Trisha touches the One Crore mark

January 22nd, 2009

Now Trisha has joined the elite club of those actresses receiving Rs. 1 crore per movie.

Trisha has signed a project in Telugu to play as the lady love of Gopichand for Rs. 1 crore.

Sometimes ago Nayantara and Anushka had made big news with their fee of Rs one crore for their projects in Tamil and Telugu.

Interestingly, Sathyaraj plays Gopichand's dad and Trisha's father-in-law in this movie.

In Tamil Trisha still gets around around Rs 70 lakhs, according to sources.

Bollywood Box Office Report January 9 - 16

January 22nd, 2009

The big release of the previous Friday, Nikhil Advani's Mithun Chakraborty, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Gordon Liu and Ranvir Shorey starrer, CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA, failed to embark on the flying start that it was expected to. Released at around 103 cinemas of Bombay-Thane by Warner Bros. Pictures (I) Pvt. Ltd., CC2C had a fair opening to show. The film has taken an excellent opening in some circuits like Delhi-U.P., East Pun­jab and C.I. but its start in some of the other circuits has been from average to fair. Trade predicts that considering its heavy cost, CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA will entail losses to its makers (who are also its worldwide distributors) because it has absolutely no strength to sustain. In the Overseas, the film has performed decently in the US grossing $685,798 (4-days), but is quite ordinary in the UK with a weekend gross of just $404,404.

The performance of the first releases of 2009, namely KAASH... MERE HOTE, BAD LUCK GOVIND and the English film THE PRESIDENT IS COMING is nothing to write home about. While the first two films, KAASH... MERE HOTE, and BAD LUCK GOVIND, barely managed to get to 10-15 lakhs a piece from India, THE PRESIDENT IS COMING went on to collect 25 lakhs from Bombay, 1.10 lakhs from Pune, 6.40 lakhs from Delhi city, 1.65 lakhs from Noida and 2 lakhs from Gurgaon. Needless to add that all the three January 9 releases have failed badly, with THE PRESIDENT IS COMING faring somewhat better, netting around 60 lakhs from India..

Meanwhile the Murugadoss directed Aamir Khan starrer GHAJINI continues its dream run. The film is still doing very well all over collecting 2.10 crores from Bombay, 52 lakhs from Ahmedabad, 2.25 lakhs from Nadiad, 24.35 lakhs from Baroda, 3 lakhs from Himmatnagar, 1.65 lakhs from Valsad, 16.75 lakhs from Rajkot, 5.25 lakhs from Jamnagar, 3 lakhs from Bhavnagar, 2.75 lakhs from Gandhidham, 53.75 lakhs from Pune, 5.75 lakhs from Kohlapur, 3.65 lakhs from Solapur, 2.75 lakhs from Sangli, 9 lakhs from Nasik, 13.65 lakhs from Goa, 1.25 crores from Delhi city, 14.10 lakhs from Noida, 21.45 lakhs from Ghaziabad, 13.75 lakhs from Kanpur, 23.45 lakhs from Lucknow, 9.15 lakhs from Agra, 10.35 lakhs from Varanasi, 3.25 lakhs from Allahabad, 4.50 lakhs from Dehradun, 7 lakhs from Meerut, 4.45 lakhs from Moradabad, 2.75 lakhs from Aligarh, 6.50 lakhs from Gorakhpur, 2 lakhs from Muzaffarnagar, 3 lakhs from Amritsar, 3.45 lakhs from Chandigarh, 20 lakhs from Gurgaon, 7 lakhs from Faridabad, 1.30 lakhs from Panipat, 26.50 lakhs from Calcutta, 2.75 lakhs from Guwahati, 21 lakhs from Nagpur, 3 lakhs from Amravati, 2 lakhs from Akola, 10.15 lakhs from Raipur, 2.25 lakhs from Bhilai, 1.50 lakhs from Wardha, 3 lakhs from Chandrapur, 11.75 lakhs from Indore, 2.25 lakhs from Sehore, 1.50 lakhs from Ujjain, 31.50 lakhs from Jaipur, 3.65 lakhs from Jodhpur, 5 lakhs from Ajmer, 2.20 lakhs from Bikaner, 2.10 lakhs from Kota, 41.50 lakhs from Hyderabad, 3.30 lakhs from Aurangabad, 1.05 lakhs from Nanded, 5.15 lakhs from Mangalore, 1.15 lakhs from Devangere and 1.75 lakhs from Coimbatore. Adding another 14 crores, GHAJINI has so far netted an astonishing 105-106 crores in just three weeks from India. The Aamir Khan, Asin and Jiya Khan starrer is now a blockbuster hit in India. In the Overseas, GHAJINI has already become the biggest hit of Aamir Khan's career, grossing $2,444,668 from the US and $1,051,809 from UK.

Our last entry of the week is yet again Aditya Chopra's Shah Rukh Khan starrer RAB NE BANA DI JODI, which has another very steady week. The film collected 40 lakhs from Bombay, 17 lakhs from Ahmedabad, 1.50 lakhs from Himmatnagar, 5.15 lakhs from Rajkot, 1.50 lakhs from Jamnagar, 1.65 lakhs from Pune, 1.60 lakhs from Solapur, 1.25 lakhs from Nasik, 29.50 lakhs from Delhi city, 4.10 lakhs from Noida, 3.15 lakhs from Ghaziabad, 2.15 lakhs from Kanpur, 5.50 lakhs from Lucknow, 3.15 lakhs from Agra, 1 lakh from Allahabad, 2 lakhs from Aligarh, 1.15 lakhs from Gorakhpur, 4.75 lakhs from Gurgaon, 2 lakhs from Faridabad, 1 lakh from Calcutta, 1.15 lakhs from Guwahati, 5.75 lakhs from Nagpur, 1.75 lakhs from Jabalpur, 1.35 lakhs from Amravati, 1.25 lakhs from Akola and Raipur, 4.15 lakhs from Indore, 1.25 lakhs from Bhopal, 13.65 lakhs from Jaipur, 27.60 lakhs from Hyderabad, 2.20 lakhs from Aurangabad and 1.15 lakhs from Mangalore. With another 2.90 crores during its latest run, RAB NE BANA DI JODI has so far netted a very impressive 83-85 crores in five weeks from India. The film is now the highest ever grosser for Yash Raj Films. Needless to add that the SRK, Anushka and Vinay starrer has now touched the all time blockbuster status, given its ROI (Return on Investment). RAB NE BANA DI JODI is a blockbuster hit in the Overseas, like most SRK starrers, with a gross of Rs. 40 crores. Just for records, in the US RNBDJ has grossed $2,078,956 (till January 15) while UK has a gross of $2,189,817 to show.

Simran In The Second Innings

January 22nd, 2009

Most Popular Simran is on her second innings and unlike her past glory, she has not been able to make her mark.

Sources says that Simran is miffed with her roles as a senior person like the mother’s bit in ‘Vaaranam Aaarayam’ and then as an elder sister in a upcoming film.

Reports says that now, she has put in a strong message to all her directors that seniority roles will not be her choice anymore.

Preity Zinta in Fashion

January 21st, 2009

A bubbly Preity Zinta launched the three-day Gitanjali Luxury Style Fashion Festival last night alongside Neil Nitin Mukesh and Rituparna Sengupta. Preity was upbeat about India’s rapidly-growing fashion industry – now the world’s third biggest – despite the recession. "I wish I had time to see more designs," she said, "India is the land of gold, so I expect to see some good designs even in times of recession, go for gold."

Rumour has it that the king of romance, Yash Chopra, is hoping to take the helm again and has penned a romance that charts the ups and downs of two people deeply in love as they move through life into middle age. Yash is said to have picked out Preity and Aamir Khan as his stars. Preity is apparently keen but Aamir is said to need some more convincing.

Everyone knows that Preity has a smart head on her shoulders and has been pretty successful in handling her own business affairs. Now there are signs that she may be moving up a league as she will be attending the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Frames Conference in February which will bring together leading business and industrial figures from India and the west. Yash Chopra, Karan Johar, Bipasha Basu and Shakhar Kapur will also be there. Key potential partners include Ben Silverman of NBC Universal and Craig Mundie of Microsoft.

Raaz 2 not connected with first one: director

January 21st, 2009

Jaipur: Raaz-The Mystery Continues does not have any connection with the previous Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea-starrer movie of the same name, says director Mohit Suri while promoting the film here today.

"I just want to clear the doubt that the film is not in continuity with the previous Raaz . The only common thing is that both the movies are based on supernatural theme," said Suri, who is presently promoting the film here along with actor Imran Hashmi.

Raaz-The Mystery Continues is set to be released this Friday.

"...though the name is similar with the previous one but Raaz was the only perfect title for my film," he said.

Claiming that the film was the most expensive horror movie in the Bollywood till date, Suri said "it challenges beliefs about the paranormal phenomena".

Talking about his role in the film, Imran said that he always dreamt of such kind of role and with the making of this film his dream was fulfilled.

Imran also said that he had no comparison with Sharukh, Salman and Ritik as every actor has his own identity.

‘I’m the female Akshay Kumar’

January 21st, 2009

Deepika Padukone unveils the secret of her Chinese look in 'Chandni Chowk To China', but is most excited about working with the Midas-touched actor.

Were you apprehensive when producer Rohan Sippy told you that your role in Chandni Chowk To China (CCTC ) was action-oriented?

Frankly no, I said yes immediately after the narration. After all the king of action, Akshay Kumar, was my co-star. But I realised how tough it was to perform stunts and perform action scenes, only when I started training for my part with an action director from Hong Kong.


What was the training?

I trained for almost six months for eight hours a day. I even injured my ankle thrice while shooting for the film. It was tough but interesting as it was the first time I was doing action and that too with Akshay Kumar.


What is the final result like?

I think I have done a good job. I’d like to believe that I’m the next female Akshay Kumar.


Did Akshay give you any tips for action scenes?

Of course, the most noteworthy was that an actor should never be tense while doing action scenes. To look stunning and have an impact, one should loosen one’s muscles as action scenes require the grace of a skilled dancer. With every film one learns something and I have learnt a lot while working in CCTC.


The disparity between your Indian and Chinese looks in CCTC is remarkable?

That’s because both the looks have been conceived by different persons. Jaimal, a designer from New York, is working in an Indian film for the first time. He conceptualised my action and the Indian look in the film which is very glamorous.Malika Bhatt designed my Chinese look which has me looking very petite and oriental, with poker-straight hair.


There are a lot of expectations from you today. Do you feel the pressure?Not at all. I think that if you enjoy your work, everything else follows.

Percept to release Akshay Kumar starrer Tasveer on 3 April

January 21st, 2009

Akshay Kumar's Chandni Chowk to China has been severely panned by the critics but the movie has gone on to collect Rs 330 million (Rs 33 crores) in India and RS 120 million (Rs 12 crores) from the overseas in its opening weekend. Most have started writing the actor's epitaph as they feel that he now no longer can claim the numero uno position.

However, post the debacle Akshay is back to the studios shooting for Nagesh Kukunoor's Tasveer. Shooting at Mehboob Studios in suburban Mumbai, the producer of the film and Percept Picture Company joint managing director Shailendra Singh feels that there is much ado over nothing. Singh said, "Akshay's position is still strong. My film will not be affected. Tasveer is a psychological thriller and is of a different genre. I am very confident of my product."

Keeping in mind that Akshay has two big releases, Kambakkth Ishq in May and De Dhana Dhan during Eid, Percept will be releasing Tasveer on 3 April.

This patchwork of Tasveer will wrap up the shooting for the film. According to sources, this was very much in the planning, thus quelling rumours that Akshay wanted some portions re-shot. The movie has been directed by Nagesh Kukunoor.