What is it about Deepika Padukone that makes one get obsessed about her? Of course she's beautiful and tall. But is there something else? Maybe it's a magical spell. We dunno. Would we have been better off not knowing she existed so she wouldn't be on our mind? Is it love? It better not be because Ranbir might just be reading this interview... Padukone is a heart-shaped beauty that sends men into fits of sputtering praise. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent Devansh Patel speaks to the 21st century's pin up girl on her Kal In-Laws, her Aaj love Ranbir, her aaj kal idea about love, her being a love guru, Saif's love tips and much more.

Producers Aaj Kal
''I think both Saif Ali Khan and Dinesh Vijan have been extremely professional. I couldn't tell for a minute that they are first time producers. They have left no stone unturned. Right from approaching me for the film to the time that we are now ready to showcase our film to the world. Today's producers are more agile and are jack of all. They are young, think new and are far more experienced in the film industry than other independent producers.''

Imtiaz Kal
''Having worked with Imtiaz Ali, I can definitely tell that the success of his earlier film Jab We Met hasn't got into him. He hasn't even realised to date how big a film Love Aaj Kal has turned out to be. That's what makes him special. The fact that Imtiaz is here to make good cinema and not be affected by the success or the failure of the film. What makes it even more special is the fact that Imtiaz had signed me for this film before Om Shanti Om had released. That brings in you a lot of confidence.''

Imtiaz Aaj
''I would call him a new age director. But he does have sensibilities as an Indian and what the Indian cinema is really about. He has a good balance of both.''

The film
''The film is what the title is. Love was the same twenty years back or today. It has never changed. For different people, it might be different things. What's good about this film is that every generation will relate to this film. Like I said, love is a universal language. Everyone experience it at some point in their life. That's the USP of the film. I'm sure people are going to use the same lines that Saif and I have used in Love Aaj Kal. It'll be a trendsetter.''

London shoot
''Yes, we have shot the film in London and on the outskirts of London. The beauty in the way the cameraman has shot London is very unusual. You do not see the Big Ben, the Leicester Square, Oxford Street, Madame Tussauds or Millenium Dome. It's very real. We've shot some scenes in a coffee shop which went really candid. It's time the technicians experiment and as I said, the producer too brings in their new inputs.''

Deepika Padukone London Aaj
''It was a great experience shooting in London this time around. Whenever anyone says that we are shooting in London, I get really excited because you shoot for so many months out there and it instantly feels like it's your city. It has changed off late it seems. I guess the way we've shot the film that's why. But today's London is all about youth. All about new life. I'm shooting my next film in London titled Housefull with Akshay Kumar, Arjun Rampal and Riteish Deshmukh.''

Saif Ali Khan Aaj
''He is one of the most talented actors our film industry has. He is also someone who has brought in a different kind of actor after Dil Chahta Hai. Apart from that, Dil Chahta Hai was the first of its kind of new cinema to venture out of the traditional commercial films being churned out. Saif Ali Khan has also improved his dancing skills (laughs) off late. There isn't any other change except that he has grown a beard and plays a sardar.''

Deepika's Love Aaj:
''I believe in being loved and be in love and be in a beautiful relationship. I've seen my parents in a lovely twenty five years of their marriage and happy together. That's what I've seen all my life. Both together always. I am like that and so is Ranbir. Nothing has changed between me and Ranbir. We've spent a lot of time together and in return we've known each other better. I am comfortable with Ranbir today.''

In-Laws Kal
''It was a true pleasure working with Rishiji and Neetuji. It's an honour to be working with both of them because they are such senior actors and talented. It's too early to tell whether they'll be my In-Laws. But his passion and dedication towards what he does is impeccable. He is an enthusiast.''

Love Guru
''I don't know whether I'll be a love guru to anyone (laughs). But everyone likes to give their inputs on love to someone else. You are your best judge and you'll know who is the best for you.''

Upset Pack Up
''The last day of the shoot and the day of pack up had arrived. I was really upset and never wanted this journey to end. I would like to believe that before the film hits the big screens, the journey never ends. We are promoting the film till its last day and that's not the end. The day my film will release, I'll be happy and upset that it's all over now. The memorable journey has come to an end.''

Love tips from Saif
''This man is loaded with love tips. He will give you lots of things to take home at the end of the day. We did chat about 'Love' in general, his love for Kareena and so on. He is very intelligent when it comes to love. He has a lot of knowledge otherwise besides love.''

Love tips to Ranbir
''You are the last person I'll tell (laughs).''

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) On his 50th birthday Wednesday, Bollywood's troubled star Sanjay Dutt says his only wish is to leave his chequered past behind and move ahead as a free man.

"In the last 18 years, I've been fighting for my freedom and I feel the burden of the struggle now. I want to be free," Sanjay told IANS from Cape Town, South Africa.

"I want to walk into any consulate and get my visa. I want my passport to be with me. I want to visit any country I want. Most important of all I want the court cases to end," added the actor who battled with drug addiction and was also convicted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts under the arms act.

He says now he wishes for his "freedom".

"Can you gift me my freedom for my birthday? Otherwise the biggest gift god has given me is my wife Manyata. I'm very lucky to have her by my side," said the actor who is currently in Cape Town shooting "No Problem"

Friends from different parts of the world have flown in to celebrate the day and Sanjay says he also wanted his sisters - Namrata and Priya - to join him on this special day in his life.

"I've invited them. The day I turn 50 is important for me. And I'd like my family to be near me. I wish they could be here. No matter what misunderstandings we had, I'd like to wash them away on my 50th birthday."

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: In Mumbai, the buzz is that your friends and family are flying in for your birthday?

A: I don't want any celebrations until Amar Singhji (Samajwadi Party general secretary) recovers. Once he returns to Delhi, I'll have a birthday celebration with him. But I heard from the grapevine here that the unit of "No Problem" are planning a small get-together for my birthday. But when I asked them they said, no party. But my friends are flying down.

Q: Who are they?

A: Paresh from Chicago. I've known him for the last 25 years. We've grown up together. Then there's Mac from Los Angeles, another old and dear friend. Imran Ismail, who's here in South Africa. These are my three best friends who will be here on my birthday.

Q: And from Mumbai?

A: Well I heard Bunty Walia is coming. Everything he does is announced on Facebook. So he has announced he's coming for my birthday.

Q: Have you invited your sisters?

A: Yes, I have. I've invited them. The day I turn 50 is important for me. And I'd like my family to be near me. That's the way my parents would've wanted it. I wish they could be here, but they're busy with their own lives. No matter what misunderstandings we had, I'd like to wash them away on my 50th birthday. It's sad they can't be here. But I'm sure they've more important things to do.

Q: Tell me about your most memorable birthday?

A: They've all been memorable in their own way, even the ones that came in my worst days. I don't like a big birthday bash. I just want my near ones on my birthday. It's tough to remember my past. But I want to move on.

Q: It's very difficult to imagine Sanju Baba being 50.

A: At heart I'm still Baba. But when I look into the mirror, it's a reality. And I do feel 50, but not old. I've been in the film industry for so long. Yes, it's been a long innings. In the last 18 years, I've been fighting for my freedom and I feel the burden of the struggle now. I want to be free, Subhash.

I want to walk into any consulate and get my visa. I want my passport to be with me. I want to visit any country I want. Most important of all, I want the court cases to end.

Q: So your mentor is recovering?

A: He is not my mentor. He is my brother and family. Amar Singhji stands by his friends and we've to stand by our friends. As soon as I get my visa, I'll fly down from here (in Cape Town) to Singapore to spend a couple of days with him.

Q: So this friendship will last?

A: I've been betrayed by so-called friends many times. But this time I feel I've found a true friend. I've known him for 16 years. He has always stood by me, always been there in the worst situations in my life.

Q: Your one birthday wish?

A: Freedom. Can you gift me my freedom for my birthday? Otherwise the biggest gift god has given me is my wife Manyata. She has stood by me and supported me unconditionally. I'm very lucky to have her by side.

Q: What about a baby?

A: If that happens my happiness would be complete.

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

Recently, Baba Ramdev publicly made comments around sexual life of 'actresses like Celina Jaitly' on the front page of a leading newspaper. On her standing up for gay rights, he stated, "These actresses know nothing about Bhartiya sanskriti. They stay away from their parents and have no morals. Unke partner har mahine badalte hain."

Truly livid, Celina reacts as she bares her heart out in this candid conversation.

Your sex life seems to have come under the spotlight now. Any comments?
[Sighs] Well, this great, great Brahamachari seems to know more about my sex life then I may know myself. In any case, now I feel I can truly say that he is not a true 'Yoga' teacher. After all 'yoga' knowledge comes from Adi Shiva, who in Hindu scriptures is active when there is 'Shakti - The Cosmic Female'. For a brahamachari, every woman is 'Maa' and nowhere in 'bharatiya sanskriti' is it written or practiced that you can make sexually motivated comments on any girl; especially by a brahamachaari. He does not know the meaning of true 'Brahamacharya'.

Well, Baba Ramdev has also claimed that he can cure homosexuals?
I can just laugh when he says that he can cure homosexuals by Pranayam and meditation. With all due respect to Baba Ramdev, he 'may' have the so called 'cure' for homosexuality but the point is LGBT community 'does not' see their homosexuality as a disease. The point is no one is interested in buying this 'over the counter' prescription for curing what is not a disease at all. This is what they are and they are comfortable with their self. They are not interfering in anyone's life or religion but unfortunately everyone wants to interfere in their lives and tell them how they should eat, sleep and have sex. It is plain and simple ridiculous!

He has created a clout for him though over a period of time...
But because of that, he cannot become 'Samaaj Ka Thekedaar', right? Yes, I give him credit for contributing to realization and revival of yoga in today's time and date. But this is it. These people prefer to live in a cocooned thought process of their own and do not wish to come out of it. Ok, good for him, it's his fundamental right to speak his mind. We, the youth, too are using our fundamental rights the way we wish to do, so I guess we are even.

Celina Jaitly So what is it that you wish to tell Baba Ramdev?
That even if he screams from every rooftop of India, the reality is homosexuality will not cease to exist. It is there since the homo sapiens have existed. Also, according to zoologists, even today homosexuality is exhibited in over 15000 species of animals, leave alone humans. Once even Hitler thought that Jews were an impure race and ancient scientists thought the earth was flat but then ultimately truth persisted, right? It is up to people to follow blindly or to respect the truth and slowly come around. Just because some people think LGBT is a threat to the family system, what should we do? Give rise to another genocide based on closed views?

Now Baba Ramdev and several other religious groups have filed a case against the verdict.
All I can say is that the respectable judges of Supreme Court will definitely consider the human rights aspect and the fight against the growing HIV AIDS epidemic in India. I am confident that 'jiska koi nahi hota hai uska khuda hota hai'. Society needs to focus on one issue and it is that for any step towards progression, change needs to come from within. If everyone just takes the responsibility for improving themselves from within by becoming more tolerant, becoming giving, becoming kind and being honest, everyone would be happier and contended. That would lead to a happy and peaceful community.

And your message for the 'aam junta'?
Take your own responsibility first that's it. As for these Babas, they are doing whatever their remote upbringing and closed mindset is dictating them to do. Only togetherness and standing up for what is right can change this mindset. So let's all stop people from being misled by publicity hungry self proclaimed gurus of the society.

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

Mumbai, July 20 (IANS) She is one of the reigning stars in Bollywood, but Priyanka Chopra says she was a very bad actress when she debuted with "Andaaz" six years ago. While the former Miss World has set high goals for herself and is experimenting with roles like never before, she is also clear about what she is looking for in her 'Mr. Right'.

"I think I was a terrible actress when I started off as compared to what I'm today. I still have a lot to learn, but I believe that I have grown as an actress and I evolve constantly. I always had the hunger to learn and become better at what I do - just like a sponge, trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible," Priyanka told IANS in an email interview.

The actress, who won the Filmfare Award for best actress for "Fashion", wants to take her career to greater heights. She has no plans of getting married right now but knows what she wants from her man.

"No plans of settling down at the moment. But when I do... Mr. Right has to match a lot of my parameters... He has to be someone who knows how to make me feel special... make me feel like I'm walking on air...," said Priyanka, who turned 27 Saturday.

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: Having had two hits in 2008 - "Fashion" and "Dostana" - along with several awards... how do you look back at your past year?

A: I feel like I'm 20 years into my career because I've done so much work in such a short time. When I look back, it's been only five-six years since I've been here. I've never received any formal training in acting or cinema nor do I belong to a film family; so for me, the biggest achievement is that my hard work and my family's support have led me to the place I'm in today. I take great pride in that.

Q: How would you review your performance in Bollywood ever since you made your debut with "Andaaz" in 2003?

A: I think I was a terrible actress when I started off as compared to what I'm today. I still have a lot to learn, but I believe that I've grown as an actress and I evolve constantly. I always had the hunger to learn and become better at what I do - just like a sponge, trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible.

Q: Your forthcoming movies are "Kaminey" and "What's Your Rashee?" and "Pyaar Impossible". Which one are you more excited about and why?

A: I have different feelings for different films. I'm very excited about "Kaminey" because it's pathbreaking cinema. On the other hand, I'm equally nervous and excited about "What's Your Rashee?" because it was a huge challenge for me. I play 12 different characters in it, something that hasn't really been done in Indian cinema before and the fact that I'll be a part of history in the making is very scary.

"Pyaar Impossible" is a sweet, cool story where I have a glamorous look and contemporary character. As cliched as it sounds... each one is special...

Q: In "Kaminey" you play a de-glamourised role opposite Shahid Kapoor. Were you sceptical about the look because you were seen in ultra-glam roles in "Fashion" and "Dostana"?

A: Let's put this into context. I chose the role not because she was de-glamourised. I chose it because of the way the character is etched out and not how she looks. That's incidental. With most of my films, especially the most recent ones... I have taken up roles that are interesting and different from what I've done before.

Q: You have always been silent about controversies related to your personal and professional life - why?

A: Because I firmly believe that all aspects of my life are for public consumption. I learnt early in my career that speculation, rumours and gossip come with the job... a professional hazard. But I'd much rather approach it with dignified silence than to engage in ugly mud-slinging.

Q: What about your multiple link-ups and break-ups news - don't they disturb you?

A: They definitely do because eventually I'm a girl and have a family - a father, a mother, a brother. It does bother me, but I don't believe in clarifying the rumours. It just gives it undue importance. As long as my family knows what the truth is, that's all that matters. The rest doesn't!

Q: Any plans of settling down in the near future? What sort of a guy would you want as a companion?

A: No plans of settling down at the moment. But when I do... Mr. Right has to match a lot of my parameters... He has to be someone who knows how to make me feel special... make me feel like I'm walking on air... He has to be somebody who loves me for who I am and takes pride in being with me. He also has to be honest and be able to speak well... make me laugh... all in all, somebody who really really loves me.

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) They have given a series of hits together like "Aankhen", "Raja Babu" and "Partner" and they have teamed up yet again to entertain audiences with "Do Knot Disturb". Comedy King David Dhawan says he shares a great camaraderie with funny man Govinda and that they are lucky for each other.

"We have a very good understanding and complement each other pretty well. It has become very easy to work with him because he knows what exactly I want from him and he delivers that perfectly," Dhawan told IANS in an interview.

Is Govinda lucky for you?

"I'm very lucky for Govinda and he has been lucky for me as well," the filmmaker said jokingly.

"On a serious note, I would say that he (Govinda) is like a spoilt younger brother whose funny bone was discovered by me. In fact, it was through my movies that the comedy tag started to follow him."

The talented director, who has been in the industry for more than three decades, has directed around 40 films like "Shola Aur Shabnam", "Saajan Chale Sasural" and "Deewana Mastana".

He also gave comedy buffs the hit 'No.1' title series that included movies like "Biwi No.1", "Jodi No.1", "Hero No.1" and "Shaadi No.1".

Dhawan says he was never superstitious about 'No.1', but when one film with the 'No.1' title word clicked, he decided to use it for other projects as well.

"Call it luck or superstition, but all those films fared pretty well at the box office and I followed the trend for a while," he said.

The director also gave Bollywood a hit on-screen couple in Govinda and Karisma Kapoor, who worked together in several blockbusters - "Raja Babu", "Coolie No.1", "Saajan Chale Sasural" and "Hero No.1", to name a few.

Dhawan says he would love to work with them again but only if there is a suitable script.

"Karisma and me are the judges of a reality show and there she told me that she wants to come back. She has been telling me this for years now, but I'm sure if I have a good script, she wouldn't say no to me.

"Together they (Govinda-Karisma) share great chemistry and make a very good on-screen couple. I know audience wants them back, but they will have to wait till I find a good script," said the director.

The director is very happy making laughathons and says making a comedy is an art.

"Making people cry is very easy, but tickling their funny bones and making them cry out of sheer laughter is an art. I call myself an entertainer whose sole aim is to entertain audiences. I don't think I'll ever make a serious film, it is not my forte," Dhawan said.

Dhawan's upcoming "Do Knot Disturb" is again a light-hearted romantic comedy that stars Govinda, Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta and Sushmita Sen. It is scheduled for a September release.

Another project of his is "Hook Ya Crook", which stars John Abraham, Kay Kay Menon, Shreyas Talpade and Genelia D'Souza.

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan - Deepika Padukone is pretty much working with the best in the business across diverse age groups. With too much happening in her life in too little time, Deepika is already staring at her fourth release in less than two years since she made her much hyped debut with Om Shanti Om. On the eve of the film's mega release, Deepika talks to Joginder Tuteja about her years gone by in Bollywood, Imtiaz's narrative approach, her songs, styling and the generation leap that the film takes.

From Om Shanti Om to Bachna Ae Haseeno to Chandni Chowk To China and now Love Aaj Kal - There is a visible transformation in you, right Deepika?
Yes, I have indeed opened up a lot during last two years. Of course experience does set in and you tend to become a lot more confident with every film you do. However, one can't forget that one of the major contributors to the entire transformation process is the script of Love Aaj Kal. The character too plays a major role in the way you come across on screen.

Add to that the 'Imtiaz factor'....?
Yes, I was coming to that. The entire combination as I stated earlier can never be complete until and unless the director at the helm of affairs ensures that all of it comes in just the right proportion. He is one director who really brings out your real potential. Credit it to him that I am so 'khulla' today!

So are we looking at an out and out light hearted entertainer in Love Aaj Kal? Or are there some serious dramatic elements embellished in the narrative as well?
Yes, there are some serious elements as well. They do not become too heavy though. There are pensive moments but not 'bhaari-bharkam' enough to make you feel cheated since everyone is expecting Love Aaj Kal to be a fun outing. At the heart of it, Love Aaj Kal is a complete entertainer that will certainly leave you smiling as you exit the theaters.

Love Aaj Kal is a complete entertainer that will certainly leave you smiling

Deepika Padukone Well, Pritam, Imtiaz and Saif have promised that with 'Aahun Aahun' which comes in the end credits roll!
'Aahun Aahun' is a riot for sure (laughs). But then you must not forget 'Dooriyan' as well which is the only sad number in the film. It has been amazingly picturised and gives an altogether different dimension to the film as it carries the story forward. My personal favorite though is 'Chor Bazaari'.

Talking about 'Chor Bazaari', you seem to have gone through a complete costume makeover for Love Aaj Kal.
Credit it to Anahita Shroff Adajania, my costume designer, and Imtiaz. They came with an entirely fresh take on costumes and styling. They complimented each other and brought in Indian as well as Western sensibilities. Both were very sure about they wanted from me and the costumes I wear. My character also goes through a gradual transition from the first half into the second half so the overall styling did help to bring out that aspect as well. Anahita and I have been working together since my modeling days and she is very well aware about my body structure and what suits me most. That really helped.

Coming to the film's narrative, since the film moves across two generations, was it a little tedious to shoot for the film?
Of what I know about the narration that Imtiaz has adopted for the film, you will never feel the jerk in it even though the story moves back and forth in time. It is pretty seamless actually and all scenes blend in well with the spirit of the movie. In any case Imtiaz is not someone who believes in bringing in unnecessary technical jargon and he has in fact kept it all quite simple. Once you see the film, you will realize it for yourself!

You will never feel the jerk in the film even though the story moves back and forth in time

Since the film also tells the story of Rishi Kapoor, do you also have any scenes with him?
I have just one scene with him!

So all in the family?
(Giggles away)

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

I can't take my eyes off Audrey Hepburn as I flip through the pages of a big fat book titled 'The Star Makers' kept in front of me on his coffee table. Then I get my hands on The Beatles. For a second, I didn't care if Nikhil Dwivedi took another one hour in his shower. But that didn't happen. Anyway, it was Friday afternoon, 3:30pm to be precise. To do or not to do the interview was going to be my call. There is something about these 'one film old' actors that attract my attention towards them. For a moment, you wish to be Nikhil Dwivedi. Wheatish complexion, skin fit jeans, red shoes, a chequered half sleeve shirt with a glass of green tea, a richly decorated black and white house shimmering from floor to the ceiling and of course, a Mani Ratnam film. Isn't that enough? "Please have something. Orange Juice will do you good", he said while offering me a drink. Ideally, I wouldn't mind sitting in his cosy cornered bar he has designed especially for his friends and guests. Nothing smoother than a nice single malt on the rocks. Back to reality. Nikhil likes mixing the rough with the smooth, which is why I presume he landed up a role in Mani Ratnam's Raavan. Is he bankable enough? We'll soon find out. Sometimes he comes across with a chameleon-like quality, making it hard to link the man behind the mask. Sometimes he comes across as Bollywood's favourite archetype, the hard man with the soft centre. Dwivedi is part chest-beater, part soul-searcher. He's tough and crazy but he also has this boy-man quality. "I live alone and can take care of myself", he says with positivity flowing from his eyes. Have the Gods really smiled on him this time around? Will Raavan bring the success he is so looking forward to? Is he a God send to Bollywood? Answers to questions like these are still a year away. What he does realise is that his ticking career clock has started long time back. We for a change want to hear the alarm. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent met the ever so awake aristocrat Nikhil Dwivedi and discussed the actors he grew up on, the relationship of cinema and the common man, Raavan, Mani Ratnam, Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and his two idols - Big B and SRK. As he says, "No other world should exist between 'action' and 'cut'. Before and after that, you should just be yourself."

Actors I looked up to…
"When I was a four year old, I decided that I'll grow up to be an actor. The passion that has been evoked in me at an early age comes into you because you grow up on a certain kind of cinema. I've grown up on single screen theatres and wasn't a part of the multiplex audience back then. We are now catering to the latter and I am part of that catering business. I come from a very strict family and films for me were once in a blue moon, except when it was an Amitabh Bachchan film. That's the actor I grew up on. My other favourite came years later. He was Shah Rukh Khan. I know SRK as a person and my liking for him is more than the actor or the star that defines him."

When I was a four year old, I decided that I'll grow up to be an actor
Amitabh Bachchan
"I am an actor today because of Amitabh Bachchan. I've grown up watching his films. My favourite Amitabh Bachchan film cannot be short listed as there are dozens of them. I personally like Satte Pe Satta because he looked the most handsome in it. Then there is always an Agneepath, Deewar and Kaala Patthar. Mili is one of the most under rated performances he has and will ever give to Hindi films. That was when he played the angry young man for the first time in his life. Whenever he has played the angry young man, he had a lot of vendetta and angst against a particular person in the film. There have been only three films that come to my mind where he had this bitterness against the whole wide world. It's a very difficult emotion to play but only he can pull it off. He did it in Mili, followed it in Deewar and then finally he did it in Agneepath."

Nikhil Dwivedi Shah Rukh Khan
"I will never forget what SRK once told me before I entered films. He said, "Films is not about bungalows, about cars, about fans chasing you for autographs. When you make a film, you should get the aroma from the negative print." Not many actors can have a five hour long conversation with you without making you feel bored. SRK is extremely intelligent, extremely articulate, very well read and highly successful. What's more, he isn't ashamed of his success, neither is he too pompous or flamboyant about it as many people perceive him to be. He likes the way it is. And despite all the above, there is a very middle class Delhi boy in him and that is something very endearing. You just want to sit with him and learn from him. He could be talking to you about micro-biology and he is an expert in it or he could talk to you about aeroplanes and submarines or world cinema. You come back and google what you've heard from him and learn that all that is true."

Cinema and the common man
"Today, the tickets range from hundred rupees to two hundred and fifty rupees. So the person who is buying those tickets is actually a person who is doing well in life. He is educated and urban. When he is that, he is a certain kind of a person expecting a certain kind of cinema. The kind of mass base cinema is on a decline. They want a fresher subject. Two years down the line, you will not find Bollywood's famous song and dance routine in our films, and I completely believe in it."

How Raavan happened…
"The working title of the film is still Raavan. The part I'm playing in Raavan is that of a police officer who is a subordinate to his senior police officer played by South Indian National Award winning actor Vikram. Mr. Mani Ratnam wants each and every actor of his to come and do a look test for him. One has to read for his part. I had to do the same. I read for my part and I am just very fortunate that he liked me in my part."

Mani Ratnam - A star maker?
"Mani Ratnam isn't a star maker. He is a director who makes a better actor. He isn't making a star. He is simply telling a story and making a film. 70% of the film is complete now and what I've noticed is that he doesn't try to make his film a star. I mean, his film into a super hit. His personality is over the top but his cinema is not. Mani Ratnam knows what he wants and his ambience is usually a league above what the others would envision. I don't know how much will Raavan benefit me, but I can tell you one thing for sure, I am going to carry a lot of this film to my future projects."

Nikhil Dwivedi Abhishek Bachchan
"This is the first time I had any sort of interaction with Abhishek. I had heard about this when I used to read interviews about his colleagues and friends talking about Abhishek that he is a very well brought up boy and he is very cultured, mannered, etc. I thought that a guy who is all this should be so perfect. Now I know why they say this about him. One of the finest qualities about Abhishek is that he makes the attempt to make you feel comfortable. That is a very rare quality that he possesses. He will not bother if that person has walked up to him or not. He will walk up to them and talk. He wins over people and he has won over me."

Disciplined shoot
"Raavan isn't sync sound. I don't hear a sound on the sets of this Mani Ratnam film. That is almost impossible to achieve when you're shooting for a Hindi film. What you gather is that filming with Mani Ratnam isn't picnic. It is serious business. You are there for something big and everyone who works for a Mani Ratnam film, works with that kind of sincerity and discipline."

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
"She is right on time, I should say. A true professional. She is also there in the Tamil version of Raavan and is shooting simultaneously for both the parts. That is physically taxing. But these are just not actors; they are much more than just a celebrity."

Govinda
"You might wonder what Govinda is doing in a Mani Ratnam film. Believe me, he is a true definition of versatility. He is mesmerising when he is acting. I've been in a couple of scenes with him and he is an actor who can make you forget your lines. He flows and that's beautiful. There are some actors who are just blessed and he is one of them."

Nikhil Dwivedi Recalling the first day of Raavan
"It was 7th of January 2009 in Madhya Pradesh. The set was a little intimidating, for the simple fact that when you arrive on a Mani Ratnam set, there is a lot of preconceived baggage you bring along. But you are immediately proved wrong. When you step for your first shot, the mechanism is completely different. He will brief you in depth and then take it from there."

Favourite films
"My favourite Mani Ratnam film has to be Rojaand Bombay for the simple reason that the subject matter was very real. It had a lot of heart and soul to it. For once Mani Ratnam didn't dwell away from the emotional quotient in the film. He stuck to it and made films that are still remembered by all.

My favourite Abhishek Bachchan film is Bunty aur Babli and his first film Refugee. I hope I don't annoy Abhishek here but I saw a lot of Amitabh Bachchan in him in Refugee. I think if I don't see a lot of father in his own son, where else shall I see it?"

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

He is someone who can very rightly be 'credited' for injecting Bollywood with the fool-proof virus called 'Numerology'. We are indeed talking about Tusshar Kapoor, the illustrious son of the eternal 'Jumping Jack' Jeetendra and brother of the TV Czarina Ekta Kapoor. Even though Tusshar did not have a dream run at the B-O's windows, critics find it really tough to pull him down, thanks to his sincerity which comes across in all his performances. After having enthralled the audiences with his 'muted laugh-a-thon' act in the smash hit Golmaal Returns, Tusshar is back with yet another cracker of a film called Life Partner, in which he is paired opposite Bolly land's latest 'blue eyed girl' Prachi Desai. If the promos of Life Partner are anything to go by, then, Tusshar is surely sitting on a goldmine with this film.

Bollywood Hungama caught up with this man for an exclusive interview, whereby he talks about his Life Partner and much more. Read on and find out.

Tusshar, to start with, what's the film Life Partner all about?
It's a fun, light hearted take on friendship, marriage and relationships in general. It's about the ups and downs any common man faces due to the marriage. It's an out and out comedy and is not a serious film, which everybody in the audience will identify with. We all get into a relationship sometimes or the other, be it an arranged marriage or a love marriage or even live in relationships too! There are at least ten scenes in every aspect of the film which the audience will surely connect with, as it's a film for all age groups. All of us are sincerely hoping that it should hit the right cord (smiles).

What was it about the film that made you sign it?
The narration of the film itself was damn entertaining. I got to do a family drama that I have signed after such a long time. It's a film that has got a universal appeal. It's got the wholesome feel.

How was your experience playing a married man for the first time on the silver screen?
I just tried to understand Bhavesh (my character in the film) and what he would go through the different phases of his life. Since I am not married, I had to use all my imagination to experience all the phases of various emotions that comes into his personality as the character experiences things like marriage, joint family and their take on marriage. I totally relied on my imagination and creativity to understand and 'live' the character of Bhavesh's life! This character was as similar as any other character that one gets to see in daily life, nothing larger than life. It's just that the situation that Bhavesh faces is different and new, which meant that it was more challenging for me as an actor.

Not just that, were you comfortable sporting the moustache? Was it a part of your character since its inception? Or was it included because you were supposed to look old?
It was always a part of the character. Even though the director had conceived it since start, we all zeroed down in confidence that Bhavesh should have a moustache to make it look more authentic Gujarati. I am not wearing the moustache throughout the film. I have to confess that wearing the moustache and removing it was slightly irritating at times. I start wearing the moustache, only post marriage. Overall, I had fun doing this role.

In other words, can one say that Life Partner is a matured take on marriage and relationships?
I do not know if it's matured or not, but I can surely say that it's for real. In that sense, it's very matured. What we have shown is what exactly happens in practically every family, which includes rules and regulations, expectations from your life partner. We have also shown how psychology plays an important role in any kind of relationship.

Was playing the character of a Gujjubhai tough? Did you undergo any training for the character?
It was not tough at all. Bhavesh has been shown as a Gujarati, more in terms of the way he looks. And since Gujaratis do not have any specific kind of mannerisms, the mannerisms sported by Bhavesh are his own. It's only the dialect of Bhavesh which included a few words here and there were intentionally made in tune with the Gujaratis. Even the clothes that Bhavesh wears were the typical 'NRI corporate Gujju'. But what I really had to work on was the behavioral pattern of Bhavesh and his reactions to the issues that he faces due to the situations and circumstances around him.
And as far as doing my homework for playing the Gujju Bhavesh is concerned, my director used to chip in with his suggestions. I have traveled all over and I know how NRIs are culturally bred! So, it was not really that tough for me to play Bhavesh.

Life Partner is about 3 guys having 3 different approaches towards the institution of marriage. Of the three, which character's approach do you endorse in real life?
I totally endorse Karan's (Fardeen) approach, which is love marriage, and may even endorse live-in relationship like Jeet (Govinda). But, in real-life, I will never go in for an arranged marriage, very much unlike my character in the film.

Is it only in the film that you believe in the saying 'Marriages are made in heaven and arranged on earth'? Or do you agree the same even in real life?
In real life, I do not think that marriages are made in heaven. What I feel is that, in this world, what we do for ourselves is what we get in return. We just cannot attribute our success or failure to heaven or hell (laughs).

What's your take on one-night-stands and live in relationships?
I would classify one night stands as 'To each his own'; as long as one is clear about the other person not being taken for a ride. And as far as live in relationships are concerned, one needs to understand and weigh the amount of commitments towards each other. Live in relationships just does not mean merely living with each other. It also means to perform certain duties which are expected of you. In other words, live in relationships, to me is an open commitment and communication towards and with each other.

In one of your earlier interviews, you had said that Life Partner is a romantic, musical and social entertainer. What's the social message that you are giving out through this film?
The social message that we are planning to give out is that 'Marriage is not a destination, it's a journey'. It's not about arranged marriage, love marriage or even relationships. Instead, it's about how well you live upto the expectations of your partner in all the three above-mentioned aspects. In short, the film is about taking a stand in life in any kind of relationship.

In the film, you get sandwiched between your parents and your wife, not knowing whose side you should take. How will you tackle the same situation in real life?
I think that there are certain compromises that both my parents and wife should have to make. Both sides should be kept happy and satisfied all the time, keeping the respect fact or intact. It's important to draw the lines between both the sides. Still if things don't work, then, I will have to move out. If the matter is beyond control even after me moving out, then I will head in for a divorce which I believe is a far stretched thing to even think about. I am smart and capable enough of handling such situations.

How was Prachi as a co-star? Was it easy to work with Prachi as she also happens to be your sister's 'blue-eyed girl'?
I think it was a little tough as we know each other only professionally. Even though she is my sister's 'blue-eyed girl', we have never met each other on a personal level. I got introduced to her just once or twice before we met on the sets.
Even when we did the honeymoon scene, she was little afraid. I totally understand her side as she is pretty young. I. sometimes wish that we had known each other quite before. I should have asked my sister (Ekta) to have got us introduced so that we could have known each other well. But mark my words, Prachi has done a brilliant job in the film.

You are working with the powerhouse of comedy Govinda and Bollywood's style icon Fardeen Khan for the first time. How was the experience?
While Govindaji is an energetic and fun person who keeps on coming up with his brilliant wisecracks and jokes which keeps the whole unit charged all the time, Fardeen is a little reserved and he keeps to himself most of the times. But he is a cheerful person to the core. If he has the mood, then, he will just be up there! Even though he does not have a shoot, he will still drop in to the sets and will stay back till the wee hours of the morning. He has got no issues in socializing and mingling with the crew. The fact remains that I just do not get along the so-called 'filmy' types. And Govindaji and Fardeen are just not that. They are so very casual, cheerful, and won't throw any starry tantrums even when they are or they are not shooting, and I respect both of them for this. They are very frank and are totally unpretentious.

What is the difference in Govinda's role as a lawyer in Ekta Kapoor's Kyonki Main Jhoot Nahi Bolta and now Life Partner?
Except for the fact that he plays a lawyer in both the films, his character is way off than each other. You have to see the film to know what I am talking about. All that I can say is that he is one of a kind of a character in the film, who stands out in every frame.

Do you feel that you have evolved as an actor since your Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai till Life Partner?
It's kind of tough for me to answer this question. All that I can say is that, in terms of opening up, my comfort level with the camera has been improved tremendously over the years.

How has Life Partner evolved in terms of music?
In terms of the music, I like its overall genre. After a long time in Bollywood, there is a honeymoon song called 'Teri meri zindagi', which has two couples dancing and singing, something that the silver screen has been missing since a long time. Besides this, there's a comedy song in the film, and a Gujarati song called 'Goonje angna mein shehnaai', which again are very cool songs. As far as my personal favourite is concerned, it's indeed the honey moon song 'Teri meri zindagi'.

Any memorable moments during the shoot of the film?
It indeed has to be the 20th of November, when my birthday was celebrated in Cape Town on the sets. Even though, I am not the birthday party types, but this time round, I simply let my hair down! It was not just an unforgettable incident, but also an unforgettable day of my life.

I am not the birthday party types, but this time, I simply let my hair down!
Hailing from one of the most premier Bollywood families, your real life is anything but a 'Bollywoodian', in terms of your love life and affairs. How have you managed to sail your way though the industry without being linked with any of the heroines?
I just follow one mantra in life, which is to 'keep my private life private'. If you look at the superstars of yesteryears, they too have done the same. Even my Dad has also been very careful about his personal life coming in print. What I have learnt is that after a certain time in the industry, it's only your work which will speak for itself, which is what is happening to me. And I am quite happy about it.

Tusshar, talking of Love, we are just 5 months away from the most romantic day of the year: Valentine's Day. So, who shall be the lucky one, who will be sitting across the table with Tusshar, enjoying a cozy candlelight dinner with music complementing the mood?
I just do not believe in these days. All that I want is to get lucky in love first.

You mean to say that you are still 'unlucky'?
I haven't been 'lucky' in the last few months. As they say, I am single and ready to mingle (laughs).

I am single and ready to mingle
What are your forthcoming films?
We are ready with Run Bola Run. I am starting Sagar Bellary's film Double Jhol by Smita Thackeray in September. After that, it's Golmaal 3 which stars in February next year.

Lastly, after Golmaal Returns, now it's Life Partner, your second back-to-back comedy. Aren't you fearing of being typecast?
I am already getting typecast in the comic genre. But I will not do a bad action film to change my image. I have refused lots of action oriented film in the recent past; because of bad scripts etc...Life Partner will be different from Golmaal Returns as it's not a slapstick comedy.

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

Ever since he began his career in Bollywood, Anupam Kher has been seen wearing different hats. With Teree Sang, he is being seen as a producer along with Satish Kaushik and together they have floated the banner 'Karol Bagh Film and Entertainment'. While in last few weeks, Anupam Kher has been seen as an actor in films like Morning Walk, Sankat City and Perfect Mismatch, this Friday he has a different role to play as his production Teree Sang hits the screens. He chats with Joginder Tuteja and talks about the inception of his production house, his confidence in the film in spite of massive competition surrounding his film and the time that Teree Sang has taken to reach the finishing line.

How did Teree Sang happen?
When Satish (Kaushik) narrated the film's script to me, I simply loved it. I there and then decided to make this film. Sounds simple, right? But that's true because it was actually as simple as that. Both Satish and I love each other. I used to stay in his house in Delhi before I became an actor. We share similar temperament. We decided to launch a production house and bring the film under its banner. Since both of us are quite earthy people, we thought of Karol Bagh Film and Entertainment as the name of our production house. Karol Bagh is truly the heart of India and Satish was particularly attached to it since he hails from that locality. It was all locked and sealed there and then and we soon began working on the film.

With youngsters at the helm of affairs, weren't you apprehensive about Teree Sang?
On the contrary, I continue to be quite positive about Teree Sang because it comes with that ability to connect with the youth. The hero isn't someone who is macho or a cool dude while the heroine too is not an overtly docile or a brat girl. They represent the youth of today and that gives the film its edge.

Can you please elaborate?
See, Teree Sang is a fantastic representation of modern India. It's a very youthful film and to be honest, I wasn't too sure earlier on if Satish would be the right choice to direct it. Later when I saw the film, I congratulated him and told him that he had surpassed himself.

Anupam Kher And how about the newcomers?
Mark my words; they would be the next heartthrobs of the nation.

The film was completed way back in 2007 so why did it take such a long time to arrive in theaters?
Who said that the film was completed in 2007? We began work in 2007 but since then there has been constant work happening on the film. Dubbing happened after a while; even an entirely new soundtrack was created with some portions of song picturisation also carried out. Work on post production also got through only a few days back.

The right release period is important too, isn't it?
Exactly. See, when you have newcomers, it is better to release the film carefully. One has to look at the best release timing for a film. Look at Khosla Ka Ghosla (which was ready for 3 years) or A Wednesday (which was completed a year before it's release) - they were very good films and worked because they took their own time in arriving at theaters with the right marketing and promotion behind them.

You come at a time when Love Aaj Kal has done bumper all over, Kaminey and Life Partner follow a week later while there is competition from Agyaat. Isn't it being a part of too heavy a rush?
Dekho, rush to hamesha hi rahega, you can't run away from that. We can't fight with something like this and neither should we even try that. Audiences are intelligent and they know what to see and what not to see. Otherwise why has 2009 seen so many biggies failing in 3 days flat? We have mounted the film well and given it the right promotion. The product is out in the market and now we have to see the results.

For your very first film as co-producers, wasn't it risky for you and Satish Kaushik to start with an offbeat subject of teenage pregnancy?
We wanted to take small steps and in any case neither Satish nor I are in any hurry. My career is going fine while Satish too has been directing films on a regular basis. Both of us have our own identity and a standing that we have built over the years. No one can take that away from us. In any case, Teree Sang is not the end of the world for us. The film can help make us but it will not break us!

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

Mumbai, Aug 5 (IANS) Over three decades after her role of 'Basanti', the horse-carriage driver with her mare 'Dhanno' in the iconic film "Sholay", actress Hema Malini has sought a ban on horse carts in this city, saying the horses that pull these carts lead a miserable life.

The Bollywood actress has written to city municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak seeking a ban on the horse-carts that ply on the city's roads.

Writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Hema Malini said in her letter: "In 'Sholay', I had a terrific co-star named Dhanno. Luckily, this affable character will never know the misery that her cousins, who are forced to pull joy-carts, endure."

She said that "her heart breaks" whenever she sees the condition of the horses who are forced to give joyrides on beaches, parks and certain other areas of the city.

"Their legs ache, they yearn for better nourishment, their throats are parched and the sun beats down on their backs," said the actress.

Joining the campaign is actor John Abraham, who recently wrote to the Mumbai collector seeking a ban on horse-carts on city roads.

"He was told that the issue falls under the purview of the traffic department, so he approached them. They, in turn, said the matter concerns the Mumbai collector. In this blame-game, the horses continue to suffer," said PETA spokesman Sachin Bangera.

An investigation by PETA revealed that the horses are fed unwholesome food and polluted water.

"Stables are often damp, filthy, infested with insects and rodents, many horses are forced to work long hours in the blazing sun without any relief," Bangera said.

There are about a couple of hundred horses which are allowed to ply on certain Mumbai roads, beaches, parks and other areas, mainly for the benefit of tourists and children.

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

New Delhi, Aug 5 (IANS) The Indian film fraternity is trying to seek 100,000 solidarity comments on a social networking website to urge the government to confer the prestigious Bharat Ratna upon Bollywood thespian Dilip Kumar.

A community titled "Dilip Kumar for Bharat Ratna" on Facebook that now has over 850 members dedicated to the cause was started at the behest of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.

Bhatt said he was not the only one who wishes that the 86-year-old be awarded the country's highest civilian honour.

"It is the entire industry's effort. From every region, stalwarts have come out to appeal for him. I was just a foot soldier. It is the Indian film industry's effort, not an individual's effort," Bhatt told IANS via SMS.

The group has been primarily created to seek solidarity from people so that the administrators of the website can bind all the comments in a book and submit it to the president and the prime minister.

The members of the community have been asked to "leave a comment or endorse by replying a one liner - 'I endorse that Dilip Kumar is the most deserving person to be honoured with the Bharat Ratna'".

Dilip Kumar, who is married to actress Saira Bano, is known for his landmark performances in films like "Devdas", "Madhumati", "Ganga Jamuna", "Mughal-E-Azam", "Shakti" and "Karma".

Many of his fans as well as members of the industry have put out individual comments.

Posts like "Honouring Dilip Kumar is honouring Bollywood", "He deserves Bharat Ratna. Period" and "Bharat Ratna....most certainly. He is an icon in the truest sense of the word!" are splashed on the online community's website.

Celebrities supporting the cause include actors like Rajeev Khandelwal, Mukul Dev, Shabbir Ahluwalia, Varun Badola, Randeep Hooda and Urvashi Dholakia. Film critic and filmmaker Khalid Mohammed, director Prabhakar Shukla and popular Bangladeshi singer Runa Laila have also joined the effort.

"Dilip Kumar is one of the finest actors in the Indian film industry. He did only 64 films in his career and is still regarded as the best. He is like Lata Mangeshkar, you won't get another Lata...Similarly, you won't get another Dilip Kumar. In the true sense, he is Bharat Ratna," said Shukla, known for his film "Gudiyaa".

Till date no actor has received the Bharat Ratna award. In 1992, acclaimed filmmaker Satyajit Ray was the first person from the entertainment industry to have been conferred the honour.

Music greats like Carnatic music vocalist M.S. Subbulakshmi, sitar player Ravi Shankar, singer Lata Mangeshkar, shehnai maestro Bismillah Khan and classical singer Bhimsen Joshi became its proud recipients.

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

The bad news on Rahul Bose's front is that his second directorial venture Moth Smoke (his first directorial film Everybody Says I'm Fine came 5 years ago) based on Moshin Hamid's celebrated novel is delayed because the financiers have pulled out.

"That's true. The originals funders have backed out. But there's no dearth of alternative funders. I've the rights for four years, of which only one year has elapsed. So there's time."

Though after he broke his nose for the umpteenth time this February, Rahul has retired from Indian rugby, he will continue to play the game internationally for as long as they'd have him.

"You really can't take a rugby player out of the game. It's hugely addictive. And though cinema is my primary passion I also remain a rugby player at heart," says Rahul Bose who turned 42 on Monday without fanfare.

"I never have what you'd call a normal birthday. Last year, during my birthday the Ahmedabad bomb blasts happened. This year I was with my six adopted kids at the The Foundation."

Rahul has six children from the Andaman's who were orphaned during the Tsunami. "Spending time with them gives me immense satisfaction. On my birthday, I had lunch with my sister and niece and dinner with author Amitav Ghosh and his wife who are dear friends. Sorry, my Bollywood connection continues to be tenuous."

So how does it feel to be 42? "I'm waiting for all my hair to fall off before my first face lift," Rahul deadpans. "And before you ask I still have no love life." Rahul who dated actress Koel Puri in the past has been single in recent years.

Ends Rahul, "I'm very excited about my new film with Aparna Sen The Japanese Wife. Like English August, Pyar Ke Side Effects and Jhankar Beats, I feel The Japanese Wife will be one those films that people will remember me by."

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) Signing on full-time comedians for films is passe -- new age cinema now has mainstream actors like Akshay Kumar, Shreyas Talpade, Arshad Warsi and Riteish Deshmukh take on the funny man's mantle apart from doing the hero's job of dancing, romancing the heroine and doing stunts.

Think of Bollywood comedians and a list of veterans like Mahmood, Asrani, Tuntun, Keshto Mukherjee, Johnny Walker, Jagdeep and Johnny Lever comes to mind. The actors were primarily roped in by filmmakers to inject the comic factor into movies.

But now heroes seem to have taken over the comedian's role as well. And leading the brigade is A-lister Akshay Kumar, who entered films as an action hero but has lately been trying to make audiences laugh.

"I don't want to get into logical films... I'm happy doing films where one can keep discussions around logic at home...I'm a clown...Once a clown, always a clown," Akshay had told IANS.

The star has acted in a string of comedies like "Welcome", "Singh Is Kinng", "Chandni Chowk To China" and "Kambakkht Ishq".

"Earlier movies were stereotypes and were slotted with a mother, a hero, a villain, a comedian, etc., because people wanted that...they didn't expect the hero to be a comedian, as there was no appetite for comedy," film critic Omar Qureshi told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"But today audiences are more mature and want a good laugh and comedy is something that is working at the moment... So every actor wants to do something that's in. Hence Aamir (Khan), Akshay, Shah Rukh (Khan)...everyone is into comedy," he added.

Writer-director Neeraj Vora echoed: "Previously heroes were supposed to be larger than life. But thanks to Mr. (Amitabh) Bachchan and his films, the character started becoming more human and the trend was all over."

Megastar Amitabh shed his angry-man image with comic punches in films like "Hera Pheri", "Amar Akbar Anthony", "Satte Pe Satta", "Mr. Natwarlal", "Do Aur Do Paanch" and "Namak Halaal".

Superstars Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman Khan have also explored their funny side in films. While Shah Rukh gave fans a few laughs in "Yes Boss", "Duplicate" and "Baadshah", Aamir showed his comic skills in "Andaaz Apna Apna", "Rangeela" and "Ishq". Salman tried it with "Judwaa", "Hello Brother" and "No Entry", among others.

Govinda moved towards comic roles full time after his 1993 hit "Aankhen" and since then has delivered hit comic capers like "Coolie No.1", "Hero No.1", "Deewana Mastana", "Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan", "Haseena Maan Jaayegi", "Jodi No.1" and "Bhagam Bhag".

The young brigade of actors like Shreyas, Riteish, Vivek Oberoi, Fardeen Khan and Aftab Shivdasani have followed the trend.

Shreyas has been a regular with comedies like "Apna Sapna Money Money", "Om Shanti Om", "Golmaal Returns" and "Paying Guests" and is going to act goofy again in upcoming movies "Mirch", "Hook Ya Crook" and "Aage Se Right".

Asked if it's a deliberate career move, he said: "The deal is that there is a lot of comedies being made today because as a success proposition it has more chances to work.

"I take it as a compliment... Comedy is a tough job. Coming from a film like 'Iqbal' and doing comedy is a challenge for me. I consider myself extremely lucky to have carried it well till date," Shreyas added.

But Arshad, who was last seen in comic dud "Short Kut - The Con Is On", feels hand-cuffed to the genre due to lack of other offers.

"There's nothing I can do. I don't have a choice...most of the scripts I get are comedy scripts. There are hardly any serious films coming my way. I'm a pretty good actor and I'm comfortable with both serious and comedy films. I'm not deliberately doing comedies," he had told IANS.

Despite critical acclaim for his performance as a police officer in the crime thriller "Seher", after the 'Munnabhai' series Arshad has mostly been seen in comedies like "Golmaal Returns", "Sunday", "Dhamaal" and "Golmaal: Fun Unlimited". He will also revive his role of out-of-mind goon Circuit in "Munna Bhai Chale Amerika".

But with regular actors turning to comedy, full-time comedians have suffered an eclipse.

"The sad thing about this (trend) is that comedians like Mehmood have become redundant since mainstream actors are now doing their job," said Qureshi.

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

Download image as wallpaper

Kareena has never been net savvy. But thanks to the clamor for her glamour on social-networking sites, she has decided to get on the net. But just for a bit.

This week Kareena plans to give her fans on a hugely popular social-networking website (Facebook) a big surprise.

Kareena plans to get on the networking site for about 30 minutes "to say hello" to her fans. She may even break her resolve not to become a member of the networking site. And who knows, she may even get over her reservations about starting her own website.

Says Kareena, "I've been repeatedly told that I've the maximum number of fans and well-wishers on Facebook. I could never find the time to connect with them. More importantly, I was too shy. I can't bring myself to answer over-specific questions on my activities, where I am, what I do, eat, etc."

It was Saif Ali Khan and director Imtiaz Ali who informed Kareena of the massive fan following she has on Facebook and how imperative it was for her to reach out to those trying to reach out through social networking.

"I now realize it's a whole large global community out there on the computer. I can't blog about my life. But I need to understand and connect with the internet community. In fact," reveals Kareena, "It was Saif who introduced me to the computer. He does practically all his work on the internet. He coaxed me into understanding the basics. And then I got hooked, though not to social networking because I'm too private a person to share my day-to-day movements and activities even with my closest friends."

It was Imtiaz Ali who pointed out the importance of reaching out on the social networking site. "Imtiaz said the number of people on Facebook who put up my pictures and messages about me had to be seen to be believed. I'll now be going on Facebook in a few days to interact with my friends there."

Not that Kareena wants to be regular on social networking. "That's not me. But I respect and love the thousands of people who want to reach out to me through the internet."

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

It's not a rainy morning in the suburbs of Mumbai, but the sky looks as grey as the puddles of mud churned up outside a film studio; but, inside, something magical is happening. Walk along several dark and grimy corridors and suddenly you see a room inside a room - like a Chinese box or a conjuring trick - where light streams out of the windows into the cavernous gloom. Navigate a path through Shahid Kapur's personal assistant and manager, and you find yourself within the inner sanctum of what looks like a Caribbean or a Hawaiian beach resort. The actor is a part of a chat show called 'Tere Mere Beach Mein', where the set has been recreated down to the last detail, with a vase of colourful peonies, and the gleam of traditional tea light candle stands reflected in the cut glass mirror. DJ on the roof top plays 'Dhan Te Nan' as the star arrives and gives it a rum-punch flavour. The host of the show, Farah Khan, takes her seat and waits for her first celebrity guest to sit on the pink sofa besides her. Before this, inside the actors' vanity van, I was ordered to take the centre seat of the front row. "Please introduce my journalist friend to Farah and Genelia (she was the second celebrity guest on the show) and make sure he is comfortable while watching the talk show", commands Shahid to his manager. Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent and UK's Harrow Observer columnist Devansh Patel meets one of India's best loved actor, Shahid Kapur. And with his latest performance in Kaminey where he plays Charlie, the notorious criminal, tinsel town may not be necessary.

Oh yes, he's dignified. Shahid Kapur seems long, slender, impossibly serpentine - and anything but 29 - as he uncurls himself from the sofa of his vanity van where he's getting ready to go to Yash Raj Studios. Dressed in a white tee and a grey shirt unbuttoned over it, he rises to his full height and steps out, which is considerable, and greets me warmly with a strong handshake and a "How ya doin'?" Even the most banal conversational gambit sounds like mood music when purred in that warm and smoky baritone. He is in the best shape of his life: Strong, sturdy and sly. Just like Charlie in Kaminey. But before he was Charlie, he was once a boy. "The journey from a boy to a man and to a kamina now has been interesting. It's exciting and has shown new sides of myself. I've learnt a lot on the film and while working with Vishal Bhardwaj. I've become a lot more self assured, ready to take risks, do something new and different. I think doing something different is easy but doing something different where you can reach out to your audience is a tough one."

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )

Emraan Hashmi is not allowed to speak any more. But his SMS to his uncle and mentor Mahesh Bhatt says it all.

''My grandmother wants to take me to an astrologer to help me arm myself for the painful future that may lie ahead of me. According to her this is the end of me.''

Chilling, omnipotent and indicative of the threat that the young actor has created for himself and his family by openly speaking on the issue of religious profiling, Emraan is now letting his lawyer do all the talking.

On Tuesday Emraan's Pali Hill residence looked like a fortress with approximately 8-10 police vehicles parked below his building. The threats, apparently, are relentless.

The actor himself seemed petrified of speaking. ''If you want to talk to me on the flat issue I can't. My lawyer Majid Memon has advised that I let him comment on the issue from now on.''

Emraan's uncle Mahesh Bhatt couldn't be stopped from voicing his concerns over the issue. ''A politically motivated application has been made by a BJP activist. They allege that we (Emraan and Mahesh Bhatt) tried to fan communal passion. The cops are yet to register a charge against us. The security given to Emraan is precautionary. He's fine.''

When Emraan has come out with his declaration of being denied housing because of his religion, the film industry is surprisingly mum. Even those who have gone through such religious profiling have chosen to remain silent.

Mahesh Bhatt lashes out, ''It's the politics of silence. It's the fear of being attacked or criticized if they take a stand. Our industry says things which are acceptable not what is RIGHT. We need to step out of this 'I Me Myself' syndrome to live sanely.''

As for Shah Rukh Khan dodging the issue Mahesh Bhatt, ''His silence is truly eloquent. He says it all by not saying a word.''

Read Users' Comments ( 0 )