Despite controversies and boycotts, the 11th edition of the IIFA Weekend kick started in Sri Lanka with the host country rolling out the red carpet for glamorous Bollywood actors. The ceremony has been boycotted by the South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce as a mark of protest against the alleged mistreatment of the Tamils in the country. Bollywood biggies like the Bachchans and SRK are also giving the extravaganza a miss. While Big B is currently shooting in Gujarat, Abhishek is in Istanbul for a film shoot and daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai is in Paris to promote a brand. SRK is busy with the post production details of his forthcoming ‘Ra 1’.
Stars such a Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Bipasha, Lara, Neha, Kangana, Dia, Jacqueline, Riya, Sophie and many more were given a warm welcome by the Lankan fans as they arrived at the Bandarnaike International Airport.
Check out the glittering and dazzling stars as they attend IIFA red carpet on June 5, 2010.
It was celebration time at Neutrogena’s only flagship store at Phoenix Mall Lower Parel as Neutrogena completed its first anniversary with pretty actress Prachi Desai and the brand ambassador gracing the store for the event on Wednesday. The week long celebrations were kick started by beautiful Prachi who looked mesmerizing in her white dress.
Prachi and Manoj Gadgil, Marketing Manager, J and J Limited India, started with cutting a cake. Prachi got a Tru Vu analysis at the store and Dr. Gitanjali Shetty consulted on her skin regime. Prachi, along with the dermatologist, took a walk in the store and picked her favorite Neutrogena products.
Speaking on the occasion, the bubbly young actress said, “Neutogena has been my regular companion for my skin care. I was very pleased when the brand decided to open its first flagship store in the world here in Mumbai. I am confident that the boutique’s arrival in the Indian market has raised the bar and hope that it continues achieving great heights. Congratulations to team Neutrogena!”
‘Milenge Milenge’ starring ex-lovers Shahid and Kareena Kapoor have been in the making since 2004 but director Satish Kaushik has no regrets or qualms about the delay of the film. Instead, he feels that this is just the right time for the release of the film.
“It is not a question of delay. Delays can’t mar a film,” said Kaushik. “‘Milenge Milenge’ is the best picture for today because that time they (Shahid-Kareena) were not such big stars. Today they are very big stars. People want to see them together as a couple in a movie; the picture will get much more attention and value now.”
The director does not blame the stars for the delay and says, “It got delayed due to certain reasons, but that doesn’t matter. A good film is always a good film and a good story is always a good story… Boney is leaving no stone unturned to promote this film in every which way.”
Talking about his flick, he says, “The film is about destiny and destiny is going to take this film across. It is looking very fresh. I am doing its background music now and it has turned out to be very well.
The performances of both Shahid and Kareena and their on screen chemistry are really beautiful. Though it is little delayed, it will definitely make a mark. It is a very sweet romantic comedy.
The film is about a couple in love who get separated and how destiny brings them together. Shahid-Kareena were a great off screen couple, but they parted ways. ‘Milenge Milenge’ is an apt title for this pair, despite the fact that they are very happy in their own space now.”
Shot entirely in Delhi, “Milenge Milenge” is said to be a remake of the Hollywood movie “Serendipity” and has been shot entirely in Delhi. Produced by Boney Kapoor, the movie is set to release on July 9.
Sonam Kapoor is all set to reveal her hidden talents now. Apparently, the actress is very much into mushy romantic novels and her writing talents will explore this area of interest which draws inspiration from classic love stories like novels of Jane Austen such as ‘Sense And Sensibiity,’ ‘Pride And Prejudice’, ‘Emma’ and ‘Mansfield Park’.
“I love fairy tale romances with joyful endings,” admits Sonny in a media chat. “And my book is going to be no different. For years, I’ve been contemplating writing a romantic novel, because the genre has always fascinated me.”
Sonam goes on to add, “I had always wanted to write, much, much before I signed on for ‘IHLS’. But now the time has come.”
This apart, Sonam Kapoor pleased the Goddess of Luck for Dharma Productions’ ‘I Hat Luv Storys’ when she managed to fall into a lump of cow dung. Apparently, a fall during filming a K Jo flick is considered a super omen. In the past, Kajol fell off during a bicycle during the filming of ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, and again during ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’. Preity Zinta too had fallen during ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’.
So, it did not come as a surprise when the entire unit went into cheers when Sonam fell on the cow dung!!!
John Abraham, for the first time in his career, is going to play the role of a cop and will sport a moustache for the role. The movie is the Hindi remake of Tamil action movie ‘Kaakha Kakha’ where Jonh will be playing the role originally played by Suray.
‘I think Suriya looked pretty cool as a cop, mouche (moustache) and all. I don’t know how I look with a moustache. If the people whose opinion I value like me in it, it stays,’ said John.
In order to get the spoken language, body language, personality and tone just right, Jonh is taking in extra efforts by not only changing his food and exercise habits, but also watching all the cop films possible under the sun right from from Clint Eastwood’s ‘Dirty Harry’ to Om Puri’s ‘Ardh Satya’ to Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Zanjeer’.
‘I’ve always dreamt of playing a cop. I’ve watched Mr. Bachchan in ‘Zanjeer’ so many times that I’ve lost count. One of the main reasons I wanted to do the Hindi version of ‘Kaakha Kaakha’ was to get into a cop’s uniform. To my disappointment, my director Nishikant Kamat decided to do away with the uniform in my film,’ John said.
However, John was adamant to get the uniform back. So, now the script is being re-worked again. John has also been bonding close with the Tamil superstar Suriya. Co-incidentally, John and Suriya are neighbours in Mumbai.
After Sudhir Mishra made Kareena Kapoor go through rehearsals and some solid background work for her role in ‘Chameli’ director Madhur Bhandarkar has come up with a unique idea to gear up Kareena for her role in “Heroine”.
Madhur has chosen four legendry Hollywood beauties, Eva Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Vivien Leigh, and has roped in their lives in a three hour documentary for Kareena’s reference. However, he couldn’t get enough visual material on the classical Indian screen beauties to put into the documentary for Kareena’s reference.
“When I set out to put together a documentary chronicling the lives of the screen legends I was also simultaneously enhancing my own knowledge of them to make Kareena’s character of Mahi Khanna more rounded complete and contemporary,” Bhandarkar said adding, “For example, take Vivien Leigh. Her stormy relationship with Sir Laurence Olivier is so eventful, dramatic, passionate and romantic. Unfortunately there’s no valid and substantial footage on Madhubala or Meena Kumari revealing their relationship with Kishore Kumar and Kamal Amrohi respectively. I do want Kareena to refer back to our great actresses like Madhubala, Nargis and Nutan. But I can only brief her verbally on our screen legends. It’s really sad.”
However, Kareena will be able to see the documentary only when she’s free in September-October as she is shooting for ‘Ra.1′ and ‘Golmaal 3′ now.
The internet is abuzz and all stirred with the Bipasha Basu’s New York lotto commercial which has suddenly been unearthed and is doing rounds 24×7. The commercial, directed by Ken Nahoum, features Bips and Vivek Oberoi and was shot in India under the art direction of illustrator Tommy Kane. The act is just too bold by Indian standards and obviously raised the issue whether the actors have themselves done this.
Where Bipasha’s manager confirms her presence in the video, Vivek’s spokesperson said, “We can’t get in touch with Vivek and hence, can’t comment on this issue. We don’t have any idea about this ad.”
Bipasha’s manager said, “Bipasha had done this ad in 1999 when she was modeling for Ford Modelling Agency in New York. It was done as an international assignment and was meant for the international market. I don’t know why such an old ad has surfaced now.”
Well, the act may be old but watching topless Bipasha Basu is indeed a treat not to be missed!!
Bollywood film makers are keen and quick to cash in on any story which creates sensation among the mass, be it Ajmal Kasab’s death sentence or Carol Gracia’s wardrobe malfunction. This time a small time filmmaker has come up with a low budget Bollywood film, ‘Hyderababdi Damaad’ based on the story of pre-wedding hullaboo around Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik. To top it, the filmmaker did not consider it necessary to even inform Sania about it, rest aside taking a permission. Directed by Jaiprakash, the film has the TV actress Debina Banerjee play the character inspired by Sania with Amar Upadhyaya and Ali Merchant in the cast along with her.
Debina Bonnerjee assured that the tennis star need not be worried. “The film is not a biographical piece of work on Sania. Hyderabadi Damaad will be adequately fictionalised,” Debina said. “Whether it is Jawaharlal Nehru or Indira Gandhi, inspiration can come from anyone. Since Sania is a star tennis player, she will inspire people. We are not going to depict Sania’s life exactly as it is on the screen.”
“We will start shooting the film next month,” said Debina, who has already started working hard to get in shape for her role. “I have lost weight that I had put on to play Sita in the Imagine TV serial Ramayan. Plus, I have hit the gym and am toning my body with horse-riding and kickboxing sessions,” Debina said.
That SRK and Farah Khan do not share those warmest vibes now, is stale and was quite evident when Farah opted for Akshay Kumar for her ‘Tees Maar Khan’ instead of Bollywood Baadshah. To add to it, the little birdie has it that Farah is keen on casting Salman Khan for her forthcoming projects.
Salman and Farah share a close friendship and have been pals since a long time. Recently, when Salman Khan came as a guest judge on a dance reality show which Farah judges, the question of he being selected for the lead role in the sequel of Farah’s ‘Om Shanti Om’ and ‘Main Hoon Na’ cropped up which Salman evaded but it was denied neither by Farah nor by him. Moreover, Farah also said that Salman would be there in the sequels.
However, this has not gone down well with SRK who has delivered many mega hits with Farah. In fact, at an interview he was at his jovial best with the media but when this question cropped up, he kept calm and also the smile faded from his face.
Well, this triangle is going to turn into a messy one, it seems…..
Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai are all geared up for the completion of their first comedy together, ‘Action Replayy’ which took a bit too long for completion.
Talking about this being his first stint with Ash in comedy, Akshay said, “It is my fifth film with director Vipul Shah and definitely another one to remember. Ash and I had a brief romantic interlude in Rajkumar Santoshi`s Khakee, but Action Replayy is our first romantic comedy together. Believe me, I was blushing through the making,” Akshay said in a statement.
“There`s a lot I wish to tell my audience about. But Vipul wants me to keep things under wraps for the moment. It`s a very special film for me for many reasons. This is my tribute to the 1970s that was the greatest retro era. I was kicked with the idea because I`m entering the time in cinema where my father-in-law was a superstar,” added Akshay.
This all in all light romantic comedy revolves around Kishen and Mala – two bickering senior citizens who go on a rewind mode on their 33rd wedding anniversary only to rediscover their lost romance.
Director Vipul Shah said, “Akki (Akshay) and I have an impeccable box office record. We enjoyed success with Aankhen, Waqt – Race Against Time, Namastey London and Singh is Kinng. “Action Replayy is a film where the two of us return after a gap of almost three years. And believe me, it is a great way to return.
For me, it was an exciting experience because I could bring together Aishwarya and Akshay, a pair I had been wanting to cast for sometime now. They`re both good looking, super-talented and what`s more, they`re fashion icons as well. Akki has made an amazing screen pair with some of the existing girls but believe me, he and Ash are extra special.”
Like with many other Miss India winners and contestants, Miss Universe ‘I Am She’ 2010, Ushoshi Sengupta, too, eyes on Bollywood as her ultimate goal.
“This would be a cliche to say that I don’t want to be an actress. I have grown up thinking of being an actress. I want to do a film with Shah Rukh Khan and given a chance, I would like to do a film like ‘Main Hoon Na’,” Sengupta said.
Sengupta will represent India in the Miss Universe 2010 contest to be held August 23 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, and she is proud of this fact..
“Everyone says that this is a journey, but for me this is the destination and trust me, the feeling of reaching this destination is amazing. When I participated in this contest, I was not thinking of the goal, I was thinking that I have to do it. I must and I will,” Sengupta said adding, “I am so proud to believe that I am going to represent India. I got this opportunity and will make the most of it.”
Sengupta is a humanities graduate from Kolkata’s St Xavier’s, and her father is an ex-Indian Air Force officer and is presently working with the State Bank of India while her mother is a homemaker.
“Kolkata is waiting for me. My parents and friends are super excited. My inbox is inundated with mails, my mobile is buzzing every minute and Facebook has been flooded with messages. To know what’s love, you have to be in Kolkata,” said Sengupta.
For a change, Sushmita Sen is back into news once again, this time for her professional life. The very sexy former Miss Universe is grooming up the contestants of Miss India I Am She. Many Bollywood biggies were spotted at the red carpet of ‘I Am She’ finals including the likes of Shahrukh Khan attired in a perfect black, Neha Dhupia with ample skin show, Kareena Kapoor looking a diva as usual, beau Saif Ali Khan sporting a casual look, very old Harman Baweja looking refreshingly changed and of course Sush carrying off her gown perfectly.
The judge whom the contestants in the I AM SHE contest have to impress is none toher than Miss Universe 2009, Stefania Fernandez. Fernandez is touring India as the judge of the I AM SHE pageant and is also part of the six-city AIDS and female foeticide.
Check out the pics from the rep carpet event.
