Before your mind starts racing to the wrong tack, we tell you that it has nothing to do with Ranbir Kapoor’s single and ready-to-mingle status. Here, we are talking about Southern siren, Andala Khajana Ileana, who has already rocked Tollywood with films like Pokiri, Jalsa and Kick. Now, the pretty lady is all set to set her foot in Bollywood and that too opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Anurag Basu’s ‘Barfi’.
The film is a two-heroine project and while Ileana has been finalized for the second lead, the makers are considering Asin and Priyanka Chopra for the main lead. ‘Barfi’ was earlier titled Silence. Ranbir Kapoor’s character in this film has been inspired from ‘Charlie Chaplin’ and ‘Rowan Atkinson’.
Ileana is a hot shot down South with charging as much as Rs.1.5 crores per film. How she carves her niche in Bollywood is something to be seen.
Vinay Shukla’s upcoming movie ‘Mirch’ revolves around Maanav, who is a struggling filmmaker who is unwilling to compromise on the script he has written. His girlfriend Ruchi, a successful film editor, arranges for him to meet Nitin, a film producer. Nitin likes the script, but is not very sure of its commercial prospects. Maanav then suggests a story from the Panchtantra. Nitin loves the story, but finds it too short for a feature film. Maanav then creates three more stories based on the same premise: in a way, the Panchantra story travels in different versions to the modern times through the film. The four stories are woven together by a common story. Mirch itself echoes this structure, with four stories mingling with the main narrative.
According to the director of Mirch, Vinay Shukla, “Mirch is structured like a square with a cross-section of 4 squares within it. Each square represents one season, has a different colour-palette and contains a story complete in itself with a witty twist in the end.”
He says further, “The stories run the course of time; from ancient India to today’s India. The first story has been sourced from the ancient Sanskrit classic, the Panchtantra; the source of the second story is the 14th century Italian classic, the ‘Decameron,’ by Boccaccio.”
“Inspiration for the third story comes from another ancient Italian story. Rest of the 2 stories are penned by me,” he adds.
Mirch has Konkona Sen Sharma as Lavni / Anita, Shreyas Talpade as Manjul, Shahana Goswami as Ruchi, Boman Irani as Asu Hotmal, Raima Sen as Maya / Manjula, Arunoday Singh as Maanav and Rajpal Yadav as Kashi.
The 14th anniversary issue of Elle features Aishwarya Rai one its covers who looks truly eternal and enigmatic in her Victorian-era gown accompanied with her pristine looks and piercingly dazzling eyes. The price of the magazine at Rs.75 is nothing compared to the cover story which gives a detailed account of how Aishwarya covered her journey to fame. The Bachchan Bahu is seen bewitching her fans wearing a Rohit Bal ensemble which is styled on the Victorian age and highly assuages her impeccable charm.
The Magazine rightly admires the star quoting, “They don’t make stars like her anymore. She is ethereal, enigmatic and casts a spell wherever she goes…”
Saif and Deepika’s jodi in ‘Love Aaj Kal’ was liked by all and sundry and that is the reason why Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone team up yet again in an Illuminati Films (Saif and partner Dinesh Vijan’s banner) project. The movie is yet to get its title and its script is written by Imtiaz Ali. Ali was the one who directed Deepika and Chhote Nawab in Love Aaj Kal. This time the direction will be in the hands of Homi Adajania. Set to go on floors in April 2011, it will be shot in New Delhi, London and Spain.
Says Saif, “I was waiting for a script as contemporary and relevant as this is to come my way and it has been worth the wait. The story is romantic, funny and has a great balance of drama and entertainment. I’ve wanted to do a love story with a modern sensibility and treatment.”
About Deepika, Saif is all praises and says, “I’m looking forward to my pairing again. She has a fantastic role and I think she has grown impressively since Love Aaj Kal and will handle it very well.”
Deepika, too keeps pace in praising her co-star and says, “To find a script like this, which is edgy and quirky, had an instant connect for me. It also marks the reunion of the LAK team, with Saif, Dinoo (Dinesh Vijan) and me. I’m very excited to be working with Saif again, and I hope we can recreate the magic of Love Aaj Kal once again.”
It has not been an easy task for Rohan Sippy to get permission from Dev Anand to remake his superhit song ‘Dum Maro Dum’. The makers were considering Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra to spice up the item number. However, it was Deepika who landed up with the number and according to the inside reports, she will be seen in a very sensational avatar with a proper item girl tag. She has already been seen in an item number “Love Mera Hit Hit” in SRK’s ‘Billu Barber’. The song will have a urban and contemporary feel and has been remixed by Pritam.
‘Dum Maro Dum’ stars Abhishek Bachchan, Rana Daggubatti and Bipasha Basu and is slated for a 22nd April release in 2011.
This is not the first time that a Videshi beauty steps into our desi screen to woo the audience with her talent and beauty. Talking about Mia Evonne Uyeda, VJ Mia of MTV fame, this Canadian model girl has already grooved for an item number, ‘Mr Hua Aisa Kyun’ in the late Pankaj Advani’s satirical ‘Sankat City’, besides posing for the Kingfisher Calendar in 2007.
The beauty now takes a step ahead as she goes through her first speaking role in ‘Tees Maar Khan’ where she will be seen in a cameo (which she call it to be crucial to the film) opposite Akshay Kumar.
“I enjoyed speaking Hindi though it is not an easy language to learn,” says the girl about her experience in Bollywood.
Finally, Barjatya of Rajshree productions have got over with the obsession of the name ‘Prem’. Vivaan is the new chosen name for them. Debutant Akshay Oberoi in ‘Isi Life Men’ plays the role of Vivaan for Rajshree.
Well, there is no need to be disheartened about it, as according to Akshay, there is only one suitable man for the role of man and he is ‘Salman Khan’. “I have no qualms whatsoever if I am called Vivaan and not Prem in the film. I think the name ‘Prem’ is very iconic for Sooraj Barjatya and Salman bhai.”
The Salman Khan fan further added, “However if you ask me, this is one name that is reserved for him. As a Salman fan, I truly believe that he is the ultimate Prem.”
It is not only Salman who has been called Prem in Rajshree films. Barjatya has made exceptions to the rule. Hritik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan in ‘Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon’, Shahid Kapoor in ‘Vivah’ and Sonu Sood in ‘Ek Vivaah Aisa Bhi’ have also been named Prem.
There is another change seen in the characterization. There are different shades to the character that the lead actor portrays in the film ‘Isi Life Mein’. “Yes, it’s an altogether different Prem that you would see in a Rajshri film this time around with ISI LIFE MEIN,” confirms Akshay.
Mallika Sherawat is not only sexy, but also does not shy away from speaking out her mind. She belives in calling a spade a spade and also does not chew her words when it comes to showering praise on her co-stars. She wrote on her Twitter page that ‘Salman Khan is a pussycat’, Shahrukh Khan is ‘king of charisma’ and Hrithik Roshan is ‘Talent plus beauty! Lethal’.
However, what came as a surprise revelation from the actress was her favorite Khan in Bollywood. No, it is not Aamir, Shahrukh, Saif, Imraan or Salman. In reply to one of her fans questions as to who was her favorite Khan in Bollywood, Mallika had no hesitations in saying that it was her rival Malaika Arora Khan whom she was impressed with. Well, in this tinsel town where cat fights among actresses are common news, this really came as a surprise.
After winning Bollywood and Hollywood with her oomph, Miss Sherawat is now all set to enter right into your drawing room as she plays the judge in the forthcoming season of the reality show, ‘Chak Dhoom Dhoom’.
This is a well known fact that Vidya Balan is a very strong actress who can play any role with ease, perfection and poise. What is lesser known is the fact that apart from being a talented actress, Miss Balan is a poet too who can be seen at her natural best when she is happy and in company of her friends. Not only this, she is equally good in mimicking famous personalities and Bollywood stars.
Vidya has composed her own couplets and easily slips into the role of a ‘shaayar’ when she is in company of her close buddies. . She has a bank of ready shayari which she reveals at times much to the pleasure of her close friend circle. Not that we did not know that Vidya is a die hard romantic person at heart but giving vent to her romantic feelings in ‘shaayari’ is not something what we get to see from Vidya everyday!!!
Having gained the experience of working with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’, ‘Devdas’, ‘Guzaarish’, and with Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Black’, Sanjay Leela Bhansali goes all agog looking forward to work with Abhishek Bachchan for an intense contemporary drama.
Bhansali was I deep search of a story which would flaunt well the actor’s talent. Bhansali said, “I’ve always felt Abhishek has immense untapped potential. He is an actor capable of surrendering to the camera wholeheartedly. I feel his potential is simmering under the surface. I am going to try to harness it.”
Bhansali revealed, “It is today’s subject about contemporary situations and the dilemma that a young individual faces in trying to jump across the hurdles that are placed in his life by the wheels of the government.” Finally, the director has cracked an idea which would work well for Abhishek.
We all look forward to see the ace director’s contemporary drama and the actor’s relation with his director.
Karisma and her hubby Sanjay Kapur had tied the knot to a troubled relationship in 2003. All the initial reports of a split between the two died down long ago, but the new reports suggest that Karisma might be filing for divorce rather very soon. This is all due to Sanjay’s womanizing nature.
The actress is ready for a new relationship status. She is ready for a divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences with her husband.
Their first child was born in 2005 and their second child in March this year. Insiders say that Sanjay was going around with a girl even when Karisma was pregnant with her second child. After she delivered her second baby, a son, he started getting cozy with a Delhi socialite.
Now, when Karsima moved to Oberoi Crest on 16th Road, Khar, Sanjay is said to not have been there for the past three months at least and Karisma is undergoing hell as she has virtually become a loner. Now, it is for us to see that is Karisma really giving him a divorce or will they sort it out once again!
Vishal Bhardwaj offered Bollywood director Karan Johar the role of a sex manic and wife-beater husband of Priyanka Chopra in ‘Saat Khoon Maaf’. KJo was bewildered to get such an offer and said, “From what angle do I look like a wife-beater? And how could I enact a scene making love to Priyanka Chopra! And that too as a sex maniac! There is no way I could do this.”
News has it that KJo was horrified at the character he was offered to play, but his horror did not stop Irrfan Khan from playing that role! It is believed that had Karan been a part of the film, it would have been the most unusual casting.
Vishal Bhardwaj did not talk to Karan directly but sent feelers through Piggie Chops. According to sources “Vishal requested his heroine to put in a word. She promptly did. As soon as Karan heard about the casting offer, he was mighty amused initially. But then wondered how on earth he could essay a wife beater!”
