Friday, July 13, 2012
Esha Gupta strips in public!
Imagine having to shed your clothes in front of 300 odd people! Model-turned-Esha Gupta had to do just that for her role in Vikram Bhatt’s upcoming horror film. Despite requesting the director to cancel the scene, Esha had to finally shoot the sequence.
Recalling her experience, Esha says, “My character is wearing a sexy gown when she enters a party hall. However, soon she sees ghosts moving towards her and crisscrossing through her body. In order to get rid of them, I was required to scream and rip my clothes.”
She says, “Vikram was very confident about me doing the scene perfectly. My friends helped me relax and finally, I gave my shot.” In fact, once she wrapped up the scene, the crewmembers couldn’t stop clapping and cheering her.
The show must go on
Esha admits that while she is extremely scared of ghosts, she enjoys watching horror films. Apparently, the actress was a fan of Aahat when she was a kid. However, scared she was, she never stopped watching the telly show. In fact, her entire family joined her in front of the TV set.
Guwahati molestation shame: Celebs express outrage
Users across social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter were circulating the video and images of those accused of committing the heinous act in full public view.
Celebrities took to Twitter to vent their outrage on the issue.
Starlet Poonam Pandey, known for posting racy pictures of herself, tweeted - "Another blot on human race. Feel ashamed to watch the incident happened in #Guwahati. Women's safety is more a concept than reality in India."
Roja actor Arvind Swami tweeted - "guwahati incident...shame on us!!!...and what was the cameraman doing while this was going on???"
"Either the #Guwahati police are spectacularly inefficient or they don't give a damn. The latter scenario is very scary. #Guwahati," said photographer Atul Kasbekar on his Twitter account.
Movie producer Rangita Nandy posted - "Dear Faceless Girl in #Guwahati, nobody will ever understand what you/you're went/going through. Strength, prayers and hopefully, justice."
Member of Parliament Derek O'Brien tweeted - "This is not about one #Guwahati, one Bengaluru, one Park Street...this is about collective shame. And the will for us together to set it right"
The incident has created a furore in the virtual world that 'Guwahati' was one of the trending topics in India.
Katrina is my inspiration, says Saudi Arabian hottie in Bollywood
The UK-bred model, 24, recently signed her first film, 'Marksheet', featuring newbies Imran Zahid and Zoa Morani.
The film is set against the backdrop of the murky business of fake marksheets and educational certificates.
She plays a bold, sexy woman who returns to India from New York, only to fall in love.
"When I was modelling, it was all about beauty. But Bollywood is so fascinating because you need to think as well. It's not about beauty but you needs brains too," Gulf News quoted Khan as saying.
"It was a struggle to be in Mumbai and hunt for roles. But I am happy that it's paid off," said Khan, who grew up watching Bollywood musicals.
"Katrina is an inspiration to so many girls like us. She works hard. I salute her," said Khan.
Khan, born to a Kashmiri mother and a Saudi father, said that she's happy to shrug off of her background to try her luck in the movies.
"I go to Saudi every three years. It's my home country. But this offer was too good to be true and I have my dad's full support," added Khan.
Kainaz 'Bold' Motivala was flooded with offers of sex films
"That's exactly why I took up this film. After 'Ragini MMS' I was flooded with offers of similar roles - sex films, bold films. It had become Kainaz 'Bold' Motivala and I did not like that tag at all, and I had to get rid of that tag somehow," the 25-year-old actress said here Wednesday at a promotional press conference of the film.
"When I could have starred in 10 films, I decided I'd much rather wait and do one good film which will rid me of that tag because I didn't want to get typecast. The best thing about an actor is that you do something different everyday. I am open to any genre and I definitely don't want to do just one thing," she added.
She enjoyed playing the driver's role and says it was not at all difficult.
"Driving is a complete stress buster for me. Not in Mumbai, here it is more of a stress giver than a stress buster. But I do enjoy driving when the roads are empty," said Kainaz, who was also seen in small roles in "Paathshala" and "Wake Up Sid."
What was challenging was to play a Delhi girl convincingly.
"Preparing as a chauffeur was not a problem because I have been driving since I was 18. But I had to prepare, in the sense, this girl is from Delhi and Delhi girls are different from Mumbai girls in many ways. That is what I had to work on," said Kainaz.
Vickrant Mahajan plays the male lead and he has also directed "Challo Driver".
The film also stars Prem Chopra and Manoj Pahwa and hits theatres July 20.
Now Bollywood floats Adult, uncut version online
Filmmakers are determined to make their content go viral on internet.
When the trailer of Ekta Kapoor's forthcoming sex comedy "Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum" was allowed in theatres and TV only after suggested cuts by the censor board, the filmmaker kept the uncut version for online viewers.
An upset Ekta decided to play around the law. First, she rushed to the capital to show "Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum" promos to media when her uncut trailer couldn't make it to the theatres with the release of "Bol Bachchan".
"We have a sanitised, boring promo in the theatre for the ones who will be seeing 'Bol Bachchan'. But I want to show the real promo to everyone, so that's going online! I will create as much buzz as I can for the film because I can't fight the law, I can work around it," Ekta told.
"I'd rather have the audience decide whether the promo of my film is vulgar or funny and naughty. Luckily, the response is positive online," she added.
Pooja Bhatt decided to promote "Jism 2" songs with adult content on internet, rather than opting for the tedious job of snipping out so-called objectionable scenes from her film.
With "Jism 2", Pooja is introducing Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone in her scintillating and sizzling avatar to the Indian film industry.
The director has shot six songs for the film, but she has chosen to showcase only three songs with asexual content on TV. The rest have gone online - "a more than worthy competitor of TV," said Pooja recently.
It is a conscious decision she had to make.
"We have six songs in 'Jism 2'. Only three cater to a universal audience without losing their essence. The other three cannot be made to seem asexual! Hence, we will only submit to the censor board and plug on TV those songs of 'Jism 2' what we feel is appropriate for a family audience," Pooja wrote on her Twitter page.
"The three 'Jism 2' songs that cater to the average thinking, discerning, passionate, ADULTS may be viewed freely and by CHOICE across the internet.
"This is the FIRST time a mainstream film has chosen the internet and social media as a more than worthy competitor to television," Pooja said, adding it's "a brand new, sane and fair way forward for all!"
The two ladies have started a new trend that many would follow!
Katrina: Let Salman himself decide at what age he wants to get married
Reacting to fellow actor Aamir Khan's comment that it is high time Salman should enter wedlock, the 46-year-old said: "Aamir has been after me for this for a while now. I don't understand why everyone is after me to get married?" He was speaking at a promotional event of his upcoming action thriller "Ek Tha Tiger".
In the Yash Raj Films (YRF) project, directed by Kabir Khan, Salman will be seen with former girlfriend Katrina Kaif. Even in the film's trailer, Katrina has a line telling Salman's character that he has reached an age where he should get married.
Asked about her thoughts on Salman's marriage, Katrina said: "I think nobody else except Salman should decide at what age he wants to get married."
Kabir clarfied that the dialogue was not inserted into the film deliberately, but he couldn't resist the temptation of adding it. "Since I have Katrina and Salman in the movie, I couldn't resist having this," he said.
Farah Khan turns item girl!
Talking about the item number, Farah tweeted: "Have woken up 1 hour earlier than alarm in xcitemnt. 'Joker' ad out n I'm shootng an item song 4 'Shirin Farhad...' bt this time I'm dancing! surreal."
"Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi" also stars Boman Irani opposite Farah and is the story of a 40-plus unmarried man and a woman. The film hits theatres Aug 24.
Farah is the name behind super hit item from "Chhaiya chhaiya" to "Munni badnaam", "Sheila ki jawani" to "Anarkali disco chali" and the soon to be out "Kaafirana" from her husband Shirish Kunder's "Joker".
Director Sujoy Ghosh found it difficult to digest the news that Farah is doing an item number and tried confirming it with her. To this Farah tweeted: "Yess sujoy!! u may have 2 change the definition after Boman and me dance in it!"
Kim Sharma fined Rs 4 lakh
Bollywood actress and model Kim Sharma was fined by Customs officials for not declaring goods worth Rs 4 lakh that came into the country on a chartered flight sans Sharma from Dubai yesterday.
The private aircraft had only her baggage, and Sharma and her husband Ali Punjani, a Kenyan businessman of Indian origin, were to board the aircraft at Mumbai for an African destination.
The aircraft, which is owned by Sharma, landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in the morning, and was scheduled to depart at 2 pm with the couple
Acting on a tip-off, officials from the Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of Mumbai Airport Customs, headed by its Deputy commissioner, Sameer Wankhede, entered the aircraft and conducted a check, which resulted in them discovering the undeclared baggage.
As the actress herself was not traveling in the aircraft, the items were not supposed to be on board. The pilot was interrogated who stated that the luggage belongs to the actress. The actress who later arrived at the airport accepted that the luggage was hers, ” said a Customs official from AIU, on condition of anonymity.
Customs Commissioner, P M Saleem said, “As per the guidelines the pilot is not allowed to carry her baggage in her absence. Duty was imposed on the seized items before it was handed over to the party.”
The flight finally took off with the couple for its destination after 6 pm.
Ranbir-Deepika's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani releases on Mar 29
The film was scheduled to release in the first month of the year 2013. But it will now release on March 29, 2013.
Filmmaker Karan Johar tweeted: “Our RANBIR-DEEPIKA film titled YEH JAWAANI HAI DEEWANI directed by AYAN MUKERJI will now release MARCH 29th, 2013...”
Apart from the talked about couple Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, this movie is starring actors like Kalki Koechlin and Aditya Roy Kapur.
The movie is directed by Ayan Mukherji and this is his second venture with Dharma Productions’ and Ranbir Kapoor after his directorial debut with ‘Wake Up Sid’.
The movie is Ranbir and Deepika’s second on-screen venture but however their first Dharma film together.
In addition, a new face Evelyn Sharma will also be a part of this movie.
The movie has been shot in exotic locations till date such as Turkey, Udaipur and Rajasthan.
Will Aamir's Satyamev Jayate have season 2?
The makers of Aamir Khan’s television show may be all gung-ho about a second innings. But creative differences between the research team and the production house could prove to be a deterrent to the proceedings. Although the show started with a bang, its recent lacklustre performance has been reflecting in the low TRPs by the tenth week.
However, during the course of the show, several creative issues have cropped up which has put a question mark on the fate of the next season. “Earlier the entire show was going to be managed by Siddharth Basu’s Big Synergy and Aamir was only supposed to be the presenter.
However, over the course of the making, the research team felt that they had absolutely no control over how things were done. This issue may be a troublemaker, ” says the source. Our sources point out that the concept of the show was developed by Big Synergy but was later taken over by Aamir’s production company.
Siddharth Basu, who was present for the first press conference of the show in October 2011, surprisingly hasn’t been seen in the picture since then.
“Aamir wanted to produce his own debut show and the channel was keen to have him. They were in talks with each other for past two years. Finally the channel agreed to Aamir’s condition of co-producing the show with the original producer, ” the source states.
In season one, Aamir had asked all brands which he endorses not to sponsor the show so that he will not be over-exposed. If the channel keeps up with this strategy, then there will be a bigger problem of finances as the show isn’t making good numbers.
However, when asked to comment, a senior official from Big Synergy was hesitant to come out with the details, instead saying, “It is too big a matter to be delved into and is going to ruffle too many feathers.”
Channel officials remained unavailable for comment about the feasibility of season two. However, there seems to be time for details to be sorted out. The research team will be busy with the next season of Kaun Banega Crorepati while Aamir is busy shooting for Dhoom 3 and promoting his Reema Kagti thriller till the year-end. Aamir may be free for the show only by early next year.
Mashallah - Ek Tha Tiger
Mashallah song of Ek Tha Tiger
Director: Kabir Khan
Cast: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Ranvir Shorey, Girish Karnad
Release Date: 15 Aug 2012
Yeh Kasoor - Jism 2
Yeh Kasoor song of Jism 2
Director: Pooja Bhatt
Cast: Sunny Leone, Arunoday Singh, Randeep Hooda
Munnabhai 3: Sanjay is my first option
Ever since working back-to-back in two Munnabhai projects, Arshad Warsi has decided his former co-star Sanjay Dutt is one name he wants to rope in for his own film. More so, as he feels Sanju baba is probably the easiest actor to work with in the industry.
Arshad says he is eagerly looking forward to this film, an action thriller, and the first name that comes to his mind to cast in the film is Sanjay. He points out, “Vashu Bhagnani has signed me as the director. For the cast, Sanjay is my first option. I want to work with actors who are less troubling in nature.”
Ask him to elaborate and Arshad says, “The new generation of actors are really cool. Since this is my first project as a director, I want to work with actors who would actually help me make this film.”
He says, “Raju will be directing Munnabhai 3. I have heard the first part of the script and I love it. Hopefully, towards the end of next year we should start shooting.”
While also stating that the shoot schedule of his upcoming film Der Ishqiya, helmed by Abhishek Chaubey, has been postponed, Arshad says he is willing to try other cinematic genres too.
He says, “I am a pretty decent actor and people appreciate my comedy. But I want to try everything under the sun.”
Shilpa Shetty: That's not Viaan
Networking sites were abuzz yesterday with a snapshot of Shilpa Shetty with a baby saying that it was her son Viaan
But Shilpa stated on her microblogging site, “There is a picture doing the rounds, claiming it’s my son and I. Just want 2 say thats a picture of my niece Shyana and me taken a year back.”
So we will have to wait to see how Viaan looks.
Salman Khan has no plans to visit Pakistan
Denying the reports, Salman said: "I also read it in the papers that I am going (to Pakistan). If we need to go, then we will go for sure."
Director Kabir Khan said: "There were no plans to go to Pakistan but if we get an opportunity, we will love to go, but as of now there is nothing."
They were speaking at the unveiling of "Ek Tha Tiger" first song - "Mashallah".
Kabir also clarified that the promos have not been banned, but have been stopped till a no objection certificate (NOC) is issued by the Pakistan censor board.
The director is confident of getting the NOC from Pakistani censor board.
"It's not like promos are banned. They have just said that till the time there is no NOC, the trailers should not be played. We are very confident that it will get an NOC as it has nothing derogatory towards Pakistan," he said.
The film is coming out on Independence Day.
Tribute to Dara Singh, with a minute's silence
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan along with other actors and media persons kept a minute of silence to pay tribute to Dara Singh, who died Thursday after a brief illness.
Before beginning the launch of the first song of his movie "Ek Tha Tiger" at the Gaity Galaxy here, Salman requested everyone to maintain a minute's silence in the memory of the late legend.
"He (Dara Singh) was the most amazing person to work with. I know his children really well. As a person, he was the most incredible. It is a huge loss to us and god bless his soul," Salman said.
The film's director Kabir Khan and Salman's co-star Katrina Kaif were also present.
Dara Singh was admitted to a hospital here Saturday after a heart attack. On Wednesday, he was shifted to his home from hospital. He passed away at his residence in Juhu in the morning.
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain stars under house arrest!
Ram Kapoor and Sakshi Tanwar’s ongoing shoot schedule in Dubai for their television show has come to a standstill. The unit had been shooting on the streets and at shopping malls in the desert emirate with new entry Samir Kocchar without the necessary permission.
As soon as local authorities realised it, they raised objections and placed the cast and crew under house arrest. They have been told to pack up and return to Mumbai as soon as possible. Says a source, “The unit had been freely shooting around Dubai and did not realise that they had not completed the necessary formalities for filming in the country.
The show has a lot of audience in the UAE. The presence of the cast created a buzz when they were spotted filming at public places. This was when the authorities demanded shoot clearance papers which they had not obtained.”
This will not only affect the shoot schedule but also the telecast.” Since the past couple of episodes the current track of Ekta Kapoor’s production has the plot that has taken a five-year-leap unveiling in the desert emirate.
Sick of traffic woes Ajay Devgn gets a new Mini Cooper
Manoeuvring through narrow roads and over-crowded streets in Mumbai can be a real pain and Ajay Devgn has just the solution to beat the traffic in style.
The actor recently purchased a small-size hatchback car to add to his automobile collection. Recently, the actor was spotted in Juhu in his new car. A source close to the actor says, “Ajay has always been agitated about the hours he spends on travelling. He is very particular about timing. For that he will now he travelling in a Mini Cooper. The car has already been delivered at his Juhu residence and Ajay has also started using it.”
The source adds, “While Ajay has many cars, this silver- black car was delivered to him about three weeks back.”
Midnight's Children: Shriya Saran emerges the most powerful
Apparently Satya Bhabha who plays the hero with the long nose and Tamil superstar Siddharth Narayan who is cast as Satya’s foster-parents’ abandoned child who grows up hating his life in the slums, both had a pitched battle going on.
While Satya’s character has an extra-long nose (which came naturally to him since he’s a Parsi) Siddharth’s character Shiva has extra-bulky knees with which he tries to subjugate Satya.
Though it’s Satya Bhabha who occupies centrestage in Deepa Mehta’s Midnight’s Children apparently it the Rang De Basanti actor Siddharth who has made a very strong impact.
A member of the team on condition of anonymity said, “Among the male members of the cast, and that includes brilliant performers like Anupam Kher, Ronit Roy, Vinay Pathak and Rahul Bose, Siddharth is the clear stand-out performer. Satya, a relative newcomer to cinema had many tough confrontation scenes with Siddharth who’s virtually a veteran of Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema. ”
Incidentally the same source from the Midnight’s Children team tells us that among the female actors Shriya Saran emerged the most powerful. This, with Shabana Azmi, Seema Biswas and Shahana Goswami in the cast, is saying a lot.
When asked about Siddharth and Shriya stealing the show Deepa Mehta laughed, “I love all my actors. But yes, these two are brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. ”
Some lesser-known facts about Dara Singh
The veteran actor-wrestler was 84. BS presents some lesser-known facts about him:
>> 'Mahabali' Dara Singh was the undisputed champion of champions in the wrestling ring and has won many times including the world championship in 1968.
>> He took to acting in 1962 and is best remembered for his portrayal of Hanuman in popular TV series 'Ramayan'.
>> In 1996 he was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.
>> His last big-screen appearance was in the Hindi film Jab We Met and in Punjabi, it was Dil Apna Punjabi.
>> He has fought against many world class wrestlers like Zbysko and Lou Thesz and defeated several of them. He also won the titles of Rustam-E-Hind and Rustam-E-Punjab and, together with Yukon Erich, also won the Canadian Open Tag Team Championship.
>> Dara Singh turned director in 1970 with Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar. It became a big hit and he directed several movies later.
>> The first time he played Hanuman was for a film Bajrang Bali. He was around when he played Hanuman in the television serial Ramayan. Trends on Twitter
Wrestler-turned-actor Dara Singh's demise has been the most talked about topic on Twitter Thursday and it featured among top five trends on the microblogging site.
As the nation bid a tearful adieu to Dara Singh, who died at his home in Mumbai following a brief illness, his fans took to Twitter to express their grief at the demise of their "childhood" hero.
The late actor was among the top five trends on microblogging site Twitter. From being Lord Hanuman in epic TV series "Ramayana" to fun-loving grandfather in "Hadh Kar Di", Dara Singh's fans remembered the actor for his various performances.
Jigger Shah: RIP Dara Singh! you were my Hanuman, (my) hero in my childhood days! you will be truly missed! My condolences to his family!
Arpit Agarwal: How is nobody remembering 'Hadh Kar Di' by Sachin Pilgaonkar starring Dara Singh? It was one of the best family sitcoms on TV. RIP Dara Singh.
Rajneesh Chaturvedi: RIP Dara Singh. Your legend will continue to amaze all of us and generations to come with wide eyed splendour....
Foud Farooq: RIP Dara Singh. You are one actor among the oldies that I have always loved to watch.
KJS Arora: Former Wrestler and film actor Dara Singh dies...As a kid, I saw him in the ring many a times...A hero of my generation RIP, Dara Singh.
Pratik Sahu: As a kid I use to think that he was the REAL Hanuman. The only man on Indian TV who could actually be a Superhero. RIP Dara Singhji.
Sugandh Swami: Strength falls apart but you will always be remembered for your gentle persona...
Harsh John: Dara Singhji passed away this morning. A great Indian and one of the finest humans...An entire era of his celebrated presence gone!
Aashiqui 2 is bold move by Bhatts: Rahul Roy
"Of course, I am happy that 'Aashiqui 2' is being made. It's a bold move by Vishesh Films to make 'Aashiqui 2'," Rahul Roy told.
Known for launching new faces, director Mahesh Bhatt had roped in Rahul Roy and model Anu Agarwal for "Aashiqui".
Remembering the initial stage of filmmaking, Rahul said: "When we started out, nobody expected that this film would be a great hit. I am happy that they are going for it (Aashiqui 2) and who knows the film might become a cult movie."
For the latest version of the romantic saga, Mohit Suri will wield the megaphone and has teamed up with youngsters Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapoor.
Known for launching new faces, director Mahesh Bhatt had roped in Rahul Roy and model Anu Agarwal for "Aashiqui".
Remembering the initial stage of filmmaking, Rahul said: "When we started out, nobody expected that this film would be a great hit. I am happy that they are going for it (Aashiqui 2) and who knows the film might become a cult movie."
For the latest version of the romantic saga, Mohit Suri will wield the megaphone and has teamed up with youngsters Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapoor.
Released in 1990, "Aashiqui" was not only a box office success, but all the songs from the film, including "Ek sanam chahiye" and "Nazar ke saamne jigar ke paas" were chartbusters.
Rahul says claims comparisons are inevitable.
"As far as music is concerned it's a very tough call again because the music had touched everyone's heart and is still around after 22 years. It's very difficult but it has definitely peek peoples interest. People will tend to compare it with the original but it is up to Mohit who will have to trick with the story and divert their attention."
"Even 'Sholay', 'Agneepath' and many other films were remade and people had compared them with the original. So comparisons are inevitable," he added.
"When Anu and I started with the film, I knew Anu from the modelling days still I was not comfortable that she was doing the film. But it was because of the script that chemistry came in on screen. And I give all the credit to Mahesh Bhatt sahib," the 44-year-old said.
"As I always say, 'Har film apni kismet lekar aati hai'. So you never know that this 'Aashiqui' might do better than the original. I would say lets give Aditya and Shraddha an opportunity to try and give another twist to the film. So you never know this 'Aashiqui 2' might be a big hit too."
"Aashiqui 2" is likely be released on Valentine's Day next February.
Rahul says claims comparisons are inevitable.
"As far as music is concerned it's a very tough call again because the music had touched everyone's heart and is still around after 22 years. It's very difficult but it has definitely peek peoples interest. People will tend to compare it with the original but it is up to Mohit who will have to trick with the story and divert their attention."
"Even 'Sholay', 'Agneepath' and many other films were remade and people had compared them with the original. So comparisons are inevitable," he added.
"As I always say, 'Har film apni kismet lekar aati hai'. So you never know that this 'Aashiqui' might do better than the original. I would say lets give Aditya and Shraddha an opportunity to try and give another twist to the film. So you never know this 'Aashiqui 2' might be a big hit too."
"Aashiqui 2" is likely be released on Valentine's Day next February.
Amrita calls Abhishek real star of Kai Po Che
"Kai Po...", the big screen adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's book "The 3 Mistakes of My Life", also features TV actors Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Rajkumar Yadav.
"I was a little nervous earlier but Abhishek is such a nice person. In the beginning of the film, he had a one on one chat with me, where he wanted me to get completely comfortable. That chat actually set the path for the rest of the film."
"During our chat he talked to me as a person and not as the director of the film or as a professional. He made me understand the fact that he has chosen me because I am the best person for his role. If your director believes in you, it gives an actor a lot of security. He is the star of 'Kai Po...'," Amrita told.
Not many newcomers get a chance to do something new film after film. But the 28-year-old got to play a small town girl in her debut film "Aisha" followed by a housewife in "Blood Money", and in "Kai Po..." she will be seen as a vivacious girl. Amrita considers herself very lucky.
"My character in 'Kai Po Che' is very different from that in 'Aisha' and 'Blood Money'. Vidya is very naughty and a fun loving person. She is very mischievous. She is not the traditional types. She is very strong and a go getter," she said.
"The three characters that I have played are completely different from each other. I think I am a lucky one."
Recalling the shooting schedule Amrita says she loved being pampered by the male co-actors on the sets.
"Working with three actors was a fabulous experience. I was thoroughly pampered. They have been very sweet to me and I just loved it," she said.
Poonam Pandey's flight with Eagle
Eagle Home Entertainment, which is producing the movie, and director Amit Saxena are already part of the project.
“It is a pleasure that someone like Kumar Mangatji who has the experience of making top of the line cinema is associating himself as a co producer in the film which is already making a name for itself despite not being named at the moment,” enthuses the executive producer Aditya Bhatia. Bhatia’s energy levels surely must have received a shot of adrenaline after the entry of the ‘Omkara’ into the project.
Mangat too is pretty happy with the development, as he believes that the film starring India's sensation, Poonam Pandey, is certainly going to set the temperatures soaring. As for Poonam Pandey, she has clearly set the industry ablaze with her tweets and her bold moves. In fact, she has raised the hotness to bar to a whole new level.
“I am now doing a series of workshops to ensure that I perform well on camera as an actress and live up to the expectations of not just of my fans, but also of the filmmakers who have reposed so much faith in me,” says Pandey.
Eagle Home Entertainment, which started off as video distributors have been growing under the vigilant eye of the moving spirits behind the organization – Surender and Vinod Suneja.
Even as the company has grown to be the largest home video content provider in this part of the subcontinent, the company is on the verge of announcing many film productions – the first of it being the untitled Poonam Pandey film. Amit Saxena who is the director of the film called it a “Coming of Age” movie.
The film was to go on the floors in the month of August, but a sudden bout of jaundice for the actress ensured that the shooting of the film has now been delayed by a month. The film will go on the floors in September.
Divya Khosla's film to go on the floors in September
"My film will go on floors by September," Divya told about the film and added, "I have cast newcomers - Himansh Kohli and Rakul Preet. Both are from Delhi."
She describes her directorial debut as "very young and musical" which talks about youth between the age group of 19 to 20 years "who are unclear about their future".
"It's basically a young India film. The film is tentatively titled 'Class of 2013'," said Divya, who is married to T-series boss Bhushan Kumar.
She says that Bhushan is helping her with the music.
"Since it's a young film, there is a lot of scope for music. Bhushan is helping me a lot with the music. Bhushan has got a great sense of music, so he is guiding me," Divya said.
The film will be co-produced by T-Series and Viacom 18 and is slated for a 2013 summer release.
Big B in awe of Southern superstars' humility
For the campaign, the 69-year-old was joined by Tamil actor Prabhu, son of veteran Shivaji Ganesan; Telugu actor Nagarjuna, son of the legendary thespian Akkineni Nageswara Rao; Kannada actor Shiva, son of Amitabh's close friend and actor Raaj Kumar; and Malayalam actor Dilip.
"I have had the great honour and pleasure to have worked today with some of the popular and distinguished stars of the southern region of our country - Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala - who have been not just colleagues of our vast film industry, but have through the years been close friends," Amitabh wrote on his blog srbachchan.tumblr.com
"Despite the fact that their fan following and popularity is immense and earth shattering, they are by temperament such disciplined, gracious and humble beings, that it would not be possible to imagine their status and their standing if you were to meet them," he added.
"Indeed I have always found the Southern stars to be all of such standing, irrespective of their god-like stature at home among their well wishers," he added.
Amitabh, who did a cameo in actor Mohanlal's Malayalam film "Kandahar", feels Southern film industry is more creative and innovative than its Hindi counterpart.
"I have also never shied away from the fact that the South film industry is greatly more talented with fresh and innovative ideas and creative thought than their counterparts in the North. Working among them, in their climate of proficiency and talent is a delight and an unmitigated honour," he wrote.
Dara Singh had heart of gold: Dilip Kumar
"Dara was a gem of a man, earthy and robust, with a heart of gold. I pray for his soul and for the family to bear the loss with fortitude," tweeted Dilip Kumar. Dara Singh, considered Bollywood's first macho man, died here Thursday morning following a brief illness. He was 84.
The man of steel was last seen in the Kareena Kapoor-Shahid Kapoor starrer "Jab We Met" as the stern, lovable 'Daarji'. Several fans and tinsel town celebrities paid their last respects to the star at his funeral Thursday afternoon.
Gurmeet caught between two women!
According to a source, Debina has been asking Shampa to choreograph three performances based on the week's theme, of which the actor's wife will choose the one she finds best suited for Gurmeet.
However, Shampa is extremely confident that the one act that she prepares for Gurmeet will take the actor to new heights in the eyes of the judges - Madhuri Dixit, Remo D'Souza and Karan Johar. In fact, Shampa is said to be not very keen on having the over-enthusiastic Debina on the sets.
With Gurmeet juggling hectic schedules between his daily soap "Punar Vivah" and "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 6", the actor seems to hardly have any say!
Bollywood not a man's world
"Shooting song for 'Shirin Farhad' with Farah Khan (actor), Geeta Kapur (choreographer), Bela Sehgal (director). Happy to note, it's not a man's world," tweeted Boman.
"Just thought of it; done five movies with lady directors," added the 52-year-old.
He has worked with female directors like Farah Khan in "Main Hoon Na", Sooni Taraporevala in "Little Zizou", Reema Kagti in "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.", and "Shirin Farhan Ki Toh Nikal Padi" by Sehgal.
"..and how can I forget, the greatest director of all... who films every frame of my life....my wife Zenobia," Boman wrote on a lighter note.
National leaders condole Dara Singh's death
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed deep grief over the death of Dara Singh, and said he had been an inspiration and icon to many generations in the country.
Dara Singh, a former Rajya Sabha member, died at his residence in Mumbai following a brief illness. He was 84.
In his condolence message, the prime minister said: "I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing away of Shri Dara Singh, who has been an inspiration and icon to many generations in our country."
"A self-educated son-of-the-soil, he rose to the heights of the entertainment world, sports arena and public life with humility and grace. His contribution to the Hindi and Punjabi cinema, wrestling and the Upper House of the Parliament will be remembered by millions."
Vice President M. Hamid Ansari said he was "deeply grieved" by the sad demise of the former MP, wrestling champ and actor.
"His acting career was most memorable for the intensity and diversity of characters that he had portrayed. His role as a nominated MP is remembered by one and all," he added.
Ansari said he and his wife send their heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and the wide circle of his friends and admirers.
"We pray to the Almighty to grant them the strength and fortitude to withstand this tragedy.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Mona Singh loves rain!
Mona, who is seen on Sony's "Kya Hua Tera Vaada", finds monsoon the most romantic weather. It compels her to go out on a long drive.
For gastronomic delights, she loves to gorge on bhelpuri and chaat, with 'cutting chai'.
Mona also feels the perfect way to spend a monsoon evening at home would be by watching either a horror movie or a romantic film like "Kuch Kuch Hota Hain", said a source.
Anu Malik goes Balle balle
The composer, who is a judge on the show, took to the stage following contestant Devendra Pal Singh's performance.
He danced hysterically to dhol beats. He was so ecstatic that he even lifted Devendra in his arms and danced away to glory with him, said a source from the sets.
Later, both of them did a small bhangra jig, leaving the audience in splits. The episode will be on air Saturday.
These Products Are For Real???!! WTF!
Adidas shackles shoes
Shackles on sneakers, a product that's heavily marketed to black consumers? Really? Yep, making this the marketing blunder of the year so far. Just one look at the Adidas JS Roundhouse Mid sneaks, which had been scheduled for release in August, and you could anticipate the reaction. These shackle sneaks sparked howls of outrage from black leaders who denounced them as "slave shoes." The Rev. Jesse Jackson called them a "gross insult." Adidas apologized and withdrew the shoes. But it maintained the shoe was "nothing more than the designer Jeremy Scott's outrageous and unique take on fashion" and had nothing to do with slavery. It's possible that the prison-orange shackles were meant as a reference to "thug life" glorified in many strains of hip hop music. After all, the loose fitting, baggy pants look sported by some in the hip hop culture originated as a form of "prison chic." But even this explanation doesn't get Adidas off the hook. "If that's the case, it's not the shoe, but the decision to market a product that perpetuates negative values by glorifying prison life that I find offensive," says marketing expert Frankel.
Ben & Jerry's Lin-Sanity frozen yogurt
Given the liberal leanings of Ben & Jerry's founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, you might think they'd be the last people to cook up a product that reinforces shallow cultural stereotypes. But earlier this year, Ben & Jerry's rolled out a vanilla-flavored frozen yogurt named "Taste the Lin-Sanity," to capitalize on the popularity of New York Knicks basketball player Jeremy Lin, who is Asian-American. Sadly, the yogurt contained fortune cookie pieces mixed in with honey swirls. Of course, Ben & Jerry's has been owned by Unilever (UL) for more than a decade, so we don't know how much the original duo had to do with the recipe. But after the inevitable backlash, Unilever replaced the cookie pieces with waffle cone chunks. Unilever claimed the switch was because the fortune cookies got soggy. But it also apologized to anyone who got offended by the Lin-Sanity fortune cookie yogurt. It wasn't the first time an irreverent Ben & Jerry's flavor crossed the line to spark controversy. Last year, it released an ice cream flavor called Schweddy Balls, a reference to a Saturday Night Live sketch where Alec Baldwin plays a baker named Pete Schweddy who sells popcorn balls, cheese balls, rum ball . . . well you know where that sketch went. Groups such as One Million Moms protested, and stores pulled Schweddy Balls off the shelves.
Ghettopoly
You can buy dozens of versions of the classic board game Monopoly based on different source materials: cities, the Beatles, the Lord of the Rings and many more. So how about a parody of Monopoly with blatant racial overtones called Ghettopoly? Replace the railroads with liquor stores, and populate the board with other off-color properties like a peep show, a pawnshop and a massage parlor. For good measure, lace the game with racially charged references to pimps, crack houses, carjackings and 40-ounce bottles of malt liquor. Who could possibly be offended? Urban Outfitters (URBN) found out when it stocked this ill-conceived game after its 2003 release. Ghettopoly was quickly condemned as racist by the NAACP and black clergy, among others, prompting Urban Outfitters to pull it. Even Hasbro (HAS) joined in, suing Ghettopoly's inventor because of the similarities to Monopoly, which it owns. (It had nothing to do with the ghetto version.)
Abercrombie thongs for children
Sex. Kids. You'd think any large corporation would know not to mix the two. Apparently no one got the memo at Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF). In 2002, it released a line of thong underwear for children, complete with sexually provocative slogans like "eye candy" and "wink wink." A look at Abercrombie advertising shows that a big part of its marketing strategy involves the use of sexuality. But slapping slogans with sexual overtones on thongs for children obviously crosses the line. Heck, thongs for children might cross the line all by themselves. The company claimed the underwear was supposed to be "lighthearted and cute" and that "any misrepresentation of that is purely in the eyes of the beholder." But it pulled the product, nevertheless.
Barf detergent
Believe it or not, every week there are people who wash their clothes in Barf. That sounds downright disgusting. But "barf" is the phonetic version of the word for "snow" in Farsi, the predominant Persian language. This makes it OK, sort of, that the Iranian company Paxan uses an English word for vomit as the name for a laundry detergent. Still, translated it has to be the worst name for a laundry soap ever. This isn't the first cross-language brand-name mishap, and it won't be the last. Chevy Nova sales may have lagged in Latin America because "no va" means "doesn't go," in Spanish. Kraft Foods (KFT) recently announced it's changing the name of its snacks division to Mondelez, which unfortunately sounds a lot like an expression for a sexual act in Russian, says Ira Kalb, assistant professor of clinical marketing at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.
Oreo Fun Barbie
The Oreo, of course, is an enduringly popular cookie from Nabisco. But it's also a pejorative term used by some to describe black people who are "white on the inside." This definition of Oreo itself is a can of worms I'd rather not get into. You'd think that Mattel (MAT), which makes the Barbie doll, wouldn't want to go there, either. But in the early 1990s, it joined with Nabisco to offer an Oreo Fun Barbie. A Caucasian version sold well. So in 1997, Mattel released a black version of the Oreo Barbie. She sports an Oreo-shaped handbag, a long-sleeve turtleneck with an Oreo cookie design, and a skirt with an Oreo emblazoned on the pocket, along with the brand name for good measure. That product identification didn't fend off the howls. The black Oreo Barbie soon disappeared from shelves, though it now sells for about $30 on eBay, or three times what the white Oreo Barbie commands. This wasn't the only bizarre Barbie to ever hit the shelves. Mattel has also released a pooper-scooper Barbie, a tattoo Barbie and a Hitchcock Barbie, complete with removable birds. The black version of Oreo Barbie, though, still stands out as Mattel's biggest Barbie blunder.
The iBeat Blaxx music player
Several years ago, a German company called TrekStor introduced a line of MP3 players called the iBeat. Inevitably, it would roll out a sleek, all-black version of its MP3 player, setting itself up for a train wreck. Apparently, no one at TrekStor thought it might be offensive to call the music player the iBeat Blaxx. Yikes. "Of course the word 'Beat' is not meant as a verb, but refers to the beats of the music you are listening to," the company explained in an email published by Gizmodo, a tech news website that rightly protested the offensive name of the music player about five years ago. Note to marketers: If you ever find yourself having to offer an explanation like that, you know you're in trouble. TrekStor quickly renamed the product the "TrekStor blaxx,' but only after making it clear that it "condemns violence and any form of racism" and that it was "shocked by the way our new MP3 player's name . . . is perceived." I'm shocked that no one at the company thought about this first.
'I'm too pretty to do homework'
In August 2011, J.C. Penney (JCP) seemingly thumbed its nose at all the hard work done to dispel sexist stereotypes about women when it released a shirt with the slogan "I'm too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me." The shirt sparked a backlash, forcing Penney to pull it and apologize. (Read more about the controversy.) This wasn't the first time a major company dredged up the sexist story line that women are merely pretty objects who can't compete in the workplace. In 2005, Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) launched a shirt for women that said across the front "Who needs brains when you have these?" And in the early 1990s Mattel caught fire for a Teen Talk Barbie, which counted "Math class is tough" among the phrases it could utter on command. That phrase was deleted from the Barbie's memory banks after the inevitable backlash. "I happen to be a math major, so I get why people say 'don't stereotype women that way,'" says Guidry, of The Rite Concept, who has also served on the board of the Qualitative Research Consultants Association. "That's a 1950s view. A lot of good mathematicians are women." And it's doubtful they wear the Penney's T-shirts.
The Reebok Incubus shoe for women
Adidas isn't the first shoe brand to find itself backpedaling. In the late 1990s, Reebok (which is now owned by Adidas) launched a running shoe for women called Incubus. Small problem: An incubus is a mythical demon that violates women in their sleep. Reebok got lucky, in a sense, since it had only put the offensive name on the box, and not the shoes. But it was at a loss to explain how the problem happened. ''I'm horrified and the company is horrified,'' Reebok spokeswoman Kate Burnham said at the time. ''How the name got on the shoe and went forward, I do not know." Marketing expert Frankel, author of "The Revenge of Brand X: How to Build a Big Time Brand on the Web or Anywhere Else," has an idea: "There are not a lot of well-educated or all-that intelligent people in marketing." Frankel's take sounds harsh, but it makes sense. Even for someone who hasn't read up on mythology, it's fairly obvious by checking a dictionary that "incubus" is another word for nightmare. In short, not a great name for a running shoe, mythical demons or no.
The 'Lolita' bed for pre-teen girls
Here's another case where checking a dictionary might have helped. In 2008, Woolworths in Britain sold a bed set with a pull-out desk and cupboard for young girls named the "Lolita Midsleeper Combi." The chain maintains it was unaware that "Lolita" can be a name used to describe sexually active preteen girls, and is also the title of a famous Vladimir Nabokov novel about a guy who has sex with his 12-year-old stepdaughter. The book has been made into a film twice, including a version by Stanley Kubrick. It's not clear what the marketers thought it meant. But angry parents caught the reference. They complained, and Woolworths pulled the Lolita bed.
Pillsbury Chinese Cherry drink mix
Ah the "innocent" 1960s that we can all get a feel for by watching "Mad Men," the AMC series about the advertising world in that bygone era when men were men, life was simpler and racial stereotypes were... well... more acceptable. Few popular products illustrate this as well as Pillsbury Funny Face Chinese Cherry drink mix. It featured a cherry face logo with buck teeth that played on a widespread Asian stereotype of the time. Pillsbury changed the name of the drink mix to Choo-Choo Cherry in 1966, which tells us that the offensive racial stereotype was on the market for two years. This wasn't the only Pillsbury drink character to stir people up; the company had another called Injun Orange, shown above. That seems pretty amazing today, but the same era brought us marketing icons like the Frito Bandito, a sombrero-wearing Mexican. "The Frito Bandito was pulled because it was offensive to Mexicans. You couldn't do the Frito Bandito today," says Hanft, of Hanft Projects. Of course, if you've watched "Mad Men," you can imagine the admen's excuse: They were probably drunk at the time.
Ayds appetite-suppressant candy
We can't blame this one on the marketers; rather, sometimes a product is just overtaken by history. During the 1970s and early 1980s, a product called Ayds was sold successfully as an appetite-suppressant candy for weight loss. But by the mid-1980s, Ayds sales were hammered because the product name sounded exactly like the name of a frightening epidemic that was spreading rapidly -- AIDS. The company behind Ayds, Dep, first tried to get by with a name change to Diet Ayds. But then it pulled the product. "They just got unlucky," says Rob Frankel, a brand management expert with Frankel & Anderson.
Five Wives Vodka
While it may not be common, sometimes what looks like a stupidly offensive product really is just a cheap play for the publicity. And it works. Case in point: Ogden's Own Distillery, which sells Five Wives Vodka. Though the Mormon Church denounced polygamy in the late 1800s and Utah banned the practice at the same time, misconceptions persist. So it's no surprise that Ogden's Own launched Five Wives Vodka in Utah and Idaho, states with large Mormon populations. The label features a historic Vaudeville photo of five women modestly lifting their skirts. Idaho regulators took the bait, moving to ban the product in June for being "offensive to a prominent segment of our population." Then they quickly backed down following threats of a lawsuit. The maneuvering generated lots of coverage and no doubt boosted Five Wives Vodka sales. Ogden's Own says the Five Wives label contains no references to religion or polygamy, which is technically true but totally beside the point. "Companies sometimes make a quick hit by turning cultural memes into a novelty product," says brand strategist Hanft. "It's the underbelly of entrepreneurship. We've seen this before, and we will see it again."
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