Thursday, January 31, 2008

John-Aishwarya & baseless rumours

Rumor mongers may be having a field day in inventing trouble for the yet untitled film starring John Abraham and Aishwarya Rai, but the fact is completely different.

Though there have been some media reports indicating that John Abraham is miffed with this Rohan Sippy production being delayed for yet another month, it is hardly the case.

Confirms Sriram Raghavan, popularly known as the man behind films like 'Johnny Gaddaar' and 'Ek Haseena Thi', "John and me had a hearty laugh at the report which came out a few days back.

It was imagination at work overtime when it was published that John was unhappy about the film being delayed. First of all, what delay?

It has just been moved by around a month since I am fine tuning the script. Both John Abraham and Aishwarya Rai understand this and know that this is only for the eventual betterment of the film."

What kind of fine tuning is Sriram doing to the script? Last heard, he was ready and raring to go.

"That's right", says Sriram, "And frankly speaking I can get started and shoot at least 60 percent of the film on the trot without batting an eyelid.

It's just that the more I look at the film's climax, the more I feel that the desired punch is missing in the climax.

I myself believe that there should be a high introduced in the closing portions of the film, something which struck me more as I was narrating the film to the cast."

"If I tweak the concluding part, it would require me to take the changes in close to 40 percent of the film. I want to get this all right before getting into the shooting.

Fortunately or unfortunately, writing a script is not really a tangible activity where one can lock himself for 10 days and come back with bound literature.

In any case, I have always maintained a particular amount of raw stock which I want to utilize while filming and don't believe in going overboard", adds Sriram.

Sriram may be convinced about spending a few extra days in getting the script right, but what does his busy leading players have to say on this? Aren't they turning impatient?

"They are truly with the film, but yes the fact cannot be ignored that they are busy people and have other engagements too. However, that's ok.

Even if there is a gap of around 1-2 months in between the shoot when John and Ash have to get busy with their other commitments, I have got enough on my plate to utilize that time.

Making of the music and other post production related work should keep me busy."

On his part John Abraham has always maintained that he is looking forward to teaming up with Sriram who has given a new dimension to he careers of Saif Ali Khan and Neil Nitin Mukesh.

He had earlier stated, "What attracts me towards Sriram Raghavan is the kind of cinema he makes. He comes with an out of the box thought process which is great.

I like working with like minded people, whether it is Anurag Kashyap or Sriram Raghavan. I can't wait to face the camera with Sriram calling the shots."

Meanwhile, the film is still waiting for its title. Sriram continues to look for a zany title which would create an immense sense of excitement amongst the audience.

Till then he asks one to wait and watch for the film's title by concluding with a chuckle, "Khandaan Ka Pata Chalte Hi Sabse Pehle Aapko Bataenge." -Joginder Tuteja

Ranbir-Bipasha a hot new pair

After Saawriya, Ranbir Kapoor is now working for his second film to be directed by Siddharth Anand. In this yet to be titled movie, Ranbir appears in three different get ups, including a teenager, a 28-year-old and finally a 35-year-old youth.

Ranbir Kapoor is 25 years now and hence the second get up of age 28 would be relatively easy for him. Now it remains to be seen how this young Kapoor scion handles the roles of the teenager and a mature man of 35 years.

It has been learnt that Bipasha Basu will be playing one of the lead roles in this film. Recently, Ranbir and Bipasha took a day off for a photo-session to check their on-screen compatibility.

While Bipasha had colored her hair, the newcomer had cut his long tresses. For the younger role of the hero depicting the age of 17 Ranbir intends to sport long hair and a beatnik cool-dude attitude, with clothes and accessories to match.

Ranbir also plans to sport stubble to look 35.

The truth behind Himesh's cap

The truth behind Himesh's cap


We got talking to Roopa Chaddha, Himesh's rakhi sister and fashion designer, and she disclosed the reality behind his fetish for caps. The music copmoser-singer plays a rockstar in Karzzzz. Roopa tells us, "The idea of a 'rockstar' doesn't exist in India. But the idea behind designing one is to begin a trend. Abroad singers who perform on stage are normally dressed in casuals. It's only Michel Jackson who goes out of his way to 'dress up'.

Otherwise most of them are seen in baseball caps and that was the real inspiration behind Himesh's cap. It worked in his first album, so we got superstitious and continued with it. I didn't know then that it would become a huge trend and that people will start associating Himesh with his cap."

Is Himesh saying hats off to the caps?

When lovers sweat it out together!

When lovers sweat it out together!




Working out in gym is the latest trend in Bollywood. And all the toil becomes fun when one’s girlfriend or boyfriend happens to be alongside.

Far gone are the days when pot-bellied heroes or overweight heroines could be cine icons. Today, you ought to have a hot, chiseled-out body to stay in competition. Not just men, even ladies need to slog with dumb bells and weights to keep fit. And the sight of two lovers working out together is not uncommon.

We know how Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan worked out together after completing the shooting of Guru to slim down for their respective roles in Dhoom 2 .

Bipasha Basu is also known to give company to her beau John Abraham at Mumbai’s Gold’s Gym in Andheri, Mumbai. Though they have different trainers, Bips and John often discuss their workout routines with each other.

At occasions, Malaika Arora has also been spotted toiling on the treadmill alongside her hubby Arbaaz Khan .

And now, we hear that Priyanka Chopra is working out with her boyfriend Harman Baweja at Gold’s Gym. Priyanka has been trying to shed her weight for Madhur Bhandarkar’s film Fashion in which she plays a supermodel. On the other hand, Harman is developing his brawns for his role of a cricketer in the film Victory .

Whenever the couple is not shooting, they are spotted doing different exercises under the guidance of experts. Harman, who happens to be a regular, is often seen giving tips to Priyanka.

Speaking of fitness, how can we forget the present most-talked-about couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor . We have learnt that Bebo has introduced her beau to Yoga. And Saif, who has become a sort of fitness freak since his hospitalization last year, has no qualms learning breathing exercises and different yogic postures from his ladylov

Rajputs threaten to boycott Jodhaa Akbar

Ashutosh Gowariker's historical epic Jodhaa Akbar is facing trouble, with the Rajput community of Rajasthan threatening to stall the release of the movie in the state.

The community says Gowariker has distorted facts in his magnum opus that is to be released on Feb 15.

Narendra Singh Rajawat, head of the Rajput Sabha, said Gowariker is presenting Jodhabai as Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Akbar's wife, which is factually incorrect. He also said that Jodhabai was not the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber near Jaipur as shown in the film.

Jodhabai was the daughter of Motaraja Udai Singh of Marwar and was married to Akbar's son Salim alias Jehangir. And Mughal king Shahjahan was her son, he added.

Rajawat said such distortion of historical facts had hurt the feelings of the Rajput community. He urged the courts to restrain Gowariker from showing Jodhabai as the daughter of Raja Bharmal of Amber.

He said the name of Raja Bharmal's daughter was Harkabai alias Heera Kunwar.

"You cannot make your own history and Ashutosh Gowariker is making his own history. He is projecting Jodhabai, who is Akbar's daughter-in-law, as his beloved and making a love story out of that.

He is totally distorting historical facts," Rajawat told IANS. He said that the community would boycott the film. "We are also approaching the high court against this," informed Rajawat.

The president of the Rajput Karni Sena, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, is also up in arms against the director. He said the Sena had apprehended the distortion of Rajasthan's historical facts in Jodhaa Akbar, which is based on the Jodhpur royal family. "The Karni Sena would watch the movie when released and, if required, it would not allow the screening in the state," said Kalvi.

Mahaveer Singh Sarwadi, a leader of the Shatriya Yuvak Singh, said: "We would oppose the release of the film if it shows the community in bad taste."

A number of scenes for the film, which features Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai in the lead roles, were shot in and around Jaipur. Gowariker has consulted several eminent Mughal historians for his movie.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Amrita the foodie

Amrita the foodie


Meanwhile, faraway from home and Bollywood, Amrita Rao is shooting in Australia with Harman Baweja and Gulshan Grover for her forthcoming film Victory.

And being a self confessed die-hard foodie that she is, before her departure, she was heard asking her friends about where she should eat in Sydney.

“What food one gets over there,” she was overheard asking her friends. How about taking tips from the Indian cricket team, especially Yuvraj Singh? Maybe, he can take her to some place, what say?

Emraan Hashmi's marriage in trouble?

Emraan Hashmi's marriage in trouble?



Rumour has it that Emraan Hashmi’s marriage is in trouble because of his affair with a Pakistani girl.

It has just been over a year since Emraan Hashmi married his longtime girlfriend Parveen Shahani. And in such a short time cracks have begun to appear in the couple’s marriage.



If reports are to be believed, Emraan’s marriage is on the rocks because of his secret affair with Pakistani actress Sanaa, with whom he allegedly spent some intimate moments in Cape Town.

As it happened, Emraan’s wife Parveen came to know about this dalliance and asked for an explanation from Emraan.

On the other hand, Sanaa’s parents reportedly called Emraan’s uncle Mahesh Bhatt and told him about the secret affair.

A disturbed Bhatt recently met Emraan and tried to get to the heart of the matter. But Emraan saw it as an intrusion into his private life and squabbled with his uncle.

A tabloid quotes Mahesh Bhatt as saying that he told Emraan to deal with the affair sanely or face the consequences.

Jodhaa Akbar sold for a whopping Rs 90 cr?

IndiaFM




Movie prices have hit the roof. With Om Shanti Om and Welcome fetching astronomical prices from buyers and also faring exceptionally well at the ticket window, the pricing of forthcoming films is only going higher and higher with each passing day.

The latest is, a leading industrial house has pitched for Jodhaa Akbar. Reportedly, the industrial house has offered Rs 90 crore for the global distribution rights of the film, inclusive of the lucrative satellite rights. “Really? Is that the rumour doing the rounds of the industry?” Siddharth Roy Kapur of UTV breaks into a big smile, when you question him about it, “It's not true. We haven't been offered that amount by anyone.”

But what if there's an offer, will UTV accept it? “We haven't taken a stand yet. It all depends on who makes the offer. After all, Jodhaa Akbar is our baby and our prime concern is to give it the best possible release,” Siddharth states.

Suniel Wadhwa of UTV corroborates, “In any case, there's not much time left [the film is fixed for February 15]… the period is too short for anyone to step in. The promotion is in full swing, the publicity material has been dispatched to theatres. Under these circumstances, it would be next to impossible to incorporate the logo of the company on the publicity material. It's not feasible,” he reasons rightly.

Glam girl Mamta Mohandas back on home turf!

Glam girl Mamta Mohandas back on home turf!


The’ migratory bird’ is homing in, at last. Stumped as to the identity of the person?

Well, it is none other than Mamta Mohandas , who had hopped over to neighbouring Tollywood after making her cinematic debut in Malayalam cinema.

Mamta did attract attention in her maiden film, ‘Mayookham. A realistic movie, directed by veteran Hariharan, saw Ms Mohandas impress with a subdued performance.

Then came ‘Lanka’ in which the beautiful maiden enacted a few really hot and intimate scenes with action hero Suresh Gopi . It was Mamta at her sizzling best.

But then, the offers did not come thick and fast as expected. So, the lovely heroine tried her luck in Telugu cinema, and came good, almost instantly.

Her debut film in Telugu, ‘Yama Donga’ was a hit. Mamta also proved her singing talent by crooning a number for the film. She has been signed up for another Telugu flick, ‘Krishnarjuna’ in which she will have ample scope for oozing oomph.

Now that she has established herself in Tollywood, Mamta is staging a comeback in Mollywood. Veteran director Fazil has signed her up for his film in which Prithviraj plays the male lead. The film is produced by ace director Priyadarshan .

The Mollywood buss is that Mamta has bagged another Malayalam film, which will be shot mostly in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The New Year seems to be turning out good for the Keralite stunner!

Asin & Nayan rocks!


Asin & Nayan rocks!



India's leading weekly newsmagazine ' India Today' in its latest issue dated February 4, has named south Indian actresses Asin and Nayanthara as the two out of the five heroines to watch out for in 2008!

India Today had conducted an exclusive "Mood of the nation poll", conducted by AC Nielsen-ORG MARG in 19 states. According to the poll- "Who will be the No. 1 heroine this year? (2008)", Aishwarya Rai scored the highest with 20 percent, Kajol came second with 5 percent, and third position was tied between –Rani Mukherjee, Asin and Nayanthara with 4 percent each!

The poll does not mention other top Bollywood contenders like Deepika Padukone, Preity Zinta, Priyanka Chopra and others. Anyway it is honour for these Malayalee girls to be featured among the top heroines in the country.

It is a short in the arm for south regional films as now one of the most reputed magazines in the country has given due recognition to their actresses. Hats off to Asin and Nayan- you have done us proud!

Leave my brother alone: Aamir

Leave my brother alone: Aamir


The actor wants that Faisal be admitted to a nursing home

Aamir Khan wants his brother Faisal to be sent to a nursing home if he is not given Faisal’s custody. Khan moved an application before the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Bandra on Monday.

Faisal had, however, told the court that he should be left on his own because he was physically and mentally fit. The court will decide on Fai-sal’s custody on February 15.

In his application, Aamir has annexed a medical report from KEM Hospital which says Faisal suffers from ‘paranoid schizophrenia’. “It is not safe for Faisal to continue living in society without proper medication and expert medical supervision as he can get violent and harm himself and others”, reads the application.

Faisal’s advocate SA Vasid said no medical report brought before the court talks of retaining Faisal as an indoor patient in a care centre or him needing continuous medication.

“Doctors from JJ Hospital has been observing him for the past four months and it has been a drug-free process,” he said.

Faisal, who appeared before the court, on Monday said he did not want to live with Aamir and that Aamir had no time for him because he was a ‘superstar’.

Aamir’s counsel Mihir Gheewala told the court that nobody but Aamir had the resources to support Faisal. At present, Faisal in Chembur.

Is Salman marrying this year?


Is Salman marrying this year?


That’s the strong buzz doing the rounds. Apparently before the year ends, Sallu miyan will get married to his sweetheart Katrina Kaif.

Finally, he has complied to the pleas and demands and made an earnest promise to his family, especially his mother Salma and dad Salim, that he is willing to sacrifice his bachelorhood at the alter this year.

If the insider informed us right, Salman’s parents have made a final peremptory plea to the actor saying they want to see him happily married with kids. And man! Sallu acceded without much fuss.

Marriage and Salman have always seemed poles apart so it won’t be a surprise if he changes his mind again, some say. “He promised his parents that he will marry this year. Hope he doesn’t change his mind. Knowing him, anything is possible,” says the source.

Even if it is a good news for his well-wishers, it certainly isn’t going to go down well with his female admirers. And why not? With one of the good-looking bachelors in Bollywood giving up his bachelorhood, it’s certainly going to be a disappointment for the girls!

Manali attracts Bollywood with onset of snow

Manali attracts Bollywood with onset of snow



White winters in the picturesque tourist township of Manali have always attracted tourists, including Bollywood, which has just completed shooting scenes of Amitabh Bachchan 's latest offering 'Shoe Bite' with Dia Mirza .

The mega superstar gave shots at different locations in and around Manali for the movie for a week before leaving for Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday.


Other stars were also not behind with Bobby Deol and his cousin Abhay Deol following Bachchan for shooting of the movie 'Lucky We Lucky', Anil Purkayastha, a film coordinator said on Sunday.

He said Rajnikant , Abhishek Bachchan , "item girl" Rakhi Sawant and other actors were also expected.

According to Bani Singh, a shooting coordinator, who was associated with the movie Krrish , the lovely locations and good infrastructure attracts film-makers, particularly in winter when there is frequent snowfall.

Purkayastha, who has been in the profession for 18 years, said, "The place has driven Bollywood since the days of 'Geet' in late 60s, which featured Silver Jubilee hero Rajendra Kumar."

'Himalay Ki Goad Mein', 'Paraya Dhan', 'Saudagar', 'Heena', 'Macchis', 'Krrish' and the recent Jab We Met are among the films shot in and around Manali.

The coordinators said film tourism could really take off in Manali if the government could give more facilities.

"Himachal Pradesh holds a lot of promises for Bollywood. If the state government provides little more concession, film tourism could increase manifold in the hill state," said another film coordinator Vikas Behl, who added he would meet Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on the issue.

He said like neighbouring Uttarakhand, Himachal should also provide single window facility for film shooting.

The coordinators said film makes and stars were all praise for the scenic beauty of the state and many promised to come back.

Review: Race

IndiaFM
Movie: Race

Director: Abbas Mustan
Producer: Morani brothers
Music: Pritam
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Baus, Katrina Kaif, Anil Kapoor, Sameera Reddy



Most successful composer of 2007, Pritam, returns to big arena with Race. After super successful soundtracks in films like Life In A...Metro, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Jab We Met behind him, anything with a tag of Pritam comes with high expectations. This is why when something as pedestrian as a My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves or a Speed arrives, a listener is bound to be disappointed.

However, when entities like TIPS, Abbas Mustan, Sameer and a huge star cast of Saif Ali Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Bipasha Basu, Katrina Kaif, Anil Kapoor and Sameera Reddy come together, the project is bound to be big! Expectations from the soundtrack here are also reasonably big, never mind the action genre of Race which somehow restrict the boundaries for a popular score. But then Dhoom is a case study to look back at! 'Can Pritam do it again', is the question? Yes, he does it. And he has a couple of potential chartbusters up his sleeves which would only aid in creating an exhilarating 'race'!

The music album comes in a twin CD pack with the first one comprising of original numbers by Pritam and the second having remix versions of each of the songs by DJ Suketu.

It's the sound of electronic guitar, which begins the Race - pun intended! Soon kick starts the signature tune of any bona fide thriller, a la Mission Impossible or many a James Bond flick, and you know that it's going to be one adrenalin ride from this point on. Though the song has a title Race Saanson Ki, the punch comes with Allah Duhai Hai, which brings the necessary rhythm into the proceedings. Sunidhi Chauhan gets the club feel on with her spunky singing while Neeraj compliments her just fine.

A theme number, which is bound to make its presence felt in a big way in the background score of the film, Race Saanson Ki is also, heard in one more version - Race Is On My Mind - which has lines alternatively in Hindi and English. Further to this, there are 'remix versions' of both Race Saanson Ki and Race Is On My Mind and the final outcome is that by the time the album is over, you are hooked on to the sound of Race Saanson Ki. Ok, so you may not end up singing this number on the streets but when it's edgy music video (featuring the entire cast) is on the air or the song is playing in the clubs or the discotheques, it would be hard to resist yourself from jumping on to the dance floor!

After exhausting all the energy in dancing to the beats of Race Saanson Ki, it is time to relax on the couch and get into some sweet talk with your love while listening to Pehli Nazar Mein. A soft rock number which is set in a mode similar to the genre of songs which became a rage in Life In A… Metro, Pehli Nazar Mein is special since it brings Pakistan sensation Atif Aslam (Tere Bin - Bas Ek Pal) with Pritam.

The song is a complete departure from the arrangements of the title song since this time around there are minimum instruments in the background with pure melody coming into the forefront. The song has a Western styling but its base lies in melody from the sub-continent which makes this immensely romantic number a must hear.

A sure shot winner, it also comes in a Lounge Mix and Club Mix version. Does this take away from the beauty of the original version? Or do these two versions add on to the impact created by Atif in the first listening itself? It is definitely the latter as one hearing of these versions and as a listener, you are dead sure that in the next visit to an up-market lounge, pub or a club, you would certainly find the song being played hard. Atif and Pritam can assure themselves of a sure shot concert hit here!

An instrumental Race Theme, which comes in the end, is the one which should make it to the title credits. Reason being that this slow moving two minute version has an intrinsic intriguing/haunting quality to it, which compliments the genre of films that Abbas Mustan have been known for years.

The rhythm of Salaame [Dhoom] is back in action with Dekho Nashe Mein. After hearing a good (Race Saanson Ki) and a superb (Pehli Nazar Mein) number in quick succession, Dekho Nashe Mein turns out to be a just-about-decent offering from Pritam. The composer sets the song in a mood similar to that of It's The Time To Disco [Kal Ho Na Ho] and Where's The Party Tonight [Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna] while creating a far lesser impact.

Average lyrics by Sameer do not help the cause either and the song risks being disappeared as an also-ran until and unless the usual suspects - choreography and picturisation - come to the rescue! In fact, the song's antara turns out to be a better hear than the mukhda since the former takes it's melody from one of the most underrated/neglected songs of Pritam - 'Ek Pal Mein' [Hat Trick]! The song also appears in a Latin Fiesta and a 'remix version' but even repeated listening to the song doesn't stop you from dropping everything and going back to Pehli Nazar Mein - the best of the enterprise so far!

Taz, who had made a splash with his track Thoda Daaru Vich Pyaar Mila De in Tum Bin years back, returns to sing Mujh Pe To Jadoo. The song is more fun than romantic as it fuses the beach celebration flavor with romance and intersperses rap elements, courtesy Apache Indian, who sings for a Bollywood flick after a hiatus. Sunidhi Chauhan is the only female voice in this fast moving track, which is yet another average sounding track after Dekho Nashe Mein. Ok, so it is inevitable not to find your feet tapping to the 'bhangra' beats here, especially in the 'remix version', but in entirety the song doesn't have a retention value, something which one expects from Pritam after some superb work he did in 2007.

An instant hit though comes in the form of Zara Zara Touch Me which hooks you in the very first hearing. Sound of seduction combined with a naughty call for love makers Zara Zara Touch Me a must-play in lounges. Sung by newcomer Monali, the song has a fresh appeal to it and promises to steam up the proceedings once it is on the screen. Said to be picturised on Katrina with Saif in tow, Zara Zara moves slowly and has a certain 'anticipation' flavor to it, which brings a different feel to the proceedings.

With an intrinsic Western feel to it, with a sound similar to the numbers played on MTV or Channel V in late night slots, Zara Zara comes in an original, 'Asian RnB Mix' and a 'remix version'. Never mind the rendition of words like 'dum da dum dum' interspersed into the song, this one is bound to showcase Katrina in a different light and only increase her fan base.

Race has two very good songs (Pehli Nazar Mein, Zara Zara), a good number (Race Sanson Ki) and two average tracks (Dekho Nashe Mein, Mujh Pe To Jadoo) which makes it an overall entertaining album. A remix CD only works towards the retention value of the album as it adds on to the range of presenting tracks that can be played in clubs and lounges as well. Will it be remembered the same way as a Life In… A Metro or a Jab We Met? Not really as it doesn't have a timeless feel to it, but then for a racy outing like Race, it is definitely worth a play (on a high volume of course) when in mood to hang out and let your hair down!

Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur meet again!

Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur meet again!


The two ex-lovers came face-to-face once again on Saturday at Max Stardust Awards at the MMRDA grounds.

The gala night saw the presence of some top Bollywood stars but the ones who caught most attention were Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapur .

Kareena, who missed the Screen Awards early this month, looked dazzling in a black dress at Stardust gala. She had Saif Ali Khan’s son Ibrahim sitting next to her.

Shahid, also dressed in black, was reportedly seated just a few seats away from his ex flame. The two even exchanged furtive glances at regular intervals.

But this was not it.

Reportedly, the two met backstage for a few minutes, shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. They seemed comfortable talking to each other, but their body language was a tad too courteous and formal.

However, the rendezvous did not last long.

The evening saw a scintillating performance from Kareena. Saif Ali Khan won many hearts with his charged-up finale act. The actor danced to a song from his upcoming film Race and other hit numbers of year 2007.

The evening saw the presence of Akshay Kumar , Twinkle Khanna , Celina Jaitley , Kangana Ranaut , Vivek Oberoi , Minissha Lamba , Imtiaz Ali , Rishi Kapoor , Shreyas Talpade , Dharmendra , Gul Panag , Arjun Rampal , Anurag Basu and Irrfan Khan .

The winners were:

Akshay Kumar : Star of the year (Male) (for Namastey London and Heyy Babyy )

Kareena Kapoor : Star of the year (Female) (for Jab We Met )

Farah Khan : Dream Director (for Om Shanti Om )

Jab We Met : Best Film

Ranbir Kapoor : Superstar of tomorrow (Male) (for Saawariya )

Sonam Kapoor : Superstar of tomorrow (Female) (Saawariya)

Vivek Oberoi : Standout Performance (for Shootout At Lokhandwala )

Irrfan Khan : Best Actor in a supporting role

Tisca Chopra : Best Actress in a supporting role ( Taare Zameen Par )

Arjun Rampal : Best Actor in a negative role (OSO)

Kolkata's street movieman races towards Oscar glory

Kolkata's street movieman races towards Oscar glory




He sits with his hand-cranked 1897 projector in a one-room shack in a grimy cluster, hearing the word Oscar for the first time. But in far away Hollywood, Mohammed Salim's life in the mean streets of Kolkata is the subject of intense scrutiny as the Academy Awards draw close.



Salim Baba, a documentary by American filmmaker Tim Sternberg on Salim's life as a movieman, is in the last four of the Academy Awards Documentary Short category this year.



"Where is this place called Oscar? Will a win fetch me some money so that I can marry off my daughter?" asked Salim, who every evening ventures out of his hovel with the century-old contraption atop a cart to peddle movie magic. He has been entertaining people this way for nearly 42 long years - for just one rupee.



The 52-year-old man and a father of six has made a living screening discarded film scraps for children in neighbourhoods surrounding his home in north Kolkata's Marquis Square using a hand-cranked Japan-made projector that he inherited from his father.



Resisting all the lucrative offers to part with his projector, Salim runs his show every evening with his sons, regaling children with clips from all kind of films.



"I purchase the footage - all film trailers - from the film scrap markets in Chandni Chowk, Canning Street and Murgihata," he said.Freeheld, La Corona and Sari's Mother.



When the significance of the Oscar was explained, Salim's face lit up: "You say it is like Filmfare Award in India? Then I feel proud and happy."



The next moment, he asked: "Will I get anything so that I can marry off my second daughter?" Kolkata filmmaker Raja Dey, who co-produced Salim Baba, told IANS: "I feel proud to be part of the film... I think there should be some effort to create a fund for him. The makers must do something if the film wins."



Dey said Salim had got an offer from the makers of Salim Baba for a full-length film. Salim said: "They had sent me some papers to sign. But after consulting a lawyer I did not sign it. I felt that it would forfeit my right to talk to other media or allow others to shoot. A filmmaker from London also has expressed his desire to shoot my life. I can only take a decision once I know the details."



In December 2006, Al Jazeera English also shot with Salim for a day for their slot on movies. But while Salim's life in the fetid Kolkata lanes is the toast of red carpet glory, the man's life perhaps would remain unchanged.



What keeps Salim going is the fact that in this crowded Indian metropolis of brand new cineplexes, umpteen movie theatres, DVD parlours and 24-hour access to cable TV channels, people still gather round his anachronistic movie cart for a trip down an era of reel romanticism.



As Salim wheels a rectangular cart with the 106-year-old Japanese projector, the young and old crowd around. Disregarding the blurred images, they are only too happy to shell out one rupee for a five-minute Bollywood trailer packed with song, dance and action.



"I am supporting my family of wife and six children with this. From 25 paise per viewer in the late 1970s to one rupee now, the show is going on and people are lapping it up every day," Salim boasted.



But there is uncertainty. He doesn't know how long he can continue. "I don't keep well these days. I am worried about the marriage of my second daughter."



Maybe, the red carpet will be his walkway out of his troubles.

I know about fours and sixes: Preity


I know about fours and sixes: Preity


As a present for her birthday on January 31, beau and businessman Ness Wadia could not have given the lovely Preity Zinta anything as exciting as a partnership in the Indian Premier League deal he cut with her and partners Karan Paul and Mohit Puri last week.

They bid Rs 300 crore and got the Mohali team in the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) thrilling new T20 format starting this April.

Preity is happy to be part of the IPL especially since Shah Rukh Khan, with whom she started her career in Dil Se, has bid for and won the Kolkata team. “Today we’re both making our debuts in cricket,” said Preity.

This is not the first time she is doing business with Ness. She’s also reportedly a part of (and endorses) the Wadia family airline. “But this is my first bona fide business venture. I’ve never before submitted a tender and felt the thrill of watching it materialise. I can’t be a sleeping partner in any business. I’d give everyone nightmares! Can you imagine me keeping quiet? Not when the entertainment industry is rocking. Cricket and Bollywood coming together is huge,” laughed Preity.

Do their professional alliances indicate a life together? “I don’t know,” replied Preity, “but Ness and I work well together. We hope to make the IPL deal a success. It’s the first time I’m sitting in a boardroom. So many firsts for me! I’m excited. It’s very different from working on a film where you’re on your own when ‘action’ is called on camera.”

The perky Bollywood actress happens to be the only woman in the IPL. “I know,” said Preity, “why do boys have to have all the fun? It’s 2008, women should get more active in business. I won’t pretend to be a huge cricket buff, but now I’ve no choice, I’m learning about the game. I’m reading books, watching old matches. I think cricket is a gentleman’s sport, regardless of winning and losing. And I know how to hold a bat and I know what sixers and fours are all about!”

Monday, January 28, 2008

Ash preferred over Hrithik?

Ash preferred over Hrithik?

Actor Aishwarya Rai and Hrithik Roshan were being judged on the day of the music launch of their forthcoming flick Jodhaa Akbar. And while Aishwarya was at her giggly best, it looked like Hrithik was trying hard to play the serious, intense Akbar even on stage, as Rai did her best to get him to loosen up. But Mrs. Bachchan's nudging and elbowing didn't quite help. Guess it was just a bad hair day for our Akbar banda !

Angry Mallika Sherawat storms out of movie sets

Angry Mallika Sherawat storms out of movie sets


After waiting for her co-star for three hours, Mallika Sherawat lost her patience and stormed out of the sets.

The chemistry between Mallika and actor Ranvir Shorey has seen its ups and downs ever since the two started working together on Pritish Nandy Communications’ film Ugly And Pagli .



There have been trivial disagreements between them from the start, but their camaraderie hit an all-time low when Ranvir failed to turn up on the sets on a crucial day of shooting.

Mallika, punctual as usual, arrived on the sets on time and kept waiting for Ranvir, who got delayed because he was unwell.

The actress waited for as long as three hours, and by the time Ranvir arrived (after taking his medication) she was in no mood to shoot. She walked out of the sets and poor Ranvir had to shoot his solo scenes that day.

Ranvir maintains that though Mallika is very co-operative and friendly actress, that was the first time he saw the temperamental side of hers.

In the film, Mallika plays a wacky, outspoken, outlandish girl called Pagli while Ranvir plays an under-confident loser, Ugly.

Deepika charging more than Ash!!!

Deepika charging more than Ash!!!


It may seem to be incredible, but the truth is that ‘one film wonder’ Deepika Padukone is proving to be costlier than former Miss World Aishwarya Rai to the film producers.

Before her entry into Bollywood, Deepika was talked about more because of her string of boyfriends, but today she is also in the news for demanding exorbitant rates for acting in films.

Soon after the resounding success of the Shah Rukh-Deepika starrer ‘Om Shani Om’, a producer from south India Shankar, who made the super hit film ‘Shivaji –The Boss’ with Rajnikanth, had approached the former model for the female lead role in his forthcoming film ‘Robot’, but Deepika is reported to have charged such a high fee which left the producer stunned as well as silent.

Next, Shankar approached Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan for the role, but there is no confirmation whether the actress has said yes.

Sources close to the former beauty queen revealed that though money is no factor with Aishwarya, she is basically running a tight schedule.

After having completed the magnum opus ‘Jodhaa-Akbar’, Aishwarya has just completed shooting for an international project ‘Pink Panther – 2’ and ‘Sarkar Raj’. Currently, the actress, her husband and actor Abhishek Bachchan and mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan are holidaying in the ‘pink city of Jaipur in Rajasthan.

Producer Shankar has once again signed up his favorite super hero Rajnikanth for ‘Robot’, where the actor will be seen in the role of a scientist who creates a robot for the benefit of mankind.

However, the robot, like Frankenstein, turns again mankind and Rajnikanth works hard to bring it back to control. A whole lot of special techniques and special effects will be used in this semi-science fiction.

Now, what is worth mentioning is that perhaps the success of ‘Om Shanti Om’ has gone into the head of Deepika, who has let go of an opportunity to work in a big budget film opposite South superstar Rajnikanth only for the sake of money.

This move may prove to be costly for Deepika and she may not even get the opportunity to make amends. For Bollywood does not offer time to make amends!

Shah Rukh honoured by French government

Shah Rukh honoured by French government


Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was Sunday night conferred the prestigious "Insignia of Officer in the Order of Arts and Letters" by the French government.

"Entertainment is something where one cannot be selfish, as it is purely for others," the actor said after receiving the award.

He said he was in this field only to entertain the audience. He jokingly said he loves the manner in which romance is depicted in French movies.

The French ambassador to India, Jerome Bonnafont, conferred the title on Shah Rukh after the inauguration of the first 'Rendezvous with French Cinema' festival at Andheri, a northwestern suburb of Mumbai.

The film festival organised by the French Embassy along with Unifrance, an organisation that promotes French cinema worldwide, kicked off with the premiere of "Asterix at the Olympic Games".

The Order of Arts et Lettres created in 1957 is one of the four Ministerial Honours of the French Republic. It was established to reward artists who have contributed to promote the field of arts and literature.

Some well-known recipients of the award are Arundhati Roy, David Bowie, George Clooney, Tony Curtis, Celine Dion, Leonardo Di Caprio, Bob Dylan, Clint Eastwood, Jude Law and Bruce Willis.

The late evening function was attended by film personalities from both countries. Jerome Seydoux, chairman of Pathe, the biggest and oldest film studio in the

Shah Rukh earns more from ads than movies

Shah Rukh earns more from ads than movies


Shah Rukh Khan, the Badshah of Bollywood, is an even bigger king of the advertising world, according to his tax figures.

The superstar has paid an advance tax of Rs.270 million ($6.8 million) on his estimated income during the current financial year of 2007-08, but a major share of it has gone into paying for his income from endorsing a slew of products and other sources.

Sources in the advertising agency for which the superstar has worked reveal that his income from endorsements fetches him Rs.1.5 billion ($38 million) a year, the highest for any Indian advertising "model".

In comparison, though Amitabh Bachchan endorses more products than Khan, earnings from his annual endorsements do not cross Rs.1.2 billion.

Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, two other Bollywood stars who source a good part of their incomes from endorsements, earn a little less than Rs.1 billion each from advertising assignments annually. The rest of the Bollywood "models" are all in the Rs.50- million income bracket.

Industry observers believe that apart from the top chair he occupies in Bollywood, Shah Rukh is going to maintain his prominent position in the advertising world as well for some more years as there is no one yet who can rival his charisma.

In the current fiscal, his earnings from this source may go a little above Rs.1.5 billion as he has been made brand ambassador of more products - and more are waiting, the sources added. King Khan's earnings from endorsements stand at a notch much above the emoluments that he gets for starring in movies, which, according to his own admission, never goes beyond Rs.50-60 million per assignment.

A big chunk of his income from outside Bollywood in the current fiscal also came from hosting STAR Plus' Kaun Banega Crorepati quiz series for which he received Rs.10 million per episode.

Additionally, he also made a quick profit of Rs.400 million across the table by selling the world distribution rights of his home production Om Shanti Om to Eros International for Rs.750 million as against the production cost of Rs.350 million.

The profit that he earned from the deal was apart from the remuneration of Rs.50 million that he gave to himself for leading the cast in the movie. Barring this, the actual figure of his earnings from starring in movies was only Rs.200 million, as he featured in four movies last year. Considering his current star-price, his income from movies in the current fiscal may not go beyond Rs.300 million, which is way below his average earnings from endorsements.

If Shah Rukh earns less from movies, it is because he is seen as the least greedy among the Bollywood stars. Any producer would vouch for it. While other stars generally hike their prices after each successful movie, Shah Rukh never increases his price as others do without thinking. Even after Om Shanti Om became a super-hit, he has decided against hiking his price.

"Shah Rukh chooses his movies carefully. First, the subject matter must appeal to him and, if it does, his opting to star in the movie would largely depend on the credibility and antecedents of the producer and the director," said an executive of the star's production banner, Red Chillies Production.

"But once he has agreed to a movie, he would devote himself to it wholeheartedly and ensure that the producer never faces any problem in successfully completing it," the executive, not wishing to be named, told IANS.

It is therefore no wonder that Shah Rukh has been seen to be working only for certain known banners in the last decade. It may even be said if any lesser-known production house rather than Yash Raj Films had approached him for a film like Chak De! India, he would have perhaps refused it.

"I have not seen him throwing star tantrums ever, like nitpicking on small things as most stars do. He comes to the sets and gets involved in shooting right away. As a matter of fact, on the sets, he never behaves like a star," said a production controller, the professional who on behalf of the producer takes care of the needs of the stars during shoots.

In contrast, Shah Rukh behaves like a 'star' when he shoots for TV commercials. There he refuses to compromise on anything, particularly on his price.

Says he: "Why should I compromise? TV commercials are what they are - commercials. "The companies that manufacture the brands pay the advertising agencies to make the commercials and the companies do so in order to boost their sales. The agencies, on their part, use me as a prop to meet the demands of the companies. So there! If you use me as a prop to climb up, pay me. Unlike my price for movies, I have no fixed price for my appearance in commercials."

But don't the producers sign him up essentially to boost box-office performance of their movies? The superstar counters this question, saying he is beholden to Bollywood because it made him the superstar that he is today. He says his charging less for movie appearances is his little gesture of gratitude towards the industry.

"Had the industry not put me in a position where I am today, would the companies have chosen me to be their brand ambassadors?" he asks.

Is King Khan, then, robbing Peter to pay Paul? As one advertising agency executive put it: "He is, but he has made his 'larceny' seem like a social service."

Rama Rama Kya Hai Dramaaa is a short

IndiaFM

Rama Rama Kya Hai Dramaaa is going to release on 1 February 2008. It is a social & comedy film.


Banner: Oracle Entertainment Pvt Ltd

Shooting Studios: Filmcity

Producer: Surendra Bhatia, Rajan Prakash

Director: Chandrakant Singh

Star Cast: Neha Dhupia, Rati Agnihotri, Anupam Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Aashish Chaudhary, Amrita Arora.

Cassettes and CD's on: T-Series

Singers: Adnan Sami, Alisha Chinoy, K K, Khushboo Jain, Suraj Jagan

Lyricist: Kumaar

Music Director: Siddharth

Movie Previews: For the men the grass looks greener on the other side of fence. This attitude is well captured in this forthcoming comedy film Rama Rama Kya Hai Drama. The story of the film revolves around three married couples - Prem (Ashish Chaudhary) and Khushi (Amrita Arora), Santosh (Rajpal Yadav) and Shanti (Neha Dhupia) and Mr. and Mrs. Khurana (Anupam Kher and Rati Agnihotri). Santosh is in search of a perfect wife who can be humble and carry all his orders well. He marries to Shanti, a small town girl, and later finds that Shanti is not the one who he had yearned for. The petty differences start popping up and fed up by his wife, Santosh starts day dreaming and imaging other women as his wives.

The marriage of Prem and Khushi is also not going smooth as Khushi is too demanding as a wife. By the end however, how Santosh and Prem realise the importance of their respective wives is what the story of the film is all about.

Mallika Sherawat in Anarkali andaaz

Mallika Sherawat in Anarkali andaaz


Like a fish takes to water, actress Mallika Sherawat has taken to her role in Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam .

The film has Mallika playing a stage actress. She enacts the role of Anarkali in a play.




Mallika got so deeply involved in her character that she literally slipped into its skin and began behaving like Anarkali on the film’s sets.



The actress gave up saying “hi” and “hello” to the film’s cast and crew and began doing “aadaab” to everyone. Not just this, she often broke into impromptu kathak dances in between shooting breaks.



This behaviour of Mallika, director Sanjay Chel says, not only created a light atmosphere on the sets but also acted as a stress buster for him. Whenever he would get tired and stressed out, Mallika would entertain him with her Anarkali mannerisms and dances, and thereby infuse positive energy on the sets.



The director has apparently become a big fan of Mallika. He says she is an easygoing actress with no airs of a star.



‘Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam’ has Mallika pairing with Rahul Bose once again.



The film will also feature Mallika in a song titled “Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya”. Music director Anu Malik says the number is inspired from the original song in K Asif’s ‘Mughal-e-Azam’, but it is based on a new melody and has funny lyrics.



The shooting of ‘Maan Gaye Mughal-e-Azam’ is almost complete. Only two songs remain to be shot.

'Jodhaa Akbar' is a youthful romance

'Jodhaa Akbar' is a youthful romance

Jodhaa Akbar’s canvas is huge... I was looking for a story with love as the central theme, but no contemporary story interested me. Then Haidar Ali gave me this story of a marriage of alliance between Jodhaa and Akbar and I was attracted to it. It’s a story we all know about, but take for granted.

Very little has been written about what went on between them personally. It was a good chance to narrate that, yet be as true to the times as possible. That was the challenge — not the budget of the movie!
There’s criticism for showcasing a historical subject... I’ve tried to take a more generic approach to the story — I cannot take a stand based on historical interpretations.

In Akbarnama, Abul Fazal doesn’t mention Jodhaa at all! But we all know that the harem existed, that Jehangir was born out of the alliance. Everything in history is open to interpretation. Some may not agree with the film, but I have tried to be as truthful as possible.

The inevitable comparison is with Mughal-E-Azam ... I’m not worrying about this. I just want the audience to accept the film. It cannot be compared with Mughal-E-Azam ; that’s a classic I love, with incredible performances. My focus is different from Mughal-E-Azam , which was about Salim and Anarkali. Here, I have a young Akbar. Mine is a youthful romance, very different.

Hrithik was my first choice for Akbar... Hrithik has the desire to challenge himself. I think he’s a tremendous actor; even in his debut film he did the double role so well. His Rohit in Koi... Mil Gaya amazed me.

I needed a warrior-like actor who looked like he might have come from a Turkish background, with a naturally regal gait. (BT: Audiences may be disappointed not to see his body on display... Ashutosh laughs uproariously) What makes you think he doesn’t? Don’t be so sure!

Aishwarya was also a natural choice... She’s worked very well in different set-ups, from Chokher Bali to Shabd. She has the desire to attempt different roles. And for a film like this, you need a dedicated cast and crew. In this film, she has a great simplicity. We worked to get her look right — she was very pleased at how it turned out.

Working with Aamir, Shah Rukh and now Hrithik... With Aamir and Shah Rukh, the equation was different — we began our careers together. I got along very well with Hrithik from the word go. On a broader level, if your script has every detail in place and worked out, it defines how your cast members respect you.
Jodhaa Akbar has taken me three years... Yes, it’s a long time. I’d love to come up with a film each year. But fortunately or unfortunately, each time the subject has needed that time. Even a smaller film like Swades needed research — I travelled extensively and it took me two years. Next I’ll be making a more contemporary film. I’ve got three to four concepts to choose from.

The film is not four hours long! That’s just a rumour. It’s much less — but it’s as long as the story requires. When you make an epic period drama, it can’t be told in two hours. And I believe duration isn’t as important as content — sometimes a two-hour film can seem four hours long!

Yes, historicals are difficult to attempt... We’ve tried to stick to the period details but the attitude is modern. We’ve stayed on track with the festivals they had then, the court presentation ceremonies. The melodies too have a feel of that era, yet they appeal even today. I just want my film to be liked, for the genre to be successful — only then will more historicals get made, more challenging scripts taken up. We can only do different cinema if everyone tries to be different.

Jodhaa Akbar as an Oscar possibility... Frankly, I don’t make films for festivals or awards — I make it for the audience. If you start looking at awards, they never get made. And if I send Jodhaa Akbar out as a festival entry, it will have to be at the length I make it.

If we want to cater to American awards, it makes sense to make a film in English and 90-minutes long. It’s very difficult to break into their market with our kind of format. Even our horror films and thrillers have songs, something unimaginable to them. No, I wouldn’t want to cut or change Jodhaa Akbar to fit their format — if I had to do that, I’d rewrite the whole script and create a different ambience. That would require an attitude change. So no, I wouldn’t do it.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Priyanka's fighting a losing battle

Priyanka's fighting a losing battle


Priyanka Chopra is fighting the battle of bulge these these days. The actress has beencast in Madhur Bhandarkar's next fashion and need to shed at least 8 kilograms to look like a real model.

She weighed about 54 kg when she signed the film and only managed to lose 4 kg till date. Considering that Priyanka’s co-stars in the film – Kangana Ranaut and Mugdha Godse – are so thin Priyanka has been told to get in shape to not look odd with her co-stars.

click here to get large one

So the actress has been working out religiously been toiling on treadmills and following a strict diet.

Rita Dhody, who is Priyanka’s stylist in Fashion says, “Priyanka is working out and dieting and has already lost 4 kg in six weeks. I think she is looking fine. At the rate she is shedding weight, she should lose about 1.5 to 2 kg in the next two weeks.

One needs to understand that all models can’t be anorexic. Priyanka has a different bone structure and a very well-defined feminine body. Priyanka is not stick thin. And in the fashion industry, no matter how much weight one loses it’s never enough.”

Fashion is produced by Bhandarkar Entertainment and UTV.

Shah Rukh and Hrithik - B-town's new item boys

Shah Rukh and Hrithik - B-town's new item boys



Indiafm

In a unique experiment which is certainly one of it's kind, two top actors would be dancing to the tunes of the same song, though presented in different versions. The film in question is Krazzy 4 and the men who would be shaking their legs are Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan.



Confirms Vishal Dadlani (of Vishal-Shekhar fame), who is fast becoming one of the preferred singers in Bollywood, "The track has been composed in two versions with one each reserved for Shah Rukh and Hrithik. I have sung both the versions."



While one version of the song would be appearing within the film, another would appear as a part of end credits roll. Adds Vishal, "The song is a mix of hip-hop and rock and should do really well with the younger generation." Talking about how the song fell in his lap, Vishal reveals, "I am a big fan of Rajesh Roshan brand of music. How can one ever forget that he is the man behind Dil Kya Kare Jab Kisi Se Kisi Ko Pyaar Ho Jaaye from Julie? The song stays on to be one of my all time favorites. This is why when Rakesh Roshan gave me a call and said that he wanted me to sing for a Rajesh Roshan composition, I was game for it." For Shah Rukh Khan, this would be his yet another item song special appearance in recent times after Mast Kalandar (Heyy Babyy) and Kaal Dhamaal (Kaal). He also had a few 'blink and you would miss' shots reserved for him in Arjun Rampal's I See You where he held the guitar for the song 'Subah Subah'. On the other hand, for Hrithik, this would be his first ever experience as an item boy, though just like Shah Rukh Khan, he too had made a fleeting appearance in Subah Subah.



Directed by debutant, Jaideep Sen, Krazzy 4 is a comedy which revolves around four crazy men Arshad Warsi, Irrfan Khan, Rajpal Yadav and Suresh Menon. Juhi Chawla is the doctor in charge for treating them all. Apart from Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan in guest appearances, the film also stars Dia Mirza, Rajat Kapoor, Zakir Hussain, Sunil Pal, Makrand Deshpande and Mukesh Rishi. Incidentally, Rakhi Sawant also makes a special appearance in the movie for an item song.

To Catch a Star: We forgot Saigal, Talat: Sonu Nigam

To Catch a Star: We forgot Saigal, Talat: Sonu Nigam


Appropriately apostrophised as 'India's Voice of Love' on the show, Sonu's voice has been used often by Shah Rukh Khan to woo his heroines. Alternately, the same voice has wrenched tears from the eyes of millions.

Rajeev Masand had a lively chat - interspersed with songs - with Sonu Nigam about singing, rivalries, mimicry, and much more.

Rajeev Masand: Sonu, the song these days everyone is talking about is your song from Jodhaa-Akbar . It's a song with A R Rahman and your collaboration with Rahman has always been interesting - you guys have done some interesting work together. You sang for him in Dil Se , you sang for him in Saathiya , you sang for him again in Legend of Bhagat Singh . Is he really a guy who brings out the best in you?

Sonu Nigam: I think he's been known to be very choosy and he chooses good. So, I would say that both of us have had a good tuning. We've worked less with each other. We've not worked too much. In fact, in last five years - after Saathiya - I've hardly worked with him. I remember - I can count on my fingers - I must have sung two songs for him. more

CNN-IBN's special show To Catch a Star featured one of the most talented and versatile singers of the day - Sonu Nigam.

Lara Dutta in a groovy mode


Lara in a groovy mode


The year gone was great.. with a critically acclaimed performance in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom and a huge commercial hit, Partner. Then, came Mission Ustad on 9x and a chance to judge big names. Lara Dutta has plenty to sing and dance about. And that's exactly what she's doing. "Rehearsals for Max Stardust Awards has me on my toes," she laughs. ‘I'm also doing a Balaji show."

Lara Dutta will be performing to a medley of popular hits at the Max Stardust Awards tonight. "It's a blend of western tracks like the Johnny Gaddaar chartbuster, Move your body and desi numbers like Sajnaji vari vari (Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd) and Dupatta tera (Partner). There are a lot of expectations because all the tracks and that includes Deewangi from Om Shanti Om, have been beautifully performed," she points out.

"Also, all the songs are high on energy, it's challenging but fun."There's a fun film too gearing up for release. Ravi Chopra's Banda yeh Bindaas Hai. "I've finally been paired with Govinda. The film has kept me busy for most of the last quarter of 2007," she informs.

Miscast Mission
Ustaad continues on primetime and its celebrity female judge is all praises for the show that went on air eight weeks ago. She gushes, "It's picked up well. Read my blog and you'll know. The number of letters have skyrocketed.. more people want to know about India's UN mission. I'm sure awareness has gone up from its earlier two per cent. The mission is a success!"

She jokes that hers is a classic case of miscasting. "I can't judge singers who've proven their talent a hundred times over. I leave that bit to Javed saab (Akhtar) and AR Rahman and look into the content," she says. Will she judge another show? "Not in the near future," she asserts.