Kirron Kher: I’m jealous of Anupam
Indo-Asian News Service Tuesday, June 29, 2010 (New Delhi)
Actress Kirron Kher says she is jealous of all male actors including her husband Anupam Kher because serious cinema is being made with them only.
“I’m jealous of all the men why only Anupam-ji. Cinema these days is driven to men and if they (filmmakers) offer a two scene or three scene role, then I’m not going to do that,” said Kirron.
“Serious cinema is only being made with men. Look at Vishal Bharadwaj – all his films are male oriented. The problem is they are only being made with centering men in focus.”
The 55-year-old, who will be seen judging the second season of Colors reality show India’s Got Talent along with actress Sonali Bendre and anchor-turned-director Sajid Khan, says the show has opened doors for rural India.
“It not only opens a window for them, but it opens the window for us as well. I feel privileged to sit there and be part of the diversities our country has. It’s an eye opener to see people coming with wide variety of art forms which I would not have had the privilege to see otherwise,” Kirron told IANS.
“They come from little, little corners – districts. It’s a vision of glory and, honestly, it opens a window for them to reach mainstream and for mainstream India to see what India is all about,” she added.
She is known for her powerful performances in films like Sardari Begum (1996), and Bariwali (1999) and won National Awards for both the movie.
She also featured in Devdas (2002), Khamosh Pani (2004), Rang De Basanti (2006), Dostana (2008) and recently played a terrorist’s wife in Kurbaan.
Apart from being honoured on the home ground, she won three international awards at Locarno International Film Festival, Karachi International Film Festival and International Festival at Ciepie in Argentina for her role in Khamosh Pani.
Kirron wants to work with new age filmmakers.
“I want to work with filmmakers like Vishal Bharadwaj, Homi Adajania who made Being Cyrus, Imtiaz Ali, Anurag Kashyap, and Neeraj Pandey who made Wednesday. I like them as they are phenomenal and are bringing out the reality so beautifully.”
When asked about her future projects, she said: “I have two projects in hand, Akshay Kumar-Aishwarya Rai starrer Action Replayy and sequel of Dostana. In Dostana 2, I will be playing the same role but the duration of my role is much longer in the film.”
Source: NDTV
I’m doing Malayalam film only for Mohanlal: Big B
Indo-Asian News Service Tuesday, June 29, 2010 (New Delhi)
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is off to Ooty to shoot for his Malayalam project and says he gave his nod for the film only because of his admiration for southern superstar Mohanlal.
“My admiration for Mohanlal could never have made me refuse this offer and so I do it for him,” Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.
“Mohanlal has been and still is one of the most incredible talents from Kerala and the Malayalam film industry. I have admired him and his work through many years of my existence in this profession. He has a unique body and face language. You get the feeling that he is doing nothing, yet it results in the most amazing results – natural, without effort and effective. Just such a joy to watch him,” he wrote.
The offer for the yet-to-be-titled project came to Amitabh when he went to Kerala to attend the celebration of sound technician Resul Pookutty’s Oscar victory last year.
“It was there that Mohanlal, a guest at the occasion, had come up to my room with his director Major Ravi to put up this idea and this proposal. A few weeks later, they all came to meet up with me in Mumbai to set up all the details for the shoot,” he posted.
The 67-year-old is working for free in the movie.
“(They) put up the inevitable question that most producers do of remuneration! I had laughed at them. What? Charge you for working for three days in a Mohanlal film? An actor I admire? You must be joking! No way, no fees, no nothing. Just tell me when I have to report and where. That is all.”
There won’t be any language barrier for Amitabh as he is playing a north Indian character.
“The film will be in Malayalam, but my character is north Indian so I shall be speaking in Hindi, with the odd sentence in Malayalam. Now that shall be tough, but effort shall be made, let’s see what happens,” he wrote.
Source: NDTV
Akshay didn’t decide Action Replayy release date: Shah
Press Trust of India Wednesday, June 30, 2010 (Mumbai)
Filmmaker Vipul Shah, who has produced and directed Askhay Kumar Aishwarya Rai starrer Action Replayy says the actor played no role in deciding the release date of the film.
Earlier, reports suggested that Akshay told Shah to release the film on Diwali even though his ‘Blue’ failed at the box office despite releasing around the same time last year.
But Shah, who has given hits like Aankhen, Waqt- Race Against Time, Namastey London and Singh is Kinng with Akshay denied actor’s interference.
“I have been reading few stories about Action Replayy and its release date. I am surprised that its being reported that Akshay told me about releasing the film on Diwali, November 5, where it has been totally been my decision,” Shah said in a statement.
“As a producer it’s my prerogative. In fact Akshay came to know about it much later. I hope this ends all speculations,” he added.
Akshay and Aishwarya are sporting 70′s look in the movie. The story revolves around Kishen and Mala, two bickering senior citizens who “rediscover romance” on their 33rd wedding anniversary, when their son gets them into new mode.
Source: NDTV
IFFI gets a make-over with more prize money, new awards
Press Trust of India Wednesday, June 30, 2010 (New Delhi)
The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will now rival its more famous counterparts in terms of prize money in its 41st edition, with cash prizes worth US$ 200,000.
The festival has undergone a make-over this year, with its competition section opening up to entries from Hollywood and Europe, and the introduction of two new awards for Best Actor and Actress.
“The prize money will go upto US$ 200,000 this year and that is a amount bigger than what is offered at many prestigious festivals like Berlin,” S M Khan, Director, Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) told PTI.
“While there were three main awards till last year, Best Film, Best Director and Special Jury Award, we have added two more for Best Actor and Best Actress this year,” added Khan.
The two new categories will each come with a Silver Peacock Trophy and a cash prize of Rs 1 million.
While earlier the competition section was open only for films from Asia, Africa and Latin America, this year IFFI is inviting entries from Europe, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand too.
The film festival which is organised in Goa by the DFF in association with Entertainment Society of Goa, will now screen films in three categories, International Competition section, World Cinema Section and the Indian Panorama.
The festival’s top prize, the Golden Peacock, carries along with it a cash prize of Rs 4 million.
The Silver Peacock award for the Best Director comes along with a cash prize of Rs 1.5 million cash prize, while the Special Jury award is also accompanied by a cash prize of Rs 1.5 million.
The ten-day festival which will begin in November in the picturesque state of Goa, has become a major tourist draw over the years.
The first IFFI was held in 1952 in Delhi and became a annual event since 1975. Since the 37th edition, in 2006, the event moved to Goa.
Source: NDTV
Mugdha Godse sizzles in a white bikini
Mid-Day.com Wednesday, June 30, 2010 (Mumbai)
As she has been a part of the modelling and ramp show world, getting into a two-piece for Help was no big deal for Mugdha Godse. The actress has done some bare-dare scenes for the horror thriller that has Bobby Deol as her co-star.
Incidentally, in her debut film Fashion, she featured in one scene walking the ramp in a two-piece, but there, her lower half was covered in a wrap-around.
“I wasn’t conscious about wearing a bikini as it was a script requirement. But I had to work really hard to keep my body in shape.”
Ashley Rebello has done the styling for the film. She settled for a plain white bikini instead of the fluorescent, colourful ones.”
She adds: “What was tough for me to portray the two looks I have in the film — at certain times it was glamorous while other times it had to be ghastly.”
Directed by Rajeev Virani, Help is slated for an August 13 release. “It’s a Friday the 13th and considering its subject the makers wanted it to be out on that day,” points out Mugdha who was earlier seen in Jail and All The Best.
Source: NDTV
Shah Rukh to produce romantic movies for youth
Indo-Asian News Service Wednesday, June 30, 2010 (New Delhi)
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s TV production company Red Chillies Idiot Box is set to produce romantic movies for the youth that will be aired on MTV.
After non-stop music and adventure-based reality shows, MTV is venturing into romantic movies that will appeal to the Indian youth.
The channel has collaborated with two production houses – Red Chillies Idiot Box and Milestone Movies Pvt Ltd – to produce three romantic movies as part of their new series Luv Reels.
“I feel that it is very important to encourage young talent in an industry where there is such fierce competition. Keeping that emotion in mind, we are very happy to associate with MTV to launch careers of fresh talent,” Shah Rukh said in a press release.
With this series, MTV is giving a platform to young aspiring actors, singers and music composers. The makers, actors and content of these movies were shortlisted online and the cast for all three movies was selected after gruelling online auditions. The movies have been shot in London and Mumbai and are ready for release.
“Young people are always looking for fresh forms of entertainment and who knows the pulse of this audience better than the audience itself. Luv Reels is India’s first user generated film series and it could potentially be the start of something very powerful,” Aditya Swamy, senior vice president (Sales and Marketing), MTV India, said in a press release.
The movies will be on air every Saturday starting July 3.
Source: NDTV
Aishwarya is a very supportive and encouraging wife: Abhishek
Indo-Asian News Service Wednesday, June 30, 2010 (Mumbai)
When spotted together it is evident that they are very much in love — and Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan has no qualms in saying that his wife and actress Aishwarya Rai is very supportive and encouraging.
“Aishwarya is very supportive and encouraging. She is a very chilled out person and doesn’t take things to heart,” Abhishek told IANS.
“People ask me if I changed after marriage. But I just say ‘Why should I change?’ Aishwarya loves me the way I am and married me for the way I am. Then why should I change at all,” he added.
Abhishek and Aishwarya announced their engagement Jan 14, 2007 and the couple tied the knot April 20 that year. The wedding took place in a private ceremony at the Bachchan residence Prateeksha in Juhu, Mumbai, but made headlines everywhere.
It was rumoured that Aishwarya would leave her acting career after marriage, owing to the popular belief that married actresses don’t do well in the industry.
But the 36-year-old actress squashed all rumours and continued to be a part of the film industry.
Even her husband Abhishek, 34, feels proud that his wife was able to break the age-old notion. “I feel great about Aishwarya’s achievements, I’m very proud of her. Whatever adulation she has got, she truly deserves it,” he said.
“I’m happy that she broke the notion that women can’t work after marriage. Why are we so regressive in our thinking? If she wants to work, her audience wants to see her. What is people’s problem? I as a husband am very happy that she is doing so well. I think she is doing better work now,” Abhishek said.
The couple has done many films together before and after their marriage. These include Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke, Kuch Naa Kaho, Umrao Jaan, Dhoom 2, Guru and the recently released Raavan.
Source: NDTV
Shahid steals away to London for a mysterious visit
Indo-Asian News Service Wednesday, June 30, 2010 (Mumbai)
With Sonam Kapoor heading for Mumbai for the promotion and release of her new film I Hate Luv Storys, shooting for Mausam in Edinburgh slackened up a bit.
The hero Shahid Kapoor, who also happens to be the director’s son, decided to take off for a three-day visit to nearby London. Only father Pankaj Kapoor knew about Shahid’s whereabouts while the rest of the unit was kept in the dark about his visit.
Though Shahid maintained before Sonam’s departure that Pankaj Kapoor had planned solo sequences with him while waiting for Sonam to return, the fact is that the unit was left with very little to do after Sonam’s fleeting return to Mumbai, which was planned well in advance.
“Shahid didn’t have much shooting to do once Sonam left. So he took off for a secret holiday to London for four days,” a source said.
A co-actor from the unit let the cat out of the bag. He said: “I don’t know what Shahid told others. But the truth is, without Sonam there was little he could do for the camera. ‘Mausam’ is a love story and 90 percent of the time their scenes are together. With Sonam gone Shahid left for London. For what, we don’t know.”
Apparently on his return, Shahid was teased mercilessly about his “secret rendezvous”.
Who with, Shahid isn’t telling.
Source: NDTV
Sonam Kapoor: It’s great to be part of film family
Indo-Asian News Service Wednesday, June 30, 2010 (Mumbai)
Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor, who is the daughter of actor Anil Kapoor, says she is glad to be part of a film family.
“It’s great to be part of a film family since there is always more support. I love being my father’s daughter,” Sonam told reporters here.
The actress was present at the J.W. Marriott hotel in Juhu for the launch of a mobile game on her forthcoming film I Hate Luv Storys.
The film directed by Punit Malhotra and co-produced by Dharma Productions is slated to hit the screens Friday.
The actress was shooting in Edinburgh for her film Mausam, also starring Shahid Kapoor, but came down for the launch.
Source: NDTV
Kim Kardashian to get wax statue at Madame Tussauds
Indo-Asian News Service Wednesday, June 30, 2010 (Los Angeles)
Socialite Kim Kardashian has revealed that she will be getting her wax figure at the famous Madame Tussauds museum in New York City.
The 29-year-old will be joining the likes of Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, among others, who all have their own wax statues, reports showbizspy.com.
“I’ve been keeping you guys in the dark about my big announcement and teasing you with my tweets. But I can finally reveal that I am getting my own wax figure at Madame Tussauds in New York City,” Kardashian posted on her blog, Tuesday.
“This is one of the greatest honours ever and I am so thrilled and excited. Now I will never have to leave New York. I’ve officially gone bi-coastal,” she wrote.
Source: NDTV
