Tuesday, October 6, 2009

New Kurbaan stills

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Check out the stills from Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor starrer Kurbaan. Do you think this flick would rock the theaters?

SRK at Tag Heuer Press Conference


TAG Heuer recently hosted Toofles Foundation-TAG Heuer Style for Smiles evening for India Giving Week. Ambassador SRK was also seen at the evening supporting the cause. The evening saw the powerful CEO’s of India and abroad walking the ramp, which included,Deepak Parekh,Adi Godrej and Prasoon Joshi amongst others. SRK said, “My relationship with TAG Heuer is very special and when they asked me to be a part of this wonderful initiative, I was more than happy. It is refreshing to see the captains of industry walking the ramp as opposed to models and stars. These are very busy people, and they have taken time out to give what they can to the less fortunate. It is heartening to see that those at the top are willing to share the wealth, to try to achieve some kind of collective prosperity.” Actor Kunal Kapoor also walked the ramp along with other model showcasing timeless pieces of TAG Heuer watches. still22

Katrina becomes biker-chick for Blue

For those of you who have seen Katrina Kaif in Blue, must have noticed Katrina’s completely new and different avatar. Katrina sports a hip look in the movie, with tattoos, dreadlocks and stud piercing below her lip. A source says, “Katrina was excited about her look as it’s absolutely different from whatever she has done before this.” However the dreadlocks were not easy to adjust for Katrina, as her hair became quite rough after sporting the hairdo. “She’d immediately go for a hair wash once the shoot would be over,” said the source.katrina-kaif-blue-look-wallpaper

Aamir to play an AIDS victim

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National Award winner filmmaker, Priyadarshan, is all set to make a flick with Aamir Khan where he will be playing an Aids victim. Priyan says, “My next film is a meaningful and realistic take on AIDS. I have narrated the story to Aamir and he really liked it, though I have not presented him a bound script yet.” The previous Bollywood flicks made on the topic of AIDS were Phir Milenge and My Brother Nikhil. Lets see how perfectionist Aamir will enact the role of a AIDS patient.

Salman’s generosity cannot be matched’ - says Kareena

Kareena, Salman in Main Aur Mrs Khanna Many people in the industry often talk about Salman Khan’s big heart and generosity. However this time the lovely Kareena Kapoor has all praises for him. Kareena experienced the kindness of her co-star during the shooting schedule of Main Aurr Mrs Khanna in Melbourne. Both the actors are friends and were always seen cracking jokes and laughing on the sets of the film. During their stay in Melbourne, Bebo used to go for shopping when shooting for the day is done. One day when she went for shopping, Salman accompanied her. At one store, when Kareena was headed to pay the bills after picking things for her, family, and friends, she was surprised to know that it’s already paid. Finding Salman smiling wide, Kareena found who has made the sweet gesture to her. Salman also gifted a rare bag worth Rs 2.5 lakh to her, which she has sported in the film too. Talking about the incident, Kareena said, “Salman’s generosity cannot be compared. It was a very sweet gesture on his part. He is a wonderful person at heart.”
Kareena, Salman in Main Aur Mrs Khanna

Himesh’s film is earning before its release

Himesh Reshammiya in Radio Musician-singer-actor Himesh Reshammiya’s forthcoming film Radio has already earned its initial investment even before releasing. Thanks to the business perspective of the actor and his producer of the film. Talking about his plan of the film, Himesh said, “I requested Ravi to go in for a very different release strategy as the film has been made for a target audience. The theatrical release will be in sync with the sensibilities with which Radio has been made. It has been treated with a very fresh approach and that’s what makes it very different or else, it’s a very simple love triangle set in 2009 with the backdrop of a radio station and an RJ as the protagonist.” No doubt Himesh has become a wealthy musician in recent times due to his creativity and business strategy. Even though he had fights with Asha Bhosle on the popular singing show Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, what he talks has point. His talks do not include a single wasting word. He talks straight to the point and correct. His creativity and business strategies go in co-relation with the changing marketing strategies, which we can clearly see by looking at his growth from musician to singer to actor. Himesh has not only become a busy musician but also a busy actor. After the release Radio, he is coming up with three back to back releases- Pooja Bhatt’s Kajraare, John Mathews’ A New Love Ishtory and Ishk Unplugged.
Himesh Reshammiya in Radio
He also admits that he has learned from his past mistakes. Talking about his past failure Karzzzz, he adds, “After going wrong with Karzzzz, I felt that the release strategy should be right. When you talk about a multiplex audience, then Radio cannot be released in a thousand theatres, right? Everything today is about price. Is it a price hit or a price flop? Now that the cost of this film has already been recovered, everything that comes from theatre will only be a profit.” Seems like Himesh is one those who still has reasons to smile even in the recession time.

Preity Zinta turns Item Girl for Salman Khan

: It’s been a while since we’ve seen Bollywood Actress Preity Zinta on the big screen, and now she is all ready to make a comeback of sorts. Bollywood’s dimpled beauty has reportedly agreed to do an item number, or what she calls ‘a special song’ for the Salman-Kareena starrer Main Aur Mrs Khanna. Interestingly, the visual composition of the song and Preity’s outfit is strikingly reminiscent of Ash’s Kajra re. Preity, however, is quick to clarify that she actually has a role in the film, and therefore the song is more than just an item number. According to the grapevine, like the title of the song, Preity Zinta is looking Happening.

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The fifth spot: It’s Saif versus Shahid!

ood Gossip : For quite a while now, the Bollywood top four positions amongst the most commercially successful actors have been occupied by Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar, with all the four trying their level best to topple each other from their respective positions. But the fifth spot that was vacated by Salman Khan, after a series of flops lies unoccupied and vying for it are Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor.
The present and ex of the sizzling Bollywood Actress Kareena Kapoor are fighting it out (not literally!) at the turnstile. Saif Ali Khan & Deepika Padukone managed to pull a huge amount of crowd with his new release LOVE AAJ KAL. Not to be undone, Shahid Kapoor came back with a bang via KAMINEY, opening to packed houses (despite Swine flu scare) and extremely positive reviews. So, its checkmate with both the stars with one success each. However, Saif still holds the edge as his LOVE AAJ KAL is now a clear hit plus, while KAMINEY is an average plus, netting around 36 crores in two weeks from India, but has all the necessary fuel to propel it to a higher status. So, the fight for the Top Bollywood position continues and it will be pretty interesting to see who wins at the end. However, not to be ignored is Salman Khan, whose WANTED looks all set for a big start this Eid, followed by MAIN AURR MRS KHANNA, which is also looking good. As per the curren box office reports, WANTED has been successful towards drawing an impressive number of crowd to the movie halls especially in the metropolitan cities and several towns in India. There is a huge change that Salman Khan can bounce back to recapture his number five spot.

Vidya Balan smooches Arshan Warsi

Bollywood Actress Vidya Balan is back in a de-glam role with Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Ishqiya’. Going by the trailers, she is playing a simple village belle but has tried some ‘bold’ scenes too. She is featured to be doing steamy scenes with Arshad Warsi and also rumoured to play darker shades. Her ‘desi-giri’ includes swearing in pure Hindi, conning Arshad and Naseeruddin Shah by batting those pretty eye lashes like a true ‘gaon ki gori’ and then even not minding rendering a hot smooch onscreen!

Vidya’s kissing spree continues after the Bollywood Movie ‘Guru’. She had no qualms locking lips with R Madhavan in the film. Recently, she did a very long and intimate scene with Arshad Warsi and kissed him very comfortably in ‘Ishqiya’. The scene in question has a hot kiss, and is very essential to set the tempo. “Why wouldn’t I do that scene when the bound script which was given to me before the film went on the floors? I had no issues doing the kissing scene,” Vidya Balan said.

Robert Pattinson: To Be Cast as Prince Harry?!?

One of the most unexpected casting rumors going around is that Robert Pattinson is up for the role of royalty in an upcoming movie about Prince Harry. According to UK's OK! Weekly, the Twilight Saga star and Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint are vying for the lead in The Spare, a film that will cover the life of this prince, most notably his reaction to the death of his mother and his time spent in the army. Robert Pattinson as Prince Harry? What do you think of this possibility? Shooting will begin next year in England and the Middle East, as director Peter Kosminsky said of the project: "I feel a sense of compassion for [Prince Harry]. His parents break up in the most spectacularly public way, his mother dies in the most tragic and, again, public way and everything is picked over." While Pattinson and Grint supposedly battle over the role, no word yet on who might play Chelsy Davy. Got any suggestions? Permal
R. Patt PhotoPrince Harry Pic

Is Kate Beckinsale the Sexiest Woman Alive?

We get it, Esquire. You wanna be different. For months, there's been non-stop talk about the hotness of Megan Fox. Incessant yammering abot how much money men would pay to see Olivia Wilde nude. Quiet whispers that Kate Gosselin is growing more gorgeous by the day. Okay, we may have made the last one up, but the overall point remains the same: when it comes to discussion about the best looking females alive, there's little variety. Hence, we're sure, Esquire's decision to name British actress Kate Beckinsale as the Sexiest Woman Alive. It's cool to be different, but come on. At least make it seem like you believe what you claim. Beckinsale is perfectly attractive, but there are plenty other women by whom we'd prefer to be ridden. Do you agree?
Kate Beckinsale in Esquire

Is Kate Beckinsale the Sexiest Woman Alive?

Yes, yowza!
No, I'll pass!
Have you seen Marisa Miller?!?

Kate Gosselin Cries: I Can't Pay My Bills!

Kate Gosselin says Jon Gosselin did indeed remove more than $200,000 from their joint bank account - all their liquid assets - leaving her with only $1,000.
Kate on the Today Show
As a result, she can't even buy their eight kids food now. "I have a stack of bills in my purse I can't drop in the mail," she cried on the Today Show this morning, following Jon's huge withdrawal. "The last thing I wanted was to do this show and end up not being able to pay our bills." Their separation agreement won't allow either of the estranged spouses to withdraw money from the joint "liquid" account without mutual authorization. Kate, however, is authorized to write checks for the family's expenses. She says that, in addition to the $230,000 he supposedly yoinked this week, Jon removed $100,000 from the account earlier in the divorce process. So worried was Kate that Jon would pull this stunt that she actually removed a big chunk of cash first, only to put it back because of the court order. "I had taken $100,000 and put it aside so I could buy my kids food if this occurred," she says. "At some point, I removed it to keep it safe, on the suggestion of my lawyer, but had to put it back, according to the arbitrator." Meanwhile, Jon's attorney claims he took money "he was entitled to" and expects that the train wreck will be awarded even more in the future. "[Jon] has not withdrawn any money for his own remuneration, with the exception of the past several months wherein he believes he only withdrew approximately $170,000," Mark J. Heller said this afternoon in a statement. "It is not unlikely that Jon will be awarded substantial additional funds." In response, Kate Gosselin says, "It's wonderful to say he'll be awarded significant funds. However, there are not significant funds for him to be awarded." "He needs to be awarded this? I'm sorry. When you've left your children and their mother unable to pay for the roof above their head, it is not acceptable." As for Jon's claims that the kids no longer wish to participate in the show, Kate claims they were "wailing and sobbing" when production was suspended. Kate feels the show needs to go on. "It's something that the kids and I are still enjoying," she says. "The opportunities that they've been provided ... the kids are having trouble understanding why they're not here and why they're not doing that." "I don't feel like it's time to end it. If we are all enjoying it, I just feel like Kate Plus 8 going on, the nine of us who want to continue it, should be able to." The star of the newly-renamed Kate Plus 8 admits that, "Every day, I don't know what I'm going to wake up to. [Jon] has gone way far off the trail."

Britney Spears Goes Back to Her Roots

This is why we love Britney Spears. Despite being a superstar for 10 years - an anniversary commemorated by her new hits collection, which also features her new threesome-themed single "3" - the girl never forgets where she came from and what got her there ...
Old Skool Britney
Britney Spears' fashion hasn't changed that much since 1999. The pop star was spotted out and about, shopping with a pair of bodyguards in L.A. over the weekend. Needless to say, it was a successful outing. Who else could rock impossibly short shorts, a leopard-print clutch, Ugg boots and a midriff-baring top to Target and look so darn sexy? Jessica Simpson? We think not. At least not until she graduates from the chili cook-off concert circuit.

Erin Andrews Peeping Tom Under House Arrest

Michael David Barrett, the perv arrested for videotaping Erin Andrews nude in several hotels earlier this year, is now out on bail - but on a very tight leash. He forked over $4,500 in bail money, but don't expect him to skip down. A federal judge in Chicago granted his release with the following list of stipulations: Barrett have to wear an electronic monitoring device. He can go to work and doctor's appointments only. A curfew beginning at 9 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m. No Internet for two weeks (probably for the best). Michael David Barrett was also ordered to turn in his passport by tomorrow morning, and he's not allowed to leave Northern Illinois without permission. The judge said he was releasing Barrett because that suspect doesn't have a criminal record and because his family lives in the area. He is not a flight risk. He faces interstate stalking charges in Los Angeles October 23 for allegedly taking clandestine videos of the ESPN reporter nude and posting them online
.New York Post Erin Andrews CoverHot Erin Andrews Pic

Joe Halderman: Letterman a "Master Manipulator"

The attorney for accused blackmailer Robert "Joe" Halderman says David Letterman is spinning the extortion plot against him and there are two sides to the story. "I look forward to cross-examining David Letterman," Halderman's lawyer, Gerald Shargel, told the Today Show Monday morning on behalf of his arrested client. "If you only hear David Letterman's side of the story, take it at face value, and say, 'Turn off the sets, that Halderman's guilty' - I think that's just plain wrong." Halderman is accused of blackmailing Letterman with info about his past affairs with staffers. Stephanie Birkitt and Holly Hester are the two known at this time. Shargel said that Joe Halderman, an Emmy-winning 48 Hours Mystery producer, has an excellent reputation and that allegations he tried to cash a bogus $2 million check from Letterman to pay off debts make "absolutely no sense."
Halderman and Letterman
Robert "Joe" Halderman is accused of trying to extort money from David Letterman. His lawyer says there are two sides to the story. He just won't say what his is. Halderman pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innoncence. The lawyer largely declined, however, to take advantage of the chance to provide Halderman's take on events, dodging virtually every direct question about his client's alleged conduct and repeating his one point over and over. Instead, the attorney simply maintained that Halderman is innocent and focused on Letterman's attempt to "get out ahead of the story" with a public mea culpa. One that has since been pulled by CBS, which doesn't help his case. "He's a master at manipulating audiences, that's what he does for a living," said Shargel of the Late Show host. "To think that David Letterman gave the entire story, and there's nothing more to be said, it's simply wrong."

Allison Iraheta Previews Debuts Single, Dishes on Dream Duet

While Kris Allen and Adam Lambert share the month of November (their debuts albums will be released on November 17 and 24, respectively), Allison Iraheta has December all to herself. Fans of the popular American Idol singer should circle December 1 on their calendar, as Iraheta comes out with her first CD that day. In a new interview, the rocker dishes on her debut single, "Friday I'll Be Over U," which you can listen to below: On creating the song: I worked with Max Martin, and he pulled it out of his magic box. He came up with an awesome song and sent I to me and we cut it and it was just amazing. He definitely knows how to put himself in other people's shoes.
Rockin Idol
On goal for the song: Pretty much show who I really am as an artist, and what I really want to continue doing for the rest of my life, which is this. Just really do awesome music for the rest of my life. On her dream collaboration: I keep saying this, and I'm always going to say it until it happens... working with Pink, my friend. That would be amazing. Her music altogether inspires me. I look up to her.

Diary of Stephanie Birkitt at Center of David Letterman Extortion Scandal

Diary of Stephanie Birkitt at Center of David Letterman Extortion Scandal October 5th, 2009 8:55 PM by Free Britney Tags: Stephanie Birkitt, Robert Halderman, David Letterman Excerpts from Stephanie Birkitt's private diary make up the centerpiece of Robert Halderman's alleged plan to extort $2 million from David Letterman.
Stephanie Birkitt Picture
Halderman (who is also known as Joe Halderman) threatened to expose his inter-office affairs if he did not comply, according to law enforcement officials
. The writings of Stephanie Birkitt was presumably not meant for the eyes of former lover Letterman, or a more recent one, CBS News producer Halderman. But pages copied from her diary are critical to the police investigation. Stephanie Birkitt, 34, was an assistant on The Late Show with David Letterman and frequently appeared on camera herself, along with the host, in comedy skits. She was also once his lover, according to her own diary (another woman, Holly Hester, is alleged to have had an affair with Letterman while he was still at NBC). Later, she became romantically involved with Robert Halderman. The couple lived together in his Norwalk, Conn., home until August, when they reportedly split. Stephanie had once worked on 48 Hours Mystery, the show where Halderman was a well respected producer. CBS News has suspended him since his arrest. Robert Halderman apparently copied pages from Birkitt's diary before they broke up, using them together with e-mails and other information in a package left in Letterman's limo that was intended to extort money from him. Halderman's attorney, Gerald Shargel, said Monday that Letterman is a master manipulator and only telling one side of the story, while the charges against his client are "so obviously out of character to the point of not making any sense." After he pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan court last week to a count of attempted first-degree grand larceny, Halderman is currently free on bail.
Robert

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Bollywood beauty Malaika Arora Khan

Bollywood beauty Malaika Arora Khan walks the ramp for Mandira Wirk show on the fouth day of the Lakme Fashion Week. The five day event has seen Bollywood stars walking the ramp right from the first day.

John Abraham walks the ramp for Rocky S show

Bollywood actor John Abraham walks the ramp for Rocky S show on the third day of the Lakme Fashion Week. The five day event has seen Bollywood stars walking the ramp right from the first day.

Bollywood hottie Deepika Padukone


Bollywood hottie Deepika Padukone raised the oomph factor as she walks the ramp for Gauri and Nainika show on the fouth day of the Lakme Fashion Week. The five day event has seen Bollywood stars walking the ramp right from the first day.

Dressing up Sushmita Sen at LFW

Beauty queen-turned-actress Sushmita Sen walks the ramp for Vikram Phadnis show on the fouth day of the Lakme Fashion Week. The five day event has seen Bollywood stars walking the ramp right from the first day.


Oomph factor off the ramp


Bollywood beauty Malaika Arora Khan walks the ramp for Mandira Wirk show on the fouth day of the Lakme Fashion Week. She shares a lighter moment off it. The celebrity quotient has high from the day one of the ongoing Lakme Fashion week, both off and on the ramp.

SRK to marry Rituparna! - King Khan & Tolly queen play man and wife in ad film


This Mahasaptami, Shah Rukh Khan will be married to Rituparna Sengupta. Before you go into shock (or awe), let us set things straight. Bollywood’s Hero No. 1 and Tollywood’s Heroine No. 1 will play husband and wife for a product promotion to be shot in Mumbai’s Filmcity on Friday. SRK will play a common man and Rituparna his homemaker wife. And the (Ayurvedic) magic potion that keeps them together? Chyawanprash, from the stable of Calcutta-based Emami Group. “Both of them are our brand ambassadors, and so we thought pairing them would be the perfect marriage for the brand,” said Emami director Aditya Agarwal. “Shah Rukh will provide the national connect while Rituparna will provide the regional connect.” The superstar with more than a national connect is learnt to be happy at the prospect of working with the regional rage, continuing his long tradition of romancing Bengali beauties on screen, from Kajol to Rani. “Shah Rukh has seen Rituparna’s work in Main Meri Patni Aur Woh and also remembers her coming to Eden Gardens to support his Kolkata Knight Riders team in the first IPL season,” said a source. “He okayed the concept of the commercial at one go.” Rituparna, too, did not waste time before saying ‘I do’. “I am very excited but I am very nervous too,” she admitted. “I will be shooting with the Shah Rukh Khan. I am a huge fan of his.... Plus, I have recently done a film titled SRK with Vinay Pathak. And now, I will be shooting with SRK himself!” Rituparna, who will be going to Mumbai on Tuesday for a pre-shoot session, is now busy juggling Bolly and Tolly, with shooting on for Priyadarshan’s untitled film co-starring Akshaye Khanna, Ajay Devgan and Bipasha Basu. Shah Rukh is dividing his work time between the last schedule of Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan and shooting lots of advertisements as part of his brand commitments. The Chyawanprash ad film will be directed by Ram Madhvani of Equinox Films, who shot the Bheja kum song in Taare Zameen Par, and is also slated to direct Amitabh Bachchan in the forthcoming Vidhu Vinod Chopra production Taalismaan. “I have seen her in a couple of Bengali films apart from Main Meri Patni Aur Woh,” said Madhvani. “I think she is just fantastic and I am really looking forward to working with her for the first time. I have worked with Shah Rukh before and the two of them would make an unusual but good pairing,” he added, from Mumbai. The SRK-RS commercial will go on air from end-October. Star Bollywood photographer Dabboo Ratnani will shoot the stills.


Bollywood actor Aamir Khan on Monday celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr in Mumbai with his family and friends. "Well, on the occasion of Eid, I will stay with my family, my mom and the friends who are here to meet me," Aamir Khan said. Buzz up! During the holy month of Ramadan, devout Muslims stay on fast from dusk to dawn. They don't even drink water during the day. At the end of Ramadan or month of fasting, Muslims hold a joyous three-day celebration called Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid-ul-Fitr falls on the first day of Shawwal, the month, which follows Ramadan in the Islamic calendar. It is a time to give charity, and celebrate with family and friends the completion of a month of blessings and joy. Tags

Inqlings: Bollywood on the Schuylkill

Who's in it? Who knows? Yesterday was the first day of camera work for an untitled drama from Mumbai's Yash Raj Studios, which shot an action film called New York here a year ago. For Day One, cast and crew were camped at a store near Seventh Street and Girard Avenue in North Philly. Tomorrow, they'll shoot all day at the Trolley Car Diner in Mount Airy. Sri Rao, a Pennsylvania-born producer who does a lot of work in the Philly area, said exteriors would be filmed in and around Center City until Oct. 11 or 12. The production, which was begun in Mumbai, will wrap in New York. Rao, however, would not disclose the plot or the names of anyone affiliated with the flick, which, as is the case with all Bollywood productions, is drawing heated attention from fans. A source identified the male and female leads as Shahid Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, who, if you believe the Bollywood grapevine, are dating in real life. Director is first-timer Parmeet Sethi. Rao says Yash Raj's New York, released in June, did great box office worldwide. It received only limited distribution in the Philadelphia market. It should be noted that Yash Raj is not the Bollywood film company that stiffed dozens of people in Philly last year. That was Dharma Productions, which had retained Australia's Swish Films to handle Philly production of its untitled drama that filmed in the late fall. Around Christmas, Swish bounced checks and left town. With Swish now seeking bankruptcy protection, legal action against Dharma continues. Representatives for Swish and Dharma have not returned messages for comment. Also in filmdom Though Reese Witherspoon was spotted in L.A. last weekend, she's still very much working on the untitled James L. Brooks comedy that will be shooting here till late October. She's due back in Philly late this week, and is expected to remain in town for the duration. One star who is no longer here is Owen Wilson, who plays a ballplayer and one of Witherspoon's character's love interests. He wrapped his work recently and skedaddled. Kathryn Hahn, who left abruptly in late July after the birth of her daughter, is due on set this week to finish her scenes; she plays the assistant of Paul Rudd, the third side in the love triangle. And as for the movie's lack of a title, get over it. Hollywood lore has it that Brooks didn't come up with the name As Good As It Gets until he was out of the editing bay with the 1997 Jack Nicholson-Helen Hunt smash. Briefly noted Adam Richman of the Travel Channel show Man v. Food stops at DiNic's at Reading Terminal Market to eat roast beef and pork and at the Franklin Fountain in Old City for ice cream. He caps it with a cheesesteak challenge at Tony Luke's in South Philly, all for tomorrow's episode (10 p.m.). Fox29 reporter/anchor John Atwater has tendered his resignation after four years. Last day will be Sunday. He's bound for Boston to be closer to family. Ike Reese is cohosting Howard Eskin's afternoon show on WIP (610), while part-timer Rob Ellis is filling Reese's nighttime slot. The station - touting Reese's past as an All-Pro Eagle - says the changes will be in effect through football season. Pete Lorenzo's, a longtime New Jersey politico hot spot across from the Amtrak/NJ Transit station in Trenton, seems to have closed after 88 years. It was dark over the weekend and the phone has been disconnected. Billy Crystal will tape an appearance on The Jay Leno Show via satellite from the Merriam Theater next Tuesday. He'll promote his show 700 Sundays, which opens the following night at the Merriam.

Bollywood looks to Diwali to light up box office


Bollywood is preparing for what is historically its most lucrative period of the year with a string of big budget releases, hoping to end 2009 on a high after a disappointing 12 months. Like the Christmas period for Hollywood, the run-up to the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, on October 17 is seen as a banker for Bollywood as many Indians are on holiday and looking to be entertained. A glut of new films are due out as the 2.3-billion-dollar Hindi-language movie business looks to recover from a multiplex cinema boycott, swine flu fears that forced some theatres to close, and a series of expensive flops. Trade analyst Komal Nahta predicted "good times" for the industry over the next three months. "About seven billion rupees (145 million dollars) is at stake for Bollywood in the last quarter, as there are nearly two dozen films releasing by December," he said. But others, like the director of Shemaroo Films, Hiren Gada, were sceptical about whether the new releases, some made for up to 900 million rupees, can recoup their outgoings. He told the Sunday Business Standard the stakes were "extremely high for both producers and distributors as it is the first festive season in several years where over half-a-dozen very big films are scheduled for release". One unnamed analyst also told the newspaper that the films were "far too costly" and even if they do well, they may fall short of the investment put in. Big budget films like the Warner Bros. co-production "Chandni Chowk To China", "Delhi 6" and the Shahrukh Khan release "Billu" all disappointed this year at the box office. Producer-director Karan Johar's comedy "Wake Up Sid" kicks off the battle of the blockbusters on October 2, hoping to steal a march on three major films that are out on Diwali weekend itself. "All The Best", a comedy with Sanjay Dutt, "Blue", an underwater odyssey with a cameo by Kylie Minogue, and Salman Khan's second "comeback" film, "Main Aur Mrs Khanna" (Me And Mrs Khanna), are out on October 16. The following week sees the release of Khan's third new film, "London Dreams", about two friends who dream of becoming rock stars, and the animation "Aladin", with voices by Dutt and Amitabh Bachchan. Bachchan returns in November with "Paa" (Father), about a boy with a premature ageing condition, going up against "Kurbaan" (Sacrifice), with Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, "Jail" and "Tum Mile" (You Met Me). "Jail" has been the source of much gossip here over actor Neil Nitin Mukesh, who stripped for the role. "Tum Mile" (Met you), with Emraan Hashmi, has the devastating 2005 Mumbai floods as its backdrop. Actor-producer-director Aamir Khan rounds off the year with the release of "3 Idiots" on Christmas Day, December 25. The end of the two-month multiplex boycott, prompted by producers' claims of unfair revenue sharing, led to the creation of a committee to organise the dates of new releases, many of which were postponed during the stand-off. The committee, set up to maximise revenues after reported 63-million-dollar losses and avoid release clashes, has warned producers that they face a stiff fine if they change the date of a film's release without telling them. But Diwali regularly sees films compete with one another. "Main Aur Mrs Khanna" director Prem Soni said he was unconcerned about going head-to-head with "All The Best" and "Blue", taking heart from previous years where several simultaneous releases have done well. "All films releasing on Diwali day have a different kind of subject," he said. "One is an action thriller, another one is a comedy and mine is a romantic film. "Ultimately, a good film works irrespective of whenever it is released."

Bollywood A-listers failing

Rani Mukherji
The Bollywood business works by selling superstar brands. But what when these brands perform below expectations? Here's a look at superstars who are part of Bollywood's power league and are yet failing miserably at the box office: Rani Mukherji Rani's last hit was way back in 2006, with Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. Since then there's been Baabul, Ta Ra Rum Pum, Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Saawariya, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic and now Dil Bole Hadippa. Even though she seems commited to experiment, dressing as a Sardar and wearing a bikini -- thankfully in different scenes --, it wasn't enough to break the jinx.

Priyanka, Harman to add zing to Times garba festivities today

It will be no ordinary garba at Times Navratri festivities at Karnavati Club on Tuesday. As Bollywood stars Priyanka Chopra, Harman Baweja and Ashutosh Gowarikar descend to be a part of the gala event, it promises to be a night to remember. The traditional flavour of Gujarat's longest dance festival will get a touch of glamour as celebrities interact with the crowd. For this purpose, a lucky draw has been organized. To win a couple pass for the event, you can type Garba and send it to 58888. Performers like Golden Cheer, Arun Rajyaguru, Samir Rawal and Prasad-Kardam, among others will set the tune for the event on different days.

AR Rahman's Couples Retreat has American tone


The 'formula' works equally effectively across the cultural divide. If in Bollywood, AR Rahman was expected to do a series of Rukmani Rukmani after Roja in the West, they want more Jai ho from this composing genius after Slumdog Millionaire. Buzz up! But Rahman in his own quiet way is determined to not pander to western expectations. He made it very clear to the people behind his first full-fledged Hollywood film that he'd compose exactly what he thought to be the most apt music for the show. Says Rahman, "Couples Retreat will have music that suits an American rom-com there're no real Indian sound in it. But yes, there will be a touch of Indianness in the sound. Otherwise what is the point of bringing me into the picture?" Apparently there were numerous brainstorming sessions during which the sound of Slumdog Millaionire kept cropping up repeatedly. Rahman gently but firmly steered the music away from the expected. Chuckles the wizard of all composing things, "There's no point in doing something I've already done. I've reached a stage where I've to do new things. There're so many avenues to be explored. So Couples Retreat will be their (read: American) kind of music with my touch, done in my way." Secretly Rahman agrees with those of his admirers and fans who feel Slumdog Millioniare is not among his best work. Says a source, "He has done far superior work in films like Lagaan, Dil Se, Roja, Zubeida and the forthcoming Raavan and Blue. Friends keep telling him that. Slumdog was done in a hurry. In about 20 days flat. Rahman feels he could've done a lot better. He now wants the West to see some of his best." Rahman is looking at Couples Retreat as his real launch into the West.
Fans who were hoping to attend the Oct. 3 "¡Bienvenido Gustavo!" concert at the Hollywood Bowl but were turned away at the box office in August now have a way to participate in the event. The Los Angeles Philharmonic announced today that it will show the concert for free on its website in high definition. Viewers can go to the orchestra's official site to experience the concert beginning at 4 p.m. All individual performances from the concert will be available on demand for 24 hours beginning at 10 a.m. on Oct. 4. This marks the first time that a concert at the Hollywood Bowl will be shown on the Internet, according to the orchestra. The concert will feature ensembles and youth groups from around the Southern California area. Gustavo Dudamel -- the L.A. Philharmonic's new music director -- will conduct the Youth Orchestra of L.A. and the Philharmonic.

Hollywood in Iowa -- the tax credit fiasco


Ah, Iowa, land of corn -- and now, movie-making corruption. The Farm Belt is learning a painful lesson these days in the glitzy, star-studded world of Hollywood's accounting practices: Like in the baseball movie "Field of Dreams," if you build it, they will come ... and may take your tax dollars to buy things you don't want to pay for. On Monday, Iowa Gov. Chet Culver asked the state's auditor office, the state Department of Revenue and Iowa Atty. Gen. Tom Miller to join the investigation into the state's film tax-credit program, amid reports of flawed oversight and accounting procedures. The growing scandal over Iowa's film tax-credit -- officially called the Film, Television and Video Project Promotion Program -- has already seen at least two politicos fall. Mike Tramontina, the director of the state Department of Economic Development -- which administered the program -- resigned from his post Friday. And today, Thomas Wheeler, the manager of the state's film office was fired. The program is the nation's most generous, with a rebate to filmmakers of up to 50% of what they spend. But Culver called a timeout last week, suspending the program and putting a halt on all reimbursements to film production companies. The reason: An internal audit found a number of, well, discrepancies, including using tax credits to pay for luxury vehicles that filmmakers never used in their movies. I can just hear the film execs now: "Aren't all farmers rich because of ethanol? We really thought that Mercedes would bring authenticity to the shoot." The press release cuts to the chase. The governor's halt of the program has the pro-film folks in the Hawkeye state freaked out, with calls from the Iowa Motion Picture Assn. to reinstate the program. According to IMPA -- and yes, there really is such a thing -- there are four films that were shot in Des Moines and one in Council Bluffs that are all owed rebates. And how much is this going to cost the state? A recent story in the Des Moines Register reports that a last-minute rush by film producers could cost the state up to $300 million. Ouch.

Ash in top 10 most beautiful women list

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Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is one of the 100 most beautiful women according to a list published by Harpers and Queenmagazine. The Bollywood beauty is ranked ninth, while Hollywood hottie Angelina Jolie [Images ] has topped the chart, The Newsreports. Supermodel Christy Turlington [ Images ] followed Jolie. Another gorgeous woman in the list was Queen Rania [ Images ] of Jordan, apart from other luminaries.

Hollywood stars arrive to save gorillas

SIX Hollywood stars arrived in the country yesterday for the launch of Uganda’s Friend-A-Gorilla campaign, spearheaded by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). The campaign is part of global efforts to save the endangered mountain gorillas, the majority of which live in Uganda. The stars who jetted in yesterday include Jason Matthew Biggs, best known for his role in the American Pie, a high school three-parts comedy. Also part of the group is Kristyn Wu, an American actress of Chinese descent, known for her role as Chao-Ahn in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and co-starring as Melissa Wu in Flight 29 Down. Others who will take part in the launch are Simon Curtis, Rachel McDonald, Matthew Kurte and Tertius Bune. The film stars will track the largest group of 36 gorillas, called Nshongi, at Rushaga in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. UWA officials believe that the campaign will help promote Uganda as a top tourism destination as the world celebrates the UN International Year of the Gorilla. Bwindi’s tourism attraction was recently documented by researcher Mark Penning, the President of the World Association of Zoos and one of the supporters of the campaign. Penning had an amazing encounter with one of the gorillas, called Muyambi, who unexpectedly put his arm around him. “I sat down to watch him, very conscious of the fact that one should keep a distance of 5 to 7 metres so as not to put the animals at risk of catching colds and flu,” he narrated his experience. “Muyambi had other ideas and casually walked over to me. I thought he would walk past me but he sat next to me and put his arm around me. With his hand resting on my shoulder, he looked right into my eyes from just centimetres away.” UWA’s director of conservation, Sam Mwandha, explained that the young gorillas are cheeky and tend to move close to the trackers.

Live: Anoushka Shankar at the Hollywood Bowl

Perhaps some credit should go to the Oscar-winning film "Slumdog Millionaire" for the near-capacity crowd on hand for the India Calling! event Sunday night at the Hollywood Bowl. A grand panoply of traditional and modern music, dance, art and cuisine, the evening highlighted India's seemingly limitless aesthetic varieties. The Ravi Shankar Centre Ensemble's performance presented the classical and folk elements of India's fertile musical legacy using intriguing hybridized forms. Curated by Shankar and conducted by his daughter Anoushka, the orchestra played works that demonstrated the impressive diversity of instrumentation and vocal styles that the more traditionally based Indian forms can accommodate -- there was graceful and fiery interplay between sitars, tablas, violins and guitars, revealing a wide emotional and textural range. Anoushka Shankar conducted the ensemble with exuberant precision. The five-member Rhythm of Rajasthan ensemble whipped up a tough, romping set featuring percussion, strings and reed-like instruments. A resplendently clad dancer twirled while executing a series of tricks: standing on cups while balancing a high stack of bowls on her head, or bending over backward to pick up rings with her eyes. The Anoushka Shankar Project presented the evening's most genuinely progressive music. The program showcased her virtuosic sitar skills in pieces that incorporated such Western elements as cello and piano and slightly overamplified kit drums alongside the standard tabla drums, the shehnai reed instrument and droning tanpura. Shankar proved her mastery in breathtaking, complex scale runs through self-composed -- and in one action-packed, jazzy piece, perhaps Bollywood-inspired -- works that adeptly blended raga-related variations with non-Indian sources. The visually spectacular Yogen's Bollywood Step Dance Troupe, which worked out to the "Slumdog Millionaire" theme in a tribute to that film's composer, A.R. Rahman, preceded Kailash Kher's Kailasa. That act, featuring the diminutive Kher and brothers Naresh and Paresh Kamath, specializes in Sufi-folk rock, a mishmash of traditional sounds and contemporary rock and funk. Though the group veered a bit too far into an electronic "international house/pop" style (complete with wailing rock-star guitar solos), Kailasa found its stride in tunes stressing a satisfyingly deep-grooving tribal funk. Punjabi artist Malkit Singh capped the night with a frenzied, almost chaotic tour through his chart toppers, many of which have been featured in films such as "Bend It Like Beckham" and "Monsoon Wedding." The crowd greeted Singh like a conquering hero, and he rewarded it with party-down hits such as "Tutak Tutak Tutiyan," the bestselling Bhangra song of all time.

Latest Hollywood script deals

Walden Media has rubbed the lamp and picked up "Gene," a modern take on the classic genie story from writer Randi Mayem Singer. While Walden was keeping plot details tucked in the proverbial bottle, the studio said the pitch "combines originality, humor, heart and broad appeal that all ages can enjoy." Singer co-wrote "Mrs. Doubtfire" and created the 1999 TV series "Jack & Jill," starring Amanda Peet. He also penned the upcoming Dwayne Johnson comedy "Tooth Fairy" and is now working on "Big Momma's House 3." - New Line better think twice about mistreating frequent hires Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. The screenwriting pair has just been brought on to work over the screenplay for New Line's absurdist comedy "Horrible Bosses." The story line revolves around three friends who decide to whack their abusive "superiors" in a desperate bid for happiness. New Line picked up the original screenplay from Michael Markowitz (TV's "Becker") in 2005. Daley and Goldstein do a lot of business with New Line. They sold their original script "The $40,000 Man" to the studio and worked on the in-development magician comedy "Burt Wonderstone" there.

Hollywood considers cutting more than 30 jobs

Hollywood commissioners heard hours of testimony at a budget hearing Monday night, including many employees who fear losing their jobs, as they tried to agree on a new city budget. Similar Stories: • Hundreds protest tax increases in Hollywood • Hollywood gives tentative OK to 13 percent tax-rate hike • Hundreds protest possible tax hike in Hollywood • Hollywood considers cutting more than 30 jobs • Hollywood Commission to attempt to lower tax rate BY AMY SHERMAN ASHERMAN@MIAMIHERALD.COM Hollywood city commissioners were poised to vote on a tax rate hike Monday night -- though it could be less of an increase than officials initially sought. The tax rates under consideration would lead to more than 30 layoffs out of the city's workforce of more than 1,500, but keep services such as park programs, hours at City Hall and garbage pickups intact. The city's final budget hearing drew more than 200 city workers and residents. Though at the first budget hearing last week several speakers chastised commissioners for planning to raise the tax rate, a larger segment of Monday's speakers were city workers who face layoffs. David Blum, a roofing inspector who fears losing his job, spoke about his dreams when he started with the city. ``I hoped to save some money and buy a home so I could become a resident of the city of Hollywood,'' he said. ``Today, almost three years later, I'm not so happy. I'm afraid. I'm afraid of losing my job. I will not be able to pay my bills without my job. I will not be able to buy a home and move into the city of Hollywood. '' Last week, commissioners set a tax rate at $6.44 per $1,000 of taxable assessed property value. But they directed the city staff to lower that amount by the final tax hearing by tapping more reserves and making other cost shifts. On Monday, commissioners considered a 2009-10 tax rate of $5.99 -- an increase in the rate of about 5 percent compared to this year's. Commissioners discussed the tax rate and spending late into the night. Though at least a couple of them expressed interest in asking some union workers to agree to a pay cut or furlough, that would require reopening negotiations -- something that simply couldn't take place at City Hall Monday night. One option: a tax rate of $6.02 that would limit the number of layoffs to about 13. But the layoffs may not happen for a few months, leaving the unions time to come up with proposals to save jobs. At the $5.99 rate, homesteaded residents who live in a home with a $275,000 market value and have lived there at least 10 years would pay about $82 more for the city portion of their taxes. Residents who bought within the past few years with the same market value home today would see a drop of about $327. School district, Broward County, hospital district and other agencies' levies are additional. Though some commissioners said tax increases would be minimal, Mayor Peter Bober said taxpayers also face increases in the city's fire fee, homeowners' insurance and other costs. ``We are not the only taxing entity on peoples TRIM notices,'' Bober said, referring to the tax notices sent out by the county. The tax increases or decreases are on top of an expected increase in the annual fire fee to $159 from $109 and the already-approved water and sewer service hike that resulted in an increase of about $14.50 per month for the average homeowner. Some residents and business owners have asked city officials to avoid any tax or fee increases. ``You will be pushing many people over the edge,'' said Richard Clavet, owner of Richard's Motel, 1219 S. Federal Hwy. ``The proposed increase of taxes and fees will push many people out of their businesses and homes.'' Due to the public outcry, Hollywood is expected to retain an animal-control officer position that had been slated to be cut. City Manager Cameron Benson did not propose laying off police officers or firefighters -- in fact, next year's budget is likely to include filling some vacant positions in those departments. Most employees who will lose their jobs are members of the AFSCME union, which represents general employees, professional and supervisory employees. Several dozen members of the union have turned out at meetings. These city workers make residents' lives better, said George Tucker, attorney for AFSCME. ``When you get up in the morning to take a shower and turn that water on, we do that,'' he said. ``When you go to the parks with your child and play sports we mow those lawns, we draw those lines.'' Earlier this summer, commissioners approved contracts with city unions that included some concessions but also pay raises -- for example, up to 8 percent for some police officers. Several taxpayers have questioned the pay and benefits for police and firefighters. But Jeff Marano, senior vice president of the Police Benevolent Association, described the sometimes deadly -- and often gruesome -- jobs those workers perform. ``They treat people you wouldn't even want to touch,'' he said, referring to paramedics. Some taxpayers have suggested that commissioners were reluctant to force larger concessions during negotiations because they wanted the unions' campaign endorsements. Mayor Peter Bober denied that. He said the unions endorsed his opponent, former Mayor Mara Giulianti. ``I was the last person in the world unions wanted to see get elected,'' he said in an interview with The Miami Herald. Some cuts are a result of an efficiency study that led Benson to suggest combining some departments and shedding jobs that are no longer needed, such as shrinking the building department since development has slowed.

Indian Summer halted over Nehru-Edwina affair

The production of Hollywood movie Indian Summer has reportedly been put on hold and the reason is said to be the portrayal of the relationship between Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, and Lady Edwina Mountbatten, wife of the last British viceroy of India. According to reports, India government officials have asked to scrutinise the script to review how the Nehru-Edwina affair will be played out. Based on Alex von Tunzelmann's book Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of an Empire, the film will reportedly follow the important events during India's Independence, said a press statement. Filming starts early next year. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett will reportedly play Edwina in this upcoming movie, which will portray the last days of British rule in India and Hugh Grant is also expected to star in the movie. To be released in 2011, this Universal Pictures drama will be reportedly directed by Joe Wright and written by Oscar nominated William Nicholson, and will show last British Viceroy Lord Mountbatten handing over power during the summer of 1947 to Nehru. Mountbatten's daughter Pamela also wrote about Nehru's relationship with her mother in her memoir India Remembered. Richard Hough's biography Mountbatten: Hero of Our Times also talks about this affair.

Catherine Zeta Jones Wants To End Her Hollywood Career

Hollywood actress Catherine Zeta Jones has revealed that she wants to end her Hollywood career. The 40-years-old actress said that she is happy spending time with husband, Michael Douglas and their children. The ‘The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles’ star claimed that she is not interested in signing any big budgets movies as she is enjoying her time in New York and Bermuda properties with family. Catherine Zeta Jones said, "When you live in LA, you can`t go anywhere without being critiqued on your purse or the fact that you have gained weight or that you have got spots on your face. That`s not the life I want. Deciding to live in beautiful Bermuda was the healthiest thing Michael and I ever did. Now that I have kids that`s what my life is about." The beauty is looking forward to her latest musical project `A Little Night and she is excited about it. "I think it will be a huge change career-wise. I`m going into a different chapter as an actor. I`m not going to play the ingenues but I`m not going to play the mother of teenagers either," the actress added.

Nayanthara is not glamorous anymore

Nayanthara is not glamorous anymore
ayanthara is well known in the south Indian film circuit for her astounding glamour quotient. The lady’s bikini–clad scenes in Billa were much talked about and her career soared to newer heights.

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wever, the actress is now refusing to wear glamorous clothes much to the chagrin of her directors and producers. Nayan is currently starring in the Telugu film Athoorpu directed by VV Vinayak. Incidentally, Vinayak introduced Nayan in Tollywood and when the director mentioned about the necessity to wear skimpy clothes for a scene, the actress refused to do so, stating that she has decided against going glamorous in future.
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oThis decision has raised expectations that the actress is keen on ending her acting career and is moving closer to marital bliss.

Birthday Wishes for Style Icon, Kareena Kapoor!

Kareena Kapoor, nicknamed Bebo, just turned a year older on September 21st. The stunning actress is making her grounds stronger in Bollywood with every coming movie. Initially, Bebo didn't start out too well with 'Refugee' and a few other ventures that crashed at the Box Office but there has been no looking back since then. Bebo has been part of various movies that did extremely well at the box office like Kabhi Khushi Khabhi Gham and Jab We Met, in which she was appreciated as Geet. More recently Kareena's Kambakht Ishq had one reason or another to always make it to the news. Moreover, she's one lucky actress who has worked with very established and successful male actors in the industry like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Anil Kapoor and the list goes on. Kareena Kapoor is here to stay and with some upcoming happening movies like Stepmom, 3 idiots, Main Aur Mrs. Khanna in her kitty. The striking actress had nothing to fear as she celebrated her 29th birthday! We hope you had a fantastic birthday, Kareena!

Bollywood Bound

That millions of people have Bollywood dreams in India comes as little surprise. But Canada? This month, the Canadian Institute of Management and Technology in Mississauga, outside Toronto, launched the Bollywood Acting Diploma, a four-month course costing $9,000 and targeting students who want to break into the business. They are people like Dubai-born Maya Noel, 18 years old, who graduated high school in June and was all ready to study drama in college. When she heard about the academy, she reassessed her goals and thought, "I grew up with Bollywood not Hollywood." And she signed up. Her interest is a fitting tribute to the Indian institution that went "global" before that became a buzzword. Indeed, before Benetton and Big Bazaar, there was Bollywood, stealthily offering Indian audiences tastes of the West and nostalgic expatriates glimpses of the homes they left behind. Today, Bollywood has become the ultimate bridge for nonresident Indians, global Indians and everyone in between. While the rest of the world debates protectionism and outsourcing, Bollwood makes room for a new formula: take actors raised and trained in the West and welcome them back home. There's precedent for this, namely Katrina Kaif, the consummate global Indian -- "Hong Kong-born British-Indian actress and model," according to Wikipedia -- but more importantly "one of the popular actresses in current Bollywood." (But usually, the talent's looking longingly east. Consider former Miss World Aishwarya Rai playing a detective in Pink Panther 2.) “While the rest of the world debates protectionism and outsourcing, Bollwood presents a new formula.” The eight students enrolled are seven Indians and one West Indian – most born or raised in Canada -- who all dream of landing a role in a Bollywood movie. Their aspirations come amid increased fluidity of the film industries of the U.S. and India. Last week, Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group's Big Entertainment sealed its deal to purchase a $325 million stake in Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks SKG. The man behind the class is Jagdev Raj Sanda, a child actor who emigrated to Canada and became a caterer, better known by his apt nickname, "Lucky." He got the idea for a formal school devoted to Bollywood acting after watching an amateur performance among his community of local Indians. "We are clapping and then everyone goes home," he says. "Some of the students will go back to their colleges and their dreams are gone." The students are in class seven days a week and study areas fundamental to India's garish film industry: lip-syncing, fake fighting and, of course, dancing. Their journey underscores the message of a 2001 documentary titled "Bollywood Bound" about four Indo-Canadian actors and their struggle to break into Indian cinema. One of the actors, Ruby Bhatia, explains why: "Weekdays we'd be totally Canadian, and on the weekends we'd be totally Indian....salwaar kameez, Diwali functions, Holi functions and the songs...we'd always dance to Hindi film songs and the more you knew about the movies, the more Indian you were...." To be sure, Bollywood has served as many an NRI's badge of authenticity. The diploma offered outside Toronto just makes it a little more official now.
[Nitin Patel]
Nitin Pate
l "You need a platform to get into this or else you will always be in the background like an extra actor," Nitin Patel, 50 years old, told me. "To break the ice, it's very difficult in India. Here, there's less competition." He was an engineer on a dam project in India. After arriving in Canada six years ago, Mr. Patel struggled to find similar work --and finally settled on a job as a security guard. Recently, he got laid off and now collects unemployment insurance to make ends meet. He heard about the course and explained his situation to school officials—also regaling them with stories about the dramas and plays he'd performed in India and Canada. They agreed to waive the course fee. Mr. Sanda says he guarantees employment to the students -- which sounds improbable given the number of would-be actors in India. But he has linked up with a satellite television company to produce his own films. If the students don't make it in Bombay, he says he'll take a chance on them. After all, what's a class devoted to Bollywood without a happy ending?

Dile bole, bhangra overkill

There are good movies that you must see. There are the middling ones that you can be forgiven for having missed. And then, there are those that are so absolutely rotten that you just have to watch them. I saw Dil bole Hadippa out of Friday late night joblessness ( bad call, I know). I’d dragged my flatmate along and going in, I made this declaration about how I might be pleasantly surprised since I had absolutely no expectations from this film and didn’t even know what it was about. I thought it would be generic Yash Chopra fare, loud and dramatic, but entertaining. But this one takes Bollywood bhangra too far. I will leave a more detailed critique for my colleague Sanjukta who reviews movies for Lounge on the web. She’s missed seeing this one so far but I hope she does soon. Story in brief: Rani Mukherjee wants to play cricket but is rejected from trying out for a cricket team because she doesn’t have a moustache. Shahid Kapoor has been emotionally blackmailed by his father into returning from the U.K to head this team to play against Pakistan. Rani gets moustache, Rani gets into team, moustacheless Rani and Shahid fall in love, Shahid discovers moustached Rani’s real identity, bad things happen, good things happen. Some randomness: 1) The entire movie seems to be set around two songs that suddenly materialize. One is a big outdoor ‘all of Punjab dances with you’ sort of song with unmoustached Rani (and Shahid) and one is moustached Rani (with Rakhi Sawant). 2) The movie, while supposedly being about women’s empowerment etcetera is amazingly chauvinist. Camera lingers obscenely on all unmoustached characters. Also there is something very perverse about seeing Rani Mukherjee all strapped down. And she makes a very bad sad sardar which is what she is for one third of the movie (she’s still bearable as a happy sardar). 3) Rani’s nails grow rapidly back and forth in size when she switches from being moustached and unmoustached ( okay, this is just me being picky). 4) Moustached Rani has freckles, unmoustached Rani has unblemished skin (duh!). 5) Rani doesn’t seem to mind when Shahid’s father ( Anupam Kher) offers her money for having flirted with his son. 6) Shahid discovers Rani’s ‘real’ identity because one of her contact lenses falls off ( this reminded me of Baazigar). Apparently, that’s the only way to recognize your lover. 7) After the match, during a sentimental speech to the Indian and Pakistani teams, all of Pakistan’s women are represented by one burkha-clad woman who cries in solidarity to Rani’s nari mukti speech. The camera stays on her almost the entire time. You really have to go see what a mess this is. One second thoughts, it might actually be entertaining. POSTED BY ANINDITA GHOSE ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2009 AT 9:35 PM

Brits weave Hollywood spell

At Whimsic Alley, a Harry Potter-themed “shopping haven for wizards of distinction” in Los Angeles, the charm cast by JK Rowling a decade ago is starting to wear off. That may spell bad news for the 90,000 Britons who work in Hollywood, said the American industry insiders recruited by The Sunday Times to judge the 2009 Reel Britannia chart, our annual list of the 20 top Britons behind the camera. This year the $25 billion (£15 billion) industry has been buffeted by a writers’ strike, tormented by an actors’ walk-out which did not materialise, and then hit by the credit crunch. More than 75% of its operating capital comes from outside the industry, from hedge funds demanding 6% over Libor and would-be producers in Dubai and India. The industry has proved surprisingly recession-resistant, though, with a 10% jump in ticket sales this year. Much of that is down to the talent that Britain exports to Hollywood, especially the boy wizard. For nearly a decade Stan Goldin, proprietor of Whimsic Alley, has spun the brand magic at the authentically cluttered “shoppe”, selling everything from luminous wands to themed package holidays in the UK. He senses, now Rowling has written the end of the saga, that Potter fatigue is on the horizon and is looking for the next hit franchise. By the time the first box set of all eight Potter DVDs hits the shops at Christmas 2012, the films, books and toys will have earned £13 billion, and the “halo effect” has opened many US doors for British directors, producers and craftsmen. Potter and the Batman film The Dark Knight, both heavily homegrown productions according to the rules of the UK Film Council, have helped Warner to become the biggest studio in the world, grossing a record $1.75 billion in 2008. Ticket sales account for only a quarter of film revenue, however. Half comes from DVD sales, a sub-market which peaked two years ago. And Potter, at the cutting edge of social trends thanks to its young demographic, began to decline even earlier, according to California-based Adams Media Research. In 2005, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire sold 7% fewer DVDs than the Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004. Order of the Phoenix, released in 2007, sold 14% fewer copies than Goblet. “The theatrical releases have been hugely successful — the films are getting more sophisticated every time. But younger fans categorised by the studios as ‘avid’, who see the movie three times in the first week, are turning to other passions, such as the Twilight vampire series,” said Jan Saxton of Adams Media. “Harry has been unique — wonderful for the film industry both in the UK and in the States. Everyone loves him, but he is mortal.” Clare Chapman, head of the UK Film Council’s Los Angeles office, said that British entrepreneurs in Hollywood are planning for the end of Potter — one of the big three film franchises of all time, alongside 007 and Star Wars. “What comes after Harry is the billion-dollar question because no one knows success until they have seen it on the screen,” she said. The film council said that the British share of the US box office increased by one percentage point to 9% in 2008, earning more than £1 billion. Much of that, however, was down to The Dark Knight, which everyone agrees was a freak event. (Heath Ledger, who played The Joker in the film, died before its release.) It still propelled Christopher Nolan, the London-born director, and his brother, Jonathan, who co-wrote the screenplay, to the top of the 2009 Reel Britannia chart. “It was the perfect storm of creative and entrepreneurial talent, and would have been so even if Heath Ledger had not died — his performance was that extraordinary,” said Bob Gersh, co-president of the Gersh Agency and one of the Reel Britannia judges. “We in the business have known Christopher Nolan since Memento. But now, with their eye and ability to work within the system, Christopher and Jonathan are the most sought-after siblings since the Coen and Scott brothers.” The Nolans were clear favourites among the judges, who studied a long list of Britons working in Hollywood, from moneymen to music composers, and created a Top 20, which one called “Brit Idol”. Arthur Albert, the director of photography on series such as ER, said that Hollywood has soaked up former BBC staff: “It’s the greatest training school in the world, which we lack here.” He pointed to Steve Shill, who graduated from the BBC’s drama director course and worked on series such as Law and Order before stepping up to films with the summer thriller Obsessed, starring BeyoncĂ© Knowles. Corporate discipline helped: the film cost $20m and earned $70m. Howard Weitzman, an entertainment attorney whose clients have ranged from Marlon Brando to the Michael Jackson estate, tipped his hat to Sir Howard Stringer, head of Sony America, for the same reason. “Nobody knows how entertainment will be delivered in five years’ time but, having jumped from CBS to Sony, he still manages to keep a massive conglomerate, with issues, on target,” said Weitzman. “His gritty approach should not work in a Japanese culture, but he is getting decisions made which may shape movies and television for years.” Weitzman felt the biggest British triumphs are on US television. Not just the actors — Hugh Laurie earns $400,000 an episode for House, which has 86m viewers — but also presenters, producers and executives. Barry Katz, who has made a fortune from comedy films, said Britons are vital to American creativity. “I look back on great British performances, from Ridley Scott’s chest-bursting Alien to Ali G, and the Brits always produce that ‘Holy Crap!’ moment, where you go, ‘Did I just see that?’ We need the British kick in the pants.” Universal's top gun DONNA LANGLEY, president of production at NBC-owned Universal Pictures, could be the first Briton to head a Hollywood studio since David Puttnam’s tenure at Columbia. Born in Staines 41 years ago, she studied art and business before moving to LA at the age of 22. At Universal she is credited with bagging the Bourne thrillers franchise and championing the multi-million-dollar global hit Mamma Mia! King is not departing INDEPENDENT producer Graham King, who won an Oscar for The Departed, is the son of a Cockfosters cabbie. Other triumphs include Traffic and Gangs of New York. In the past year King, 47, has spent $140m making movies, $90m of it turning the BBC’s 1985 nuclear thriller Edge of Darkness into a comeback vehicle for Mel Gibson. Upcoming features include the science fiction epic Hyperion and children’s animation. Judges Arthur Albert, director of photography; Bob Gersh, co-president of the Gersh Agency; Barry Katz, comedy impresario; Sharon Lawrence, actress; Howard Weitzman, attorney. Judging criteria: past contribution, current status, talent and success, future prospects and professional likability.