Saif Ali Khan along with girlfriend Kareena at a suburban theatre. The pair was here to watch Ranbir and Priyanka starrer Anjaana Anjaani.
The couple was accompanied by Saif's kids.
Hrithik and Sussanne Roshan's new pet
Cuddling up to Paris! Hrithik and Sussanne Roshan have got a beagle for their sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan. They have named the five-week-old pup, Paris.
Kareena Kapoor prefers fancy sling bag
While most actresses sport teenie clutches, Kareena Kapoor prefers the functional yet fancy sling bag while stepping out. Bebo was spotted yet again with her hands-free accessory at Tusshar Kapoor's party recently. Check out Bebo's sling swings...
Bag lady: (from left) At Tusshar Kapoor's party, arriving from Sri Lanka and at Karan Johar's birthday party
Pictures from Kajol's private collection
In the eat of the moment: A rare snapshot of the reticent Aditya Chopra with Kajol at Juhu beach. The picture is from Kads' personal collection. It features in the latest issue of Stardust's Icon.
Katrina Kaif injured
On Tuesday night, Katrina Kaif suffered an injury on the sets of Yash Raj Film's untitled project with Imran Khan. The film is being shot at Pataudi Palace in Haryana.The actress was hurt during filming and ended up with a bloody nose, courtesy an error of judgment on her co-star's part. Strangely, she was hurt in the same spot where she'd been previously injured during the shoot of Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani when Ranbir accidentally landed a blow on her face.
A source from the sets reveals what happened. "They were shooting a funny scene in which Imran is holding a gun in his hand and Katrina is by his side. He had to move around and pull Kat toward him with the other hand. But while shooting, he accidentally smashed the barrel of his gun on Katrina's nose. It happened in a split second and her nose started bleeding."
The source adds, "Everyone panicked because there was blood oozing from her nose. The shooting stopped and she was escorted to the vanity van. A doctor was called on the set and she was administered first aid. After a while the bleeding stopped, but she was still in pain."
Kat confirms, "Yes, I got hit in the same place as I did during Ajab. I am pretty bruised but the staff feels it's good luck for the film. But it was a funny scene so I think it was worth it."
Dostana 2 will release as per schedule: Karan Johar
The shooting of John Abraham-Abhishek Bachchan starrer gay comedy Dostana 2 has been pushed for next year but producer Karan Johar is confident that they will be able to release the film as per schedule.
The sequel, about two young men pretending to be gays, was originally scheduled to go on floors this year but they had to postpone it as director Tarun Mansukhani was not happy with the script.
"We were aiming for Dostana 2 to release in the second half of 2011. But I am sure that we would meet our original deadline. Its just that we all would now have to work extra hard to get the post production in place in time after wrapping up the shooting part," Johar said.
Johar, who released three of his films this year My Name Is Khan, I Hate Luv Storys and We Are Family, says he did not want to compromise on the story and hence decided to take the risk of rescheduling the shooting.
"There are huge expectations from the film. This is why we decided to hold on for a while before rushing through the proceedings. It was Tarun who came to me and requested some more time to spend on script before hitting the sets. He wasn't entirely happy with about 15 minutes of the film and wanted to refine it further," Johar said.
The producer had already locked the dates of his main actors and had even made the announcement and the delay means added cost to Johar, who would soon begin shooting Kareena Kapoor and Imraan Khan starrer Short Term Shaadi.
The new schedule will also mean a major reshuffle in the date diaries of Abhishek, John and Katrina Kaif but Johar says the actors are ready to adjust.
"My actors are staying along with the film. They are using this interim period to do other films. I don't think that moving ahead of Dostana 2 has caused pain to any of them."
Meanwhile, what happens to his other dream production, the remake of Agneepath. There is still mystery around the new face, who would play Vijay Deenanath Chauhan, originally essayed by Amitabh Bachchan. "The script is ready but since we are still in the process of approaching talent," Johar said.
Mallika's royal connection
Mallika Sherawat’s ‘Hisss’ has an actual royal starring in it. Her Royal Highness Princess Lakshmi Bai of Travencore is part of the movie!
“Akka” as she is affectionately called by close friends and family, met 'Hisss' diector Jennifer Lynch through family friend Govind Menon, a producer of the film, and has known Mallika for the past few years.
When the director was casting for the role of Divya Dutta’s character's mother (Irrfan Khan’s character's mother-in-law) for the film, she set her sights on the princess, “discovered” her, and offered her the role.
Initially, the Princess refused and Jennifer had to practically beg her to be in the movie. After much convincing and cajoling, she finally changed her mind.
It seems that the role is a crucial one, with intensely dramatic scenes alongside Irrfan. “Akka” also provides a healthy amount of comic relief in the film, and her character’s storyline is crucial to the plot.
Sanjay Dutt on 'KBC 4'
Amitabh Bachchan's coming back as the host of 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', and he's bringing a bunch of star guests with him. It's confirmed now that Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham are among the B'wood players who'll be on the show. The episodes with Sanju and John have already been shot.
Now the question is will other members of the Bachchan family be on the show too? It would be fun to see Big B quiz Ash and Abhi.
But the bigger star attraction we think would be if former host Shah Rukh Khan were to come back on the show as a guest. Think Big B would give his okay to that? He's been saying that the channel decides which special guests appear on the show, but we think all Sr B would have to do is ask to get anyone he wants on the show.
MOVIE REVIEW: Anjaana Anjaani
Till a few years ago, if a director approached a producer with a script that had just two characters from Scene A to Z, the producer would scoff at him and show him the door. After all, devoting an entire film on merely two characters is nothing short of a risk. That's not all, for the two characters aren't friends, acquaintances or lovers. They are strangers who meet accidentally on a bridge, since both have decided to commit suicide. If that's how your film begins, it's akin to taking another [giant] risk by Bollywood standards.Okay, okay, before I begin dissecting ANJAANA ANJAANI, I need to clear a few misconceptions pertaining to this film. It's not a copy or adaptation or remake of Patrice Leconte's 1999 French film LA FILLE SUR LE PONT/GIRL ON THE BRIDGE, which starred Daniel Auteuil and Vanessa Paradis. The Twitterverse is also crammed with tweets speculating that ANJAANA ANJAANI bears a striking resemblance to the Telugu film ITLU SRAVANI SUBRAMANYAM [2001]. The only similarity between these three films is that two strangers meet on a bridge to commit suicide, that's it! ANJAANA ANJAANI is as diverse from these films as mangoes, apples and peaches. Now let's move ahead...
With ANJAANA ANJAANI, director Siddharth Anand accepts a big challenge. This one's a love story, but it doesn't follow the beaten path. It doesn't follow the rules laid out by the romantics in Bollywood. And that's where its strength lies. Generally, couples in love commit to die for each other, but in this film, romance blossoms much, much after the two meet at the bridge for the first time, when they are about to commit suicide. From strangers to lovers to strangers again is how the film explores the relationship between this couple.
ANJAANA ANJAANI works for two major reasons. The first being the powerhouse performances by its lead pair. Having watched their careers from the very onset, I would like to state that the two actors deliver career-best performances in ANJAANA ANJAANI. The second reason why ANJAANA ANJAANI works is due to the terrific moments in its second hour. Final word? ANJAANA ANJAANI is worth a watch. If you are a romantic, or even if you are not, ANJAANA ANJAANI is a must-see for its interpretation of modern-day romance. Recommended!
ANJAANA ANJAANI is the story of Kiara [Priyanka Chopra], based in San Francisco, while Akash [Ranbir Kapoor] is a New York City boy. Akash has had a failed business, while Kiara has had a failed relationship. Fed up, they both decide to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge. However, both land up on the same bridge at the same time.
One thing leads to another and Akash and Kiara decide to end their lives on 31st December. With 20 days to go, they decide to fulfill their unfinished wishes and thus begins their journey.
Director Siddharth Anand has a fine sense of story and how to present his characters well. ANJAANA ANJAANI is no different. Of course, you don't take to the film instantly, primarily because it's not the usual prem kahani. In fact, there's hardly any movement in the story in the first hour. It's a collage of some wonderful, some okay moments, frankly. The sequence at the bridge and the various attempts at committing suicide stay with you and so does the sequence in the sea, when they go sailing and decide to swim. Also, the first hour unwinds at a leisurely pace and that's bothersome. However, story writer Mamta Anand and screenplay writers Advaita Kala and Siddharth Anand reserve the best for the post-interval portions, when the story moves from New York to Las Vegas to San Francisco. The road trip and the varied experiences and emotions they share make it a compelling watch. Of course, the story tends to get a bit predictable towards the end, but come on, don't we like our love stories to have happy endings?
Siddharth Anand has handled the subject with flourish. Besides, the film is not merely rich in substance, but is equally alluring when it comes to style and overall look. The DoP [Ravi K. Chandran] plays a major role here. The film bears a magnificent look all through and the panoramic and exotic locales of America only make every frame stand out. The costumes - Mamta Anand for Ranbir and Manish Malhotra for Priyanka - are trendy.
Vishal-Shekhar's music has a lot of heart. Again, it won't be wrong to state that their compositions take the movie forward. The background score [Salim-Sulaiman] is top notch. In fact, the rich score compliments the mood of the characters beautifully. Dialogues are wonderful.
When two of the film industry's finest actors meet, it puts more pressure on the film. Ranbir is an actor with an infinite range and his dedication to his work is evident in every film. I have often stated that he is the finest actor of his generation and the fact comes alive yet again as you watch him donning a new character in ANJAANA ANJAANI. Priyanka sinks into the role beautifully, so much so that she forgets herself and starts becoming Kiara. When an actor kills his or her eminence and surrenders completely to the role is when the film really takes off. Priyanka has this unique quality. Zayed Khan is likable in a cameo. Tanvi Azmi is wonderful. On the whole, ANJAANA ANJAANI is an unpretentious romantic saga that revels in the exuberance of newly found love. The film has everything going for it: top notch performances by two super-stars, good music, a sensitive director with a good track record, a simple yet absorbing story and of course, terrific moments [emotional as well as humorous]. Don't miss this one!
Katrina Kaif who?
Ali Zafar's made an impact with his very first Bollywood film, but when it comes to knowing the industry's biggies, he's still got a long way to go. The 'Tere Bin Laden' star, who's been signed on for Yashraj Films' next with Katrina Kaif, didn't know who Kat was when they met!
It seems that both Ali and Kat were at a party, and the 'Rajneeti' star thought it would be nice to go and speak to her future co-star. So she went up to him, and was met with no recognition whatsoever. Ali had no idea who Kat was. She might have been surprised, but we hear that Kat recovered quickly and introduced herself to Ali. And she even brushed off the incident saying that Ali was new, and that even she didn't know everyone in B'wood after being around for four years.
That was cool of Kat, and we think Ali's not going to ever forget that particular introduction, and start brushing up on the who's who of Bollywood too!
Bollywood stands united for Ayodhya verdict
As the nation awaits the Ayodhya-Babri Masjid verdict today (September 30), B'wood stars have taken to Twitter and their blogs to appeal for peace and harmony regardless of the judgment.
Shahid Kapoor: "Let's be peaceful, let's be together... Let's be mature, let's learn to be the bigger person, see the larger picture ... and prove that above all .. WE ARE INDIAN."
Big B wrote on his blog, "There has never been such a strong demonstration by the media and by all concerned on the need to keep a balance in whatever the circumstances. Patience and will shall be on test."
Sonam Kapoor: "Remember, united we stand and divided we fall. Love and brotherhood has made our country strong, don't give that up."
Riteish Deshmukh: "United India is the religion I follow - Stay one - Be one - Let's show that we are a ONE-derful Country."
Fardeen Khan wrote: "India's greatest strength lies in its unity and today is a true test of that. Let's confront the Ayodhya issue in the spirit of understanding, tolerance, love and respect. If we do achieve that then we will be able to look back and proudly say that yes India is truly shining - Jai Hind."
Anupam Kher: "I am in Toronto, but my heart is in India. Let NO court verdict spoil our togetherness. Let us be ONE. Let us be INDIANS."
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar wrote on his Twitter page, "Let's not mutiliate 30-9-10 over 6-12-92. Religion is about peace and love, lets not make it about hate and violence!!!"
R. Madhavan: "Big Day today for all of us. I am not concerned which way the verdict goes. I Demand that not one more innocent suffers because of this. Need to defy the expected and react to the Verdict with maturity and restraint. Let's surprise ourselves and the world. I pray for peace and Harmony. Whatever the verdict."
Jewellery designer Farah Khan: "The Ayodhya verdict will not decide whether a temple or a mosque be built there. The verdict is going to decide who the land belongs to. In the sense who is the legal tenant of the 2.67 acres that is under dispute."
"Hopefully once that is sorted both communities can come together and put their differences aside for God does not ask for houses of worship to be built in his name. He owns the universe."
Prime Minister Manhmohan Singh and many other leaders have also appealed for peace and harmony in the nation ahead of the verdict by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi issue.
Salman-Katrina’s dance drama
We’re going ‘Walla Walla’ after watching Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar in their Qawali number for Farah Khan’s ‘Tees Maar Khan’. The song has Sallu and Akki in a pretend-fight over Kat (hmm…imagine that!).
The real question is – Were Salman and Katrina fighting during the shooting? Nothing of that sort it seems. Apparently the couple (or former couple) were fairly cordial to one another and had fun while shooting the song (thanks to buffers Akshay and Farah maybe).
While Salman and Akki were dressed in colourful vests, scarves and caps; Kat made for a rather sober picture, considering she plays an item girl in the movie.
What did Ranbir get for his birthday?
Ranbir Kapoor spent most part of his birthday (September 28) working, but he did have some great gifts to make the day special. We hear that Ranbir gifted himself a brand new Audi sports car (worth over Rs 1 crore) and it was delivered to his house right on the morning of his birthday. And the excited RK even took his new car for a spin soon after.
And it wasn't just one cool car that Ranbir got as a present. His 'Anjaana Anjaani' team gifted him the vintage car that was part of the movie. We know both Ranbir and Priyanka say that the car nicknamed 'Blush' plays a very important part in the movie, and now one of them owns it. With two great cars to choose from, the question is - Who's RK going to take for a ride next?
Priyanka's car damaged by fans
Priyanka Chopra has been travelling across India promoting her next release 'Anjaana Anjaani'. And at a recent event in Mumbai, the promotion got a bit out of hand. For PC's car that is. Prinks' Mercedes was scratched and damaged after a group of college students reacted rather over-enthusiastically on seeing her and Ranbir.
It seems students of KC College in Mumbai were so excited to see the 'Anjaana Anjaani' pair, that they just couldn't get enough of them. So when PC and RK were leaving the college in her car, the students launched themselves on it. In the process, the car was damaged and dented.
The damage wasn't intentional, but a Merc's not a cheap car. So we're wondering how PC reacted to what happened. Particularly when it turns out that her dad gifted her the car!
Deepika's latest message for Ranbir
Deepika Padukone has well and truly moved on after her break-up with Ranbir Kapoor. The star, who's now seeing Siddharth Mallya, actually posted a birthday message for Ranbir on her Twitter page.
Deepika wrote, "Happy Birthday RK!! Wishing u loads of happiness & success...and good luck with AA...:-)" She's talking about 'Anjaana Anjaani' of course, which releases this weekend.
Cool of Deepika for sure, but we wonder why she chose Twitter as the medium when Ranbir doesn't have a Twitter account! So was this more about just sending a message to everyone that she is happy and happy enough to be happy for her ex? Seems like it, doesn't it?
SRK won't perform at Commonwealth Games (srkthedon.blogspot.com)
"Shah Rukh is definitely not performing at the opening ceremony. However, I don't know if he is planning to attend the event or if he has received any invite from the organising committee. But he is not performing," Viraf Sarkari, director of Wizcraft International Entertainment, said.
The opening ceremony of the Oct 3-14 mega sports event will be a melange of Indian dances and songs, said Sarkari. Wizcraft is behind the cultural evening at the event.
A R Rahman will be performing a few songs, apart from the latest version of the CWG anthem. But the Bollywood quotient will take a back seat as India's cultural heritage will rule the stage on D-day, added Sarkari.
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh won't be attending another international event where he's the focus. SRK is seen as an icon of religious unity by many the world over and experts will deliberate upon the topic at a three-day conference at Vienna University.
Titled 'Shah Rukh Khan and Global Bollywood', the meet will not be attended by the superstar himself, but he has said he feels humbled by the endeavour. Some 40 speakers from universities around the world will discuss a wide range of topics revolving around Shah Rukh who is seen as a global cultural phenomenon.
The actor is lauded for playing both Hindu and Muslim characters on screen.
Shah Rukh, who is shooting round the clock for 'Ra.One', said in an e-mail forwarded by Karuna Badwal, executive assistant at his company Red Chillies Entertainment, that he has prior commitments but sends his very best wishes.
London-based filmmaker Nasreen Munni Kabir will kick-start the conference with a paper on 'The Worlds of Shah Rukh Khan' at the 19th century building of Vienna's Museum of Ethnology, near the imperial palace. Kabir produced the documentary 'The Inner and the Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan' in 2004.
To the question why Shah Rukh, Professor Elke Mader, Dean Cultural and Social Anthropology Institute of Vienna University, said: "In German-speaking countries his films have developed a cult media and a very active fan culture. Khan's capacity to negotiate and to integrate opposites and extremes and to connect with diverse audiences worldwide as well as his art of expressing emotions make him not only a superstar but a very significant figure in times of global mediascapes and cultural flows."
Farah Khan's on Twitter
There's a new Khan in Twitter territory, and her name is Farah! The hotshot director/choreographer has finally joined the site, and it's all because of hubby Shirish Kunder. He's the one who announced that Farah had joined up, and as of now he's the only one she's following.
Farah posted on her Twitter page, "Hey I'm overwhelmed! Can hardly keep up with ur response. How sweet u all r!such a warm welcom.promise 2 b correct,but not politically, hahaha."
And the Twitter newbie added later, "Kitne tweets do I hav 2 put everyday? eEnthu cutlet I hav become. Koi roko mujhe bhai."
And the B'wood welcome started soon after.
Riteish Deshmukh posted on his page, "Hey guys a big shout out to Farah Khan- looking fwd to her sense of humour on this platform. AAO THAKURR AAO"
And Karan Johar added, "Ok...introducing one of my oldest friends....the very talented and the super entertaining Farah Khan."
Aishwarya to be Manish Malhotra's showstopper
Aishwarya Rai will be walking the ramp for designer Manish Malhotra at the upcoming third edition of the India Couture Week.
"Beautiful Aishwarya is going to be the showstopper at my couture week show," Malhotra posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.
The designer, who has worked on Aishwarya's looks for the mega-budget Endhiran and Action Replayy, is known to have given makeovers to many actresses, including Karisma Kapoor and Rani Mukerji.
He will be opening the couture week, starting Oct 6-10.
The designer says he will be showcasing 55 different outfits and emerald will be the dominant colour in his collection.
Singing and sought after, Lata turns 81
Playback legend Lata Mangeshkar turns 81 Tuesday, with fans swearing by her golden voice even as she has chosen to cut down on assignments after singing for over 1,000 Hindi movies.
Starting her career in 1942, she reigned over the film industry for decades and is still the first preference of many filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Madhur Bhandarkar and an inspiration to established singers of today.
Lata, who was born Sep 28, 1929, also featured in the Guinness World Records book from 1974 to 1991 for having made the most recordings in the world. She was last heard in Bhandarkar's Jail.
"Lataji's birthday is a great event. She has given us so much in terms of music, love and affection. I just hope that she lives on forever and gives her blessings to us. I am very close to her and I am happy, proud and fortunate that she is close to me," said filmmaker Yash Chopra who has vowed only to work with her among the female singers in the industry.
"Jab bhi ji chahe" (Daag); "Kabhi kabhie mere dil mein" (Kabhi Kabhie); "Neela asman so gaya" (Silsila); Meri bindiya teri nindiya (Lamhe); "Dholna" (Dil To Pagal Hai) and "Tere Liye" (Veer Zaara) are some of Lata's hit numbers for Chopra.
Bhansali is in fact composing an album as a tribute to her.
"I know every nuance in her voice. She is a miracle of nature. And there's so much in her throat that is still untapped. I first thought I'd create just one song for her in 'Guzaarish'. Then I thought, why one song when a whole ethos, era after era of supreme excellence is embodied in that voice?" Bhansali said.
"Lataji is far more than a singer. She mirrors all the beauty of the soul. It is that beauty that I want to capture in my songs," he added.
Not just this, Bhansali's forthcoming film Guzaarish is also inspired by one of Lata's imperishable melodies, "Hai tere saath meri wafaa mein nahin to kya", composed by Madan Mohan and written by Kaifi Azmi for the film Hindustan Ki Kasam.
Starting her career in 1942 with songs in Marathi, Lata's first Hindi song was "Paa lagoon kar jori" for Vasant Joglekar's movie "Aap Ki Seva Mein" in 1946. Two years later, composer Ghulam Haider gave Lata her first major break with the song "Dil mera toda" in Majboor and after that there was no looking back for the nightingale of India, as she is fondly called.
She has worked with all the major composers of the bygone era and mesmerised the current lot too.
Lata has recorded songs for over 1,000 Hindi movies and sung in more than 36 regional Indian languages. She is the second vocalist ever to have received the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.
Lilting melodies like "Aayega aanewala" from Mahal, "Aaja re pardesi" from Madhumati, "Pyar kiya to darna kya" from Mughal-e-Azam and "Satyam shivam sundaram" from the film of the same name still find a place on the favourite list of music lovers.
She has sung all kinds of songs in her long career, including romantic numbers like "Tumhen yaad karte karte", "Ajeeb daastan hai yeh", and naughty ones like "Main kamsin hoon", "Bahon mein chale aao", "Bangle ke peeche" and "Choti si umar main" as well as devotional songs like "Paoji maine Ram ratan dhan pao" and "O palan hare".
Even singers are still in awe of the great singer who is also the elder sister of singer Asha Bhosle.
"I can't express in words what she means to me and how I feel for her. Just want to wish her a happy and healthy life ahead," Sunidhi Chauhan said.
Playback singer Sonu Niigaam added: "I want to wish a very happy birthday to Lataji. Many many best wishes to her. I would just like to tell her that keep enlightening India and world with your songs and bless me."
John Travolta honoured at Mumbai event
Hollywood actor John Travolta, who is here with his daughter Ella, was honoured at Man of the Year awards event,conducted by a leading men's magazine, here along with his counterparts in B-town, Aamir Khan and Arjun Rampal.
The 56-year-old actor, known for hit films like Saturday Night Fever, Grease and Pulp Fiction, was given the Legend of the Year award late Sunday, a day after the star flew down to India in his private Jet with his daughter.
While Aamir was awarded the Cinematic Icon of the Year, Arjun was given the Most Stylish Person trophy.
Aamir was so excited that John was attending the event that the actor made it a point to be there too.
"I am a big fan of John Travolta. I have seen a lot of his films. When I heard that he has come for this function, I made it a point to attend it. I'm also wearing a suit because of that," Aamir, who was dressed formerly in a black suit and bow tie, said.
John, who is on a two-day visit to India, launched a new model of watches Sunday morning. His wife Kelly Preston has not accompanied him as she is pregnant with their twins.
The Hollywood actor denied the news of his expected jig with Akshay Kumar. He is likely to fly out to Russia Monday.
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