Minissha Lamba replaces pregnant Tara Sharma

February 17th, 2009

Bollywood actress Tara Sharma was supposed to do Rensil D'Silva's untitled project with Saif and Kareena but excited Tara had to opt out due to her pregnancy. Reports of her pregnancy came only after she had signed the project. Her pregnancy proved as a blessing for Minissha Lamba. Now she will enact Tara's role. Tara informed the makers about what she is going through and they just let her go.

A source reveals, "Tara was very excited about working in the Saif-Kareena-Vivek starrer, but on realizing she was pregnant, she opted out. The schedule was to be shot in December in New York but due to technical issues, was postponed to May. Tara is due in July and has been advised not to travel in the last few months of her pregnancy."

Tara confirms, "I'm not doing Rensil's movie. I was really looking forward to it but I am also looking forward to my motherhood. Karan and Rensil were very understanding and were happy for Roopak and me and I hope to work with them in the future."

Though Tara was little upset for letting the offer go by, she at the same time more then happy to conceive. "It is a wonderful feeling and I'm already loving it. Right now, I'm moving around without any trouble. But I guess I'll have to take care and not travel much in the coming months”, Tara said.

Tara got married to Roopak Saluja on November 23, 2007.

Salman Khan’s Veer in trouble

February 17th, 2009

Salman Khan’s might have a big heart but he’s always ends up as a part of controversies.

Now his film ‘Veer’ is in the midst of a controversy but strangely this time around this time it’s with no fault of his. Much like how during the casting of the film, a starlet accused Anil Sharma of harassment.

The buzz is that the Anil Sharma directed film was being shot at the historical Amber Fort in Jaipur but recently had to face a spat of trouble as a complaint was lodged that the film crew was cheating the administration by paying for just the five days, when in reality they were present on the location for almost a month while setting up the set.

Strangely the film was shot down by the district court on grounds that the Amber fort did not fall under their jurisdiction. Then an accident happened on the sets of ‘Veer’ yesterday when a 20 foot long wall collapsed injuring fifteen people.

The Rajasthan High Court has now issued a stay order on the filming of ‘Veer’ in the fort. The Jaipur bench of the court has issued notice to the state government to explain why the norms relating to protected historical monuments were not followed and asked for a reply by March 3.

An initial complaint that was lodged and the stay order came.

The tourism business at the fort was also badly hit as most of the sections in the fort had been sealed off due to the shoot and this proved to be one of the causes too.

Farhan Akhtar Stars Opposite Bipasha Basu

February 17th, 2009

Amol Gupte will finally direct his first film. Amol, who was to direct Taare Zameen Par initially, was unceremoniously ousted by Aamir Khan after ‘creative difference' cropped up between the writer-director and the perfectionist actor-producer.

This time Amol Gupte has cast Farhan Akhtar and Bipasha Basu in lead roles. Ritiesh Deshmukh and Boman Irani will also be seen in this comedy. UTV is said to be interested in funding Amol's project.

Seems like Gupte is one director who is in demand even before his first film.

Delhi-6 to be released simultaneously in 1200 theatres

February 17th, 2009

Mumbai: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor film Delhi-6 will be released simultaneously in 1200 theatres across India. The film is being promoted as a big ticket film at a time when not many film are seeing success at the box office.

The mood in Bollywood like many other sectors is that of despair. A number of projects are being shelved due to want of investors and distributors are also apprehensive putting in loads of money for something that does not give a decent return to them.

In the midst of so many flops, Delhi-6 seems a decent bet for the whole industry as a whole.

Film’s title is inspired from the pin code of Shahjahanabad area of Old Delhi that is known commonly as Walled city. The area is a treasure trove of history and full of monuments. From Fatehpuri mosque to Jama Masjid and Red Fort besides Turkman Gate, Kashmiri Gate all these places surround the place.

The historical market of Shahjahanabad area known commonly as Chandni Chowk is also there just opposite to Fatehpuri mosque.

The story sees Roshan travelling from the USA to India with his ailing grandmother. Little does he know that this quick trip will turn into the longest journey of his life. Delhi-6 is told against the backdrop of the ancient walled city of Delhi.

Farhan Akhtar, Asin get top honours at Max Stardust Awards

February 17th, 2009

Mumbai, Feb 16 (IANS) Director-turned-actor Farhan Akhtar and actress Asin Thottumkal bagged top honours for their performances in “Rock On!” and “Ghajini” respectively at the Max Stardust Awards 2009.

Aamir Khan-starrer “Ghajini” also bagged the hottest film award, while its director A.R. Murugadoss walked away with the hottest new filmmaker trophy at a gala event here Sunday night.

“Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na”, which is produced by Aamir, got three awards - breakthrough performance award male went to Prateik Babbar and Manjari Phadnis bagged it in the female category. Playback singer Benny Dayal received the trophy for his rendition “Pappu can’t dance…”.

Celebrity couple Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were announced the style icon of the year, while octogenarian actor Dev Anand was honoured for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema.

In the offbeat film categories, superstar Amitabh Bachchan bagged Searchlight Award for best actor for “The Last Lear”.

“I am so happy for the makers and the director - Planman (motion pictures) and Rituparno Ghosh for the faith in the film and the courage to make something away from the norm,” Amitabh posted on his blog after returning from the ceremony late Sunday night.

Amitabh says that after receiving the award, he felt pangs of nostalgia, as Feb 15 was the date 40 years back in his career, when he signed his first film “Saat Hindustani”.

“Forty years! Been a while. Struggles and uncertainties, successes and disappointments, accusations and controversies, ill health and months in hospital, all such a vivid kaleidoscope of moments, events, images… simply unbelievable and unimaginable,” wrote Amitabh.

Amrita Rao was adjudged the best female actor for her performance as an illiterate village girl in “Welcome to Sajjanpur”.

“A Wednesday”, a film about terrorism, bagged the best film award and its director Neeraj Pandey was honoured with the best director award.

The complete list of the Max Stardust awards winners:

Superstar of Tomorrow - Male

Farhan Akhtar (”Rock On!”)

Superstar of Tomorrow - Female:

Asin (”Ghajini”)

Hottest New Filmmaker:

A.R. Murugadoss (”Ghajini”)

Hottest New Film:

“Ghajini”

Breakthrough Performance - Male:

Prateik Babbar (”Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na”)

Breakthrough Performance - Female:

Manjari Phadnis (”Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na”)

Standout Performance by a music director:

Dhruv Ghanekar (”Drona”)

Standout Performance by a Lyricist:

Kausar Munir (”Falak tak chal”/”Tashan”)

New Musical Sensation - Male:

Benny Dayal (”Pappu can’t dance saala”/”Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na”)

New Musical Sensation - Female:

Anmol Malik (”Talli”/”Ugly Aur Pagli”)

Exciting New Face:

Shriya Saran (”Mission Istanbul”)

The New Menace:

Nikitin Dheer (”Jodhaa Akbar”)

Editor’s choice award for most promising director:

Abhishek Kapoor (”Rock On!”)

Outstanding contribution to Indian cinema:

Dev Anand

Pride of the industry:

Feroz Khan

Special award to Anil Kapoor:

For being the first mainstream Indian actor to take India to Hollywood and winning global recognition

STARDUST SEARCHLIGHT AWARDS WINNERS:

Best Actor

Amitabh Bachchan (”The Last Lear”)

Best Actress

Amrita Rao (”Welcome To Sajjanpur”)

Best Film

“A Wednesday” (Anjum Rizvi)

Best Director

Neeraj Pandey (”A Wednesday”)

READER’S CHOICE AWARDS

Star of the year - Male

Hrithik Roshan (”Jodhaa Akbar”)

Star of the year - Female

Priyanka Chopra (”Fashion”)

Dream Director

Ashutosh Gowariker (”Jodhaa Akbar”)

Best Film

“Singh Is Kinng” (Akshay Kumar and Vipul Shah)

Best actor in a supporting role

Tusshar Kapoor (”Golmaal Returns”)

Best Actress in a supporting role

Kangana Ranaut (”Fashion”)

Best Actor in a negative role

Anil Kapoor (”Tashan”)

Style Icon of the year - Male

Saif Ali Khan

Style Icon of the year - Female

Kareena Kapoor

Celina alleges rude behaviour in Delhi

February 17th, 2009

Celina Jaitley says she had a harrowing experience with the airport authorities in New Delhi when she was going through the security check for her morning flight to Mumbai.

In the city for a special Valentine event , Celina went through body frisking and her belongings being scanned. However, she was shocked after realising that her expensive state of art iPod and Blackberry were scratched while quite a few other things in her bag were broken.

"I agree that authorities there are doing their duty and we too are completely cooperating with the security measures. It is for our own benefit and I understand that we should comply with them. However, who gives them the right to mishandle things belonging to others? It was heartbreaking to see my stuff in a bad shape. Both my iPod as well as Blackberry have lost their sheen due to callous attitude of men who were doing the scan," Celina said.

Worse, the cops who were apparently responsible for the damage, were found smiling even as Celina was complaining against them.

"These guys don't know how to behave with women. I went up to the officer in charge and all he could say was 'Sorry'? Also, they told me in no uncertain terms that they couldn't repair what was broken. Moreover, the guys who did it were grinning in front of him. What a shame! Someone ought to teach these cops how to behave with women", she said.

It wasn't just the material loss that angered Celina. During the same time, she also saw an old female passenger being pushed around. When she approached the officer in charge, all she got from him was a casual 'sorry'.

Celina is thinking of approaching higher authorities and apprise them about what transpired with her at the airport.

"I was not only angry with them for breaking my stuff but for their misbehaviour with other women. They are there to protect us and not to humiliate, insult and manhandle us, especially women. They are misusing the power of uniform everywhere now-a-days. At the end of the day we are paying passengers and they can't break our things, insult us and indulge in indecent behaviour," she said.

Though there wasn't any major showdown at the airport post Celina's outburst, women around her were certainly appreciative about her courage to voice her displeasure.

"True, the women there were thanking me and one of them even said that I did what they couldn't have possibly done in fear. Well, nice to hear this as a compliment, but my request to all womenfolk out there is - 'Fight for yourself and raise your voice in events like this'. Till the time we don't come out in open and let the authorities know that they are there to help us and not harass us, such shameful things would continue to happen."

February 17th, 2009

Mumbai: Bollywood stars Bipasha Basu and Neil Nitin Mukesh visited the sets of reality show Indian Idol on Valentine's Day for the promotion of their upcoming flick 'Aa Dekhe Zara'.

'In 'Aa Dekhe Zara' I play a photographer who doesn't know how he will live the next day," says actor Neil Nitin Mukesh.

However, Bipasha set the stage on fire with her sizzling performance on the song from the film 'Gazab Bhayo Rama'.

For these participants, Valentine's Day was well spent on the sets and for the star cast too that hogged all the limelight to promote their upcoming films. It was a clear win scene for everyone on the sets.

Kangana debuts in Tollywood

February 17th, 2009

Kangana Ranaut is riding high on the success of Fashion in which she played the role of a supermodel. Although Kangana played second fiddle to heroine Priyanka Chopra, her performance (as the supermodel who loses everything and meets a pathetic end) brought many positive reactions from critics. The curly-haired beauty, who was earlier for for her skinny figure, has gained some weight for the recently released Raaz - The Mystery Continues and looks hotter than ever.

Kangana made her debut in Tamil through Dham Dhoom and is now entering Telugu films through Puri Jagannath's next film featuring Prabhas. (Bujjigadu, released in 2007 was the last film by Puri Jagannath-Prabhas.) The film is produced by Aditya Ram under the banner of the newly-launched Aditya Movies.

Kangana, who couldn’t achieve success as a model, made her debut in Hindi through Gangster which received mixed responses. Kangana’s performance was appreciated and she acted in two more films in 2006, Who Lamhe and Shakalaka Boom Boom. Then came the successful Life in a Metro in 2007 followed by Fashion in 2008. Kangana is a well-known name in Bollywood now and let’s hope that she will weave her magic in Tollywood too.

Priyanka Chopra and Aman Verma Cheated

February 17th, 2009

Priyanka Chopra and Aman Verma had dreams of setting up office in Kalpana Plaza in Mumbai. But their dreams were shattered when after four years of payment they still did not receive possession.

The building is still under construction and the builder has disappeared. The builder, none other than film producer N Kumar, producer of Vaastav (1999), refuses to take calls or meet his clients.

Those who had bought space in the building were promised possession by December 2005. It's 2009 and there is no sign of the money or the space.

Looks like Piggy chops is going to have to fight hard for this one.

"They have thrown me out and I'm jobless:" Shahrukh

February 17th, 2009

Shahrukh Khan is no longer the brand ambassador of Pepsi. Shahrukh when asked with regards to the same sarcastically stated, "I am no longer a part of their campaign. They have thrown me out and I am jobless now."

Just days back we had reported about Aamir Khan renewing his Coca Cola contract for a whopping Rs.10 crore deal. SRK's contract with Pepsi had got over in 2008 and he was looking forward to a renewed contract with a much higher price as well.

Sources revealed, "The new Youngistaan campaign focuses completely on targeting the younger generation and Shahrukh doesn't seem to fit in that. Ranbir Kapoor, who has already been on the Pepsi brigade shall be spearheading this upcoming campaign. The company however is still in negotiations for working out a deal for Khan's IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders for the upcoming season but it appears unlikely that he will go in for it."

Pepsi had earlier dropped their cricket star ambassadors Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Saurav Ganguly. They had very recently shot ads with new entrant Ishant Sharma along with Dhoni and Sehwag.

Neetu Chandra hotter than Lara Dutta

February 17th, 2009

Lara Dutta is a beautiful and hot heroine. She is a big name in Bollywood. She has come in for some high praise for her role in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Billu that hit the screens the other day.

Actress Neetu Chandra in comparison is a much junior actor and is still trying to make a mark. Neetu Chandra and Lara Dutta appeared in the film Sathyameva Jayathe. Neetu played a cop in the film.

While Lara Dutta appeared in an item song, Neetu appeared in an imaginary song where she dances and seduces Rajashekar.

The item song of Lara Dutta was pale and dull in comparison to the hot number of Neetu. In fact, Neetu sizzled like a top item girl in the song and displayed her assets liberally wearing skimpy outfits.

In comparison, Lara Dutta’s effort in the item song was a complete washout.

Perumal Movie Review

February 17th, 2009

Director Vincent Selvah and Sundar C have combined to render a racy and an action-packed entertainer with ‘Perumal’. The movie on drug mafia begins on a brisk note, which takes twists and turns only to end on a predictable fare with nothing much to rejoice for film-buffs. It is a thriller which had the potential to become an engrossing flick. Unfortunately, the screenplay and the sequence of events belies the expectations.

Vincent Selvah, who had worked with the likes of Vijay before, has taken a commercial route, lacing elements that would entertain masses in the right mix. You have Namitha oozing glamour and Vivek with his oneliners evoking laughter.

Sundar C's movie set in rural themes (be it director or actor) never fails to strike a chord with the audience. It had an earthy feel that was entertaining. However, ‘Perumal’ seems to be a conscious attempt by Sundar C to try establish himself as a macho-man in Kollywood. He plays a good Samaritan, who fights for the cause of women in distress. He is there literally fighting out a gang of baddies.

Namitha serves the purpose for which she is cast in the movie. She plays a cat stealer, who runs across Sundar C. She in her usual skimpy costumes provides a 'glam show' on screen. Meenakshi plays a young woman in distress. She looks fresh and her character is neatly etched.

Vivek's comedy is entertaining in patches. He is rusty to begin with but gathers pace and momentum as he progresses. It is a typical Kota Sreenivasa Rao in the movie. As a baddie, he moans and groans on screen.

The movie begins in a hospital, where a mafia is involved in adulterating drugs. Unfortunately, a junior doctor (Meenakshi) manages to stumble upon their anti-social act. To safeguard themselves, the gang sets out to wipe out the junior doctor.

She meets Perumal (Sundar C), a petty thief who does the job of recovering loan for an agency. He eventually vows to protect the junior doctor from her distress by putting an end to the gang and their atrocities.

The movie begins on a promising note. But the scenes and narration of events are cliched. Technically, it could have been made more richer too. As usual Srikanth Deva has come up with some racy number and the highlight being the remix number ‘Kadhal Vaibhogame’ sung by Arivunidhi, grandson of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

It is a movie sure to appease action-buffs. Had Vinecent Selvah concentrated more on screenplay and ensured that more suspense elements are attached, this Perumal would have blessed his devotees ardently. Missing the bus this time is Sundar C.

Perumal Movie Review

February 17th, 2009

Director Vincent Selvah and Sundar C have combined to render a racy and an action-packed entertainer with ‘Perumal’. The movie on drug mafia begins on a brisk note, which takes twists and turns only to end on a predictable fare with nothing much to rejoice for film-buffs. It is a thriller which had the potential to become an engrossing flick. Unfortunately, the screenplay and the sequence of events belies the expectations.

Vincent Selvah, who had worked with the likes of Vijay before, has taken a commercial route, lacing elements that would entertain masses in the right mix. You have Namitha oozing glamour and Vivek with his oneliners evoking laughter.

Sundar C's movie set in rural themes (be it director or actor) never fails to strike a chord with the audience. It had an earthy feel that was entertaining. However, ‘Perumal’ seems to be a conscious attempt by Sundar C to try establish himself as a macho-man in Kollywood. He plays a good Samaritan, who fights for the cause of women in distress. He is there literally fighting out a gang of baddies.

Namitha serves the purpose for which she is cast in the movie. She plays a cat stealer, who runs across Sundar C. She in her usual skimpy costumes provides a 'glam show' on screen. Meenakshi plays a young woman in distress. She looks fresh and her character is neatly etched.

Vivek's comedy is entertaining in patches. He is rusty to begin with but gathers pace and momentum as he progresses. It is a typical Kota Sreenivasa Rao in the movie. As a baddie, he moans and groans on screen.

The movie begins in a hospital, where a mafia is involved in adulterating drugs. Unfortunately, a junior doctor (Meenakshi) manages to stumble upon their anti-social act. To safeguard themselves, the gang sets out to wipe out the junior doctor.

She meets Perumal (Sundar C), a petty thief who does the job of recovering loan for an agency. He eventually vows to protect the junior doctor from her distress by putting an end to the gang and their atrocities.

The movie begins on a promising note. But the scenes and narration of events are cliched. Technically, it could have been made more richer too. As usual Srikanth Deva has come up with some racy number and the highlight being the remix number ‘Kadhal Vaibhogame’ sung by Arivunidhi, grandson of Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

It is a movie sure to appease action-buffs. Had Vinecent Selvah concentrated more on screenplay and ensured that more suspense elements are attached, this Perumal would have blessed his devotees ardently. Missing the bus this time is Sundar C.