jill’ and singing a few lines from the classic Asha Bhosle track, ‘Dil Cheez Kya Hai’ from the film ‘Umrao Jaan’. Khan performed his ‘Om Shanti Om’ number with at least ten other stars on stage. “Why didn’t you call me on stage to dance with you?” Rekha asked Khan. “Oh Rekhaji, we have grown too old for you!” he cheekily replied.

Khan’s win was no surprise: he was nominated twice in the Best Actor’s category for the aforementioned ‘Chak De! India’ and for his blockbuster ‘Om Shanti Om’. Khan also won the first ever ‘Lifestyle Icon’ award, which broke into half when he collected it. The ‘King Khan’ ended by thanking his London fans: “It is the overseas audience who have made me the star I am.”

Shilpa’s best support

“I’m ecstatic; I have been nominated so many times but I never won,” a visibly tearful Shilpa Shetty cried when she collected her award for Best Supporting actress for ‘Life in a Metro’. Looking stunning as usual in a long white dress, Shetty was accompanied by her producer boyfriend Raj Kundra and her mom. Shetty retained her trademark dignity when she encountered not only one but two of her alleged cheating ex-boyfriend’s former girlfriends: Raveena Tandon and Pooja Bhatra. “This city has gifted me so many awards,” Shetty beamed. “I am so lucky to have the best support system in the world: my parents.”

Katrina’s making waves

British Bollywood babe, Katrina Kaif won the British Indian Actor of the Year award, which was presented by UK Asian MP Keith Vaz. Kaif, the non-speaking Hindi actress of hits like ‘Namastey London’, ‘Welcome’ and ‘Partner’, finally confirmed her roots. “My family lives in London; my mom is British and my father is Indian.” Kaif has no plans to return to the original Mother Country: “I have found my home in India.” She ended on a philosophical note: “I wish all your dreams come true; as mine have!”

On his bike

British Bollywood star, Upen Patel may have lost out to Shah Rukh Khan for the Lifestyle Icon award but this did not prevent him from making the night’s most stylish entry. He arrived on stage on a motorcycle before performing a medley of mainly Salman Khan hit songs. Patel was clearly excited to be back in his home town. “It feels unreal; this is for the UK. I am in London, so I don’t want to sleep.”

“Which one is the Khan guy?”

As the stars walked up the red carpet, the tabloid press photographers went into frenzy. Unsurprisingly, most of them could not differentiate the ‘King Khan’ from the fans and used a mug shot picture printout in order to identify the actors. Anil Kapoor could not wait to take his seat when he arrived. “How do we go?” Kapoor queried and started jumping over the pressmen bags and camera equipment before being directed into the venue.

On the red carpet

Spotted: members of the Kapoor dynasty including Shammi Kapoor in a wheelchair. Also present were the gorgeous Dimple Kapadia, India’s musical genius AR Rahman, hotties Lara Dutta and Neha Dupia, and hunks Arjun Ramphal, Saif Ali Khan and Dino Morea. The UK’s richest man, Lakshmi Mittal and his family arrived last.

Missing in action

Where was Salman Khan? The Bollywood bad boy was advertised to appear but was conspicuous by his absence. The other Khan’s absence was expected: Aamir Khan refuses to attend any Bollywood awards functions as “they lack credibility”. Fans had to be content with seeing Aamir’s namesake, the British Asian boxer Amir Khan who arrived late and left early.

Bolly-shop

As the stars return to Bollywood, some have stayed back in London to indulge in one of their favourite pastimes: shopping. “The prices are not too bad,” Ritesh Deshmukh told me after his visit to Selfridges on Oxford Street. Rekha preferred to browse in the more upmarket Bond Street.

Bollywood Actress Tabu in bikini - Tabu cleavage show - great indian masala show by Tabu

IPL A Big Hit With The Big Stars

Flying daily through India’s over-congested airports is a guaranteed recipe for countless delays. Fortunately this affords one the opportunity to engage in numerous chats with affable strangers.

Aas everyone in India is a cricket expert and the action packed IPL is in full swing, there is in no shortage of subject matter for a good old cricket-focused chinwag with someone you have only known for a few moments.

The best is when you are actually on a plane chatting to your neighbour about last night’s big game, when the guy in the row in front turns around and joins in. This is usually enough for one or two more aficionados to add their opinion. If you’re mad about cricket, there is no better country to be in than India.

A few days ago I was waiting to board a delayed flight at the brand spanking new Rajiv Ghandi airport in Hyderabad. Actually it is 45 kilometres outside Hyderabad, a two-hour taxi ride from the cricket ground. I was waiting in the departure hall for a delayed flight when I saw a chap wearing an IPL golf shirt so I introduced myself asking if he worked for the IPL. The reply came: “Good afternoon, I’m Andrew, pleasure to meet you. Yes, I actually dreamt the whole thing up a year or so ago and then I got together with a guy called Lalit Modi and now here we are.”

I shook his hand and smiled, not quite sure whether I loved or hated this Englishman for revolutionising cricket quite so radically. The tournament was about a week old then and I congratulated him, adding that its instant popularity must have far exceeded even his wildest expectations. “Not really, it is exactly as I expected” he replied grinning from ear to ear. I had a pleasant chat with Andrew and enjoyed picking his brain about the relationship between IPL management and the various franchises.

When he admitted that after the low-scoring Eden Gardens match between the Kolkata Night Riders and the Deccan Chargers he had Shah Rukh Khan (SRK) shouting in his face, I said: “Yes, that’s no surprise, he must have been mad about that terrible pitch.” “Not at all” said Andrew, “he was furious that the big screens weren’t big enough!”

Knight Riders owner SRK is easily Bollywood’s biggest star. You would have seen him gyrating throughout his team’s matches. He reportedly commands a quarter of a million dollars per television advertisement and seems to be in every second ad on the box. Consequently the singing dancing poster boy has no shortage of money or fanbase and Andrew reckons the Knight Riders are already one of the ten biggest brands in India.

The Times of India reports that Bollywood box office sales are down 35% since the start of the tournament. The obvious next step is for cinema theatres to show screenings of IPL matches. But while some cinemas have successfully negotiated rights from Sony Setmax (the televison channel who owns the IPL rights in India) the greedy BCCI is demanding one lakh rupees (about US$2500) per game per screen. This would result in theatre tickets at ten to twenty times their normal price.

Another big mover and shaker in India is Vijay Mallya, the owner of Kingfisher beer, Kingfisher Airlines, a Formula One racing team and hundreds of racehorses. This racy stable seemed incomplete without an IPL team and the Bangalore Royal Challengers are Mallya’s latest plaything. By the way, Royal Challenge (same logo and colours and song as the cricket team) is the name of a whiskey brand that is also owned by Mallya - an outrageous example of surrogate advertising. India’s answer to Richard Branson is an eccentric character and is known as the “King of Good Times”.

A court case was yesterday heard to determine whether Mallya was using sport to promote an alcohol brand. But the court found that there was no evidence in this claim. In India, as in Africa, the benefits of belonging to the right club are astonishing.

Mark Boucher, who is taking a nap on the sofa next to me in the Bangalore Airport (which will move a further 35 kilometres from town next week) while a dozen or so waiters and airline staff take photos of him with their high-tech mobile phones, took strong exception to Mallya giving the Challengers a thorough bollocking in the dressing room after losing the inaugural IPL match.

Thanks to McCullum’s blistering 158 not out the winning team on that day was SRK’s Knight Riders. I am told that Boucher, who has never been shy to stand up for himself, barked right back at Mallya, telling him that yelling at the team won’t do any good at all.

The most expensive Indian film ever

Wednesday, April 30, 2008: (Chennai)

Kamal Haasan starrer Dasavatharam has overshot its Rs.1.3 billion budget and becomes the costliest Indian film to be ever made, said sources.

“Friday’s much hyped trip of Jackie Chan to Chennai on a chartered flight had cost Rs.100 million to the producer and has added to the total cost that has now gone beyond Rs.1.4 billion, said sources close to producer “Oscar” Ravichandran.

The producer, however, is not said to be complaining.

“Since top stars from Bollywood, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini and Mallika Sherawat were present, the worldwide publicity generated has contributed more to the movie’s Hindi release than what we actually ended up spending,” the source added.

Unfortunately, there was chaos at the film’s audio launch function last week in Chennai. Dozens of people, including journalists, were injured when police cane-charged frenzied crowds at the star-studded event.

“Any news is good news. Despite spending all this money, there were no pictures of our shy producer Ravichandran. And there is no mention of his apologising to anyone anywhere,” said a publicist associated with the film, referring to the mismanagement of the audio release function.

Is Mallika Sherawat too hot for Pakistanis?

The Bollywood flick Welcome has run into trouble in Pakistan because of some allegedly “obscene” scenes featuring Mallika Sherawat.

Welcome was released last Friday and was seen as an example of the Pakistan government’s softening stance towards a long-standing ban on Indian films.

Pakistan’s censor board has now reportedly objected to some shots featuring Sherawat, who is no stranger to controversy.

The film’s release on this side of the border came days after a Pakistan Senate standing committee on culture recommended to the government that the exhibition of Indian films should be allowed under a proper censorship policy and the ban imposed in 1965 should be lifted.

Pakistan Cinema Owners’ Association secretary general Safdar Khan said the censor board has handed over the censored version of the film to cinemas.

Cinema owners have been warned of strict action if they continue to show the uncensored version.

Jamshed Zafar, acting chairman of the Pakistan Film Distributors Association, said the audience has rejected the film’s censored version.

Some scenes with Feroz Khan have also been reportedly cut because of the actor’s anti-Pakistan rhetoric when he was in Pakistan in April last year.

Interestingly, Sherawat, the queen of item numbers, has for the first time in her career been shot aesthetically and does not look vulgar. In fact, some cinema-goers contend that Pakistani actresses are more vulgar than Sherawat.

Welcome was released with much fanfare in Pakistan. Nadeem Mandviwalla, a well-known Karachi-based distributor and exhibitor, was very upbeat shortly before the release.

“The government has (previously) allowed Indian films which are not shot in India and made by producers not based there. But now the government has adopted a softer stance which is very good news for us,” he said last week.

Apart from Welcome there are two other Indian movies — Goal and Gangster — that are running in Pakistani halls.

The chairman of the Pakistan Senate committee on culture, Zafar Iqbal, had said that the panel had recommended to the government to allow exhibition of Indian films under a proper censorship policy.

Iqbal said this would ensure healthy competition and revive the struggling local film industry. Citing the example of the well-known Pakistani film Khuda ke Liye, he said “I don’t think the apprehensions, that by allowing Indian films to be released we might destroy the local industry, are true.”

The Pakistan government imposed a ban on the display of Indian films in cinema halls in 1965, although they are freely available in the form of pirated VCDs and DVDs.

Hrithik returns cheque to Adlabs

The buzz about the multi-crore deal that Hrithik had struck with Adlabs last year is that it’s off! Hrithik wants to return the full amount to Adlabs. But the company is not willing to take a no for an answer.

According to a source, “Hrithik has given the cheque back. But they aren’t accepting it. In fact they’ve asked him to keep the money and they’ll make just one film instead of three films for that whole amount with him at a date convenient to him.” Hrithik won’t comment on the status of his deal with Adlabs.

All he says about star prices is, “The corporate companies are looking at the movie market expanding in the next 3-4 years. I agree many recent films haven’t done well. But Om Shanti Om and Jodhaa-Akbar reaffirmed the industry’s faith in big films. Jodhaa-Akbar was a period film and above three hours long with no commercial trappings. Theatres across India could’ve just four shows daily. And it’s done 150 crore-rupee business worldwide. For me that’s what matters, not the controversies that happened initially. It’s my biggest hit ever overseas.”

Amrita Rao is bit raw but good

Except for one detail Akshaye is having a ball shooting for Neeraj Vora’s Shortcut in Bangkok.

“I need a quick break to visit Mumbai. I’m homesick. If I get a break of 2-3 days I’ll go back. So far we’ve get only one day off every ten days. That isn’t enough to dash in and dash out.”

Basking in the blockbuster opening of his new film Race Akshaye is shooting Shortcut with director Neeraj Vora. “He wrote all my films for Priyadarshan. So I know Neeraj very well. I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.”

Akshaye plays a director while Arshad Warsi plays a ’bad’ actor. Yet another flick set in the film industry! Amrita Rao is Akshaye’s co-star in Shortcut.

“She’s a very sweet decent girl Though raw she’s a good actress. She’s now coming into her own, ” gushes Akshaye as he does about all his co-stars. “I really enjoy working with my actors, male or female. I like being with them. Bouncing off ideas.”

He’s reluctant to talk about Shortcut but reveals, “The film has a lot of theatre actors. It’s a character-based energetic film. I like doing energetic films.

In Race I worked on investing a gusto to my character. That’s why I enjoy working with Abbas-Mustan. They give me the freedom to make the best use of my space as an actor.

They’ve tremendous trust in me. Somehow they like 9 out of my 10 suggestions. They allow me to improvise quite a lot.”

What about the rapport with his co-stars? “Race isn’t the first multi-starrer I’ve done. It’s never easy to find proper space for all the actors in a cluttered cast. It takes people like Abbas-Mustan to come up with a script that justifies everyone’s presence. “

Akshaye was more than happy to be re-united with Saif. “Anil of course is very close to me. Saif and I had a fantastic time during Dil Chahta Hai. And let’s not forget Saif and I also spent a lot of time together during J.P.Dutta’s LOC.

In Dil Chahta Hai we were buddies. In Race we’re brothers but battling constantly. But I had never worked with all the three girls-Bipasha, Katrina and Sameera. They’re all so wonderful. They’re looking smashing. Anaita Adjania has really dressed us up well.”

Akshaye’s next release would be a Priyadarshan comedy Mere Baap Pehle Aap. “I’m in it with Paresh Rawal. It’s one of those films that will put a smile on everyone’s face.

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone - Love birds in Bangkok

Bangkok suddenly seems to be have become the second home for Bollywood these days. Saying so, coz recall all the Bollywood stars and half of them are in Bangkok either for work or fun (read pleasure). Neera Vora’s ‘Shortcut’ has let 4 A-stars (Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Arshad Warsi and Amrita Rao) have work and play in this fun city. Also stationed in Bangkok is another A-star, Akshay Kumar, who is shooting for Nikhil Advani’s ‘Chandni Chowk To China’ with pretty and nubile co-star Deepika Padukone.

Talking about Deepika, Ranbir Kapoor could just not be left out. So, instead of leaving his prized possession in the hands of ill famous Bollywood playboy, Akshay Kumar, (Don’t’ mind Twinkle!), the Kapoor prince decided to fly off to Bangkok to guard his lady love. Ranbir got an assignment to do a photoshoot for Filmfare magazine in Bangkok and, knowing that Deepika was already there, the actor lapped it up excitedly.

On Friday, he left for Bangkok for the photoshoot. Now, the love birds are surely painting the city of Bangkok red.

Aamir Khan unveils his new look at the ‘Race’ premiere

Thursday night, March 20, Abbas-Mustan, Saif Ali Khan, Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor, Ritesh Deshmukh, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Sameera Reddy, Mahendra Singh Dhoni,Neil Mukesh, David Dhawan and Tusshar Kapoor and Gul Panag adorned the Premiere of ‘Race’. But the person who managed to steal the show among all these glittering celebrities was Aamir Khan who took everyone with his closely cropped look.

Aamir was supposed to go bald for the new look of his film ‘Ghajini’, but he finally opted for shaved-off thinner white lines criss-crossing his head like scars.

“This is the look originally, yes. This is what the look was and this is what the director wanted so this is what I have done and there are these ’scars’ on my head and at the back also in two three places - since the character has got injured in the head,” explained Aamir to the reporters.

Wife Kiran, who was with Aamir too seems to be happy with his new look. “I think he looks hot,” she said simply.

Akshay is a happy singh

After an ordinary weekend, Monday had a clear enough tale to tell for Tashan. The film's word of mouth has reached an abysmal low and this Yash Raj film now is under threat of coming close to the first week's collections of the likes of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (for which the end box office outcome read a flop in the final run).

Still, in spite of such unforeseen fate of the film, Akshay Kumar is smiling and continuing to keep 'happy'. How is that possible? Well, the name of the character that he plays in his forthcoming film is called - hold your breath - Happy Singh!

Yes, that's true! In Anees Bazmee's Singh is Kinng which has an out and out Punjabi flavor to it, Akshay Kumar is known as Happy Singh while Sonu Sood is named Lucky Singh. It is a known fact that names like Happy Singh and Lucky Singh are pretty much in vogue in the state of Punjab and for a film like Singh is Kinng it is only justified to have two of its principal protagonists carrying the same names.

With Singh is Kinng just about three months away, Akshay Kumar certainly would be looking forward to some 'happy' times ahead after the Tashan fiasco

Randeep follows SRK and Hrithik

Randeep Hooda is on a career high these days. He has a long list of films to release this year. After SRK and Hrithik, now Randeep will be seen in a legendary character in Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasiya where he portrays the character of painter Raja Ravi Verma. This is a film that the actor is banking heavily on.

“Rang Rasiya is a period film in which I am playing Raja Ravi Verma – the legendary Indian painter.” says Randeep. He believes it is one of the best characters he has portrayed in films. Randeep feels preparation for any character is important before you portray it onscreen. So what was his preparation to play this legendary character? “I did prepare for this role. But the tragedy is I can’t paint like Raja Ravi Verma, so I dropped the idea”, he quips.

Speaking about his director Ketan Mehta, Randeep says, “It was a great pleasure working with Ketan. He has extracted some really good aspects of me and especially as an actor I feel it’s very important for a film. At the same time I don’t think only one film can decide your standing in the industry. I have done nine films and I am yet to know my standing.”

Randeep’s forthcoming films include Ru Ba Ru, Love Khichdi , Ketan Mehta’s Rang Rasiya, Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye and the long delayed Karma Confessions and Holi . “They have all shaped up pretty well. I am very excited. I have done varied work. Hopefully all my movies capture different audience”, he concludes.

When cricketers got bitten by the acting bug

Bollywood is surely making its way felt in the world of cricket, what with top stars like SRK, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta and Juhi Chawla going all out to promote cricketing world’s latest extravaganza IPL.

While the who’s who of Bollywood is now seen on the cricket field cheering their favorite teams, not so long ago, we even had a kind of role-reversal where some of our past and current cricketers tried their hand at acting.

Ajay Jadeja: This good-looking cricketer had a good career going for him until he got embroiled in the match-fixing controversy along with Azharuddin, Manoj Prabhakar and some others. Making a comeback after that was always going to be a Herculean task and hence the flamboyant all-rounder decided to put his good looks to use and try his hand at acting. He debuted in Khel along side Sunil Shetty, Celina Jaitley and Sunny Deol. The movie sank without a trace and Ajay soon realised ki filmy hero banna har kisi ka khel nahin.

Akki beats SRK as music of Singh is Kinng has raked more than OSO…

Vipul Shah's Singh Is Kinng has highest ever music sale in more than a decade. Sources close to the production house reveal that the sales for a limited period of time have been for whopping Rs 13.5 crore. Says Sandeep Bharghava of Indian Films, "This is a landmark valuation and we are very proud to be associated with the biggest films of 2008 - Singh is Kinng and Ghajini. We are very sure the music will do very well".

Indian Films, who own the worldwide rights of Singh is Kinng, have sold the music rights to Times Music. Says Adarsh Gupta of Times Music, "Having tasted humongous success with one of the biggest grosser of 2007 in the Hindi film category, Welcome, we are now signing on what is believed to be the biggest hit of 2008 with Singh is Kinng."

Music industry has been going through a lot of turbulent times and had hit the slumber in revenues. Average music sales were less than Rs 3 cr and even a talked about project like Shahrukh Khan's Om Shanti Om had gone for Rs 7 cr.

If the music sale of Singh is Kinng is any indication then the music valuations are back and how.

Says Vipul Shah, the producer of Singh is Kinng, "Akshay Kumar has been commanding a huge draw, whether it would be the box office, satellite or music are concerned. I am not surprised at all."

I wish SRK luck for Paanchvi Paas...: Big B

After SRK, is the Big B planning to return to the small screen? CNN-IBN’s Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand finds out in this exclusive chat with Amitabh Bachchan.

Rajeev Masand: You have a commitment with Star TV to do something with television. What is the nature of the shows that you are discussing? I ask this specifically because after Kaun Banega Crorepati the game show format seems a little redundant now.

Amitabh Bachchan: This is exactly what I have been telling all the television channels who have approached me. There is a balance amount left over with Star TV and we are looking into how we can accommodate that. But yes, it is time to think of something new and normal.

I have spoken to several channel heads and they are battling with new ideas but if nothing comes up then I will go back to the tried and tested formula of game shows or question-and-answer shows.

Rajeev Masand: Shah Rukh Khan’s new show Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain is also a quiz show. It is perhaps filling in the void that KBC left. Have you had a chance to see it?

Amitabh Bachchan: I haven’t seen it. But I saw the master, the original. It was put up to me as one of the options that I would do. But it has gone to Shah Rukh now and I wish him all the best for it.

Rajeev Masand: Are you looking at other formats like acting on television?

Amitabh Bachchan: I don’t think so. But you never know, circumstances maybe such in life that you may finally end up acting on television.

Vidya Balan scores a biggie opposite Abhishek Bachchan.

Vidya Balan

She is the lucky mascot of Bollywood and now, after pairing with Saif, John, Shiney and Akshay it’s her turn to rub some luck on Abhishek Bachchan.

Balki, who made his directorial debut with ‘Cheeni Kum’, has signed Vidya Balan for his next ‘Pa’ along with Abhishek in the lead, and Big B is expected to play a character role in the movie as well. Tabu was a strong contender for the role, but the director decided to opt for Vidya Balan instead.

Based on insiders, Tabu had a showdown with Balki after the release of ‘Cheeni Kum’ and the actress ended up giving no credit to the director which irked Balki hence, he approached Vidya for his next, who readily accepected the role.

The Bachchans have always admired Vidya as she has acted with Big B in ‘Eklavya’ and AbhiAsh in ‘Guru’, and this time the actress will be playing Abhishek’s leading lady for the first time.

Tabu was not too happy as she was hopeful of bagging the role, but guess Vidya stole her sugar and has left her with a ‘Cheeni Kum’ after taste.

Minnisha and Bips feel that they make a cute pair with Ranbir Kapoor.

Bips and Ranbir in ‘Bachana Aae Haseeno’

Her role in ‘Shaurya’ won her accolades not just from fans, but also from the critics, and now Minnisha is ready to make a comeback to mainstream Bollywood with ‘Bachana Aae Haseeno’.

Minnisha has replaced Katrina Kaif in the movie as Kat did not find the role to be impressive; Ranbir Kapoor will be shown romancing Minnisha in ‘Bachana Aae Haseeno’. Minnisha has earlier paired with Abhay Deol, Jimmy Shergill and Rahul Bose, but her pairing with has not been termed as the perfect ‘jodi’ just yet.

Minnisha is however; sure that audiences will love her pairing with Ranbir as the two look really cute together and also; share a great on-screen chemistry.

Now, co-star Bips has also been claming her ‘jodi’ with Ranbir to be #1 in the flick which is the remake of the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Bachelor’.

So, if Bips-n-Minnisha’s claims turn out to be true then, Deepika sure has to keep Ranbir away from these Bollywood babes and express loud, “Ranbir honey, Bachana from these Haseenas.”

Saif-Kareena, Ranbir-Deepika and Shilpa-Raj shine at the Zee Cine Awards in London.

Saif and Kareena at the Zee Cine Awards, London

After IIFA, Zee Cine Awards show was the next to go International and the biggest highlight of the awards turned out to be the couples, who began their romance journey in 2007.

Ranbir Kapoor was accompanied by his family and Deepika, who walked in with the Kapoors like a soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Saif was seen taking blessing from Kareena's grand-uncle Shammi Kapoor, and even exchanging hugs with her family.

Shilpa Shetty stepped out for the first in public with her beau Raj Kundra and she looked hot in a Cavalli gown. Lara Dutta, opted for a gown as well and she looked simply glamorous in her brown-n-blue number, and she was sure quite excited to be in London.

Kim Sharma in Indra Kumar’s next comedy

Neha Dupia scorching covers

She once made ripples with her statement, “In India, only sex and SRK sells!” Well, the gal definitely believes in what she says. So, since nothing is working for her, be it ‘Ek Chaalis Ki Last Local’ or ‘Mithya’, Neha Dhupia has reverted back to where she started from.

So, you have this former Miss India in a bikini scorching waters in the pool in the latest issue of the men’s magazine, ‘The Man’. While we wonder whether the temperatures of the water in the pool soared beyond the boiling point when Neha stepped in, you guys bathe your eyes with these hot pics!

Ash finally proved her tenderness towards Bachchan Family

After her marriage to Abhishek she has proved the decision of Bachchan family of imbibing her as daughter-in-law and a being a great companion for Abhishek and benefactor for all those, who are close to the Bachchan family.

She unveiled ‘Summer 2007’ of Sikander Kher who is like a younger brother to Abhishek and good friend of Bachchan family. This was a first event of its type where Ash did not appeared as guests, however, it seemed like that she is involved in her own family affair. She was quite frank all the time and kept on smiling and giggling through out the event.

While unveiling Sikandar look’s same shards of glass hit left cheek of Sikandar and there started bleeding. Ash immediately asked for tissues and wiped his cheek. She was looking wary about Sikandar. She gagged, “See Sikku has given his blood for this movie.”

She explained reasons for being present at party, “Sikku and the rest of his family are like my family. They are a part of our lives and it gives me immense joy to be here at such a momentous occasion in Sikku’s life.”

She further said, “He is Abhishek’s y brother. I am here more for personal reasons than anything else. He is getting into films and I want to give him me and my family’s best wishes. Abhishek wanted to be here too but he couldn’t make it so I am here representing the two of us!”

Amitabh Bachchan getting nostalgic in his is Blog!

Amitabh Bachchan after Amir khan has accepted the power of Internet and blogging and now a regular Blogger has got a magnificent medium to express all; his past memories to present activities. He is doing all on the blog from condemning his political rival Shatrughan Sinha to tirade against certain journalist.

At the same time on the blog he speaks about his movies, films, family and the injury that he received during the shooting of movie Aladin. And he is getting huge number of comments in response to his posting on the blog now if you wish to read what, he writes it all about then goes at his blog

Why is Koena Mitra angry?

Koena Mitra is very upset with the makers of ‘Anamika’ where she stars alongside Dino Morea and Minissha Lamba. The actress feels that the final output of the film is not what had been promised to her.

Says a friend of Koena, “Its nowhere close to what was promised to her. She was promised something else. Koena has got a raw deal.”

So, where director Mahadevan has been giving everyone from the media Koena’s cell number, she is not talking to anyone about the film. The lady sure is nursing some deep wounds.

Sonu Nigam and his female fan following

Sonu Nigam has some female following, must say. After the incident in South Africa where four female fans intruded his privacy while he was working out in a gym, this one had a female rush to the dias and attempt to kiss him when he was performing at Andheri Sports Complex on Sunday night. When the security guards tried to pull her away from Sonu, she scratched the singer on his neck leaving a prominent scar there.

How much Sonu enjoyed is for you to guess, but incidentally because of this scar, Sonu had to postpone the photo shoot of his new album for 20 days.

Shilpa Shetty shoots for ‘Dostana’ in Miami

Hrithik and Bipasha on ‘Vogue’ covers

This May the heat is sure to soar as high as it can get. And why not? You have Asia’s sexiest woman oozing all her appeal on the covers of ‘Vogue’ in its May edition. Talking about Biapsha Basu, the damsel poses on the Vogue cover with those killer eyes and complementing hairstyle.

Giving competition to this Bong bombshell is our very own Bollywood’s style icon Hrithik Roshan on the cover of Vogue India Man, the men’s supplement for Vogue. Vogue India Man is a 75-page supplement that touches upon fashion, cars, clothes, watches, grooming products and gadgets tips for every man.

With Bips and Hrithik on the covers, who would want to flip through the pages though?