Tag: Bollywood

It seems marriage has not affected Kareena Kapoor Khan’s popularity, at least in the Middle East. The pretty actress was allegedly paid a whooping Rs 1.5 crore to dance on a reality show in Lebanon. According to a report in Bollywoodlife.com, Kareena was on a vacation in Lebanon when she was approached by makers of reality show Arab’s Got Talent to dance in the show. She was allegedly offered an amount of Rs. 1.5 crore to dance on the show. Kareena not only agreed to shake a leg but also attended a launch event the next day. While it is surprising for any Bollywood actress to get such a huge amount for performing abroad, maybe her marriage with Nawab of Pataudi, Saif Ali Khan enhanced her brand value.

Veena Malik, who was supposed to find her perfect match on Imagine’s show Swayamvar couldn’t make her dream come true as the channel was shut reportedly owing to financial crisis. However,Veena says that she was also offered The Bachelorette India, but the actress rejected the offer. While talking about The Bachelorette India, Veena said, “Swayamvar was very big and I believed in Swayamvar. I was also offered ‘The Bachelorette’, but I found it to be a copy of Swayamvar and I rejected it. Swayamvar was a huge platform and after that I thought The Bachelorette India was not very flattering.” “I would have done the show if I would have thought I will get married. I didn’t find The Bachelorette India exciting or genuine,” added the actress. On being asked about her marriage plans, Veena said, “I believe in marriage and I will get married. I will find someone soon as couples are made in heaven.” Currently, Mallika Sherawat is seen on the The Bachelorette India in search of love.

STORY: The cops are cracking a cyber crime case and they hire hacker Mickey to crack the plot. It opens a lethal can of worms that no ordinary anti-virus can kill. REVIEW: We aren’t internet keedas here, but let’s try cracking into Mickey’s (Manish) world of codes, crypts and consoles. This one isn’t so deadly that we can’t decode, or so simple that we just download and ESC (read: escape). So, risk it and hit ENTER! The Delhi cops, headed by ACP Siddhanth (Chaudhari) and inspector Bhalla who can’t tell a ‘hawker’ from a ‘hacker’ (Varun Badola) are investigating a case on cyber crime, where hackers are getting killed in broad daylight. They suspect a hound of hackers who are running this racket, and the only way to vandalize their plot is to find a hacker who can outsmart them and decrypt their devious designs. There comes Mickey, the fairly unambitious, lazy Delhi boy, whose brain operates faster than any highspeed internet, and his zubaan needs a ‘backspace’ at all times.

He is popular as ‘Kung-Fu Chameli’ in cyberspace, and strangely, he meets his woman of web dreams, Kamayani (Elli) in reality. The cops hire Mickey, but as he unscrambles the case he gets ‘spammed’ by a well-programmed series of crimes, and he desperately needs to hit Ctrl+S (read: Save) before they take the ‘Mickey’ out of him. Manish is apt for the role, he makes a good debut with confidence and promise. He flavour his lines with Dilliwala twang, though in scenes his repetitive expressions need to ‘refresh’. From Mickey’s hack-gang, Floppy (Rahgav Kakkar) is funny, and Chutney (Puja) is impressive. Elli looks like an animated creation out of a cyber-game. Performance – never mind! Varun Badola kills the other viruses in this game with his brilliant act. Varma allows his characters to flourish in wit and humour. The plot is intelligent; there are laughs (sample: a tee printed – ‘Jab Tak Hai Trojan’), some suspense and surprises too. Though direction is not error-free, it could’ve been more innovative and he often tips the balance between comedy and thriller

Renee Zellweger is desperate to start a family with her guitarist boyfriend Doyle Bramhall II, as she wants to adopt a baby, according to reports.A source has said that the 44-year-old actress has molded her career in recent months to allow herself more time to focus on her personal life, Radar Online reported. The insider said that she has been directing and working on her own projects, which has given her more time and flexibility to develop her relationship with the right guy. The source said that the ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’ star is a true romantic, and she didn’t want to be a single mom, but wanted a partner with whom she can share the adventure of parenthood.

Actress Anne Hathaway couldn’t hold back her tears at an event when she introduced a doctor, who helped her close friend battle cancer. Hathaway attended the Victory Fund Champagne Brunch in Beverly Hills, California, with her husband Adam Shulman, reports femalefirst.co.uk. An emotional Hathaway said on stage: “On a personal note, Dr. Karlan helped a beloved friend of mine … excuse me. “She helped a beloved friend of mine battle cancer recently and I couldn’t be more grateful to her. Dr. Karlan, you are more than just my friend’s doctor. You’re a friend and ally. And I’m happy to say that together you kicked that cancer’s a*s.”

STORY: The film documents the 2009 hijacking of the US-flagged cargo ship ‘Maersk Alabama’ by Somali pirates. Unarmed and unprepared… how Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) and his crew tackled the intruders forms the story. REVIEW: If Gravity made you experience the horrors of space, this tense drama in the high-seas will leave you feeling claustrophobic. The film is an archetypal Paul Greengrass thriller, which keeps you on the edge of your seat with its twists and turns. It engages you in deciphering the consequences of a criminal activity that unfolds onscreen. Based on a true-life story, at the helm of the hijacked ship is Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks), who puts his life in jeopardy to save his crew and the valuables on his vessel after being attacked by the Somalian pirates. His deadly cat-and-mouse game with the gun-wielding Somalians and relationship with their team leader Muse (Barkhad Abdi) is heartfelt and unnerving. While Tom Hanks is undoubtedly flawless in his portrayal of a man who’s staring at death in the face, it’s the British director who impresses the most with his thoughtful execution. In all his films, Greengrass subtly makes you notice the humane side of his characters.

You feel for their fear, dilemmas as their behaviour reflects their inner turmoil. He challenges your perception of good and bad, making you realize that crime is driven by circumstances, not people. Be it Green Zone (2010) or United 93 (2006), there is no over-bloated display of American superiority, or undue sympathy for the perpetrators. This makes his vision distinct and thus work mature, when compared to the rest. However, unlike his previous films, the build-up here is a tad tedious so needs patience. Nonetheless, the pressure keeps mounting steadily. The dialogues are profound; especially the ones exchanged between the Capt. and Muse, where the latter expresses his helplessness. Barkhad Abdi and other actors who play his sidekicks are as brilliant as Tom Hanks. Cinematography and background score create the tension required. And finally, all those mulling over the accuracy of the biographical tale must know that the director shows no interest in giving his film a docudrama treatment either. It’s essentially about each individual’s fight for survival.

For many, talk about catfights on film sets makes great fodder for gossip, but for actress Priyanka Chopra, who has been facing a volley of questions about her camaraderie with her “Krrish 3” co-star Kangana Ranaut, it’s no laughing matter. “It really upsets me how people reduce women’s stature in a movie that the focus only remains on how she fought with her female costar,” Priyanka said here Wednesday in response to a question about a catfight. “Nobody asks the men that. Nobody says how Hrithik (Roshan) or Vivek (Oberoi) would have fought. A lot of people find it funny and laugh about it, but I take it very seriously,” added the actress, who is working with Kangana for the second time after “Fashion”. She claims they gel well. “Kangana and I have worked in the past on a film (‘Fashion’), which I believe has been a turning point in our respective careers. We get along very well.” Kangana, who was present at the press conference for the promotion of “Krrish 3” here, said: “I agree with Priyanka. We are here, promoting the film together and there is no problem between us. We are not kids that we will fight on sets.” The press conference was also addressed by filmmaker Rakesh Roshan, Hrithik Roshan and Vivek Oberoi. Their superhero movie releases Nov 1.

Ironic as it may sound, actress Sunny Leone, who is known for her porn films in the US, recently refused to go topless for a scene in her upcoming horror flick. The shot required her to cover her bare breasts with her hands, but Sunny was hesitant and insisted that she be allowed to wear a bikini top. The makers finally agreed to the actress’s demand. Says a source, “Though she was allowed to shoot wearing a top, it was later removed using computer graphics. Her breasts were then digitally superimposed from one of her earlier films.”

STORY: A story based on real-life human-rights and criminal lawyer, Shahid Azmi, who was slain while defending the wrongly accused by the law in terrorist activities. REVIEW: You can escape a terror attack. You can fight terrorism. But what happens when you are branded a ‘Terrorist’ for life? On the grounds that your name reads ‘Zahir’, ‘Faheem’, ‘Khan’, ‘Shaikh’ (and not Matthew or Donald? God help!). Even if you’re acquitted, the right to live a life in fairness and dignity is permanently adjourned. Case closed! The story of ‘Shahid’ (fact remixed with fiction) confronts us with hard-hitting questions on religious fundamentalism, flawed legal investigations, and injustices suffered by the underdogs. In his teens, Shahid (Raj Kumar) witnesses the savagery of religious antagonism during the 1993 Mumbai riots. Shattered and shaken, he escapes from his ‘slumdog’ existence to Kashmir to join the militants. Unnerved with lessons in jihad and jingoism, he returns to a brief life of normalcy in Mumbai. The past catches up. He’s arrested and thrown into prison under Mumbai’s anti-terror laws. During his term he meets co-quaidi and mentor who shows him light in the dark cells of his tormented existence.

Shahid begins studying in jail, once acquitted, he gets his law degree and amidst much resentment, humiliation (often called jihadiyon ka Gandhi) and lifethreatening challenges, he becomes a fearless champion for his cause. He remarkably wins some of the most controversial terrorism cases (including defending the prime accused in 2008 Mumbai terror attack). One fateful night Shahid is gunned down. His case files reopen. Mehta’s film is brutally honest, brave and above all a fascinating humane story. Nothing distracts the dark and disturbing subject, the narrative is not found guilty of over-dramatizations; indulgence or loaded lines (like ‘tareek pe tareek’ and ‘Milord’, here). He finds a perfect pitch at crucial points – The courtroom interrogations, Shahid’s subtle romance with Mariam (Prabhleen), and moments shared with Arifbhai (Mohammed, in a fine performance) are subtle, but stirring. Raj Kumar is superb; he peels layers to strip to the core of his character. He magnifies the most intense scenes with sheer brilliance of an understated, realistic performance. It warrants applause. And an unadulterated encore. Catch it if real cinema is what you crave.

Kim Kardashian, who snapped back to her pre-baby body in just four months after the birth of her daughter North West in June, has revealed that she has been using the ‘Atkins diet’ for losing her post-pregnancy weight. The reality star took to her Twitter account to reveal the secret to her weight loss success, while praising the popular celebrity diet – which consists of a low carbohydrate intake, ABC News reported. In response to a fans query, the ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ star tweeted that she has been actually doing the Atkins diet and she loves it. Colette Heimowitz, Vice President of Nutrition for Atkins Nutritionals, Inc., told the publication in a statement that Kardashian wanted a balanced and effective way to lose weight following her pregnancy and she chose Atkins. Heimowitz stated that Kardashian ate lots of lean proteins, veggies, fruits, and healthy fats like avocado and nuts.

Amanda Holden has revealed that a famous comedian had sexually assaulted her while she was married to Les Dennis. The 42-year-old actress wrote in her autobiography that she kept this incident a secret as she didn’t want her then husband to create a scene, the Daily Star reported. The ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ judge explained that she was cornered by the comedian while she was coming back from the loo, at a public event which she had attended with Dennis. She resisted as the unnamed celebrity tried to kiss her and put his hands in places that he shouldn’t have. When she caught the sight of their reflection on a mirror, her body went limp as he groped and nuzzled her. Holden and former husband Dennis separated in 2003 and now she is married to music producer Chris Hughes.

STORY: Tim (Gleeson) gets clued onto a family secret – all the gents in the house have the ability to travel through time! He then goes about using this power to sort out various wrongs in his life and win over his lady love. REVIEW: With a movie title that couldn’t possibly be more literal, About Time features an amalgamation of love and philosophy. From the director with a filmography including Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually and Bridget Jones’s Diary, you could safely come to the conclusion that Curtis could spin out another romcom blindfolded. He manages to move beyond flightiness and stops just short of being maudlin or mawkish. Tim’s dad (Nighy) reveals the time-travelling secret to junior one day. Forget about quantum physics and those lifelong labours of Stephen Hawking and his ilk; apparently, all it takes to time-travel is to close your eyes, clench your fists and focus really hard. Not one to waste such a phenomenal gift, Tim is certainly a man with his priorities in order.

Forgetting about everything else, he decides to focus on romance in general, Mary (McAdams) in particular, and use his new time-travelling trick to set right certain wrongs. Mary is a bit airy. She has her faults but attempts to be endearing. Indeed, Tim and she share an easy chemistry. Gleeson is no Hugh Grant, but McAdams is a highlight in this film. The film is inexplicably long but the genuinely funny jokes that pepper the plot save the film from plodding into a sentimental soup. There is a strong idealistic streak running through About Time. After all, which one of us wouldn’t want to go back in the years and change certain things? What if we had said the right thing at the right time to him or her…or perhaps avoided that misunderstanding? Wouldn’t that relationship have worked out? Ultimately, the message is simple and visceral enough to have crossover appeal. Give it a shot if romantic comedies float your boat.

Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has been married for a year now, has fallen in line with other Bollywood superstar wives and made place for important personal commitments in her work calendar. The actress, who celebrated her first wedding anniversary recently in London has told the Gori Tere Pyaar Mein team that she will be available only for four hours on October 22. The reason: She is keeping the Karva Chauth fast and wants to partake in the pujas and rituals that mark the special occasion. Years ago, Hema Malini had told Yash Chopra, with whom she was shooting, that she would like to be let off early on Karva Chauth because the fasting always got to her by the evening. Besides which she would, of course, need to be home in time to break her fast. Sridevi, who is another follower of the tradition, is also said to be getting ready for the special fast this year. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been observing the Karva Chauth fast for the last six years. And it is said that the matriarch of the Bachchan family, Jaya Bachchan, encourages even Kajol, who is a neighbour, to come over to Jalsa and participate in the puja with her and her bahurani.

Actress Shraddha Kapoor, recently seen in successful love saga ‘Aashiqui 2’, says she wants to go beyond the genre of romance on screen, and try her luck at different roles, especially a grey character. “The fact that people liked Aashiqui 2 and my character (Aarohi) in it, they now want to see me in a lot more romantic films. I would like to do romantic films, but honestly I would like to do beyond that as well,” Shraddha told reporters at an event. “I would like to do other genres also and it will be interesting,” she added. Shraddha, daughter of actor Shakti Kapoor, made her Bollywood debut with Teen Patti in 2010. But she earned popularity only with Aashiqui 2. Asked about the kind of roles she wants to play, Shraddha said: “If I will get the opportunity to be a part of a very interesting character that has grey or white shades, then why not? I would love to play it.” Meanwhile, the actress will soon be seen in Mohit Suri’s next The Villain. Besides, she has also teamed up with director Rohit Shetty for his next project, which is expected to go on floors soon.

STORY: Satyakanth Shastri (Mithun) is the righteous father, who adores his ‘sanskari’ younger son but disowns the elder, as he resorts to violence to fight injustice. They part ways and the ethical but shorttempered son grows up to become Boss (Akshay Kumar) – a contract killer who learns to laugh in the face of adversity. Do they reunite? REVIEW: ‘Apne ko kya hai, apne ko toh bus paani nikalna hain’ is Boss Akshay’s punch line in the movie. If you rephrase it a little with ‘Apne ko toh bus Akshay Kumar ka stunts dekhna hai’, then Boss is a ‘kick-ass’ entertainer. After all, we all know who the Boss of action in Bollywood is. A remake of 2010 Malayalam film, Pokkiri Raja, Boss is a formulaic action comedy. There are truckloads of stunts throughout and whatever falls in between constitutes the plot so don’t expect logic. It seems the action was probably chalked out before and the 70’s-like melodramatic story was inserted later as filler, which explains why most characters end up being silent spectators, once Akshay makes an entry.

The very vicious ACP Ayushman Thakur (Ronit Roy, brilliant) in particular gets easily outplayed by our Haryanvi hero. The romantic track between Shiv Pandit and Aditi Rao Hydari is terribly inconsequential. To cut a long story short, Boss solely relies on Akshay’s star power and he carries the film on his shoulders with aplomb. It’s his dialoguebazi and filmygiri that make you smile, no matter how corny the one-liners. He climbs the walls at a lightning speed like a Spiderman, jumps over rooftops, trucks and makes his way in a crowded place by walking over the heads of his enemies. He makes gravity-defying stunts look believable. We particularly liked this elaborate chase sequence which looks like it’s been shot in one-take. From cracking of bones to the crunching of chanas that the villain munches on, the sound effects add to the intensity of the slow-mo stunt scenes. Mithun Chakraborty goes overboard with his preachy Nirupa Roy-esque character and is thus unintentionally funny. Ronit Roy has a superb presence.

Sadly, he gets meagre footage. Aditi Rao Hydari and Shiv Pandit are used as mere props. SHRADDHA KEEN TO MOVE BEYOND ROMANCE IN FILMS Actress Shraddha Kapoor, recently seen in successful love saga ‘Aashiqui 2’, says she wants to go beyond the genre of romance on screen, and try her luck at different roles, especially a grey character. “The fact that people liked Aashiqui 2 and my character (Aarohi) in it, they now want to see me in a lot more romantic films. I would like to do romantic films, but honestly I would like to do beyond that as well,” Shraddha told reporters at an event. “I would like to do other genres also and it will be interesting,” she added. Shraddha, daughter of actor Shakti Kapoor, made her Bollywood debut with Teen Patti in 2010. But she earned popularity only with Aashiqui 2. Asked about the kind of roles she wants to play, Shraddha said: “If I will get the opportunity to be a part of a very interesting character that has grey or white shades, then why not? I would love to play it.” Meanwhile, the actress will soon be seen in Mohit Suri’s next The Villain. Besides, she has also teamed up with director Rohit Shetty for his next project, which is expected to go on floors soon

Actress Jennifer Ehle has joined the cast of the screen adaptation of ” Fifty Shades of Grey”. She will be seen playing protagonist Anastasia Steele’s mother. Anastasia’s character is played by Dakota Johnson, while Charlie Hunnam will play Christian Grey in the movie adaptation of E.L. James’ erotic novel, reports contactmusic.com. The film will be directed by Sam Taylor- Johnson.

Penelope Cruz, who will be seen next in Ridley Scott’s star studded drama ‘The Counselor’, is happy juggling work and motherhood. The Spanish beauty gave birth to her daughter, Luna, three months ago with husband Javier Bardem and Cruz says family will always be a priority to her. “I’ve always been a very family person, since I was a little girl, that?s the way I was raised. So that will always be a priority. But I have to work, like everyone else, so I will find a way to balance,” the actress said. The mother of two wore a red Nina Ricci suit for the London premiere of the film, which also stars Bardem, Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz and Michael Fassbender. Unfortunately for Bardem, the couple don’t have any scenes together in the movie. ‘The Counselor’ is all set to release on October 25.

STORY: After a space mission goes awry, astronauts drift into space, losing not only their sense of direction, but also hope for survival. REVIEW: Do you regret not taking enough risks in life? Do you often envy those who take the road less traveled? Do you wish you could escape your mundane life and fly into the sky like a free bird to touch the moon and the stars? In case you do, Gravity will change the way you think. It will alter your perception of beauty, fear and freedom. If you wonder how a docu-style film centered on a single character (Sandra Bullock) floating through deep space can be this gripping, the answer lies in Gravity’s aweinspiring technical excellence. Filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron deserves a standing ovation for his film is a visual masterpiece. You know you have watched a film of this caliber when you keep asking yourself throughout, ‘How did they do it’! The four and a half years of production work pay off, as you can tell every frame is painstakingly made.

Tense, unnerving and arresting, every scene of the psychological thriller gives you gooseflesh. The spectacular special effects make you feel like you are a part of the film. For instance, every time Bullock takes a long, deep breath, you can feel yourself doing the same. That’s the impact of Gravity. It’s an experience. A game-changer of sorts, the film is bound to revolutionise special effects in movies. Having said that, Alfonso Cuaron doesn’t let technology overpower the story, which is essentially an emotional journey of its lead character. That sense of detail for things goes beyond technology and this is what we liked the most about the film. George Clooney manages to charm you once again, but it’s Sandra Bullock who puts on the performance of her career. The haunting eeriness of dark space has been impeccably portrayed. The background score is equally fear-inducing and manages to maintain the tension created. Cuaron keeps his film as realistic as it can get. No melodrama, no far-fetched stylised action scenes or convenient plot twists. The film stays unpredictable till the end. To sum it up, there are films and then there’s Gravity. For an edge-of-the-seat-rollercoaster-ride experience, watch it only in IMAX 3D.

Actress Aishwarya Rai has urged everyone not to speculate about her second child after Aaradhya. She said that when such a moment comes she will make it known. The actress was at an event to announce her association with a stem cell banking brand. Asked if she will opt for stem cell banking a second time, Aishwarya said: “I know what are you trying to ask. Whenever such a moment comes, you all will get to know. But please don’t speculate till then. The actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan said that becoming a mother has been a blessing for her. “Change is constant in life. Every experience contributes to change and growth, making you hopefully a better human being. Becoming a mother has been a blessing and I cherish this gift from god,” Aishwarya said. “Aaradhya (her daughter) is a wonderful blessing in our lives and she is very special and it is a loving fulfilment. I am grateful for this experience,” she said. Aishwarya said she had opted for banking her daughter’s stem cells. “I was aware about stem cell banking as a development probably out of my interest in the medical field as most of my friends are doctors. I have been aware of this way before I got married. I was always fascinated by it.

Any research and development in general let alone in science and healthcare has always been of interest to me,” she said. “The beauty of this association fulfils the wish of social encouragement. It is addressing a mindset that is fairly new to our country at large. I am happy to contribute, educate and make people aware about this scientific development,” she added. For Aishwarya, it has been busy time professionally as she has lots of advertising and promotional work. Aishwarya refused to divulge anything, when she was asked about the plans to celebrate her father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan’s birthday on October 11. “You will know the plans. For us festivities begin from October to November, besides festivals like Navratri and Dusshera there are lot many birthdays in our family that come in this period. It is a busy and special time for us,” she said. “With respect and love we wish paa and other family members a happy birthday. Also, we wish everybody happy festival period,” she added.

The makers of ‘Gabbar’, the Hindi version of Tamil blockbuster ‘Ramanaa’, are reportedly considering actress Kareena Kapoor to be cast opposite Akshay Kumar in the film. Telugu filmmaker Krish will direct Gabbar, which will be produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. “Kareena’s name has come up for the role of the leading lady. She hasn’t been approached yet, but she is likely to be signed on for the role. She is expected to play Akshay’s wife in the film, which will also feature another heroine,” a source told media. In case Kareena joins the project, she will essay the role originally played by Simran – she did a special appearance in Ramanaa. Ashima Bhalla was the other heroine in the film. “We haven’t confirmed the heroine yet. Currently, we are busy with the pre-production work and when we zero in on the leading lady, we’ll announce it. It’s too early to confirm anything at this stage,” Krish told media. Ramanaa, helmed by A.R. Murugadoss, was an action movie where the protagonist embarks on a journey to make the society corruption free. It also featured Vijayakanth, Vijayan, Yugi Sethu, Riyaz Khan and Ravichandran in important roles. The film was also remade in Telugu as Tagore with megastar Chiranjeevi in the lead.

Actress Kate Hudson has introduced a line of gym wear. It is called Fabletics. Hudson has co-founded the collection with online fashion retailer JustFab Inc. She wants the line to be affordable prices. “At Fabletics, we believe all women should be able to have hip styles and amazing quality (clothes) at prices that won’t break the bank,” New York Daily News quoted Hudson as saying. The line includes sport bras, jackets, sweatshirts and scarves.