Aishwarya & Abhishek Bachchan on the sets of Koffee with Karan - Photos, Video
Happy Birthday: At 37, Aishwarya is a director's delight
For most leading ladies in tinsel town, their career takes a downfall after they touch 30. But certainly not in the case of Aishwarya Rai, who continues to flourish in Bollywood as she turns 37 on Monday and has two mega projects -- “Action Replayy” and “Guzaarish” -- lined up for release.
The former beauty queen has come a long way from being crowned Miss World in 1994, to working in Tamil films, moving to Bollywood and finally topping it up with international fame through movie projects as well as attending prestigious foreign film festivals.
But all through her 13-year film career, filmmakers feel she has remained a director’s delight, and is here to stay for a long time to come.
“Aishwarya always followed me during the shooting of ‘Taal’, and is a complete director’s actor. I’m proud she has evolved so much as an actor. She is giving good performances, she has achieved international fame, and she is leading a happy married life -- what else can she ask for from life? But she is as grounded as ever,” filmmaker Subhash Ghai told IANS.
The director, who worked with Aishwarya in 1999, says the actress will “definitely be in Bollywood for another 10 years” and is looking forward to associating with her once again.
Ace filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who gave Aishwarya’s career a big push with “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” followed by “Devdas”, says she is a timeless beauty.
“Aishwarya is my muse, my jaan and I get terribly excited when I make a film with her because she is very, very special. Some people are timeless and Aishwarya will be there for another 20 years,” said Bhansali, whose third project with the actress, “Guzaarish”, releases Nov 19.
Aishwarya, who married actor Abhishek Bachchan in 2007, has broken the notion that married actresses discontinue their film careers... and her husband is proud of her.
“I feel great about Aishwarya’s achievements, I’m very proud of her. Whatever adulation she has got, she truly deserves it. I’m happy that she broke the notion that women can’t work after marriage. Why are we so regressive in our thinking? If she wants to work, her audience wants to see her, what is people’s problem? I as a husband am very happy that she is doing so well. I think she is doing better work now,” Abhishek had said.
Aishwarya started acting in 1997 with Tamil film “Iruvar”, followed by her Bollywood debut in the same year opposite Bobby Deol in “Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya” -- both of which flopped.
But the next year, she won her first Filmfare Best Actress award South for Tamil film “Jeans”. She also bagged the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Bhansali’s “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam”.
She gave a power-packed performance in “Taal”, but then delivered a string of duds like “Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai“(2000), “Dhai Akshar Prem Ke“(2000), “Albela” (2001), “Hum Kisise Kum Nahi“(2001).
But it was Bhansali’s “Devdas” that resurrected her career and fetched her another Filmfare award in the Best Actress category.
She also gave good performances in “Chokher Bali“(2002), “Raincoat” (2004), “Guru“(2006), “Dhoom 2”, “Provoked“(2007), “Jodhaa Akbar” (2008) and “Sarkar Raj” (2008). She recently featured in Mani Ratnam’s “Raavan” and opposite superstar Rajnikanth in “Robot”.
Some of her English projects include “Bride & Prejudice” (2003), “Mistress of Spices”, “The Last Legion” (2007) and “Pink Panther”.
According to a 2009 Forbes list, Aishwarya Rai is India’s most bankable star in Hollywood, and is also counted among the 100 most beautiful women in the world.
She has been attending many international film festivals and was also the first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes Film Festival in 2003.
Now she is gearing up for the release of “Action Replayy” on Diwali and “Guzaarish”, and is busy promoting them. But she hopes to spend some time with her family as she steps into her new year.
"Aishwarya dances like a dream"
Choreographer Longinus Fernandes made actors in 'Slumdog Millionaire' dance to his tunes and also directed a sequence in the Hollywood film 'Eat, Pray Love', but it is Aishwarya Rai who bowled him over with her "dream" like dance moves.
He has choreographed the song 'Udi udi' in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's forthcoming film 'Guzaarish'.
"It's very unusual. We have never seen Aishwarya doing these steps. It's very different from what she has done in the past and she has done a brilliant job with it. She is a wonderful dancer and dances like a dream," Longinus said.
"It did not take her long to learn the dance but it did take her some time to perfect it and to get into the mood of the character," he added.
The song is slowly becoming a rage especially because of Aishwarys's impressive and graceful moves in a black and red long dress.
"Sanjay wanted to make the song different and unique. I asked him if we can add a little bit of Spanish to it and give it a raw, earthy feel. He liked the idea, so we gave the whole dance a look which is very rustic to make it look as natural as possible," said the dance director.
Longinus, who won a Filmfare Award for best choreography for the song 'Pappu can't dance sala...' in 'Jaane tu Ya Jaane Na', had assisted Farah Khan for a couple of years.
It was on the sets of the dance reality show 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa', where Longinus was a contestant and Bhansali a judge, that the two met.
"It was not very difficult for me to get this break because Sanjay Leela Bhansali has always been very fond of me. He was a judge with 'Jhalak...' and he told me that time that he will work with me for sure. And he kept his promise.
"I did a small piece in 'Saawariya' too, but that went unnoticed. But with this one Sanjay and I are so happy that people are actually liking the sequence," he said.
Also starring Hrithik Roshan as paraplegic patient, 'Guzaarish' releases Nov 19.
Sallu’s Minting Money
Salman Khan is irreplaceable and this has just been proved! The dashing Khan walked out of Dus Ka Dum earlier this year due to a financial dispute with the TV channel.
For the first season of Dus Ka Dum, Salman charged Rs 89 crore whereas for the second season he asked for a small percentage of raise which didn’t quite happen. His fee was then agreeably cut down since the channel admitted a cash crunch due to the economic recession. The third season came along and according to insiders there was still no sign of increment from the channel.
Sallu bhai made it loud and clear when he walked out, that if he returns, he would return on his own terms. Tried as they might, they just couldn’t find someone good enough to replace the great Khan. It was no surprise that last week he was called by the broadcasters of the show. With Big Boss 4, Dus Ka Dum and Dabangg Salman might just top the rich list in T’Town this year.
Shilpa rocks on the ramp
In the backdrop of a majestic white set, showstoppers Shilpa Shetty and Chitrangada Singh sashayed down the ramp as designer Tarun Tahiliani brought the curtains down on the latest edition of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week with a grand show.
Two larger than life trees were fabricated at the entry of the ramp and the show area was lit with orange, green, blue, red and yellow lights. The entire ramp was made of white jute while the ceilings were draped with white stripes.
Even though it was the grand finale, Tarun stuck to what he is best at - contemporary designs with western silhouettes.
"Tarun has been like family to me. He is absolutely adorable. The best thing I like about him is that he brings out a new avatar in me every time and I love to walk for him," said Shilpa who looked stunning in a white lehenga and a net blouse.
Chitrangada walked in a silk blush gauze saree encrusted with crystallised elements.
Tarun's collection titled 'New Democracy', aimed at providing a new direction to India's textiles, prints, fabrics, weaves and colours.
"As we get westernised, our Indianness is getting lost somewhere. My collection is an attempt to bring it back with the use of Indian handlooms and drapes," said Tarun.
Aishwarya's birthday plans revealed
Aishwarya Rai, who is busy promoting two of her upcoming films releasing next month, will squeeze in some time to be with her family on her birthday November 1.
"I am busy promoting my films. 'Action Replayy' is releasing on November 5 so lots of intense work every day. I have kept aside time on my birthday as always I spend it with my family, and how the day will roll I have no idea," Aishwarya, who will turn 37, said.
After director Vipul Shah's retro comedy 'Action Replayy', Aishwarya has Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Guzaarish' releasing November 19.
Saif: "I am not as good as the Khans”
Actor Saif Ali Khan says he is not in competition with the three other Khans of Bollywood - Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman. He is happy with the position he has in the industry and adds that he has "a long way to go".
"They have worked in iconic and more successful films. Aamir's debut movie Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak was a superhit, Salman's Maine Pyar Kiya was also a superhit, Shah Rukh's done equally good. I am really happy with the position where I am," Saif told reporters on Friday.
"I look forward to doing better films and rising up to that position, but they are senior to me and have worked in great films. They completely deserve the position they are in. I have a lot of respect for them," he said.
The actor was speaking at the Epicentre Auditorium in Apparel House, Gurgaon at the celebration of the Taj Enlighten Film Society, which has been validated as India's Largest Film Society by the Federation of Film Societies of India (FFSI).
"I think I do have a niche. I think I have the saleability, I have the ability to roll a project as a producer as well as the lead actor, which in itself is a substantially satisfying achievement. But am I satisfied with the depth of the niche? No, of course not. I want it to be much deeper, work harder. I have a long way to go. Work is in progress."
The actor is now busy with his first production venture spy thriller Agent Vinod, which also stars Kareena Kapoor in the lead.
"It is a very basic story. We are working hard on it and trying to take the action and the drama to another level," he said.
After Omkara, he is again in talks with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj to star in his new film.
"I am looking forward to working with Vishal Bhardwaj. We are on the verge of finalising things," he added.
Abhishek hits back at insult
Abhishek Bachchan has hit back at ad-man Prahlad Kakkar's comment that the actor should be in the Guinness Book of World Records for standing strong despite delivering 17 flops.
"I love Prahlad Kakkar, he should be a stand-up comic not an ad-filmmaker. Maybe then someone will take him seriously! This coming from a man who makes commercials with his own son," Abhishek posted on his Twitter page.
Kakkar, who made Abhishek's wife Aishwarya Rai famous as Sanju in a 1993 TV commercial for Pepsi, took a jibe on Abhishek at the Mumbai Film Festival.
Taking a potshot at Abhishek, the adman said: "Abhishek Bachchan has 17 flops in a row and is still going strong. He is unique and should be in the Guinness Book of Records."
In return, Abhishek commented: "Oh ya, Prahlad, I'm already in the Guinness Book of World Records and a very proud son. I hope you give your sons an opportunity to say the same someday."
In February 2009, Abhishek broke the Guinness' world record for maximum public appearances in 12 hours while promoting Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 'Delhi 6'.
Aishwarya's strange connection
Aishwarya Rai, who once again teams up with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in 'Guzaarish', says they share a strange connection. The beautiful actress also says that the sensitive film helped the whole team reconnect with the goodness inside them.
"We are so strangely connected that we can communicate so much in silence. You can't bring down the experience of working with Sanjay in one word, sentence or a paragraph. Sanjay can't be contained in a word. We all say he is a genius, multi-faceted, but actually he is a real artiste. He sings, he breaks into dance, he loves music and he is very intense," Aishwarya said.
'Guzaarish' being her third film with Bhansali after 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' (1999) and 'Devdas'(2002), the actress reveals that she has always felt being an important character in his films and not just the lead heroine.
"In his film, everyone is a character integral to his narrative and it's a pleasure working with him. You always feel that you are in a team. I experienced that in 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', I experienced that in 'Devdas', I experienced that in 'Guzaarish'," said Aishwarya, who plays a nurse to actor Hrithik Roshan's character of a paraplegic in "Guzaarish".
The actress refrains from saying that intense roles are harder than playing the typical Bollywood heroine. Citing her last two films with Hrithik - 'Dhoom2' (2006) and 'Jodhaa Akbar' (2008), Aishwarya says her roles were equally intricate to the genres of both the films.
"I have done a lot of intense films, lesser comedy films, and lesser commercially typical heroine films and yet I say all could be equally easier or tough. When you go without make-up, wear a sari, suddenly that role becomes more intense and just because you put make-up, wear dresses and do hair styles the role becomes frivolous...I think it's unfair to compartmentalise creativity like that. How you pose for the camera is also a craft.
"In 'Dhoom' we had to look smashing in every frame, the character's incidental in terms of acting nuances, but everything had to look perfect. That's also a method of the craft.
"In 'Jodhaa Akbar' we were doing a history together, but in every point while we were working with the detailing and authenticity with a director like Ashutosh Gowariker, we brought that in. It always played in our mind that it shouldn't look that today's kids are donning historical costumes. That needed a certain kind of craft," Aishwarya explained.
In 'Guzaarish', Hrithik plays a paraplegic and "yes, I am playing a caretaker nurse, but within that we had to bring in the story that Sanjay really wants to tell and at the same time we have to be honest to our character in terms of expressing our inter-personal relations," Aishwarya said.
Asked if through the journey of making the film, she had subtly evolved as a better human being, she said: "The whole team felt that. Everyone has goodness in him or her. But everyone has experiences which help you connect or reconnect with the goodness in you or the goodness you wish to share. This film has been a very positive film for the whole team because of the intensity of the genre and the sensitivity of its nature."
SRK's prediction for Berlin
Shah Rukh Khan, who is filming his latest action movie Don 2 in Berlin, predicted Friday that the film's success would encourage millions of Indians to visit the German capital.
"You will have problems getting rid of all the Indians again," Khan joked at a press conference.
"We are proud that we have discovered Berlin for Indians," the Bollywood star said, adding the city could supplant Paris and London as favourite European destinations.
The action thriller, which also showcases Indian stars Priyanka Chopra and Boman Irani, features famous Berlin landmarks - including a scene in which Khan appears to dive 125 metres from a building near Berlin's TV tower.
Aishwarya's Tamil love
After doing her fourth Tamil film, 'Endhiran', Aishwarya Rai claims to be far more comfortable working in the southern language. She also feels it is the kind of entertainer most leading actresses do though she hasn't done too many of them.
"I am definitely far more comfortable and more confident working in the language. I won't risk breaking into a conversation because I don't do that on a daily basis," Aishwarya said.
"Probably because I have travelled so much, I am familiar with the language. It's easy on the ear. I understand it, but I respect the language; so I don't want to break into a conversation in it, unless it's a group which is very forgiving about grammatical errors!"
"You learn dialogues, they are constructed sentences already, but I am far more confident today than I was during 'Iruvar' or 'Jeans'," said Aishwarya. She has also done the bilingual 'Raavan'.
Filmmaker S. Shankar made his latest, a sci-fi flick, in two languages - 'Endhiran' in Tamil and 'Robot' in Hindi - and released them simultaneously Oct 1. Made at a whopping budget of Rs.175 crore ($38 million), it's the costliest Indian film ever.
Aishwarya maintains that her character was easy to essay and she has rarely done films in the typical entertainment genre, unlike many leading heroines.
"The character was not difficult to get into the skin of. It's a kind of role that any leading heroine would do. Probably the kind of roles that a lot of leading heroines do in their career, in my case it has been rare.
"I have not done this kind of character very often in a typical entertaining genre, the kind of character a leading heroine would get.
"He (Shankar) has a made an entertaining film. He has taken entertainment to the next level and has introduced something technically much ahead of what we have seen in recent times. So for me to go on set, it was more exciting to see the film come together. In terms of my contribution, I was just happy to work in this film," said Aishwarya.
This was her second film with Shankar after 'Jeans' in 1998.
Asked what changes she noticed in Shankar as a director, she said: "I think now I know him better. 'Jeans' so early in my career, unlike any newcomers, I was associated with multiple projects at the very first year of my career.
"I was constantly experiencing a different set ambience and a different film I was working in. So, that time we were discovering each other. For me films were new, the technical aspect of films was new and I was working in Tamil. From then till today, we know each other much better."
Sanjay and Manyata's twins arrive
Sanjay Dutt's wife Manyata delivered twins - a boy and a girl - early today (October 21). We hear that it was a premature delivery and that Sanjay was out of town when the babies were born but is rushing back home.
"Manyata gave birth to twins between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. through caesarean section. She is absolutely fine," a source from Breach Candy Hospital, where the babies were born, said.
Meanwhile, the wishes started pouring in from Bollywood.
Ameesha Patel, who is a close friend of both Sanjay and Manyata, wrote, "At the hospital. Manyata just delivered. One boy one girl. Congrats to Sanju and maana. Sooo happy for them."
Shilpa Shetty posted, "Congratulations Sanjay and Manyata on ur twins. Sooo happy."
Farah Khan Ali also wrote: "Congratulations to Sanjay and Maanyata. They have been blessed with a baby boy & a baby girl. Mashallah. God Bless."
Shilpa wants a fair hearing
Shilpa Shetty, who's distressed after the termination of her IPL team Rajasthan Royals (RR), says she wants a fair and balanced hearing over the matter.
"It's been a very distressing time for us all at RR after all we've put in (passion n time)," Shilpa posted on her Twitter page.
"All we ask is for a fair and balanced hearing on issues raised, given the adverse national and international impact on 'Brand IPL' in the interests of fans and teams."
"Most importantly a transparent process and enquiry..allegation is that our ownership has changed since 2008. Thats Untrue," she said.
"The only change to ownership was the introduction of my husband Raj Kundra, for which we had full BCCI permission and support at the time," she added.
The IPL governing council (GC) terminated the contracts of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab for violating the franchise pact. While Shilpa and her London-based husband Raj Kundra own Rajasthan Royals, actress Preity Zinta has a stake in Kings XI Punjab.
Shilpa had said at the time that she was "too shocked to react" to the termination.
"This is for all those who want my reaction 'Honestly too shocked to react, just disheartened... cause it's more than just a team for us! Still haven't received the termination, will react after. Need to know the basis of this decision.' In London now," Shilpa tweeted at the time.
Shahid may shoot in Pakistan
In exciting news for his Pakistani fans, Shahid Kapoor could be shooting in Pakistan for a Mira Nair film, Aaj TV channel reported today (October 22).
According to the Pakistani channel, noted Indian film director Mira Nair is planning to make a movie based on Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid's second novel 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist'.
The yet-to-be-named film is expected to be shot in Pakistan. But it is not yet clear whether the necessary permissions have been sought for this purpose. The interior ministry and foreign ministry on both sides of the border have to be involved if any such project has to go ahead , the TV channel said quoting unnamed sources.
Shahid Kapoor, the channel reported, has not signed the contract yet but has shown interest in reading the script and is also excited about working with US-based Mira Nair, who has won critical acclaim for her off-beat films. Her 'Salaam Bombay' in 1988 was shortlisted for the Academy Award in the category of best foreign film.
Mohsin, a Harvard-educated law graduate, is based in London and has won acclaim for his incisive and engaging writings. He shot to fame with his first novel 'Moth Smoke' in 2000. 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' was published in 2007 and soon become an instant best-seller.
Earlier, Mahesh Bhatt had also planned to shoot his film 'Mandi' while Shah Rukh-starrer 'Veer Zara' was also supposed to be shot partly in Pakistan but the plans had to be shelved because of administrative hassles.
The story of 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' revolves around a Pakistani man who lets go of his life of fame in America after a failed love affair and the 9/11 terror attack. The novel was translated in more than 25 languages, won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and was also shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
With a dying Pakistani film industry that produces hardly a handful of movies in Urdu, Punjabi and Pushto languages each year, Indian movies are a rage in Pakistan.
The release of Indian movies allowed in Pakistan a couple of years ago after a break of more than 40 years has also helped to bring the general public back to cinema houses.
It's Ameesha for Leander
Ameesha Patel will be playing opposite Leander Paes, no, not a game of tennis – the duo will be seen together in Ashok Kohli’s 'Rajdhani Express', which is the tennis star's Bollywood debut.
Leander took 15 years to say yes to the director. He plays a common man in the movie, and has already enrolled in Anupam Kher’s acting academy to develop those on-screen histronics.
Ameesha, on the other end, is back in the business after a rough break-up with Kanav Puri and already has Rajkumar Santoshi’s 'Power' in hand, apart from 'Rajdhani Express'.
So, do you think Leander could have had a better partner for his opening match or is Ameesha the perfect choice? Let us know what you think!
Who boycotted Saif and Kareena?
We know from personal experience that there are very few B'wood stars who are punctual. Most of them get away with being hours late for events, but not this time for Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor.
It seems that when Bebo and Saif got to an event in Mumbai almost two hours later than they were supposed to, the media boycotted them. So what was the reason for this delay? Apparently, the couple were stuck in traffic. Surprising, considering that the event venue was just about half an hour away from their home. The organisers say that they kept updating the journos about this, but that didn't stop them from walking out anyway.
We hear Saif apologised to everyone, but we think he might have also learnt that you can't keep all the people waiting all the time!
Hrithik confirmed for 'Agneepath' remake
It's official. Karan Johar has finally admitted it is Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra in the 'Agneepath' remake.
Speaking officially for the first time about the casting of the 'Agneepath' remake, Karan Johar coolly and cleverly passes on the buck to his novice director Siddharth Malhotra for Abhishek Bachchan's absence in the remake...a decision that jolted everyone who thought that Abhishek was a natural and inevitable inheritor of the 'Agneepth' role.
Says Karan: "When my father (late Yash Johar) produced 'Agneepath', he left everything to his director Mukul Anand and kept completely away from the project. I'm carrying on the family tradition."
"The casting for the 'Agneepath' remake was decided by the director Siddharth Malhotra. He decided on Hrithik Roshan and Priyanka Chopra. Why Hrithik and not Abhishek? I think Siddharth has his own ideas on how to present the character. I think the protagonist in the new 'Agneepath' would be very different from how he was in the original."
The script for the new 'Agneepath' is also entirely revamped. Priyanka Chopra won't play a nurse, like Madhavi had done in the original. And Mithun Chakraborty's character from the original has been done away with completely.
If there was any tension about Abhishek not even being approached for the remake of "Agneepath", it was wiped away at the HDIL Haute Couture Week where it was crystal-clear that the Bachchans still treated Karan as part of their family.
At Manish Malhotra's fashion show, Abhishek, more baffled than hurt by not even being asked to do the 'Agneepath' remake, walked up and warmly hugged Karan. Later, Karan coaxed the original 'Agneepath' protagonist Amitabh Bachchan to walk the ramp with star of the remake Hrithik Roshan, thereby putting an end to all speculation within the film industry about a strain between the Bachchan parivar and Karan over the 'Agneepath' issue.
Says Karan emotionally: "The Bachchans and my family go back a long way. Our association is not on a film-to-film basis. It doesn't matter how many films we work in or don't work in. For the record I will be doing at least 10 more films with Abhishek in my lifetime. He has already done two films with our banner Dharma Productions. He's doing 'Dostana 2' next year."
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