Tag: Bollywood

Starting her career with the small screen, Mona Singh gradually moved to films and the actress, who will be next seen in upcoming movie ‘Zed Plus’, says she now wants to try her hands in theatre. The 33-year-old actress, best known for her titular role in hit TV soap ‘Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin’, said her costars in the Chandra Prakash Dwivedi-directed film, who have a background of theatre, inspired her to take up on stage acting. “I am doing theatre. It happened because all the actors of ‘Zed Plus’ are from theatre- Mukesh Tiwary, Adil Hussain, Sanjay Mishra, Kulbhushan Kharbanda. On the set of the film, I felt very out-of-place.

I thought I should also try my hands in theatre. It is very challenging, there are no retakes, no cuts on stage. I am doing a play next month in Mumbai. It is called ‘Unfaithfully Yours’. Hopefully we will travel to other cities as well,” Mona said. In ‘Zed Plus’, which is a political satire, Mona, who has earlier starred in films like ‘3 Idiots’ and ‘Utt Pataang’, will be seen in a deglamorized role. But the actress is not complaining as she considers herself lucky to get the part. “When I was approached for the film and sir (Dwivedi) narrated the story, I immediately said yes.

Such films are made very rarely. When you are old and look back at your career, these are the films that will be the high point,” she said. Mona will be seen playing the wife of Adil’s character in ‘Zed Plus’ and she said she went three shades darker for the role. “My character Hameeda is very controlling, dominating, aggressive, rude.. she is a typical village woman. I did not sport any make up in the film and I am also three shades darker. I play a shoe seller and had to look the part,” Mona said. The actress, who rose to fame by doing television, was last seen in daily soap ‘Kya Huaa Tera Vaada’, which ended in 2013.

Since then, Mona has abstained from doing TV shows and she said she would prefer to be part of shows, which have seasons. “I love acting. I will return to TV but it has to be good enough. Daily soaps get monotonous. I believe in seasons. It is starting here. It is a very good change as writers, producers, actors can come back fresh. It will take a while but it has started,” she said.

Actress Neha Dhupia feels lucky to have worked in filmmaker Karan Johar’s upcoming production ‘Ungli’ and now wishes to be a part of film that is directed by him. The 34-year-old ‘Phas Gaye Re Obama’ actress is a fan of Johar’s films and wants to be directed by him in a glossy entertainer. “I feel lucky that I got to work in Dharma Productions film. It is fantastic to work in Karan’s production and I love his films. He is on my wish list of all those directors I want to work with. I love his glossy entertainers.

I would love to be directed by him in such a film. I really liked his ‘Student of The Year’,” Neha said. Johar was one of the reasons Neha signed ‘Ungli’, directed by Rensil D’Silva and co-starring Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut and Randeep Hooda. “I had more than one reason to be a part of this film, it has a fantastic producer, an amazing director and a lovely cast. Emraan, Kangana and Randeep are such chilled out people that it is easy to bond with them. We all are easy going people so it was a lot of fun on the sets. I am glad to have done ‘Ungli’,” she said.

Cast: Govinda, Ranveer Singh, Parineeti Chopra,
Ali ZafarDirection: Shaad Ali
Genre: Action
Duration: 2 hours 8 minutes

Story: A contract killer wants to reform for love; but wait, will the ones who order him to kill, allow him to listen to his dil?

Review: Shaad Ali’s Kill Dil is inspired by countless Hollywood movies that showcase the protagonists romancing the gun. Here too, the two heroes Dev (Ranveer Singh) and Tutu (Ali Zafar) are orphans who are raised by a local Delhi don, Bhaiyyaji (Govinda). Brought up against the backdrop of bullets instead of lullabies, the chaddi-buddies drop out of primary school and grow up to become contract killers. With mafia killings being a regular feature of the Indian city underbelly, the trigger-happy twosome goes about their work without remorse.

That is, until Dev bumps into Disha (Parineeti Chopra), an heiress who reforms criminals in her spare time. They find themselves drawn to one another, but she doesn’t know what he does for a living. That having been said, the more Dev falls for Disha, the more he starts distancing himself from his mentor. The boy, who once buried his books, now wishes to bury his gun and turn over a new leaf for love. His friend Tutu agrees to cover for him in their moonlighting operations. However, Bhaiyyaji plays a spoilsport in the game of love. Possessive about his ward, he wants to destroy Dev’s bliss. So there you go. There is enough pizzazz to divert you from the cliched plot.

It is certainly a step up from Shaad’s last disastrous outing, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (2007). And what makes this film watchable is the effortless chemistry between Ranveer and Ali. Their poker-faced humour, jibes at one another and ability to break into a song are impressive. Supported by some corny dialogues — like pigs must always eat shit and never attempt to taste gulkand (a sweet preserve of rose petals used in paan) – they draw laughs as quickly as they draw out their weapons. Govinda’s on-screen entry and trademark dance step had the matinee crowd in a tizzy. Parineeti and Ali are good, but the film belongs to Ranveer. He’s as keyed up as an Energiser bunny, exuding charm and competence in equal measure.

If there is anyone else who is happy for Shraddha Kapoor’s back to back successes with Aashiqui 2, Ek Villain and now Haider, apart from her family is her house help. This house help has been in Shraddha’s house from the time Shraddha was a kid and she has been there with her throughout. Post the success of Haider, she was so proud and happy for Shraddha that she bought her a small gift in her capability. She personally went and picked up a congratulatory card and a small Ganesh idol for her as Shraddha worships Ganeshji a lot. Shraddha was very touched with this kind gesture of her house help and gave her a tight hug. They have a very strong bond and she has been living in their house since years now. On earlier celebratory occasions, she has also cooked Shraddha’s favourite dishes for her.

Actress Ileana D’Cruz, who is reportedly dating Australian Andrew Kneebone, says she prefers not to talk about her personal life with everybody. “I have never said anything about my personal life. I am single until I am married. I like to keep my personal life very private. As long as my family is aware about it, I am fine with that. I don’t want everyone to know about my personal life,” she said. Ileana, who made her Bollywood debut with Ranbir Kapoor starrer “Barfi!”, is now gearing up for the release of her next film, “Happy Ending” featuring Saif Ali Khan, Govinda, Kalki Koechlin and Ranvir Shorey. The actress revealed that Kneebone has a special appearance in the film too. “Andrew Kneebone has got a little bit of role but that happened for fun,” she said. Directed by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, “Happy Ending” will release Nov 21

We heard that Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has a cameo in Happy Ending, did not charge even a penny for her role. To express his gratitude, producer Dinesh Vijan gifted her a high-end designer watch, which ended up burning a bigger hole in his pocket. “It is the most expensive cameo for our company,” says Dinesh, good-humouredly. And looks like hubby Saif Ali Khan smartly chose to keep himself away from the sweet gesture.

Cast: Randeep Hooda, Nandana Sen, Paresh Rawal
Direction: Ketan Mehta
Genre: Drama
Duration: 2 hours 5 minutes

Story: Raja Ravi Varma pioneered modern Indian art, giving faces – and sensuality – to the divine. Facing obscenity charges, what was his defence?

Review: So, Rang Rasiya is a colourful triumph, director Ketan Mehta meriting applause for his portrait of painter Raja Ravi Varma, skillfully blending a biopic, a period film, a love story and a social critique, within a tight frame. Arching across the 19th-20th centuries, Rang Rasiya traces Raja Ravi Varma’s growth from a callow youth to a citizen of profound impact.

Young Raja (Randeep) has several sensual encounters, by waterfalls, atop giggling swings, wrenching jewels off lovers’ bare skin with satisfactory elan, painting portraits for pleased royals – until he meets the ethereal Sugandha (Nandana) in Bombay. Sugandha first dismisses Varma’s art as ‘ladkiyon ko ghoorna’ but eventually agrees to be his muse – and lover. As Varma’s growing passion – for Sugandha and for a nation he re-discovers through ancient fables and new consumer energy – deepens his work, self-appointed custodians of culture drag him to court, blaming his art for plague devastating Bombay.

What is Varma’s defence? Rang Rasiya questions and answers with beauty. Its cinematography lovingly glides across Raja Ravi Varma’s now-iconic art – fabrics that shimmer with glossy light, jewels gleaming on paper, goddesses who pout in plaintive love upon carpets of green grass – while portraying his sensual life sensitively. Randeep Hooda’s performance is superb, maturing from a swarthy, ‘swarthee kalakaar’ to the first determined defender of the freedom of expression in modern India.

In a hilarious scene, as Lokmanya Tilak delivers a speech, Varma breezily flirts with pretty journalist Frenny (Ferena Wazeir), later an ageing, wheezing man dismissing critics arrogantly, guilt-struck when Sugandha’s socially mocked. Alongside, Nandana’s portrayal poignantly brings alive the lustrous power of a woman – divinely – in love. Paresh Rawal etches a characteristically sharp cameo as canny merchant Govardhan Das while Vikram Gokhale and Darshan Jariwala drip spite at Varma’s art which, via mass-printing, brings the divine home to all – including those called Untouchable, barred from temples.

A fun sequence displays India’s first cinema show leaving Varma so impressed, he backs a movie by his protegee – Dadasaheb Phalke. Rang Rasiya portrays Varma as India’s first cultural rock-star, adored, attacked, commercial, inspired, excited and challenged by a new consciousness he sees – and shapes. Vitally, Rang Rasiya emphasizes Raja Ravi Varma’s commitment to the freedom of ideas which creates philosophy, science and liberated love, ephemeral, yet lasting – like the pages of his calendars.

Gauri Khan, The Design Cell and Raj Anand of Maison & Objet co- hosted a champagne evening with Kaykasshan Patel for a sneak peek into the attractions of the forthcoming Maison & Objet (an international decor show destination). In attendance for this special evening were Namitta Saraf, Shahid Dattawala, Lubna Allana, Lekha Washington, Pinky Reddy, Renu and Rita Chainani , Lata Patel, Maheep Kapoor, Renu Bhandarkar, Wardha Nadiadwala, Prashita Chaudhary, Madhoo Shah, Sharmilla Khanna, Penny Patel, Nayantara Thacker, Nidhi Ghia, Monisha Jaising, Shibani Bhojwani, Laila Mallya Singh, Queenie Singh , Rishi Sethia, Kalyani Chawla, Tanaaz Doshi, Celina Wadia, Bhavana Pandey, Schauna Chauhan and sister Alisha Chauhan, Kadambari Lakhani, Nandita Mahtani, Divya Khosla Kumar, Arpana Swaroop and many more. Shah Rukh Khan lent support to wife Gauri as did Arif Patel to wife Kaykasshan. Raj Anand was seen playing the gracious host as the guests exclaimed about the collectibles. As one of the world’s leading trade shows, Maison & Objet is synonymous with home decoration and design. Says Gauri, who is a regular visitor at the show, “What interests me is the unique offer and experience of the show, which is a great source of inspiration not only for decor but also to expand one’s mind set and lifestyle. The creativity there is simply exciting for any person whether in design or in general habitat.”

Jacqueline Fernandez is in Ontario shooting her first international film, James Simpson’s Definition Of Fear. She plays a psychology student–a role similar to the one she essayed in the Salman Khan-starrer Kick earlier. Speaking to Mirror from Canada, she admits that their style of filmmaking is “very different”. “Back in India we are pretty laidback, while these guys work with surgical precision. Right from the reporting time to the duration of breaks, everything is stopwatch perfect,” she points out.While she hasn’t screened Kick for her foreign unit yet, she has shown them two songs from the film, Jumme Ki Raat and Hangover.

“Now my costars want me to teach them Bollywood-style dancing!” she laughs. Her co-stars include “girlfriends” Katherine Barrell, Mercedes Papalia and Blythe Hubbard. In the film, the four go to a secluded cabin in the woods to finish a thesis Jacqueline’s character is working on. “It’s about understanding what makes us afraid. Initially, we are in a controlled environment with noises created to evoke fear, but slowly we realise that we aren’t the only ones there,” says the actress. Usually international film debuts are no more than a blink-andmiss appearances but Jacqueline says hers is a lead role. “Even if it was a cameo, I wouldn’t mind because as an actor, I constantly feel the need to work in new environments,” she says.

Cast: Rekha, Randhir Kapoor, Sharman Joshi,
Shweta Kumar
Direction: Indra Kumar
Genre: Drama
Duration: 2 hours 13 minutes

Story: A sixty-something selfless grandma is worth as much as a kitchen mop to her selfish family. But her foreign-returned grandson transforms her into a woman of substance, in Pygmalion style.

Review: A progressive thought on women’s empowerment is presented in the most regressive movie plot in Super Nani. Bharti Bhatia (Rekha)’s NRI grandson, Mann (Sharman Joshi) who gets his tenses mixed up when he speaks Hindi (unfortunately, that is meant to evoke laughter), arrives in India, without any bags, to see his grandma! At home, he sees her being relegated to the kitchen by her family of bullies that includes her boorish husband, R K Bhatia (Randhir Kapoor in flashy maroon jackets), her son, her daughter-in-law (who aspires to be an actress) and a terribly irritating daughter – all of who take turns to remind Rekha that she shouldn’t even attempt crossing the threshold of their home. Obviously, director Indra Kumar (who has previously given us hits like Dil, Beta, Raja, Ishq, Grand Masti) is stuck in a time warp.

As are his lead characters, his writers and everyone else who is associated with this hackneyed movie. So for the first half, you have the ‘bechari nani’ sporting grey strands in her hair and dark under-eye make-up constantly talking to her ‘Kanha'(God). As expected, in the second half, the grandson pays for her trip to the beauty salon and voila, what do you have? Rekha, the mannequin! Super Nani becomes super model (nothing less, mind it), selling everything from dishwashers to detergents.

To showcase her acting skills, Nani also does take-offs on cinema greats like Nargis, Waheeda Rehman and Madhubala. And, just when you are falling off your seat laughing, wondering what’s next in store, you are told Nani has won the woman of substance award for inculcating values in her errant children and wayward husband. Really? Somewhere along the 133 minutes, you’re bound to wonder – why did drop-dead gorgeous Rekha agree to do this film? One can say that India’s self-styled Greta Garbo is a frog in the well. She obviously hasn’t seen English Vinglish and Queen during her Parliament break.

Actress Nandana Sen, an admirer of legendary Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma’s works since her childhood, says she was destined to be a part of ‘Rang Rasiya’, which is based on the artist’s life. The actress will be seen essaying the role of Ravi Varma’s muse Sugandha in the Ketan Mehta directed period film. “I have always loved Ravi Varma’s works. When I was studying at Harvard I had a painting of Hamsa Damayanti in my dorm room. I also have two large Ravi Varma paintings at my home.

I feel I was destined to play this role. I have always been fascinated by his works,” Nandana said. The ‘Black’ actress added, “I have been looking at the eyes of these women while I was growing up and now I get to play the woman who inspired these paintings.” Nandana, who is the daughter of Nobel Laureate and Bharat Ratna economist Amartya Sen and Padma Shri winner and acclaimed Bengali author Nabanita Dev Sen, said that with ‘Rang Rasiya’, her dream of working with Mehta came true. “It was a wonderful, magical and special experience working in this film.

I always wanted to work with Ketan because I feel he is a wonderful artiste. All his films have always, in a very effortless way, given the message of freedom. This film is about freedom of expression,” she said. Actor Randeep Hooda is playing the role of the painter in the film, which is set to release on November 7. Besides Nandana, the film has three other actresses- Feryna Wazheir, Triptha Parashar and Rashaana Shah. Triptha, who plays a princess and Varma’s wife, said the prospect of working with Randeep made her say yes to the film. “I got the film by chance… I had no intention to be an actress. When I was offered the role I asked who the hero was and when I was told it is Randeep Hooda, I said yes immediately.

I am thankful to Ketan sir for giving me the confidence,” the newcomer said. The film has been produced by Mehta’s wife Deepa Sahi and Aanand Mahendroo.

Her cousin Priyanka Chopra is a star. Now, another family member, Mannara, is all set to enter Bollywood with ‘Zid’ and Parineeti feels that it is unfair to pit her against her cousins. ‘Zid’ trailer is out and when Parineeti was asked whether she had seen it and did she think Mannara will be a competitor, she said, “Yes, I saw the teaser and I think she looks sexy. We grew up together and there is just two years difference between us.” “I think it’s time that people stopped comparing me with my sisters in a negative way.

We all have immense love for each other,” she added. The actress is currently busy promoting ‘Kill Dil’, a film helmed by Shaad Ali. Govinda, Ranveer Singh, and Ali Zafar are part of the movie that is slated for a Nov 14 release. With just five films in three years, Parineeti has not only found a firm foothold in filmdom, she also won a Special Mention National Award for ‘Ishaqzaade’. Is she hoping to bag another National Award for ‘Kill Dil’? “When I did ‘Ishaqzaade’, I only wanted that my critics, the audience, and my parents should like my work. With this film (‘Kill Dil’), I have tried something different and National Awards definitely motivates you.”

Biopics on sportspersons have become common in Bollywood. After the success of Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag on the Flying Sikh and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Mary Kom on the boxing legend, Chitrangada Singh has turned producer with a film on Sandeep Singh. She has bought the rights to his life story. The hockey whiz-kid confirmed the news, saying, “It feels great that I will watch my life unveil on celluloid soon. I have known Chitrangada for years, she is a friend.” The former captain of the Indian national team, a penalty corner specialist, was injured on August 22, 2006. He was felled by an accidental gunshot while on his way to join the national team that was flying out to Germany for the World Cup two days later. He was on the wheelchair for two years but not only recovered but rejoined the team too. The director is yet to be finalised.Chitrangada is definite that she will not act in her debut production.

Huma Qureshi, who usually chooses roles with gravitas, has been bitten by the item number bug. She has reportedly agreed to doing a special appearance in the Freida Pinto-starrer ‘Trishna’ and will be seen in a jazzy avatar gyrating to the number ‘Sada Vada High Maintenance’. When contacted, Ajay Dhama, one of the co-producers, confirmed the development.

Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood, Vivaan Shah, Jackie Shroff
Direction: Farah Khan
Genre: Drama
Duration: 2 hours 59 minutes

STORY: Six losers in an international dance championship, with an ulterior motive. An elaborate diamond robbery.

REVIEW: It’s ‘Happy New Year’ time. So, Happy Diwali! And it’s all about everything happy, happy. So let’s stick to being ‘slap happy’. Hence, the good things first. The extra Happy Ending, with the cutest scene in the movie being producers, Gauri and SRK’s beautiful baby Abram looking angelic. And an appearance by director Farah Khan’s terrific triplets.

Throw in Abhishek Bachchan’s tapori snake dance and bouts of ‘Englis’ speaking. Add on Shah Rukh’s dimpled charm (unmissable greased fababs – gets a lot of close-ups); and yes, Deepika’s glossy, massy ‘Lovely’ dance number. But hold on, review abhi baki hai mere dost. Charlie (SRK), with his suave English and blonde streak (but Indiawaale heart) has devised a heist. He gathers his team of Charlie’s Angels, with Jag (Sood), the ex-military, muscle man (he beats Charlie on the abshow). Tammy (Irani), a safe-cracker who gets occasional epileptic attacks of 30 seconds.

Mohini (Padukone), a bar-dancer, obsessed with angrezi speaking men; so she falls in love with Charlie (obviously). And Nandu Bhide (dimaag mein keede), the boisterous bewda who dishes out the best laughs in the film. And Rohan (Shah) the nerd hacker who cracks the codes. The gameplan is to participate in the World Dance Championship, on New Year’s eve; but the ultimate goal is to break into the Shalimar vault (mera pyaar Shalimar) to rob diamonds, from the closed fist of Charan Grover (Shroff).

The story is simple, perched on a lavish canvas – glitzy, glamorous, gorgeous bodies (read: male torso) and with self-deprecating humour which stands out and entertains in parts (a recap of moments from SRK’s own films!). The first half spends too much time setting a plot that’s fairly uncomplicated. It’s not a film about an ingenious heist (far from ‘Oceans Eleven’) or dance, it’s a film about everything genuinely Bollywood – where logic gets a ‘fit’, gloss covers up the glitches, cameos creep in without a warning; and the rest of the plot finds comfort in the hero’s hot-bod (anything from 6 to 8 packs – take your pick!) and outstretched arms. The cast pulls off their acts well; and leave you with some feel-good moments, but not enough to last three long hours.

Cast: Veena Malik, Karanvir Bohra, Vedita Pratap Singh,
Vije Bhatia
Direction: Hemant Madhukar
Genre: Horror
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes

STORY: On their way to Mumbai from Pune, a bunch of youngsters get stranded on a supposed deserted road that leads to nowhere. Their ill-fated night gets worse as they start witnessing supernatural killings. Can they survive?

REVIEW: Mumbai 125 Km begins well. Even though it’s formulaic, a haunting background score, effective usage of 3D, especially in the scenes featuring mirrors, decent performances and predominantly a ‘fear of the unknown’ manage to keep you on the edge of your seat. Gripping and atmospheric, just when you think this horror film might actually be able to scare the living daylights out of you, enters ‘lady in white’ Veena Malik and her predictable back-story. As a ghost, her makeup and look are effective, but what doesn’t work is her penchant for flying in the sky like a superman.

Also, the scenes, where clad in lingerie, she makes scandalous statements and then pouts in a bikini take away from the build-up and the creepy mood created in the first half. Her ‘sex appeal’ is made the point of focus as the film progresses and that is absolutely unnecessary. Karanvir Bohra, Vedita Pratap Singh and Vije Bhatia act well.

Unfortunately, Veena Malik is made out to be the show-stealer and she does grab your attention, mostly for the wrong reasons. Overall, this film is somewhat like a Bollywoodised version of the Final Destination series. As horror, it partially works but as a slasher, gets too monotonous and repetitive…old wine in an old bottle.

Shah Rukh Khan, the producer and hero of Deepika Padukone’s debut film Om Shanti Om, says she has paved the way for her own success and that she always had it in her to be a ‘star’. SRK and Deepika worked under Farah Khan’s direction for Om Shanti Om, and the team has joined hands again for the forthcoming Happy New Year. In the gap of seven years, Deepika has established herself as one of the reigning beauties in Bollywood — and Shah Rukh feels the success is all hers. “I have nothing to do with her (Deepika’s) success. It’s all hers. You can’t take credit away from someone,” Shah Rukh told reporters in a group interview.

Citing his own example, he said that when he worked on his debut film Deewana, veteran actors like Rishi Kapoor and Amrish Puri were very nice and kind to him. “I must have made mistakes, I must have been good and bad,” Shah Rukh said as he mulled over his own journey. But then talking of Deepika, he said, “I think Deepika was always a star. Since she was new, we did the ‘Aankhon Mein Teri’ song and we showed it to Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan).

He said, ‘She is a very huge star.’ She was a supermodel at that time, so it’s not something we (Farah and I) have done.” “I haven’t worked with her for seven years, but I think she has it all. As a friend, I told her that ‘Always do a film where you feel comfortable with the people around’. She has made wonderful choices — whether it’s Cocktail or Finding Fanny. She has chosen some highly commercial films too; she has made the right choices,” he said.

Rumored ex-flames Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh are paired opposite each other in Dil Dhadakne Do. However, the more interesting twist is the fact that the actress has done her first item number in the film directed by Zoya Akhtar. Sources said the song is called Swing and even though some other members of the ensemble cast that includes Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor and Shefali Shah are also seen in the same song; the spotlight is on Anushka who is performing her first full-fledged item number. Producer Ritesh Sidhwani remained unavailable for comment.

Cast: Harshvardhan Deo, Cherry Mardia, Navni Parihar,
Virendra Saxena
Direction: Raj Purohit
Genre: Romance
Duration: 2 hours 21 minutes

Story: A middle class boy falls in love with a rich girl. Theirs is love at first sight. Owing to the class divide, parents object to the relationship. Can their love survive societal pressure?

Review: Set in Agra in the late 80’s, Jigariyaa revives the magic of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. It traces the lives of two young lovers Shyamlal Gupta (Harshvardhan Deo) and Radhika (Cherry Mardia), who dream of an idealistic future.

However, villains in their fairytale romance happen to be their parents, who are more concerned about their standing in the society. The two are forced to give up on their relationship as maan and maryada are of prime importance. Will they break the norms of society and get back together or succumb to it? In spite of its run of the mill story, Jigariyaa is quite a commendable attempt. The newcomers are the film’s USP and they give their best.

They deliver solid performances and have the ability to make it big in Bollywood. Harshvardhan Deo as an aspiring poet (shayar) is charming, while the beautiful Cherry Mardia makes an impression. Their depiction of the protagonists’ ‘innocent love’ sets the film apart. The cinematography is stunning too. Colours, heritage sites and historical locations are used beautifully. That reminds one of Raanjhanaa. The music is soulful and the script allows you to feel for the central characters.

However, the film could have been at least 30 minutes shorter. The story stays static for a long time in the first half. You get impatient for the climax and while it’s effective, it does seem a tad pointless. A cliched story and sluggish pace are major drawbacks. If it wasn’t for that, Jigariyaa could have been a film worth remembering. Nonetheless, the film can be watched for its purity and simplicity. It ably captures the beauty of small towns and first love…love before technology happened. Love before sexual desire found its place in films.

After kicking up controversy, the much-awaited movie Dirty Politics, starring Mallika Sherawat in the lead role, has been issued an ‘A’ certificate. Now, the film’s latest poster showing Mallika, draped in two colours – white and saffron – has got clearance from IMPPA.

The film, based on Jodhpur’s ANM Bhanwari Devi sex scandal, will be releasing in December this year. After reviewing the film, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) sent it to the Revising Committee for further approval. Initially, the CBFC suggested a few cuts to give the film ‘U/A’ certificate to which the filmmakers didn’t agree. Finally, the Revising Committee passed it giving it an ‘A’ rating without any cuts. Confirms KC Bokadia, the director of the film, “Yes, the film has now got ‘A’ certificate without any cuts. Earlier CBFC had suggested deleting few scenes to give it a ‘U/A’ certificate. But we didn’t agree to it.

As the story revolves around a sex scandal, it was not possible to remove crucial scenes that have an important bearing on the film? Now, as everything is sorted, we are planning to release the film either on December 5 or 12.” Earlier, the film landed the makers, and lead actress Mallika Sherawat in a soup for the poster in which Sherawat is seen draped in a tricolour covering half of her body.

A slew of legal cases were filed in the courts of Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Delhi on behalf of various sections of the moral police. “The poster too has got a clearance after a few changes in it. Now, it’s only white and saffron and not the tricolour as was the case earlier,” says Bokadia.

Dedication is a rare virtue — and Shraddha Kapoor seems to have it in hordes. The young actress didn’t step back from performing at a recent awards function despite an injured leg. At a recently held award function, Shraddha staged an entire dance performance without creating any fuss. “Her spirit was undeterred and seeing it, the choreographer designed simple hip-hop steps for her,” said a source. Shraddha was among the several star performance at the awards ceremony, which recognised achievements of Hindi films at the box office. The event will go on air Oct 19.

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Danny Denzongpa Direction: Siddharth Anand
Genre: Romance
Duration: 2 hours 36 minutes

Story: After 150 years, an Indian robs the Kohinoor diamond. And thus begins the cat-and-mouse game as the international mob and the Indian Secret Service (ISS) officials hunt him down.

Review: Siddharth Anand’s Bang Bang makes more noise and little sense. This desi adaptation of the 2010 Tom Cruise-Cameron Diaz action thriller, Knight And Day, has charm in abundance, primarily because of its effervescent lead pair — Rajveer/Jai ( Hrithik Roshan) and Harleen (Katrina Kaif). But it lacks coherence. Disbelief is writ large on the face, right at the start.

Picture this – India’s most wanted, Omar Zafar (Danny Denzongpa), who is to be extradited to India, escapes from a maximum-security prison in Britain because his aide Hamid Gul (Jaaved Jafferi) blows up the place like it is a cardboard edifice. They also kill the honest ISS agent, Viren Nanda (Jimmy Sheirgill) in the process. Next, Zafar suggests that he can actually hold up the UK-India extradition treaty by getting an Indian to rob the Kohinoor. Really?

Aimed at providing more style than substance, the film makes you comfortably numb in the first 20 minutes itself. So you may perhaps just raise an eyebrow as you watch Katrina, a bank receptionist from Shimla (with a liberal grandmother who tells her to go chase love), on a global escapade — London, Prague, Greece… in the company of a “psychopathic schizophrenic” jewel thief, Hrithik, after meeting him on one blind date.

If you’re still looking to make sense, Hrithik has a back-story on why he attempted to steal the Kohinoor. Or why he chose guns over roses. Kaif, convinced of his good intentions, is happy to cling to him with gay abandon.

Anand’s film has no grammar. But it compensates with breathtaking locales and stylishly choreographed stunts. It also works as a show reel for the bronzed Roshan with his six-pack abs and the enviable midriff of Kaif wearing a red polka-dotted bikini top. Their horseplay caters to an audience that is low on IQ and high on adrenalin!

Full marks to the lead pair for not being overwhelmed by the commotion around them. Especially Hrithik, who knows the job at hand is silly, but never slips up.

Nargis Fakhri joins Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan and other marketing geniuses’ league by coming up with the ultimate ‘Bang Bang Dare’ marketing idea. The only difference is that the actors promote their own films but Nargis did it for her friend Hrithik Roshan.

The Bang Bang dare that has caught on like a rage on social networking websites, where Hrithik dares his B-town friends to do a daring act, was actually Nargis’ idea. Nargis, who is good friends with Hrithik, stimulated this idea in Hrithik’s mind and he started the Bang Bang dare campaign on Twitter. The honest man that he is, Hrithik has also given credit to Nargis for coming up with this amazing idea for his film’s promotion.

While only big male stars are known for coming up with masterstroke marketing ideas, Nargis