PCD Jai Ho Remix

January 27th, 2009

The Pussycat Dolls, that vivacious all-girl American pop group that made men swoon and wonder with their raunchy song and video Don't You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me, is apparently under our A R Rahman's musical spell.

The Indian Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee who's got the world standing up and saying Jai Ho to his music in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire, is remixing the award-winning song for a single music video track by the Pussycat Dolls. The original was done by Indian rap-bhangra artiste Sukhwinder Singh. But Rahman, after hooking up with American music producer Jimmy Iovine — has worked with bands like U2, Dire Straits, Bruce Springsteen and Eminem, has done a remix version for the Pussycat Dolls.

The Pussycat Dolls, made up of lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, Melody Thornton, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Kimberly Wyatt and Carmit Bachcr, achieved worldwide success in 2005 with their album PCD and produced hits like Buttons and Stickwitu, the latter which earned the group a Grammy Award nomination. Last year, they released their second studio album Doll Domination, which included the hits When I Grow Up and I Hate This Part. Throughout their rise to fame, the group has been criticised for its overtly sexual image and explicit dance routines, but Rahman has apparently no issues working with them.

According to a source, the website desihits got in touch with Rahman and Iovine for the remix version. The track is being produced by American singer and record maker Palow Da Don who has done albums with Will Smith, Fergie, Rich Boy, Usher, Nelly, G-Unit and Mario. The website's CEO Anjula Acharia Bath, admitted that she had spent time with Rahman on the track which would "be a great dance anthem with an amazing beat and a collaboration of sounds of the East meeting the West". She added, "I was humbled to watch Rahman and Iovine in the studio." Rahman, after the double whammy delivered by the Golden Globes and Oscar nomination, has characteristically gone underground and could not be contacted for comment.

Shah Rukh Khan To Go In For Sholdier Arthroscopy

January 27th, 2009

After his back surgery, a few years back, Bollywood's global superstar Shah Rukh Khan is going in for another surgery, this time for his left sholdier.

As per sources, SRK is back in India after a long shooting schedule of Karan Johar's upcoming 'My Name Is Khan' in Los Angeles US with Kajol. And now King Khan is to go for shoulder arthroscopy for a tear in the supraspinatous muscle in the shoulder.

Here's wishing Shah Rukh Khan a speedy recovery!

Gul Panag in RGV's Rann

January 27th, 2009

Fresh from running in the Mumbai marathon, Gul Panag has been signed up for RGV's new movie, Rann. The film will also star Amitabh Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Paresh Rawal and Manisha Koirala. It's set in the world of electronic media. “I just want to say that my character represents the youth of India," she says, "I play the common voice of the people that represents the attitude of the masses especially in current times. The shooting of the film will start in the next couple of months as Ramu is busy with another project. But I can’t wait for him to direct me!”

Gul has a busy year ahead of her. Her movie releases include Hello Darling with Rajpal Yada, Isha Koppikar and Celina Jaitley; Phir Zindagi and A Rectangular Love Story with Ranvir Shorey and Purab Kohli - as well as Rann which will be released towards the end of the year.

Gul happily performs in both commercial and parallel cinema and refuses to recognise that there is a difference any more. "I guess this entire concept is dated. I just keep myself aloof from such conversations," she explains, "My belief is that every good film is a piece of art while every other film is crap. Take for example Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi; now that's what I call as a work of art because it is a well made film. I think the distinction of art v/s commercial is passé since the days of Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi.

Kat & Ranbir:Never say die

January 27th, 2009

Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif had a tough time on the sets of Rajkumar Santoshi’s Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani, which also stars Salman Khan in a cameo. Trouble started when Ranbir and Katrina found it difficult to perform a few complex dance steps by choreographer Ahmed for the song Follow me.

Both Ranbir and Katrina asked Ahmed to change the steps, but Ahmed stood his ground. Director Santoshi didn’t interfere. A source on the sets said, “While Ranbir was not getting a large part of his steps right, Katrina had trouble with a few steps given to her. Although Ranbir and Katrina put in a lot of effort, they failed to follow the instructions.”

“To be fair, the steps were not at all easy as the song is a fast one,” our source added.Ahmed confirmed the story and said, “I didn’t want to change a single move. Rap songs primarily have close-up shots but this song mostly has long shots.”

Ahmed isn’t the first choreographer to have differences with actors. Fortunately, after practice over three long days, Ranbir and Katrina eventually got their steps right. Ahmed said, “Finally, Ranbir and Katrina came out with flying colours. You will see the results on-screen.

On the lookout for Akki's son!

January 27th, 2009

Don't get yourselves frizzled with your puzzling quotients, because it's all merely about Akshay Kumar's next film. Completing his 'London Dreams', Vipul Shah hopes on for his next project titled 'Action Replay' with his favorite star Akki on lead role. There are rumors going round in Bollywood that the title maybe rechristened as 'Fast Forward' and looks like Arjun Rampal and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's names too will feature on title cards.

Well, according to the sources a young lad donning the character of Akki's son will have a prominent role to perform. Sources suggest that Vipul has been constantly auditioning various youngsters and the film is being with comedy in mind.

The grapevine has it that Akshay Kumar is co-producing this film under his banner of Hari Om Productions. Shooting would hit the floors at ND Studios, Karjat, somewhere between mid-June 2009.

Nevertheless, Ask Vipul about this and he says "There's no such project we are working on".Of course! The filmmaker wants to keep things veiled till the film starts rolling.

Come on Vipul… we are eagerly waiting for one more hit from your combo with Akki.

Better days ahead, Rahul?

January 27th, 2009

Model-turned-actor Rahul Dev is in high spirits these days, what with no less than six of his movies lined up for release this year!

Rahul, who has been in Delhi lately, told us, “The year 2008 was extremely wonderful professionally but tragic personally. This year, I am looking forward to the release of a lot of my films. I have Freeze with Neil Nitin Mukesh and Bipasha Basu and a crazy comedy, Run Bhola Run, among others.”

And what about his debut in an animation film? “Oh, yes! I am playing the negative character opposite the great Rajnikanth in the mega animation movie being directed by his daughter Saundarya,” said he.

Preity Zinta: The New Messiah of Indian Cricket

January 26th, 2009

Riding high on the IPL success, Preity Zinta now decides to take cricket to grassroots level.

The reigning Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has always been more than a pretty face with a dimpled smile. Known for her real-life bravery and philanthropism, the lady now wants to do something for that will especially please the cricket community. Preity Zinta, the owner of the Kings XI Punjab team of the Indian Premier League (IPL) wants to nourish talent for her team and the nation at large starting at the grassroots level. "My aim is to promote cricket at the grassroots level and to nurture new talent. I also want everyone involved to have fun," Preity said.

She plans to hold a cricket seminar and a Twenty20 tournament in Chandigarh and Mohali which will see teams from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir taking part. The tournament will be organized in conjunction with the state cricket associations and the Punjab Cricket Association in particular. The matches would be played in a league format among five teams - two from Punjab and one each from the other three states. A total of 11 matches will be played in the tournament.

Preity Zinta also made lot of news as she was seen cheering and huddling with her teammates. To this Zinta retorted pertly that she was only enjoying the game in true spirit. The rumor mills however fed on the alleged Zinta-Yuvraj Singh connection for quite some months.

Meanwhile, as the IPL second season draws in, the cricket scene is abuzz with developments. The auction for the second edition will take place on 6th February in Goa where all teams, including Punjab XI Kings will vie for the crème de la crème of the international cricket. Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff are in the maximum demand. Also sought are South African batsman Jean-Paul Duminy and England batsman Owais Shah. Since the cap on maximum number of overseas player has been increased to 10, all teams are interested in bringing the best talent in their side.