Salman, Shahrukh, Aamir come together to rescue producers

Mumbai: Indian filmmakers have requested the Bollywood stars to pay for their staff using their own money instead of passing the expense onto the producers. Superstars like Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan have come together to rescue producers from the expense by readily agreeing to their request.

The Film and Television Producers Guild of India decided recently that all actors will have to pay their staff from their own pocket. Till now, producers had to bear the additional expenses of an actor's personal staff which includes, make-up man, driver,hair stylist, personal trainers, etc.

According to producers, these costs added up to anything between Rs 15,000 to approximately Rs 50,000, depending on how famous and popular the actor is.

It has been said that Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan staff expenses per day are usually around Rs 40,000. Mukesh Bhatt told a daily that spot boys and drivers sometimes demand Rs 20,000 per day. The recent government decision to impose a 12.36 percent service tax from the producers also forced them to take this decision.

Reportedly, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Hrithik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor have also agreed to this rule and have signed the papers.

Well, Salman, Shahrukh, Aamir we really appreciate your initiative!

Katrina Kaif acts smart, keeps Ranbir away from Deepika!

Bollywood has a long list of break ups, patch ups and love triangles. One such classic example revolves around the love stories of Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone. Though both couples have split long back, things went on smoothly, when all the four were present at the same time, same day, at the Mehboob Studio premises in Bandra.
While Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone were shooting for their upcoming film Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Katrina Kaif was present there to shoot for an ad film. That wasn't the end of it as Salman Khan's presence was an added enticement to the entire scenario.
But, the rumours say that it was Katrina Kaif, who acted really smart amongst all four. She was spotted being quite friendly with both her rumoured boyfriends, Salman and Ranbir. A leading daily reveals that Kats not only visited Sallu on his sets of Dabangg 2 at the studios, but also later went up to Ranbir to have a lunch with him. Rumours also say that when Deepika saw Ranbir & Kats together having lunch, she stopped herself from interrupting in between. She then retired to her vanity van for lunch.
Well, that was really smart of Kats. Wonder, how Dippy would have reacted after spotting Ranbir and Katrina together.

Salman Khan to get jailed for 3 years?

Mumbai: It's a known fact that actor Salman Khan and legal troubles share a decade old relationship. Though he has been trying hard these days to move on to a better and cleaner path, it looks like people are not ready to forgive him for his past illegal deeds. The 1998 black buck killing case is again haunting the superstar.

The recent report says that the Rajasthan High Court yesterday had revised the charges against Salman Khan and his colleagues in the 14-year-old black buck killing case. Disposing of a state government plea against a sessions court order dropping some of the charges against the accused, the High Court has held that Khan will be charged under Section 51 of Wildlife Act and Section 149 of IPC (Unlawful assembly), said Hastimal Saraswat, counsel for Salman Khan. Section 51 of Wildlife Act carries jail sentence up to three years or fine or both.

Salman was found guilty under the Wildlife Protection Act on charges of killing black buck in 1998. He was found guilty of killing two black bucks, a protected species of antelope. Salman was accompanied by his other co-actors: Saif Ali Khan, Tabbu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre, who are also under section 52 (Attempts to contravene, or abet the contravention of, any of the provisions of this Act) of Wildlife Act and section 149 of IPC.

Cocktail rakes in Rs 20.08 cr at overseas Box Office

Mumbai: Hindi movie Cocktail has continued to keep the bells ringing at the international market. Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer film has done a wonderful collection at the overseas Box Office with its second weekend collection reaching Rs 20.08 crores nett. It has set a new bench mark for the upcoming romantic comedies in the foreign market.
Cocktail has done good business in America, where it was released in the maximum number of theatres, when compared to other foreign countries. The film has collected Rs 96.46 lakhs ($1,72,174) from 96 screens at USA Box Office in the second weekend, thereby taking its ten days total to Rs 5.75 crores ($10,27,121) in the country.
The Homi Adajania directed romantic comedy film has collected Rs 60.87 lakhs (£69,959) from 58 screens at UK Box Office, taking its second weekend total to Rs 4.82 crores (£5,54,697). The film Cocktail has collected Rs 6.50 crores (AED 27,00,000) in the second weekend.
Cocktail has collected Rs 30.94 lakhs (A$53,608) from 16 screens at the Australia Box Office in its second weekend. The movie has grossed Rs 1.73 crores nett (A$3,00,054) in the country. The film has raked in Rs 5.24 lakhs (NZ$11,833) from 7 screens at the New Zealand Box Office with its ten days reaching Rs 28.97 lacs (NZ$65,518).
However, Cocktail had collected Rs 11.26 crores nett at the foreign Box Office in the first weekend. The romantic comedy showed a considerable decline with its collection crossing Rs 1.93 crore nett in its second weekend. When compared to the first weekend, the business of the film has dropped by more than 85%.

Dimple Kapadia regretted her decision of marrying Rajesh Khanna

Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia were the first superstar couple of Bollywood. Rajesh Khanna married Dimple, who was 15 years younger to him, in March 1973. At that time Dimple Kapadia was still shooting for her debut film Bobby. Bobby was a superhit and people loved Dimple Kapadia in the movie. But Rajesh Khanna stopped Dimple from signing more films and told her to stay at home. Dimple was not even seventeen when she gave birth to her first daughter Twinkle Khanna. But Khanna hardly used to spend time with his family. Soon Khanna and Dimple's marriage started falling apart and Dimple Kapadia regretted her decision of marrying Kaka.
Dimple Kapadia once said in an interview to a magazine, "The life and happiness in our house came to an end the day I and Rajesh got married." However, even after living separately from Rajesh Khanna, the couple never thought of divorcing each other. Talking about her divorce Dimple Kapadia had said that she and her husband Rajesh Khanna have decided to leave things as they are, as they both don't want to go for second marriage.
However, in the later years of Rajesh Khanna, Dimple Kapadia did her best to take care of the ailing actor. Reportedly, she even shifted to Rajesh Khanna's residence Ashirwad to keep an eye on his health.
Well, even after so much of ups and downs in their life Dimple and Rajesh were one of the most loved couple of Bollywood

Movie Review of Tuneega Tuneega

Director: M.S.Raju

Cast: Sumanth Ashwin, Rhea Chakraborty, Naga Babu, Prabhu Ganeshan, Shafi, Seetha, Sayaji Shinde, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam and M.S.Narayan

He might have churned out blockbusters as a producer, but filmmaker M.S. Raju fails to strike a chord as a director. He donned the director's hat for the first time in 2008 with Vanna, which was a dud. And once again he fails to charm with Tuneega Tuneega.

Tuneega Tuneega marks the debut of Raju's son Sumanth Ashwini, but it is a big let down, courtesy a badly written script.

The film narrates the story of Karthick and Nidhi, who are the kids of two good friends Ramaswamy and Ravindar. As a child Nidhi cannot tolerate continuous sniping from Karthick as result she develops a hatred towards him. She later moves to the US for further studies.

Even When she comes back, she has the same level of hatred towards Karthick. But slowly love blossoms between the two. They decide to get married until a cunning relative of Ravindar starts creating problems.

He wants to get his son married to Nidhi for usurping the huge property. How Karthick gets his lady love forms the rest of the story line.

Raju presents a youthful love story, but frankly it reminds you of the films made in seventies and eighties.

That is not the only weak point in the film. The characterisation of the lead artists is so sketchy and inconsistent. The film moves at such a slow pace that one has to have a lot of patience to watch the second half.

It is really surprising to see an experienced film personality like Raju crafting out movies with age-old stories, when Telugu filmmakers are trying to move away from cliched patterns and make films likeEega.

Sumanth needs grooming. The script also does not allow him to showcase his talents. He is a good dancer. Rhea fails to create an impression.

Veteran artists Shivaji Prabhu, Nagababu, have performed well. The comedians Dharmavarapu and M.S. Narayana have not been properly used in the film.

The title song is catchy, but it is certainly the picturesque visuals which are the great strength of the film. The dialogues written by Parachuri Brothers lack freshness and have been heard before in many of their own films.

Prabhu Deva to launch Virat Kohli in movies?

Superstars in their respective fields, cricketer Virat Kohli and actor-director Prabhu Deva got along like a house on fire in Bangkok while they were shooting for an ad together. Chances are they might even join hands for a movie.

Kohli, who was initially reluctant to dance, was coaxed by Prabhu Deva to try out some intricate steps for an ad for a shoe brand. The results were so impressive that somewhere down the fun zone the duo established during their two-day shoot, the idea of a movie launch for the star-cricketer came up.

And if a source is to be believed, Kohli is not averse to the idea.

Once Prabhu Deva, who according to Ram Gopal Varma is one of the three most successful Bollywood directors today after Rohit Shetty and Sajid Khan, wraps ups his current commitments, he may plan a launch for Kohli.

Prabhu Deva is currently busy with the launch of Kumar Taurani's son Girish. He is working with him for a remake of his 2005 Telugu hit Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana. The original film featured Siddharth and Trisha Krishnan.

Bi-lingual films makes sense now, says Eega director Rajamouli

Telugu film director S S Rajamouli, who holds an enviable track record as all his films so far have been runaway hits and huge grossers at the box office, feels that creating bi-lingual films now makes sense. 

All the 12 films he has made since he debuted in 2001, were either dubbed or remade into other languages like Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Akshay Kumar's recent Bollywood film Rowdy Rathore is based on Rajamouli's Vikramarkudu, which was released in 2006.

The director's latest flick Eega (house fly), with a fly being the main protagonist, is currently a rage in Andhra Pradesh and will soon be dubbed into Hindi as Makkhi.

"At present, it makes sense to make bi-linguals to have a better market. 'Eega' proved it. We made it both in Telugu and Tamil and we got a very good Tamil market as well. So, if I get universal themes, it makes more sense to make bi-lingual films," Rajamouli told PTI when asked whether he would be focussing only on making Telugu films. 

"It's (Eega) an idea by my father, which we have been discussing when he was a story writer and I was his assistant back in 1990s. Then, it was just a story idea, forget about making a film. Later on, when I became a director and I was making some big budget films, I was also interested in making some small films," he said.

"That's the time when we got this idea. Because I was not too adept at love stories or comical films which are like 'the' special films. So, I thought of making an experimental film. We brought up this idea again and working on it since then," he added. 




Eega, the story of a young man, who takes revenge after being born as a fly, will be made in Hindi. The movie has copious special visual effects done by Hyderabad-based special effects company 'Makuta', which was founded by Pete Draper, Adel Adili and RC Kamalakannan. The idea of making the dubbed Hindi version in 3D is also being considered. According to producer D Suresh Babu,Eega will be released in Hindi by the end of August or early September if it is not made in 3D format.

Beginning with Student No.1 in 2001, which stars junior NTR in the lead role, Rajamouli has delivered several blockbusters including Magadheera with Chiranjeevi's son Ram Charan as the hero. 

The director states that there is no secret to his success except working with total commitment as no one can say for sure which film will be a hit. 

"There is no secret or anything as such. No one can be sure of success. If I am sure a particular film will succeed, I will become a billionaire. I just need to buy the successful film and invest on it. No one knows which film succeeds. All that we can do is put our 100 per cent into the film, from the time we get up to the time we sleep. We can try for success but the result is not in our hands," he said. 

When asked if he planned to make a foray into Bollywood like other southern directors such as Ram Gopal Varma and Mani Ratnam, Rajamouli said he had no such immediate plans. About his future projects, he said a film with young Telugu hero Prabhas is in the pipeline. 

The duo's 2005 film Chatrapati was a big success.

Birthday boy Nara Rohit is all set for new movie Madrasi

Woman I love is the woman I lust after, says Ranbir Kapoor

Ranbir Kapoor's love life always makes for a hot topic. With his boyish good looks, the actor has lots of girls falling in love and in lust, with him.

But at a recent event in Mumbai, when he was asked if the girls he lusts after are different from the ones he loves, the actor decided to be politically correct. After all, love and lust are not exactly inseparable, are they?

"There are all kinds of women in the world," he said. "But in my case, the woman I love is the woman I lust after," he added.

Ranbir Kapoor's reply sent the girls in the audience in a tizzy.

And we're guessing the women he's loved till now will be very happy with his statement as well. Ranbir Kapoor certainly knows the art of keeping women happy.

Audience is ready to watch adult comedies, says Tusshar Kapoor

Actor Tusshar Kapoor, who is looking forward to the release of Kya Super Kool Hai Hum, feels that even though the first part of the film was ahead of times, there is no hesitation among audience now to watch an adult comedy. 

Kya Super Kool Hain Hum, an adult comedy is a sequel to the 2005-hit Kya Kool Hain Hum.

"I think it (first part of the film) was ahead of time. But now, audiences are ready for this kind of movie. Though at that time the film became a hit, it could have done better. Had the family audience come, the film would have done much better. Society has changed since then," said Tusshar. 

"Families have changed. They want to have fun. This kind of genre has become cool and there is no hesitation among audience to watch this movie...our audience has increased for this film," he said. 

Tusshar is happy that no other film came out in the same genre of "naughty comedy". 

"We are lucky as no other film of same kind came in between, though we have had movies likeGolmaal, Housefull, Dhamaal, but that comedy is different. This is an adult comedy and no film came in this genre," he said. 




But the 35-year-old actor is full praises for Aamir Khan's home production film' Delhi Belly, which was also an adult comedy but of a different type. 

"People did not have guts to make this kind of a film, but hats off to Aamir Khan as he made Delhi Belly. It is an adult comedy in its own way. It's a good film in spite of being bold and raunchy," Tusshar said. 

"It shows that a film will work if it is good. All these (adult comedy and bold) things does not matter much. If characters and script is good, people will go for the movie," he added. 

Releasing on July 27, the film directed by Sachin Yardi, features Tusshar, Riteish Deshmukh, Neha Sharma and Sarah Jane Dias. 

Taylor Swift, Michael Cera to act in English version of Bunty Aur Babli?

Remember Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji's crackling chemistry in the con film Bunty Aur Babli? The 2005 movie is now being remade in English, and producer Uday Chopra plans to make it more comical than the original.

The cast of the English version is yet to be locked, but Uday, who handles Yash Raj Films' (YRF) Hollywood wing YRF Entertainment, wants to rope in Michael Cera and Taylor Swift to essay the lead parts.

"I'm remaking Bunty Aur Babli in English. It's in the scripting stage and the casting is not done. I'm looking at Michael Cera and Tailor Swift. I haven't approached them as yet, but I want to make the film a little more quirky and comic than the Indian one," Uday said of the hitherto untitled film.

The actor-turned-producer says he wants to concentrate on making more comedies in Hollywood.

"It (Hollywood) is a different industry. Hollywood dramas don't do well. Sci-fi and comedies do well. This is one of the reasons why I don't want to make dramas right now," he added.

Asked if he plans to take remake other Hindi films or take Indian actors for his projects, Uday said: "That's not the idea. The idea is to think of ourselves as an American company. Writers, directors everyone will be from there. But if a story requires an Indian character or if A.R. Rahman agrees to do my music, I will like it," he said.

English Vinglish to premiere at Toronto film festival

Sridevi's big screen comeback English Vinglish will make its world premiere at the 37th Toronto international film festival along with Mira Nair's Reluctant Fundamentalist and Deepa Mehta'sMidnight's Children.

Directed by debutante Gauri Shinde, the film marks Sridevi's return to the screen after fifteen-year. It is a funny and touching story about an Indian woman who struggles to learn the English to help provide for her family.

Produced by R Balki and also starring French actor Mehdi Nebbou, Adil Hussain and Priya Anand, the film releases on September 21.

TIIF will have some 10 films from Mumbai as part of its 'City-to-City' program. The Maximum City is in focus this year.

Filmmaker Deepa Mehta is returning to the festival with her ambitious big screen adaptation of Salman Rushdie's Booker-prize-winning novel Midnight's Children.

"It's official now: the film of Midnight's Children will be at the Toronto International Film festival, special Gala Screening. So delighted!," Rushdie tweeted.

The author, who has closely worked with Mehta to bring the book on the big screen, said he is proud of the film. "To answer many of you: I wrote the Midnight's Children screenplay, worked very closely with director Deepa Mehta, and am proud of the film," he wrote.

The film stars Satya Bhabha, Shahana Goswami, Rajat Kapoor, Seema Biswas, Shriya Saran, Siddharth , Ronit Roy, Rahul Bose, Anita Majumdar, Zaib Shaikh and Anupam Kher.

Nair's Reluctant Fundamentalist, the opening film at Venice international film festival, will also have its gala screening at TIFF.

Based on Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid's novel of the same name, Reluctant Fundamentaliststars Kate Hudson, Kiefer Sutherland, Liev Schreiber, Nelsan Ellis, Riz Ahmed.

TIFF announced the first list of films which will include 17 Gala screenings, 45 in Special Presentations programme and 38 world premieres.

The festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2012.

First trailer of Kareena Kapoor's Heroine to be released this evening

Heroine fever is gripping Bollywood. Just a day after the first poster featuring Kareena Kapoor in a provocative pose was released, the first trailer of the film will be released as well.

Director Madhur Bhandarkar announced the launch of the first theatrical promo on Twitter:

Madhur Bhandarkar@mbhandarkar268

Excited & anxious to take the 1st step towards presenting my film#Heroine to my audience. Jst in few hrs.

25 Jul 12

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The promo, out at 7:30 pm, is expected to be as stunning as the two posters featuring the sultry Bebo.

Producers UTV have also announced the trailer on Twitter:

UTV Motion Pictures@utvfilms

We know the wait for the #Heroine trailer is unbearable. Here's an exclusive pic to ease the pain :-) twitpic.com/abjoc9

25 Jul 12

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And tweeted this picture of Kareena from the song Halkat Jawani to keep fans happy:



There were reports recently that we will not get to see Kareena Kapoor smoking in the trailer as the the Central Board of Film Certification objected to the smoking scenes. They also confirmed the censoring of some love-making scenes and expletives in the trailer.

We can't wait to get the first glimpse.