Akshay's flops don't affect me

Two of Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar's big budget films may have bombed this year, but it doesn't worry director Sabbir Khan who has cast him in his ready-to-release mega-budget directorial debut movie "Kambakkht Ishq". "Failures of Akshay's movies don't affect me at all because a movie is a movie...and as a director, you just want to know whether the audiences want to see it or not, " Khan told in an interview. "Everybody goes through ups and downs. An actor's last success doesn't mean anything for a director...That way we wouldn't have had any more movies of Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan or Tom Cruise, " he added. Both of Akshay's much-hyped releases this year -- "Chandni Chowk To China" and "8X10 Tasveer" -- bombed at the box-office. "I think whosoever's worked with Akshay will want to repeat him. He becomes an instant favourite because of the person he is. He is a genuine human being and a brilliant actor, " said Khan who earlier worked as an assistant director in an Akshay starrer, the 2004 comedy "Mujhse Shaadi Karogi". The first time director, who has scripted "Kambakkht Ishq", was in the capital to promote the film. Shot at Universal Studios in Hollywood as well as Italy, Venice and Mumbai, the romantic comedy has much publicised cameos from Hollywood stars like Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh and Denise Richards. Releasing July 3, the film has been produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. "Both the producer and I dreamt big and we sort of took a simple and interesting story and made it larger than life, " said Khan, who is the son of 1960s lyricist Noor Dewasi. When asked if he was apprehensive about filming Hollywood big shots, Khan said: "I'm a director and I can't let anything overwhelm me. I'm the captain of the ship and it's my job to lead a crew of 300 people every day. So I can't be nervous filming them (Hollywood stars), though I was excited for sure when they agreed to be part of it. "I had no apprehensions because we were so well-prepared, but it was great shooting Sylvester Stallone and Denise Richards. The Hollywood stars are the USP of the film. They have some very interesting cameos in the film." Starring Kareena Kapoor in the female lead, it also has Aftab Shivdasani and Amrita Arora in pivotal roles. The producer is aggressively promoting the film, but Khan has been sidelined from the promotional activities. Asked about his subdued presence, he said: "It's very natural that my name is subdued. It's only my first film as a director and nobody knows me. Sajid, Akshay and Kareena are very famous people and if the film is known by them, it's absolutely great to have better known people to be associated with the film." Khan is slated to direct another project with Nadiadwala early next year.

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John studied The Quran very closely for New York

For Saif Ali Khan getting conversant with the holy Quran to play the jehadi in Rensil D’Silva’s Kurbaan was relatively easier. But John Abraham belonging to an entirely different religion and culture, learning the tenets of the Quran from the scratch to play the NRI Muslim in Kabir Khan’s New York. Not knowing a syllable of the Quran John had to study the holy book in translation. Says a close friend, “John researched rigorously on Islam and its various aspects. His character in New York is detained wrongly for terrorism. John based his character on three such real life Muslims taken into custody in the US for wrongs they hadn’t committed. John and his director Kabir Khan amalgamated the case of three such unfortunate people to create John’s character. He actually lived breathed slept and wept like someone who had been wrongly ostracized.” So traumatized was he by the experience that John went into a complete shell in Philadelphia where New York was shot. Says the friend, “He wouldn’t talk to people. He was completely in his own shell. It was life-changing experience. Today John knows what it feels to be a Muslim and a target of ceaseless suspicion and hostility in the US. He also empathizes closely with the issue of Indian students being racially abused in Australia after playing an Indian abused in New York. He understands the isolation of the minority. To a large extent as a Parsi John has been a part of a minority from his birth. ” John studied the Quran closely. Says John’s friend, “He went very deep in the film’s theme of Islamic isolation. His familiarity with Islamic terrorism started when he shot Kabul Express with Kabir Khan in Afganistan. John spoke to people in Taliban and began to understand the concept of jehad. He understood how dangerous it is to fight for a cause without knowing the history of that cause. He went on the net, found legitimate and proper translations of the Quran. He learnt the proper pronunciations of words in the Quran.” When asked about the process of acclimatizing himself with the Quran John says, “It’s part of my larger determination to prepare myself completely for a part. Whether it was New York or now Abbas Tyrewala’s film, I’m taking time off to prepare for the film and character. The audience today understands an honest film. That’s what I want to give. I only want to do roles that take me out of my comfort zone. Through my characters and performances I want to make people comfortable with what makes me uncomfortable as a human being and an Indian.”

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I am not in love with Shoaib Malik: Sayali Bhagat

Former Miss India Sayali Bhagat is back on sliver screen with her two flicks Paying Guest and Kirkit releasing back to back. The model turned actress has achieved success not only in Bollywood but down the South too. The glamorous girl has won the hearts of many but she has never and will not go beyond her limits of glamourisation. Even if the industry demands so but still it’s a big no - no for the girl. “I am not game for any senseless glamour. The producers who did come to me with such offers went disappointed as I made my stand clear, says Sayali. “I would do only that much which my films required. At the end of the day I want to do acting and showcase my talent. I have always looked for meatier and interesting roles than glamourous roles, ” she adds. Though we all know how meatier and glamourous she was with Emran in her first movie. As now that Sayali has become choosy lets hear from her of what will be the criteria for taking up the films. “Criteria on the basic level film have to excite me. Secondly I have a gut feeling on how the film will shape up and of course the third criteria will be the meat in the role than length, ” she chirps. Lastly Miss India was annoyed on being asked about the much talk rapport of her and Shoaib Malik. “It’s absolutely not true. I have always denied it and I have always said that there was nothing there is nothing and will be nothing between us.” Well this seems to be quite meaty than a role too. Isn’t it?

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Amrita Rao shocks - Short Kut is an 'A' film

The most anticipated comedy of the summer, Shortkut, has been in the news for some time thanks to leading lady Amrita Rao's sexy makeover. The demure bride-to-be in Vivaah dons an ultra-glam avtaar in Anil Kapoor's next production after Gandhi - My Father. Amrita shocked us when she revealed that Shortkut was an "A" film. Shortkut? An adults' film? To which she laughed, "I don't know if it's occurred to you but all the pillars of Shortkut have names beginning with the alphabet 'A'! Anil Kapoor is our Producer, Anees Bazmee has written the script, and it stars Arshad, Akshaye and myself! So isn’t it a straight 'A' film?" Let's hope this laugh-out-loud comedy is an 'A' at the box office as well! Shortkut releases worldwide on July 10th by Indian Films- Studio18.

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Have Esha Deol or Soha ever complained about my behaviour: Shiney Ahuja

Shiney is appalled by all the tales of his relay-run-ins and coldwars with his leading ladies. “I don’t know where they start and I don’t care where they end. For me my most important woman is …no, not my wife. My daughter Arshiya who is all of 1 year and 7 months. And my wife doesn’t mind being secondary to this lady. She’s now begin to run and talk. Arshiya apne kaam ke saare baat kar leti hai. I think I’ve become completely domesticated. The evenings are completely devoted to my family. The minute she wakes up in the morning we start playing. ” Shiney shared a long-distance marriage with his wife Anu who was in the US for three years. “After I became professionally stable she gave up her job in the US to be with me. Now I like my wife and daughter to be with me as much as possible. They were with me when I was Goa recently while shooting for Pritish Nandy Productions’ Accident.” Shiney’s wife has resumed working again. “She has her own educational company now.” Shiney is now looking forward to starting work on his first American film Silvercord along with Shane West, Val Kilmer and Ving Rhames. “Though I’m the only Indian in the film I play an American. I’ve to adopt the entire attitude of a person who has lived in the US all his life. I need to understand the cultural mindset of an American. Yeah, I think I can look convincing as an American.” The director James Ordonez watched Shiney’s films including Hazaron Khawishein Aisi, Gangster, Life In A Metro and even Hijack. “In fact, ” confides Shiney. “after watching my films James became interested in Bollywood films and got a little bit of a shock. Because my work is not the typical Bollywood fare.” Shiney is happy with his progress. “I’ve learnt my lessons from my failures. From Hijack I learnt not to get into a script I didn’t believe in. I had a problem with the script from the start. But the director was a friend and he had promised me it’d be ok.” I don’t have to get along with everyone I work with. I never had a problem with any co-star.” But Kangna Ranaut and Preity Zinta have complained about Shiney. “While shooting with Kangna I never had any problem. I only read about her grievances later. I suppose she was misquoted. We met at a party recently. We hugged very fondly. Preity? I read her saying Shiney is not in my list of invitees. That’s true. We don’t socialize together. When we met she never said anything against me… Strangely I don’t get linked with my co-stars. I get written about for having fights with my leading ladies. My wife should be happy with that. She trusts me completely.” Shiney has almost completed Accident. Next he flies to LA for Silvercord. “We’re shooting the film in the second-half of the year. I’m excited because Indian actors generally end up playing a taxi driver or restaurant owner in American cinema.”

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Shiney seems to have had consensual sex: Chitrangda Singh

Chitrangda: “I worked with him in two films. It’s very shocking and unfortunate. Though I didn’t know him personally I felt he was a nice guy on the sets. Kept a bit aloof. Quiet and ambitious. He got along with people just fine. I hope the investigations are fair. And that someone doesn’t get punished for being a celebrity. He seems to have said it was consensual sex. I think it takes courage to own up. I hope he stays strong though this. People do make mistakes. One has to pay for wrongs done. But the punishment should be fair. And if there’s rape justice has to be done to the girl.” Pritish Nandy: “The matter is under investigation. I strongly believe in justice taking its own course. However I feel too many people are jumping to too many conclusions. Let’s not judge Shiney until the investigations are concluded. Mahesh Bhatt: “The news has shocked and shamed us. The Shiny we at Vishesh Films worked with in Gangter and Woh Lamhe is not the demon that surfaced in the media on Sunday night. If what is alleged is proved in the courts we must condemn the dastardly deed with all our might.Our outrage cannot be selective. Mukesh Bhatt: “I’m appalled by the way the electronic medium has already labeled Shiney a rapist. You can’t do this to a man who has a family career and a bright future. Do these byte-hungry channels realize how his career would be affected by all these premature and careless reports? Punish him by all means, if he’s guilty. But let the law decide that. How do we now what really happened? Anyone can say anything about someone in the light. Suppose they had consensual sex ? Shiney is a successful man. As far as I can see he can get any woman he wants without forcing himself on anyone. This behaviour seems so out of character and so absurd. Sudhir Mishra: “I was shooting in the night on Sunday and woke up very late on Sunday. I woke to confusing stories about Shiney. What can I say? The Shiney that I know and the Shiney that I hear about now are two different entities. Though he has been a little upset with me for six months because I was working with others actors, we’re very close. Hazaron Khawishein Aisi was not just the film that launched him it was also aturning point in my career. It bonded us for a lifetime. I just can’t believe that the Shiney who’s being accused of this behaviour is the same person I know. There were so many women on the sets. They never had any complaints about Shiney’s behaviour. In fact, Shiney did a film with my assistant Ruchi Narain called Kal. Shiney was always a thorough gentleman. I sm sure there’s some misunderstanding here. Anurag Basu: “I’m in a state of shocked disbelief. This has got to be conspiracy to malign him. Shiney has done two of his best films with me. We’ve bonded over a long period of time. Never ever has there been even a hint of bad behaviour from him. I wouldn’t have tolerated it. I remember once long ago a spotboy had behaved badly with a lady on my sets. I had fired him immediately. One has to be very craeful about these things. It’s not fair to try Shiney on television. Let the law decide. I’ll believe it only if Shiney himself tells me. He has worked with some of the most beautiful heroines. No one has ever had any grievance against him. I feel this is a trap to malign him.” Kunal Kohli: “I worked briefly with Shiney in Fanaa. This is indeed very sad.. Rape is the worst crime a man can commit against a woman. If he’s guilty then it’s really very shocking and shameful.Any rapist should be dealt with in the severest way. Shilpa Shetty (she’s Shiney’s only co-star who cared to respond): “It’s shocking! I can’t believe it. We don’t know for sure what transpired between Shiney and the girl and we really can’t say what the truth us. But if it really happened it’s sad.

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I never thought maid would go to police: Shiney

Bollywood actor Shiney Ahuja, in police custody facing the charge of raping his teenaged housemaid, is in serious trouble as medical tests confirmed rape, while his lawyer Tuesday said any further action for his defence can come only after the charge sheet is filed. "The findings of the medical report confirm the statements in the victim's first information report (FIR), " Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone VI) Niket Kaushik told Tuesday. In another disclosure, the official said that a physical examination of the victim indicated she could be aged between 17 -18 years, making her a minor as per Indian laws. "In order to determine her correct age, we are now planning to send her for appropriate dental and bone examination. So I cannot comment anything on this aspect immediately, " Kaushik said. The actor's lawyer Shrikant Shivede told: "He's in the police station for interrogation as of now. No charge sheet has been filed yet. so we'll think of something when the charge sheet is filed." The actor’s behaviour when the police team went to his Tarapore Towers flat to question him on Sunday evening also roused suspicion, say cops. “We were shocked to see Ahuja sitting comfortably with his friends and enjoying a TV show. He was very calm and comfortable until he saw police and the maid’s relative at his door. He probably, never thought that the matter would go to the police,” said an officer privy to the investigations, on condition of anonymity. “An ordinary man will be terrified right after the incident and will be ill at ease constantly thinking what if the victim goes and tells someone. He will try to do many things to make sure that the victim doesn’t squeal. But Ahuja seemed pretty comfortable watching TV with no fear whatsoever. However once he realised why the police had come to his house he started trembling,” the officer added. Additional CP (Western Region) Amitabh Gupta said, “We are checking his record. Until now we have not found any complaint on record against him. But our investigation is on and we are interrogating various people.” In his statement to the police Shiney Ahuja has stated that he had flirted with the maid on Saturday, and as she made no objections to his advances, he was emboldened and got carried away. He added that he never 'intended to rape the maid', but termed it an 'accident'. Soon after his arrest on Sunday, Shiney told the police that he never thought the maid would approach the police and lodge a complaint against him. He reportedly said, "Maine usey Saturday ke din cheda tha tho usne kuch nahi kaha, aur isliye maine agle din socha ki usse koi problem nahi hai kyunki usne mujhe kuch nahi kaha." During his statement, Shiney broke down and apologised for the crime. "Woh ek haadsa tha, jo mujhse ho gaya." On Sunday, the maid lodged a complaint against Shiney, accusing him of raping her, threatening to kill and illegally confining her, leading to the actor's arrest. The actor was produced before a magistrate in suburban Andheri court Monday afternoon under tight security and was Monday remanded to police custody till June 18. The victim used to commute by local train from Vasai suburb in neighbouring Thane district to Shiney's home daily for doing cooking and other chores along with two other part-time servants. Police say that after interrogation, Shiney said he had "a physical relationship" with the victim. He has reportedly said he could have committed the crime in a drunken state. He is said to be living separately from his wife Anupama, who has rushed from the US to Mumbai. The couple has a daughter. "I love my husband...He is a wonderful father, a great partner and most importantly, he is an innocent man. I stand by him with all my soul, with all my heart, with all my love, " Anupama told a TV channel. She also slammed the reports that the actor had "confessed" to raping his maid. "It is a lie...utter rubbish, " she said. Shiney's parents, who stay in Noida near New Delhi, too have flown here. Asked how they were coping with news, lawyer Shivede said: "Of course, they are shocked. They are not happy." Shiney is an alumnus of the Army Public School and Hansraj College, New Delhi. He started his acting career in 2003 with the critically acclaimed "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi". Later, he acted in movies like "Gangster", "Karam", "Woh Lamhe", "Fanaa", "Hijack", "Life in a Metro" and the box-office hit "Bhool Bhulaiyya". He has bagged over half a dozen acting awards in the past six years for his roles.

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Deepika going global

Deepika Padukone, who has an admirer in Hollywood-filmmaker Rob Cohen, feels she isn’t the only Bollywood actor to have won the west over.

Deepika feels, “The West is now more aware of Bollywood beauty and talent, and it isn’t my victory alone. Most of the young Bollywood actors — Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Sonam — have been noticed in Hollywood in some way or the other.’’ She graciously concedes that it is “the media that has made this possible.’’

She adds, “Talent was always there in our country, but with the media having such a wide reach today, we can reach across the globe more easily.’’

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