News (englisch) » December 2007 - News

'Halla Bol' shifts to 11th Jan

By Taran Adarsh, December 1, 2007 - 11:59 IST

Here’s the hottest news of the week and as always, it’s first on IndiaFM…

The Christmas week [21st December] was supposed to witness the clash of the mighty three -- WELCOME, TAARE ZAMEEN PAR and HALLA BOL -- but HALLA BOL has now decided to shift ahead, to 11th January, 2008. Reportedly, Ajay Devgan, who enacts the principal role, wasn’t too keen on the clash since the business would get divided. The actor voiced his concern to the distributors, Pyramid Saimira, who also felt that it was better to shift the film to the new date.

So, this Christmas, it’s WELCOME and TAARE ZAMEEN PAR finally.

Quelle: http://indiafm.com/news/2007/12/01/10527/index.html

Vidya Balan’s a lucky gal!

Ever since her past films Heyy Babyy and Bhool Bhulaiya have been declared smash hits, Vidya Balan’s on a professional high.

However, the beautiful actress has not let the success of any of her films go to her head. Modest as ever, she credits the success to pure luck and God. “I feel I am truly blessed. At the moment, my life’s going so good, I’m sure there’s some angel looking after me.” Vidya who will next be seen with Ajay Devgan in Halla Bol is also very excited about this film.

“Working with a fine actor like Ajay was an experience in itself. He just eases into the role so comfortably, it’s a treat to watch him. There’s so much one can learn from him. And of course, working with Rajkumar Santoshi was a dream come true,” she adds. Well, Vidya at the rate at which your films are hitting bulls-eye at the box-office, you sure seem to be one lucky gal!

Quelle: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India...how/2589334.cms

Halla later

Ajay Devgan doesn't want to share his Friday (December 21) with Aamir Khan. He has postponed the release of Halla Bol to January 2008

Ajay Devgan's business sense worked over-time when he realised that the release of his Halla Bol will clash with two other films - Aamir Khan's Tare Zameen Par and Anees Bazmee's Welcome.

He quickly stalled the release of the film. According to our source Ajay discussed the issue with the producer Abdul Sami Siddiqui and distributors Pyramid Saimira who decided to postpone Halla Bol's release by almost a month.

Our well placed source said, "There are two films releasing on the same day already - Aamir Khan's Tare Zameen Par and Anees Bazmee's Welcome and Ajay (Devgan) felt that if his film is released on the same day, they will only take away the limelight from each other and eat into each other's business."

Our source added, "Citing past examples of the films released on the same day, Ajay said that it would not be a wise to release a film when there were already two other films releasing on that day."

Producer Abdul Sami Siddiqui confirmed that Halla Bol's release has been postponed. "My film will release on January11, 2008. It is true that we did not want our film to clash with Taare Zameen Par and Welcome.

Besides this, we must also understand that Aamir's and Anees' films are big releases and it becomes difficult for our distributors to get the chain theatres that we wanted. Hence the delay."

Quelle: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper....42121312b2e2b56

Ajay-Bipasha in old age Ashoka

Rajkumar Kumar Santoshi describes Ashoka as a historical film and says that it won’t be a modern day interpretation of the epic.

Likewise, Santoshi is not afraid of risking his money despite the box office fate of Santosh Sivan’s Ashoka that starrer Shah Rukh Khan.

Says Santoshi, “That shows my confidence in the subject. In spite of one Asoka having come and gone, I am still coming up with another one. I may have something different to be confident about. Despite knowing the Asoka was made earlier I thought of making it again. Sivan’s story ends at Kalinga, but my story starts at Kalinga. It stars Ajay Devgan and Bipasha in the lead.”

Quelle: http://www.radiosargam.com/films/archive...age-ashoka.html

The only choice: Ajay Devgan

Actor Ajay Devgan is known to get along with very many people.

It’s no wonder then that filmmakers are willing and eager to work with him again and again and again. The man will work with director Rohit Shetty for the fourth time in Golmaal Returns.

From his first film Zameen, Rohit has made sure that Devgan is a part of every film of his. Golmaal, Sunday and now Golmaal Returns, too, will have Ajay Devgan in it.

It’s fun working with Ajay. When I wasn’t shooting for Sunday, I used to be on the sets of Ajay’s home production film U, Me Aur Hum assisting him,” says Rohit. Looks like this is one of the many cherished actor-director jodis.

Quelle: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India...how/2583782.cms

Rakhi Tandon steps into Big Screen

Rakhi Tandon, the sizzling ‘Sweety’ of famous television soap Hum Paanch, is all geared up to make her mark in big screen as well. Rakhi will be seen in Rohit Shetty’s Golmaal Returns, which is a sequel to 'Golmaal' and also in Ganesh Acharya’s 'Money Hai to Honey Hai'.

As far as 'Golmaal Returns' is concerned, Rakhi is very excited about sharing the screen space with stars like Ajay Devgan, Kareena Kapoor and others. At the same time, she seems to be superstitious about divulging too many details about the film.

Rakhi has not faced the camera for a very long time. However, she is all set to start her second innings with same vivaciousness that she had as ‘Sweety’ but this time, on the big screen.

Quelle: http://movies.indiainfo.com/2007/12/04/0...533_rakhit.html

Shuru ho jaa, mamu

Hier gehts um "Julia" mit Franka Potente und Ajay!

Sanjay Dutt is already on a mission to retrieve his position in Bollywood. The 48-year-old actor is having high-profile meetings to finalise his future films. The buzz is that his latest conquest is Vishal Bharadwaj's much-talked-about film, Julia, which is based on the life and times of famous Indian actress and stuntwoman of the '30s, Marry Ann Evans aka Fearless Nadia. A source close to the actor says, "He has agreed to do the film in principle. But we're yet to finalise the details."

The story goes that Vishal Bharadwaj and Sanjay Dutt had a couple of meetings in the past. After a detailed script narration, an impressed Dutt had readily agreed to do the film. However, he was pre-occupied with the court proceedings then and had refused to commit any dates.

From what we hear, he has resumed fresh talks with the producers UTV Motion Pictures. If all goes well, he will be paired opposite Run Lola Run actress Franka Potente, who was recently in the city to undergo a customary screen test.

A source from the production house says, "If all goes well, Dutt will start filming for us next year. We have to wait till he finishes his pending projects. We have to finish the paper work before making a formal announcement."

When quizzed about Dutt featuring in the ambitious project, Siddharth Roy, COO of UTV Motion Pictures says, "No comments."

Julia is set in the 1930s Bollywood and has been written in collaboration with Matthew Robbins, who has written The Sugarland Express and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, in the past. Bharadwaj had once referred to the film as 'an out and out entertainer' in one of his rare interviews. Speculations are rife that director Bharadwaj is also in talks with a bunch of actors including Ajay Devgan and Kareena Kapoor for other roles in the film.

Quelle: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper....335250056649a25

Halla Bol was not delayed because of money - Santoshi - December 4

Raj Kumar Santoshi has refuted claims that his forthcoming flick Halla Bol’s release date was extended from December 21st to January 11th because the film wasn’t getting sold.

Santoshi, whoiis in Los Angeles, angrily denied these rumours “It’s absolutely not true. I really don’t know who is spreading these rumours. Halla Bol has been sold at a very good price. In fact, Sudhir from Pyramid Saimira told me last week that the offer for the Bihar territory was more than Om Shanti Om.” Another source added, “Halla Bol was already sold to Pyramid Saimira a month ago at a fabulous price.”

So when we put it to Santoshi as to why the film was postponed, he said “We decided to postpone the film as three films releasing on the same day (December 21) would harm everyone’s business.”

It has been reported that Halla Bol is based on the Aamir Khan-Narendra Modi clash. Santoshi denies this too, “The question of Halla Bol being based around the Narmada Bachao Andolan clash doesn’t arise as we shot the film much earlier. Ajay plays a superstar but he’s not based on any real-life character. There are vested interests that are trying to harm Halla Bol. I don’t know who it is yet, but once I’m back I will definitely find out.”

Quelle: http://www.radiosargam.com/films/archive...y-santoshi.html

No ‘dumb business’ in Golmaal Returns

Some might say that Golmaal was Tushaar’s career best performance which also fetched him a few awards. It was not easy playing the mute character but he managed to convince the audience of his audible inability with elegance. And now that the sequel Golmaal Returns is already underway, it seems like Tushaar just might have his work cut out for him. Why you might ask? Let’s hear it from the horses mouth himself.

“There is the added pressure. You have to make people like you all over again”, says Tushaar. “Unlike the last one where Sharman Joshi was my voice, no one translates what I am trying to say in the sequel. So I have to put in more energy to get the right expressions out.” Now even Rani Mukherjee had a translator in Black, so seems like Tushaar will have to go that extra mile.

Speaking about his character Tushaar says, “In the first film, my character was very sly despite being mute but in this one he is more innocent and gullible. And what doesn’t help is the fact that I’m a struggling mute barber in the film.” Despite, the difficult character, it seems that Tushaar is looking forward to the challenge.

He adds that this one too will be a laugh-riot just like the last time. “However, this is not a male-bonding film like the last time. There are interconnected scenes between us but we are not the best of friends. Each one of us have our own tracks.”

Tushaar also has a number of films that he is excited about. Come next year and we will see him in C Company, One Two Three, Halla Bol (special appearance) and Neeraj Vora’s Run Bhola Run.

Quelle: http://movies.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2592520.cms

Not a starry welcome

With the release of Halla Bol pushed back to January 11, 2008, the battle lines for box office supremacy have been drawn up.. between Taare Zameen Par and Welcome.

According to trade sources, PVR Cinemas, which is venturing into movie production with the Aamir Khan kiddie flick, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that Taare… records higher collections than Firoz Nadiadwala's Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Katrina Kaif and Mallika Sherwat comic caper.

A source informs, "The best and multiple shows at PVR multiplexes have been booked for Taare Zameen Par. In Mumbai Welcome hasn't got any shows at either the Juhu or Mulund 'plex. Even in north India, PVR has ensured that Taare.. reigns, at least in its theatres."

Fair play claims
Sanjeev Bijli of PVR however refuted the rumours insisting that both films will be screened at the five-six screen theatres.

"The number of shows would depends on the duration of the movie. If the film is short, it will automatically get more shows," he pointed out.

Apparently, Nadiadwala is upset with the theatre chain's attitude. However, for the moment he doesn't want to get caught in a war of words. When we tried contacting him for his side of the story, he excused saying he was busy in a series of meetings.

Meanwhile, a clearer picture of Bijli's claims will emerge only when the films release on December 21.

Quelle: Not a starry welcome - Hindustantimes

'Run Lola Run' actress is Vishal Bharadwaj’s Julia - December 4

Franka Potente, the German actress who played a pivotal role in blockbuster ‘Run Lola Run’ has reportedly been signed for Vishal Bharadwaj ’s next film.

Vishal’s film Julia is based on the life of Mary Ann Evans, an Australian woman who became the first stuntwoman in Hindi film industry in 1930s. She was famously called Fearless Nadia or Hunterwali, and worked in Hindi movies for four decades.

Bharadwaj, who is one of the cutting-edge filmmakers of Bollywood, had previously approached Uma Thurman to play the role but she did not sign the film. Now Bharadwaj’s search has reportedly ended at Franka Potente, whom the filmmaker met in Berlin early this year.

Just a few days back, Franka reportedly flew down to Mumbai to screen test for her role in ‘Julia’.

In the screen test, Franka wore Nadia’s costumes like shirts, baggy pants and long boots. She also wielded Nadia’s trademark hunter (whip).

It is learnt that Bharadwaj liked Franka in the get-up and has finalized her for the part. However, an official confirmation is still awaited.

Bharadwaj is keen to begin ‘Julia’ soon. His last project was an incredibly good short film called ‘Blood Brothers’ for Mira Nair’s films on AIDS awareness.

Quelle: http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/hollywood/20071204-0.html