Latest Gossips From The Cinema World
Latest Gossips From The Cinema World

That Deepika Padukone is a stunner, is a well known fact. But what about her being  the most searched celeb on the web? She certainly is, reckons Yahoo! India, which has honoured famous celebs, premium brands and organisations that created a buzz on cyber space last year.  Not just Deepika, but Tata Nano, among others has also been awarded for being the rage that it was in 2008. According to Gopal Krishna, vice-president and head of audience, emerging markets, Yahoo!, ” searching the web has changed the way we gather information. To celebrate this all-pervasive Internet behaviour,  we created Yahoo!India Search Buzz  2008.We sifted through the millions of searches performed on Yahoo! India and focused on the people behind the most searched words-movies, celebs, companies, and institutions,, among others.”

On being conferred this award, Deepika says, “I’m surprised and flattered by the audience’s response, and it inspires me to work harder.” And the innovativeness doesn’t end with the award format. ” Instead of calling these people for a typical award ceremony, we went to felicitate them wherever they could be found during their normal day. Possibly, a first of its kind in India,” says Gopal.  So, the high-profile awardees, including Katrina Kaif [most searched celebrity on Yahoo! mobile], director Vipul Shah [ Singh Is Kinng], Sheetal Shdhir [Get Gorgeous],  Sanjay Aggarwal, MD, [ Indian Railwayswebsite], Yuvraj Singh and Prof.Jawahar [VC- Anna University] were tracked to theri workplace or shooting spots to confer the awards. Vipul is also elated with this award and says, ” It’s great to know the enormous interest shown by people towards Singh Is Kinng.”

One of the hottest topics of discussion in the Southern industry , is which actor will take on the role of late Vellupillai Prabhakaran, and which director will get behind the camera to film a biopic on the chief of the exterminated LTTE. Last month, Prakash Raj set the ball rolling at an interactive session organised by the Karnataka Film    Journalist Association in Bangalore. He said that he was offered the role of Prabhakaran by a famous director and was toying with the idea of  doing it.

The actor was quoted saysing, “I’d like to perform the role according to the demands of the script and won’t do any homework or preparation as I want to be very spontaneous.” But once he was back in Chennai, he said he had no desire to play the role of the LTTE chief. Soources close to Malayalam actor, Mohal Lal, say he isn’t averse to doing the role, but he will work only with a dierctor he trusts, like Mani Ratnam or RGV.

The only person who is firm about the commitment to making a film on the LTTE chief is  AMR Ramesh, the Kannada film maker who made critically acclaimed Cyanide. Says Ramesh, ” I’ve been doing research on Prabhakaran and the LTTE. That may take over a year, as the film has to be authentic, for which the extensive research and visits to Sri Lanka are a must.” The director has already found a producer to make the film in English and Tamil.

Ramesh claims that the LTTE political wing’s chief Tamilselvan [who died a few months ago in a SriLanka Aarmy air raid], called him after watching Cyanide and congradulated him on making a brilliant film. He also agreed to arrange a meeting between Ramesh and Prabhakaran to help the former know more about the LTTE chief. ” I can make an objective film on Prabhakaran without making him look like a martyr or a terrorist. Both the LTTE and Karthikeyan, the investigation officer in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, were all praise for Cyanide, as it did not glorify terrorism,” says Ramesh.

As the hype around Hrithik Roshan-Babbara Mori starrer Kites reaches dizzy heights, Kabir Bedi makes a quiet comeback as Kangna Ranaut’s father in the film. But he hasn’t visited Cannes to sell the film to international  buyers. “Only Hrithik and Barbara from the cast have gone there. Its more a sales visit.  I would’ve loved to go, but its something I’d prefer to do on my own steam as is Hrithik’s film,” explains Kabir, who returned to India in November.

Proir to that he was in Italy for a year and a half,  shooting for a televised series. ” When I returned, I wanted to do Bollywood films, and its important now that I do films in India, as I’ve done enough work in Italy. It lets people know that I have comeback and for good. My heart is always in India, and the long periods of staying abroad, and  travelling constantly has got to me,” maintains Kabir. In Kites, he plays the owner of a Las Vegas casino. “He’s a powerful person, flamboyant and almost loud in his choice of clothes. My portion has been entirely in Las Vegas, and Kangna’s my daughter in the film, whom Hrithik falls in love with. I an a very uncool dad and have animosity towards my daughter’s lover,” says Kabir.

But isn’t Hrithik supposed to be in love with Barbara Mori in the film?  “There are many shades of the story, he falls in love with one, and pretends to fall in love with another,” he explains.  As for the couple’s off screen romance that has occupied ample media space, Kabir says, “nobody asked me what the truth is, as co-stars they seemed to have gotten along well, and that’s how it should be.” Kabir’s confident that Kites will make waves. “Kites is a powerful story, very different from the run-of-the-mill Bollywood types,” he says, adding, “Anurag is an extraordinary director and its always a special joy to work with Hrithik ans I have known him since he was a little boy. I have seen him on the sets of Khoon Bhari Maang. I even share screen space with  Barbara, but the interaction is non-verbal.”

He’ll also be seen in a small but pivital role in Blue, and as a part of z gang of rogues who con greedy people in Showman. ” Now, we have some amazing young directors like Anurag in India, who with time, will make some good international projects.What’s lacking here is however, the ability to put together strong stories.  Some real deep thinking should be involved as far as the story is concerned,” maintains Kabir. He himself feels deeply about the volatile situation in Burma, a country he spent past of his childhood. He’s the official ambassador of the Burma Campaign in the UK, and says Burma has his entire support.

Who would have thought that even big boys will fight over silly things like tattoos? With Bollywood stars though, anything is possible. Heard that one of the reasons for friction on the sets of  the Akahsy Kumar-Sanjay Dutt starrer flick Blue, which was shot in the Bahamas, were the tattoos on the leading men’s bodies! Akshay wears his son’s Aarav’s name on his upper back, while Sanjay Dutt has the most envious collection of  four tattoos including a lion on different parts of his body-back, forearm, etc.  According to a unit source, who witnessed the filming of a underwater sequence, Akki apparently saw Sanju’s tattoos and suggested to an assistant director that perhaps Sanju baba should cover his tattoos with make-up, because it wouldn’t go with the character he was playing, and Sanju agreed to the suggestion.

Later, when someone told him that Akki was jealous of his tattoos, whcih is whya he asked for them to be covered, Sanju was apparently disturbed. Akshay denies all this talk and says, “Sanjay and I are very cordial with each other. Where do these  constant rumours od stress between us keep coming from? ” He said that even after watching the promos of Chandini Chowk……, one of the first to congradulate him was Sanjay. At a party for Blue, the two guys posed for the shutter bugs. “When  Sanju visited the sets of De Dana Dan, we hugged in view of all the full unit,” says Akki, adding “please dont’ waste your time by asking me ridiculous questions,” he says. Must say teh assistant director who has been spreading these stories of rivalry between Akshay and Sajnu, must be going BLUE in the face!!!

The nominations for the IFFA awards 2009, were announced and Madhur Bhandarkar was not pleased, though he was being nominated for the Best Director for Fashion. Yet, the film has not found a place in the Best Picture category, while all the other directors were nominated had their films in the best pictures category as well. Fashion had four nominations in all- Best  Lead Actor [female],Best Supporting Actor [female] and Best Story.

Madhur was recently quoted as saying, ” They’ve done this to me before, ” and there were reports he was miffed with the jury’s decision. ” miffed nahi re baba, par lagta hai na Why.  “I’m forced to think about it when people say, ‘ Arre, Madhur got three national awards, but why was he deprived of popular awards? I’m neither hurt nor amused. I’ve been going to the IFFA  since I made Chandini Bar and  I accept the jury’s decision.  But I don’t know what their parameters are,” says Madhur, whose upcoming film Jail, will be promoted at the festival.

Does he think his film needs more research to fit the bill? ” I guess the popular awards need more research,” smiles Madhur, adding, ” Just kidding, but I can’t really say that I get snubbed at these popular awards, because from Chandini Bar to Fashion, all my protagonists have been recognised. Tabu has won at the IFFA and Bipasha Basu also bagged an award at the Global Indian Film Awards [GIFA] for Corporate. when they win, its like the film won.”  Madhur who himself won the award for the Best Story for Chandini Bar, says his film making formula is not to be blamed either.

” My movies have been a combination of realism and fiction and will remain that way, I will not change them for awards. I am content and my audinece is satisfied. I would still say that I don’t make films for awards,” he stresses. What about politics at work? ” I’m not from the film fraternity, so I do not know what is the andar ki baat, neither do I have the time to find out.  No matter what happens to my film or nominations, I will still be a sport and cheer the other directors,” says Madhur, who is keeping his fingers crossed so that Jail doesn’t meet the same fate as his other films. ” My film gets National Awards, I just hope that like all my othre protagonists, Neil also gets the National award for jail, the rest will be a bonus,” he hopes.

His Telugu is so impeccable that you’d feel like calling him Mana Siddharth. The chocolate boy from Kollywood who’s best remembered for his performance in Rang De Basanti, has already carved a niche for himself in Tollywood with Bomarillu. Though his last release Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam, in which he plays  son who unites his parents, did not really set BO on fire, but he’s confident about charting a new course with the upcoming Oye, which he says is a classic romantic flick.

Siddharth seems to be in a mood to get rid of family boy tag that he’s associated with. Probably that’s why in his new film which is a love story, so there  is no room for family bonding, he says. Interestingly, Siddharth has also provided creative inputs to the film’s music. ” it was an exciting experience, ” says the actor. But he has almost given up on his scripting skills after his maiden script Chukallo Chandradu sank without a trace.   “Even now, I have a couple of scripts, but I am not in a mood to make a film out of them right now,” he avers.  The multi-tasker ,loves to share his ideas with his directors.

Is his involvement construed as interference? He points out that the media always rakes up such issues. ” I’ve had no problem with any of my directors so far. We always have a healthy discussion for the betterment of the film,” he explains.  “There are two kinds of actors-some prefer to religiously follow the director, while others get involved  with the project.  I belong to the second category. ” And, maybe the very  the reason he wants to work with debutant directors? But he says, ” not really, I can relate to young ideas and they match my energy levels,” he feels. ” Prabhu Deva remains the best director I have worked with and now, AnandRanga who’s making Oye is a bundle of talent,” he says.

Breaking his rule of doing one film at a time, Siddharth will be doing four films in a row. ” I intend to explore varied genres but I’ll let you into the details later. ” Post Rang De….., Siddharth avoided going on a signing spree in Bollywood. ” I have been exxtra careful abotu my Bollywood films,” he says. Now the dimpled heartthrob sounds excited about his Chandan Arora’s few film Striker. He feesl it is an exciting project for being a realistic sporting film.  For someone who bares his soul when he talks about films, Siddharth clams up when he is quizzed about his love life. For all questions and rumors on him and Soha Ali Khan and their reported tryst with her in Goa, are met with a firm but polite ‘no comments’ as he says he’s uncomfortable discussing his personal life.

Feroz Khan in the swinging seventies, with his flashy  clothes and fast cars, cowboy boots , sunglasses, and side burns, could have given Elvis Presley a complex.Such was the Pathan actor’s flamboyance. He charmed generations of women from the 1960s to, well, almost the late 2000s, starting with films like the intense Aparadh and ending two years ago with the hilarious Welcome. Film makers reported that Feroz was always keen to continue playing the devil-may-care attitude which he portrayed in Dharmatma, Quarbani and later in Jaanbaaz and Yalgaar.

His leading ladies, top Bollywood actress in their time, naturally succumbed to the Killer Khan’s charm. They all said he made them look so beautiful and  sensuous on screen, and they they felt heart broken after hearing  the shocking news of his death.

To say a few words  each of the actresss’ way- Zeenat Aman- His death is deeply saddening. I was his leading lady and that was our primary relationship. He always  kept in touch and was an exceptional man!  He was so much ahead of his time, not just ion terms of style, but also technically. I can never forget that he made me look so good in Quarbani, people talk about it even now, and I will always cherish his memories.

Hema Malini- He was not just an actor, director, but a wonderful man, a fine man and a great style icon of his time. I was already seeing Dharamji, but I must say that he had all the qualities of a girl  to get attracted to him!  He had a flirtatious quality, but that was limited to the sets only.  He may not be alive today, but he will remain for ever in our hearts.

Sridevi- My heart is with Fardheen and his family. I did Jaanbaaz, one of my earliest films with Ferozji. Initially I was very apprehensive because he looked very western, and I was not very well versed with the language or that culture. But he suprirsed me by talking throughout in Tamil. I will always remember him as  a warm, down-to-earth man, who made me look extremely beautiful.

Neeetu Singh- I woke up with the sad news and was deeply disturbed, for it is indeed a great loss to the industry. I did work with Feroz in one of my earlier movies-Chunauti, which did not do well, yet we shared a very good rapport.

Madhuri Dixit- We have lost a great personality and a very good human being. He directed me in Dayavaan, and a very wonderful director, a man ahead of his times. Ferozji was a big-hearted Pathan and I’ll miss him dearly.

She’s the girl of the moment-Genelia D”Souza, who is a super star in Andhra Pradesh-”they actually write scripts for me here,” she says modestly, and has Bollywood backing her every move now. Post Aamir Khan’s home production, Jaane Tuu……. this 20 something actress is inundated with movie offers. Presently shooting in Hyderabad for a Telugu thriller, Genelia is majorly excited about having signed Ken Ghosh’s Yahoo, in which she plays a choreogapher.

” Its my first film with Shahid Kapoor, who is a phenomenal dancer, and I’m nervous as hell at the thought of dancing with him,” she says. The Mumbai girl says she did hear that Jiah Khan was earlier to play her role but adds, “I accepted the role because its challenging for me as an actor also. Also, I share a god rapport with the film corporation who is producing the movie. ” Genelia says the by the end of this year, she will be virtually breathless, because she has Boney Kapoor’s Its My Life, Abbas Mastan’s Life Partners and Hook Ya Krook with John Abharam coming up.

“Fortunately for me, each of my roles are different from one another,” says the actress. While she is eager for a sequel to Jaane Tuu… she is also happy  that film makers in Andhra where she is invariably the protagonist-keep finding her roles where she can push the envelope. ” But for now, I am happy to be in Bollywood,” she beams.

There is no denying that our stars share a special bond with their staff. Tinsel town graffiti is on how our film icons have, time and afain supported their private personnel at any time of trouble. Be it make-up artistes, hair dressers, p[ersonal bodyguards or chauffeurs, after a point of time, the all become an integral part of a star’s family. And it is not without reason-they’re the ones who spend more time with the stars than anyone else.  Sometimes they play multiple roles too-that of confidantes, advisers and even love messengers. Many a time, you have  actors sharing their deepest secrets with them, making the bond between them even more special.

That’s why it isn’t surprising when stars are always so reluctant to change their staff. And when it comes to the crux, during any crisis , the movie idols don’t think twice before standing up in  defence of their loyal staffers, come what may! That’s exactly how Saif Ali Khan reacted following an incident in Philadelphia on the sets of Renzil D’Silva’s  untitled film, produced by Karan Johar.  When Saif’s make-up man was dragged into a physical harassment scandal, the actor rose up to his rescue and played the hero’s role in real life too.  Renzil’s film starring Saif, Kareena and Vivek Oberoi has been generating a lot of buzz of late.  This is one film, which Saif is actually looking foward to and what makes it all the more special is his first on-screen pairing with  Kareena.

This is also a special year for Renzil as he branches out from writing to direction. Also controversies regarding its title, Jihaad, is on in full force.  The film was also supposed to star Tara Sharma, but now Minnisha Lamba will be essaying the part.  For the first time, Kareena and Saif will be locking lips, and this will also be the first of Dharma Productions release after their recently signed world wide distribution deal with UTV Motion Pictures. The last schedule of the film, was held in Philadelphia, where all the action took place.  Like any film shot abroad, this one too had a lot of foreign cast and crew. On long outdoors, particularly outside the country, people within the unit tend to come together, and that is why no one particularly raised an eyebrow when Saif’s make-up man and Man Friday, Lakhan Singh and a girl from the foreign cast began getting overfriendly.

Sources say that things went out of control when the girl  accused Lakhan of taking his friendly overtures to another level, and accused him of inappropriate behaviour. All hell broke loose when she complained to the Swiss company through which she got the job on the film.  As they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. The matter became downright ugly as the entire unit was in a state of panic.  The charge was rather serious  and especially in a country like US, something like this would not be taken lightly.  But Saif had no clue of this as he was busy with Kareena, but he was shocked at the turn of events. He also tried to reason out with the unit, but the girl was bent on pressing charges.

That’s when he lost his cool. The suave actor, believed that his make up man was being made a culprit when the girl played the victim, even though they’d both been doing the mating dance all along.   It was then decided that Lakhan be sent back to India, but Saif was adamant that his make up man, as good as family, was innocent. He firmly argued that both were to be blamed, so if Lakhan was to be removed, so should the girl. Once Saif was back in India, Lakhan Singh resumed his duties and the actor was a content man once again. Now, onewon’t blame  him if the make up man is   even more committed towards Saif than ever before.

Having adapted his own successful play by the same name, debutant director Paritossh Painter visits the concept of poeple living as paying guests in a metropolitan city, through his debut movie Paying Guests. The film promises to be yet another fun filler produced by Subash Ghai’s Mukta Arts. The movie revolves around the lives of four guys played by Sreyas Talpade, Ashish Choudary, Jaaved Jeffery, and Vatsal Sheth, who begin  a house hunt journey that takes  them through  series of comical hurdles to find that one roof that can  tolerat e and shelter their combined problems.

In the search for a new accomodation,  the four friends come across a crazier landlord, who has on condition-he would allow only couples as paying guests and not bachelors.  The story then takes on an interesting turn, when two of the bachelors pretend to be the wives of the other two. This new drama triggers a new series of confusions that builds into the rich complexities of mistaken identity and a climax of comic wizardries. Neha Dupia, Celina Jaitley and Riya Sen, add the glamour quotient to the film, while Johnny Lever plays a pivotal role.

Paritossh reveals how the film happened. ” When I first met Subash Ghai to narrate teh story of Paying Guests, I was a complete new comer, in the sense that it was my maiden narrative as a script writer. Subashji loved the concept, and he asked me to add more characters and eventually we settled for four boys and four girls, and that’s where the Paying Guests started from. Paritossh takes a realistic stance when he admits that the concpet may not be new but th edifference lies in the treatment.

Shreyas and Jaaved paly Karishma and Kareena respectively in the film. ” I play Karishma,” laughs Shreyas,” In fact, I tell people that I am paired opposite Ashish Chowdhary ad Celina.” he believes that the real life Kapoor sisters won’t be upset with th e usage of their names in the movie. These are just two names which people are familiar with, and has no personal connection to anyone as such.  Paritossh reveals  that Shreyas was a little apprehensive about doing the film initially since he was required to dress as a woman for a significant  part of the movie.

During the making of the film, the gags weren’t limited only to the camera. Post her last comic act in the super hit Singh Is Kinng, Neha Dupia is ready for her rollicking ride in Paying Guests. She clearly admits thta the women in the movie have got very little scope and it is the guys who take the film foward. As for Vatsal Sheth, PG is his second attempt at comedy after doing a bit if it in his last film Heroes, which didn’t do well at the box office.  The film is also very special to Vatsal because it fulfilled his dream of wiorking with Johhny Lever.