Bollywood focus: Arjun Rampal

Arjun Rampal, son of Gwen and Amarjeet Rampal, was first spotted by designer Rohit Bal in a disco. His modeling career took of from there.

Arjun Rampal, son of Gwen and Amarjeet Rampal, was first spotted by designer Rohit Bal in a disco. His modeling career took of from there. His debut movie - Moksha was released in 2001 and was directed by Ashok Mehta. However, this film was released after his second film, Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat, in which he appeared with Sunil Shetty and Aftab Shivdasani. Although both films did not perform at the box office his performances in both films was lauded by critics. In 2002, he won the Award of the International Indian Film Academy for Face of the Year.

Since his debut, he has worked in a series of films, successful and some unsuccessful. He has also appeared in the Temptations 2004 concert with stars Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali Khan, Preity Zinta, and Priyanka Chopra.

Recently, he produced and acted in film I See You (2006). He released it with his own production company Chasing Ganesha Films. His wife, Mehr Jesia, was the co-producer.

This man, who set the ramp on fire, got married, to Ex Miss-India Mehr Jesia. They have two daughters, Mahikaa and Myra.

SRK overtakes the Undertaker

The Undertaker can go and eat cake! And the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) can consider infringement of copyright on the exclusive look of menace of its star entertainer. But Shah Rukh Khan will not be put off. If this is how King Khan wants to look in his new avtaar, then who’s going to stop him?

Yes, take a peek at SRK today. Isn’t he a piece of bad news? Would you like to come up against him in a dark alley? We wouldn’t. But, post Chak De! India, if the Bollywood Badshah worked on his new six-pack look for Om Shanti Om, then post OSO, this is how he looks. From the lover boy of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge to the mature hockey coach of Chak De to the latest muscular hero, SRK has made the transition with ease. And now this!

Though, like we said, the 6 feet 7 inches bruiser who provides the chills and spills of the WWE ring is not going to be very amused. As it is, his massive body took quite a trouncing some years ago from Akshay Kumar for Khiladi No 1. And now this beating his image is bound to suffer with SRK getting into the act of heavy breathing, deadly silence and murder in the eyes. Tsk, tsk, maybe it’s really time for the Undertaker to Rest In Peace!

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.