Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Shoojit Sircar, Amitabh Bachchan shoot to boost up Gujarat Tourism!



As a part of the endeavor to enhance Gujarat's tourism, filmmaker Shoojit Sircar will shoot with superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who is also the brand ambassador for Gujarat Tourism, in wildlife areas of the state.

The idea would be to focus on the prolific wildlife prevalent in the sanctuaries and forests of Gujarat.

"Bachchan Saab (Big B) and I are heading for various places in Gujarat to shoot images of birds and animals. The wild ass in the Rann Of Kutch is famous. So we head there to capture them on camera in all their unfettered glory," told Sircar.

"We will also shoot the images of black bucks and many species of birds. Do you know, numerous species of birds migrate to Gujarat in the winter and then leave after the season is over. We want to capture these birds on camera. There is a very vibrant and prolific wildlife prevalent in the sanctuaries and forests of Gujarat," he further added.

Big B and Sircar intend to rough it out in the wild terrain, visiting places where no basic amenities are available.


"It's going to be a challenging week in Gujarat in the last week of January. Mr Bachchan and me are off to explore the wildlife of Gujarat. The creative consultant Piyush Pandey would also be joining us. We're ready to rough it out," told the filmmaker. 

Shreyas Talpade wants luck for new film Baji!

Actor Shreyas Talpade, who has been part of hit Hindi films such as "Iqbal", "Welcome To Sajjanpur", "Golmaal 3" and "Housefull 2", wants to be lucky with his Marathi film "Baji" as well.

"Need all your good wishes for the first ever press conference announcing my new film 'Baji' today," he posted Monday.

The actor plays superhero in the movie directed by Nikhil Mahajan.

Shreyas had previously produced Marathi film "Sanai Chaughade".


Priyanka Chopra wishes luck to ex-beau Harman Baweja!


Actress Priyanka Chopra has wished Harman Baweja, whom she seemingly dated in the past, luck for his forthcoming movie "Dishkiyaaoon".

The movie, that also features actor Sunny Deol, marks the debut of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty as producer.

"Congrats Harman. And good luck to team Shilpa Shetty. Show some love twitterverse," posted Priyanka, 32, who shared screen space with the 33-year-old actor in "Love Story 2050" and "What's Your Raashee?"


"Dishkiyaaoon" is slated to release March 28. 

Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra promote `Hasee to Phasee`!







Parineeti Chopra and Sidharth Malhotra were spotted promoting their forthcoming movie 'Hasee To Phasee' in Mumbai.

The 25-year-old actress told, "it feels great that all of you guys are here to see us but please do go watch 'Hasee to Phasee' ".

On the occasion the duo was spotted grooving on the beats of 'Drama Queen' and interacting with their fans.


The movie is directed by Vinil Mathew and produced by Karan Johar and Anurag Kashyap and is slated to release on 7th February. 

Abhay Deol and Preeti Desai to test the waters with 'One By Two'!





The love story, which has been directed by Devika Bhagat, revolves around a couple who meet each other while living in Mumbai. They are fed up with their lives and want their situations to change very much.

The movie, made on a budget of about Rs.15 crore, is looking at a fair business opportunity with "Jai Ho" figures not living up to expectations, tells Rajesh Thadani of Multimedia Combines.

"If 'Jai Ho' had done well, it would have been very tough for the next movie to do well. So this will be beneficial for 'One By Two'," told Thadani.

The movie, which will be shown in approximately 1,000-1,200 screens all over India, is the debut production of Abhay's banner - i.e. Films. He has co-produced the movie with Viacom 18.

But, the actor has hardly promoted the movie, a norm nowadays.

The film, however, made news due to the tiff between Abhay and T-series regarding the delay in the marketing and music launch of "One By Two".

Abhay, who walked the red carpet at an award function with a made up black eye signifying helplessness, brought out the controversy in the open.

Singers like Kailash Kher, Sonu Niigaam and Sunidhi Chauhan and composers such as Vishal Dadlani and Ehsaan Noorani hailed Abhay's brave outburst against the music label.

But, T-series denied all accusations calling them baseless.


The fight was resolved when Viacom 18 Motion Pictures sent out a press statement telling that everything has been sorted out. 

Imtiaz Ali launches Tisca Chopra's book 'Acting Smart'!



Director Imtiaz Ali has released Tisca Chopra's book 'Acting Smart'.

Speaking on the event, the 42-year-old film director told, "I know that this book has some really meaningful thing in it. There are many people out there who want to be actors and most of them are not successful. And most of them are wasting their time here. But this thought in itself is very provoking to write a book. And when actor writes it, somebody who has seen the industry from both outside and within is great".

The book is for cinegoers, movie buffs and people who are venturing into the movie industry.


Thursday, 23 January 2014

Sameera Reddy gets married to businessman Akshai Varde!










Bollywood actress Sameera Reddy has got wedded to Mumbai-based-businessman Akshai Varde.

The marriage took place Tuesday in a traditionally Maharashtrian style at her Bandra residence.

The actress looked elegant in a gold-red sari. She was also wearing the chooda (bridal bangles). Akshai too sported a traditional look in a white kurta, red dhoti and Nehru cap.

Sameera has been seen in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil as well as Malayalam and Kannada films.


Some of her important movies include Tamil movies "Vaaranam Aayiram", "Vedi" and "Vettai" and Hindi films "Tezz", "Aakrosh" and "Musafir". 

Alia will be a very big star, predicts Parineeti Chopra!




Who tells two actresses don't praise each other? Bollywood's current favourite Parineeti Chopra is not only friends with her contemporary Alia Bhatt, but also feels that Alia has the potential to attain the "big star" status.

Previously, Alia was heard praising Parineeti in an episode of Karan Johar's chat show "Koffee With Karan Season 4". She told Parineeti's skills make her insecure in her skin and she sees competition in her.

"Alia and I are good friends. In fact, she always tells me these things. So when she said this on the show, I felt good that she praised me. I even gave her a call and told her that she doesn't need to feel insecure because I feel Alia will be a very big star," Parineeti told in an interview here.

The actress also praised Alia's "good looks" and "great screen presence".

"If I would not have been an actress, then as an audience I would have been an Alia Bhatt fan. But as an actress, I know she is very crafty, very good looking and has a great screen presence," told the 25-year-old who made her debut in 2011 with "Ladies vs Ricky Bahl".


Parineeti will next be seen in "Hasee Toh Phasee" with Siddharth Malhotra, while Alia's next is Imtiaz Ali's "Highway" with Randeep Hooda. 

Ayushmann Khurrana teams up with John Abraham for period drama!

Actor-singer Ayushmann Khurrana has teamed up with Guru John Abraham for a period drama.

John had launched TV VJ Ayushmann in Bollywood with his maiden home production "Vicky Donor" and the fun movie on sperm donation turned out to be a roaring hit in 2012.

"We are coming up with "1911" with John and Shoojit Sircar. John and me are playing a parallel lead in the film. It's a period drama. The film will be shot extensively in Kolkata," Ayushmann said.


A football drama, "1911" is based on both the popular football clubs - Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. John has said that the film will go on the floors in October and described it as a combination of "Lagaan" and "Chak De! India".

Kareena Kapoor Khan clueless about 'Shuddhi'!



Actress Kareena Kapoor is not confident about the status of "Shuddhi" and tells she will now "decide whether to do it" depending on "my mood".

Karan Johar's production "Shuddhi", to be directed by Karan Malhotra, features Hrithik Roshan in the lead role. But the film has been delayed.

At an event for a tea brand, when Kareena was asked about doing the movie when it goes on the floors, she told, "I will decide whether to do it. It will depend on my mood at that time."

The movie got postponed following Hrithik's health issues. The actor had to undergo brain surgery following a blood clot.

"Shuddhi" is yet to go on the floors. Kareena tells she doesn't know about what lies ahead for the project.

"As of now I don't know what is happening regarding that film ('Shuddhi') as since one and half years it is being postponed," Kareena told.


"I have not met Karan Johar and I don't think he even has got Hrithik's dates for the film as he is busy with 'Bang Bang'," she further added. 

Girls like being chased, says Siddharth Malhotra!

For Bollywood's present heartthrob Siddharth Malhotra, "Hasee Toh Phasee" is not just a movie title. He in fact believes in the dictum and tells the best way to impress girls is to "chase them" and "make them laugh".

"Laughter always works, compliments work...so does being honest. Girls like it when you chase them. They like compliments. They like it when you use various means to get their attention," Siddharth said in an interview.

The mantra is to keep your women happy, tells the actor.

"I think for boys, if the girl laughs, it is a good thing. It means that the boy at least has a chance. All boys should try it...be it in a relationship or friendship, keep your girls happy," he told.

Directed by Vinil Mathew "Hasee Toh Phasee" also stars Parineeti Chopra and promises to be much more than a regular romantic comedy.

"It is very high on content. It is a very intimate film. The characters are very different. I am playing a character who is stressed out, lost and sentimental. He meets this girl who is a bit cracked," he told.

Siddharth made his acting debut with Karan Johar's "Student Of The Year" (SOTY) along with fellow debutants Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan. The movie enjoyed good success at the box office and the candyfloss romance was a sheer example of the grandeur and elegance of a film directed by Karan.


"Hasee Toh Phasee", again produced by Karan, is however different from SOTY, told Siddharth. 

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

I'm not doing 'Fan', says Parineeti Chopra!



Parineeti Chopra has denied news that she has been signed for Shah Rukh Khan's ambitious project "Fan".

Maneesh Sharma of the "Band Baaja Baaraat" fame has been roped in to direct the movie.

"No, I am not doing 'Fan', which is being made by Maneesh. Everybody is asking me about it. You should ask Maneesh or Shah Rukh about it," the actress said reporters Monday on the sets of dance reality show "Dance India Dance 4".

She came on the show with her "Hasee Toh Phasee" co-star Siddharth Malhotra to launch the song "Shake it like Shammi".

In the meantime, the National Award winning actress is happy with the kind of offers coming her way.

"It feels good that people are offering their good films to me. I have signed a lot of such movies," told the actress last seen in Yash Raj Films' "Shuddh Desi Romance".


Parineeti also has "Daawat-E-Ishq" with Aditya Roy Kapoor and "Kill Dill" with Ranveer Singh in her kitty. 

Sonakshi Sinha’s 'Tevar' in Jaipur!



Actress Sonakshi Sinha is on her way to Jaipur, Rajasthan, to shoot for her next movie "Tevar", which will see her with Arjun Kapoor.

"New day...New film! Start work with the other 'gunda' (goon) Arjun today. Off to Jaipur for 'Tevar'. Wish me luck," Sonakshi wrote on microblogging website Twitter Tuesday.

In 2013, the 26-year-old was seen in films like "Lootera", "Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbai Dobaara", "Bullett Raja" and "R... Rajkumar".


My Grandmother’s last wish was to see me get married, says Raima Sen!



Raima Sen, who is confused about her feelings of grief and guilt after the death her grandmother and legendary actress Suchitra Sen, tells that her granny wanted her to get married and she will fulfill her last wish.

This is the first time Raima has lost someone so close to her.

"I am stricken with guilt and regret. It's going to take a long to heal. Should I have spent more time with my grandmother? I guess the time you get with those you love is never enough. Thank god I wasn't somewhere else when she went," told Raima, daughter of Moon Moon Sen.

"Her last wish was to see me get married. I want her wish for me to come true," she further added.


Sen, the reclusive Bengali screen goddess, died Jan 17. She was 82 years old. 

'Phantom' director happy over shooting in Kashmir shoot of movie!





Kabir Khan, the director of Bollywood film "Phantom", Tuesday expressed happiness over his shooting schedule in the Kashmir Valley and hoped he would be back here to shoot another of his movies soon.

In a tweet to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, at the end of nearly two-week-long shooting schedule in Kashmir, Kabir Khan told, "@abdullah_omar it's great to b able to shoot in Kashmir again. The enthusiasm and hard work of the locals was heart warming. We will be back."

Sajid Nadiadwalla's Bollywood film "Phantom" is based on 26/11 Mumbai terror attack and their fallout.

The film has Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead roles.

"Phantom" was shot in north Kashmir ski resort of Gulmarg for a week and later also shot in the south Kashmir's Pahalgam hill station.

In the meantime, Abdullah said the ranking of Gulmarg as the 16th best ski resort of the world by CNN has re-affirmed his belief that it has some of the finest ski runs.


"Gulmarg at 16. Always said we have some of the best skiing in the world & CNN agrees World's best ski runs: 100 to 1," he posted, posting the CNN link of the ratings.