Freida Pinto at the Chanel Show in Paris

Unlike other Bollywood stars who aim and long for Hollywood projects, but keep Mumbai as their base clinging on to Bollywood films, The 24-year-old Slumdog Millionaire actress, Freida Pinto has moved to New York to concentrate on her Hollywood career. Not that her move has been too hasty or unplanned. The gorgeous actress has already been signed by Woody Allen for his next film where she will star alongside Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins and Antonio Banderas.

And also, the gal is making her presence felt on the international front dazzling at major events. Recently, she was spotted at the Chanel show in Paris Fashion Week where she outdid her fellow front row occupants supermodels Kate Moss and Claudia Schiffer. She was was the centre of attention in a white draped cocktail dress with a black layered chain detail and black stilettos.

The Mumbai native, had earlier confessed to getting star struck despite now being a celebrity in her own right, with the stupendous success of her debut film which went on to win eight Academy awards.

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‘Jade’ brings Hema, Esha and Ahana together

There is no denying the fact that Hema Malini and her two daughters, Esha and Ahana Deol, are perhaps the rarest combination of beauty and talents in any of the Bollywood families. However, the three rarely come together for any project despite the fact that all of them are related to the tinsel town.

Now, for the first time the Mother-daughters trio have come together for the cover sotry and page of the magazine ‘Jade’. The issue has Hema talk about issues like how did a South Indian coped in a North dominated film industry, to which Hema said that “There is no north-south divide at all in the film industry. It’s all in the minds of the public.” She also speaks about her first tele-serial called ‘Noopur’, which was launched in the early nineties. Hema also answers questions about ‘What’s missing from today’s actresses, How she would be remembered, What’s her take on today’s Bollywood…’to say the least.

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Gulaal - Movie Review

Starring: Kay Kay Menon, introducing Raj Singh Chaudhary, Jesse Randhawa, Deepak Dobriyal, Aditya Srivastava, Ayesha Mohan, Piyush Mishra and Abhimanyu Singh Director: Anurag Kashyap Rating: **** Set in the fictional Rajpur town of modern-day Rajasthan, Gulaal is entangled with stories of student politics, a covertly taking shape local rebellion for an independent Rajputana stare and love taking it forward. The meek, Dileep Singh (Raj Singh Chaudhary), is an idealistic man who gets caught in the whirlpool of student politics and much more, as he gets sucked into the world of Rananjay (Abhimanyu Singh), Dukkey Bana (Kay Kay), an autocratic local Rajput leader who is leading a planned armed movement to reclaim Rajputana for Rajputs, a brother-sister couple (Aditya and Ayesha), the illegitimate children of an erstwhile Rajput king who are seething at their bastard status (Aditya Srivastava, Ayesha Mohan) and Anuja (Jesse), a young teacher who becomes a social misfit in college after a particular incident inflicted upon her by college hooligans. Dilip gets used as a pawn by people who matter to him and ends up being an unwilling player in a sinister plot. What it all leads to forms the rest of the film. Bollywood gets yet another talented actor in Raj Singh Chaudhari who is also the co-writer of the film. In a film packed with great acting talents, Raj stands out with his convincing act. Kay Kay Menon as always is simply superb. Another show stealer is Deepak Dobriyal who plays his loyal assistant in the film. He speaks volumes just with his expressions without speaking much. Mahie Gill as the mujra girl cum beauty parlour owner is stunning and has tremendous screen presence. Aditya Srivastava and Ayesha Mohan are good as well. Piyush Mishra is terrific as Kay Kay’s brother and has the film’s best lines. Gulaal was claimed as Anurag Kashyap’s angriest film and it indeed is. It explores the dynamics of royalty vis-à-vis the democratic system. Sectionalism today has set everywhere in a big way and the film is the true reflection of where our nation stands today. Though been in the making for more than four years now, never once the film gives a dated feeling. The credit for which also goes to cinematographer Rajeev Ravi. Kashyap’s dialogues that are replete with sarcastic one-liners, beautiful poetries and philosophies and also the referential meanings are amongst the finest seen on screen for a long long time in Bollywood. Piyush Mishra apart from acting superbly also scores full marks for his hard hitting lyrics and beautiful music that is mix of many interesting things such as sarcasm, peppiness, and sensibility. It is the film’s lyrics and music that make the film a completely an extraordinary experience. Gulaal is something that is extremely relatable, especially for today’s youth. Though at a running time of over two and a half hours, there are times when the film tends to appear dragging, it is worth a watch. The film though has Anurag’s now trademark abstractness at times, it is not as incomprehensible as it was in No Smoking or in Dev.D. Go watch Gulaal.

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Am I crazy to get married now: Kareena Kapoor

Kareena has received as many as four awards in the last one month. And she loves it “Who doesn’t like attention, recognition and awards? I’ve got four awards in a month beginning with the environment award I got from Erin Brockovich, then two youth icon awards from Rotary International and Stardust. And now on Tuesday I was honoured by FICCI which Mr Yash Chopra gave to me.” Kareena is running out space to keep the trophies. “ My mother gets exasperated each time I bring home another trophy. Saif wants to know where I’m going to keep all of them. I’ve set aside a whole enclave for trophies and awards. I love looking at them. One day my children are going to look at them and be proud of me.” For children to happen Kareena first needs to get married. “It won’t happen for the next two years for sure. Am I crazy to get married now when so many wonderful things are happening to my career? Saif himself is ultra-busy trying to set up his production house. Marriage can wait. I’m just happy to have him by my side. I’ve got the best guy any girl can ever have. Right now I’m so busy I don’t have time to sleep properly. I haven’t even had time to move into my new house.” After a long time Kareena will be in Mumbai for a some time now. “I’ve a month-long schedule of Rensil’s film coming up in Mumbai.” It’s hard for Kareena to keep up with the surge crowds and awards in her life. In Delhi last week, Saif and Kareena returned home this week to Mumbai without much shooting done for Rensil d’Silva’s film. “We never expected such crowds. They were everywhere. And it was impossible to shoot, ” she says sounding not the least put off. “Those people who love me out there keep me going. I love my fans and awards.” And now Delhi will have to be fudged in the Mumbai schedule of d’Silva’s film. The extent of the surging crowds in Delhi in the key shooting spots like Jama Masjid and Janpath for Rensel D’Silva’s untitled film was so huge and unmanageable that the unit has returned without shooting the required sequences. Back in Mumbai after a week of futile shooting Kareena says, “ Everywhere we went there were these huge number of people who had come to see Saif and me. They were very sweet very well-behaved. But unfortunately the number of people in key places like Jama Masjid and Janpath was always too high to shoot properly.” Resultantly there was almost no shooting. Says Kareena, “We did can some shots. But it was impossible to shoot with wide-angle lenses because the crowds were everywhere. We’ll now have to recreate some of the Delhi sequences in Mumbai.” Kareena is certainly not unhappy about the attention she got in Delhi. “The people in Delhi were so warm. It just made me realize how much of a responsibility I have towards my audience. At this stage of my career I’d rather take another holiday than do a bad film.”

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Aamir gets to see Big B's secret new look but Ranbir gets turned away

The Big B had a surprise visitor at Film City on Saturday when Aamir Khan dropped in to meet him while he was shooting for Balki's Pa with Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan. Visitors are strictly not allowed on the sets of Paa. But who says no to Aamir? Some awkward moments ensued when Aamir showed up. But he was soon escorted to Mr Bachchan's van where the makeup man (none other than Stephan Dupuis who did Robin Williams' makeup in Mrs Doubtfire) was at it for a good four hours. And then Aamir certifiably became the first person outside the cast and crew of Pa to see the Big B in his startling prosthetic-induced new look. However there was a price. Aamir was sworn to secrecy literally, that he wouldn't reveal the details of Mr Bachchan's look in Pa to the outside world. The film's director Balki is paranoid about his leading man's looks leaking out. "We don't allow a single visitor, not even close relatives or friends of crew members on the set. Phones of course are a complete no-no. The next thing you know the look will be splashed on the net. Aamir of course couldn't be turned down. But yes, we did swear him to complete secrecy almost like a boy scout's cross-your-heart kind of pledge. We can't afford to take any risks. If Mr Bachchan's look leaks out the plot is out. In any case Aamir is a man who understands the exigencies of cinema. He will hardly be expected to leak out the look." While Aamir was lucky enough to get a dekko at the Big B's unique never-before look, Sanjay Dutt and Ranbir Kapoor who dropped in on Sunday were not that lucky. While Dutt met up with the Big B when the senior actor was not in his makeup and costumes, Ranbir had to be turned away after being appeased by looking at a photograph of the Big B's look!

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Preity is nominated for Best Actress with Susan Sarandon: Deepa Mehta

Under what name is your film releasing across the globe besides India? Across India, the film will be released with the name Videsh and in the rest of the world as Heaven On Earth. With a story so strong and its message out loud and clear, do you think a change in the name of a film really matters when it's speaking of a universal subject? I am not the distributor of the film, I am a filmmaker. If the distributor knows that the change in the name is helping the Indian audiences, I will listen to them because that's not my expertise. Jag Mundhra had shown some startling issues surrounding a Punjabi woman's plight in his film Provoked. Are we going to see your woman, Preity Zinta, going through the same torment in Videsh? I must say that Heaven on Earth or Videsh is very different from Provoked. It's like what Shakespeare said - There are three stories in the world and its how you tell them that makes one different from the other. Yes, this story is partly about domestic abuse, but for me, the film is about the power of imagination. When reality becomes so grim, how can you use your imagination to liberate yourself? That is what the film is about. The milieu is of course the isolation of the first generation working class immigrant, whether they are in the U.S, the U.K, Australia or in this case Canada because it's the first generation that suffers the most. Films are tagged as commercial, art house and world cinema. What tag fits the kind of films you make or have made over the years? This is so bizarre (laughs). I don't think I fit any of them. I just write and tell stories. Only when a film is very particular, that's the very minute it starts becoming universal. I hope my films are universal. Let's talk about your new find - Vansh Bhardwaj. Tell us a bit more about this talent. He is amazing. It's his first film. He was a lead in the play I saw, a play by Neelam Maan Singh Chowdhary. He did Girish Karnad's Naag Mandala. I was so blown away by the play that I used it in the film too with Girish's blessings. I think the theatre actors have a lot of depth and discipline. I asked Vansh if he wanted to be a part of my film and he readily agreed, and you put him with a star like Preity Zinta, nothing beats it. I must say, Preity was very generous to Vansh. The Best Actress at the Chicago Film Festival 2008 - Preity Zinta! Will she be able to surpass the best? (Laughs) I think it'll be really immodest if I said that this isn't her best performance to date and the other directors won't like me too much. But I think she is superb in the film and personally, it's a world class performance. Preity is also nominated under the Best Actress at the Genie Awards 2009 along with top international celebs, right? Yes, you're right. She is nominated for the Best Actress in a Leading Role along with Susan Sarandon. The awards are to take place next month in April. Do you agree that it rightly takes a director to suck out the best of the hidden talent from an actor in order for them to win an award on a global platform? And why can't other directors do the same? I think it's the work. It's not necessary that a director is very important. I can never forget Cher in the lovely movie Moonstruck. What a wonderful performance. Everybody was shocked that she could act like that. She also won an Academy Award for the Best Actress for Moonstruck and she went up on the stage and said, "I would like to thank my hair dresser". She didn't thank the director. It was a bit weird but what I'm trying to say is that, generally, good directors really take out wonderful performances. But for a film to do well, it isn't the director alone. It has to start from the script. What other films are you working on? I'm working on two films currently. One is a film called Exclusion with Akshay Kumar and the other is based on Sulman Rushdie's book called The Midnights Children. Any filmmaker likes commercial and critical acclaim. Are you content or hungry for more? The day I get content, I will stop making films. Contentment makes you lazy and gives you a false sense of security. If you want to make films, you need to be hungry for more. In your future projects, would you like to work with actors of your past films like Aamir, John, etc? I can't think of any right now. But I am really looking forward to be working with Akshay Kumar in my next film. I hope one day comes when I work with Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerjee. You're a Canadian citizen. Don't you get impressed with stories from the West as well? Yeah, some of them. I just feel that I can deal with the authenticity of India and the Indians far better. It's not that I haven't done anything in the West. I have. I think to get into the western mind sets is difficult for me, not impossible, but it's not entirely satisfactory. What is it that you're trying to say with Heaven On Earth? That you can't be simplistic about it. It's out dated now that the West has a lot to offer than India. So if anybody would be able to revisit the fact that perhaps, they should not be so ready to leave home. As the character says in the film - Sometimes it's better to live in Hell than in Heaven where there is more self dignity. How did you celebrate Holi? I've got a lot of purple colour on my face from which I can't get out. It's scary because I have to attend the Press conference for the film too. I had great fun with friends and we celebrated the festival of colours with a lot of rang. You've worked with the music director A.R. Rahman before. But how about working with the Oscar winner now? (Laughs) Yes, A.R did the music for Fire, Earth and Water. I'd love to work with the Oscar winner now, you're right (laughs). He definitely deserved an Oscar. But we should never ever forget that he has always been a brilliant music director and just because the West has recognised him doesn't mean that he is more recognised now Sum up your film Videsh in one word please. Videsh is a celebration of the imagination.

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Blue - Movie Preview

It takes a maverick director to propose the most expensive film in Bollywood ever and its takes a gutsy producer to agree. But to actually get the biggest cast together, combined with the finest international crew, a prodigy music composer, and an international music sensation ....Now that's either sheer madness or sheer genius! In case you are wondering what we are talking about its none other than one of 2009's biggest and most anticipated films Blue. We brings you some never before seen stills from Blue. So get set to dive deep into the ocean and start an adventurous expedition to uncover the treasures hidden under the sea. Blue has a starcast that would put any big multi-starrer to shame. Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Zayed Khan, Lara Dutta and Katrina Kaif form the principal cast who are out to find the deepest and darkest secrets hidden 250 feet below the ocean. The film has been directed by Anthony D'Souza who makes his debut with this flick and the producers are none other than Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd. (makers of hits such as Jab We Met & Golmaal Returns). The film has been shot at some of the most exotic locations such as the Bahamas and its India's first ever underwater film. Blue has music by double Oscar winner and pride of the nation A.R.Rahman. What's more, Australian pop sensation Kylie Minogue has been roped in to render two tracks for this high octane flick. You surely won't be able to get this music out of your head for a long, long time. Among the international crew, Pete Zuccarini (who has shot some of the biggest Hollywood blockbusters like Pirates of the Carribean, Deja vu etc.) is the man who has given a true international look to the film while action director James Bomalick (the man behind Indiana Jones series) is at the helm of coordinating the dare-devil action sequences. In addition, the crew also has George Peters, the Ultimate Arm Operator, who has added adrenaline to Hollywood hits like The Dark Knight, Polar Express, Superman Returns & Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Last but not the least, Resul Pookutty, Oscar winner who impressed one and all with his sound mixing in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire is the man who will be exploring the unique sound of bubbles, lashing waves and the pure blue surf in this action adventure. With such an ensemble cast and crew, one can't wait to check out this magnum-opus.

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Daredevil Zinta's back in business!

“Sometimes in life, you have small mountains to climb and small fears to conquer,” states actress-cum-entrepreneur Preity Zinta. No, she didn’t

expound these words of wisdom at a philosophical meet; on the contrary, the bubbly Preity was talking about her first-time experience at bungee-jumping and sky-diving! The always-full-of-life actress was in New Zealand last week for the India-New Zealand cricket matches, and she’s come back super excited. No, not just because India won but because of the mind-blowing adventure sports she did there, courtesy, she says, New Zealand Tourism.

“This has been a complete action-packed, adrenaline-pumping trip,” says an excited Preity, as she talks of her sporting encounters in the adventure capital of the world. For not only did she take the gigantic leap from the 47 metre-high Waikato River Valley, but she also indulged in sky-diving and the heart-pounding Huka Jet Boat ride. “I have always wanted to do bungee-jumping, but somehow never got the chance before. So it was literally a dream come true for me,” says Preity. Her only thoughts as she was being strapped on, she says, were of all the Indian Gods! “There are certain moments in your life when you think of your whole life in two seconds... this was one of those moments. My heart was pumping so fast with excitement, and then suddenly I went blank. I had no thoughts. I just knew I had to jump!”

Although the daredevil Preity isn’t scared of heights, she admits she is, er was, scared of water. But after taking the Jet Boat ride, that too is a thing of the past. “After doing the bungee-jump, the Jet Boat was a piece of cake,” she laughs. Ask her to sum up her free fall experience and she tells us that “it’s an inexplicable high. Bungee-jumping goes well with my theory on life, that when you’re down, the only place you can go is up!”

What also made the entire experience more special was the place — besides the fact that both the bungee-jump and the Jet Boat were invented in New Zealand, Preity shares a special connection with the country. “My first major commercial hit, Soldier, was shot there as well as many of my other hits. Besides, it’s a lovely country with amazing scenic beauty.” So she would do it all again, huh? “Absolutely! I’d do it anytime I get the opportunity!” says the self-proclaimed adventure junkie.

Veer towards cricket and the upcoming IPL and Preity beams again. “But before the IPL, I’ve got Deepa Mehta’s Videsh – Heaven on Earth releasing. And I’m shooting for other films too. People say Preity Zinta’s gone, but I’m back in business!” she signs off, the excitement still ringing through her voice.

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