John, Katrina To Share A Screen

February 16th, 2009

John Abraham and Katrina Kaif

The latest buzz in Bollywood is that actor John Abraham and Katrina Kaif will appear together in a film called Jewel of India. The film will be directed by Hollywood director Rob Cohen, while will be produced by Firoz Nadiadwala. It will also star Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and some Hollywood actors as well. The Hollywood actors which are supposed to be casted in the film include Robert De Niro, Eva Mendes, Al Pacino and Monica Belluci.

The film demands a high budget of Rs 275 crore. One source from the production house revealed, “The film required a lead actor from India and the role has gone to John Abraham. Though John has agreed in principle, the other details are still being worked out.”

“John met Rob at a suburban five star hotel along with Katrina. They had a quiet dinner. Later even, Hrithik Roshan joined them,” added the source.

Jewel of India tells a story of a student who finds some document, which says that the Kohinoor diamond in the tower of London is not real. However, the real diamond lies somewhere in India.

Kartina confirmed the meeting but refused to give more details regarding it. If all things goes well, John and Katrina will seen sharing a screen space. But, what about Sallu? Will he be OK with such casting? Because there is much talked friction between John and him.

Preity Zinta nominated for Canada's Genie Awards

February 16th, 2009

Toronto: Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has been nominated for the Genie Awards for her performance in "Heaven on Earth", directed by Canada-based Indian filmmaker Deepa Mehta.

The actress has been nominated in the Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role category. The nomination was announced by The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (ACCT).

Preity will be vying with Hollywood actresses like Susan Sarandon and Ellen Burstyn who have been nominated for "Emotional Arithmetic" and "The Stone Angel"respectively.

"Heaven on Earth" is about a battered Punjabi housewife in Canada. The film has also been nominated for Best Original Screenplay.

The awards will be announced on April 4 at Ottawa in Canada.

Abhishek, Sonam charm New York

February 16th, 2009



The early script draft of Delhi-6 had Roshan (Abhishek Bachchan) become a victim of a fatal misunderstanding and his death, ironically, stops the Hindus and Muslims in Old Delhi from a killing rampage.

But in the movie, the ending is anything but sad.

Writer-director Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra disclosed at the post-screening discussion following the world premiere of Delhi-6 in New York that while the original ending would have sent out a powerful message, he thought it would be wise to give the film a happy ending.

There is too much of turmoil around, and a happy ending, he felt, was like dressing up a wound and hence very appropriate for our times.



The New York premiere was held on Sunday at the Museum of Modern Arts, and was attended by producer Ronnie Screwvala, Mehra, cowriter and lyricist Prasoon Joshi, Sonam and Abhishek. Mira Nair, whose The Namesake was produced by Screwvala, was a guest and was introduced to the audience by Abhishek.

He also singled out Abhay Deol whose recent film Dev D was also produced by Screwvala's UTV. Composer Adesh Srivatsava, who happened to be New York over the weekend, also attended the event.

The film's composer A R Rahman could not get away from Los Angeles where he was rehearsing two of his Oscar nominated songs from Slumdog Millionaire, which will be staged next week during the 81st Annual Academy Awards ceremony.

Abhishek also said February 15 was an auspicious day. Earlier in the day, he had received a text message from his father Amitabh Bachchan (who makes a fleeting appearance in Delhi-6) recalling the release of his own debut film on the same date 40 years ago.



Abhishek confessed he liked the original ending in Delhi-6 but P S Bharthi -- the film's editor and Mehra's wife -- convinced him, with some help from Rishi Kapoor, that a happy ending was better.

Rishi Kapoor plays another interesting character in the film as a man who has learned a lesson or two from losing his beloved to someone else.

The original concept of Roshan dying amidst the impending communal flare-up would have had a powerful impact but it would not have embodied the healing touch the film offers now, Abhishek said.



The movie has over a dozen hilarious scenes which serve as powerful comments on religious hypocrisy, political corruption, harmful family values, casteism, communal tension and the exploitation of trivial issues for communal gains.

Abhishek himself gets to do many comical scenes, and the moderator at the post premiere discussion held at Museum of Modern Art in New York pointed out that the performance reminded him of some of the best works of Cary Grant, who had a terrific sense of comic timing.

Among the many things Abhishek found pleasing about the film's screenplay was the depiction of young people, especially Roshan, who returns to India, thinking that he will leave behind his grandmother (Waheeda Rehman) who wants to send her dying days in India, and then go back to America.



During the various stages of drafting the script, there was a concern whether it was right 'to litter the narrative' with comical episodes, Abhishek said. The consensus was 'if we made a serious, dramatic film, it would be a preachy film.'

Mehra commended Abhishek's enthusiasm for the film though he had just about six short lines of dialogue before the intermission and his character gets badly beaten up at the end, Abhishek was brave enough to take up the film.

"It (what Abhishek's character undergoes) is the most difficult thing for an actor," Mehra said, adding that in the Hindi movie industry, the leading men get a lot of dialogue, and they win the physical fight.



Mehra recalled how Prasoon Joshi helped him shape a few characters and give the film depth by making the script stronger. Rahman suggested the scene showing the pigeon (in the Maaskali song) sitting on Abhishek's hand, thus providing an unforgettable image.

"This is not a plot-oriented film," Mehra said. "I did not have to go from A to B to C." The leading character in the movie (Roshan) did not have to steal Kohinoor from the Tower of London or do anything as dramatic, he said.

Instead, the film showed Old Delhi as a microcosm of India with its accomplishments, tremendous warmth and warts, too.

Joshi said, answering yet another question from a member of the audience that the film was not about non-resident Indians (like Roshan) going back to India. The leading character was made an NRI because as an outsider, he gets to see a lot of things which other Indians took for granted.

The character of Roshan has a heightened sense of the reality around him. In the final reckoning, it was not important whether Roshan stayed back in India (as he does in the movie) or went back, he said. "What was important is the inner journey his character undergoes," he asserted,

Sonam who spoke briefly before the movie was shown said it was a film made with a heart and sent out the message that love was the biggest healer.

Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan have become shoot-stoppers!

February 16th, 2009

Everyone wants to see the hottest lovebirds in B-Town. Last week, when both were shooting for Rensil D' Silva's untitled debut film (produced by Karan Johar) in Delhi, a huge crowd kept gathering until the administration brought things under control.

Says a unit member, "Last Sunday, when Saif and Kareena started shooting for Rensil's film at India Gate at 7 am, it was reasonably peaceful and empty.

But as word got around (and it being a holiday), a huge strong crowd gathered from the Rajpath right down to India Gate making it almost impossible for Saif and Kareena to shoot.

Not many stars can shoot at Rajpath and India Gate, as it's a crowded place.

Aamir Khan shot there during Rang De Basanti but even he didn't garner this huge a crowd! When Saif and Kareena turned up it was almost as if all of Delhi had turned up!

It was madness with the unit trying to control the crowd. Saif and Kareena couldn't step out as the crowd kept yelling and screaming."

The source adds, "This was Saif and Kareena's first shoot at Rajpath and India Gate and even the crew wasn't expecting a mammoth turnout.

The duo came on the sets at 7 am and gave a couple of shots after which the crowd got wind of what was going on and then shooting became impossible.

Line producer Mariket had to finally jump into the field along with the security guards and request the crowd to remain in control.

After much persuasion, they managed to clear the masses and complete the shoot. Fortunately, the crowd wasn't unruly but very well-behaved."

Saif says, "It's a public place and there are bound to be people. The crowds were very well behaved and treated us with respect.

I love shooting in Delhi as it has great hotels and great food. One can work in the day and relax at night. Delhi is a great place to stay for a short while."

While Kareena adds, "Shooting in Delhi was nice but hectic and crowded with so many people consisting of the fans and paparazzi following us around."

Producer Karan Johar says, "A big crowd had collected at India Gate and Rajpath but eventually, we managed to complete the shoot.

We had the required permits and adequate security who handled the situation extremely well. The shooting was bang in the middle of Rajpath but everything was well managed."

Is Rensil's film called Jehaad?

Karan says, "No. It's untitled as of now."

8x10 Review

February 16th, 2009

The source says, “8x10 is a story of a young man named Jai, played by Akshay Kumar, who has a supernatural power. Jai’s supernatural gift is the ability to go into the past of the deceased by touching objects that used to belong to them. His family and friends find this unbelievable and sometimes, even Jai doubts his abilities but later on he comes to know that it is real.”

More about the characters, the source adds, “Jai’s father Jatin, played by Girish Karnad, feels that his son is wasting his time and not taking enough interest in managing their business empire. This leads to the complete breakdown of their relationship. Jai’s mother is played by Sharmila Tagore. Jai is always supported by his wife Sheela (Ayesha Takia).”

The turning point in the story happens when Jatin is killed in a boating accident. The source says, “Jai goes through this personal tragedy and uses his unique power to solve the mystery of his father’s death. He sees photographs and comes to know that his father’s death was not accidently, he was murdered. That is when he starts investigating.”
8x10 is directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. Other cast members include Javed Jaffery, Girish Karnad, Anant Mahadevan, Benjiman Gilani, Rushad Rana and Utara Pawkar. The film is slated to release by mid 2009.

SRK to undergo surgery today

February 16th, 2009

Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan underwent a successful shoulder surgery today at the Breach Candy Hospital here and will be discharged in the next two days but will take four to six weeks to return to work.
The 43-year-old actor-producer had a tear in the main muscle of his left shoulder while shooting for 'Dulha Mil Gaya' in November last year.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of shoulder specialist Dr Sanjay Desai using arthroscopic method. Under this surgical technique, a tube-like instrument is inserted into a joint to inspect, diagnose and repair tissues.

Dr Desai told reporters that the operation lasted for one and-a-half hours.

"All went well. He is out of anesthesia. The situation is under control and he is doing fine," Dr Desai said.

He said Shah Rukh will be discharged in a day or two. But, he will take another four to six weeks to return to work and four-six months to be completely normal, he said.

However, Shah Rukh, who owns Kolkata Knightriders, will be busy with the IPL second season which begins in April.

Khan was admitted in the hospital today around shortly after rushing back from London where he had gone to promote his latest film 'Billu'.

This is the actor's second surgery. He had undergone a surgery in London in 2003 for a back problem.

Who is Priyanka bonding with?

February 16th, 2009

Priyanka Chopra and Scottish actor Gerard Butler are bonding over lunch, regular phone-calls and SMS.

It’s raining men in Priyanka Chopra's life. After her on-and-off relationship with Harman Baweja, and, rumours of her growing closeness with Shahid Kapur, there are murmurs in the industry that Priyanka is bonding big time with Scottish actor Gerald Butler (of 300 and P.S. I Love You, f a m e ) . Priyanka and Gerard first met at the inauguration of Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai’s latest iconic luxury resort, in November 2008. The two have been in regular touch with other. A friend of Priyanka tells Mumbai Mirror, “Since November, Priyanka and Gerard have kept in touch via phone calls and SMSes.”

According to sources, Priyanka and Gerard had actually hit it off at the party hosted by Shah Rukh Khan in Dubai, soon after the inauguration of the luxury resort. Today, Priyanka and Gerard share a deep bond.

Priyanka’s official spokesperson did not deny the ‘dostana’ between Priyanka and Gerard. She said, “Priyanka and Gerard hit it off really well in Dubai and have maintained their friendship ever since.’

Buzz is that Priyanka and Gerard recently had lunch and coffee together in Chicago where Priyanka was shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker’s What’s Your Rashee? Though Priyanka’s official spokesperson refused to confirm this, a friend of Priyanka tells us that the couple did spend some quality time together. “A couple of Priyanka’s cousins who stay in Chicago accompanied Priyanka and Gerard.”