Mail Bonding Back to Section Stories Posted On Tuesday, December 11, 2007 Kunal M Shah
Saif Ali Khan has gifted a laptop to Kareena, to shake her out of computer illiteracy. So she's on email now
Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor
Kareena Kapoor has, so far, not been computer-savvy at all. But now boyfriend Saif Ali Khan has decided to set that right. As a first step to this, a few days ago, he gifted her a laptop. The result was that Kareena, the only Bollywood heroine who had no email id, has taken to the Internet now.
On the sets of Ashtavinayak's Golmaal Returns in Goa, Kareena tells us, "Saif gifted me a laptop. He is very net-savvy. Now, after pack-up, I too go online and try to catch up on all the news. It's fun. I am enjoying my new gift."
Kareena goes on to say that she is almost playing Ekta Kapoor in Golmaal Returns. "My name in the film is Ekta. Add to this the fact that I play Tusshar's sister in the film," she laughs.
So what is the Ekta angle? "I play a housewife who is extremely fond of saas-bahu serials. I get so involved with the serials that I even start suspecting my husband (played by Ajay Devgan) in the film. It's quite a wacky portrayal. You'll have to see it to believe it," she adds
Golmaal Returns also stars Amrita Arora, Arshad Warsi, Shreyas Talpade and Celina Jaitly.
Kareena Kapoor will show her sense of humour playing a wacky character in Golmaal Returns .
It is hard to grab attention when you have funny men like Arshad Warsi , Ajay Devgan and Shreyas Talpade in leading roles. But Kareena is sure that in the sequel to Golmaal she will not just catch attention but win hearts.
The reason, Bebo says, is her character, which is funny to the bone.
In the film Bebo’s character of a housewife seems inspired from Ekta Kapoor. Her name is Ekta and she also plays Tusshar Kapoor ’s sister. Moreover, Bebo’s character in the film is addicted to saas-bahu serials.
So influenced is her life by these serials that she even begins suspecting her husband of adultery after watching one such soap. Ajay Devgan plays Bebo’s unfortunate hubby.
Kareena has been shooting the film in Goa. ‘Golmaal Returns’ also stars Amrita Arora and Celina Jaitley .
There was a time when Bebo found Bipasha's boyfriend John 'expressionless' but not anymore.
She has a three-film deal with Shree Ashtavinayak whose recent release Jab We Met has rocked the box office and returned both Shahid and Bebo to the Bollywood mainstream.
Now the production house has decided to cast her opposite John and poor Kareena has just no choice but to eat her own words.
In a dramatic turnaround, Bebo has told a Mumbai tabloid that she has no problem working with John.
“I have no problem with John. I have heard the outline of the story and I like the basic idea, but I will give my final word after hearing the script in detail,” she says.
We wonder if Kareena’s turnaround is just good diplomacy or an actual change in her opinion after watching John in his recent films.
Meanwhile, John has made it clear that he has never had any problem with Kareena.
Rohit Shetty - All set to score a hat trick with SUNDAY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 12, 2007 1:13:30 PM IST Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network
2003 was witness to one of the last films centered on India/Pakistan conflicts which worked at the box office. The film was ZAMEEN which was presented as a hardcore commercial entertainer and proved to be one of the earliest successes for Abhishek Bachchan. Though the film was coverage at most centers, it also made neat profits in some territories.
Film's director Rohit Shetty went on to make his second film GOLMAAL (2006) which went on to gain a hit status for itself in spite of a slow start. The young film maker proved that he had flair not just for action but even comedy.
The result is that now he is ready with his directorial venture - SUNDAY - which is a lethal mix of action and comedy. Starring his favorite actor Ajay Devgan, who has played a central character in his first two films as well, SUNDAY is a multi starrer that also features Arshad Warsi, Ayesha Takia, Irrfan Khan, Anjana Sukhani and Mukesh Tiwari.
Produced by Kumar Mangat and Sunil Lulla, SUNDAY is aiming for a 1st February release.
From bombshells to girls-next-door! 12th Dec 2007 22.15 IST By Nikhil Kumar
Three of the hottest babes from Bollywood have been de-glamourised and tamed for a comedy film.
It is funny, but in a mawkish way. Director Rohit Shetty is doing something unexpected and partly unpardonable. He is presenting three bombshells in their toned-down avatars in his next film Golmaal Returns .
The three ladies in question are Celina Jaitley , Amrita Arora and Kareena Kapoor .
The film will have Kareena playing a housewife who is addicted to saas-bahu serials. So strongly is she influenced by such soaps that she begins to suspect her husband ( Ajay Devgan ) after watching one such episode.
Amrita Arora plays a cute girl-next-door who sports spectacles and wears checked shirts and trousers. Amrita is paired with Arshad Warsi .
But what Rohit Shetty cannot be forgiven for is transforming Celina Jaitley, the superhot babe, into a simple, non-glam, fully dressed girl. It goes without saying that to look non-sexy would certainly be a challenge for Celina. She is paired with Shreyas Talpade in the film.
We wonder what demon possessed Rohit Shetty that he thought of de-glamourising the three bombshells in his film.
Rohit says: “That is the fun of it. All the actresses are presented in a way you don’t expect. That is where the humour lies. I am sure the audiences are going to love it.”
Okay, we give in to Rohit’s point of view for the time being.
Ajay Devgan: I am not a ‘complete man’! 13 Dec, 2007 11:02 am ISTlUrvashi Ashar/INDIATIMES MOVIES
It’s siesta time in Goa. The land of sun, surf and mirage. Seated with legs on table, actor Ajay Devgan who is shooting for Golmaal Returns is tch-tch-ing as cricketer Gautam Gambhir is bowled out by Shoaib Akhtar. I enter the room, and in gentlemanly style, the actor straightens up. Greets me with a handshake, offers me a seat, and also offers to switch off the TV, albeit with a heavy heart. Known to be rather non-communicative with the media, the commentary in the background, I thought, would do well to fill-in-the-blanks of those much expected silent moments. I was in for a surprise.
Never mind that we are one wicket down, Ajay himself is a great ‘catch’ for some filmmakers who won’t make films without him - Rajkumar Santoshi, Rohit Shetty... “There’s a certain comfort zone,” agrees Devgan. “They’re all good directors, and if I suit a certain character, they approach me. It’s simple! It’s not campism; it’s work.”
Besides Santoshi’s Halla Bol , the man has been roped in to play the title role in Raj’s Ashok as well. A previous attempt on the subject wasn’t a very impressive fare at the box office. “We aren’t attempting to re-make what has already been made before. Our story is post the Kalinga war, and how the Emperor embraced Buddhism,” explains the actor. This makes me ask of Ajay’s religious sensibilities. “I’m religious. I believe in most religions and also appreciate and try to follow the good virtues each of them propagates.”
Usually treading the right path, Devgan hasn’t been a part of any controversy. Save one. His dislike for Shah Rukh Khan is much talked about. “I don’t dislike Shah Rukh. And if you are referring to my absence from Om Shanti Om , I was out of town during the time the film was being made. I assure you that if I was in the city I would’ve done what Farah approached me for,” he states, convincingly.
Talking about Shah Rukh, the topic of six-pack abs can’t be too far away. How much has the fitness conscious Devgan conquered? “I like to take care of myself. I eat and work out right. I won’t claim to have six-pack abs, but I do have a much toned stomach,” he confesses proudly. A great body, intense eyes, much fame and success and yet no link-up stories... Proves his undying love for Kajol, eh? “I don’t know. I work, and once it’s pack up, I rush home to be with family. Socialising leads to rumours of link-ups. And I just can’t socialize. I don’t enjoy it, so I don’t do it,” he avers logically.
Never mind Ajay’s success stories, another high of his life is his first directorial venture, U, Me, Aur Hum which has been falsely hailed as a re-make of the Hollywood flick The Notebook . With Kajol and him returning together on the big screen, the film truly seems to be a ‘home production’. Will daughter Nysa make a special appearance in Daddy Devgan’s special venture? “No,” says Ajay. “We’re sticking to the script, and Nysa is not a part of it,” he laughs, “But she is the most beautiful part of my life story.”
So besides being a good actor, does Ajay make a good father? “That’s a question you’ll have to reserve for Nysa when she grows up. I’m trying to do my best, but I don’t know how well I’m doing or if I’m doing well at all,” he says. Ajay, the actor, director, producer, father, husband, son...He is quite the complete man. “I’m not a complete man, but a happy man! Nobody is complete. I falter, too.” Saying this, the actor is informed that the shot is ready. The score is now 25/1, and as Dravid prepares himself for a delivery from Yasir Arafat, Ajay readies to deliver, too!
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh believes that Saawariya actually benefited from releasing alongside Om Shanti Om. “People who didn’t get tickets for OSO watched Saawariya.
Had the latter come on its own, it would have been a bigger disaster,” he says. But actor Ajay Devgan and the makers of Halla Bol weren’t willing to risk competition. They were quick to reschedule their film’s release to avoid another clash of the titans.
Taran says, “The move is sure to work in Halla Bol’s favour. Releasing on the same day as two other big banner films would have eaten into their business. Plus, you wouldn’t get the right theatres and show timings — they’re all interconnected.” ...
Irrfan Khan - Still a struggling actor? December 13, 2007 2:10:54 PM IST Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network
Even after notable performances in films like THE NAMESAKE, LIFE IN A... METRO, THE KILLER, CHOCOLATE, MAQBOOL, HAASIL and KASOOR, Irrfan Khan continues to be a struggling actor.
Well, don't be alarmed as this is a character he plays in one of his upcoming films. Directed by Rohit Shetty, SUNDAY, an action comedy, features Khan as a NSD pass out struggling actor who is desperately on the look out for a big break. Since his character is shown to be fascinated with films, Irrfan would be sporting several get-ups for SUNDAY.
Irrfan was recently seen in a guest appearance in AAJA NACHLE where the audience was left wanting for more after his brief yet effective performance. Though the culmination to his character was hard to digest, he set the screen on fire whenever he appeared on frame.
Now it would be interesting to see how Irrfan tickles audience's funny bone when he gets into a full-on fun mode in SUNDAY.
Et tu, Mr Devgan? Author: Upala KBR Date: 13 Dec 2007
Now Devgan is quietly working on building six-pack abs with trainer Shereveer
Trainer Shereveer Vakil who started out with Anil Kapoor in Pukar is now training Ajay Devgan (whose next release is Halla Bol) and a host of other celebrities.
Recently Shereveer was seen training Devgan on Ashtavinayak’s Golmaal Returns outdoor shoot in Goa. Says Shereveer, “I have been training Ajay since the last two months. I accompanied him on the Sunday outdoor in Delhi too. Ajay’s body has shaped out very well and his strength and stamina level has shot up. I am a hard taskmaster but sometimes when I see him pushing himself too much I tell him to stop.”
Devgan’s workout schedule consists of an hour and 15 minutes of pure weight training which is followed y by cardio.
Working it
“In the one hour of weight training we don’t take rest. Ajay does his cardio by himself. I train him and we work out together every day. I want him to look like John Travolta or Kurt Russel,” adds the trainer.
So is Devgan also trying for six-pack abs? Shereveer says, “Yes, even Ajay is working towards that but we are not hurrying up for it. Anybody can get six-pack abs by not eating, doing lots of cardio and other things. It’s not a big deal.”
The trainer elaborates, “Ajay feels it’s more important to get a complete physical shape, good arms, chest, shoulders and then six-pack abs. There is no point in getting six-pack abs where your face looks bad.
One can get it in 60 days if you just control your fat intake and do cardio, but then you lose your muscle tone, your energy level dips and your strength gets lowered. I am working on Ajay getting a solid muscular lean look where the whole is better than just some parts. This way he has training power, agility and endurance and a hot body!”
Impressive
Shereveer says Ajay is a strict disciplinarian when it comes to food. “If Ajay is given a diet he will follow it to the T. His meal plan is very healthy and is changed on a weekly basis.”
The trainer elaborates on the diet. “The meal is low on carbs in the evening and night and we load up on carbs after every workout. Once in a week Ajay gets gets to eat what he wants like Coca Cola and French fries. He loves food but he’s not a big eater.”
Stars of Halla Bol will perform street plays across India. Popular theatre director, Om Katare has written and directed the plays
Ajay Devgan, Vidya Balan and Pankaj Kapur will be seen participating in street plays to promote their upcoming film Halla Bol. The aim of the play is to put across a positive message regarding several issues plaguing the common man in cities across India.
Our source said, "Popular theatre personality Om Katare has been roped in to write and direct the skits and plays. Om had had several meetings with Rajkumar Santoshi and producer Abdul Sami Siddiqui. He then wrote a basic script of the play. Santoshi and Siddiqui loved it and thought that there was no better way to promote Halla Bol."
Our source further informed that Ajay, Vidya and Pankaj Kapur will be soon flying down to various cities to perform the street plays.
Our source added, "The street plays will be held in Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Kolkata, Jaipur, Patna and Mumbai. Ajay will promote the film in Delhi, Chandigarh and Lucknow. However, Vidya and Pankaj Kapur still have to decide on the cities that they will promote the film. Katare will look into the issues or problems concerning the respective cities and weave a story around it. He will then include the respective issues in the basic script."
When contacted, producer Abdul Sami Siddiqui confirmed about promoting Halla Bol through street plays. "I am glad that my actors have agreed to be a part of it," he said.
Siddiqui said that the idea to market Halla Bol through street plays came up while they were shooting the film.
He said, "Ajay is shown doing street plays while struggling as an actor in the film. That's when I thought of promoting Halla Bol in a similar manner. I then approached Om Katare as I had watched plays written and directed by him. I asked if he'd script and direct street plays to promote my film. And he agreed."
When contacted, Om Katare said that he initially feared the chaos the stars' presence would create on the streets. He said, "People will go berserk to catch a glimpse of the actors. However, our purpose is to make the common man aware about serious issues. Thus my script revolves around the BMC problems, hospital and medical issues, sexual harassment etc. All the attention that the plays will garner will be worth it."
3 years after he last donned the uniform of a law enforcer in a Bollywood flick, Ajay Devgan would be back as a cop in February 2008 release Sunday. It was way back in March 2005 that Devgan played the role of Havaldar Mohammed Ali a.k.a. Mike Alpha in Mani Shankar directed Tango Charlie. The movie was a failure at the box office.
Though in between he did play the role of a SP in a Bhojpuri film Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke (2006), it has been long since Ajay Devgan played a cop in a Bollywood flick. Instead, he has been experimenting with roles as diverse as a small time crook (Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag), a suave criminal mastermind (Cash), a mafia don (Omkara), an easy going impersonator (Golmaal), an ambitious businessman (Shikhar), a henchman (Apaharan), a mentally challenged man (Main Aisa Hi Hoon) and a ghost (Kaal).
Incidentally Rohit Shetty, the man who has directed Sunday, was responsible for projecting Ajay Devgan in a different light when he convinced him to play the role of an Army man in his directorial debut Zameen (2003). Devgan played the character of Col. Ranvir Singh Ranawat, a rough'n'tough Army person who had some interesting on-screen conflicts with Abhishek Bachchan, the film's second lead. Rohit's next film Golmaal was a hardcore comic outing and had Devgan enacting a fun part. Now Sunday mixes the genre of both Zameen and Golmaal and is an out and out action comedy with Devgan as ACP Rajveer.
Also starring Arshad Warsi, Ayesha Takia, Irrfan Khan, Anjana Sukhani and Mukesh Tiwari, Sunday has a unique plot that revolves around the character of Sehar (Ayesha Takia) whose world turns topsy-turvy when she gets a clue about the missing Sunday of her life! This is where ACP Rajveer takes up her case to sort out the complications from Sehar's life.
He kick starts his investigation by checking out various people who had interacted with Sehar on Sunday which include a taxi driver (Ballu), his struggling actor friend (Irrfan Khan), Sehar's best friend (Anjana Sukhani), a scary and suspicious character who resides in Sehar's society, and the group whom she had come across while partying at the discotheque. In the process, he also ends up hitting upon a murder case which brings on the suspense angle to the entire episode.
Produced by Kumar Mangat and Sunil Lulla, Sunday has been shot extensively in Delhi and Mumbai with some portions in Australia. The film is aiming for a 1st February, 2008 release.
Six pack? Big deal! Shubha Shetty-Saha Thursday, December 13, 2007 23:59 IST
Ajay Devgan says it’s absurd to think abdominal muscles can be the USP of a film
Ajay Devgan who always maintained that he hates doing interviews (wife Kajol shares the sentiment) says he might have to indulge in it lots since his own film, ‘U, Me Aur Hum’ will be up for release soon. At least he is honest about it. He has always been, at least most of the time. Chilling in Goa, shooting for Sri Ashtavinayak Cine Vision’s ‘Golmaal Returns’ Ajay is in a mood to chat. He looks quite at ease on the sets of this Rohit Shetty directed film.
His next release is Raj Kumar Santoshi’s ‘Halla Bol’. Tell him it looks a lot like his earlier hits, ‘Gangajal’ and ‘Apaharan’ and he quickly says, “No, ‘Halla Bol’ is more commercial. It is very difficult to find a script which is commercial enough, has humour, has glamour and heavy drama….’Halla Bol’ is one such film.”
Ajay says even though he plays a superstar in ‘Halla Bol’, the character is not at all like him. “He is this small town boy who becomes a super star. He loves and revels in all the trappings of a superstar. He becomes this larger than life person, which is so unlike me.” So who is it inspired by? “Not any one star really. It has been inspired by many stars…”
Ask him if he wants to follow the six pack and eight pack phase that every actor in town seems to be going through and he says with his trademark wry smile, “It doesn’t really work that way. There have been so many newcomers and strugglers walking around with six packs from time immemorial, it doesn’t work. If that could be the USP, all of them would have made it by now.”
His character in ‘Halla Bol’ film loves award ceremonies, whereas Ajay has always shunned them. In defence Ajay says, “Simply because I do not know if the awards are right and fair. I think most nominations are so stupid…” What about National Awards? He’s got two and now they have become controversial as well.
“Yes, but when I got them they were controversy free,” he says with a smile, “But I respect those awards because performances and films from all over India are considered and regional films are also given equal attention.”
Mira Nair's Shantaram is very much on IANS Friday, December 14, 2007 19:57 IST
A report quoting Irrfan Khan as saying NRI filmmaker Mira Nair's 'Shantaram' is shelved, has the actor utterly puzzled.
"I never said that! Why would I, when the film is very much on, just pushed ahead. In fact, Mira has lived with the project for so long that 'Shantaram' has become an integral part of her life," Irrfan told.
Screen adaptation of Gregory David Roberts' novel, the film starring Johnny Depp and Amitabh Bachchan is a crime and adventure drama and the story travels to three countries - Germany, Afghanistan and India.
Irrfan is currently busy shooting "Right Ya Wrong", which is his first action movie.
"Right Ya Wrong which I'm currently shooting on the outskirts of Mumbai is my first action film. And in Rohit Shetty's 'Sunday', which is ready for release I do comedy for the first time. Audiences have seen all my co-stars in 'Sunday' - Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi, Ayesha Takia - do comedy. But not me."
Meet Irrfan Khan's Ravana avatar December 14, 2007 16:24 IST
Irrfan Khan has played many roles in his film career, but the character in Rohit Shetty's Sunday may be one to remember.
Irrfan plays an unsuccessful actor, who keeps auditioning for roles with little luck. One of his roles include playing Ravana.
The film, which also stars Ajay Devgan, Arshad Warsi and Ayesha Takia is about an investigation into a case involving memory loss or more specifically, about a missing Sunday in Sehar's (Ayesha's) life.
Further investigation into the case by ACP Rajveer (Devgan) throws up a whole lot of possibilities and suspects, among whom are the following -- Ballu, the taxi driver (Warsi), his friend, Kumar (Irrfan) and Ritu, Sehar's close friend.
This intriguing puzzle is produced by Kumar Mangat, who produced Omkara and No Smoking earlier.
The man who played GANDHI in HALLA BOL December 14, 2007 4:54:52 PM IST Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network
Darshan Jariwala, the man who played Gandhi in GANDHI MY FATHER a few months back, would be enacting a negative character in Rajkumar Santoshi's HALLA BOL early next year.
2007 has been an eventful year for Jariwala who has fast made progress in his Bollywood career. His claim to fame has not only been restricted to GANDHI MY FATHER. Earlier this year he was also seen in AAJA NACHLE, AAP KAA SURROOR - THE MOVIEE, HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT. LTD. and GURU.
Now in HALLA BOL he plays the role of a villain who is challenged by Ajay Devgan. Devgan enacts the character of a superstar who starts a revolution against crime and social bankruptcy in the film. HALLA BOL is looking at a 11th January release.
Pyramid Saimira includes Quawwali in HALLA BOL December 14, 2007 6:58:26 PM IST Bollywood Trade News Network
Amjad Farid SabriPresenter and global distributor Pyramid Saimira of HALLA BOL, have decided to add the picturised Quawwali more haji piya by Pakistani singer Amjad Farid Sabri in the film. Shot at Haji Ali, this song is picturised on the artiste Ajay Devgan, Vidya Balan and the singer himself. Well known for his singing in Pakistan, this is the first time that Sabri will be seen in a Hindi film on screen. "This is a very spiritual song. Earlier this song was to be included only in the music album but later it was decided to include it in the film since it's very vocal of the mood of the film," comments music director Sukhwinder Singh for HALLA BOL.
Incidentally this particular song in the film is composed by music director Vanraj Bhatia and sung by Pakistan's famous Quawwali singer Amjad Farid Sabri.
HALLA BOL is produced by Abdol Samee Siddiqui under the banner of Sunrise Pictures Pvt Ltd. and directed / scripted by Raj Kumar Santoshi.
HALLA BOL is presented and distributed globally by Pyramid Saimira Theatre Ltd. The star cast includes Ajay Devgan, Vidya Balan, Pankaj Kapur and Darshan Zariwala.