Kissa Ek Kiss Ka

Director Maneesh sharma had a hard time filming a kissing scene in movie BAND BAAJA BAARAAT. He wanted the kiss to look authentic.

Scene could be completed only after Manish got assured that kiss is real.

The kiss scene in the movie was done in a very technical manner where Director Maneesh explained to the actors in an extremely mechanical way what to do before the shoot.

Also the screenplay of the movie requires a late night scene right before the intimate scene, for which the director made sure that Ranveer and Anushka were actually really tired and exhausted so that in the scene they looked absolutely authentic.

Guppy Sings To Bappi Da’s Tunes

Gold ornaments and black glasses with a combination of a tracksuit….whenever we hear this one person who comes to our mind is certainly the King of Disco – Bappi Lahri.

But there’s someone who is all set to give Bappi da a rather tough competition.

We are talking about ‘Guppy’ from Toonpur.

Guppy has a striking resemblance to Bappi da. He matches Bappi da’s distinct sense of style...Guppy, just like Bappi da, wears black glasses and an enormous amount of jewelry on him alongwith white attire similar to that of King of Rock 'n' Roll Elvis Presley.

Also Guppy loves singing. But he is upset since his singing is not appreciated by anyone in Toonpur. He wants to prove himself to all his friends in Toonpur and make them realise his talent. Not only that, Guppy's ambition in life is to become TOON IDOL one day.

Produced by Krishika Lulla and Kumar Mangat Pathak, TOONPUR KA SUPERRHERO is India’s first live action animation movie directed by Kireet Khurana.

Raima-Konkona in erotic film

Raima Sen, Konkona Sen Sharma and Shahana Goswami will be seen in Mirch which the director claims as India's first film in the erotic genre.

National Award winning filmmaker Vinay Shukla's upcoming film Mirch promises to live up to its hot title with a lineup of spice girls Raima Sen, Shahana Goswami, Mahie Gill and Konkona Sen Sharma in its cast. "Mirch is India's first film in the erotic genre", claims the director. "Yet the beauty lies in the fact that it is not a titillating film. Aparna Sen has described the film as sophisticated, Kundan Shah says it's erotically stunning while Naseeruddin Shah has gone ahead to say it's an unashamedly lusty film".

With an array of interesting characters including Shreyas Talpade, Boman Irani, Arunonday Singh, Rajpal Yadav, Tisca Chopra and Ila Arun, Mirch has four different stories and a fifth one connecting them all. The stories celebrate womanhood under the garb of adultery. "There are multiple narratives running in the film but all are interconnected to seem like an organic whole", explains Vinay Shukla. "On watching the film, senior filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza said Mirch breaks new grounds in the art of storytelling".

Shukla says that it wasn't really difficult to blend the serious issue of gender equality with the comic flavour of the film. "Though Mirch is a sex-comedy it doesn't deal with the theme of adultery like slapsticks. There is a lot of wit and intelligence in the humour."

Mirch is also about a struggling filmmaker Maanav who is unwilling to compromise on the script he has written. Shukla who has been a screenwriter in the industry for several years expresses candidly, "Somewhere the struggle of Maanav comes from my struggle as a writer in the industry. In fact at a deeper layer the film is about the creative freedom that an artist needs in this mercantile world which forms the core issue of the film".

Mirch has made rounds to several film festivals across the globe. It was the opening night film at the New Jersey South Asian Women's Film Festival and the closing film at the I View Film Festival. Also it was played at MAMI recently. "The response that we got was overwhelming", says Shukla. Ask him if he expects another National Award after Godmother and the filmmaker says, "It was thrilling to receive a National Award for Godmother but I did not make the film with the intention of winning one. Of course if an award comes my way, I will accept it humbly".

Vinay Shukla promises to come up with his next film soon unlike the eight-year gap since his last directorial venture Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche. "That was a disaster at the box-office and also a bad film. However I hope to start make my next film without much gap this time", says the director on a parting note.

Kareena to team up with hirani

Noted director Rajkumar hirani has turned his hobby into a full time job which is to direc ads.

Raju loves making ads. It is challenge to tell a story in 60 seconds and Raju loves it. That’s why he has started a new Ad making division.

And Raju has been doing well for himself as after getting Amitabh Bachchan, he has now roped in his 3 IDIOTS star Kareena Kapoor to direct her for a commercial. Raju, who has worked in big films with big stars, is certainly continuing the trend of roping in A-listers even in this sphere. Someone is definitely taking his new profession very seriously.

Come Again, Neil

Neil did a disaster when his voice betrayed him in a wild action on screen.

For Vishal Bhradwaj’s SAAT KHOON MAAF, where he plays one of Priyanka Chopra’s husbands, Neil had to perform a rather steamy sequence with his heroine.

“It was an S&M scene with a lot of slapping, biting, and much grunting,” says a unit member but while Neil shot the scene well, unfortunately his voice just didn’t match the wild action on screen. “Both Neil and Vishal felt the audio needed to be far more powerful.”

Vishal then asked Neil to dub the sounds of the love-making sequence though the rest of the film has been shot in sync sound. When contacted, Neil didn’t deny the story but refrained from further comment. “I am not allowed to talk about any aspect of SAAT KHOON MAAF.

But yes, I’ve done some additional dubbing, but I am not at a liberty to tell you what I was doing in those scenes.” We agree it might be trifle embarrassing to describe it.

Who’s casting an evil eye on Piggy Chops?

Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra were mobbed at the international  airport when they landed in Mumbai from Berlin on Monday.


Nothing unusual about that given their combined star power.

However, what caught our attention was the number of charms and no, we’re not talking about her personal charms that Priyanka Chopra was wearing on her person: a boulder-sized sapphire, a bracelet of crystals with Turkish evil eye protector and another one with a Sanskrit mantra. Tch! It’s a real pity that Sasha boy is no longer around to play the protective knight.

yogen shah

Ashutosh’s khel is not for children

Mira Ashutosh Gowariker is extremely annoyed by the treatment accorded to Khelen Hum Jee Jaan Se by the Censors.


The film has been granted a U/A certificate, which means kids can only watch it accompanied by their parents.

The reason: the film has excessive violence against juveniles.

Deepika Padukone in a still from Khelen Hum Jee Jaan Se

Explains Ashutosh Gowariker, “My film is about the Chittagong uprising against the Britishers. Tragically, a lot of kids who fought in this uprising were underage. So I’ve had to show teenage actors in violent situations.”

The director says he’s okay with the censor certificate as long as the message gets across.

Says Ashutosh, “It’s a pity that children need to be accompanied by their parents to see a slice of history that aided our country’s independence. But that’s okay. I’m just happy to bring these unsung heroes alive on screen.”

Here’s why Katrina needs to be afraid...Very afraid

Even before she's hit the big screen, Rockstar actress Nargis Fakhri has been creating a buzz in Bollywood, and it's not hard to see why.

The former Kingfisher model, who’s never acted in a film before, was first reported to be spending lots of time with her director Imtiaz Ali.

But while those in the know brushed this aside as an actor and director relationship, the buzz about her proximity to co-star Ranbir Kapoor refuses to die.

While Mumbai Mirror had earlier reported about her birthday celebrations at a Bandra nightclub, where the two were seen getting cozy (admittedly in the presence of several unitwallahs), recently other media reported about a fight between rake Ranbir and his other favourite co-star Katrina Kaif.

It's been reported that Katrina was rather miffed Ranbir wouldn't take her calls while on the Rockstar shoot abroad, and more recently in Delhi.

Ranbir, who has just about emerged from a verbal attack from his previous girl friend on a television show, needs to immediately change his rep. but with such distractions, we must admit it's a rather hard thing to do.

Salman queues up to diss SLB

Some time back, when they were on good terms, Salman Khan gifted Sanjay Leela Bhansali a DVD of Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, which allegedly became the starting point for Guzaarish.

Which is why when the director decided to make the film with Hrithik Roshan, Sallu was gravely upset.

He let this be known in loud and clear terms during a television awards ceremony on Monday evening. Sallu, who was there to felicitate physically handicapped achievers, was in a candid and rather unforgiving mood.

While communicating with a hearing-impaired girl he referred to Black and asked the girl whether she had ever met Sanjay Bhansali.

But even as the girl, who could not comprehend what the star was saying, stared at him Salman launched into a monologue about how she should go and meet the director, reveals an eye witness.

“Jaake usko milo. Voh tumhare pe picture bana dega, khud khoob kamayega, lekin tumko kuch nahin dega,” (Go and meet him, he’ll make a film on you. He’ll make pots of money but won’t pay you a dime).

Arre, usme toh makhi udd rahi thi, lekin koi machhar bhi nahi gaya dekhne

“Salman was pretty loud, it was apparent that he wanted everyone within ear-shot to hear what he was saying,” says our khabru. The actor, who was once friends with Bhansali, further said that he wondered why the Khamoshi didn’t do ay charity given that he’d made enough money from Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Black.

As Salman grew more raucous, one of his audience asked him for his opinion on Guzaarish. It was exactly the question Salman seemed to have been waiting for. “Arre, usme toh makhi udd rahi thi, lekin koi machhar bhi nahi gaya dekhne. Arre, koi kutta bhi nahin gaya,”  Even though there’s a fly buzzing around the film, not even a mosquito went to see the film, referring to the film’s poor box office collections, he said, as the people gathered tittered at the wisecrack. When asked whether he would have liked to do the film, he said:  “Nah. Apan Dabangg se khush hain.”

Clearly, those waiting for Salman and Bhansali to come together for Bajirao Masatni will have to wait till the star’s temper cools down. And knowing Sallu, that may take a while.

Konkana's a working mommy

Konkona Sensharma turns a year older on December 3.


Konkona Sensharma in Mirch

The actress has lots to look forward to in the coming year motherhood and two of her movies Vinay Shukla's Mirch and her mom Aparna Sen's Iti Mrinalani release shortly.

Though the actress believes in only talking about her films and detests answering any personal questions, we try and ask...

When is the baby due?
Some time in March.

There was a lot of speculation when you were spotted last month with a big belly considering that you got married to Ranvir Shorey in September.
People can speculate and gossip till the cows come home. I will not say anything on this front.

You will be back on the scene break ke baad?
I will definitely be back to acting after my delivery. Right now, no one will hire an actress with a big belly.



Have you planned anything for your birthday on December 3?
It's not something I would like to talk about. But I do celebrate sometimes they are big, sometimes small. There will be something but I have no clue about it now.

You essay two roles in Vinay Shukla's Mirch?
Yes. I essay a Rajasthani princess and a contemporary woman. I have known Vinay through Shabana Azmi for a while. I had seen his earlier film Godmother and loved it. When he related the story of Mirch to me, I was greatly interested in its script. The movie is about a director showcasing four of his stories that he wants to make into a film. The stories are about the sexual emancipation of women. I feature in two of the stories. There is a fantastic ensemble cast in the movie. The women in the film are naughty and saucy but Vinay has treated the subject in a sophisticated manner, it is definitely not vulgar.

Iti Mrinalani is doing the festival circuit...
Right now, my mother is with the movie at the Cairo Film Festival. The movie, about the life of an actress, has been shot in Bengali and dubbed in Hindi. It is slated to release later this month. Interestingly, mother and I play the same character in the movie.

You also feature in Saat Khoon Maaf?
I have just done a cameo in the movie and have completed it long back.

Rishi has all planned for Ranbir

It is final now. Ranbir would share stage space with Katrina, Priyanka and bipasha but not with Deepika and Sonam on his world tour in July 2011.

"Unfortunately Shahid Kapoor can't accompany us. We've got Atif Aslam instead. He's a huge draw among Asians abroad. The show will be youth-oriented," says Rishi Kapoor.
 
The ever-forthright Rishi admits it was impossible to have both Dippy and Kat on board. "Deepika wanted to come along. We didn't want any stress behind the stage. See, as it is, Ranbir has never been on stage. We want it to go smoothly, no backstage jhik-jhik, please!" Sonam has backed out too. Adds Chintu, "She begged off  saying she didn't have a song repertoire to stand on stage with Katrina and Priyanka."

Giving details of the world concert Ranbir's dad says, "We start off in the UK, US and Canada. Then after six months we'll go for another lap of the tour. I've done these world tours over and over again. But for Ranbir, the world tour would be a new experience.

Not even once, has he danced on stage even at award functions. This was planned so that he could be seen for the first time on stage during the world tour. The complaint of Indians abroad is that as much as they love Shah Rukh and Salman they've been seen performing on television extensively.

If you're seen performing on 300 channels 365 days a year why would Indians in the US want to pay $200 to see you on stage? That's where we hope to score with Ranbir's concert. By God's grace, he does have a bank of songs to perform to. We'll be all over the US, UK and Canada over the five weekends in July."


Apparently, 'Sheila' Katrina and 'Munni' Malaika would actually perform a fusion of their mega-hits Sheila Ki Jawani and Munni Badnaam Hui. Rishi Kapoor too would be sharing the stage with his son.

Rishi ain't telling. "You'll just have to wait and watch. The Morani Brothers are in the UK and US to finalise everything. Hopefully, we'll be doing Ranbir's first world concert without any hitch."

Do-it-all Rahman flops in Durban

Oscar winner AR Rahman's Jai Ho concert at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban didn't quite meet the expectations of the public who bought tickets to the show.

In the South African city for the first leg of his three-city tour, the singer-composer then travelled to Cape Town and Sun City all of last week.



A source present says, "The audience at the stadium was on fire to watch the Mozart of Mumbai perform in Durban with his slick, professional cast of over 35 talented performers.

Rahman fans were excited as he was supposed to perform to film music, amongst others and the curiosity was greater than normal. It had the promise of being a memorable event."

What was that!

Everything looked good till the show started in the 70,000-seater stadium. "About 12,000 spectators and 6000 complimentary passes were distributed as the sale of tickets was slow.

The sponsors may have lost between 500,000 to 750,000 USD. Seventy per cent of the 13,00,000 South African Indians are South Indians and about 80,000 Gujaratis.

The balance is a mix of all ethnicities. So there were Tamil, Hindi, Gujarati and even Punjabi tracks. The crowd wasn't inspired and that impaired the enthusiasm of the performers, including A R Rahman."

According to an eyewitness, "The tackiest number was the singer-composer's duet with Lata Mangeshkar, because he was singing live but Lataji was being projected through a DVD.

By what definition can we call that a live show? Some performers who mime to a recording on stage are banned for life. What should be done for this?"

Marred show

Another spectator adds, "Rahman is a genius composer but his live shows are marred by him singing most of the numbers, playing many instruments and even emceeing the show. He is a master music maker but when he tries to do everything something goes wrong, like it did that evening."

The source adds that the show was more like an expo of Rahman's various abilities. "Then he announced he will play a song from one of his albums. The sparse and reluctant applause went totally silent on such occasions.

Hariharan's singing was more welcome than the music maker who should not shift the focus of his energies." To top it all as soon as the Holi song began, it started raining and the audience started scrambling away.

The source adds, "Rahman then started the Jai Ho number, which was to be the highlight of the show and put a break on the exodus especially on the young Indian boys and girls. The act ended with Rehman's rendition of Maa Tujhe Salaam."

The Other Side
Rahman's spokesperson clarifies, "People at Durban and South Africa loved the shows and we got great feedback on his website. It was held at a football stadium which is huge and naturally can't be filled to capacity during a musical show. It was almost full.

Also regarding Lataji's duet on the AV, it's a format that Mr Rahman has always followed since his shows in June. In fact, he recently thanked Lataji for her contribution to his music at another show where she wasn't present. It's not possible for her to go on these shows."

Vidya and Saif to co-star again

Vidya Balan has signed up for another film with Saif Ali Khan after five years. The pair was last seen together in Vinod Chopra's Parineeta (2005).



This time they come together in Balaji Motion Pictures' Dream Sequence to be directed by Vishal Bhardwaj.

Casting change

Says a source in Balaji, "Initially, Deepika Padukone was to do the role. The casting of the duo together after Love Aaj Kal had its appeal.

But the actress begged off when she heard that the chote nawab was having second thoughts and that Abhay Deol would fill in for him.

However Saif decided to stay with the project after a long discussion with his Omkara director. Meanwhile, with Dippy gone, there was a fresh hunt for the leading lady. Vidya was part of Bhardwaj-produced Ishqiya.

The actress, director and producer are keen to work together in this film and are currently working on the dates."

Balan is already doing Dirty Picture with Balaji and Dream Sequence will be her second film with the company.