Archive for: March 2007

Raqeeb Movie Star Cast : Rahul Khanna, Jimmy Shergill, Sharman Joshi, Tanushree Datta,
Vishwajeet Pradhan, Vivek Shauq, Rekha Rao, Neena Kulkarni, Mona Chopra

Raqeeb Music: Pritam Chakraborty

Raqeeb is a romantic musical thriller and is produced by Raj Kanwar and directed by Anurag Singh.

First Look Of Raqeeb

Tanushree Dutta and Jimmy Shergill

Tanushree Dutta and Rahul Khanna

Kya Love Story Hai has been in news for its rocking music and also because Kareena Kapoor is going to perform a rocking item number in the film for the song “It’s Rocking, Yaara Kabhi Ishq To Karo”.

“It’s among the best visuals I’ve seen of late. Bebo’s outdone herself yet again and looks remarkable”, says a visibly excited Tushar Kapoor.

Tusshar is extremely excited about the overwhelming response to the film’s soundtrack, and specifically, Kareena’s video. “I’m not sure whether I should say this but it’s even better than some of the funky Britney Spears videos I’ve seen in recent times.”

Kya Love Story Hai releases worldwide on April 20. It is being released internationally by Studio 18.

Here’s an exclusive video of the song It’s Rocking sung by Sunidhi Chauhan. Catch the song and groove to the music. A treat for all the guys out there. It’s Rocking ….isn’t it???

It’s the season of remakes. Old classics are being remade by new directors and production houses. Call it the lack of creativity by our new generation or a means of playing tribute to these old classics. But remakes are here to stay. The latest to join the league of remake directors bandwagon is director Onir, who has made quite dark and critically acclaimed films like My Brother Nikhil and Bas Ek Pal.

Director Onir has been signed up by Studio 18 for the remake of Sai Paranjpe’s, Farooque Sheikh starrer cult classic Chashme Baddoor (1981).

Confirming the developments, an elated Onir said, “Yes, that’s true. I was signed on yesterday and I am really looking forward to this assignment. Studio 18 has also bought the rights from the original producers so now it is legally possible too for us to go ahead.”

So how did Chashme Baddor happen?

 ”Studio 18 and I were in talks about this film for last few months. I was a little apprehensive earlier since Chashme Baddoor has been seen by each and everyone over the years and hence I was unsure about how audience of today would react to it. Moreover the original was quite simple in feel and hence it had to be ascertained that how it would fit in current scenario. But later after some prodding I decided to take up the challenge and add on some ingredients to make it an interesting experience.”

Has he finalized the star cast of Chashme Baddoor?

“Not yet. I do have some actors in mind, mainly established stars who are also very good actors, but nothing is on paper yet. For the roles immortalised by Farooq Shaikh, Deepti Naval, Ravi Baswani and Rakesh Bedi, you need to be doubly careful about who comes on board.”

But he would certainly be having someone in mind?

“See, since the film is also about three college going friends, it is imperative that my cast is young and look compatible with each other. Beyond that let me keep the cards close to my chest”, he smiles.

How much of a difference is he planning to make in the remake version of Chashme Badoor?

“One thing that I and my writer would be ensuring is that the film caters to today’s sensibilities. A thorough adaptation is required since times have changed, market dynamics have changed and audience taste also needs to be taken into consideration”, he reasons.

Fresh from the global success of RANG DE BASANTI, UTV and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Productions [ROMP] have joined hands to produce four films with a total outlay of Rs. 280 crores. Yes you heard it right 280 crores.

The gamut of …

She won the Zee Cinestars ki Khoj talent contest way back in 2004. Three grueling years later, her first film Khanna & Iyer is all set to hit the screens this Friday. Introducing Aditi Sharma, a girl from a small town who came with dreams, aspirations and uncertainly to this big bad world we call Bollywood.

“I am from Lucknow and usually parents don’t allow young girls to go and struggle in an unknown city. I’m very happy and lucky that Zee Cinestars happened in my life. It is the only reason I’m here in Bombay and I will always be grateful to Zee for that”, says the newcomer.

A launch with a Mukta Arts film however has not put her on cloud nine. “I have friends in theatre who have been struggling for over nine years and when I meet them I realize how lucky I am. I got two Mukta Arts films in two years while my friends who I feel are more talented are still fraught.”

Coming to her films, her eyes widen immediately. The sweet damsel speaks her heart out on Khanna and Iyer, “It’s a very light and sweet film. This film deals with the social problem of inter-caste relationships and marriages. I play Nandini Iyer who is a very cute and bubbly girl and completely loves her family. Apart from them, she really loves her boyfriend Aryan Khanna as well. She goes against her parents because they do not approve of her relationship with Aryan because of the cast difference. The bottom line of the film is that love is above all things and above caste and religion that has been created by society.”

We know about Iyer but what about Khanna – Sarwar Ahuja who is her co-star in another film as well. “Sarwar is a wonderful person. The two years wait that we had was really difficult for us. So we really came close as friends and finally when the film went on floors there was a great comfort level on the sets. As it is he is my first co-star it is always going to be special,” says Aditi.

Speculations regarding the date for Bollywood’s most talked about wedding have finally been put to rest.

Star couple Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai will tie the knot on April 20 in Mumbai.

It will truly be a ‘golden’ wedding. Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai will don a signature golden fantasy that master weaver family of ’silk city’ Varanasi has woven for them.

The fabric for Abhishek’s golden sherwani has been weaved by the 400-year-old family of master weavers.

The head of the master weaver family, Abdul Matin, told UNI that the owner of a Mumbai-based design and tailoring house in charge of the outfit had asked the family to be extra careful while weaving the fabric as it was meant for stitching an exclusive sherwani for Abhishek Bachchan to be worn at the marriage.

The sherwani will reportedly cost anywhere between Rs 2-5 lakh.

Matin claimed that it is after a gap of two decades that the Chaodani style fabric (golden fabric) with a base of warped silk has been woven for anyone.

The master weaver family has apparently sourced out pure silken fabric handloomed for costumes worn by Amitabh Bachchan in Khuda Gawah and the blouse and lehenga worn by Aishwarya in the chartbuster number Kajra Re.

It will be late shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan’s nephew who could provide the music in the private affair.

Mumtaz Hussain has reportedly expressed his desire to perform at the wedding and has approached Amitabh Bachchan for the same.

“I have already sent my biodata to Amitabh Bachchan stating my desire to perform shehnai at his son Abhishek’s wedding and am hopeful of being invited by the family,” Hussain was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

In keeping with the traditional Hindu wedding playing shehnai is considered auspicious and Hussain wants to “bless his couple” on his uncle’s behalf with his performance.

He has trained for years under the Bharat Ratna Bismillah Khan and said he wanted to bless Abhishek and Aishwarya on his uncle’s behalf.

Hussain also said that rendition of several ‘ragas’ created by the legendary shehnai player will also give him a chance to pay tribute to the departed Khan.

Of course, that he wants to get invited for the highly close-knit wedding is another reason.

Though Nishabd did not work at the box office. Jiah Khan sure did sizzle the silver screen. Jiah Khan, the sexy debutant of Nishabd, proved with Nishabd that she is here to stay.

Jiah also sung a sexy number “Take Lite” for Nishabd. Besides singing the song for the music video Jiah recently turned choreographer as well.

According to sources whilst shooting for the music video for NISHABD, the choreographer was totally in awe of Jiah Khan’s dance movements. Not surprising, because Jiah is professionally trained in reggae, lambada, jazz, samba, kathak, belly dancing and salsa.Sensing her dancing instincts, the choreographer told Jiah to do her own thing for a sequence in the song.

And Jiah obliged and set the stage on fire with her belly dancing moves like Shakira, leaving everyone present amazed at her hip shaking skills.

So you want to see Jiah in the “Shakira Act” . Then your wait is over.Check this video of Jiah Khan grooving to the sexy song, Take Lite from Nishabd. I wonder why RGV did not use this song for promotion of the film. Must say the song is really HOOTTTTTTTTT !!! Check it out for yourselves.

Some weeks back we brought to you information about the remake of Mr. India supposedly titled Mr. India 2. Now here’s what ace film-maker Shekar Kapur, who directed the original Mr. India has to say about the film.

On being asked whether Shekar Kapoor would be interested in directing the remake of the film. Shekar Kapur had a straight answer.

“No, no, I have done it, I am not a robot. Am an imaginative human being like all of you. Why would I do it. Why would I spent year and half doing something that I have already done?” says filmmaker Shekhar Kapur.

And what is Kapur’s biggest concern about the sequel? “Who will play Mogambo? I can’t see anybody else being Mogambo,” he says.

Kapur may be averse to doing a sequel of Mr India, but that has not stopped him from directing the sequel to his international directorial debut Elizabeth.

Golden Age, starring Cate Blanchett and Clive Owen, is in post-production now and will have its worldwide release soon. In the meantime, Kapur is busy raising money for his long-delayed film Paani.

Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan, brand ambassador for Motorola, Saturday launched the company’s flagship entertainment Personal Digital Assistant MOTOROKR E6, which will provide information about a song played as well as live news.

“Music addiction with MOTOROKR E6 is truly awesome. It is a music optimised device, which avails the user with marvellous facilities. E6 is a truly ultimate entertainment PDA, which keeps you occupied,” Abhishek told reporters at a press conference in the capital.

“As a user I am very excited about using this handset. MOTOROKR has given me a truly complete multimedia experience. I think it is the last word for true music lovers,” he added.

MOTOROKR is the first Motorola handset in the country to offer Music ID and Screen 3 applications. Music ID is a song identification service that enables a user to identify all the information about a song played, with the help of a server. Screen 3 is a live news and information service.

Hrithik Roshan is back. But on the small screen. Hrithik Roshan’s Hero Honda advertisement is currently doing rounds on the TV channels. Hrithik as always plays his part with suaveness and with the right attitude.

The ad shows a couple of local goons messing up with Hrithik’s new Hero Honda Karizma. They take several rounds around the Karizma and cover it with mud. Hrithik coolly watches on as his new dashing yellow Hero Honda Karizma bike is covered with dirt by the goons. What does Hrithik do to salvage revenge. Definitely he does not just watch over. Check out this Hero Honda commercial to see how Hrithik gives the goons a “tit for tat”.