Archive for: September 2007

No sooner had Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Eklavya got nominated as India’s representation at the Oscars, did the brickbats started falling on him rather than bouquets. With harsh comments from famous Bollywood celebrities like Farah Khan, Sajid Khan and Anupam Kher, Vidhu Vinod Chopra wasn’t one to keep quite. Here is what he had to say to his critics…
“What are the credentials of these people…what is their understanding of cinema…where does their allegiance lie,” said Vidhu Vinod Chopra when asked to react to the comments of a few filmmakers like Farah Khan, Sajid Khan and Anupam Kher who didn’t approve of Eklavya being chosen as the official entry for Oscars this year. “Last year Lage Raho didn’t go, did I, Raju or anybody from my office say why Munnabhai didn’t go, it was a better film. Before that Parineeta didn’t go, Paheli went. Did I say that Shah Rukh made a stupid film. My films didn’t go for two years, I didn’t bother anyone, why are they bothering us now,” Chopra said.

After an impressive debut in Ek Hasina Thi, director Sriram Raghavan is back with his next outing, Johnny Gaddaar. Without building up any suspense, let me proclaim, that Johnny Gaddaar is one of the finest Bollywood thrillers to hit the big screen. My days of kvetching that Bollywood film makers cannot make good thrillers are over. Sriram Raghavan has arrived!!!

Johnny Gaddaar Movie Story

The story revolves around a gang of five men - Vinay Pathak, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Dharmendra, Zakir Hussain and Daya, who gather Rs. 2.5 crore to give to a corrupt inspector in return of some valuables worth a fortune. Seeing the huge sum of money, one member of the gang decides to betray his Gang and decides to keep the entire sum of money for himself. Then begins a game of deceit, murder and revenge.

Johnny Gaddaar Movie Review

Johnny Gaddaar boasts of an impeccable script ( that is half the battle won) , paramount amount of twists and turns, and most importantly it does what an ideal thriller should do: It involves the audience in the film. The movie tells you the Gaddaar at the very outset and it is up to you to see the clues given and stress upon your grey cells and enjoy this taut thriller. Just when you realize, ok this is the path the movie is going to take, you are exposed to a new lane. A lane more racier than the one you were treading before. The remarkable twists and turns of Johnny Gaddaar and particularly the ending of the film will have you smile on the cruel works of destiny.

Director Sriram Raghavan is a remarkable story-teller. He pays homage to his idols, James Hadley Chase, Vijay Anand and Amitabh Bachchan and weaves them very innovatively into the plot of the film. Infact the Gaddaar of the gang borrows his plan from Amitabh Bachchan’s film, Parwana. Infact, Johnny Gaddaar should serve as a textbook on how Bollywood thrillers should be made.

Pic : Johnny Gadaar Movie Review 

Here is some more news on Yash Raj Films Tashan. Apparently Saif Ali Khan’s son, Ebrahim will make his debut as Saif’s on-screen son in Yash Raj Film’s next production, Tashan.

Says a source, “Ebrahim recently shot for the film and he’s a real rockstar. Everyone on the set loves him. He plays Saif’s son in the film.”

Accompanying him to the shoot was none other than mommy Amrita Singh. “She’s a doting mother and wanted to make sure everything went smoothly. In fact, she was present through the entire shoot and cheered and clapped for Ebrahim every time he gave a shot,” adds the source.
Talking about his acting debut, the source says, “Ebrahim looks really cool. He has Amrita’s spunk and Saif’s looks and is really good in front of the camera. In fact, he loves the attention. Saif keeps joking that his son might steal the limelight from him.”

Five months after their marriage, Abhishek and Aishwarya still look like just weds. Aishwarya was in London shooting for Pink Panther 2 while Abhishek Bachchan was shooting for an ad film. The two still managed to get time of their busy schedule and have fun in Boston. Here are some exclusive pictures of Aishwarya and Abhishek romancing on the streets of Boston.

Pic : Ash Abhi on The Streets Of London

Check out a few more pictures of Aishwarya and Abhishek romancing on the streets of London

While Sanjay Bhansali and his Saawariya team is busy rocking the sets of Star Voice Of India, we shall have Farah Khan and her Om Shanti Om team sizzle on the sets of Zee Tv’s singing show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.

Here are some exclusive images of Deepika Padukone, Shreyas Talpade and ringmaster Farah Khan, rocking the sets of Zee Tv’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa. Vishal Shekhar who is one of the judges on the show is also incidentally the music director of Om Shanti Om.

Farah Khan, Deepika and Shreyas thoroughly enjoed themselves on the show. Farah was so impressed by one of the contestants performance, that she promised him a break in her next film.

Pic : Deepika Padukone Dances on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa

Check out some more exclusive pictures of the Om Shanti Om team on the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa set.

The supposed rivalry between Farah Khan and Sanjay Bhansali has spilled over from newspapers and gossip magazines to Television shows. While Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his Saawariya team will be seen on Star Voice Of India. At the same time we shall have the team of Om Shanti Om featuring on Zee Tv’s Sa Re Ga Ma Pa.

‘Voice Of India’s’ producer-director Gajendra Singh said: ‘Having Sanjay Bhansali and the two ‘Saawariya’ debutants on our show was such a delight. Sanjayji is a complete music person.

He handpicked all the songs from the great Raj Kapoor epics on his own and when one of the contestants Abhas excelled in singing the title song from ‘Satyam Shivam Sunderam’, he spontaneously came forward to greet the contestant. It was a very emotional evening for all of us. Though this is the first time Ranbir and Sonam were recording for any show they were so confident.’

It seems that pretty Preity Zinta is shifting from the typical Bollywood potboilers to the more critically appreciated arty films. First it was Rituparno Ghosh’s Last Lear and now news is that film maker, Deepa Mehta has signed her for her next film, Heaven On Earth.

Deepa Mehta who has made such hard hitting films like. Water , Earth and Fire, has finalized Preity Zinta to play the battered Punjabi wife in Heaven On Earth. Preity is over the moon. “I met Deepa a while back at the IIFA. She saw my film The Last Lear and loved it. I’m so glad I did this film. It has opened an entirely new door for me. I feel I’m born anew. Right now I’m hungering for a new kind of acting challenge. Doing Deepa’s film is another step in the same direction. She’s one director I’ve been longing to work with. When I read the script I said, this is it.”

After Rishi Kapoor’s and Neetu Kapoor’s appearance on Amul Star Voice Of India. We will have the next generation Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor on the singing show, Star Voice Of India. Besides the two newcomers, Sanjay Bhansali will also bee seen on the show promoting his film Saawariya. The show is going to be telecasted this week on Star Plus and here are some exclusive pictures of Ranbir and Sonam Kapoor’s first television appearance.

Pic : Shaan, Ranbir and Sonam In Star Voice Of India

Pic : Ranbir Kapoor Dances with A Participant On Star Voice Of India

Check out more pictures of Sonam and Ranbir Kapoor’s first Television appearance on Star Voice Of India

Ranbir Kapoor, son of Rishi Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor, daughter of Anil Kapoor have indeed got a dream debut in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya. Saawariya will aslo see Sanjay’s favorites Salman Khan and Rani Mukherjee playing small roles.

Here are some exclusive pictures of the handsome Ranbir Kapoor and the ravishing Sonam Kapoor from Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariyaa…..

Pic : Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor From Saawariya

Pic : Ranbir Kapoor From Saawariya

Check out more exclusive pictures of the debutante’s Ranbir and sonam Kapoor From Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya

Vidya Balan and Shahid Kapoor have been paired for the first time for the movie Lucky Charm. Lucky My Charm is directed by Aziz Mirza, whose last film, Chalte Chalte was a Super-hit. Vidya Balan has siad that the chemistry between her and Shahid is awsesome in the film.

Here are some exclusive pictures from the sets of Lucky Charm. Vidya Balan and Shahid Kapoor are seen shooting a scene. The scene has an injured Shahid Kapoor crying in pain, as Vidya Balan triesto cool him down.

Pic : Shahid Vidya On Sets Of Lucky Charm

Check out more exclusive pictures of Vidya Balan and Shahid Kapoor on the sets of Lucky Charm