Bold and beautiful Nargis Fakhri made her debut in Bollywood with megahit ‘Rockstar’, but though the film and Ranbir Kapoor got rave reviews, the critics could not help lashing out Nargis for her poor acting skills. This is exactly the reason why Nargis, inspite of a pretty face, hot body and a superhit debut film has failed to bag in a second project in Bollywood.
Nevertheless, the starlet has a host of endorsements in her kitty. She has already been signed as the ambassador of seven brands including HCL Infosystems, Van Heusen, PVR BluO, etc, and has others in line waiting for her approval to their offer.
With no films in her kitty, Nargis is keeping herself busy with being clicked at various events. Recently, she joined Juhi Chawla in the Beach Cleanliness Drive in Mumbai. The starlet was spotted at the Juhu Beach cleaning the area, after the Ganpati Visarjan as a part of DNA’s Juhu beach cleanup initiative.
Check out Nargis at her cleanliness drive………
After her daredevil stunts in her last release ‘Tezz’, Sameera Reddy turns into a sizzling item girl for Prakash Jha’s political thriller ‘Chakravyuh’. The song titled ‘Kunda Khol’ has been composed by Sandesh Shandilya, sung by singer Sunidhi Chauhan, and the lyrics are by Ashish Sahu.
The song has been shot extensively in Bhopal at Rizwanbagh area of Koh-e-fiza of the old city. “The song is shot in the midst of a naxalite camp. And considering the realism in his films, Prakashji said the makeup has to be dusky to ensure the look of a local girl. I was surprised that he wanted the dusky look, because most of the time, we are expected to be on the fairer side. It’s voluptuousness and dusky skin that make us, Indian women, sexy. It’s a welcome change that this trend of wholesome women has come back and the audience seem to be loving it,” says Sameera.
“Unlike other songs, which have extras dressed up as locals, here they were actually locals. The atmosphere was so realistic that it helped me push myself. Nothing had prepared me for that amount of energy, it really tested my stamina,” she adds.
Prakash Jha is all praises for Sameera and feels that she was just the right choice for the song. “Sameera has that look and she’s such a good dancer. When I told Ganesh about her, he agreed immediately. And she’s done it fabulously. I’m very happy with the song, it’s fantastic,” he says.
This was the grandest welcome Bollywood could have offered to any heroine on her comeback. The entire Bollywood fraternity turned up for Sridevi’s ‘English Vinglish’ premiere and she was basking in praises as the attendees ended up applauding after the screening of the film.
The premiere was attended by Madhuri Dixit, Bipasha Basu, Vidya Balan, Amitabh Bachchan, Sonakshi Sinha, Shilpa Shetty, Zarine Khan, Ayesha Takia, Yash Chopra, Jaya Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, and many others from the TV and film industry.
Sridevi, who attended the premiere with hubby Boney Kapoor and family, R Balki and director Gauri Shinde, Sridevi interacted with the media and said: “I am not at all nervous; I am more than just exited! I feel like I am on top of the world! This is a special day for me, my husband and my children! And I would like to thank all those who have come here, and I really hope they like the film!”
Her 15-year-old daughter Jhanvi said: “I am so proud she is the coolest mom.”
Well! We could not agree more!!
Barfi deserves Oscar! Yes, there’s no reason to be dumbstruck. Barfi in the tradition of so many enthralling drama in the last few years that made Indian film grow bigger in stature in the world cinema, is just on its way to produce another success story for Indian film in the global space in respect of critical reception and artistic appraisal. The film is already in the 100 Crore club as one of the highest commercially successful Indian film in the last few years, but more than just being another commercially hit cinema it exhibited all dramatic and cinematic qualities for critical appraisal of highest order and that made it a contender for Oscar award for best foreign picture in 2012. Let’s have a look at various aspects that explains why Barfi deserves Oscar!
A great screenplay and characters that rock
Barfi tells the story of a deaf and dumb, simple hearted, passionate and most intensely and emotionally active young man and his relationship with two girls. Being born and brought up in picturesque hill station of Darjeeling Barfi or Murphy Johnson gets entangled in two-edged relationship subsequently with two girls that apart from the romantic drama that ensues also takes him to get involved in criminal abduction drama of one of these girls that ends up in mutual love. But in few years time after he came to Kolkata again as soon as his relationship with the second girl became rekindled he again got into the kidnapping drama that made Darjeeling Police go after him. The story surprisingly shows the becoming of three characters lives that ends in a hospital where two girls are in an encompassing sadness beside the death bed of Barfi.
The beauty of the screenplay is its interwoven drama that encompasses various enthralling situations that simultaneously relates the troubled, deaf and dumb and easy going personality of Barfi in the face of two edged love and worldly challenges. The character of Barfi and its diverse playfulness and dramatic as well as innocent endeavors fills us with a charm that no recent film in the world can be compared with. All reasons apart this intuitive depiction of characters in their most original human empathy alone explains why Barfi deserves Oscar.
Some never-before quality that wins Oscar
Typically for winning Oscar for best foreign language film as it has been observed that the film must have some qualities that make it appealing to world audience irrespective of numerous cultural and social differences. When a film with enrapturing drama and sturdy, enthralling visuals directly appeals to your reasoning and emotional content beyond linguistic and cultural differences it becomes a deserving contender for best foreign language film. Barfi has taken millions of Indian’s heart with its heart rendering cinematic tale of innocence, love and thrilling human perspective and the film is not too much culture specific that makes the possibility of the film to be appealing to world audience wide open. Most of the Indian films previously chosen or nominated for Oscar had been either too much drawn into mainstream or ethnic Indian culture and that in a way served as a cultural barrier for winning Oscar. Barfi deserves Oscar because it more than language or typical local cultural orientation depicts the story of love and relationship through the heart rendering comedy and innocence of a dumb man that overcomes linguistic and cultural differences.
The ‘Dhoom’ franchise have always presented their ladies in racy and super glamorous avatar. Be it Esha Deol in ‘Dhoom’ or Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Bipasha Basu in ‘Dhoom 2’, these hit flicks left the cine goers asking for more with all of them looking super hot in their roles.
With ‘Dhoom 3’ in the making, the makers did not want to settle in for less. So, in came the Autralian import, Tabrett Bethell, who is a popular and well known Australian TV actress. She is best known for portraying the character Cara in the television series Legend of the Seeker. In her earlier days Bethell has worked as a fashion model since she was 16. Tabrett Bethell was also a cheerleader for the National Rugby League (NRL).
This hottie will be seen romancing Aamir Khan in ‘Dhoom 3’. The movie has Aamir play the villain with Katrina Kaif, too, displaying greyer shades in her character.
Welcoming Bethell, Uday Chopra tweeted:
“Please welcome the lovely @TabrettBethell who joins the cast of Dhoom 3 today.”
GIMA Awards 2012 held at the YRF Studios, yesterday in Mumbai, was all glamour and glitter with Bollywood biggies making their presence felt at the event. The celebrities who were spotted at the award ceremony were SRK, Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Parineeti Chopra, Sonakshi Sinha, Vivek Oberoi, Ayushmann Khurrana and Nargis Fakhri.
Shahrukh Khan wrote on Twitter: “Still at work…got a gima award for chamak challo…a compliment for challa…and a hug from mika singh..punjab da day type today.”
This was the third edition of the Global Indian Music Academy (GIMA) Awards and was hosted by Saif Ali Khan and Parineeti Chopra. The show witnessed some power packed performances by Parineeti Chopra, Ajay Devgan, Sonakshi Sinha and Mika Singh. several singers and musicians like A R Rahman, Sonu Nigam, Mika Singh, Anup Jalota, Bappi Lahiri, Hard Kaur, and Himesh Reshammiya graced the event.
The jury from film music included Jatin Pandit, Javed Akhtar, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Kunal Kohli, Prasoon Joshi, Rajiv Kenkre, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Ramesh Sippy, Resul Pookutty, Shaan, Udit Narayan & Vijay Lazarus. Along with them, the non-film music jury consisted of Anup Jalota, Dr. L. Subramaniam, Ehsaan Noorani, Hariharan, Ila Arun, Leslie Lewis, Loy Mendonsa, Pankaj Udhas, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, Raju Singh, Ram Sampath, Roop Kumar Rathod, Salim Merchant, Shankar Mahadevan, Shantanu Moitra, Shashi Vyas, Suresh Wadkar, Swanand Kirkire, Taufiq Qureshi & Ustad Rashid Khan.
Along with an insight to the awards, various musicians paid a tribute to the musical veterans who passed away recently – namely, Jagjit Singh, Bhupen Hazarika & Mehdi Hassan.
The who’s who of Bollywood turned up to wish Ranbir Kapoor, as he turned 30 this Thursday. Ranbir Kapoor’s ex-flames Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif were in no mood to miss the bash. While Deepika looked hot in wearing her distressed denims and tank with a Zara checked shirt, Katrina looked sweet and sexy in a short pink dress. Also present was Anushka Sharma in a well fitted orange dress. RAnbir has often been linked to Anushka as well.
Others who were there to wish the birthday boy included rival Arjun Kapoor and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and wife. Actress Kalki Koechlin came along with Imtiaz Ali, while Karan Johar also made a late entry. Other guests who were spotted at the bash include ‘Barfi!’ director Anurag Basu, Aditya Roy Kapoor,Sidharth Roy Kapoor and music composer Pritam.
Not present at the party were two other rumoured ex-girlfriends – Ranbir’s Rockstar heroine Nargis Fakhri and Kingfisher model Angela Jonsson.
Jiah Khan, who made a sensational debut in Bollywood with ‘Nishabd’, has been going through a lull phase of her career. However, recently, there was quite a buzz about the actress signing a three-film deal and been finalized for a lead in an erotic period drama, titled ‘Maharani’.
The sources claimed that the film is set in the 17th century and is based on secret diaries handed over to director Madhureeta Anand by the award winning author and historian, William Dalrymple. Reports also added that a veteran actress will be cast in a negative role in the film.
However, Jiah aka Nafisa Khan, rubbished the claims with her tweet which read:
“So apparently im in a film called maharani some erotic thriller..umm news to me! Don’t knw anything abt it lol! Where do they get this from?”
Finally, the list of contestants who will take part in the controversial show ‘Big Boss 6’ is out. The show will be hosted once again by Salman Khan who has played his role perfectly in the earlier seasons and is a popular and apt choice for the same.
The makers of the show have made it sure that the show runs high on the glamour quotient with the participants including the likes of model-turned-actress Sayali Bhagat (who was Miss India World 2004 and last seen with Shiney Ahuja in ‘Ghost’). Another hot celebrity to join the housemates will be match-fixing accused starlet Nupur Mehta who has been all over the gossip columns for her on-off affair with Mohammad Asif. Reportedly, TV actress Aashka Goradia, who was last seen as Kalavati tai in ‘Laagi Tujhse Lagan’ and novelist Shobhaa De will also be a part of ‘Bigg Boss 6′ that will begin from October 7.
Other names to take part in this reality show include controversial spiritual guru Swami Nithyananda, Aamir Khan’s brother Faisal Khan, cricketer turned TV personality Navjot Singh Sidhu and anchor-cum-actor Jay Bhanushali.
To keep the heat soaring, reality TV star and popular international celebrity, Kim Kardashian, will also be a guest at the house.
There could not have been a more valuable click for the shutterbugs when the two yesteryear rivals and perhaps the two best actress-dancers of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit and Sridevi, shook a leg together on stage at the grand finale of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5, at Filmistan Studios in Mumbai. It was a visual treat to the audience when they performed a dance jugalbandi and danced to each other’s songs. Sridevi was all spirits when she danced to Dhak Dhak Karne Laga and Madhuri was no less on Mere Haathon Main Nau Nau.
Sridevi was on the show to promote her upcoming film English Vinglish! She wrote on Twitter: “Had a lovely time shooting for Jhalak Dikhla Jaa, don’t miss the grand finale on Sunday, 30th September.”
Co-judge Karan Johar also tweeted a picture of himself with Sri and Madhuri and sure enough, he got an instant reaction from Dabangg girl Sonakshi Sinha who wrote: @kjohar25 oh that’s a classic shot!!”
This Monday, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan received the honours of being the new international Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS, the joint UN programme on AIDS and HIV. UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe made this announcement at the UN headquarters here by on the sidelines of the 67th session of the UN General Assembly. Aishwarya is already associated with UN in various ways. Last week, she had joined UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and renowned Hollywood actor Michael Douglas at a ceremony here to commemorate the International Day of Peace.
She had also addressed a large group of students from varied backgrounds during a panel discussion on ‘Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future.’
With this new role, Ash takes on the responsibility to increase awareness on issues related to stopping new HIV infections in children and advocate for increased access to anti-retroviral treatment.
“I am honoured to accept this appointment. Spreading awareness on health issues specially related to women and children has always been a priority for me and now as a new mother I can personally relate to this — the joys and concerns of every mother and the hopes that we have for our children,” she said.
“I strongly believe that every baby should be born free from HIV. And I wish that every woman living with HIV stays healthy and has access to treatment. I promise that with UNAIDS, I will do my utmost to make this happen,” she added.
Mahek Chahal, the starlet, who has made appearances in films like ‘Wanted’, ‘Main aur Mrs. Khanna’, ‘Nayee Padosan’ among others, could not make it big on the silver screen. She was seen in ‘Big Boss’ and other reality shows on the TV but soon faded away.
Now, the fashionable beauty has decided to launch her own fashion label and is quite excited about it. She says, “My mother was always passionate about clothing. I have grown up with her fashion influences and then also being part of the entertainment world, gave more insights into the fashion world.”
“I just started with color, design and shape ideas. As a kid, I would go into fabric stores or yarn shops and look at textures and colors and patterns with my mother. It’s a kind of ecstasy and I feel that my dream is finally getting fulfilled,” she added.
Mahek has launched her first flagship store in Norway recently about which she says, “It’s great to see people trying things and understanding what looks good for their body type. I also enjoy telling people how I make stuff as behind every design, there’s a story. Some people invest in property etc. This is my investment.”
