Rajesh Khanna defends his movie

Young at Heart: Rajesh Khanna in a still from Raghukul Reet Sadaa Chali Aayee

Says a defiant Rajesh Khanna, insisting his role in Wafaa isn't everyone's cup of tea

After seeing the intimate pictures of Rajesh Khanna in Wafaa, I wanted to go visit Rajesh Khanna to understand why he accepted such a role.

I just needed to know. And also, for the sake of my mother, who was anguished that her once upon a time favourite hero had stooped to conquer.

I just barged into his sets in Film City, Goregaon, where he was shooting for a Hindi serial, Raghukul Reet Sadaa Chali Aayee and demanded he speak to me. Here are excerpts from my conversation with him...

Tell me about your role in Wafaa?

It has released today... you can go see it! (Smiles)

What motivated you to choose such a role?

What do you mean, motivate? (Pauses) It's a powerful script and a powerful role. It's a dynamic role, which is not every actor's cup of tea and so I chose that role. I know what you really want to ask me.

Okay then, so tell me. What made you do those scenes...
It is a bold script, undoubtedly. It is so bold that the Censor Board has given it a 'U' certificate (laughs).

It received a 'U' certificate after the bold scenes were chopped? As far as I know, it has an 'A' certificate...
I don't think so. I haven't seen the film after the censorship decision. But I've been told that there were very minor cuts. I know you want to ask me I am doing such scenes at this age with a heroine half my age.

Especially after doing 175 films which have been so beautifully oriented in terms of characterisation, in story matter, lyrics and songs. You would want to know that if in the song Roop Tera Mastana (Aradhana) the hero doesn't even touch the heroine, and yet the song had romance as well as sex, why I have done this?
Exactly...

My answer is because the subject demanded it and I'm sure once you see the movie, you will know and understand and will agree that it is justified. I will say that the romantic scenes are not Bollywood, but Hollywood. I'm brave enough to say that to own up to it. I am not at all shy or even reluctant to say this: I am proud of those scenes because behind those scenes there is a story. I am not a fool that at this age, given what I am today, I will do a Hollywood style romance with an actress half my age. I am a very sensible guy. I have my head on my shoulders. I have no dearth of films.

Your fans are very disappointed.

Seeing the photographs and trying to judge and pass judgment is not justified. It is no justice done to Mr Rajesh Khanna because I would not do a thing that would bring me dishonour, or be below my dignity. All my films are not like this. I have not done it in 175 films, why will I do it now??? The story demanded it. The subject demanded it. It is a very new kind of subject, and so I went for it. When one sees the photographs it gives you a wrong impression but when you see it in the film, it gives you an impression that it had to be this way! And it is not done deliberately or to attract audience into the theatre. That's the publicity or game plan of the producer or the director and not the actor! When my fans see the film, they will write in to say they got the wrong impression from the photographs.

What reactions have you received since the photos were published?

We do our role and go away. We are not forced in to it. There is grace in every scene. There is dignity in every scene. Other wise Rajesh Khanna is not game. I went from being an actor to a star, and then a superstar. My audience has made me who I am. I have their love and affection and I don't want to lose that.

Your co-star Laila Khan says you treated her like a daughter, was it difficult to do intimate scenes with her?

No. Laila might have said that but I don't say that. It is not a father-daughter relationship. It is two friends who could happen to be of a different age group but we are friends, we are colleagues and she is my heroine and the only difference is the age barrier.

Laila might have said that but I don't say that. It is not a father daughter relationship. It is two friends who could happen to be of a different age group but we are friends, we are colleagues and she is my heroine; the only difference is the age barrier

I am not at all shy or not even reluctant to say this: I'm proud of those scenes because behind those scenes, there is a story. I am not a fool that at this age, given what I am today, I will do a Hollywood style romance with an actress half my age

It's a powerful script and a powerful role. It's dynamic and isn't every actor's cup of tea and so I chose that role Rajesh Khanna

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What's common to CHALTE CHALTE, TASHAN & WANTED?

Our headlines may lead some of our patrons to assume that by mentioning the three movies, CHALTE CHALTE, TASHAN and WANTED–DEAD AND ALIVE we are merely trying to imply that they feature the top stars of Bollywood like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan respectively. Well, that is true but here is something uniquely common to all the three mentioned films.

Yes, all the three films, the two already released ones CHALTE CHALTE and TASHAN and the third in the making WANTED DEAD AND ALIVE all have the rare distinction of being shot in the beautiful island of Greece.

While we have all enjoyed the pristine beauty of the beaches of Greece in CHALTE CHALTE and TASHAN, news from reliable trade source is that Salman Khan and Ayesha Takia have shot for as many as three songs in Greece. And the report is that the songs are simply awesome due to the beautiful and never seen before locales, despite director–choreographer Prabhu Deva's personal tragedy in the middle of the shootingFor Gossips And Mirch Masala Log On To Bollywood Paradize

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Neha Dhupia - Bye-bye to lead roles?

Neha Dhupia is certainly on a reinvention spree. She had two successful films to her name early this year in the form of MITHYA and SINGH IS KINNG. Now soon after the release of DASVIDANIYA, where she had a relatively smaller role to play though, she recently appeared in MAHARATHI. With the kind of films she is currently associated with, the ones where there isn't a conventional hero–heroine pairing, does it indicate bye–bye to lead roles?

"Tell me if you see actresses anyways doing something special in commercial films", Neha questions back.

She goes on to state, "So many leading ladies are being merely puppets. Not that I have not done that or won't be doing that, but then I am also taking up other roles to balance it all out. In fact one such film where I get to enjoy the best of the both worlds is RAFTAAR. It has a very balanced out characterization."

And how about MAHARATHI? As Naseeruddin Shah's wife, she was as much as a central character as the man who seemingly shoots himself after throwing a challenge to his wife to make his death sound like a murder and go on to benefit from insurance. How kicked was she about this film?

"The film had everything going for it. What a subject! Also, coming together of so much talent in the form of Naseeruddin Shah, Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Boman Irani was unbelievable. In fact when the film came to me, I went like 'Are you kidding me, I can really be a part of this project'? Yes, the script was ultimately the deciding factor and I can say that MAHARATHI was written quite amazingly", she says in a gleeful tone.

Working with such stalwarts would have been unnerving though?

"I won't deny that I was very nervous initially. But then I tried being normal in front of the camera and come up with a natural act. I just went ahead and gave the shot. I stopped thinking that because of people around me, would I actually be able to do it right", she reveals.

2009 looks bright too for Neha Dhupia with quite some variety of films lined up for release.

"Yes, after a busy 2008, I would be seen and heard a lot around in 2009 as well", says Neha, "There are movies like RAAT GAYI BAAT GAYI and I AM 24 which are completed and should release early 2009. Then I have also just completed PAPPU CAN'T DANCE SAALA. RAFTAAR with Emraan Hashmi is a film I am looking forward to. I would also be beginning work on Priyadarshan's DE DANA DAN with Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif."
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How Aamir tore a muscle while shooting for Ghajini!

There is no denying the fact that Aamir Khan and his latest film Ghajini is the flavor of the season. Put on any T.V. channel or read any newspaper or surf through any website, chances are you will surely come across one or the other story revolving around Ghajini. Right from Aamir's cropped look to his chiseled physique to his debutante heroine Asin, everything about the film has managed to make news. Ghajini is a film that is indeed special to the actor as he has literally given it his all for this particular role. Not many know that apart from the intense and grueling workout sessions, Aamir also had two injuries whilst shooting for this film. Here's a shot by shot lowdown on how the Perfectionist Khan got injured on the sets of the film

Aamir is seen chasing the villain (Pradeep Singh Rawat) in the narrow by-lanes of Sultan Bazaar in this particular shot. The shot required the actor to chase the villain and take a running dive to bring him down.

As soon as he takes the leap, Aamir feels his muscles buckled as he trips and falls on the ground with a thud but luckily for him, the floor has been covered with cloth sheets. Peter Hines, the action director had apparently laid out a layer of thermocol and Aamir felt it was the sudden softness of this very thermocol that caused him to trip and fall.

While initially everyone thinks that it's just a normal fall, unit members rush to Aamir's aid when they see him writhing in pain.

From the looks of it, Aamir seems to have caused a slight tear in his left hamstring and is in quite a bit of pain. Anxious crew members meanwhile look a bit worried about the actor's well-being.

Aamir finds it even difficult to pick himself up and is offered a helping hand by director A.R. Murugadoss and other unit members. It's finally time for some first aid and immediate medical attention. The injury caused a delay in shooting the climax of the film and Aamir even spoke about this injury at length in his by now famous blog.

This was the second time that Aamir had injured himself (within a span of a few weeks) while shooting for Ghajini. Three weeks before this injury took place, Aamir had injured his inner right thigh when he had to pick up a burly villain and slam him against the wall. Shooting had to be stalled for a while (even then) till the actor recovered from his injury.

Surely with the number of times he has injured his body while shooting for this film and with all those grueling training schedules, Ghajini is a film that Aamir won't forget for a long time to come.

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After SRK, Hrithik into Gulf dealings!

Superhero Hrithik Roshan is getting business savvy and for that he is following in the footsteps of his friend and one of the most successful film personality, one whose business dealings are always extremely profitable and respectable. Hrithik is emulating none other than Bollywood's global superstar Shah Rukh Khan as he, like SRK, is venturing into a mega real estate project in the UAE.

Just recently Hrithik Roshan was in Dubai along with Shah Rukh Khan and other eminent Bollywood and Hollywood personalities for the opening ceremony of the Atlantis Hotel. Hrithik confirmed that he will be endorsing a property deal in the UAE and that he will sign the contract papers in January 2009. He added that the deal was in the initial stages and that he would disclose further details once things are finalized. Well, here is wishing our superhero a similar success as King Khan.

While on SRK, as per Shafi Toffic, the president of the UAE based TSA group, which is overseeing the construction of the beach front project, the $2.2 Billion Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard (Ras Al Khaimah) is set to be complete by 2012
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Mugdha becomes a true hippie!!!

Fear not, the promising actress Mugdha Godse hasn't decided to leave Bollywood! It's just that Mugdha is currently homeless!!!

The beautiful actress is redoing her entire house. She was planning to shift to a 5–star hotel as she has handed over the whole house to the workers. But the actress's friends were aghast that she would even contemplate staying in a hotel!!!

They argued with her that even if her family was in Pune, she was to treat their homes as her home.

So currently Mugdha is going through her friends list, and staying at each of her friend�s house for a day, for the next 15 days!!!

And her luggage? It's constantly with her in her car!!!!

This is what you call – Living life hippie style!!
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Why is Kareena gorging and Kajol starving

The two top actresses of Bollywood Kajol and Kareena are indeed doing as mentioned in our headlines! Kajol is on a strict diet and Kareena Kapoor has been asked to put on weight. Well, nothing to be surprised about. They are merely following instructions from none other than their producer, Karan Johar!

As is known both Kajol and Kareena are working under the Dharma Productions banner but in two different films. Kajol is doing Karan Johar's MY NAME IS KHAN and Kareena in the Rensil D'Silva directed Karan Johar produced film.

Kajol is scheduled to commence the shooting of Karan Johar's next directorial venture, MY NAME IS KHAN and for that Karan wants Kajol to shed a few kilos to look a part of her character. So he has asked Kajol to go on a strict diet of almonds (!). Surprised? Well, the healthy nut is known to help shed weight in a jiffy. As for Kareena, she has been asked to put on weight for the Rensil D'Silva directed Saif and Vivek starrer. Karan has told her forthrightly that he does not believe in the size zero figure for a Hindi film heroine and has requested Kareena to eat properly and put on a bit of weight.

And people thought becoming an actor was an easy job!

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Hrithik-Barbara lovestory transcends boundaries!

Anurag Basu is super excited about his latest film under production KITES, starring Hrithik Roshan opposite Mexican Barbara Mori, which is about love transcending cultural and language barriers.

Here, Barabar Mori's character speaks only Spanish and while that of Hrithik's only Hindi, but despite of this barrier they fall in love with each other. But in spite of all the talks about steamy scenes the movie is not about sex but is an intensely romantic film.

There is some spice too in the story with a love triangle involving Kangana Ranaut's character and a thriller twist towards the end.

Director Anurag is working with the very talented and handsome Hrithik Roshan for the first time. He says, "Hrithik and I really enjoyed working together. I always respected him as an actor but now I respect him as a human being too. Hrithik and I made the film honestly, just like we wanted to."

Anurag was amazed by Hirthik's professionalism in spite of a knee injury.

"Before every shot I would be worried about Hrithik's knee. If anything happened to him, then our entire outdoor shooting schedule would've gone for a toss. But Hrithik asked me not to compromise the shots under any circumstance. I'm awed by the way he managed, without ever letting the shoot halt. He even did the few action scenes we have in the film himself."Says Anurag.

And it is learnt that Anurag is impressed by Barbara Mori too. He stated, "The day I narrated bout KITES I knew I had chosen the right actress. I've this bad habit of narrating very fast. Barbara is a Mexican actress, so she is not aware of Hindi and also less familiar with English. But the way she understood my story, hats off to her. Her expressions changed while I was narrating the story. I've never seen any actor responding this way. Even though she comes from a different culture, the emotions of love and relationships are the same. Her approach was definitely different."

KITES will be complete by January and Basu says he is nervous because of the huge expectations surrounding the multilingual film and hopes that it delivers.

We too want the movie on which he worked so hard to deliver maximum results.

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