Posts Tagged ‘new year’
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, January 4, 2010 – 15:09 IST 
What do you call someone whose eyes control the sunrise and the moon shine? What do you call who is the inspiration to many a poet globally? What do you call someone who is highly intellectual, yet is a part of an ‘Idiotic’ gang? Well, mince no names, as we are indeed talking about the one and only ‘Oomph-mati’ that the silver screen has ever seen: Kareena Kapoor!
And it is the very same Kareena Kapoor who is on the cover of the widely read magazine GQ for the month (January 2010). What a way to start the New Year by having the eternal glowing Miss Kapoor as the cover-girl! From the looks of it, Kareena looks nothing short of being Miss Perfect. Well, we are no one to challenge perfection, are we? All that we can say is that; do watch out for Kareena’s honest-than-thou confessional statements on topics ranging from films, marriage and of course…Saif, about whom she says “Saif comes from a very cultured background; he is a man of the world. And he’s seen so much of life; he’s got his head very firmly on his shoulders. I can connect with this guy. He has a good sense of humour; a charming man with a lot of culture. He always liked me on screen. He said I was someone he always wanted to meet.”
Keeping the tradition of ‘Keep the best for last’, we really do have to mention that this issue of GQ has not one, but two whoppingly sizzling covers, which only means, twice the cover, twice the fun. Kareena is indeed the way to go this season and for the year 2010!
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan are not just the co-producers of My Name is Khan, they plan and cancel their holidays in tandem too. While Karan will stay in town to work on the editing and soundwork of My Name is Khan; SRK will have a lazy time with family at his residence in Bandra, Mannat.
Karan had initially planned to go abroad to bring in the New Year and SRK was supposed to stay at his Dubai villa. However, SRK will return from Dubai to spend a quiet new year at his house.
Our source said, “Karan had cancelled his new year plans last year, because of the 26/11 attacks. He has been visiting Goa for the new year for the past three to four years. This time, he was really looking forward to visiting either LA or New York. He was forced to cancel his trip as he is busy with the editing and some final technical work in the sound department.
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| Shah Rukh Khan | Karan Johar |
SRK had planned to spend the New Year at his Dubai villa with family. But he has also changed his mind and is now returning to Mumbai in the afternoon.”
Karan Johar could not be reached as he is busy editing his film and SRK remained unavailable for comment.
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, December 30, 2009 – 11:32 IST 
She is indeed one of the faces to watch out for in the New Year 2010, for she hails from a family where Talent comes before anything and everything. She is none other than the svelte hour glass figured Sonam Kapoor, who is sizzling from the cover of the latest edition of Vogue.
In this edition, Miss Kapoor talks (read ‘reveals’) about how she went from flab to fab! For the impatient ones, Sonam attributes her makeover to the celeb trainer Zareen Watson, who, on her own admission Sonam says, “Helped me change the way I looked at nutrition and exercise. I had to make a lifestyle change: it’s the only thing that really works; it has to be how you lead your life, a regime you follow.” Sonam also talks about how easy or tough it was it for her hard to lose all those kilos. One has to give it to Sonam for being such a sport and calling a spade a spade!
They just don’t make like them anymore… or do they? Whatever the case maybe, there cannot be a better way to usher in the New Year 2010, than to pick up the January issue of Vogue!
Bollywood Hungama.com
MARK MANUEL Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; December 29, 2009)
Sallu has low-key all-boys bday party after his ‘break-up with Katrina’!
Posted on: December 28, 2009
Salman Khan is well-known in Bollywood circles for his wild parties. If the party happens to be his birthday bash and that too at his farmhouse at Panvel, it promises to be double the fun. However, yesterday night, Salman had a low-key celebration for his 45th birthday. He had a stag party.
A source says, “Bhai is known to have fun during his parties at Panvel. His parties are much awaited and talked about by his guests. Salman’s large-heartedness ensures that all of them have a blast. However, this year, Salman is not in one of his merry moods. After his break-up with Katrina Kaif, he is not in the mood to go all out and celebrate. So, on his special day, he did not send invitations to any female. He did not feel the need to have a girlfriend by his side or even bask in the glory of any other female company. Incidentally, Katrina is in London to celebrate Christmas and New Year with her family. Salman has invited only his close male friends. Also, unlike every year, the celebration this time is not on a lavish scale. Yesterday’s party was held only for his close friends music composers Sajid Wajid, hairstylist Aalim Hakim, his bodyguard Shera, his close associate Nadeem, his filmmaker friends Vijay Galani and Sajid Nadiadwala among others. Salman has already celebrated his birthday with his family on Saturday night.”
Let’s hope that by next year, the tide turns and the large-hearted Khan gets back to hosting lavish parties.
After six long years of hard work, Shahid Kapoor is now taking a much need break. He is flying off to Goa today with his childhood friends to celebrate the New Year and spend some leisure time.
Shahid’s best friend Shriram, who he is meeting after years, is also joining the actor for this holiday. A source close to the actor says, “Shahid has been shooting back to back for the past few years. He had no break between films. After Jab We Met, he went into Kismat Konnection followed by Kaminey, Yash Raj’s untitled and now he is finishing the patchwork of Chance pe Dance. Kaminey especially, was a tiring film to shoot.
The source continues, “Now that all the pending work of his films is over, along with his prior commitments, the actor is taking a much needed break. This will be his first holiday in the past six years. He is off to Goa with his childhood friends and will celebrate the New Year with them. It is a complete boy’s holiday and he is going to unwind and relax to the fullest. The all-boys-gang will stay in a hotel in North Goa, one of the liveliest places in the month of December. The hotel has a private beach where he will have some privacy and might indulge in some water sports too. The actor is not into gambling, but being out with his friends on a holiday, he might just join them.”
The source adds some details, “Shahid wants a quiet and relaxing holiday and will disconnect himself completely from his work. He has already informed his directors and producers that he won’t be available for those days. He returns on January 1, but will only resume work on January 4.”
Shahid’s publicist confirms, “Shahid is going for his first holiday in six years with his school friends, including his best friend Shriram. They will be celebrating New Year in Goa.”
| (Pic: Deepak Turbhekar) |
The spirit is in the air-Asin
Posted on: December 25, 2009
MEENA IYER Times News Network (BOMBAY TIMES; December 25, 2009)
“I’m usually home in Kerala for these festivals,’’ says Asin who has a palatial home in God’s own country. She remembers with fondness her schooling years when cousins, uncles and aunts arrived at their residence to put up the Christmas tree and then decorate it with jewels, gifts and lights. “We also put up a crib each year,’’ says the Bollywood star.
She can’t recall making any kalkals and marzipaan, but yes, food at the lunch table included a wide variety of cakes —because almost every aunt baked one; and also the best chicken and mutton dishes made in Malayali style. Asin herself is primarily vegetarian but, of course, she does partake in goodies occasionally.
“I’m upset I can’t go home for Christmas this year,’’ she says but she has planned her own little do here in her Mumbai home. “Christmas is not so much about parties for me,’’ says the actress, “but I do give ample importance to the spirit of the festival.
Asin recalls how each year she got some plump uncle or cousin to dress as Santa Claus with all details — from the outfit to the beard and make-up in place. “We distributed gifts amongst ourselves,’’ she laughs. “I try my best not to shoot on Christmas because it is family time,’’ she adds. “However, sometimes things don’t go as planned.’’
While wishing all the readers of BT a Merry Christmas, the actress adds that this is one time of the year when she could break into a song because the spirit of the festival is absolutely infectious.
By Joginder Tuteja, December 21, 2009 – 12:52 IST
Get set for an epic take in the offing. This year’s most anticipated release, 3 Idiots, has a running length of close to 3 hours. Taking audiences through different locations in the country and across time zones, this Rajkumar Hirani film is in fact his longest ever when compared to his earlier two efforts – Munnabhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munnabhai.
“That’s true,” confirms Hirani. “Both the films in the Munnabhai series were under 2.5 hours. However, 3 Idiots required a longer duration. I am not worried about the length factor though.”
Well, even for audiences it should be pretty much the case of ‘ all izzz well‘. Longer stories, if told well, have traditionally worked quite well at the box office. Some of the biggest classics in the history of Indian cinema like Lagaan, Sholay and Mughal E Azam have all crossed the 3 hour mark. Yes, those were the times when only single screens ruled and hence the revenue earned through a larger number of shows wasn’t a criteria for a film’s length. However, the fact remains that the biggest ever grosser in the history of Indian cinema, Ghajini, lasted for a couple of minutes over 3 hours.
Says a trade follower, “I am aware of people’s expectations where they want to see more of an actor or a director, if their body of work over the years has been impressive enough. Remember those Amitabh Bachchan films in the 80’s? Or the ones directed by Subhash Ghai? Each of them was mandated to be magnum opus and it was an unwritten rule that their films have a running length of at least 3 hours. Similar are the expectations from an Aamir Khan film today.”
His comments do see good validation if one looks at every film that Aamir has done in the current decade. The running length of Dil Chahta Hai (180 mins), Lagaan (225 mins), Mangal Pandey (165 mins), Rang De Basanti (150 mins), Fanaa (170 mins), Taare Zameen Par (165 mins) and Ghajini (180 mins) has been close to 3 hours or even more.
“At the end of the day, it’s the story and the story telling that does the trick, not the film’s length. Yes, we have seen audiences rejecting What’s Your Raashee? due to its length of close to 3.5 hours but also because the film dragged at places. Seeing Hirani’s work over the years, the length is a non-issue and one truly believes and hopes that the screenplay holds audience’s attention. 3 Idiots is carrying great vibes, the holiday season is on and the festivities would be in progress well into the New Year. I don’t see any reason why anyone would even think about the length factor,” concludes the trade expert.
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
By Taran Adarsh, December 10, 2009 – 08:58 IST
Everyone thought 3 IDIOTS was the final release of 2009. Sure, the film is the final biggie to hit the screens on 25th December, but three more films – all medium-budget fares – are lined up for release in the subsequent week.
In view of the fact that the first week of new year is considered jinxed by industry people and producers refrain from releasing films in the first week, three independent producers have decided to release the film on Thursday, 31st December, which makes these three the final releases of 2009.
As things stand today, the three films, RAAT GAYI, BAAT GAYI?, BOLO RAAM and ACCIDENT ON HILL ROAD, have been confirmed for release on 31st December. The question is, will they stick to that date? And if they do, how will the audience react to them given the fact that its celebration time across the globe? Let’s wait and watch!
BOLLYWOOD HUNGAMA.COM
