RE: October 2007 - News - 5

Kareena pleased about leap from grim to grin

Critics are raving about her new film 'Jab We Met', a full-on comedy, but Kareena Kapoor is looking forward to another laughathon 'Phir Golmaal'.

Sharing her joy, Kareena told IANS: 'Although there're lots of comic moments in 'Jab We Met', I've never done a full-on comedy before. Even when I worked with Priyadarshan, who's known for his comedies, I starred in his only serious film, 'Chup Chup Ke', in recent times. And when we did a comedy together ('Hulchul'), I was the only serious character around.

'I guess I didn't have the chance to have fun with my roles before 'Jab We Met'. That's why I'm looking forward to 'Phir Golmaal'. It's my chance to pull out all stops.'

After playing the free-spirited sardarni (Sikh woman) from Bathinda, Punjab, in 'Jab We Met', she's all set to do a comedy in the 'Golmaal - Fun Unlimited' sequel entitled 'Phir Golmaal' where she teams up with Ajay Devgan after the very serious Shakespearean tragedy 'Omkara'

The response to her performance in Imtiaz Ali's romantic comedy 'Jab We Met' has been phenomenal.

'The only other film I've felt so good about in recent times is 'Omkara'. The director Imtiaz Ali has brought out the playful, extroverted side of me. While I was quiet, subdued and withdrawn in 'Omkara', in 'Jab We Met' I'm in my full elements. This character is really close to my heart. I think from my heart and like to speak my mind openly. And what I liked about this role was the amount of fun we had while travelling and shooting.'

The fun quotient shows up in the film.

'I think that enjoyment during shooting has shown up on screen. Everyone who has seen 'Jab We Met' has been appreciative,' said Kareena.

Tell her she looks different these days and she seems surprised. 'Do I look different? It's just that I've become thinner. And I'm happy being myself.'

Quelle: http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/...om+grim+to+grin

Santoshi keen to make Ajay a successful emperor

While film maker Raj Kumar Santoshi is aware of the challenges that he is going to face during the making of Ashoka, yet he is keen on making his movie different from the one earlier made by Santosh Sivan.

Says Santoshi, “I’m aware of Sivan’s film. He’s a fine craftsman. But my approach and treatment to this fascinating subject will be very different.

My Ashoka will open during the Battle Of Kalinga and move forward into the Emperor’s life and also recreate events pre-Kalinga through flashbacks. Ajay Devgan will stand out as a performer with his portrayal.”

Quelle: http://www.radiosargam.com/films/archive...ul-emperor.html

No Ajay in No Smoking

Anurag Kashyap had the actor’s cameo scrapped

Things don’t always go as planned. The same can be said of Anurag Kashyap’s No Smoking.

The script had Ajay Devgan doing a cameo at the end of the film. Being an offbeat film, Devgan’s presence would’ve upped the commercial quotient of the film, and was to be one of the film’s surprises. Surprisingly, the scene went missing after the film was shot.

Need of the script

What is odd is the film has gone exactly according to the script. According to a source, “The film has stayed faithful and has not diverted at all from the original script. There was a long scene in the dying minutes of the film for which the makers required Ajay to do a cameo. But why did Ajay, a close associate of the producer (Kumar Mangat) for a long time, shy away from this cameo?”

Conflict of interests

The source further adds, “Apparently, there is a tiff going on between the actor and his long-time business manager Kumar Mangat. Ajay didn’t really like the script of the film and that’s the reason he politely said a big no to doing this cameo.”

Admits director Anurag Kashyap, “Ajay Devgan was initially supposed to be in the film. But later when we began shooting we realised that we could do without him.”

Quelle: http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/october/166267.htm

Regional flurry for Bhumika Chawla

Auszug

...
Though Bhumika hasn't signed any new film in Hindi, her NAAM is waiting in the wings with no one even associated with the film having any idea about its eventual release. Directed by Anees Bazmee, this Ajay Devgan-Sameera Reddy starrer (earlier titled BENAAM) is based on BOURNE IDENTITY and was launched more than 3 years back.
...

Quelle: http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/07...otri_100705.asp

Ajay dropped from No Smoking

Apparently well known actor Ajay Devgan was to play a cameo role in the film No Smoking but the actor who is a long time friend of Kashyap’s decided to give it a miss and opted out of the role. However rumours say that Anurag was heard saying that when the film was being shot, they hardly deviated from the original script and later realized that they could do without Ajay.

May be his presence could have added that extra commercial value to the flopped film.

Quelle: http://movies.indiatimes.com/News__Gossi...how/2501895.cms

Kajol’s dad hospitalized

Actress Kajol’s dad and producer – director, Shomu Mukherji, has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital with a serious illness and is expected to recuperate over at least a couple of months.

A source close to the family says that Kajol decided to hospitalize her dad. “He had been unwell for very long now and so Kajol has now decided that he should be admitted considering his health is deteriorating,” says the source.

Quelle: http://news.indya.com/newsDetails.aspx?x...ws_20071030_300

Jab Shahid, Santoshi aur PVR met

PVR has announced two films with acclaimed director Rajkumar Santoshi.

Highlights:

§ Signs up with Rajkumar Santoshi for a two films; a periodic epic “Ashok The Great” and for a yet to be titled romantic comedy venture

§ Periodic epic Ashoka- The Great, to feature Ajay Devgan, while the romantic comedy to star Shahid Kapoor and Katrina Kaif in the lead

§ PVR plans further expansion on its film production front; three to four feature films to start production in the current financial year

§ Company has charted out an investment of Rs. 100 crore for film production

PVR Ltd., through its 100% subsidiary PVR Pictures is strengthening its content creation space as a part of its backward integration in the filmed entertainment space. The company has also teamed up with veteran director Rajkumar Santoshi for two-films. This would mark the return of Rajkumar Santoshi into comedy, post 13 years since the cult classic Andaz Apna Apna, and will have Shahid Kapoor and Katrina Kaif in lead roles.

The company is also planning to make a historic epic “Ashoka- The Great” with Ajay Devgan. Both these films are slated for release by August 2008 and March 2009 respectively.

The company had earlier ventured into film production with a two-film deal with Aamir Khan, out of which Taare Zameen Par, which also marks the directorial debut of Aamir Khan, is slated for release, this year during Christmas. The other film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na is scheduled for release in February 2009.

PVR Pictures, which was established to cater to film distribution business of PVR Ltd. has been acknowledged for identifying the right cinema content and has earlier successfully distributed cult films like Being Cyrus, Bheja Fry, Paris Je T'Aime and Parzania and the latest critically and commercially successful Lions Of Punjab Presents.

With this deal, the company aims to achieve commercial and critical success through the right synergy and good creative talent - Rajkumar Santoshi (acclaimed National award winning director) and PVR’s understanding of Indian cinema audiences, which the company plans to employ in film making as well.

PVR Pictures is also on the verge of signing more deals with other directors and is strengthening its management base. PVR Pictures has appointed Ashoka Holla as Chief Operating Officer of their film production cell. Ashoka will be spearheading PVR Pictures’ content creation (Production) in Movies, International business & Home Entertainment.

Says Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Joint Managing Director, “With a proven track-record in the exhibition and distribution of films, we at PVR felt the need to expand in the entertainment space through content creation, and thus are venturing into production. To begin with we aim to produce five-six films out of which two are co-productions with Aamir Khan Productions and two will be directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.”

Rajkumar Santoshi adds, "In PVR, I found a combination of the desire for good cinema and a very keen sense of movie business. We are looking forward not only towards success but also, towards an amazing experience of making films together."

About PVR Pictures:

PVR Ltd ventured into the business of film distribution and set up PVR Pictures, a fully owned subsidiary of PVR Ltd. PVR Pictures specializes in acquisition and local distribution of films. PVR Pictures further diversified into film production with signing up a two-film deal with Aamir Khan Production ltd. This is a strategic business unit aimed at solidifying PVR's exhibition growth and strength. To date, PVR Pictures has acquired various films Chicago, Transamerica, Being Cyrus, Don, Omkara, Bheja Fry, Parzania and recently released films like Loins of Punjab, Blind Dating, Next among others

About Rajkumar Santoshi:

Rajkumar Santoshi is one of the noted film directors of the country and has directed many critically acclaimed and successful films like Ghayal, Damini, Andaz Apna Apna, Ghatak, Pukar, Lajja, and The Legend of Bhagat Singh etc. He has also won national awards for his films “Pukar” and “The Legend of Bhagat Singh”.

Quelle: http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/34403.html

Universal Communications' Hattrick at Box Office - October 28

Universal Communications, a well-known entertainment-based PR company headed by Parag Desai has achieved a hattrick at the box office with three consecutive hit releases this year

Staring off the hit track record was Indra Kumar's still running laughathon Dhamaal, starring Sanjay Dutt, Ritesh Deshmukh, Aashish Chowdhary, Arshad Warsi and Javed Jaffrey. Followed with was the success of yet another comedy cum thriller Bhool Bhulaiyaa, produced by T-series and directed by Priyadarshan. And lastly the appreciative media and audience reviews of Ashtavinayak's Jab We Met starring Kareena and Shahid Kapoor have made this fun love story the 3rd hit film in a row for Universal Communications

Prior to this exemplary hattrick, Universal Communications have been at the helm of promoting many acclaimed films in the past few years as well. With films like Golmaal, Corporate, Page 3, Hanuman, Dor, BhagamBhag and many more as well, the client list reads like a who's who of Bollywood for this PR Company!

Universal Communications also provides services to individual celebrities such as Ajay Devgan, music director's Shankar Ehsaan Loy, singer Shibani Kashyap, actors Aashish Chowdhary, Aarti Chabbria, Hansikaa Motwani as well as around 25 well-known stars from the Television industry with services such as Event Management and Crisis Management included in its brand portfolio.

Their forthcoming films include Ajay Devgan's directorial debut U, Me Aur Hum, Ashtavinayak's forthcoming releases such as Superstar starring Kunal Khemmu and Tulip Joshi and Rohit Shetty's Golmaal Returns as well.

Quelle: http://www.indiafm.com/news/2007/10/28/10327/

Lola is Vishal’s Nadia

After Uma Thurman turned him down, Vishal Bhardwaj has managed to sign up Franka Potente, who played Lola in Run Lola Run, for his next film.

Based on the life of Nadia, the Bollywood star of the 1930s, Julia will star Ajay Devgan in the male lead opposite Franka. The Australia-born Bollywood star had became famous as Fearless Nadia with her powerful, dare-devil roles.

For Julia, Vishal will be repeating most of his technical team from Omkara — cinematographer Tassaduq Hussain, art director Sameer Chanda and designer Dolly Ahluwahlia. Gulzar’s lyrics will again be set to Vishal’s own tunes. The director is also keen to give Saif ‘Langda Tyagi’ Khan a significant role in the film.

Franka Potente is expected to be in Mumbai anytime now.

Quelle: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071030/as...ory_8491356.asp

So what if Shah Rukh failed?

The cinematic fate of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka has passed on from Santosh and Shah Rukh to Santoshi and Ajay Devgan.

It looks like 2008 is going to witness a fierce battle of the historical warriors on the Indian screen.

While Sushmita Sen is all set to raise a sword to the Rani Of Jhansi in her international homage to the intrepid warrior queen, the epicurean epic maker Raj Kumar Santoshi who earlier cast Ajay Devgan as Bhagat Singh, is all set to now transform his favourite actor into the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka.

The film goes on the floors in early 2008 and will be jointly produced by Santoshi and the owners of the PVR chain of multiplexes.

Interestingly cinematographer-filmmaker Santosh Sivan had made a commercially unsuccessful film on the life of Emperor Ashoka entitled Asoka with Shah Rukh in the lead.

Says Santoshi, "I'm aware of Sivan's film. He's a fine craftsman. But my approach and treatment to this fascinating subject will be very different. My Ashoka will open during the Battle Of Kalinga and move forward into the Emperor's life and also recreate events pre-Kalinga through flashbacks.

Though he was born in 265 BC, today Emperor Ashoka's message of Buddhist peace at the time of terrible strife and war is more relevant than ever. I want my Ashoka to reach out to the young hip-and-happening generation. It won't be a costume drama like Mughal-e-Azam.

It will be a happening epic on the lines of Hollywood's Spartacus, Braveheart and Gladiator. Technicians from all over the world are now being finalized. "

Santoshi, a versatile epic maker with films as far- ranging as Ghayal and Lajja to his credit is toying with the idea making the film as a bi-lingual.

"Or maybe we could just have English subtitles to the Hindi dialogues since that would look more authentic, " Santoshi wonders aloud, as he prepares for the biggest challenge of his creatively fecund career.

The film will have no songs, but a background score by the "epic specialist" A R Rahman who has earlier done music in period films like Lagaan, Zubeida, JodhaA- Akbar and Santoshi's Legend Of Bhagat Singh.

This would be the second of the three historical-mythological characters that Santoshi is recreating with Devgan. After Bhagat Singh and Ashoka the creatively compatible combination moves into the Ramayan where Devgan plays Rama.

It would be interesting to see how Ajay Devgan interprets Emperor Ashoka after Shah Rukh Khan's rather peppery and mercurial enactment of the same historical character in 2001.

Quelle: http://www.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=17127