Neha Dhupia story from real to reel

Neha Dhupia was a former Miss India before turning Bollywood actress but not many are aware of her days of struggle. 

And her forthcoming film, Pappu Can't Dance Saala presented by Ravindra Singh reminds her of those days because she plays a back-up dancer. Also she and co-star Vinay Pathak are shown struggling to find a house in the film, and they finally end up living illegally in a Government Colony. The situation was created by writer-director Saurabh Shukla from personal experience. 

When filmmaker Shekhar Kapur called Saurabh from Delhi to Mumbai to do a television series sometime in the early '90s, the latter stayed withfriends in a government colony. "I later learned that my friends were staying unofficially and the houses in this colony were not supposed to be rented out. One day, my friends stopped me from entering the colony as it was getting raided by the vigilance department. 'I felt like a criminal. People were grabbing food, locking their houses and running to the terrace to hide, and some were even jumping out the window to escape," narrates Saurabh. 

Says Neha, "Many of us are from outside Mumbai and getting shelter here is so very difficult. My life in this city was one big struggle and it continued for very long as I went on changing houses until I found a permanent one." 

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The Dirty Picture creates first day buzz

The Dirty Picture creates first day buzz

After blitzkrieg promotions for a month, The Dirty Picture opened yesterday with approximately 1,500 prints, including the Hindi original and dubbed versions. Trade pundits point out that although the advance bookings hadn’t been too promising earlier in the week, the film has registered almost 100 % collections across single screens and multiplexes in different centres.  

“It will rush through the weekend,” asserts Komal Nahta, editor of Koimoi.com, adding, “The advance bookings weren’t so huge, but since morning, the number of people turning up to watch the film has been on an upswing. This film should make at least Rs 70-75 crore across India, not counting the income from other sources.”

The film has been given an A certificate by the Censor Board, owing to a number of sex scenes and bold dialogue. But tradesmith Amod Mehra believes it won’t affect the film’s box office run.

“It has everything to appeal to every socio-economic class and centre. Critics, single screen junta and the multiplex audience will lap it up. Those 10 % conservative members of the audience won’t matter in this case,” he says, pointing out that No One Killed Jessica (2010) and Ishqiya (2010), both with a bold female protagonist played by Dirty Picture’s Vidya Balan, were loved by audiences.

“The sex scenes and dialogue are bold, not obscene. They are essential to the subject. It reminds me of Chetna (1970) which had enthralled audiences despite its bold content."

Made at a cost of Rs 17-18 crore, the film’s TV, music and distribution rights have already fetched producers Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms and Alt Entertainment twice the money, according to trade insiders. “It’s a lottery ticket for the distributors,” says Sanjay Ghai, a Delhi-based distributor from Mukta Arts. “They can celebrate Diwali in December again. Everyone involved is going to make huge bucks.”

At the time of going to press, old school ’plexes like Gaiety and Galaxy in Bandra had sold all tickets for their shows up to Sunday evening. Multiplex chains had recorded 100 per cent ticket sales until late noon shows on Friday.

“Its opening is similar to that of a movie that toplines a male superstar,” says Sunil Punjabi of Cinemax. Manoj Desai of Maratha Mandir and G7 theatres, seconds him: “I can go on a holiday till Monday afternoon, peacefully. We’re not making losses here.”

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Veena Malik's nude photo causes fury in Pakistan

Veena Malik's nude photo causes fury in Pakistan 

A Pakistani actress who posed in the nude for an Indian magazine with the initials of Pakistan's feared and powerful intelligence agency on her arm has triggered fury across this conservative nation.

Veena Malik's photo on the website of FHM India, in advance of its publication in the magazine's December issue, has been lighting up social network website Facebook and Twitter since earlier this week.

Many here anticipate a backlash, as nationalists and Islamists regularly stage rallies against anything they deem an insult to Islam or to the national honor. India and Pakistan have fought three wars, and the Inter-Services Intelligenceagency or ISI has been accused of sponsoring terrorist attacks inside India.

Malik has broken Pakistani religious and national taboos in the past. She is a target for conservative ire and a heroine to some Pakistani liberals.

Conservative cleric Maulana Abdul Qawi declared on Aaj TV on Saturday that her latest venture into controversy was a "shame for all Muslims." Farzana Naz, interviewed by the same channel on the streets of Lahore, said that the actress had "bowed all us women in shame."

Twitter commentator Umair Javed however called on Pakistanis to "make copies of the picture and bury it in your backyard. This way, our grandkids will know there were some amongst us who lived free!"

Asked by reporters whether Pakistan would "pursue the matter" legally, the country's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Saturday, "First, let us see whether it is real or fake."

Malik for her part says that the photo at the root of the current uproar was published in violation of her agreement with FHM India. In an interview with Pakistani Geo television broadcast Saturday, Malik acknowledged having been photographed for a "bold but not nude shot." She said the editor of the magazine had promised that he would cover most of the photo with the ISI initials.

Malik said that the photo was intended to poke fun at the Indian fear of Pakistani spies: "Whatever happens (in India), people say ISI is behind that."

Malik said she would "probably" take a legal action against the magazine for violating terms and condition.

Magazine editor Kabeer Sharma said Malik did all with her full consent.

"We have all the record(s)," he told the Pakistani television station. "Veena was very excited about that ISI idea."

Malik does most of her work in India. The entertainment sector there is booming, while Pakistan's is moribund. Her ties to Pakistan's archrival have landed her in controversy in the past.

During a much-publicized talk show appearance early this year, she lashed out her nemesis Abdul Qawi, who criticized her for having a scripted love affair with an Indian actor on an Indian reality show.

"What is your problem with me?" an angry Malik demanded of the scholar, who had accused her of insulting Islam.

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Review: I am Singh

Film: I am Singh
Cast: Gulzar Inder Chahal, Puneet Issar, Rizwan Haider, Tulip Joshi, Amy Rasimas and other
Director: Puneet Issar
Rating: 0

We live for the turban, we die for the turban, I am Singh is all about the turban.

I am Singh, based on the trials faced by the Sikh and the Muslim communities after the 9/11 tragedy in America, revolves around the character Ranveer Singh (Gulzar Inder Chahal) whose life takes a turn after his brothers and father are mistaken for terrorists and attacked by a bunch of racists in America. The film is about a Sikh’s quest to find justice in a land now turned racist against any member of the South Asian community.

The cause was noble, the execution however…

First let’s try and see what the director (Puneet Issar) wanted to convey through this film; plight of the Sikhs post 9/11, principles of justice, liberty and peace, a united worldview, freedom of religion and pride in one’s own culture.

Now let’s talk about what one actually sees while watching this movie; lots of grunting, insane amounts of screaming (scream scream scream till the world is rid of all evil), over-acting (enough with the melodrama, the 80s are gone and never coming back) and bad cinematography. It would be highly unfair though if only the Indians are blamed for the emotionally scarring experience that the film is. The Americans too have made a generous contribution in this area.

The bunch of men who play the role of racist Americans and go about killing anybody from the South Asian community are straight out of some WWF match. There is a lot of grunting, flexing of muscles followed by screams of “We will destroy those Indians..aaagghhh”. If you close your eyes and just concentrate on the sounds, it sounds very similar to something fromJurassic Park.

There are some characters in the film who have no business being there at all. They have no role and add nothing to the film. Amelia White, played by Brooke Johnston, an American human rights activist and a lawyer has nothing to offer except being the love interest of Ranveer Singh but the film even fails to build on that aspect. Ranveer Singh is supposedly the protagonist but is mysteriously missing from some of the most important scenes (not that this reviewer is complaining, just wondering). He has only one expression on his face throughout the movie, a very intense and angry one at that, and no acting skills to speak of.

Hand gestures apparently are the way to express any feeling. If the turban is being talked about they physically point to their head, if an emotion is being expressed they place their hand on their heart and if the whole world is being addressed, then they must make sweeping gestures with their arms to make that clear.

Some of the most amusing scenes in the film are when they yell at Americans in Hindi. Their passionate declarations should be lost on a crowd that doesn’t speak a word of Hindi but all hail the power of Singhs, they understand and applaud.

By the end of I am Singh you don’t just want your money back, you want the last two hours of your life back.

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No competition with Priyanka: Katrina Kaif

No competition with Priyanka: Katrina Kaif

Katrina Kaif wrapped up the shoot of her Agneepath item song Chikni Chameli… on Wednesday, after working on it for 10 days at Film City in Goregaon. News of the actor starring in the song surfaced a few weeks ago. Even though the track is yet to be released, the producers hope it will create the buzz that songs like Munni Badnaam Hui..., Sheila ki Jawani... and Chammak Challo... did in the past.

“I hope and pray it becomes bigger than any of the previous item songs. As actors, we love doing better than what’s been done in the past. I don’t think there’s anything wrong in expecting that,” says Katrina, who managed to make some time for the remake of the 1990-hit featuring Amitabh Bachchan, from the on-going Ek Tha Tiger schedule in Delhi. She adds, “Now, I’m waiting to see the audience’s reaction. It’s a desi-rustic number. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.” 

Produced by Karan Johar and directed by Karan Malhotra of Dharma Productions, Agneepath stars Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Dutt in the lead roles. 

Apart from Ek Tha Tiger with Salman Khan, next year Katrina will also complete the shoot for another Yash Raj film — director Yash Chopra’s comeback venture with Shah Rukh Khan. The yet-to-be titled project is set to go on the floors in January. The first film releases on Eid and the latter on Diwali. This year, Kareena Kapoor had a similar string of releases with Bodyguard and RA.One. And the industry is abuzz with rumours of brewing competition between the leading ladies. But Katrina brushes it aside as a mere coincidence. 

“I don’t plan the release dates for my films. And this talk about competition really doesn’t matter. I don’t perceive things like that,” she says, adding, “There’s no competition with Kareena or with anyone else at the box-office. The only thing that matters is that my films should make money because there are a lot of people, including technicians and workers, whose incomes are at stake. Whether my films become bigger hits than anyone else’s or not, is irrelevant.”

‘Priyanka won’t be overshadowed’
Ask Katrina, whether roping her in for the track Chikni Chameli… might take away from Agneepath’s leading lady, Priyanka Chopra, who also has a few song and dance numbers, and she says, “We’re all a team. Why would we compete with each other? Priyanka is as happy as Hrithik and Sanjay. And as a producer, Karan won’t allow this to happen. She won’t be overshadowed. In fact, it didn’t even come to my mind that this is also how my item song could be perceived.

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My heroine won’t disappoint: Madhur Bhandarkar

My heroine won’t disappoint: Madhur Bhandarkar

A leading newspaper had recently stated that soon-to-be-married actors, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, have made a pact of sorts that they will not shoot intimate scenes with any of their co-stars in future. 

The report came soon after Kareena’s next big ticket film, Heroine went on floors, and reports about Saif having to do steamy scenes with Deepika Padukone in Race 2, came out.

Bring this up, and Madhur Bhandarkar, the director of Heroine, says, “Kareena is a thorough professional. She won’t ever disappoint her directors. She never asks for alterations in scenes. She suggests ways to make them better and participates in discussions. She got into the skin of her character from day one last week. So, I don’t know anything about any news story, but I know my heroine is doing a fabulous job.” 

The controversial movie, which was first offered to Kareena, followed by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and then to Kareena again, went on floors last week at Film City, Goregaon. Over the last week, scenes have been shot at different locations across the city, including malls and beaches. After a 20-day schedule, the shooting will take a small break and resume in January with the second schedule. 



“We started with a bang. It was a buzzy song, followed by a photo shoot that Dabboo Ratnani, who is playing himself in my film, will be seen doing with Kareena and Arjun (Rampal). Their chemistry and energy was fantastic,” says an elated Madhur, who will shoot portions of his film, based on Hollywood and Bollywood actors, in Delhi and a couple of locations abroad. 

“Over the last week, we have shot a lot of intensely dramatic scenes with Kareena. She, as I had thought, is a dream to work with.” 

Apparently, the actor broke down on the sets a couple of times while shooting the emotional scenes. “It’s true,” says Madhur. “We didn’t have to provide her with any additional help. Once we got rolling, after a detailed discussion of the scene, she actually had tears in her eyes while delivering her lines. I couldn’t have found a better heroine for Heroine."

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Bachchans reject Rs 5 cr for Baby B picture

Bachchans reject Rs 5 cr for Baby B picture

Buzz is that two premier international magazines have approached the Bachchan family with Rs 5 crore in return of exclusive pictures of Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's baby, born on November 16. This comes four years after international magazines offered the star couple a good number of crores to share their wedding photographs.

Not surprisingly pa-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan maintains that he'll never sell his grand-daughter's pictures to any media organisation. From the time Aishwarya was admitted to hospital, a section of the media had been trying to pull strings to acquire  exclusive pictures of the baby girl. 

However, when the mother and the baby were discharged from the hospital, no one had been able to get any pictures of the newborn child. And naturally, that has boosted the curiosity among celebrity watchers.

"More so as she's been described by her grandfather as a baby with an 'angelic face' and light-hued, beautiful eyes, just like her actress-mother, Aishwarya. Not to forget the morphed photographs of Aishwarya and her baby floating around on the Internet," points out a source. However, the family has decided not to release any photographs, citing 'personal reasons'.
 
Also, upset by the circulation of morphed pictures of Aishwarya and her daughter on the web, the Bachchan family reportedly traced the original picture that had been photoshopped. As Big B himself tweeted recently, "To those that clamour for the baby's picture, I have said it before, it will not be happening.  Do understand, it's personal."

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