Posts Tagged ‘december 4’
Ranbir-Deepika break ice?
Posted on: December 22, 2009
A few days ago, we had carried a story about how Ranbir Kapoor wanted to get back with his ex-girlfriend Deepika Padukone (Mumbai Mirror, December 4, Ranbir wants Deepika back). The opportunity came knocking on Saturday night when the duo was invited to a party hosted by jewellery designer Maheep Kapoor and fashion designer Nandita Mahtani. Although it wasn’t Ranbir who made the first move, those present at the party were successful in getting the estranged couple to talk.
A source present at the party says, “The party which was held after a fashion show, was a star-studded, high-profile bash. Shah Rukh Khan was present with his usual gang of friends, Karan Johar, Arjun Rampal with wife Mehr, costume designer Shabina Khan and Ritesh Deshmukh. Sonam Kapoor (who was once reportedly dating Ranbir) was also present at the party and so was Nandita’s boyfriend Dino Morea. Deepika stuck to her Houseful co-star Ritesh’s side throughout, while Ranbir was seen socialising with everyone. Though aware of the presence of each other, both Ranbir and Deepika avoided eye contact. The cold vibes was sensed by one and all.”
It was evident that the estranged lovebirds were deliberately avoiding each other. The source adds, “To cut the cold vibes, Karan and Shabina took the initiative to get the two talking. Everyone joined hands and kept pushing Ranbir and Deepika close to each other. Eventually their effort and persuasion paid off and the ice began to thaw. It happened when the duo was forced to sit at the same table, next to each other. They began by gradually exchanging smiles and later, a few words. It was just a matter of time till the couple began having a full blown conversation.”
There was a sigh of relief and happiness all around.
We messaged Ranbir and Deepika to confirm the story but both remained unavailable for comment.
 |
|
| Deepika Padukone | Ranbir Kapoor |
I will be producing 5 films next year; my next will be a comedy-Madhur Bhandarkar
Posted on: December 4, 2009
By Subhash K. Jha, December 4, 2009 – 11:47 IST
So what if L. K. Advani saw Jail on Saturday 28 November and told Bhandarkar to make more of such meaningful films?
Madhur is done with films on grim social issues, but only for now. His next directorial venture will be a laugh riot. “Yes, I’m starting a comedy, though not slapstick like De Dana Dan. It would be more like the comedies of Hrishikesh Mukherjee.”
Come January 2010, Madhur Bhandarkar will be producing 5 films for his banner Bhandarkar Films. “Two of these,” informs Bhandarkar, “will be directed by me. Three others will be produced by me and directed by newcomers who I think deserve a break.”
Madhur will direct two films one after the other in the first few months of 2010.
While one of the films that Madhur will direct will be a comedy, the other will be hard-hitting women’s subject. “I’m not giving up my forte. I’m identified with a certain kind of cinema and I’ll continue to make that kind of cinema. Some people said Jail was too grim. But I’m satisfied with the end-product and it won’t lose money for anyone. But first I need to spread some laughter.”
Apparently, Madhur’s comedy will feature his favourite actress Tabu doing an image change.
At the Saturday screening in Delhi, Madhur Bhandarkar was present when L.K Advani, his daughter Pratibha Advani and the former Information & Broadcasting Minister Ravi Prasad Shankar saw the film.
“They all loved the film. Pratibha Advani said Jail was my best work to date. After the screening I asked Advaniji to call up Manoj Bajpai and Neil Nitin Mukesh since he liked their performances so much.”
Madhur also met Ben Kingsley the 40th International Indian Festival of India in Goa this week. Kingsley expressed a keenness to watch Madhur’s films. Madhur has arranged for them on DVD.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
SRK turns 75!
Posted on: December 4, 2009
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, December 4, 2009 – 14:06 IST 
After Aamir, it’s now the turn for King Khan to don the grey wig for a brand. Shahrukh Khan this time has done something unprecedented and innovative, by portraying the role of a 75-year-old grandfather, romancing Tanvi Azmi as his wife.
This is for the latest Dishtv campaign that gives viewers a chance to see Shahrukh Khan in an all new avatar. In the second TVC, Shahrukh Khan is paired with Tisca Chopra where he brings home an orphan girl child who settles into the family only after an experience with Dishtv.
Some of the best creative personalities in the country have come together to create this campaign. The creative idea was conceptualized by Ad industry veteran and celebrated lyricist, Prasoon Joshi and the McCann World Group team. The commercials have been directed by the much acclaimed Anurag Basu, (director of films like Life in a Metro, Gangster and the upcoming film Kites). Eminent fashion photographer Tarun Khiwal is the man behind the still photo campaign.
The television commercials are part of the brand’s new brand positioning of ‘Ghar Aayi Zindagi‘ and convey everyday beautiful emotions, through real life situations, of families rejoicing together with their loved ones. In line with the core message of the campaign, Shahrukh Khan will bring alive warm family moments that tug at the heartstrings. Indeed, SRK is the best man for this job.
By Taran Adarsh, December 4, 2009 – 08:41 IST
When Himesh Reshammiya stars in a film, it’s got to be a musical. Musical it is, but RADIO also attempts to explore the man-woman relationship in a metropolis.
RADIO rests on a thin storyline. Superficially, it’s about a couple that goes separate ways, then man meets another woman, later ex-wife develops a soft corner, much later man is torn between the two women. Haven’t we witnessed similar themes in the past? Oh yes, aplenty!
| BY BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM |
Only thing, director Ishan Trivedi places the story in a radio station and that gives the film a different texture. Also, the film is divided in various chapters – some interesting, some mundane, some yawn-inducing and boring.
The USP of RADIO is, without doubt, Himesh’s musical score. The film has some melodious tracks, but how one wishes the super music was complimented by an equally superior script.
Vivan [Himesh Reshammiya] is a successful RJ with a popular radio channel. His wife Pooja [Sonal Sehgal] seeks divorce and the reason cited is lack of compatibility between the two.
Enter Shanaya [Shenaz Treasurywala], who is like a ray of sunshine in Vivan’s insipid life. He discusses Shanaya with Pooja, but being a woman, she can see his love for Shanaya. In the end, however, Vivan realises that he may have a soft spot for Pooja, but he wants to spend his life with Shanaya.
RADIO rests on a fragile plot, with the writing holding your interest at places, but blowing away the hard work in its immediate chapter. That’s how erratic RADIO is.
Confusion kya hain? The ex-wife can’t decide if she wants her man back or not. It was she who wanted a divorce, not the man, but she can’t let go off her man for some inexplicable reason. Even the other woman, all of a sudden, wants the man she loves so dearly to go back to his ex-wife. That just doesn’t work!
Besides, the narrative is laced with too many songs. Whether or not the situation warrants them, you have one track ready to unspool every 10 odd minutes.
On the brighter side, RADIO has some tender moments too. Note the sequence towards the end, when Himesh pours his heart out to Shenaz. It’s a beautiful sequence and the writer in particular needs to be complimented for taking a mature look at relationships.
Directorially, Ishan Trivedi cannot do much given the fact that he’s handicapped by a sketchy screenplay, which, ironically, is also penned by him. Resultantly, the film grips in bits and spurts. Himesh’s music is top notch. ‘Mann Ka Radio’ is already a craze and its picturisation needs to be lauded. The other tracks – ‘Teri Meri Dosti’, ‘Zindagi Jaise Ek Radio’ and ‘Rafa Dafa’ – are lilting compositions as well. Attar Singh Saini’s cinematography is perfect.
Himesh has grown as an actor and that reflects in certain difficult moments of the film. Shenaz is natural. In fact, she gets it right this time. Sonal acts well, but her character is not well defined. Paresh Rawal’s track looks forced. Zakir Hussain is strictly okay. Rajesh Khattar is good.
On the whole, RADIO just doesn’t work… It’s complicated!
By Indu Mirani (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 04, 2009)
Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year star Ranbir Kapoor, director Shimit Amin and writer Jaideep Sahni get together to answer a rapid fire round related to sales and marketing.
Before Indu Mirani and Namrata Bhawnani test their sales IQ, they emphatically state that Ranbir’s role of a Sardar is not an ‘item’ in the film and it is not because playing a Sardar is the in thing. Ranbir adds that though the year has been exceptionally kind to him, this is the one film he is really proud of.
 |
| l-r: Jaideep Sahni, Ranbir Kapoor and Shimit Amin (pic: rana chakraborty) |
Name one person who has the best assets
• Ranbir- Yash Chopra and Adi Chopra have YRF which is the best asset. It’s a great endeavour, great body of work.
• Jaideep- I can’t really judge.
• Shimit- Actually I am pretty much clueless about these things.
One person who has the best marketing skills
• Ranbir- Shah Rukh Khan
• Jaideep- ummmm… yeah pretty much, Shah Rukh Khan
• Shimit- Shah Rukh Khan
One person in the industry who needs marketing tips
• Ranbir- Shimit (laughs)
• Jaideep- Shimit
• Shimit- Yeah, me I guess. (All three laugh)
One of the best marketed films in recent times?
• Ranbir- Rocket Singh- Salesman of the year
• Jaideep- I think Ghajini and Om Shanti Om
• Shimit- Paranormal
One of the worst marketed films in recent times?
• Ranbir- Can I also say Rocket Singh – Salesman of the year (laughs)
• Jaideep- Yeah, Rocket Singh – Salesman of the year
• Shimit- Rocket Singh – Salesman of the year (laughs)
A sales tip to convince the ladies
• Ranbir- I don’t think you need sales tips to make it work with the ladies. It’s basically about howmuch of your honesty comes through when you sell the product. You woo a woman with honesty and truth.
• Jaideep- More empathy, less smartness.
• Shimit- No clue.
One line to describe your USP
• Ranbir- I really really love the movies and I love the fact that I am a part of the industry.
• Jaideep- I guess I want to learn.
• Shimit- Love working with people who are more talented than I am.
One partnership that sells really well
• Ranbir- Shimit and Jaideep
• Jaideep- Salim Javed
• Shimit- Salim Javed works really well for me.
One defective piece in the industry
• Ranbir- I don’t mean to belittle anyone but I think it’s sometimes the stories in a film. Sometimes they take the audience for granted. When I go to a film, I expect something. When that is missing it is a big defect.
• Jaideep- I think investment in writing and writers. That’s coming from the same thing that Ranbir pointed out.
• Shimit- Yeah, I think writing.
One person who deserves to be returned to the shelf
• Ranbir- That’s really mean. No one should be returned to the shelf especially in the field of art. Age has nothing to do with it. It depends upon the timing and the kind of work one is doing. Depends upon the kind of opportunities one gets. So I don’t think anyone is defective. It’s the work they did that was defective but they as artistes are not defective.
• Jaideep- I agree. I think artistes are not defective. Actually if you trace back opportunities they get or circumstances they are in that is what is defective. No artiste deserves to be put on the shelf.
• Shimit- I think this whole system of rating actors is a little inhumane. People have their times and we all know that.
The glittering premiere of Paa!
Posted on: December 4, 2009
The premiere of the Bachchans’ home production Paa was a glittering affair with the who’s who of Bollywood attending the event last night
The preparations for the grand premiere of Paa last night had started much earlier with Amitabh Bachchan visiting the venue at Wadala Imax at 1 pm yesterday to check out all the arrangements. Though the main event was scheduled to begin at 8.30 pm, a casually dressed Amitabh arrived at the venue much earlier at 6 pm and the first thing he did was to double check the arrangements.
He changed into natty formals shortly before the guests started arriving.
The Bachchans had divided their responsibilities to ensure that their guests are well-looked after. While Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai were standing at the entrance, Jaya Bachchan was looking after all the guests near the screens on the first floor.
 |
 |
|
| Spec-ulation Why were Ritesh Deshmukh with Abhishek Bachchan wearing identical frames? |
The first wives club Abhishek Bachchan with reel wife, Vidya Balan and his better half, Aishwarya Rai |
|
 |
 |
|
| You me aur hum Ajay and Kajol Devgan |
Twinkle Twinkle big star The colour co-ordinated couple Akshay Kumar and Twinkle |
|
Anil Ambani, his wife Tina and their son were among the first guests to arrive. Some of the power couples who attended the premiere were Shah Rukh Khan and wife Gauri, Ajay Devgan and wife Kajol, Hrithik and wife Sussanne, and Akshay Kumar and wife Twinkle. SRK sent Gauri and the kids upstairs while he stayed back to chat with the Bachchans for a while. SRK was seen hugging Akshay Kumar. Arshad Warsi and wife Maria were there too.
Ritesh Deshmukh, Dino Morea and Rakeysh Mehra and his wife followed shortly and the director seemed happy to catch up with his Rang De Basanti team Atul Kulkarni and Kunal Kapoor. Sharman Joshi made a late entry.
Ranbir Kapoor and Ritesh were engrossed in a conversation outside screen 3. Aishwarya came upstairs and was seen talking to Ashutosh Gowariker, his wife Sunita and Srishti Behl. Aamir Khan came with his 3 Idiots director Rajkumar Hirani and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Aamir left half-an-hour after the screening began.
Abhishek was seen chatting with Govinda, who came in quite late.
Filmmakers David Dhawan, Satish Kaushik and Madhur Bhandarkar were there. Filmmakers Abbas Mustan came all the way from Lonavla.
The screening was held in all the four screens at Imax but it was screen 3, which had the maximum number of stars. The screening of the film started around 10 pm.
Kangna Ranaut hung around outside for a while, posing for pictures even though the film had started. She soon went inside the theatre.
 |
 |
|
| Dil de Dia Even Auro, who doesn’t like girls, can’t resist the pretty Dia Mirza |
Pretty woman The single life seems to be agreeing with the glowing Kangna Ranaut |
|
 |
|
| Daddy’s girl Aishwarya with her father Krishnaraj Rai |
Two-gether Hrithik and Sussanne Roshan |
 |
|
 |
|
| Star trek Suhana seems to be taking after her mother Gauri Khan already. Shah Rukh Khan, Balki, Amitabh Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Gauri and Suhana |
 |
|
| 3 Idiots meets Paa Rajkumar Hirani, Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and Vidhu Vinod Chopra |
| (pics: nilesh wairkar) |
After the late veteran actor Amrish Puri immortalised the character of Mogambo in Mr India, it is now Salman Khan’s turn to play the baddie in the sequel to the film. It’s a first for Salman, who will for the first time play an out-and-out villain on the lines of the eccentric and jazzily dressed Mogambo. The film will be directed by Anees Bazmee and marks the comeback of Sridevi.
Boney Kapoor, producer of the film, confirmed the news and said, “Yes, Salman will play a negative role in the sequel, just like Amrish Puri did in Mr India.” He refused to divulge any further details and said, “The script is still being finalised.”
 |
|
| (L) Salman Khan (R) Amrish Puri as Mogambo in Mr India |
Giving us more details, a source said, “Salman was very keen to do the film as he is a fan of Mr India. During the making of Wanted, Salman expressed his desire to be a part of the sequel and Boney assured him that he would plan a role for him. While scripting the film, Boney told director Anees to work out an interesting character for Salman and the director came up with the idea of making Salman play the villain. A character as unforgettable as Mogambo is being written for Salman. He will also have a different look in the film for which a test will be done early next year as the film is scheduled to go on the floors in February-March.”
Commenting on Salman’s reaction to playing a baddie, the source said, “Salman loved the idea and is quite open-minded about playing a negative role. Salman will be playing a terrorist who wants to rule over India and the story will be about how Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and their gang try to free the country with the help of another invention made by Anil Kapoor.”
Ranbir wants Deepika back?
Posted on: December 4, 2009
Love stories rarely ever tread a smooth path and the Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone relationship is no exception. The couple, who have been together for nearly two years, are currently going through what Ranbir describes as a “rough patch”.
Everyone expected sparks to fly between Ranbir and his Anjana Anjani co-star Priyanka Chopra when they were shooting recently in Bangkok. “But,” say sources, “Ranbir was too much into his own space to even notice his glamourous co-star. He spent most of his time, when not shooting, either at the gym or taking walks and visiting malls.” Obviously his heart was somewhere else.
 |
|
| Deepika Padukone | Ranbir Kapoor |
Will they get back together? “I hope so,” says Ranbir with a smile.
This should be music to Deepika’s ears. She, we hear, is equally miserable away from Ranbir. If they got together again, the plus is that she wouldn’t have to hide her tattoo anymore.
BOMBAY TIMES (December 4, 2009)
Though the tag line of the Himesh Reshammiya’s recent release Radio says ‘it’s complicated’, there was nothing complicated about the film at all. “The shooting of the film went so smooth that we never had reasons to worry,” says director Isshan Trivedi. “What aided me the most were the workshops we conducted before the film’s shooting. My actors on the sets were so well prepared that we hardly had to do retakes,” he adds. At the time when such things were unheard of Isshan started the trend of acting workshops with Ghulam where, as the dialogue writer he would read out each scene to Aamir Khan, helping him get into the skin of his character. Isshan carried on a similar trend in his directorial debut Saade Saath Phere (7 and ½ Phere) where he would discuss every scene with Irrfan Khan and followed it up with Himesh in Radio. Recalling his experience of having workshops with Himesh, Isshan says, “When we started workshops for Radio, the first thing that bowled me over was that Himesh knew the script by heart. But what amazed me most was that day one itself Himesh was ready with six different versions of his character — RJ Vivan Shah. He is so passionate about anything he does that he can go to any lengths to get things right.” Reminiscing the days well spent for Radio, Isshan says, “I would always cherish those early morning meetings with Himesh over a cup of ginger tea and the way we would grapple the nuances of his character and the story of the film.” (Contributed by Madhureeta Mukherjee and Shilpa Keswani for ZOOM)
Fenil and Bollywood 