Latest Stories



Rocking Song
Read More ...

Latest Stories


The keenly awaited Snoop Dogg-RDB number for Singh Is Kinng has been recorded at last and will form a part of the film's soundtrack when it releases.

At present, there are plans to shoot the video in Los Angeles, where Akshay is headed for another film shoot. Both Akki and Katrina haven't stopped raving about the track!

Remarks Kumar, "The song is mind-blowing. I made a few friends listen to it and they haven't stopped gushing about it. I am confident that just like the rest of the soundtrack this will go on to become a major chartbuster."

Katrina seconds Akki's sentiments. "I've heard it and it's outstanding. If I'm right, it's the first real hip-hop song in a Hindi movie. I know that girls are supposed to be an integral part of hip-hop videos but I don't know whether there will be place for me in this video!" she laughs.

"It's very male-dominated and I don't want to be a prop. With Akshay and Snoop, it will rock anyway!" she adds.

Meanwhile, the title track of the film, rendered by Neeraj Shridhar and composed by Pritam, is likely to go on television later this week.

Singh Is Kinng releases worldwide on August 8 and previews in select locations on August 7. It is an Indian Films-Studio 18 release.
Read More ...

Latest Stories






Action king Akshay kumar has now an official status and also got a solid platform to show his concern for the nature.

The B-Town star has been chosen as the brand ambassador of the Green Global Foundation started by the International Indian Film Academy to highlight the issue of global warming through the events that the organization hosts and through other possible means.

The Green Global Foundation was launched this year by IIFA as a way of showing solidarity with the different organizations who are fighting against global warming and also to contribute in its own ways to tackle the issue.

The foundation is a joint initiative between IIFA and Wizcraft International Entertainment.

The using of the green carpet during this year's stars reception at the IIFA weekend in Bangkok was a way of showing Bollywood's concern over the issue of the rapid climate change that has become a world wide phenomenon.

The foundation has got a reliable and perfect partner for the cause it is fighting for in the United Nations Environmental Programe and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) headed by the Nobel laureate R.K. Pachauri.

By deciding to make a documentary film on Tigers in India, John Abraham has shown how it is possible to use star status and resource to do something worth for the nature.

Akshay Kumar with his wide appeal can do much more to increase the awareness on protecting the nature.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

After much deliberations and anticipation, Akki aka Akshay Kumar we hear has agreed to become a part of the excusive Bachchan's Unforgettable Tour to held across the globe.

"Akshay Kumar is very popular with NRI's and that's why the organizers have decided to rope him for the world tour. And the Bachchans are equally trilled with Akshay Kumar coming in fro their first tour," says friend of the family.

We are sure this is going to be a double bonanza for the fans across.. Bachchans ke saath Akshay free, what more one can ask for?
Read More ...

Latest Stories




Ram Gopal Varma's penchant for the underworld has led to some memorable movies like Satya, Company and D.

Now the life and times of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan is to be his new subject. The film will track Veerappan's life from his teeange years to his metamorphosis as a chameleon-like monster.

It will trace his marriage to Muthulaxmi, the girl who fell in love with him and will show how the jungles became his home.

It will also tell the story of the nerve-wracking hardships 1,500 policemen faced to hunt Veerappan down.

The film is to be made with the help of his wife who has given valuable inputs for the script. The cast will be composed of new actors to give the film a raw feel in the style of Satya.

Ram Gopal Varma fascination with Veerappan was evident in references in his film Jungle in which Sushant played the Veerapan character.
Read More ...

Latest Stories


Reliance BIG Entertainment (RBE) has acquired theatrical and other rights of T Series' much talked about film Karzzz for Rs350 million.

RBE bought the world theatrical, satellite and Internet rights of Karzzz and apparently, this is the highest price a movie starring composer-turned-actor Himesh Reshammiya has got so far.

The movie is shot at a lavish scale and reportedly T Series spent Rs 280 million on its production.





Karzzz is the first of the three-movie deal Reshammiya had recently signed with the company for an undisclosed amount.

Apart from the Rs 350 million, T Series is expected to earn at least another Rs 250 million. Karzzz is a re-make of Subhash Ghai's hit movie of the same name which was released in the early 1980s.

Indra Kumar, who had himself given a number of hits in the late 80s, has directed Karzzz and his daughter, Shweta Kumar, makes her debut in it, playing the female lead opposite Reshammiya.

The cast includes Urmila Matondkar, Danny Denzongpa, Gulshan Grover and Raj Babbar.
Read More ...

Latest Stories




New Delhi, June 12: Bollywood’s daredevil, Akshay Kumar, is all set to host the Indian version of ‘Fear Factor’. The actor, while shooting for one of the episodes for the show recently, jumped off the tallest building in Thailand. He will be shooting for more episodes as his stay there is up to the last week of June.

Akki’s show would give a tough time to the contestants’ mental and physical strength. The actor-host would have 13 beautiful ladies around playing danger. “The stunts will include snakes and scorpions, so it is sure going to be horrifying for the ladies”, a source told reporters.

The 13 divas on the hit list include Pooja Bedi, Anjana Sukhani, Meghna Naidu, Aditi Govitrikar, Tapur Chatterjee, and Sonali Kulkarni. The show, which is to go on air in August, will mark Akki’s debut on small screen. With no less than 13 Indian beauties around the sexiest 'khiladi' in Bollywood, the show would be a big lure for the youth.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

http://www.teluguone.com/cinema/kingsize/asin/asin16.jpg
Asin, one of the most prominent leading actresses of South Indian cinema, is said to have signed two new films in Bollywood, even before her first Hindi film Ghajini opposite Aamir Khan hits the theatres.

Reports say that this Malayalee actress has agreed to star in Vipul Shah's Salman Khan-Ajay Devgan starrer London Dreams, in which she will be paired opposite Salman. She has also signed a film to be directed by Priyadarshan opposite Akshay Kumar. However official confirmation is yet to come.

Meanwhile, rumours has it that the release date of Ghajini has changed from October 2 to a later day. It is said that Aamir Khan's minor accident had adversely affected the film's progress. Anyway, Asin has already turned one of the hottest newcomers with a couple of films with Bollywood big boys.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

The image “http://movies.indiatimes.com/photo.cms?msid=1053618” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.


Hollywood action hero Sylvester Stallone has been signed to star along with Akshay Kumar in the forthcoming movie Kambhakth Ishq produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.

The romantic caper with Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor in lead roles will be shot in Universal studios and the Kodak theatre, the venue of the Oscar awards. Mounted on a budget of Rs 90 crore, Kambhakth Ishq gets rolling in June

In a casting coup of sorts, Bollywood producer Sajid Nadiadwala has managed to cast Hollywood heavyweight Sylvester Stallone in a crucial special appearance in his forthcoming production.

“Akshay plays a Hollywood stuntman and Stallone plays himself,” said a source.

It is believed that it took more than two months to get Stallone on board, after meeting his agents and then the actor himself.

“Keeping Akshay’s character in mind, it’s important to include action heroes in the cast,” said Nadiadwala.

In the film, Kumar plays a stuntman working in the Los Angeles based Universal Studios. As per the script, he meets Stallone during the shooting of a film and the Hollywood action hero and our desi action star compare notes on action and stunts.

Sajid got Susan Paley Abranson and Justine Hempe, the casting directors of Entourage, the hit US reality show, to get him Hollywood stars for Kambhakth Ishq. Stallone apart, there will be crucial cameos by a few other Hollywood stars in the film.

For young director Sabir Khan, it’s a dream come true. “I have been working on the script for a long time now, and it’s an exciting merging of Hollywood and Indian cinema. I have the best producer anyone can ask for. He is making even the impossible possible for me.”
Read More ...

Latest Stories

Mere Baap Pehle Aap opened to poor 35-40% response today. The film should have better collections over the weekend. The film has fair reports so it should earn money or at least recover costs.

Sarkar Raj collected 22.50 crore in week one due to the large amount of prints. After a good weekend the film dropped from Monday and will struggle to cover costs outside Mumbai and Mysore. Small centres are poor.

Aamir did buisness of 1.25 crore in week one. The film was steady but has gone into week two with reduced shows.

Jannat takes its total to over 31 crore with another 1.40 crore. SUPERHIT
Read More ...

Latest Stories


The name Priyadarshan is synonymous with comic fares. It instantaneously conjures up images of several entertaining films he has attempted over the years. Naturally, you expect his new outing MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP to be a joyride as well. Even the promos of the film, beamed round the clock on TV, give an impression that it's a laugh-riot.

Sure, MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP has its share of light moments that make you chuckle, even break into laughter, but it's not a laughathon from start to end. From the interval point onwards, right till the finale, the focus shifts to drama, making the goings-on serious at times.

One factor that goes against the film is its length. The concept is truly novel -- for the Hindi screen at least -- but how one wishes Priyan would've controlled its length. Movies of 2 to 2.15 hours duration are fine, but 2.40 hours [add to it the promos of new films, plus interval makes it a 3-hour outing] is strictly no-no in today's times. Priyan should've brought down the length for sure!

Despite hiccups, MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP has endearing moments that work to its advantage. In a nutshell, it had the potential to rise to the level of GARAM MASALA, BHAGAM BHAG and BHOOL BHULAIYA, but it eventually ends up being an average fare!

Janaradhan [Paresh Rawal] has spent his life bringing up his two kids, Chirag [Manoj Joshi] and Gaurav [Akshaye Khanna]. Now when the duo has grown up, Gaurav takes up the responsibility of his father. They both manage the household chores and their business to the best of their abilities. Though he is the younger son, he treats his father like his son. Gaurav shouts, threatens, fights, even locks up his father occasionally so that his prankster-friend Madhav [Om Puri], who is desperate to get married, does not spoil him.

Madhav and Janaradhan, who are always in search of a bride for Madhav, forever land up in trouble and every time Gaurav has to bail them out and face the embarrassment.

Gaurav starts getting prank calls from a girl who turns out to be his old college friend Shikha [Genelia D'Souza]. Shikha is staying with her guardian Anuradha [Shobhana], who happens to be Janardhan's first love.

Gaurav and Shikha notice changes in Janaradhan and Anuradha's behaviors when they come face to face after many years. They come to know about their past. Now Gaurav wants his father to get married to his lost love. Of course, the path is not so smooth, there are obstacles.

MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP begins really well. Om Puri's roving eye, Paresh Rawal's timid nature, Om and Paresh's encounter with lady cop Archana Puransingh -- the sequences are truly very enjoyable. But Genelia's constant calls to Akshaye, though meant to be equally interesting, fall flat; they hardly evoke any mirth.

The twist in the tale -- when Paresh spots Shobhana -- increases your anxiety and you look forward to a gripping tale in the second hour. But it's a mixed bag again. Agreed, people may scoff at the idea of a 60 + man wanting to get married, even though his son [of marriageable age] is a bachelor, but it could've been presented more convincingly. Here, the writer is at fault. The Naseeruddin Shah track in the finale is fine, but his bowing down to Akshaye in a fraction of a minute is difficult to digest.

Directorially, Priyan knows the craft well, no two opinions on that, but he needs to judiciously trim the film by at least 30 minutes for a stronger impact. Vidyasagar's music is a major disappointment. Barring the title track, which runs on the end credits, the other tracks are strictly okay. Piyush Shah's cinematography is excellent and the stunning locales of Kerala act as icing on the cake. Dialogues deserve special mention. Some of the lines are truly well penned. Editing is the weakest link of the enterprise.

Both Akshaye and Paresh live their roles, though there's a possibility that a section of the audience may not really like the son bossing over his father. Acting-wise, Akshaye is, as always, very much with the character, essaying his part with incredible ease. Paresh gets a solid role yet again and he sinks his teeth into it. Again, a job well done!

Genelia looks fresh and pairs off well with Akshaye. She leaves a mark. Om Puri is lovable and a major asset for this movie. Archana Puransingh is excellent. Rajpal Yadav is wasted. Ditto for the powerhouse of talent, Shobhana. She deserved a better deal. Manoj Joshi is fair. Naseeruddin Shah is effective, as always.

On the whole, MERE BAAP PEHLE AAP is enjoyable in parts -- an entertaining first hour, a not-too-entertaining second hour. At the box-office, it's at best an average fare. However, the prospects should improve if the makers trim the film from 2.40 hours to 2.10 hours.

Read More ...

Latest Stories


view IIFA AWARDS 2008 picture gallery

It was touted as the biggest act at the IIFA Awards in Bangkok, and it was!

The 'kinng' Akshay Kumar, stole the thunder during the grand finale of the recently concluded IIFA awards. As the fireworks blazed and the audience screamed with delight, superstar Akshay Kumar descended on the stage, sliding swiftly across a cable from the extreme end of the auditorium.

Clad in a 'pagdi' and snazzy overcoat, his get-up in SINGH IS KINNG, he was soon joined by a pack of dancers, dressed as sardars, roaring the name of his upcoming release. Among others, he danced on the title track from SINGH IS KINNG, leaving the Thais absolutely bedazzled!

Remarks Akshay, of his exemplary stage performance, 'I'm glad the performance drew a thunderous applause, as the crowd seemed to enjoy it. From the stage, all I could see were just flashing lights though! I hope my audience enjoys SINGH IS KINNG as much as they enjoyed my act. It was only a glimpse of what is to come....'

A Studio 18 release SINGH IS KINNG is set to hit the screens worldwide on August 8 and previews in select locations on August 7.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

The first ever-live stage performance of the much loved onscreen ‘jodi’ Akshay and Katrina that was to end the three day grand IIFA event was undoubtedly the best showstopper to the glitzy affair. However, even though the show stole the hearts of millions, Akki’s cold shoulder to Kat left the lady heartbroken just minutes before the show was to go live.

It all started when Katrina reportedly started getting jitters about her performance and frantically started dialing Akki’s number. Apparently, Katrina who even though rocks on stage, still gets cold feet every time she has to deliver a live performance.

And with her beau Sallu back in Mumbai, the lady thought to rely on her second most close confidante, Akshay Kumar for some emotional tête-à-tête. But Akki was nowhere to be found.

Sources told Spicezee that Katrina was seen outside Akki’s vanity van asking if anyone knew where the actor was. The actress kept on dialing his number but Akki chose to ignore her calls.

And care to guess why? Well, Akshay was surely in a tight spot as he was attending to the whims and fancies of his wife Twinkle.

The actor surely has his priorities cut out straight as he wisely chose to play a good husband and keep company to Twinkle before his much awaited performance. And only went to meet Katrina when his performance was on.

With this done, it’s now sure that Kat’s sexiest woman tag, has absolutely no effect whatsoever on her reel life sweetheart Akshay Kumar. It’s time Katrina sets Sallu and Sallu only on her speed dial list!
Read More ...

Latest Stories


Priyadarshan
It was in his days as a youngster that Priyadarshan used to play cricket in the fields of Kerala. Cricket was his passion then but Priyan, as he’s fondly called, is glad that he became a filmmaker instead.

“I would not have been a good cricketer,” he recalls with a smile, “I was never one of the best players. But this is much better. When I shoot for commercials with cricketers now, they tell me that I’m so lucky not to have so many restrictions on me as they do. I guess it’s better to be a filmmaker than the number one cricket player in India!” he laughs. Priyan’s been watching the IPL matches as well. He adds, “I went with Shah Rukh Khan to watch it. I don’t know why some people think that cricket has lost its charm because of IPL. That’s like saying the songs of the 70s were better than today. I agree, but then youngsters don’t want to listen to them. That’s the reason remixes are happening. So in the same way, IPL is the remix of one-day or test cricket!”

But it’s not just watching IPL matches that Priyadarshan’s been upto. He’s here with his latest offering, Mere Baap Pehle Aap starring Akshaye Khanna, Paresh Rawal and Genelia D’Souza.

“It’s a comedy film about relationships,” is how Priyan puts it, “I expect every father and son to watch this film together.” He’s dedicated this film to his cinema gurus like Basu Chatterjee and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. “It’s that kind of a film, it’s not like my Bhagam Bhaag or Hera Pheri. This is a sweet film about relationships,” he says. And for him, an appreciative word about his films from such veterans counts much more than any award. “Hrishida is my guru. He wanted to watch my film Malamaal Weekly but he could not come to the theatre, so I sent him a DVD. After watching the film, he said to me ‘You make me feel that I can still make these kind of films even today’. It’s not the awards you win, the ultimate thing is to receive a compliment from people you adore and respect,” adds Priyan. The film is about a son trying to get his widowed father remarried, so is there a hidden social message there too? “I don’t believe in sending messages through my films, I’d rather just send an SMS!” he guffaws.

The director has become synonymous with comedy films. Why this obsession with comedy? “I love comedy!” declares Priyan, “When my first child was born, I just prayed to God to give him two things — common sense and a sense of humour! I love reading comics and watching cartoons. I find humour in every moment in real life. Maybe that’s why I succeed at comedies.” But he is aware that making comedy films is risky business. “That’s because the results are immediate. If nobody’s laughing in the theatre, then you immediately get to know it’s a flop. That’s why I never depend on dialogue-based comedies but situational comedies,” he says.

Another accusation against the director is that all his Hindi films are remakes of hit regional films. How true is that? “Yes, most of them are remakes,” he admits. “One of the greatest directors Martin Scorsese made a number of great films and never got an Oscar. Then he made a remake of a Hong Kong film called The Departed and got an Oscar! So is remake better or original?” he asks with a grin. But on a serious note, Priyan says Billo Barber that stars SRK will be his last remake. “The next one with Akshay Kumar is an original script. Earlier I couldn’t find writers but now I am, so next year I won’t make remakes. Then people will ask me why I’m not making remakes!” he smiles. That’s classic Priyadarshan for you!
Read More ...

Latest Stories



Akshay Kumar , the one man show for the Ninth International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony held in Bangkok, here with his phenomenal dance moves while Boman Irani and Reitesh Deshmukh made immitations of superstars.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside the Siam Niramit Hall cheered as their favorite stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Fardeen Khan, Aftab Shivdasani, Diya Mirza and Dino Morea, walked down the IIFA green carpet.

The Siam Niramit Hall, which seated 2,000 people was packed and Akshay Kumar made sure the audience weren’t disappointed. Akshay, who was honored with a special award from the host country, made a spectacular entry, flying onto the stage on a skateboard gliding along a wire and also having the turbaned men dancers from local. He danced to the title song of his upcoming film “Singh Is King.”

Press Briefing were given for these movies during the IIFA weekend 2008 , The “Acid Factory”, “Mission Istanbul” and “De Taali” , “Contract” and “Love Story 2050.”
Read More ...

Latest Stories


As happy I'm to see Akshay with his wife Twinkle khanna, I wish he was single. Twinkle accessorized her look with Bottega Veneta clutch and some Kenneth Jay Lane Jewelry. Pretty cool I'd say. At Day 3, the final day of IIFA 2008, Akshay and Katrina, probably the most rocking on screen couple performed dance routines from their hit films and also gave a glimpse of the upcoming movie, Singh is Kinng. Like promos of Singh is Kinng,the performance was lavish with tons of background dancers, majorly colorful ensembles. And of course which Bollywood stage performance is incomplete without pyrotechnics. His hair have turned a bit gray but somehow he's even sexier!!! OOH What do you think??
Read More ...

Latest Stories


The date is near and the Bachchans are promoting their 'Unforgettable Tour' very efficiently. In the press conference held at IIFA 2008 Bangkok, the Bachchans sounded very upbeat and positive about performing together on stage again. Check out more photos of this event here.

Ash was the most excited as she will be joined by none other than Madhuri Dixit for the song 'Dola Re Dola' for Devdas. It starts July 18th with performances by Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya at the Rogers Centre Toronto Canada. Starring Akshay Kumar, Preity Zinta, Riteish Deshmukh, Madhuri Dixit along with the Bachchans.
Read More ...

Latest Stories


In a recent interview Harman said that it was good if people were comparing him to a star like Hrithik Roshan. He's happy and also a little concerned because he thinks its a big responsibility as Hrithik is an experienced actor. He jokingly said, "As for my looks being compared to Hrithik, you should direct this question to my parents. Whatever happened, happened between them."


Well Harman I can say this with confidence that your launch is as big as Hrithik's. He gave us 'kaho na pyaar hai', the biggest hit of the year 2000. And if everything goes right for you, LS 2050 will be the biggest this year, Who knows? I'm sure there are lot of girls who'd definitely catch this futuristic love story.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

Read More ...

Latest Stories

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk260/AkkiFreak/Co-stars/ShilpaShetty.jpg
Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Madhuri Dixit and Shilpa Shetty will be among the guest celebrities at 'The unforgettable tour', a world concert featuring the Bachchans.

"Akshay will be the guest celebrity at the inaugural function of the first leg of the tour at Toronto on July 18," Sabbas Joseph, director of Wizcraft which is producing and directing the tour, told a press conference here on Sunday.

Madhuri will be the guest celebrity at all the US cities and one show in Canada, whereas Shilpa will join the tour at the UK shows, Joseph said.

Another Bollywood actors Preity Zinta and Ritesh Deshmukh will accompany the Bachchans on the tour which was announced at last year's IIFA in Yorkshire.

With many stars having pulled out of the tour for different reasons, Amitabh Bachchan lauded Akshay's "sincerity and affection" towards him and his family.

Bachchan said he learned tips about body management from Akshay whom he kept meeting at a common gymnasium every morning. "If you eat well and exercise well, you are fit."

"I have acted with Amitji in over six films and in some movies like 'Ek Rishta' and 'Waqt', he has played the role of my father. No other actor of recent times has worked with him in so many movies like me. I plan to make the tour unforgettable for myself and my fans," Akshay said.

Bachchan said he last went on a world tour in 1990. "It is very strenuous. But, the love and affection of fans are so strong, that we decided to embark on this tour after so many years to reach out to the fans," he said.

The concert which begins on July 18 in Toronto would be followed by Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Houston, New Jersey, New York, Vancouver and London, Joseph added.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

The image “http://i30.tinypic.com/1z67ac7.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.The image “http://thebollywoodzone.com/blog/images/2007/06/akshay-kumar.jpg” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors.
Only a fool and his money, they say, are easily parted. Bollywood currently has its share of loaded film corporations, the top five of which have a staggering Rs 1,000-crore corpus each, only for film production. But they're still not throwing it away as the world has been led to believe.

Let's get it straight. Reliable trade sources in Bollywood say that only two actors to date—Aamir Khan (Ghajini) and Akshay Kumar (Venus' untitled project directed by Priyadarshan)—have been promised Rs 20 crore as remuneration, i.e. their cheques will have eight zeroes. Additionally, Aamir will probably get to keep a distribution territory, and Akshay a share in the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) from Venus, which ups the fee by another 10 to 12 crores.

That's where the secret of stars' bloated remunerations lies, IPR being the latest attack by film stars on a producer's profits. When one totals the revenue-sharing from distribution rights or IPR, the top five actors of today—Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan—do end up taking home hefty amounts.

That said, figures like Rs 50 crore are still vastly exaggerated. "Anyone who tells you that he's getting Rs 50 crore (like it was reported Salman Khan was for a T-Series project) or any such ridiculous amount is bullshitting," says a corporate honcho. Adds Pritish Nandy, who heads PNC, "Only people who do not understand money can talk like this. It's all garbage. Mumbai's real estate and movie business figures that constantly grab headlines are both way off the mark."

A trade analyst calculates: If Salman Khan or Akshay Kumar were to get Rs 50 crore as remuneration (like the media constantly leads us to believe), then the project would cost its producer something to the tune of Rs 90-100 crore. And despite recovery from all the 14 Bollywood film terr@itories within India and overseas (in close to 52 countries across the globe), such a project would still not be viable.

"The only way Rs 100 crore can be recovered from a Bollywood project in its initial run is by giving it a Hollywood kind of release, which is putting a film in 2,000 theatres across the globe, and then waiting for revenue to trickle in from other sources like satellite, home video and other licensing avenues," says a marketing person.

An interesting point to note here is: several film corporations who have paid ridiculous remunerations to actors/directors have not actually recovered their money. "But they are wearing their best face, so that their investors don't panic... and also because they're treating it like a branding exercise," says a trade pundit.

So where do all the exaggerated star salary figures come in from? "Well, they are conveniently leaked to a gullible media waiting to create a headline every hour, every day," says producer Mukesh Bhatt, who has never paid his actors more than what he thinks is their due. The reason that actors and film-makers leak the figures of their grossly exaggerated remunerations, adds a marketing guru, is because they are actually in talks with several film corporations at the same time. "By giving out improbable figures, they just hope that the next guy who approaches them will up the ante," he chuckles.

The latest deal everyone is gagging over is the sale of the Rakesh Roshan-Anurag Basu flick Kites. "On the morning the deal was being signed, it was said that Roshan and Basu would get Rs 122 crore for a five-year period for all rights," says a producer. "Within an hour, the next report that came said that Kites was being sold for Rs 130 crore. Sure, Bollywood is made of megabucks today, but even Wall Street and the Bombay Stock Exchange don't see such ridiculous jumps in a matter of hours." Adds Nandy, "The number game has been a favourite Bollywood pastime for the last year and a half. Surprisingly, no one is calling their bluff.

A trade source suggests a way to do this: apply under the Right to Information Act to the Film Circle ward that processes the income-tax returns of actors, check how much they have paid in taxes for the last couple of years and you will have your answer. Like, it is rumoured that a leading action hero who boasted that he had earned Rs 13 crore from a particular project paid just Rs 7 crore as tax that year. "It doesn't add up, does it?" asks Nandy.

Sandeep Bhargava of Indian Films (one of the big players currently) is also not amused by the star/director prices that are being screamed from the rooftops. "It is actually a myth that film corporates are paying illogical sums of money to stars and film-makers," he says. "A lot of times I see reports in the media about how much our company is paying to whom. In almost all the cases, these are either false reports or hugely inflated figures. One has to realise that anyone conducting business, whether it's a corporate or otherwise, is not beyond the logic of viability. We cannot pay anything which is beyond the scope of recovery. There is an increase in the scale of business, and that will reflect in the fees of people, but the figures floating around are irrational. We actually are conservative with monies and it's amazing how often we are reportedly giving big sums to stars and film-makers."

To end with what it really costs to make a film: Marathi cinema, which is currently seeing a resurgence, comes with a price tag of Rs 40-45 lakh at most. "And even Bengal's best films continue to be made for a similar budget," points out Nandy.

That, perhaps, is the cost of the hero's costumes in big-buck, low-quality Bollywood.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

http://im.sify.com/entertainment/movies/images/oct2007/1Akshay.jpg
Bollywood movie Kambakht Ishq will have Akshay Kumar returning to action in a big way.

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala is pulling out all the stops to ensure best crew for his movie ‘Kambakht Ishq’, starring Akshay Kumar as a Hollywood stuntman and Kareena Kapoor as an international celebrity.



To direct the stunts in the film and also to serve as a role model to Akshay, Nadiadwala has roped in top Hollywood stuntman, Spiro Razatos, who has done action for Hollywood movies like ‘Training Day’, ‘Swordfish’, ‘Vantage Point’ and ‘Bad Boys 2’.

In Bollywood, Razatos has previously worked with Sanjay Gupta in Kaante .

Spiro would direct the main action sequences in ‘Kambakht Ishq’, including a nail-biting climax chase in Los Angeles. The chase would involve a number of cars and Spiro is reported to have already demonstrated it by using toy cars.

‘Kambakht Ishq’ will be Nadiadwala’s biggest project till date. He is trying to rope in Hollywood stars like Beyonce Knowles and Arnold Schwarznegger for cameo appearances in the film.

The movie’s shooting will begin soon in the US.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

http://www.chitramala.com/img2/2008/04/iifa-240.jpg
Akshay Kumar and Govinda stole the show at the Ninth International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony here with their dazzling dance moves while Boman Irani and Reitesh Deshmukh made up for organisational glitches through their hilarious immitations of superstars.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside the Siam Niramit Hall cheered as their favourite stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan, Fardeen Khan, Aftab Shivdasani, Diya Mirza and Dino Morea, walked down the IIFA green carpet.

Urmila Matondkar, dressed in a red chiffon gown, floundered as the hostess, repeating her lines and announcing the wrong performances until the organisers told her she got it all wrong.

Karan Johar, who hosted some segments of the function that was held Sunday night, also failed to add any fizz to the show. However, Boman and Reitesh came to the rescue with their jokes and had the audience in splits.

The duo took pot shots at Aamir Khan's blogging and his film 'Taare Zameen Par', David Dhawan's 'Partner', and Amitabh Bachchan, who is the IIFA brand ambassador, among other stars.

The Siam Niramit Hall, which can seat 2,000 people, was packed and Akshay Kumar and Govinda ensured the audience wasn't disappointed.

Akshay, who was honoured with a special award from the host country, made a spectacular entry, flying onto the stage on a skateboard gliding along a wire. He danced to the title song of his forthcoming film 'Singh Is Kinng' as well as past hit numbers and had the crowd asking for more.

Govinda, who bagged the best comic actor award for 'Partner', also impressed the crowd with his dance moves.

Priyanka Chopra and debutant Harman Baweja, who will be seen together in 'Love Story 2050', too gave a dazzling performance.

Best actress award winner Kareena Kapoor, dressed in a silver blouse and purple harem pants, performed on songs from her recent films 'Jab We Met' and 'Tashan'. She was followed by Katrina Kaif who danced to a medley of tracks from her hit movie 'Race'.

The 'Acid Factory', 'Mission Istanbul' and 'De Taali' teams used IIFA as a promotional ground for their forthcoming films.

Aishwarya Rai looked her best in a strapless red satin fishtail gown but did not get any awards. But Abhishek Bachchan walked away with the best style icon award.

'Chak De! India', which won critical acclaim and mass popularity, was adjudged the best film, while superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Shimit Amin respectively bagged the best actor and best director trophies.

Shah Rukh was not present at the gala and producer Yash Chopra accepted the award on his behalf. The film about a coach inspiring an Indian women's hockey team to victory also won awards for story and screenplay.

The award for the best performance in a negative role went to Viveik Oberoi for 'Shootout at Lokhandwala'. Neil Nitin Mukesh was named 'the fresh face of the year'.

Music composer A.R. Rahman was honoured for outstanding achievement by an Indian in international cinema, while veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal and Mumtaz, a popular star of the yesteryears, won special honours for lifetime achievement.

Rahman was also named the best music director for his score in 'Guru'. H. Sridhar won the award for best song recording and Shreya Ghoshal won the honours for the best female playback singer for 'Barso re' from the same film.

The best male playback singer award was bagged by Shaan for 'Jab se tere naina' from 'Saawariya'. Veteran Javed Akhtar was named the best lyricist for 'Om Shanti Om', which also garnered awards for best special effects, best art direction, best costume design and best makeup.

The award for best screenplay was won jointly by Anurag Basu for 'Life in a Metro' and Jaideep Sahni for 'Chak De! India'. Sahni also won the award for best story for the same film.

'Chak De! India' also took home the trophy for best cinematography. Imtiyaz Ali was named the best dialogue writer for 'Jab We Met'.

Saif Ali Khan too made a surprise entry, however he didn't perform. The 2,000-capacity hall was full, most of the audience being from the Indian diaspora.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

Kambakht IshqBollywood star Akshay Kumar who had a successful run at the box office last year with his films garnering over Rs 500 crore worldwide today said that his success lies at his parents' feet.
"Business of Indian cinema is growing higher and higher and I feel proud that I am one of the responsible person for it," he told reporters here.

The actor, who would perform a rap number from his forthcoming film 'Singh is king' at the IIFA awards tonight, witnessed a string of successes like 'Namastey London', 'Heyy Babyy' and 'Welcome' in 2007.

He said he enjoyed action as well as comedy genre of films.

When asked about a doctorate honour to him from the University of Windsor in Canada, Akshay said he himself was surprised at the honour bestowed on him recently.

"I must be the least educated doctor," he added.

When asked about the television show 'fear factor' scheduled to go on air on Viacom's new entertainment channel 'Colors', the actor said the show had changed the attitude of the leading ladies of small and big screen, khiladis as they are called, who are the participants towards life.

"Two of the participants are mothers. This only goes to prove what I always believed that women are stronger than men," he added. PTI
Read More ...

Latest Stories

Best Actor

Shah Rukh Khan - Chak De India



Best Actress

Kareena Kapoor - Jab We Met



Best Film

Chak De India



Best Director

Shimit Amin - Chak De India



Performance in a Supporting Role (Male)


Irrfan Khan - Life In A... Metro



Performance in a Supporting Role (Female)

Konkona Sen Sharma - Life In A... Metro



Performance in a Comic Role

Govinda - Partner



Performance in a Negative Role

Viveik Oberoi - Shootout At Lokhandwala



Music Director


A.R. Rahman - Barso Re Barso Re (Guru)



Best Story

Jaideep Sahni - Chak De India




Lyrics

Javed Akhtar - Main Agar Kahoon (Om Shanti Om)



Playback Singer (Male)

Shaan - Jabse Tere Naina (Saawariya)



Playback Singer (Female)

Shreya Ghoshal - Barso Re (Guru)



Achievement in Indian Cinema

Mumtaz



Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema

Shyam Benegal



Outstanding Contribution by an Indian in International Cinema


A. R. Rahman



STYLE IDEA AWARDS

Abhishek Bachchan

Katrina Kaif and Neil Nitin Mukesh were also awarded special awards



Technical Awards



Best Cinematography

Sudeep Chatterjee (Chak De India)



Best Editing

Amitabh Shukla (Chak De India)



Best Sound Recording

Manas Choudhary & Ali Merchant (Chak De India)



Best Sound Re-recording

Anuj Mathur (Chak De India)



Best Screenplay

Jaideep Sahni (Chak De India) & Anurag Basu (Life…in a Metro)



Best Art Direction

Sabu Cyril (Om Shanti Om)



Best Special Effects

Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (Om Shanti Om)



Best Costume Designing

Manish Malhotra, Karan Johar & Sanjiv Mulchandani (Om Shanti Om)



Best Makeup

Bharat-Dorris, Ravi Indulkar & Namrata Soni (Om Shanti Om)
Read More ...

Latest Stories

However, things are not what they seem to be and Shankar's dream project gradually becomes a political minefield. The evil forces, mightier than ever, mushroom and gang up to bring down the regime of Sarkar and obliterate Shankar's name from the political horizon.

To begin, Ramgopal Varma makes it very clear with the sequel that film making runs right through his veins and a series of flops can’t stop his creative fluids. The style Ramu maintains is topnotch and you are drawn are into the film with the camera movements and gripping background score.

The drawback in the film comes across post interval as the writing by Prashant Pandey falls short. Post interval the movie becomes more of a series of dialogues with not much movement in the flow of events. No doubt Prashant Pandey excels at writing a plot that indeed has a very much localized maharashtrian feel covering the political scenario but somewhere falls short.

On the acting front, Amitabh Bachchan is no doubt the finest amongst all characters in the film. Amitabh carries the charisma and he personifies the word ‘power’.

Abhishek Bachchan too excels with his character and seems to be highly inspired by Al Pacino’s character of Michael Corleone from ‘The Godfather’.

Aishwariya Rai Bachchan has been offered a very meaty and chunky role and is often seen with Abhishek in this sequel unlike Katrina in ‘Sarkar’. She does impress with her dialogues and body language.

What impresses even more is the set of character artists who are terrific and just apt be it- Ravi Kale, Dilip Prabhawalkar, Sayaji Shinde and Supriya Pathak. Tanisha is ok.

The cinematography by Amit Roy is splendid. The film relies heavily on one point lighting and it’s the cinematography that makes the characters look larger than life and gives them their desired power.

The music by Bappi-Tutul is worthy of mention. The brothers have worked really hard in creating the ‘Govinda Govinda’ chant which has become synonymous with the ‘Sarkar’ series. This time around, the chant comes across with a difference but retains its authenticity.

Background score by Amar Mohile is very good and acts as a key in enhancing the dark feel of the film.

On the whole, ‘Sarkar Raj ‘may not be as impressive as ‘Sarkar’ primary due to a dip post interval ,but it is sure set to get Ramgopal Varma a lot of accolades from the very people who ruled him out. At the box- office, success awaits the producers.



Read More ...

Latest Stories

The failure of Tashan doesn't seem to bother our Khiladi and Anari all that much.

Getting ready to have another go at the Box Office are Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in a film to be directed by Pakistani director, Shoaib Mansoor.

Now, we don't know what Shoaib's film is all about, though the director is known for making meaningful films.

The film will be produced by Percept Picture Company. Sources inform Gullu that the actors are working out on the dates.

Akshay and Saif were first seen together in Main Khiladi Tu Anari in the mid 90s. The film was a hit. Very soon Akshay's career lifted off. Saif, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky, and it was a full ten years later that he tasted success with Hum Tum in 2004.
Read More ...

Latest Stories





The much awaited SARKAR RAJ didn't open to a thunderous response, but
the reports are encouraging and the business picked up during evening
shows. The opening ranged from 50% to 60% at places, although the
opening was lower at single screens [30% to 40%]. However, Mumbai city
single screens were better. By evening, the multiplexes were running to
packed houses. The opening was partly affected due to heavy rains in
some parts of the country.


AAMIR, expectedly, had a slow start, but the word of mouth is
tremendous and it should also show an upward trend… HUMSEY HAI JAHAAN
has started on a dull note.
Read More ...

Latest Stories




Arrival of the stars

Bangkok witnessed Bollywood biggies landing into the city to be a part of the most prestigious IIFA Awards 2008. Karan Johar, Riteish Deshmukh, David Dhawan, Katrina Kaif, Viveik Oberoi were among the first ones to put their foot in the city. The Bachchan family along with Kareena Kapoor joined arrived later.

Sarkar Raj Premiere gets overwhelming response

RGV's Sarkar Raj Premiere kickstarted IIFA this year in Bangkok. The film got an overwhelming response from the audiences. The premiere had a 'Green Carpet' welcome to show concern towards the issue of Global Warming. A huge crowd packed the venue and the security had a tough time managing them when the Bachchan's arrived for the Premiere at the Paragon Cineplex. Kareena Kapoor, Viveik Oberoi, Urmila Matondkar and Dia Mirza though present at Bangkok for IIFA, skipped the Premiere.

Music launch of Mission Istaanbul

IIFA awards 2008 became the platform for the music launch of Apoorva Lakhia's Mission Istaanbul. While the queen of soaps, Ekta Kapoor, who is the producer of the film, was missing from the event, her absence was filled in by her father, Jeetendra, who launched the music of Mission Istaanbul. The director along with the film's star cast Viveik Oberoi, Zayed Khan, Shabbir Ahluwalia and Niketan Madhok interacted with the media. Viveik Oberoi also danced to the tunes of his famous numbers like 'Aye Ganpat' from Shootout At Lokhandwala.
Read More ...

Latest Stories






Akshay 'Khiladi' Kumar's last release Tashan may have failed to continue his dream run at the B.O. However the superstar has put the failure of Tashan
behind him and is looking forward to his other releases this year. One
of his most awaited films includes the Anees Bazmee directed
action-comedy, Singh is Kinng where he is paired opposite the gorgeous Katrina Kaif.




Akshay & Katrina were recently seen shooting a song in the picturesque locales of Egypt. Kumar is seen dressed in a typical Sardar get up with pagdi et al while Katrina is at her glowing best in a pink dress.







The duo was joined by some local dancers as they shot at some exotic
locales in Cairo. What's more the Bollywood stars even seemed to have
some fans in Egypt whom they happily obliged with autographs and
pictures. The Akki- Kat duo delivered two big hits last year with Welcome and Namastey London. Will they be able to recreate the magic this time around? One will have to wait and watch
Read More ...

Latest Stories

After taking over Bollywood, Salman Khan is set to sizzle on the small
screen. Despite many ups and downs in his professional as well as
personal life, he still has the kind of charisma that lets him connect
with audiences.
With a host of reality shows hosted by Bollywood’s
top stars, Salman just had to join the gang. On June 6, he makes his
debut with Dus Ka Dum. Extremely excited about the show, Salman has
even experimented with his looks and is rehearsing constantly. After
all, he will be competing with King Khan himself.
For Salman, the
journey in tinsel town has been interesting. Despite having begun his
career as a supporting actor in Biwi Ho To Aisi, he garnered enough
attention to get many lead offers. His career changed with Rajshri
Production’s Maine Pyar Kiya as he bagged the Filmfare Best Debutante
Award for his portrayal of a lover boy. Since then, his big list of
hits has included Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Kuch Kuch
Hota Hai, Tere Naam, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and No Entry. Salman has
worked with most producers and directors, and there is no doubt his
professional life is going places.
Having said that, his personal
life still seems to be in an eternal state of turmoil. First he was
associated with Somy Ali, only to break it off. Then walked in
Aishwarya Rai and the two became the focus of tabloid attention. That
relationship was followed by the entry of gorgeous Katrina Kaif. Now
issues between the two seem to have cropped up.
Often known as
Bollywood’s bad boy, Salman’s knack of walking into trouble has
overshadowed people’s perception of him as an actor. In 1998 he was
arrested for killing protected wild animals and spent about a week
behind bars. He also has other cases to face. Let’s hope his television
debut marks a new innings.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

This is perhaps the first time that Soha Ali Khan and Siddharth Narayan
have made a public appearance together. The two were spotted at an
event at a SoBo lounge on Monday, chilling out with their friends. They
were pretty cozy in each other’s company, but the moment the media
started clicking pictures of the two, Siddharth got angry. Ever since
they starred in Rang De Basanti, there have been rumours that the two
are a couple. Siddharth, who is a star in the South and earlier married
to childhood sweetheart Meghna, has been tightlipped about Soha. And
apparently the Pataudis, too, were not happy. Sharmila Tagore in an
interview to BT had once expressed concern about her daughter’s
marriage, “It’s not Saif, but Soha I’m worried about,” she had said.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

Himesh Reshammiya has had a makeover! Gone are the trademark cap and
extra flab. The Gujju boy will now be seen in a slimmer avatar with a
thick mop of hair, and even an earring! All for his new film, Karz.
However,
he is not as thrilled as one would expect the once roll-poly star to
be. He says, “I am not conventionally good-looking. However,
presentation matters and that is what I am trying to do. Satish
Kaushik, Pooja Bhatt and John Mathew are all working on my new look.”
Ask about his cap and he says nonchalantly, “When something is not
different any longer, you need to give it up. The phase with the cap is
over.”
Apart from his looks, Himesh also seems to be experimenting
with his roles. While he plays a romantic lover boy in Karz, John
Mathew’s film has him play a street smart rogue. According to sources,
Himesh is also taking lessons in action from Jackie Chan’s personal
trainer! Let’s hope the music director turned singer scores points for
his acting too.
Read More ...

Latest Stories

What's the quickest way to go from struggling South Indian actress to national icon? Star alongside Rajnikanth, of course!

That's just what Shriya Saran did last year, when she bagged a role in Shankar's blockbuster Sivaji: The Boss. Today, she's a household name, albeit one prone to a little controversy.

Earlier this year, a Chennai-based group famously charged her with 'offending Hindu culture' for the 'inappropriately skimpy attire' she wore during the 175 day anniversary of Sivaji's launch.

Evidently, she's over that. In the June edition of Maxim magazine, Shriya gets down in a bikini and reveals her hot, super sexy bod. While they might cause indigestion with the hardliners, we must admit, the photographss are amazing!



Read More ...

Latest Stories






Bollywood
discovered one of its best screen couples in Akshay Kumar and Katrina
Kaif. No one ever predicted that the half Kashmiri half English Katrina
will catapult herself into the top slot of regaining Bollywood Heroines
so soon.

As she has herself said, it was Akshay Kumar's guts to
share screen space with a budding actress like Katrina in films like
'Humko Deewana Kar Gaye', 'Namastey London' and 'Welcome' which all
went on to become blockbusters giving Katrina a new status.

Akshay
Kumar also took home a new title of a star standing at par with the
khans in the tinsel town after these films and soon will be seen again
showcasing the incredible screen chemistry he shares with Katrina in
'Sing is Kinng'.

People love to see this couple on screen.
Despite so many award functions and other programes taking place
frequently Akshay and Katrina have never been seen till now teaming up
for a stage performance.

Now the news is out that this hot
filmy couple has chosen the international stage of the upcoming finale
of the IIFA weekend from June 6 to June 8 to repeat their screen magic
in a dance performance too.

Their new film 'Sing is Kinng' is
going to get more publicity after the IIFA weekend as Akshay and
Katrina will be shaking their bodies to the tune of a song from this
new movie.

The IIFA weekends has till now attracted a record number of Television viewers from around the world when it is beamed.


So the dance performance can have the potential to
be the talk of the town as no efforts will be spared to make the debut
of this screen couples in the stage explosive and mind boggling.

May
be Akshay-Katrina team can turn out ruling the stage too and ends up as
a hot stage couple who the organizers of the stage programes chase to
add more glitz.

Read More ...

Latest Stories







 Dasavathar Gallery




The coming together of committed professions with
immense knowledge in their area of expertise is what brings about the
incredible magic of good filmmaking. This is the how scores of
Hollywood action flicks keep us at the edge of our seats in awe and
admiration.


Kamal Haasan's ‘Dasavathar’ has taken a leaf out of this professional brilliance in every facet literally.


With the script demanding huge stunt and action
sequences, Kamal Haasan had chosen Andy Dixon, a renowned stunt
choreographer from Hollywood whose credits include the likes of Miami
Vice, Transporter 2 and Ace Ventura-Pet Detective etc.


Dixon is an expert in car chase sequences and making
of rigs for high voltage action scenes. Rigs are tailor- made
equipments that help execute high- risk action sequences with
perfection without putting men or machines into jeopardy. He works with
a ten member crew specializing in wire fights. The crew also includes a
Hai-Kido (Japanese martial art) master, a Parkour jump expert, race
drivers, stuntmen and stunt women.


The end sequence of the movie, as Dixon puts it,
would be remembered for a very long time. Dashing action sequences
filmed with appropriate rigs have been shot worldwide.


The same team that performs for the hugely popular
AXN serial 'Extreme Stunts' have involved themselves for the car chases
sequences of ‘Dasavathar’. The team is headed by Grady Bishop, a "dare
devil driver" based in Florida, U.S.A.


Apart from the U.S. team, a Japanese Hai-Kido master
named Sonny Loke Chuan Sun, traveled all the way to the U.S, and joined
the crew at their U.S. schedule to choreograph the Hai-Kido fight
sequence in the film.


Magnificent planning with a thirst for perfection. That is Kamal Haasan and ‘Dasavathar’ for you.
Read More ...