Pankaj Kapoor had a number of options in his mind for the female lead of his project ‘Mausam’ opposite his son Shahid Kapoor right from Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter Sonakshi, Govinda’s daughter Narmada, to Alyque Padamsee’s daughter Shazahn Padamsee and Anil Kapoor’s daughter Sonam Kapoor.
Among all the star daughters who were strong contenders for the role, the one who bags in the role is Sonam Kapoor who has the vote of not only all the unit members of the film but also of Pankaj’s wife Supriya Pathak who had developed a fondness for the girl while shooting for ‘Delhi 6’ along with her.
It may be mentioned here that Sonam was chosen for the film without an audition.
Newcomer Imran Khan became a hot favorite and a rage among the girls with his first film itself. Despite his big fan following, the actor surprisingly chose to stay away from endorsements. Finally, she has given an affirmative nod to be the brand ambassador for Coca-Cola which had his mama Aamir Khan as the brand ambassador previously.
“This is actually the first and the only endorsement I have signed over a year and a half since I have joined the film industry. This was the only endorsement that I wanted to sign before they ever came to me,” said Imran.
“I think Aamir has been endorsing Coke for 10 years now and ever since I was a kid, I used to watch his ads. I have always considered Coca-Cola to be synonymous with refreshment and happiness. I am sure everyone will find the new Coca-Cola communication extremely engaging,” he added Talking about the concept of the ad, Imran said, “The entire concept of the film is about how Coke breaks the ice between two characters who might not have been together, if Coke wasn’t there. What is really interesting in the ad is that we have used an imaginary bottle.”
The campaign has been conceptualized by the creative team of McCann Erickson and features Kalki Koechlin of “Dev D” fame next to Imran. The ad is directed by Dibakar Banerjee (”Khosla Ka Ghosla” and “Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!”) and is set to be rolled out in the last week of February.
Reliance BIG Pictures and Rakesh Roshan are waiting eagerly for their romantic mega project ‘Kites’ to hit the silver screen. The movie stars Hrithik Roshan and Mexican model Barbara Mori and will release worldwide in Hindi and English versions on 21st May in over 60 countries. The trailer of the Hindi version will be screened on 1700 screens worldwide on Friday, 12th February, where as the trailer of the English version will be released shortly in 1000 screens.
“We have always believed that Indian films and talent can enjoy the same success and recognition internationally as in India. Kites is a first-of-its-kind Indian film and it has already generated huge interest. We are proud to present the first look to a worldwide audience,” said Sanjeev Lamba, CEO of Reliance BIG Pictures.
Directed by Anurag Basu, the movie also stars Kangana Ranaut, Kabir Bedi and Nick Brown. The English version of the movie is presented and reworked by well-known Hollywood director Brett Ratner.
Despite a strong filmi background, dazzling beauty, perfect figure and dancing skills, Esha Deol has not been able to carve a niche in Bollywood. It has been a long time she has appeared in a movie. Now, the wait is finally over as the gal is all set to make a re-entry through her mother Hema Malini’s next flick ‘Tell Me Oh Khuda’. Esha is quite excited about the project as she has been involved in the project from the onset.
Says Esha , “After a long time, I’m enjoying each day of my shoot. This is one film I am not acting in. I am just being myself. It’s today’s story. So I have the liberty to be myself.”
Esha is all praises for her director Mayur Puri who is known to her since her Dhoom days. “With Mayur it’s very easy. We know each other so well and are on the same page creatively,” she says.
Whether the film can create magic on the screen and set Esha’s career on the right track, only time can tell.
Milap Zaveri who has impressed everyone with his writing skills is making his directorial debut with ‘Jaane Kahan Se aayi Hai’ starring Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Ruslaan Mumtaz and Sonal Sehgal.
With this film, former Miss Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez is all set to impress her fans with her fluent Marathi and the person who has taken up the responsibility of traching the beauty with the language is her co-star Riteish Deshmukh, who is taking up the opportunity between shoots to teach Jackie his mother tongue.
Jackie is new to the industry and is making a conscious effort to improve her Hindi and to learn Marathi. Courtsey Riteish, her Marathi is getting better than her Hindi now!
With just one film for a release, Freida Pinto has reached a destination where many actresses dream to even after doing a lot of films. She acquired a worldwide fame with her million-dollar performance in the Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire.
Where the truth behind her linkup with Dev Patel is yet to be discovered, the girl has chosen to be Valentine’s Brand Ambassador… on the cover of the latest edition of Elle. The issue has Freida talk everything under the sun, right from brands, films to her life.
Talking about brands, this gorgeous lady says, “Chanel has always been an effortless brand- their simple, clean cuts will have you look super fashionable. Karl (Lagerfeld) has been great. If I ever need something, he will make it happen.”
She reveals about her personal front saying, “I realized that I’d gone straight from the craziness of Slumdog into my films, so, this is my time to relax.”
With love in the air this season, every cine lover needs to grab a copy of his own to get more of Freida!
Vidya Balan has a string of movies to her credit- Parineeta, Munnabhai, Salaam-e-ishq, Guru, Eklavya, Heyy Babyy, Halla Bol, Bhool Bhulaiya, Kismet Konnection and most recently Paa. All these movies have given her critical acclaim for her acting talents, but nothing could give the sensuous tag to her the way the most recent ‘Ishqiya’ has given her.
She had been trapped being called as “Behenji” type actress who was constantly being criticized for her dressing style, but with ‘Ishqiya’ she has sent the message through that “she can be seductress too” signaling that she is ready to fit in current trend.
February sees her on the cover story of ‘Verve’ and ‘The Man’. For the latter, she was styled by Vikram Phadnis and her makeup was done by Shreyas Mhatre.
Here is an excerpt from her interview with ‘The Man’:
“I am a good listener but I rarely give advice. When the good times are between two people, the problems too should remain between them. A relationship is never perfect; you have to work at it. You can’t be running in opposite directions at the first sign of dissent.
There is no perfect person you can connect with at all levels. A guy can’t be a looker, intelligent, sensitive, the guy that your friends and family like, a guy who likes the things you like and all that. Sometimes, if he is all that and he is available he may not have a sense of humour. May be he seems perfect on the face of it, but when you get to know him, the problems start. No two human beings are a perfect fit. That’s the joy and beauty of being in a relationship.
When the dressing debacle happened two years ago, I was bothered by it. Until then I’d only been heaped with praises and then suddenly, the criticism came in truckloads. I didn’t know how to deal with it. Then I looked at it objectively — they did have reason to criticise me. Most of it was exaggerated. I am clearly not a fashionista.
As an actor people expect me to look my best all the time. I didn’t realise that people were actually happy seeing me the way I am. It was not just about clothes — I was going through a period of confusion where I was giving a certain vibe. I was unsure, not happy with the way I was looking and trying to be someone I am not.”
Check out Vidya Balan for the two magazines.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan may have chosen to take it easy post her marriage, but a recent development in her career has made all those speechless who feel that the beautiful actress’ career is no longer on an upswing. She has broken the record of Kareena Kapoor with her whopping ten crores contract for her latest film. Earlier, this honor was with Kareena Kapoor with a figure of seven crores.
The film is to be produced Bobby Pushkarna, of the critically acclaimed film ‘Page 3′. Pushkarna was keen on cast Ash only and was determined to shelve the project if the lady did not give an affirmative nod. Finally, after a three-month long chase, Pushkarna was able to persuade her to do his film.
The deal has not yet been finalized in pen and paper but both the parties seem positive.
Sameera Reddy’s career has been facing a slow down since a couple of years. Lately, the hot siren has signed a project with Nagesh Kukunoor titled ‘Yeh Honsla’ in which she will be seen in a de-glam avatar.
She will portray the role of a Rajasthani village belle in this one without makeup and with a ghoonghat. Talking about her character in the film, Sameera says, “I’m looking forward to Yeh Honsla. Of all the roles that I’ve ever done, Nagesh Kukunoor’s film is ‘it’. It’s where I’ve done my best. I’m a Rajasthani girl, who takes on all the Panchayats. She’s a very strong girl – her name is Rani, and it’s this woman’s story.”
About her de-glam look, she adds, “It’s like you’re bare – you have nothing to work with except your character – and the focus is just on your emotions. Being glamorous is actually much easier!”
Sameera was also seen in a new makeover in her previous film ‘Red Alert’ where she played a tribal woman-cum-Naxalite.
Sameera had won the hearts of millions with her oomph. How much she is admired in her de-glam look, is to be waited and watched.
Though Anoushka Sharma delivered a mega hit with her debut venture ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, she does not seem to have impressed any other banner except Yash Raj Films. Her second film is with Shahid Kapoor under YRF.
Now, YRF has signed her for the third venture opposite a newcomer Ranveer Singh. The film will be produced by Aditya Chopra and directed by debutante Maneesh Sharma, who had been an associate director of ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ and had assisted before on films like ‘Fanaa’ and ‘Aaja Nachle’.
This yet untitled film has its storyline revolving around Shruti (Anushka Sharma) and Bittoo (Ranveer Singh), who are just out of Delhi University. The film further goes through the ups and downs of their friendship and entrepreneurial venture with the lavish world of the glamour and glitz of Delhi baaraats and weddings.
After Shilpa Shetty, Bipasha Basu too has come out with her fitness DVD titled ‘BB Love Yourself’. The first release from Bips will be Fit & Fabulous, a do-it-yourself DVD devised for a 25-minute workout which promises to cut fat and tone up muscles.
Bipasha Basu, who has always been a fitness freak says, “Love yourself is my philosophy in life, hence the brand’s name. It is not a narcissist attitude (to use her initials) because I truly believe that we all must love ourselves before we set out to achieve anything, whether it’s a work goal or a relationship and the first step here is to get fit, as everyone wants to look good.”
Fitness is what Bipasha believes in and the entire concept of this DVD is hers inspired by this belief in health and fitness. “Films, fitness and fashion are my passions,” she says, “this is the first time that I will be doing something professional for the latter two. The focus is on health, and it has a scientific approach.”
“It is very compact, targeting people who are busy, who don’t like to go to the gym or don’t have time,” says the actress. “It is entirely my baby, from the script to shooting it, the camera angles and lighting. But I did have fitness expert Deanne Pandey on board when the initial groundwork was done. He is my dear friend,” she adds.
Check out Bipasha with beau John Abraham at the launch of the DVD.
On Tuesday afternoon Katrina along with her ‘Rajneeti’ co-stars Arjun Rampal and Manoj Tiwari flew into Patna in a private jet hired by Prakash Jha. They headed straight from the airport to Jha’s residence in the suburbs. The reason was the inauguration of her director Prakash Jha’s news channel at Patna’s Shri Krishna Memorial Auditorium amidst other big names like Manoj Tiwari and Bihar’s chief minister Nitish Kumar.
Katrina’s presence on the stage made the crowd nostalgic. Even Nitish Kumar had to admit that his presence was not required with Katrina around.
The best part of the entire event was Katrina wooing her audience with her Bhojpuri dialogues trained by Prakash Jha who admits it wasn’t easy coaching Katrina to speak a few line in Bhojpuri. “But it worked, and how. Katrina had the whole of Bihar eating out of her hands. It was so unexpected from someone who has the reputation of barely managing her Hindi,” chuckles Jha.
Prakash cannot just stop praising Katrina and says, “Katrina had no idea of her popularity in Bihar. She has a very deep connect with audiences. She has the kind of image that Hema Malini has. Not one cheap remark, no jostling crowds, no. They now call her Bihar Ki Beti.”
Katrina, Arjun and Manoj flew back to Mumbai late Tuesday night. Prakash Jha intends to hold the premiere of ‘Rajneeti’ in Patna instead of Mumbai.
