Ash gets ready for new film with hubby

January 17th, 2009

Aishwarya Rai is one of the busiest actresses in Bollywood today. She has nearly half a dozen films in production and one of them happens to be director Shankar’s magnum opus Robo with Rajnikanth in the lead.

Aishwarya’s other films include Ravan to be directed by Mani Rathnam, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film with Hrithik Roshan in the lead and Vipul Shah’s new film starring Akshay Kumar in the lead role.

Aishwarya Rai has now been roped in by Excel Entertainments for their new film. Abhishek Bachchan will be the hero. The film will be a stylish thriller and it will shot entirely overseas in places like Greece, Istanbul, London and Thailand.

For Vijay fans only

January 17th, 2009

Alternating between fights and dance numbers, is weaved in a story of a son’s vendetta, against the men who had killed his father, an army major, and falsely branded him a traitor.

A remake of the Hindi film Soldier, Prabhudeva while almost faithfully following the major incidents of the earlier version, has made slight changes, and tailored it to suit Vijay’s image. So, Vijay gets to do all that he had done in his earlier films.

Including those cute little comic expressions and antics, that should go well with his fans. The songs are peppy and catchy in their picturisation. It has a sleeker, glossier style than the earlier version, with Ravi Varman’s camera contributing to the stylised look.

Vijay’s is a dual role. That of Pugazh, the youth who plans an elaborate trap to get at his father’s killers. And of pugazh’s father Major Saravanan, who had twenty years earlier been killed by his colleagues when he had caught them smuggling out army weapons. The difference between the duo is probably the length of their moustache.

Anyway, it being a Vijay-flick, it’s unreasonable to expect more variations! As for Nayantara, who plays his lady love, oblivious of his real motive in wooing her, consistency seems to be her hallmark. For, the actress sports the same look, that she had done in her recent films.

Playing the baddies, JD, Shaan, and Raku, are Prakashraj, Adithya and Devaraj respectively. There is a bit of a play on a disc that could have incriminated JD. And which Pugazh uses to create misunderstanding among them. There is just that much that a comic actor can do to raise laughs. Poor Vadivelu goes around for the most part in a weird hair-do, being mistaken for an ape, and looking quite lost, as he tries desperately to raise some laughs.

Villu is a typical Vijay-flick, and strictly for his fans.

'I'm a successful actor'

January 17th, 2009

One would have expected Sanjay Kapoor to be somewhat reserved, perhaps even standoffish. It's probably something to do with his roles – the shy guy in Sirf Tum or the obsessive husband of Esha Deol in Koi Mere Dil Se Poochhe.

About five minutes into a telephonic conversation though reveals a side of him you cannot help but smile at. His words reveal a certain naiveté.

"I'm a successful actor," he says with a conviction that doesn't make you want to contradict him.

Sanjay who will make a comeback of sorts as an actor with Luck By Chance, is currently busy with his home production, significantly called It's My Life.

Edited excerpts from a conversation:

It's been a while since we've seen you on screen…

It was a conscious decision. I am currently producing a film called It's My Life starring Harman Baweja, Nana Patekar and Ganelia. I plan to release it this summer.

So what made you take up Luck By Chance then?

My close friends believe that I have a good sense of humour. And Zoya was quite keen on casting me in the film. I guess things just fell in place. I am also working in a film being produced by Tips and another one called Kircket, which is a satire on the business of sports.

How do you look at your career considering most of your films didn't fare too well at the box office?

Success is relative. Not everyone can become a Shahrukh Khan. And you certainly cannot always gauge it by the box office collections. I know there may be 10 actors ahead of me. But I am also aware that there are possibly a million others behind me too. So it's how you look at the glass – half full or half empty!

So you consider yourself to be a successful actor?

Yes, I think I am a successful actor. There would be many who would want to be in my shoes right now. There is always room for improvement.

'Maska' hits jackpot

January 17th, 2009

Maska' has opened to a terrific response all over Andhra Pradesh. The Ram starrer, directed by B.Gopal has collected a share of Rs 2.5 crore in the opening day itself.

It seems, the film is on the way to repeat the B.O. success of Ram Gopal duo’s 'Ready', released on last Sankrati. 'Maska' has the energetic young star dancing and fighting at his best. The leading ladies of the movie, Sheela and Hansika Motwani, sizzle in song sequences.

The film, in the absence of strong competition, will go the distance, say industry watchers. The film has been released with 275 prints all over Andhra Pradesh.

My work is my life: Bipasha

January 18th, 2009

Back in Srinagar to shoot for 'Lamhaa', Bipasha Basu says that she’s not going to risk her life for a film. This is what the dusky beauty saysabout the issue.

“Too much was made out of the whole thing (when Bips left the schedule in Srinagar earlier). Lamhaa is a difficult film. There was bound to be ups and downs. The producer and director knew why I left. A certain amount of security was promised. The first seven days were absolute chaos – nothing was organised and there was a lack of security,” she said.

“Yes, my work is my life. But then, I’ve a life beyond work. I’m not going to risk my life unnecessarily for any film. Who comes to hold your hand when you’re in pain? Let’s be optimistic,” she added.

She said, “This time, hopefully, we’ll shoot without any trouble. Let’s be sensible about it. Lamhaa is a sensible film and it would be difficult for audiences to follow (the language and behaviour of the local Kashmiri girls, which she’d planned to learn earlier). At the end of the day, we’re making a commercial film.”

“I love working with Rahul Dholakia (the director of Lamhaa ). He’s fun and funny. We’ve a strange equation. He looked at me at the start and asked if I am a method actor. I liked that. It showed the director had enough respect in me to first find out what kind of an actress I am,” she added.

Kat grooves for the King!

January 18th, 2009

Looks like the King of Bollywood can’t do without hisQueen.

We are talking about Akshay Kumar and his lucky mascot Katrina Kaif. After giving a string of hits, the jodi will be seen together once again. Katrina has agreed to shoot for a special number for the Akshay-starrer Blue .

The song will be shot on a whopping Rs 6 crore budget and in Mumbai soon. According to a unit member, “Katrina has agreed to do the song only for Akshay’s sake. She genuinely did not have the dates to accommodate another film. But Akshay considers Katrina to be lucky and the two get along very well. So, the actress agreed.”

We hear Katrina has been rehearsing for the song and will have to do double shifts to complete it. But she doesn’t mind it. And, looks like Akshay could do with a little luck after his dismal opening with CCTC last week.

Akki’s award goes to Aamir

January 18th, 2009

Akshay refused to accept apopular award, suggested it be given to Aamir.

After all the drama and exchange of annoyance that took place on stage of an award ceremony recently, it was Akshay Kumar, who saved the show with his kindheartedness. The actor took many by surprise when he refused to accept ‘The Most Popular Actor’ award saying that not him, but Aamir Khan deserved the award for his work in Ghajini.

Our sources say, “Akshay Kumar saw Ghajini in New York when he was there for the premiere of Chandni Chowk to China and was floored by Aamir’s performance and effort. On his return to India from London, Akshay saw Singh Is Kinng in the flight and thought that Aamir’s effort was far more commendable.

Receiving the award Akshay said, “I feel humble that I have won the award for ‘The Most Popular Actor’. I have waited for this award since a long time. However, I recently saw Ghajini and thought that Aamir deserves this award more. I know that Aamir does not accept awards, but I want him to accept this as a symbol of love that people have for him. I want him to enjoy the award as much as I would have done.”

When contacted Akshay Kumar said, “I did something that I genuinely felt. I really do not wish to talk about it.”