Big B dubs for a tribute to KA Abbas

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan started his day on Monday with dubbing for a tribute to late director-screenwriter K.A. Abbas, who gave him his first break.

Amitabh Bachchan

The actor took to Twitter to express his gratitude to the director for "Saat Hindustani".

"(I) had started day at 7:30 a.m. ... dub for a tribute to KA Abbas, for his centenary. K.A. Abbas gave me my first film," Amitabh posted on the microblogging site on Monday.

Abbas has also helmed films like "Shehar Aur Sapna", "Dharti Ke Lal" and "Roop Lekha".

(Agencies)

Aamir's tears stall Satyamev Jayate 2 shoot

The second season of Aamir Khan’s popular show, Satyamev Jayate, is now on the floors. And if the first day of the shoot is any indication, then this new season is going to be an equally, if not more, overwhelming experience for its emotional actor-host. The first day of shoot started with the makers highlighting India’s most troubling issues of last year, of which violence against women was, and still is, a crucial one.

“Aamir began with an introductory speech, and then, as the women’s testimonies started, they started talking about their experiences. Listening quietly, after a while, Aamir could not hold his tears back,” says an insider. 

So much so that the shoot had to be stalled for 30 minutes for the actor to gather himself. “He is an emotional person, and he was in no condition to resume shooting at that moment. That’s why we took a break so he could have some time to himself,” says the insider. Even in the last season of the show, Aamir was often left speechless in some episodes. 

Aamir Khan in a still from the Satyamev Jayate Season 1

Apparently, the new season of this weekly show will not be aired continuously, month after month. After four episodes (that will be aired in one month), there will be a gap before the next set of episodes begin.

Although season two was supposed to go on the floors in November 2013, it was pushed to this month as Aamir required some time to detach himself from his commercial film commitments to be able to properly concentrate on Satyamev Jayate.

The shoot for season two started early on Friday (January 10), and went on till midnight.

Aamir Khan definitely is an emotional man. It's not the first time he has broke down on a set. Check out what makes the perfectionist cry:

Aamir Khan wraps up Dhoom:3 shooting, gets emotional

Aamir Khan, who will next be seen in Dhoom: 3, wrapped up the shooting for the film on Saturday (September 14) evening. And we’ve now been informed that the actor, as well as the entire unit of the film, shared an emotional moment after the last scene for the film was shot. READ MORE

Ranbir Kapoor's Barfi! makes Aamir cry

Aamir Khan, who is currently busy shooting for Yash Raj Films’ Dhoom:3 in Chicago, requested UTV Motion Pictures to arrange a special screening of Anurag Basu’s Barfi! for his crew and himself. READ MORE

Aamir Khan gets emotional at Satyamev Jayate launch

Aamir Khan got emotional while talking about his TV debut, Satyamev Jayate, at its recent launch  Actor-producer Aamir Khan, who will soon debut on TV with his show, Satyamev Jayate, shed tears at its launch in Mumbai recently. READ REPORT

Anirban Das, Hindustan Times

Has Virat Kohli moved in with Anushka Sharma?

Apun Ka Choice 

Virat Kohli strikes form with Anushka Sharma

Indian cricket team’s vice captain Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma have come far ever since their friendship took root in August last year. 

If the buzz is to be believed, Virat Kohli has as good as moved in with Anushka Sharma. The 25-year-old cricketer was spotted at Anushka’s pad at Badrinath Towers, Seven Bungalows, on daily basis since his return from South Africa after a series we all would rather forget. 

According to reports, Virat Kohli was staying at Anushka Sharma’s place for five days before he left for New Zealand for a series along with the other members of the team India. 

PHOTOS: Virat Kohli snapped outside Anushka Sharma’s residence! 

During these five days, he reportedly stayed at Anushka’s place. According to onlookers, Virat would leave the apartment after noon and then return by night. Anushka, as you know, has bought herself three flats in the building and it looks like they’ve been put to use without delay. 

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli’s secret meeting! 

The two first bonded while shooting for a commercial in August last year. Since then Virat has been spotted repeatedly outside her place. Before he left for South Africa in December, Anushka had as much as come down to say goodbye and goodluck with a quick kiss to boot. Virat was seen turning back to catch a glimpse of her again and again as the vehicle drove off. 

And when he returned from South Africa recently, Anushka sent a car for him at the airport. We can expect a rerun when he returns from New Zealand. 

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli driving around Mumbai streets!

Shah Rukh Khan drools over Madhuri Dixit & Juhi Chawla starrer 'Gulaab Gang' promo, Bollywood gives a big thumbs up to the trailer

Aditi Shome-Ray 

Even as fans cannot stop gushing about Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla's performances in the action-packed trailer of Gulaab Gang, the film has found an admirer in none other than the Badshaah of Bollywood — Shah Rukh Khan.

The actor, who is fond of both the leading ladies, expressed his happiness about the union of the two Bollywood divas.

The actor, who has worked with both Madhuri and Juhi in a number of films, was so excited that he couldn't help but share his feelings on Twitter.

SHAH RUKH KHAN        ✔ @iamsrk

Follow

@anubhavsinha too excited about Gulab Gang. My two favouritest actors coming together..drool time just at the thought of it. All the best.

9:00 PM - 10 Jan 2014

Not only SRK, but the trailer got a thumbs up from Bollywood biggies, who took to Twitter to praise the new trailer.

Riteish Deshmukh        ✔ @Riteishd

Follow

Superb promo of #GulaabGang more power to you @shiekhspear n @anubhavsinha -well done my friends 

Why Dedh Ishqiya is one of the most important films of 2014

This article contains spoilers. Don’t roll your eyes. Dedh Ishqiya is now one-weekend old, which means it’s perfectly acceptable for me to disclose that the real twist in Dedh Ishqiya is that Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi may be the protagonists, but the real stars and criminals in the film are Madhuri Dixit and Huma Qureshi. There is no shortage of either surprises or questions in Dedh Ishqiya. Is Khalujan (Shah) trying to go behind Babban’s (Warsi) back? Can Babban be used against Khalujaan? Will Khalujan abandon Babban once the younger con man has served his purpose in Khalujan’s plan to marry Begum Para (Dixit)? Are Babban and Munniya (Qureshi) the real masterminds of whom Khalujan should be wary? A still from Dedh Ishqiya. The one part of Dedh Ishqiya that seems unquestionable is that Babban and Khalu will get Munniya and Begum Para respectively. It’s a neat, beautiful fit of a senior conman and his chela meeting a begum and her companion. You think it’s obvious how this story will progress: sparks will fly, love will flare, the elder couple will retire gracefully leaving the younger duo to live happily ever after, keeping alive the hope of further sequels. When Begum Para tucks her head into the crook of Khalujaan’s neck and he tenderly holds her delicate hand in his, it’s as though Dedh Ishqiya is paying an ode to images of Mughal-era romances. Meanwhile, Babban and Munniya keep it modern, real and sexy by making out frantically in the oldhaveli. With this playing out as it does, the question of whether you’ll anticipate the real twist in Dedh Ishqiya’s tale depends on a) how much of Indian literature you’ve read b) how much faith you repose in director and co-screenwriter Abhishek Chaubey and producer, co-screenwriter and dialogue writer Vishal Bharadwaj. If you’ve read Ismat Chughtai and are a true fan of the Chaubey-Bharadwaj combo, then you’ll have anticipated the twist, but rest assured, nothing prepares you for the beauty of that ultimate reveal. Munniya and Begum Para’s closeness seems to follow in the long tradition of hired help becoming more trustworthy and close than family. When Begum Para is failed by her husband, it is Munniya who becomes her emotional anchor. As the duo reveal themselves to be a more genteel version of Thelma and Louise, only the truly naive will not suspect there’s more than convention allows in a relationship that lets Munniya press kisses in Begum Para’s hair. But just then, Munniya jumpstarts her romance with Babban and Dedh Ishqiya seems to falling in line with the prevalent belief that what a real woman needs is the love of a macho man. This is the elaborate set up for one of the most beautiful sequences in the film. Khalujan and Babban are sitting in a darkened warehouse, slumped, their hands bound. Across from them, on a raised floor, is a fire that casts the wall behind Babban and Khalujan in golden light. On that wall, a shadow play is enacted. We see silhouettes of Begum dancing, Munniya coming so close to her that they become one shadow; the shifting shapelessness of two people coming together to create an abstract, indistinct form that is simply passion. Compared to the women's love projected on the wall as enormous, dancing shadows, the two men are so terribly puny and mundane with their little greed and inflated egos. Just to confirm literary suspicions, a little before this enchanting vision in gold and shadow, dialogue writer Bharadwaj gives Khalujan a line that seems like a non sequitur. “Lihaaf maang le”, a laughing Khalujan says to Babban as it dawns on the younger man that he’s been played expertly by Munniya. It seems like a throwaway line, but it’s actually an adaab of sorts to Chughtai’s short story “Lihaaf”, which was banned for being obscene by the government in the early 1940s. Chughtai challenged the decision and won in court, unshackling her short story about an aristocratic woman and her lesbian lover from the straitjacket imposed upon it by the delicate, conservative sensibilities of that era. In Chughtai’s “Lihaaf”, Begum Jaan (like Begum Para) is married to a seemingly wonderful nawab who has not time for her because he is somewhat fascinated by young men. Trapped in this unhappy marriage, Begum Jaan suffers for years before finding a lover in her masseuse, Rabbu. Had Rabbu been a man, eyebrows would have been raised but Chughtai probably wouldn’t have faced the harassment she did. But Rabbu in “Lihaaf” is a woman. The fact that she is always massaging Begum Jaan and even sleeping in the same bed as her is accepted because no one imagines any sexual intimacy between them. It’s when Begum Jaan’s young niece comes visiting that their arrangement faces some scrutiny. A bed is made in Begum Jaan’s room for her niece and the girl is terrified at night by the slurping noises she hears in the dark and the way Begum Jaan’s quilt shakes: “vigorously, as though an elephant was struggling inside.” At the heart of “Lihaaf” is the fear of the unknown, which paralyses the young niece with fear and renders her blind to the harmless simplicity of what is actually happening in the room, under Begum Jaan’s quilt.

In Dedh Ishqiya, Chaubey, Bharadwaj and Darab Farooqui’s (who is credited with writing the story) homage to Chughtai presents a significant difference. Instead of a young girl, it’s the grizzled, old Khalujan who is witness and he's not in the dark. Even though he has been rebuffed and conned by Begum Para and Munniya, even though he is bound as a result of his own actions, when he sees the two women together, he is struck by the beauty of their intimacy. The expression on his face is of sheer wonder. Usually, if there’s a potentially controversial or provocative element in a Bollywood film, we’re inundated with sound bytes that depict the actors and filmmakers as people who have boldly gone where no one has gone before. But there was none of that hoopla for Dedh Ishqiya. The film treats a love affair between two women the way it treats the camaraderie between two men: normally and delightedly. Not just that, it cheekily shows how the fabulously-inflated heterosexual male ego is incapable of processing the notion of a friendship between a man and a woman. Near the climax of the film, both Babban and Khalujan are intent upon casting themselves as Begum Para and Munniya’s saviours even though the women have outwitted them repeatedly and made it quite clear that they’re not romantically inclined towards anyone but each other. Still, Babban and Khalujan labour under the illusion that the women need them. Ultimately, not only do the two women manage fine without them, they’re the ones who save Babban and Khalujaan from rotting in jail. Last year ended with the Supreme Court disappointing millions in India when it declared in a judgement that decriminalising homosexuality was not within the judiciary’s brief. How deliciously provocative it is to have one of the first releases of this new year to have a lesbian relationship in it. Not just that, the relationship is portrayed as beautifully normal in a mainstream, commercial Hindi film that has all the masala elements that you'd expect from Bollywood (including a completely unnecessary scene of Madhuri Dixit dancing). To Abhishek Chaubey, Vishal Bharadwaj and Darab Farooqui, bravo! Never mind the depressing statistic that the unwatchable inanity called Yaariyan made more money than Dedh Ishqiya did on its opening day. The fact that Dedh Ishqiya was made and released just weeks after the Supreme Court judgement makes this one of the most important films to be released this year (even if we’re only in January). And the fact that it’s out in theatres and making money warms the cockles of all liberal hearts, just as possessed quilt did Begum Jaan in Chughtai’s “Lihaaf”.

by Deepanjana Pal

Ranbir-Katrina going through rocky phase?

Zee Media Bureau/Harpreet Kaur

New Delhi: Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif`s alleged relationship has been the talk of the town, ever since Kareena Kapoor addressed Kaif as her `sister in law` in a chat show. The star couple, who reportedly went on a vacation together to celebrate the New Year, are said to be at loggerheads with each other.

According to a tabloid, it was during the duo`s recent New York vacation when something went wrong between them. It is also said that Kaif is apparently insecure and wants a commitment from her alleged beau Ranbir. 

On the other hand, there are rumours doing the round that Kaif wants to concentrate on her career for now.

Kaif, who will share the screen space with Ranbir in their upcoming movie `Jagga Jasoos`, has reportedly begun shooting for the same.

With rumours of a tiff between them, it will be interesting to see how they cope up with their professional commitments.

Dhoom 3 continues to rule box office collections chart

Dhoom 3 box office collections, according to Yash Raj Film, have crossed Rs 500 crore worldwide.

FE Online | New Delhi

Dhoom 3 box office collections continue to rule the charts for the third consecutive weeks. Last week, the Aamir Khan-starrer rewrote Bollywood history with its gross box office collections touching never heard numbers with figures released by Yash Raj Film showing a plus-Rs 500 crore worldwide figure, a first for an Indian film.

The blockbuster raked in Rs 500 crore by making Rs 351.29 crore in India and Rs 150.06 crore abroad, according to the production house.

Dhoom 3, has also broken multiple box office collections records in India as well as overseas and continues to do so.

Dhoom 3's overseas collections has gone up to nearly Rs 160 crore this week. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted “#Dhoom3 3-week Overseas total: $ 25.78 million [₹ 159.74 cr].”

According to Adarsh, Dhoom 3 has collected Rs 277.73 crore in domestic box office collections till Thursday (Jan 9).

According to according to distributor Sunny Khanna, “The film is going strong in its third weekend too. The Hindi version earned Rs 3.03 crore on Friday, Rs 3.89 crore on Saturday, and Rs 5.57 crore on Sunday. Whereas the Tamil and Telugu version earned Rs 11 lakh on Friday, Rs 13 lakh on Saturday and Rs 18 lakh on Sunday.

If new releases falter in the next week, then Dhoom 3 will create a new benchmark at the box office and may even earn Rs 290-300 crore in net domestic box office collections alone, he added.

Dhoom3, which has already collected more than Rs 270 crore in record time – and still running successfully in the theatres – has been the highest grosser of 2013.

During the year gone by Shah Rukh Khan's Chennai Express had managed to break the record of 3 Idiots by collecting Rs 227.13 crore. But Krrish 3 pushed the envelope further in following few weeks and made newer box office record by collecting Rs. 244.92 crore.

In the first weekend in India, 'Dhoom 3', has collected Rs 189 crore approx, from Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions (Rs 19 crore from regional sectors). Taking into account the Hindi version, it managed to garner around Rs 170 crore,

Sunny Leone set to sizzle in special video with Honey Singh for 'Ragini MMS 2'

Agency: DNA Web Team

After making the nation dance to his tunes in 2013, Yo Yo Honey Singh is set to rock the music scene in 2014 too.

Riding high on the success of his chartbuster Sunny Sunny, the singer has teamed up with Bollywood sex siren Sunny Leone for a special video to be made for her next film Ragini MMS 2.

The song Chaar Bottle Vodka, which will be shot in Mumbai, will have Sunny scorching the floor with her seductive moves.

The porn star-turned actress even tweeted about teaming up with the latest singing sensation.

After Sanjay Dutt, another 1993 Mumbai blasts convict gets parole

Close on the heels of release of actor Sanjay Dutt on parole to take care of his ailing wife, a similar relief has been extended to another 1993 bomb blast accused on the same ground. 

The Divisional Commissioner, Pune, has ordered the release of Mujib Parkar on parole for a month to attend to his wife, the Government informed the Bombay High Court yesterday. 

Parkar, lodged in Kolhapur prison, has moved the court earlier seeking parole as the Pune Divisional Commissioner and later the Under Secretary of the Home Department had rejected his plea on the ground that police had opposed his release.

However, the court asked the Divisional Commissioner of Pune to reconsider decision on Parkar's plea for parole.

His lawyer, advocate Farhana Shah, argued that Parkar, sentenced to five years' term by TADA court, had already served about half of it. His wife was suffering from appendicitis and had been advised surgery, she said. 

Advocate Shah also pointed out that Parkar was earlier released on parole once, and he did not abuse the liberty. Nor did he breach any of the conditions imposed by the trial court when he was on bail for 16 years, she pointed out. 

The Court disposed of Parkar's petition, saying it did not survive because parole had been granted to the convict.

In another development, Zebunisa Kazi, who was also convicted along with Dutt and Parkar in the same case, has also filed a petition in the High Court seeking parole. 

Dutt is serving his sentence at Yerawada Central Jail in Pune.

Dutt is serving his sentence at Yerawada Central Jail in Pune.Kazi, aged 70, is serving a five-year term in Yerwada prison of Pune. She was denied parole in October 2013. Kazi then filed an appeal before the Home Ministry in November. As the appeal is still pending, she moved the High Court seeking an early decision. 

Kazi has pleaded that her 90-year-old mother was not well and bed-ridden and she needed to take care of her. Her petition will be heard by a bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil on January 13. 

Kazi was convicted by a TADA court in the 1993 bomb blast case, for possessing arms and ammunition. 

Dutt, who is undergoing the remainder of his five-year jail term at Yerawada Central Jail in Pune in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, is currently out on a 30-day parole.

PTI  Mumbai,

Suchitra Sen's condition stable for now

Agency: IANS

Veteran Bengali actress Suchitra Sen, whose condition earlier deteriorated, stabilised on Sunday though she has been put on bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP), a noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, said doctors.

"After a sudden deterioration in her condition last evening (Saturday), today her condition has stabilised," said a medical bulletin issued by Belle Vue Clinic, the nursing home where Sen has been undergoing treatment since Dec 23.

"She is on BPAP therapy through endotracheal tube, while her heart rate and blood pressure remain stable. Her oxygen saturation and other ancillary blood reports are satisfactory," said the bulletin.

Sen's condition kept on fluctuating Saturday prompting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to rush to the nursing home for the third successive day. Doctors had to resort to emergency measures to stabilise her condition worsened.

During the day, state Congress president Pradip Bhattacharya also visited the nursing home and talked to the doctors monitoring her condition.

A two-member team of opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist led by Rabin Deb also came calling Saturday.

Following the frequent visits of politicians, including the chief minister, the security in and around the nursing home has been beefed up.

The 82-year-old initially suffered chest infection, and was undergoing treatment for it at the nursing home since Dec 23. Her condition worsened Dec 28 night.

Following complications, Sen was put on the ventilator Jan 3.

Sen, dubbed as Greta Garbo of Bengali cinema, has remained an engima as she has avoided spotlights since her retirement. She gave powerpacked performances in highly acclaimed films such as "Deep Jwele Jaai" and "Uttar Falguni" in Bengali as well as Hindi movies "Devdas", "Bombai Ka Babu", "Mamta" and "Aandhi".

She won the best actress award for "Saat Paake Bandha" at the Moscow Film Festival in 1963.

SRK honoured by Mohanlal, Mammootty in Dubai

Hindustan Times

Viewers of a Kerala-based channel, have selected Shah Rukh Khan as the International Icon Of Indian Cinema. The laurel was presented to SRK by South superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal at Medan, Dubai on Friday, January, 10. “It is a great honour for me. And to be honoured by Mammootty and Mohanlal sir was an amazing feeling. They are the artistes who have inspired me as an actor always. I have always worked towards making or being a part of cinema that entertains all. It is humbling to know that it gets noticed in the same capacity. Awards always motivate me to work harder and make more cinema that brings a smile on everyone’s face,” says SRK.

At the event Mohanlal sang an entire song from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995) and SRK along with both the South veterans danced on Chennai Express (2013) song, Lungi dance.

- See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/srk-honoured-by-mohanlal-mammootty-in-dubai/article1-1171975.aspx#sthash.HrssYOuF.dpuf

Miss Lovely' passed with just four cuts by censor

Mumbai: Filmmaker Ashim Ahluwalia`s internationally acclaimed `Miss Lovely` is set to release in India with an ‘A’ certificate, but without major changes in the content as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has passed the film with only four cuts.

The Censor Board originally proposed 157 cuts which have been revised over the course of one year. 

"Earlier, the Censor Board objected to the foul language and sexual content in the movie. But they have been mature, fair, and kind enough to reduce it to just four blurred scenes having realised that none of the provocative content is gratuitous. There is enough steam in the gritty film to stay true to its subject and attract audiences," a source said in a statement. 

Ahluwalia is happy with the development and applauds the Censor Board. "When I made `Miss Lovely` I never expected a release in India. Most of all I didn`t believe that the Censor Board would allow a film with so much adult content through. I`m happy to have been eventually proved wrong."

"The way the Board treated the film, allowing me to give them my point of view and accepting those arguments - has been amazing and very different from the Censor Board that I had imagined," he said.

"With very few changes to the adult content, they have given the film a lot of respect. I hope that this direction continues and that we will see more different adult-themed films in our cinemas," he added.

Set in the sleazy C-grade film industry in the 1980s` Mumbai, `Miss Lovely` features Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Niharika Singh, among others. It is slated for Jan 17 release.

IANS

Aamir Khan promotes Salman Khan's 'Jai Ho'

Agency: IANS

Though Aamir kept himself away from doing promotional rounds on TV before the release of his superhit action-thriller, Salman wore "Dhoom: 3" hats during his show for the film's promotion.
After superstar Salman Khan promoted Aamir Khan-starrer Dhoom: 3 on his reality show Bigg Boss - Saath 7, it looks like now is Aamir's turn to do so for Salman's forthcoming film Jai Ho.

Though Aamir kept himself away from doing promotional rounds on TV before the release of his superhit action-thriller, Salman wore "Dhoom: 3" hats during his show for the film's promotion.

Aamir took to microblogging website Twitter Sunday and posted: 12 days to go...'Jai Ho'!
The duo shared screen space in 1994 comedy film Andaz Apna Apna.

Veena Malik says manager hacked her Facebook account

Pakistani actress Veena Malik on Sunday accused her former manager, Indian national Prashant Singh, of betraying her and posting controversial photographs on her hacked Facebook page and Twitter account.

Malik alleged Singh was also blackmailing her for money and cheap popularity. Singh was earlier responsible for handling digital media for Malik in India.

"He is a liar, his allegations are baseless. He was like a brother, he used to love me like his sister," she said, referring to Singh's claim that he was her boyfriend.
She said she had been busy after her marriage to Dubaibased businessman Asad Bashir Khan Khattak last month and could not change the password of her accounts on social networking sites.

" Singh was my employee on a salary of ` 10,000. He is an Indian citizen, he should live within his limits," Malik was quoted as saying by Geo News channel. She claimed she had paid Singh an advance of ` 3 lakh. She said she reserved the right to take legal action against Singh for claiming that he was her boyfriend.

Noting that she quite happy with her husband, Malik said, " He is a Pathan, he knows how to protect me." Malik had triggered a controversy by doing a topless photo shoot for an Indian magazine, for which she was denounced by extremists and clerics in Pakistan.

Copyright: PTI

Happy Birthday A R Rahman: Top 10 albums

Roja
Roja, released in 1992 was the debut work of music maestro and Oscar winner Allah Rakha Rahman. Roja is considered a milestone in Indian film music that heralded the start of a new era. It was also listed in Time magazine's ‘10 Best Soundtracks’ of all time. A. R. Rahman won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction which was won for the first time ever by a debutant. 


Dil Se
Dil Se featured six soundtracks composed by A R Rahman. The song Chaiya Chaiya, on SRK and Malaika Arora Khan, became popular internationally and was listed as one of the top 10 songs of all-time in an international poll. The song is written by Gulzar, and sung by Sukhwinder Singh and Sapna Awasthi. It immediately became popular upon its release and its music video gained the same status.

Taal
The soundtrack of the Taal marked the beginning of a famed collaboration between A. R. Rahman and Subhash Ghai. Taal's album became a big critical and commercial success. At a press conference, Ghai remarked, "I credit the name of the movie to composer A. R. Rahman." The soundtrack also made to the list of ‘Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks of All Time’ and Rahman did a clean sweep at all the music awards that year.
Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle’s film Slumdog millionaire featured songs composed by our very own A R Rahman. Slumdog Millionaire got A R Rahman his first Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and won two out of three nominations for the Academy Awards, including one for Best Original Score and one for Best Original Song for Jai Ho. The song ‘Jai Ho’ also won the Oscars, which Rahman shared with lyricist Gulzar.
Jodhaa Akbar
The soothing score and soundtrack of the film Jodhaa Akbar was Rahman's third collaboration with Ashutosh Gowariker after Lagaan, and Swades. The album received positive reviews, with most of the reviewers hailing the album a magnum opus by Rahman. The film emerged out as the biggest winner at many music awards. The fine background score won the film many awards including Filmfare Best Background Score and IIFA Best Background Score. The soundtrack was also nominated in numerous categories.
Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na
The soundtrack of Jaane tu…ya jaane na composed by A R Rahman held the number one spot on all the music charts. It was well received by the audiences and the critics, with "Pappu Can't Dance" becoming one of the major hits of 2008. Rahman, who won major international awards for his music in Slumdog Millionaire, was awarded with the Filmfare Best Music Director Award and the Star Screen Award for Best Music Director for this soundtrack.
Delhi 6
Like most A R Rahman compositions this one was also acclaimed all over. Considered to be one of the best works of Rahman, the highly acclaimed soundtrack won almost all awards for Best Music direction and playback singing that have been declared so far.
Rockstar
Musical romantic drama Rockstar was one of Rahman’s best work ever. Kun Fayakun, a qawwali composed by Rahman for the film, is dedicated to Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya. The music video of Sadda Haq, another track, which has Ranbir Kapoor performing in front of a live audience, became close to being a youth anthem.
Rang De Basanti
The sound track of Rang De Basanti composed by A R Rahman bagged many prestigious awards in 2009. Aamir Khan, with his knowledge of Hindi and Urdu, worked with Rahman and lyricist Prasoon Joshi for the film's soundtrack. Song Luka Chuppi was sung by veteran Lata Mangeshkar and Rahman. He integrated traditional Punjabi cultural elements within his music for ‘Khalbali’.
Swades
A. R. Rahman's soundtrack in Shah Rukh Khan and Gayatri Joshi starrer Swades was acclaimed by critics and audiences. His background score won him the Filmfare award. Lyrics were written by Javed Akhtar.

Relationship with Ranbir Kapoor became my world: Deepika Padukone

 

Bollywood's Reigning Queen Deepika Padukone joined her contemporary Priyanka Chopra on the latest episode of 'Koffee With Karan Season 4' last weekend. The actress who has been on the top of her game and has had a fabulous year with regard to films was stunning in an Alice + Olivia lace top and fitted pants.

The actress created quite a controversy on last season's episode when she appeared on the show with actress Sonam Kapoor. Both girls were a laugh riot when they revealed some unflattering things about Deepika's former flame Ranbir Kapoor.

Host Karan Johar asked Deepika if all is fine and sorted with Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh with regard to the episode, to which Deepika replied, "I don't think there was ever an issue there. I think people made it an even bigger issue. For me personally, I don't think there was ever an issue…Definitely, not between Ranbir and me for sure. And even if there was, it never reached me. I think which is why we can even do a film like 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' and still have that kind of understanding and chemistry."

The actress was later grilled on her supposed current boyfriend Ranveer Singh. "So you're dating Ranveer Singh and not talking about it," said Karan. "Am I?" she replied.

Karan further asked why would she choose to keep her relationship with Ranveer under wraps, especially since she was so open about Ranbir. "So I think that was a stage in my life where I genuinely believed that that I had fallen in love... I think that it was a relationship that I thought would go beyond."

"For whatever reasons…I think we're very different people and we're not compatible. For whatever reasons it didn't work out. And since then I wont say cautious but I think I'm very, very scared to invest emotionally in a relationship, because I don't know how to just casually date, I don't know how to be in this in-between dating but not committing. I don't know that space. I want to be very sure before I'm ready to commit."

Telugu film actor Uday Kiran found dead, suicide suspected

 

Young Telugu star Uday Kiran who shot to fame with Chitram and acted in over 18 films committed suicide on Sunday. Police are yet to ascertain the reason behind this fatal step.

Telugu film actor Uday Kiran, who was one the youngest winners of the Filmfare best actor award, allegedly committed suicide at his house here last night.
33-year-old Kiran's parents and his wife found his body hanging from the ceiling at his flat in Sri Nagar colony here last night, police said today.
He was declared dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) V Satyanarayana told PTI that as per the available information, it seemed to be a case of suicide and the actor was apparently suffering from depression.
An autopsy would be carried out at Usmania General Hospital and the procedure would be video-recorded), he said.
"Only after getting the autopsy report we will come to know what caused the death. Exact circumstances leading to the death would be known only after the probe," he said.
Kiran's first three films were Chitram, Nuvvu Nenu and Manasantha Nuvve, earning him the title "Hat-trick Hero".
Subsequently, he starred in romantic films including Nee Sneham and Kalusukovalani.
In 2001, he won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor - Telugu for the film Nuvvu Nenu, and became the youngest winner of the Filmfare best actor award after Kamal Hasan.
In 2006, he made his Tamil debut with the film Poi, directed by veteran K. Balachander.
His other performances have been in the films Sreeram, Avunanna Kaadanna, Nuvvekaddunte Nenakkadunta and Jai Sriram.

Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit to perform at Mulayam Singh's village

Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit will perform Wednesday in Saifai, the ancestral village of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit will perform Wednesday in Saifai, the ancestral village of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
The organisers of the annual fair 'Saifai Mahotsava' said the evening will also see stars like Soha Ali Khan and Ranveer Singh.
Two dozen other small and big actors will perform as well at the event which has become a major attraction for the people of the region including Etawah, Mainpuri, Firozabad, Shikohabad and Agra.
It is organised every year in memory of a late nephew of Mulayam Singh Yadav and is attended by film stars, politicians, corporate honchos, ministers and officials.
This year, music composer duo Sajid-Wajid will belt out their chart busters. Chartered planes have been hired for the event to bring in VIPs and film artists.
Last year, Hrithik Roshan performed at the event.

Meenakshi is far quirkier than Babli: Rani Mukherjee

Actress Rani Mukherjee, who is all set for th release of "Aiyyaa", says her character in the film is far more naughty than her previous avatar in 2005 hit "Bunty Aur Babli".

Rani, 34, said the romantic comedy has got many fun elements in it rather than the funny characters and they would be exposed in weeks leading to the release of the film.

"Meenakshi is a mad and whacko character which is many steps ahead in madness when compared to 'Babli'. I know that last time when people saw me like that, it was seven years ago. If they found that to be bubbly and naughty then watch me in 'Aiyyaa'.

"There is a song each that we plan to release every week so that audience has something new to know about the film. Other than the songs, there are also quite a few dialogue promos that have been finalised. They would add further flavour to the film," Rani said.

Directed by debutante Sachin Kundalkar, the film releases all over on October 12.

Rani made her debut with "Raja Ki Ayegi Baraat" in 1997 and became a hit with Karan Johar's "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai". Thereafter she starred in many films including "Black", "Hum Tum", "Veer-Zaara" among others.

The Bengali beauty says she is pretty much happy with the response that the promo of 'Aiyyaa' has garnered so far.

"When people tell you that they have been laughing continuously after watching the promo, you are bound to feel confident. I was kind of sure that people would be positive but what I am touched about is the way they are wording their reactions. That's humbling," she said.

Rani, who was last seen in political crime thriller "No one killed Jessica", said that she chose to do this light-hearted film because her next project "Taalash" will be a serious one.

"'Aiyyaa' came at just the right time and since I like comedies, everything just fitted in. This is a light hearted film with a sweet love story to tell," she said.

The film also stars Malayalam superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Actor-director Dinesh Thakur passes away

Veteran theatre actor-director Dinesh Thakur, known for his character roles in Hindi films of the 70s, passed away in Mumbai today after prolonged illness.

Thakur was suffering from kidney ailments and died at a suburban Andheri hospital, family sources said. He was 65 and is survived by actor-wife Prita Mathur.

Thakur has several acclaimed films like Mere Apne, Rajanigandha and Ghar to his credit. He headed a theatre group called ANK Productions for the last three decades. His oldest and still popular theatre production is Jis Lahore Nahi Dekhya.

Thakur had showcased his play Rang Bajrang at the Prithvi and Tata theatres in April last year. He was a noted Indian theatre director, actor in theatre, television and Hindi films, where most notably he appeared as one of the leads in Rajnigandha (1974) directed by Basu Chatterjee, which won both Filmfare Best Movie Award and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie.

He appeared in character roles in Hindi films and also was a screenwriter and story writer. He is known for writing the story and screenplay of Ghar (1978), which won him the 1979 Filmfare Best Story Award. Thakur's last rites will be conducted today at the Oshiwara crematorium around 4.30 pm.