Bollywood Paradize

Emraan-Soha will do what SRK and Akki couldn't

Post under Bollywood News, Emraan Hasmi

Four years back, the infamous Mumbai floods had created headlines world over. True to their reputation, the Bhatt brothers have taken a cue from these headlines and finished Tum Mile, a film that has the 2005 floods as its backdrop.

Directed by Kunal Deshmukh of Jannat fame, the film stars Vishesh Films' blue eyed boy Emraan Hashmi along with Soha Ali Khan and is all set for a 24th July release.

Says a unit source, "The film sees the return of Sony Music and Vishesh Films who had collaborated just a few weeks back for Raaz - The Mystery Continues. Not only was the horror flick biggest hit ever for Emraan Hashmi and Vishesh Films, even if one looks at the quarter gone by, Raaz - The Mystery Continues is the first and the only hit of 2009."

He does make a point when while stating the fact that this is no mean feat considering that some of the biggest stars and biggest movies were released in the first quarter of 2009.

"Look at Akshay Kumar's Chandni Chowk To China, Shah Rukh Khan's Billu, Abhishek Bachchan's Delhi 6 or Farhan Akhtar's Luck By Chance - not a single film turned lucky and actually sunk without a trace."

Says Mukesh Bhatt, "We have always maintained that content is the King. We have backed strong content and now the icing on the cake is that we also have a top actor (Emraan Hashmi) amongst us. This only makes the project bigger and better."

Not much is revealed about the story line of the movie though except for the fact that it is a love story with a backdrop of infamous 26th July'05 Mumbai floods. Apparently, the characters played by Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan get trapped in the floods.

Insiders have been raving about the canvas of the film since these floods on the streets of Mumbai have been re-created.

"You should have been on the sets to believe it", says Emraan Hashmi, "Water level there was scary enough to actually drown people. Kunal (Deshmukh) wanted the situation to be an exact replica of the horrific flood situation that the city faced that fateful night. It was difficult to even imagine how commuters would have struggled with no support whatsoever."

The film is also special for another reason. Though Raaz - The Mystery Continues saw Bhatts coming together with a team of different composers, Tum Mile marks the coming back of Pritam whose last association with them had resulted in blockbuster musical success Jannat'.

Earlier, he has also worked on the music of Awarapan, Gangster and Woh Lamhe for the Bhatt banner.

Tum Mile is not the first film though which has been based on the 2005 floods. A small time film called 26th July at Barista was released without any fanfare last year.

The film had starred newcomers like Kabier Sawhney and Simran Vaid and was touted as a tribute to all the people of Mumbai who faced this hard reality and overcame it. However, the film had arrived unannounced and sank without a trace.

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The ugly truth about Katrina-Aishwarya battle

Post under Bollywood News, Katrina Kaif

After there were talks all around about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan being immortalized as a Barbie doll, there was speculation that Genelia D’Souza was considered too because of her doll like and younger face.

Then suddenly it came out that Katrina Kaif will be the Barbie and she claimed that Ash was not in the running at all.

She also went around telling whoever cared to listen that she’s the first Indian to get that privilege.

Well, many ridiculed that claim of hers as she holds a British passport.

And Kat might claim that she has nothing against Ash and she respects her and all that, but smart cookie Ash isn't one to stay quiet without clarifying things.

She said she refused the Barbie doll deal due to her professional commitments.

In fact her representatives were in negotiations with Barbie's manufacturer Mattel, who planned to give the iconic doll a Bollywood face. But the deal did not take off.

In fact since 1994 when Aishwarya won the Miss World title, the company has made numerous attempts to make a celebrity doll modelled on the Indian beauty.

However, she could never make time for their endeavour, due to her professional commitments. Again on the doll's 50th anniversary, Aishwarya was approached to appear decked up as a celebrity Barbie but she had to opt out of that too due to her prior commitments with film-makers whose shoots clashed with the events.

A statement issued by Aishwarya's spokesperson said, "Mattel was keen to have the actress walk the ramp on Lakme Fashion Week 'Barbie dolled up' in a winning design as Single Likeness Barbie, which would be unveiled and auctioned for a charity of her choice."

God alone knows what the whole truth is. Hopefully we’ll get a glimpse of the whole truth one fine day Till then, Katrina can shut up and enjoy it all.

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Preity is overwhlemed by Dharamji

Post under Bollywood News, Preity Zinta

When Preity Zinta had a special screening of her film Videsh – Heaven on Earth for a select few, the surprise guest was our macho man Dharmendra, who was shyly standing in a corner and smiling at everyone who came in.

And the humble man actually strode up to the people he didn’t know and introduced himself, making easy conversation and making them comfortable. It took loads of pressure off Preity who could then focus on a few guests herself. So while she got into a serious discussion with Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Dharamji had Kangna Ranaut charmed with his sweet stories.

They even discussed TV shows and what they liked watching. So cute, no? Kangna was floored by his simplicity and charm. As for Dharam, he blushed more than PZ’s and Kangna’s pink-pink cheeks put together. But like we’ve always said, once you gottit, you gottit. Gettit?

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Terminator SRK is back in action

Post under Bollywood News, Shahrukh khan

Mr Bionic Man is at it again.

With even more ‘titanium’ (and various metallic parts) inside his body, Shah Rukh Khan actually laughed aloud when we called him ‘Terminator’. “Yes. I’m a Terminator. I terminate my rivals. I terminate obstacles and I’m now even more ‘bionic’ than before,” he told us.

And all the ‘metal’ is probably putting more steel in his spine too, when it comes to dealing with ‘shouldering’ all his roles and responsibilities. In fact, he’s hit the floor running — from walking the ramp, to shooting for Karan’s film, to planning his cricket strategies to shooting videos... Phew! Now isn’t that too much bojh on his brand new shoulder? Well, it’s only because his recently operated shoulder is still healing. Otherwise our King Khan can stalwartly carry the cross of Bollywood on his big, broad shoulders, hai na? And while his whirlwind activity is on, we heard that Gauri and buddy Karan Johar have been tut-tutting and are becoming overly protective about that still ‘sore’ part of him. He’s shooting for

My Name Is Khan, and Karan’s been overtly careful to shoot only some easy portions with SRK, no heavy-duty stuff for him for sometime. Hmnnnn. Does this also mean that he won’t be jumping on some cricketer and wrapping himself around him...a la Shoaib Akhtar last year? Hmnnn and double hmnnnn!

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DR. A.R. Rahman

Post under A.R. Rahman, Bollywood News

The musical genius will be conferred a doctorate by the Middlesex University!

A R Rahman is on the receiving end. After the honorary doctorate offered by the Anna University, Chennai for his achievements in the field of music, now it is the turn of Middlesex University, London.

The Mozart of Madras has been identified for an honorary degree by the reputed Middlesex University, London. The degree is likely to be conferred on the maestro on the day of the Graduation Ceremony to be held at Middlesex University in London in the month of July this year. Mr. Joe Victor, Regional Director of Middlesex University met Mr. A.R Rahman and Mr. T Selvakumar Co-founder & CEO of KM Music Conservatory in Chennai, regarding this issue.

KM Music Conservatory & Audio Media Education was launched in the month of July last year. Their main goal is to train Indian students in Western music performance, Composition and Music Technology so that they can compete in the international arena. They are also working towards forming their own symphony orchestra consisting of its own musicians.

Talks are on with the Regional Director South Asia of Middlesex University, London, for academic recognition for the Bachelor of Arts Honors Program for Music Composition and Music Performance. This will be a three year program the first two years of which will be at Chennai at the KM Conservatory and the final year in London. The course is likely to start from January 2010. The eligibility criteria to avail this degree would be a pass in twelfth standard and one year training in KM Music Conservatory Foundation Program.

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Who will be the next Miss India?

Post under Bollywood News

Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai, Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra and yesteryear beauties like Zeenat Aman, Persis Khambatta and Nafisa Ali all owe their international fame and recognition to the 56 year old Femina Miss India contest which is all set to crown its next beauty queens.

AND as always, Bollywood will make its presence felt at the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009. Former beauty queen Priyanka Chopra, showstopper Kangana Ranaut and the lively Genelia D’souza will dance to their chartbusting numbers. The performances will be choreographed by function favourite Shiamak Davar and his inimitable troupe. Hot mama Malaika Arora Khan and humorous cutie R Madhavan will be hosts for the evening. Karan Wahi and Swapnil Joshi will keep the crowds and judges entertained. Kangana's spokesperson said, "Kangana will be wearing a yellow and silver ghaghra choli. She will be dancing to a medley of songs like Nimbooda, Dola Re Dola and Mera Piya Ghar Aaya."

The contestants’ perfect bodies will be draped in amazing creations by Rocky S, Rajesh and Anirban for Pantaloons, veteran designer Ritu Kumar and Prasad Bidappa and Rajan for Arabella. Expert choreographer Marc Robinson, who was the man behind the successful Barbie and Tarun Tahiliani for Levi’s shows at the recently held Lakme Fashion Week, has also trained the contestants to walk the ramp and is the fashion director for Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009. So, expect a flawless fashion show.

Marc Robinson said, “I am extremely enthusiastic to be associated with Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009 and I will do full justice to the cause. A Femina Miss India is a modern, confident, talented and independent Indian woman who can make India proud on the global platform.. We have received a fabulous response from across India and selecting a handful of girls from the numerous applications we have received has been quite a task. Given the recent success of Slumdog Millionaire, India is on a global high and the contemporary Indian woman today is a personification of such globalization and she is here to stay for good.”

Mr. Zahid Shaikh – Chief Marketing Pantaloons, said, “As the Pantaloons association with Femina Miss India now enters the third year, the pageant has moved from strength to strength. The success of the pageant has been to take this talent search to every corner of India up to Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, Indore & Mangalore where Pantaloons has been an active partner in every city. Youth and Style is the cornerstone for both Pantaloons and Femina Miss India where Pantaloons is playing the effective part of grooming the contestants. With the success of Parvathy (Omanakuttan) on the international platform last year, we hope that this year the contestants’ talent will make this an eventful year for Pantaloons Femina Miss India as well.”

The grand finale of the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2009 contest will take place tomorrow at the Andheri Sports Complex. The 20 contestants, who have undergone a month of intense training from personal grooming to fitness and speech training, will vie for the coveted crown(s) as three winners: Pantaloons Femina Miss India Universe, Pantaloons Femina Miss India Earth and Pantaloons Femina Miss India World will be chosen from amongst them.

The event will be telecast live on Sony Entertainment Television. Call your friends, get the popcorn and drinks out and get set to enjoy a grand, fun filled, exciting show on Sunday evening.
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Getting Priyanka-Shahid into a Kaminey look

Post under Bollywood News, Priyanka Chopra

Looks do matter. Especially when the female in question is Priyanka Chopra. She was a stunner in her last two successful outings at the box office - Dostana and Fashion. If in the former she was the editor of a fashion magazine, in the latter she was a show- stopper herself.

Of course, all shows stopped at her arrival but she decided to take a different route altogether in her films to follow. She decided to be choosy about her work and picked on only two projects, Kaminey and What's Your Rashee.

What makes Kaminey special is the fact that she got to work with director Vishal Bhardwaj, a master story teller when it comes to real cinema, and known for giving his leading ladies an entirely different look.

While speculations were abounding about Priyanka Chopra's appearance in Kaminey, there has been a constant buzz ever since the first theatrical promo of the film hit the screens. Her hardcore Marathi girl act has made people sit up and take notice of Kaminey that has Shahid Kapoor in the lead.

Says Priyanka's close associate, "In the film, she plays the role of Sweety who is not only a bindaas girl but also someone who is traditional to the core (watch her doing those typical Maharashtrian dance steps and you will know). She is on a complete tangent if one remembers her ultra chic and glam avtar in the films that she has been seen in over the years.

Agrees Priyanka for whom Kaminey will be her first release of 2009 as a leading lady (after a hectic 2008 which saw her featuring in six back to back releases - Love Story 2050, God Tussi Great Ho, Chamku, Drona, Fashion and Dostana), "Yes, there has been an effort to make Sweety look completely different.

She had to be believable and someone who isn't ultra glamorous. Also, I have gone with a minimal make-up look in the film."

Even Shahid Kapoor seems to be enjoying his double role stint in the film where one of the characters played by him not just stammers but also keeps an unkempt look.

'Reality' is what Vishal Bhardwaj has ensured in his characters and the same holds good for Shahid Kapoor too.

With both Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra seemingly going for a makeover and giving an altogether new account of themselves, the wait begins for this film which is all set to arrive at theaters on 26th June (yes, the film has been moved from it's original release date of 5th June).

But poor Piggy Chops is is presently having fever and has therefore been advised complete bed rest by her personal doctor.

Priyanka was shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker’s What’s Your Rashee when she started feeling a little under the weather. As her temperature increased, the concerned director Ashutosh Gowarikar, immediately cancelled shooting for his film.

A close friend of Priyanka tells us, “Priyanka hates being sick but she has been down with viral fever since past three days. A high body temperature of 104 degrees has got her completely bed ridden.

One can recollect when she was shooting for Dostana, she fell ill but when she came to know that the set they were shooting was going to be dismantled the following day, she got her physician to the set.

After he had administered injections, Priyanka was able to complete shooting her portions for the day. But as there was no deadline for What’s Your Rashee? Priyanka was able to rest for two days.”

We just hope Priyanka gets well soon. May be her good friend Shahid Kapoor should give her a visit and perhaps that would work as a wonder medicine.