Why Amitabh Bachchan loves working with children?

Amitabh Bachchan, who has acted in several films opposite child stars, including his forthcoming movie 'Bhoothnath Returns', has disclosed that he loves working with children because they are very brave.

The veteran actor told the Express Tribune that working with children creates a unique environment as they are very talented and serious actors.

Kids are unpredictable and never fail to surprise him, he stated.

While commenting on his co-star in the 'Bhoothnath' sequel, Parth Bhalerao, he told that Parth comes from Marathi cinema and has done justice to the character like a refined actor.

Acting is the priority for Tigmanshu Dhulia!

For the next one month and more, filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia will completely turn into an actor. He will be shooting for two projects every day.

"I am reviving the days of Shashi Kapoor and Govinda who did more than one shift per day. No actor does double shifts any more. I guess I am a unique actor in every sense," told Dhulia.

"Yes, I am completely into acting for the next one month. Though that doesn't make me a complete actor! I'll be facing the camera in two mediums - cinema and television for the rest of April and half of May," he further added.

While in Nikhil Advani's film "Hero", Dhulia plays a sympathetic character, in Endemol's soap about the ups and downs in an influential business family; he is featured in a negative role.

"It's not a routine villain's role. I play a smooth operator," confides the director, who tells he is nervous about the impending screen time with Amitabh Bachchan.

"I shot with Amitabh Bachchan saab for four days. Now I've to shoot regularly with him for a month. It isn't easy for even veteran actors to face the camera with this legend. So you can imagine my plight," told the director of films like "Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster", "Paan Singh Tomar", "Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns".

No direction for Dhulia until the end of May.

"I start directing 'Yaara' from from June. The main cast is in place now," told Dhulia.

For a while, it seemed Irrfan Khan would not have the dates for "Yaara".

"But we've managed to accommodate one another," told Dhulia. 

Family's presence is best b'day gift for Jaya!

Actress Jaya Bachchan, who has turned 66, spent her birthday with her children and grandchildren. She tells she couldn't have hoped for a "better gift".

Her husband megastar Amitabh Bachchan was away in Dubai for the promotion of his forthcoming release "Bhoothnath Returns", but Jaya's day was made special by her other family members Wednesday.

"All my loved ones are with me. I couldn't have hoped for a better gift," told the overjoyed Jaya, when this writer called to wish her.

Jaya's frail old mother couldn't be flown into Mumbai from Bhopal, daughter Shweta flew in with her two children Navya Naveli and Agastya. Son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya too cancelled all their appointments to just spend the day with her.

A close family friend told, "Jayaji likes nothing better than to have her family around for her birthday. Abhishek wanted to invite all her close friends for a party. But Jayaji just wanted to spend the day with her near and dear ones."

Abhishek's daughter Aaradhya took centrestage on this special day in her grandmother's life, and insisted on cutting the cake.

"Just to see her three grandchildren together made Jayaji's birthday special. Navya Naveli and Agastya are so protective of Abhishek and Aishwarya's daughter Aaradhya. They are almost like little guardians to Aaradhyaa," told a family friend.

Jaya also received a barrage of phone calls and messages, and visitors who just dropped in to wish her. 

Soha Ali Khan skips IIFA for voting!

Actress Soha Ali Khan tells she has chosen to skip attending the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards in Tampa Bay, Florida later this month to be in Mumbai to cast her vote April 24.

The IIFA gala is scheduled for April 23-26, and the voting day for the Mumbai Lok Sabha election falls in the midst of it. Several celebrities are due to fly to Tampa Bay for the ceremony, and that has sparked debate that they are choosing an awards ceremony over voting.

Soha told she is aware of the debate.

"But I am here in Mumbai on April 24, the voting day in Mumbai. I had got many other invites in the month of April. I also had got an invitation for IIFA, but I am not going anywhere because voting is my priority," Soha told.

The daughter of veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, did not wish to comment on other actors who will not be in the country on the voting day.

"I can't speak for others but I will certainly encourage everyone to vote," she told.

In the meantime, a host of film celebrities have been urging citizens to cast their vote.

Hrithik Roshan, Anupam Kher, Shahid Kapoor, Vidya Balan, Farhan Akhtar are due to attend the event. 

Aamir Khan clueless about his son Junaid's future!

Superstar Aamir Khan has no clue what his 21-year-old son Junaid plans to do in life. He tells he doesn't "tell me anything".

"We don't have any command on our kids. What will he do, when will he do, I have no idea. He doesn't tell me anything," Aamir said journalists here at the trailer launch of Jackie Shroff's son Tiger's debut movie "Heropanti" Friday.

"You (media) please ask him and tell me about his plans," he further added.

Aamir has three children in all. Son Junaid and daughter Ira are from his first wife Reena, and the actor-producer also has a son named Azad Rao Khan with his present wife Kiran Rao. The baby was born via a surrogate.

Keep my fee low, so movies can recover: Imran Khan

Actor Imran Khan tells one has to deal with box office flops and that his way of ensuring profit for the makers is to keep his remuneration in check.

"I have never worked for money, and the money that I take all depends on the film," he told when asked if he has slashed his fee while his movies are not doing well.

"I have never been someone who is motivated by money or will not do a film if the price is not right. I always want my price to be low so that the film can recover. If the film does well, then you take profit... that's the basic thing you can do."

Although he had good number of releases in the form of "Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola", "Once Upon ay Time in Mumbai Dobaara!" and "Gori Tere Pyaar Mein", none could set the cash register ringing.

The 31-year-old, who started his career with 2008 super hit puppy love story "Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na", says coping with failure is important for survival in showbiz.

He told, "As far as films not doing well is concerned, if you can't deal with that, then you should not be working in the film industry, because the reality of the business is that you will have more flops than hits. If you can't accept it, then you must get out."

"I am sure something must have gone wrong, but what you have to take with you is a lesson. I have worked hard but people have not liked it and its fine," he further added. 

Arjun Kapoor's professionalism mesmerizes Sonakshi Sinha!

Actress Sonakshi Sinha is working with Arjun Kapoor for the first time in "Tevar" and tells she respects her co-star for being a thorough professional.

"He is cordial with everybody. He is not overtly friendly, but he is a very chilled out guy and good to work with," she told.

"What I really respect and like about him is that he is a good co-star and very professional on the sets and knows what he is doing despite the film being his father's production," further added the 26-year-old.

Both Arjun and Sonakshi are star kids - while Arjun is the son of producer Boney Kapoor, Sonakshi is the daughter of actors Poonam and Shatrughan Sinha.

Sonakshi knows her co-star since her school days as she, Arjun and his cousins - actress sonam Kapoor and her sister, producer Rhea went to the same institution.

"Actually, Arjun and I were in the same school. I knew him because Rhea and Sonam too studied in the same school, so I knew him as their cousin brother, but we were never really friends. Now we are just trying to get to know each other. He is really a good actor and bright fellow." , added Sonakshi.

Working with Aamir not my immediate goal: Kangana Ranuat

Kangana Ranuat has impressed one and all with her performance in "Queen" and megastar Aamir Khan is no exception to it. While Aamir has expressed his desire to share screen space with the actress, she doesn't see it as her "immediate goal".

Kangana tells she has had a word about a future opportunity with Aamir, "but there is nothing concrete as yet".

"We would definitely like to work with each other. But I don't think that as actors, that's the priority we have. Our goal is to do things that excite us and along the way if we find an opportunity, it'll be great! But I don't think that's the priority...that's not my immediate goal, " the actress said journalists here at the launch of Krux stationary products range Saturday.

Kangana will next be seen in "Revolver Rani" releasing April 25. 

Deepika Padukone to star opposite Ranveer in Bajirao Mastani!

The "Ram-Leela" couple is back! Actress Deepika Padukone will play historical character Mastani with Ranveer Singh playing Bajirao Peshwa in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Bajirao Mastani".

The casting of Ranveer and Deepika puts an end to months of speculation about who would play the role. Besides Ranveer, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn were the strongest contenders for Bajirao's role.

As for Mastani, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were also considered.

"Sanjay Leela Bhansali was keen on Deepika for Mastani's part. But she couldn't seem to accommodate the long schedules required for 'Bajirao Mastani', specially since she gave the nod to Karan Johar's 'Shuddhi' which would take up close to 150 shooting days," told a source.

However, later Deepika is said to have informed the director that she would be able to fit "Bajirao Mastani" into her schedule. 

Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman 'not okay' with movie on her life!

Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman, who lately unveiled Nasreen Munni Kabir's book "Conversations with Waheeda Rehman", tells she is "not okay" if a film is made on her life.

The 76-year-old has featured in several Bollywood classics like "Solvaa Saal", "Pyasa", "Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam", "Bees Saal Baad' and "Guide", and she has regaled viewers with her graceful dancing skills over the years.

Biopics are a new trend in the Hindi film industry. So, asked if she would be fine with a film on her journey, she said, "I am (over) 75. Now it's a long journey...it has to be made in four parts. But personally, I am not okay with it."

"I am not fine with it and there is no reason (for it) as such."

In the last decade itself, the actress featured in films like "Rang De Basanti" and "Delhi-6". Now she is happy away from the screen.

"How much to work? We should give a chance to others as well. I don't miss anything...I am happy with myself. I travel a lot, read a lot, meet my friends, like to cook occasionally. I am satisfied with my life," told the veteran actress in an interaction at Sofitel, Mumbai.

She launched "Conversations with Waheeda Rehman", a longish interview exploring several aspects of her life and career, here Saturday. 

I thought a bikini was fine for Bewakoofiyan, says Sonam Kapoor!

Carefree actress Sonam Kapoor has come to learn that she needs to be "careful" with her words in an industry where statements can be "twisted and distorted".

Sonam's father Anil Kapoor had recently told that Sonam's bikini shot would get "Bewakoofiyan" a good opening.

Refuting this, the actress told, "My father never said that. All that I said at a press meet was that my father feels the film would get a good opening. That statement found itself bonding with the bikini in the newspaper headlines. I've realized I have to be very careful in what I say. I speak my heart out. Such honesty is not appreciated in the film industry. Instead, it is twisted and distorted. A lot of what I say is lost in translation."

Actresses often credit the decision of wearing a bikini on screen to the "demand of the script" or the director, but Sonam Kapoor tells it was her own decision to flaunt the two-piece garment in her forthcoming film "Bewakoofiyaan". And she wasn't tense about it.

"It wasn't the producer Aditya Chopra or the director Nupur Asthana's idea that I wear a bikini. In fact, the director suggested a one-piece bathing costume. But I thought a bikini was fine," told the saucy actress.

It's no big deal, she feels.

"If you see the trailer, there are two young people going for swim. It's perfectly natural for the girl to be in a bikini. It's not Halle Berry in a James Bond movie or Bipasha Basu in 'Dhoom' making a splash.

"The bikini blends naturally into the scene. And I am very happy to be wearing one. Having a female director around helped. But I wasn't really tense about wearing a bikini," she told. 

Soha Ali Khan paints school wall for child education!

Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan, who believes in the right of education for each individual, joined a social campaign for the cause by painting a part of a school's wall here.

Supporting P&G's flagship corporate social responsibility program P&G Shiksha at an event here recently, Soha told: "I truly believe that education is a basic right of every child and it is heartening to see a movement like P&G Shiksha facilitating education for underprivileged children."

The actress, who is the daughter of veteran talent Sharmila Tagore, sincerely believes "infrastructure is a key issue at schools across the country".

"P&G Shiksha makes the necessary infrastructure interventions by painting the school walls today, I have been able to play a small role in giving these children a bright and colourful future and ensuring they have access to a fully functional school," she further added.

Soha also turned teacher for the day and involved the children in some interactive learning by implementing fun tactics, and she even engaged them in a rapid fire round on a wide range of subjects.

The Oxford University alumnus has urged people to join the movement by making the simple brand choice of buying P&G products, as a part of the proceeds go towards building and supporting schools.

The P&G Shiksha program has impacted the lives of over 420,000 children and it continues to march forward with the motto 'Padegha India, Badhega India'.