Jacqueline on films, India and her childhood dream in this month’s Vogue
May 27, 2010
Jacqueline Fernandes is one heroine who happens to be one of the latest seven seas’ export to Bollywood. She is surely one of the newcomers in Bollywood to watch out for!
And to make things merrier, you can catch this eye candy on this month’s edition of ‘Vogue’. It is in this issue, where she does confess, “I still don’t know how to drape a sari. Man, how do they dance in them.” And when asked about what she wanted to be, pat comes the reply, “I wanted to be the mermaid”. She also goes onto say, “I am not normal”… only to clarify that what she really meant was that, “I love having people around me and I am loud and cheerful. But on my own, I am really quiet.”
All this and much mush more verbal exotica with Jacqueline Fernandes, only in the latest edition of ‘Vogue’. Don’t miss this cooler!
Hrithik, Farhan, Abhay, Katrina, Kalki and Ariadna in Zoya’s ZNMD
May 27, 2010
They say ‘Two’s company, three’s crowd. But, Zoya Akhtar is all set to change that. She has got not one, not two, not three, and not even four but a whopping six lead actors in her next film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD). Top lining the cast of this multi-starrer are Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Spanish actress Ariadna Cabrol and the svelte Kalki Koechlin.
Even though everyone associated with this film is so very tight-lipped about this project (and they have every reason to do so), there are strong rumours that this film may just be a sequel to the cult film Dil Chahta Hai. With Zoya not in a mood to entertain any such rumours, one will only have to wait and watch if such speculation is indeed true. All that one knows for now is that the shoot of the film gets underway in Spain on June 7.
From the very look of it, this film is definitely our bet for the next year! What say guys!
Prakash Jha cuts Raajneeti to fit UA certificate
May 27, 2010
The tension over the censoring of Raajneeti is over. But not without some vital scenes featuring Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Rampal getting the chopper. Arjun Rampal’s love-making scene with Katrina has been reduced drastically.
Says the director Prakash Jha regretfully, “It was a very aesthetically shot love making scene. Arjun and Katrina are two very beautiful people. And they made love to the camera. The Tribunal felt it was a bit too explicit for a ‘UA’ audience. I didn’t argue.”
However, Katrina who had dropped her normal inhibitions for the sake of her role and character is none too pleased with her labour of love-making going to waste.
But the director can breathe easy now. Prakash Jha’s week- long battle with the censor board ended on Tuesday with the Tribunal viewing the film and granting it a ‘UA’ certificate. Jha had challenged the censorboard’s decision earlier last week to grant Raajneeti an ‘A’ certificate with cuts.
Apparently, the censorboard had earlier objected to two sequences one showing the rigging of elections by fitting ballot boxes with specially designed gadgets and the other showing a female politician offering sex in exchange for an election ticket.
Jha wouldn’t listen to any talk of cuts with the censorboard.
Says Jha, “An ‘A’ certificate brings on a specific mind-set on the audience. They think the film has sleazy content. So I preferred to let the film be referred to the Tribunal.”
Jha sees the reduction of the Katrina-Arjun love-making scene as a blow. “The love scene was absolutely essential. Unlike other directors I had not shot extra footage so that the censors could take away whatever portion they liked. I had shot the love-making scene exactly the way it was meant to be. I’ve had to reduce it by half.”
Says Jha, “It’s a disappointment to all of us. I’ve also had to beep out the F… word uttered by Ranbir and Arjun Rampal in two different places in the plot. Ex-justice Usha Mehra who headed the Tribunal requested me to do away with the F… word. It didn’t make a difference.”
Incidentally several recent Hindi films were plastered with expletives in Hindi and English. Also Arjun’s volatile character in Raajneeti shouts lurid and graphic expletives in Hindi at a police officer. These remain intact while the ‘F’ word is gone.
KJo takes pot shots at his mushy films in I Hate Luv Storys
May 27, 2010
Karan Johar has matured. And how! In his forthcoming Imran-Sonam starrer I Hate Luv Storys directed by debutant Punit Malhotra, the producer actually takes huge potshots at the mushy kind of cinema that he and his closest filmmaker friends like Aditya Chopra and Kunal Kohli made in their earlier phase. There are pointed and precocious references to Karan’s Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Aditya’s Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and other mushy films of the romantic genre that created box-office history a decade ago.
I Hate Luv Storys is Karan Johar’s first film on the film industry. There are references in the plot to the record-breaking romantic films by all of Karan Johar’s colleagues including Karan’s pal Aditya Chopra.
Of course Karan doesn’t spare himself either.
Apparently, the film’s diehard Bollywood-hating hero Imran Khan keeps making digs at Karan Johar and his kind of cinema.
Significantly, I Hate Luv Storys comes after Karan has shifted from romance to a serious political-human statement in My Name Is Khan. He’s ready to make that creative shift away from the genre he is identified with.
In fact I Hate Luv Storys goes all out to emphasize the fact that Karan Johar has outgrown mush.
Says Karan sportingly, “Of course I’ve outgrown mush. And if I’ve to make Kuch Kuch Hota Hai today I’d do it in a completely different way. Yeah I’ve outgrown mush. But I’ve not outgrown love. In I Hate Luv Storys Imran Khan plays a diehard cynic, one of those upper-class Mumbai dudes who looks down on Bollywood. And he keeps making barbed comments on mushy movies.”
Karan admits the film takes potshots at him and his cinema. “But that’s okay. A new generation of directors like Puneet Malhotra who directs I Hate Luv Storys have come in. They’ve their own take on love. And somewhere what I did in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai may seem outdated now.”
While Karan is happy about potshots being taken at his cinema in a film produced by him, one wonders if Karan’s colleagues would be as sporting about being spoofed.
Akki-Ash go retro with Action Replayy
May 27, 2010
The year 2010 heralds somewhat of a comeback for the beautiful Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, with quite a few films in the bag including the Akshay Kumar starrer Action Replayy. The film, which is being directed by Vipul Shah, will see Ash teaming up director Vipul Shah for the first time together. The film, which involves a certain theory of time travel, has the actors sporting a retro 70’s look.
Bollywood Babes gives you a sneak peek at Ash and Akshay in a total retro look mounted on the once famous Lambretta Vespa scooter with hearts. Heightening the 80’s look is the entire flower power print dress Ash dons, while Akki does his bit wearing a blush pink floral print shirt topped off with checked bell bottoms, quite the rage then.
With the look and feel coming through so boldly, we certainly think the film will manage to take the audience down memory lane to the days of the flower power.
"I want Sanjay Leela Bhansali to see Udaan" – Vikram Motwane
May 27, 2010
Vikramaditya Motwane whose debut film Udaan has cracked Cannes wants to return to India and show his film to his mentor Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Interestingly, Vikram’s mother Deepa and Sanjay were business partners before Sanjay became a filmmaker.
Recalls Bhansali, “Much before I began assisting Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Vikram’s mother Deepa and I had formed a company Triton to make ad films. I made several ad films for automobiles, etc then got bored of it and the company dissolved. But during those years, Vikram, who was just 5 when I first met his mother, would be running around in shorts. So I’ve virtually watched him grow up in front of me.”
It was inevitable that Motwane would start a career in the movie business by assisting Sanjay Bhansali. However, Sanjay was not kicked by Motwane’s first script for Udaan. And Motwane reluctantly took the project to Anurag Kashyap.
Says Sanjay, “It doesn’t matter who produced it. I’m so glad Vikram’s film has made such a wide impact.”
Although Vikramaditya Motwane’s directorial debut Udaan has been criticized by some reviewers for not quite being worthy of being part of Cannes’ prestigious ‘Un Certain Regard’ section, Vikram couldn’t have hoped for a better response.
Speaking from Cannes, he said, “Everywhere on the streets here, me and the film’s actors Ronit Roy and Ram Kapoor are being stopped and congratulated. Everyone wants to meet the boy in the film (Rajat Barmecha).”
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s blue-eyed boy and favourite protégée Vikram Motwane whose film Udaan is the first Indian entry at Cannes in a competitive section in the last seven years is dazed and sleepless in Cannes after three days of being honoured feted and toasted.
But Motwane is alert enough to make one promise from Cannes.
“I want Sanjay Bhansali to see Udaan. His approval is very, very important to me. I’ve literally grown up in front of him. And if he likes my film, I’d be happy. I’m aware some critics back home have criticized the selection of Udaan for Cannes. I don’t care. I can’t please everyone. As long as the people I care for approve of my film, my work is done.”
Though quite numbed by the Cannes experience this isn’t Motwane first visit. In 2002, he had accompanied Sanjay Bhansali to Cannes for the premiere of Devdas.
Recalls Bhansali, “Vikram assisted me on Devdas. He handled everything for me in Cannes in 2002. Every detail was taken care of by Vikram. I don’t think I’ve ever been closer to any of my assistants.”
Kunal Kohli plans his next directorial venture with Saif
May 27, 2010
Kunal Kohli may be busy handling the production of Imran – Deepika starrer Break Ke Baad (directed by debutant Danish Aslam), but that hasn’t stopped the talented filmmaker from announcing his plans for his next directorial venture.
Apparently Kunal’s next directorial venture will be starring none other than good friend Saif Ali Khan. Saif and Kunal have earlier worked in Hum Tum and Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic. Says Kunal on popular social networking site Twitter, “Yes… Saif & me planning another love story. Redefine the metro sexual look. Love in unexpected places. It’s a fun, young film, loads of romance, laughs, tears. Not yet locked heroine, might be a fresh pairing is all I’m saying for now.”
Well one hopes that Saif and Kunal are once again able to come up with a winner just like they did with Hum Tum 6 years back.
"Ranbir is deliberately lightening up the atmosphere" – Prakash Jha
May 27, 2010
Ranbir Kapoor has been uncharacteristically boisterous at his recent media events to promote Raajneeti. Most people close to him have noticed the radical change in his promotional strategy. Is it love, or is it something far less personal?
Gone is the serious, respectful actor speaking in clipped tones. Even while promoting a fun film like Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, Ranbir was dead serious allowing only a hint of a smile once in a while.
For Raajneeti, we see Ranbir bantering flirting and joking in full public view with his cast and the media.
What has brought on this change in the otherwise sober almost sombre actor?
According to a very close friend of Ranbir, the intelligent young actor has taken on himself the daunting task of making Raajneeti look youth-friendly.
Says the friend, “Prakash Jha’s strategy of taking the political message of Raajneeti to various educational institutions and on so-called ’serious’ public platforms has Ranbir worried. He doesn’t want the audience to think Raajneeti is a political drama filled with real-life political tensions. Ranbir is employing every strategy he knows to divert attention from the politics of Raajneeti.”
The actor is deliberately employing the flippant fun-filled strategy at media events.
Prakash Jha doesn’t deny that there’s a dramatic change in Ranbir’s public conduct for Raajneeti. “There’s a definite attempt by Ranbir to lighten the atmosphere, to bring an element of masti into our public discussions. But Ranbir and I have not planned any strategy. He is instinctively very sharp, focused and funny. He knows which button to press to get the gathering revved up. So yes, I’d say Ranbir is deliberately lightening the atmosphere. But he isn’t messing with the gravity of the discussions.”
Jha is all praise for Ranbir’s intuitive grasp of the present day youth’s aspirations. Says the director, “In Bangalore while discussing the youth and politics, Ranbir said it’s definitely preferable to have people with basic common sense rather than plain education to run our country. It brought the house down.”
According to the close friend, Ranbir wants Raajneeti to be seen as an entertaining follow up to his earlier film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani with Katrina.
Says the friend, “He knows Raajneeti is poles apart from Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. But he wants the audience to know it’s a very entertaining and watch-able drama. Ranbir’s strategy sometimes goes against Prakash Jha’s sales-pitch. The director has been trying to focus on the political content rather than the stars. Ranbir’s antics during the recent press conferences (hiding from TV cameras behind Katrina, sketching funny pics during a press conference, telling the curious media humorous anecdotes about Raajneeti) countermand the director’s attempts to highlight the theme of present-day politics.”
In fact Ranbir has other lighten-up-the-atmosphere plans for forthcoming media functions. He also wants Katrina get seriously flippant at Raajneeti events but she isn’t biting the bait.
Says the pal, “Ranbir plans to discuss anything but politics. The point he wants to prove is, he’s just playing a politician. It doesn’t mean he has to have the answers to the ills of the nation. Prakash Jha has been a politician in real life. So he knows and empathizes with Indian politics. For Ranbir and Katrina playing politicians is fantasy. Just as he played a salesman in Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year, Ranbir is playing a politician in Raajneeti.”
Katrina Kaif to endorse Yardley perfumes
May 27, 2010
Bollywood never had it so good, as the gorgeous Katrina Kaif, on one hand, is delivering big hits back to back. While on the other hand, Katrina has become a hot property when it comes to brand endorsements.
After having lent her name and face to many a leading FMCGs like Slice, Pantene, Kodak, Panasonic, Olay …the list is endless…, she has now become the face of the internationally famous Yardley perfumes. With this, she also becomes the first Asian face to endorse the product.
Way to go, Katz!
Bipasha works on her accent to sound like Kashmiri girl in Lamhaa
May 27, 2010
At this very moment, Bipasha Basu is going through the biggest challenge of her career. She has to drop her anglicized-Bengali accent and diction completely to sound like the Kashmiri Muslim girl she plays in Rahul Dholakia’s Lamhaa.
Which is easier said than done. Even when Bipasha had done a Bengali film, Rituparno Ghosh’s Shob Charitra Kalpunik, she had been forbidden by the director from dubbing her own lines although Bengali is her mother tongue.
This time, though, Bipasha was determined to not allow her voice-performance to suffer on the grounds of her accent. For months, the actress has been secretly practicing her lines.
And now when the dubbing is finally on, Bipasha with the help of the sound recordist Manoj Sikka is giving the Urdu her best shot.
According to her director Rahul Dholakia, who’s constantly supervising Bipasha dubbing, the actress has made the strongest effort possible to sound like an authentic Kashmiri -Muslim girl.
Says Dholakia, “At the moment I’m simultaneously doing two very different jobs on two of my very different films. While I’m editing my social satire Society, I am supervising the dubbing of my film on Kashmir – Lamhaa. Dubbing the dialogues of a film with as vast a historical-political canvas as Lamhaa is very tough. I wish I could devote more attention to Bipasha. But she’s doing a fine job.”
Says Bipasha, “It is tough, really tough because I don’t really understand Urdu. But I’m never one to shun the urge to learn. I find it great fun. And my director Rahul Dholakia is very patient and chilled out.”
The sound recordist Manoj Sikka has been given the job of monitoring Bipasha’s diction. Says Bipasha, “I’m putting my trust in Rahul’s team and the sound recordist.”
Since the film tackles the sensitive issue of Kashmir militancy, director Dholakia is pretty adamant on getting every nuance right.
While Sanjay Dutt who plays an outsider can get away with his characteristic drawling dialogues, Bipasha Basu and Kunal Kapoor who play Kashmiris have had to slog to do away with their Bengali and Punjabi twangs.
Advertisment
Follow Bollywood Babes on Twitter
Latest Bollywood News
- I am 24
- Aakrosh
- Khichdi – The Movie
- Knock Out
- "I am happy; after all not many newcomers get written about" – Shazahn
- Emraan Hashmi turns into ‘Cheer girl’ & ‘Vampire’ for Crook
- "Akshay Kumar is such a sport and so cute" – Sonam Kapoor
- "Lots of people are declaring Dabangg as huge hit already" – Arbaaz Khan
- Lara Dutta in Apsara mode
- Exploring 10 years journey of Kareena Kapoor – Part III