Get Ready For ‘KAALO-THE DESERT WITCH’

KAALO-THE DESERT WITCH is all set to haunt on December 17, 2010. KAALO is the first ever Indian creature horror film. It is also the first ever Indian horror film shot completely in broad day light. The film stars Aditya Shrivastav (CID fame), Swini Khara (Cheeni Kum fame), Paintal and Abhijit Satam amongst others.

 The film has won two awards at the South African Horrorfest where it was declared the best film. This is the first ever Indian film to win the Best Film Award in South Africa horror fest. Cinematographer Pushpank Gawade won the Best Cinematographer Award as well for his camerawork in the film which was helmed by VFX specialist and also the director of the film, Wilson Louis. The film is presented by Jayantilal Gada's Pen India Private Limited.

The unveiling of India’s first creature horror as well as day horror film KAALO - THE DESERT WITCH was done successfully at a suburban lounge where the celebs from the television world kept pouring till wee hours. A celebration party was thrown by the producer of the film, Yash Patnaik (Rang Badalti Odhni fame) whose film KAALO won the best film at the South African horror fest.  The presenter of the Dhaval Gada said that there was a lot of expectations from the day horror movie which is one of its kind.
The entire cast and crew of KAALO was present. Swini Khara (CHEENI KUM fame) who is the lead of the film made it to the event despite an exam early next morning. She was in fact the youngest at the lounge. “I have an exam tomorrow but I didn’t want to miss the chance of noticing people’s reaction when they see the first look of the film”, says the young Swini.

T he first to come was Aditya Shrivastav (CID fame) who is Swini’s co-star in the film. Aditya didn’t lose a single minute praising the young girl. “KAALO is a film about saving the young girl played by Swini Khara by a witch named KAALO. This is the first time I worked in a horror film and I enjoyed each and every minute of it. The film has really come out well and I wish it does well”, says Aditya.

Aditya was followed by Hemant Pandey who was in a relaxed mood all night long and entertained everybody with his set of jokes. The director of the film Wilson Louis wore a tee which read, “Hell was full so I am back” and shared his set of horror stories with the guests. Sharad and Kirti Kelkar posed for the shutterbags.

“This is our first venture into films and by the response we got for KAALO in SA horror fest I am certainly touched. I was overwhelmed when KAALO was declared the best film there. We hope we get the same response here in India and people love the movie”, says Yash Patnaik of Beyond Dreams Entertainment.

Munisha Khatwani was heard talking about her new shows. Deepak Tijori dropped in late was seen chatting with Pankaj Dheer.  Rajev and Rakesh Paul walked in and out together. Rajesh Khera, Madhurima Tulli, Karan Mehra, Nisha Rawal, Anagsha Biswas, Chetan Ghade, Sunaina, Usha Bachani, Asheish Roy, Ashish Vidhyarthi were some of the celebs who partied till late.

Director Lalit Marathe, actress Sheela Sharma, Aditya ‘Kachra’ Lakhia, Daya Shetty of CID fame,  Gaurav Gera, Prashant Kumar, Khushboo Grewal, Jasbir Kaur, Parvez Damania and many more from the film and TV fraternity graced the occasion which went on till the wee hours of the morning. After all it was a moment to celebrate. A horror film from India had won an international award for the first time ever.

Mahurat Of Hindi Film OVERTIME

Ajay Yadav producer and director of Serene Films announced his new film Overtime at Marimba Lounge in Andheri.He invited all his cast and guest for the event.Saajan Aggarwal writer and Lyricist and Aryamaan were the first to come for the event.Gauri came in black saree for the event.Amar Upadhyay came with his wife .A big clap was made for the mahurat of the film.

Ajay also introduced two new girls - Preeti Chauhan and Ramnita Chaudhry to the media and guest.Govind Namdeo and Arzoo Govitrikar were the last to cme for the event.Zakir Hussain was seen talking regarding his role with the press guys and friends.Rituparna Sen Gupta and Vijay raaj skipped the mahurat.

The film will go on floor in january 2011.

SRK To Appear Solo On KWK

SRK will finally appear on KWK but this appearance would be solo. The actor shot for it yesterday.

KWK host Karan Johar says he has taken a break from the gossip format for the episode with buddy SRK. He reveals, "This is a slight deviation from our usual chatty, controversial Koffee episode. Intellectual and intense was the mantra for the episode with Shah Rukh. This time we have covered what really makes him tick and who better than me, his closest friend, to explore that space!

We took a call and decided to have him solo as with another person, the energies get divided."

Johar, who got emotional while hosting the show, adds, "This is the first time that I got SRK on the couch alone. The interview was an in-depth one, where we delved into the inner recesses of the beautiful mind. Shah Rukh hasn't done a proper solo TV interview for a long time."

KJo goes on to promise that the hour-long episode is dramatic and full of exciting revelations. "Print interviews are different and Shah Rukh hasn't done a solo interview for print or TV in a long time.

The show will be aired on New Year (January 1). What can be bigger than to start New Year with Shah Rukh Khan?"

Shah Rukh took home two gift hampers one was Karan's usual Koffee goodie bag and the other, a special tohfa from Nature's Basket, sent over specially for King Khan.

‘DHOBI GHAT’ To Be Released In Hindi Too

Aamir Khan has declared that he is apprehensive and nervous about the audience's reaction to his upcoming production, DHOBI GHAT.

His wife Kiran Rao's directorial debut has about 40 per cent dialogue in English, which was also a cause of worry about the film's reach especially in the country's heartland. Mr Perfectionist is now rectifying it.

The actor-producer is currently busy dubbing the film in Hindi. DG will be released as a bilingual (Hindi and English) as it was shot for international and multiplex audiences.

The dubbed Hindi version is for single screens and in the territories where English is not widely spoken.

As Dhobi Ghat releases on January 21, the star is working round-the-clock to have the prints ready in time. It is Aamir's decision to have a Hindi version ready, weeks before the film's release.

Recently, while boarding a flight, one of the airport staff members told the star that she was looking forward to his next project.

Aamir confirms, "Last week, when I was at the airport, one of the security women came upto me and said she had loved all my films and was excited about seeing DHOBI GHAT but was afraid she wouldn't understand it as she'd heard that a lot of it was in English.

I got thinking and realised that there would be many others like her. And I spoke to Kiran and we decided that we had to have a Hindi version."

As soon as he returned to Mumbai, Mr Perfectionist began work on having a dubbed Hindi version. DHOBI GHAT, which has also been penned by Kiran features Prateik, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra and Aamir.

The Mumbai-centric film is about four people from distinct backgrounds who find themselves drawn into relationships.

there is no problem in NO PROBLEM

Once Anees Bazmee was asked on the sets of NO PROBLEM, what Sanjay Dutt and Anil Kapoor think about each other while doing a scene together?Anees replied quickly, "Dono ek dusre ko dekh kar sochte honge — yeh itna bada star kaise ban gaya!"

Akshaye Khanna is a big foodie and the most fussy eater. He gets the most amazing food from his house on sets — the specialties being the Patra ni Machi and Dhan Daal... all the artistes of NO PROBLEM would faithfully wait for these delicacies from Akshaye's house and pounce on the dabba... often leaving the poor guy with nothing for himself.

Anil Kapoor eats without eating. It's been a habit to say 'No' to food always but to eat from other people's plates and drink up others' low cal soft drinks... this is his USP to maintain himself.

When shooting the Mast Punjabi song over a week in Mumbai — the set cost went upto 1.25 crore for a daily crowd of 500, plus 100 dancers (Vaibhavi was the choreographer), a crew of 250 including 29 key artistes, 19 vanity vans and costumes worth Rs 40 lakhs. A team of sardars from Ludhiana were requisitioned to tie the turbans authentically for the key cast and extras. Finally, Mast Punjabi cost Rs 3.5 crore!

Sanjay Dutt and Paresh Rawal were working together as a team after a real long time — and spent time reliving memories of filming for Mahesh Bhatt's NAAM — during which, in Hong Kong, they shared the same hotel room!

Kangana, who specialises in dark, hard-hitting cinema, proved in NO PROBLEM that she can score in formula commercial films... she is a bundle of talent, a fab artiste, but she calls a spade a spade.

Sanjay Dutt was approached by Anees Bazmee for NO PROBLEM in Krabi Island ( Thailand) where he was shooting for BLUE. Anees narrated the story to him at mid-sea on his private yacht and in 10 minutes Dutt said, "Done!"

He then made some fabulous barbeque on the yacht and held a gala dinner for everyone at a fine dining beach restaurant to celebrate working with Anees Bazmee.

Interview with Sharman joshi

• Do you think Ferrari Ki Sawaari is one of the biggest films for you?

Absolutely. Apart from being the most important film for me, it is a brilliant script and I am fortunate for being chosen for the film.
• After 3 Idiots, you were rejecting scripts. Why?

Well, I was constantly insecure; the nature of the profession is such. Now, I have come to terms with it. I will follow my heart to do films that I enjoy being a part of.

• SRK and Aamir Khan were considered for the role. What do you think worked in your favour?

Vidhu Vinod Chopra considered me in the same slot as these stars and I am thankful for that. But I don’t know what worked in my favour.

• Rumour has it that you are not allowed to sign any other films until Ferrari... is complete.

That’s not true at all. FKS’s casting process has been going on for a while. Having said that, I had no clue that I was being considered.

• With FKS, do you think people will start taking you seriously?

I have really never cared about people’s perception. But FKS  is an extremely important film in my career. There have been successful ensemble films like Rang de Basanti, Metro  and 3 Idiots. And FKS is a next step forward for me.

• You are known not to be media savvy. Will that change?

As a person I am just one of us. But in light of the work I do, I feel a sort of obligation to the people who like my work, to let them know what I am doing. But generally, I don’t like talking to the media. I don’t like them speculating and making unnecessary noise. I am a private person and I feel awkward talking about myself.

• Did you think Allah Ke Bandey was not promoted well?

As an actor, my duty is limited to my acting. But having said that, it didn’t go according to the plan.

• You have never been part of any controversies except for Golmaal, for which you asked for more money. The makers also mocked you in Golmaal Returns…

You know, about Golmaal 2, money was not the criterion; it was the dates. When spoken about in the sequel, I took it in the right spirit. They were just having fun; it’s a comedy. It would’ve been too childish for me to be offended.

Kangana Has Become Mem Saab

Her peers may make uncharitable remarks about her lack of finesse and English speaking skills, but Kangna Ranaut is fast becoming the favourite of haute fashion gurus.

Recently, when the Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab was in Mumbai, the versatile Kangna was chosen to showcase his couture for the fashion glossy L’Officiel.

Earlier in the week, at the opening of Anish Kapoor’s exhibition at Mehboob Studios, we saw the 80s film stylist Xerxes Bhathena gushing over Kangna and her one-shouldered gown in a nude shade.

Occasional fashion faux-pas with vampire red lipstick notwithstanding, Kangna is making all the right moves in the fashion frat.

No racy Scenes For Sonakshi

News has been in circulation about Sonakshi’s possible entry in RACE 2. Now it is final. Shotgun’s daughter is in RACE sequel but there is a twist.

She is not willing to expose. She has made it clear to producer Ramesh Taurani and director Abbas-Mustan.

Whether it is Salman Khan’s over-protectiveness or her parents’ decision we don’t know. But this time the lass has certainly taken her reputation as a protected actress very seriously.

Sonakshi has laid down a condition to the makers of RACE 2 that she won’t wear revealing outfits in the film.

A source close to Sonakshi said, “It’s like a clause. Sonakshi was polite but clear that she won’t expose in RACE 2.”

Explaining Sonakshi’s reservations, our source added, “The first version of the RACE series was quite steamy. But the second version is even steamier. Sonakshi was told about this, so she laid down her cards on the table.”

It goes without saying that Ms Sinha will not perform any lovemaking or smooching scenes in the film, even ‘if the script demands it’. “Adjustments have been made to suit Sonakshi, who was being considered for the film for quite some time. Knowing her Indian image and shy nature, this was more or less expected. The producer of the film, Ramesh Taurani, and the directors, Abbas-Mustan, are very happy to have her on board.”

While Sonakshi remained unavailable for comment, Taurani said his patent words, “Aisa kuch nahin hai. Sab theek hai.” Come on, Mr Taurani. We expected something racier from you.

Aish To Work In ‘DEVI CHAUDHURANI’

After two literary adaptations, CHOKHER BALI (from Rabindranath Tagore’s Binodini) and RAINCOAT (from a story by O Henry), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is getting ready to team up with Rituparno Ghosh once again.

This time it’s an adaptation of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel Devi Chaudhurani. The film, which will be both in Bengali and Hindi, will feature Aishwarya as a very powerful woman way ahead of her times.

Ghosh has been in talks with Aishwarya since their first two collaborations together. The two would meet every time Ghosh visited Mumbai. But this time, when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan visited Kolkata with her husband Abhishek, and both were honoured with the best actor and actress awards for RAAVAN, the third film with Ghosh fructified.

At this juncture, Aishwarya is all set to seek roles that require her to play women of resonant substance.
The role in Devi Chaudhurani is expected to be Aishwarya’s most challenging to date.

Reluctant to divulge details of the new film with Ghosh, Aishwarya says, “Ritu has been coming with so many wonderful offers after CHOKHER BALI and RAINCOAT. We were destined to come together.”
Working in Kolkata has always been pleasurable for Aishwarya.

Says the actress, “The city always welcomes me with open arms. I’d love to work here again.”