Friday, January 4, 2008

Meet Akshay Kumar’s unusual co-star

Akshay will soon be seen in Percept Picture Company’s upcoming Carry On Pappu, to be directed by comedy king David Dhawan. And, while you might naturally expect him to be the star, the lead role will actually belong to a chimpanzee called Pappu! To create the character, PPC has reportedly hired special effects expert Stan Winston. Currently at work on Jurassic Park 4, Winston will create three chimpanzees for the movie, although normal scenes will still be shot using real primates. The question is: Will this leave Akshay enough scope to monkey around?

Will these actresses sizzle in 2008?

As another year rolls in, Bollywood’s actresses are looking for a new beginning. Considering not all of our heroines had a fabulous 2007, some are excited about promising releases this year. Then again, some had a successful 2007, and are making every effort to keep riding high. For now, we turn the spotlight on actresses for whom audiences have big hopes. Will they turn up the heat? We have our fingers crossed.

Bollywood focus: MADHAVAN




...After Aethiree failed, Madhavan banked upon Nothing But Life, an English film, to divert him back into a career of stardom. But it also failed, leaving Madhavan offerless. However, Mani Ratnam selected Madhavan to play a lead role.

Madhavan was born on the 1st of June, 1970 in Jamshedpur to Ranganathan and Saroja. He is married to Sarita and they have a son named Vedant. He was born on August 21, 2006, which eventually led to relocating towards to the boat-club area in Chennai from Kilpauk. Madhavan's parents continue to live with him as do his parents-in-law. This Filmfare Award-winning actor, unlike other prominent actors in India, began to act after marriage, at the age of twenty-nine, and his short career has seen performances in diverse roles.

In early 1997, Madhavan did a sandalwood talc advertisement for Santosh Sivan, who later recommended him to Mani Ratnam for a screen test for a role in Iruvar. Later in the same year, Mani Ratnam called Madhavan for the screen test, but left him out of the project citing that he thought his eyes looked too young for a senior role. As his film career, failed to take off, Madhavan reverted to act in Hindi television serials. He appeared in minor roles in serials titled Saaya, Sea Hawks, Banegi Apni Baat, Tol Mol Ke Bol and Ghar Jamai.

In 1998, Madhavan appeared in his first film role as an Indian police officer in Fred Olen Ray's Inferno alongside Don Wilson. His first chance in Indian movies came in the form of Shanti Shanti Shanti, a Kannada film, in which he acted in the second lead role to Abbas, an established actor. However the film failed to make an impact, and went unnoticed.

Madhavan’s first major film appearance was in the Tamil romantic film, Alaipayuthey. In the 2002 blockbuster Kannathil Muthamittal, he portrayed a father of an orphaned child alongside Simran. He then played the role of an action hero, for the first time in the successful project, Run and, the year after, won critical acclaim as a henchman in Mani Ratnam's film, Aayitha Ezhuthu, his role in which earning him a Indian National Film Award nomination. In 2007, Madhavan set up his own production company, Leukos Films, which will distribute several of his forthcoming films.

After the success of his first Tamil film, the producers of his previous Kannada film, Shanti Shanti Shanti, dubbed the film into Tamil and released it as Relax, to capitulate on Madhavan's new found success. Madhavan's second lead role was in Ennavale, a film ignored by critics and audience alike..

Madhavan had more success starring opposite Reema Sen in Minnale, which was later remade into Hindi as Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein marking Madhavan's debut in Bollywood; he also played in Madras Talkies' Dumm Dumm Dumm with Jyothika Saravanan. Both films became successes and Madhavan became established as a bankable actor in South India.

Madhavan then starred opposite Simran in his third Mani Ratnam production, Kannathil Muthamittal. He portrayed the role of a father of an adopted child, who wishes to return to her native homeland amid a civil war. The film became a trend-setter film in Tamil cinema and managed to six National Awards as well as over ten awards at various International Film Festivals around the world. Madhavan gained a particular praise for putting in a mature display.

Madhavan's next large success came in Run, a film recognized for its screenplay. The success of Run, became Madhavan's final major hit for a while, several films of his were critically acclaimed but failed to perform commercially. Anbe Sivam, co-starring Kamal Haasan, was critically praised but failed to become a grosser. Several critics claimed that Madhavan's performance as a frustrated ad-maker, lived up to the title role of Kamal Haasan's. Kamal Haasan's home production, Nala Damayanthi and Vikraman's Priyamana Thozhi, failed to live up to their anticipated values but Madhavan's performance in the films were appreciated. A guest role followed in Lesa Lesa, and two more average films in Jay Jay and Aethiree followed.

2004, despite starting poorly, was a very prolific year for Madhavan, who starred in the films Aethiree, Nothing But Life, and the critically acclaimed Aayitha Ezhuthu. After Aethiree failed, Madhavan banked upon Nothing But Life, an English film, to divert him back into a career of stardom. But it also failed, leaving Madhavan offerless. However, Mani Ratnam selected Madhavan to play a lead role in his forthcoming bilingual. The film was made as Aayitha Ezhuthu in Tamil and Yuva in Hindi, with only Esha Deol reprising her role in both versions.

Madhavan has stated that the role he played, was the role he had experienced and enjoyed the most. He received praise from critics, claiming he outplayed Abhishek Bachchan's interpretation of the character in the other version, Yuva. Madhavan was short listed for the Indian National Film Award for the Best Supporting Actor and won the South Indian Filmfare Award for the Best Supporting Actor.

Priyasakhi followed in 2005, co-starring Sadha - with the pair playing an estranged husband and wife. The film received praise for the lead actors and became the first Tamil language to be dubbed into Zulu. Ramji Londonwaley, the remake of Nala Damayanthi was released in Bollywood and became an average grosser.

In 2006, Madhavan recorded three hits in Rang De Basanti, Thambi and Rendu. His appearance in vital cameo role, in Rang De Basanti, was appreciated by film critics, earning him his first major hit in Bollywood. Thambi, was shot for over a year and was badly delayed, however despite a poor opening, the film managed to make a remarkable comeback and prove to be a big hit in town and village centres. Madhavan’s portrayal of the do-gooder, received mixed reviews from critics. In Rendu, Madhavan appeared in his first dual role in his career. The film became one of Madhavan's biggest successes.

Guru, Madhavan’s fifth film under Mani Ratnam's production, portrayed him in the role of real life journalist, S. Gurumurthy. Guru, which is one of Bollywood's biggest hits of 2007, was a bio-pic of the life of business tycoon, Dhirubhai Ambani. After playing a guest role in Delhi Heights, his next Aarya received mixed reviews, but became a success. Madhavan's debut production venture with his company, Leukos Films, Evano Oruvan released in December 2007 to raving reviews, but the film failed commercially.

Madhavan has three films ready for release, with the earliest being, Leelai, also known as Adi Oka Idhi Le in its Telugu version, set for release in the first quarter of 2008, while his Hindi film, Mumbai Meri Jaan is also completed. The third film completed, is a Hindi-Bengali bilingual Sunglass, directed by Rituparno Ghosh. Madhavan has a film in the production stage, Vaazhthukal alongside Bhavana, directed by Seeman who had directed, Thambi. Several other films have been announced by Madhavan, including a bio-pic of painter, Raja Ravi Verma; a film on the 2006 Mumbai Bombings and an English film with Deepa Mehta as director.

Madhavan, who is a vegetarian, endorses for the brand, PETA. Since joining them after starring in his first film, he has appeared voluntarily in several advertisements and released an E-Card for the brand. In July 2006, Madhavan was voted the ‘cutest male vegetarian’ by an online poll conducted by the NGO, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), while Kareena Kapoor won the female award respectively.

Despite winning the public-voted poll, Madhavan was then questioned at his home for keeping an African parrot as a pet. The pet was not confiscated, with Madhavan labelling himself as an animal lover with two dogs and a parrot, which he claimed was like his "second son".

In July 2006, Paradox Studios Limited launched a new game compatible with mobile phones, with Madhavan as the lead character. The company released two mobile game titles featuring Madhavan as their lead character. The first of the two games, Madhavan's MIG, featured the actor making a reprise of his Rang De Basanti pilot's role. In the other game titled Madhavan, the player had to help the actor get to the premiere of his latest movie evading the paparazzi.

Madhavan was announced as the host of Sony Entertainment Television's Deal Ya No Deal, the Indian version of the American game show Deal Or No Deal, in October 2005. However Madhavan quit as the lead anchor of the game show, Deal Ya No Deal in January 2006. Madhavan claimed he was "unhappy with the way the shoot schedules were handled by the production house". According to the actor, when he took on the show, he had "made it clear that he would continue with his South film assignments, and as the show was being filmed in Mumbai, he had found it hard to keep travelling throughout India from Chennai to film the ten days a month he had signed up for". The ever-changing look of the show meant Madhavan had to constantly rehearse. Madhavan also added that he was restricted by the producers to spend one day rehearsing technically, which left him with fatigue.

Miss Earth Air stuns audiences in a sari

Miss Earth Air 2007 Pooja Chitgopekar, along with other top Indian models, drew much appreciation recently by walking the ramp in designer Satya Paul’s stunning saris. Audiences were clearly mesmerised, proving that the elegant sari will long remain a favourite among the truly fashionable.

Back on screen: Akshay and Sanjay




It’s been years since Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt hit the big screen together. Audiences won’t have to wait much longer though, as the Bollywood biggies reunite for the upcoming Blue. Directed by debutant director Tony, the film is said to be packed with fast ‘n’ furious action sequences. Apparently, the producers also sent Akshay to Thailand for a deep sea-diving training session. And yes, pairing off with the hunk is 2007’s new hottie, Deepika Padukone. Sounds good, this one.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Bipasha finds negative roles more taxing




When the news of Bipasha Basu and John Abraham splitting hit the channels, the two love birds did a mighty good job of proving one and all wrong. So much so that, john and Bips just seemed inseparable, be it doing films or ad films together.

The off screen lovers have proved it yet again that there is a lot more in common between the two than what meets the eye. Recently, Bipasha became the ambassador of a two wheeler brand. On being asked if she was just following John’s foot steps, she said, “There is nothing like that. It is just that the two of us happen to like two wheelers.”

Reports are that the Bong beauty has been approached by many a Bengali film directors and she is more than keen in taking up these assignments. She will be soon seen in a film directed by Rituparno Ghosh. She says, “If an actor doesn’t explore his acting talents, he’ll get stagnated. Hence, I always try to do something new. Moreover, I loved the experience of doing a Bengali film.”

Well, her want to explore seems to be not stuck to just doing films beyond Bollywood, but also playing different shades. In Race, her first release of 2008, she’ll be playing a negative character. Does it scare her that the audiences might not take it too well? Bipasha retorts, “My character in Corporate, Dhoom 2 and Omkara was loved by all. However, as an actor I think it is more of a challenge to play a negative role.” We hope that we get to see more of Bipasha in 2008, be it playing a white, black, or grey shade.

Bollywood focus: Yana Gupta




...Yana got her break into Bollywood with the film Dum. After which she has made an appearance in Telegu, Tamil and Kanad films. Later she was seen in the Bollywood movie Ek Ajnabee co-staring with Arjun Rampal. ...

This vegan beauty was born on the 23rd of April 1979 in Brno, in the Czech Republic. She was considered to be of East-Indian origin but she is actually a European and a citizen of the Czech Republic.

Yana has natural beauty and a fair, smooth complexion; she started modeling at the age of 16. Besides her striking beauty she also possesses a very high IQ level. Yana can speak 5 different languages namely English, Czech, Hindi, Spanish and Japanese.

She started her modeling career with names like Calvin Klein, Victoria's Secret, Toyota, Honda, Sony, and cosmetic products such as Nivea, Rexona, Shuemura, & Shisheido. Her appearance and her last name ‘Gupta’ were what confused the public in reference to her origins. She has been to almost all corners of the world from Milan, Paris, Vienna, Munich and others while modeling.

Once she finished her graduation from Park Architecture and Gardening she went to Japan to continue her career in modeling. She then came to India where she met and fell in love with Satyakam Gupta, after her marriage she shifted to Pune.

Her marriage did not hamper her career and she continued to model with Limca, MTV and Lakme. She even replaced Lisa Ray as the Lakme face. Yana got her break into Bollywood with the film Dum. After which she has made an appearance in Telegu, Tamil and Kanad films. Later she was seen in the Bollywood movie Ek Ajnabee co-staring with Arjun Rampal.

Yana loves playing the piano, flute, dancing, aerobics, health, fitness and computers. She also became an anchor for a musical countdown show on Zoom TV. Besides this she also signed a contract with Indiagames and will feature her in their forthcoming games like puzzles and others.

Even though Yana is single again after her divorce she is not planning on leaving India, she says that she will stay as she is launching her own English album. She also plans on making a re-entry into the film industry.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Celebs are keeping a tight lip this NY

Christmas is over, but the celebrations are certainly not. The Page 3-ites are now getting ready for celebrating the New Year in new and interesting ways.

2007 saw quite a few controversies in Bollywood, but the Page 3 circuit isn’t far behind. And now that the New Year parties are fast approaching - bringing gossip-time along with it - everyone wants to know what the biggest scandals of 2007 were. Unfortunately, no one is ready to divulge as yet!

Looks like today’s bold and beautiful celebs are a little more careful about what they say. When it’s time to party, all they want to do is forget everything else and have a full on party.

Bollywood focus: Isha Koppikar




... Ishaa started her career in Kollywood, where she was paired opposite Prashanth in Kaadhal Kavidai. A lot of the film was shot in London and became a blockbuster following its release, winning the lead actors rave reviews and Koppikar winning the Filmf

Ishaa Koppikar was born on the 19 of September, 1976 in Mumbai. She attended Ramnarain Ruia College in Mumbai and studied Life Sciences. While in college, she did a model shoot for Gautam Rajadhyaksha, following which she took part in the 1995 Miss India Contest, winning the Miss Talent Crown. She has also modeled for many brands.

Ishaa started her career in Kollywood, where she was paired opposite Prashanth in Kaadhal Kavidai. A lot of the film was shot in London and became a blockbuster following its release, winning the lead actors rave reviews and Koppikar winning the Filmfare Best Female Debut (Tamil). With this, Ishaa was touted to be the next non-Tamil girl after Simran Bagga, who would take over the Tamil film industry.

Her second movie was the highly-anticipated Tamil film, En Swasa Katre opposite Arvind Swamy, one of the most successful actors at that time. The film was a musical hit, rendered by A. R. Rahman, and a good grosser at the box-office. She then played a cameo in Prashanth's Jodi as a prospective bride. She received positive reviews for her role and decided to pursue a career in Bollywood: Her first Hindi movie was Ek Tha Dil Ek Thi Dhadkan, and it is yet to be released.

Koppikar appeared in minor roles in Fiza, Pyaar Ishq aur Mohabbat and Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya. In 2002, she appeared in Ram Gopal Varma’s Company as an item girl in the song Khallas! The number created her nickname Khallas-girl and caused her breakthrough. In 2003 she won 'Most Exciting New Face' for Khallas at the Stardust Awards.

In 2005 she played Arshad Warsi's girlfriend in the Salman Khan starrer Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya?. In the same year she appeared opposite Anupam Kher and Tusshar Kapoor in the comedy Kyaa Kool Hai Hum. For her role as policewoman Urmila Martodkar she received three award nominations for best comedy.

A special appearance, playing casino owner Sonia Chang, in 36 China Town preceded her biggest release to date, in 2006, in Farhan Akhtar's Don cast alongside Shahrukh Khan as Don's girlfriend, Anita. At the start of she replaced Perizaad Zorabian in a minor role in Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq: A Tribute To Love opposite Sohail Khan. This was her third appearance with Khan, having worked with him in Krishna Cottage and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya.

She will feature as the female lead in Ram Gopal Varma's Shabri, a movie about a woman who is set to become Mumbai's first underworld lord. Koppikar's make-up was so convincing that security and producers wouldn't let her enter the set, as they didn't recognize her.

Koppikar has two films under production in which she has replaced actresses withdrawing from the roles. Bipasha Basu was replaced in Darling, directed by Ram Gopal Varma and co-starring Fardeen Khan and Esha Deol. And Celina Jaitley was replaced in Atul Agnihotri's Hello, co-starring Sohail Khan. After a three year wait Haseena Smart Sexy and Dangerous was finally released with Ishaa in the title role. She is also doing Rajshri Productions next, co staring Sonu Sood.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Bollywood focus: MALLIKA SHERAWAT




... Mallika was 21 when she appeared on the cover page of an international magazine called Snoop, as well as the Indian edition of Cosmopolitan.

Mallika Sherawat who is today considered as India’s sex symbol was born as Reema Lamba in Rohtak in Haryana on the 24th of October 1981. Being a small town girl she always had the dream of being a star someday. Mallika has finished her degree in Philosophy from Miranda House, Delhi University. Later she decided to enter into Bollywood by doing whatever it took, with this intention she disobeyed her father who was against this and also walked out on her husband a Jet Airways pilot Captain Karan Singh Gill. The two met as Mallika was a part time air hostess with the flight company.

Mallika’s dare to bare attitude and the ample amount of skin showed in her movies was enough to make her the hottest star of Bollywood. Mallika made her debut with a small role in Vashu Bhagnani's Jeena Sirf Mere Liye, but it was Khwahish and her dare bare attitude with co-actor Himanshu Mallik that brought her fame in Bollywood.

Mallika was 21 when she appeared on the cover page of an international magazine called Snoop, as well as the Indian edition of Cosmopolitan. This was all before her debut film even hit the screens, a huge accomplishment for a girl who has no filmi background and no god father in Bollywood.

In the movie Khwahish, Mallika’s 17 kisses turned the audience away and her popularity kept diminishing. Then came Mahesh Bhatt’s thriller Murder which was directed by Anurag Basu. In this movie Mallika played the role of a married woman who is not physically satisfied by her husband and seeks it from her lover. The woman in the film has to have shades of celebration, of blossoming passion, love and insecurity which she played to the letter. The film went on to become the top grosser of ’04 and her acting skills in this bold movie were noted by the audience and boosted her popularity immensely.

The actresses next film Kiss Kiss Ki Kismat where she stared along side Dharmendra as her father-in-law had the media and publicity works going beserk over it. The duo sizzled on screen with Mallika’s attitude.

Soon after her films she was selected to play a role in an international film with Jackie Chan in the film The Myth. Though her role lasted for only eight minutes the publicity it got her was immense and she was back at the top of the list of most popular actresses.

Audacious, vulnerable, and with tons of oomph, Mallika has the code to hack the 'Succeed in Bollywood' password. This small town girl form Harayana has surprised everyone with her success which came so quickly and in huge amounts. By far she is the biggest Bollywood star if media attention were to be the gauge of stardom. The media through all its channels have been lapping up whatever comes from the actress who knows how to shock the audience with each and every performance of hers.

Urvashi Sharma becomes Santa Claus!

Urvashi Sharma visited the children at the Brain Tumour Foundation this Christmas. And as you can imagine, this Santa brought a sleigh-full of joy to the kids. She spread the sweet spirit of Christmas by gifting the kids with their favourite thing – chocolates!

“Children love chocolates,” Urvashi smiles, “And as you can guess, everyone here was very happy to see the chocolates. I’m just happy that I could do something for them.”

Urvashi had planned to surprise the children as Santa, but she didn’t expect that the children would surprise her, too! They had prepared some special gifts for her. Says Urvashi, holding up the gifts, “There are calendars and paintings here, which the kids painted themselves. And in each painting there is an emotion. There’s a hope that people will buy these paintings and raise funds that will help these kids. I love the sense of hope that’s there in these paintings.”

As Urvashi has become a part of a social cause, this Christmas is surely going to be one that she remembers. She has an important message to give, “I’d like to ask God to give me courage like these children have, so that when there are difficulties and problems in my life, I can handle them with strength and courage like these kids do.”

Urvashi’s little sister accompanied her to celebrate Christmas with the children. The only one missing was her model sister, Sucheta Sharma. Hope even she can visit the children next Christmas.

Katrina is voted as the hottest heroine




The number one actress of 2007 is somebody who couldn’t even speak Hindi till a few years back. NO prizes for guessing her name, it is Katrina Kaif herself.

Gone are the days when she used to be known because of her affiliations with Salman Khan. With four super hits in her kitty in 2007 in the form of Namastey London, Apne, Partner and now Welcome, she has indeed proved her mettle as an actress.

Watch this video to check out the stunning Katrina along with the other Hottest Heroines of 2007 nominees.