RE: November 2009 - News - 2

By: Upala KBR Date: 2009-11-14 Place: Mumbai

Her film, Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, based on rise of underworld, is similar to Tomorrow

Ekta Kapoor's film, Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, exploring the rise of the underworld from the 70s to the 90s has some competition. A film starring Anuj Sawney and Seema Biswas called Tomorrow also has a similar theme.
City's underbelly

While Ekta's film is being directed by Milan Luthria and stars Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut, Tomorrow is directed by Amjad Khan.

Once Upon A Time In Mumbai has Ajay reportedly playing a character based on Haji Mastan, while Emraan plays the character of Dawood Ibrahim.

Anuj says, "Tomorrow explores the underbelly of the Mumbai underworld era starting from the early 1970s right till the 1990s, which names all prominent ganglords, including Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan, Kareem Lala, Haji Mastan, etc.

It is the story of a gang of petty urchins, who take it upon themselves to usurp the entire system and thus make enemies with the police and the underworld."

When asked if he's aware that Tomorrow has a similar storyline to Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, Anuj says, "I have no clue. Good for Ekta if it is, as Tomorrow has a beautifully woven script and storyline."

It's different

Ekta, however, says, "There can be nothing similar to Once Upon A Time In Mumbai. It's going to be one of the most controversial films of its times.

It has required lots of research, which we have obtained from journalists of that time. It requires skill to recreate the 70s and make a film with a controversial background.

If Tomorrow is similar, I wish it all the best. Though our film has a reference to the 90s, it has mostly been shot in the early 70s."

Bhais in the 1970s

The major players during the 70s were Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, Vardarajan Mudaliar, Yusuf Patel, Golden Babya, Sitaram Dada, Moses Dada, Rajan Nair (Bada Rajan) and Manya Surve.

They were involved in bootlegging and gambling.

The narcotics trade in this decade was largely limited to hashish. The old dons mostly ruled the neighbourhood they lived in.

Quelle: http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/nov/141...ood-Ibrahim.htm

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Ajay Devgn is said to be very happy with the response to his latest films.
Though not much has been said or written about it, both the latest releases of Ajay Devgn, All The Best and London Dreams have done extremely good business at the Box Office, which has suddenly given Ajay Devgn’s career an upward swing.
Though none the three films, which were released on Diwali made it big this year, it was All The Best, directed by Rohit Shetty and produced by Ajay Devgn, which took away the maximum applauds. What was even more encouraging for Ajay Devgn was that rather than the traditional serious and action oriented roles, which he is known for, Ajay Devgn was praised for trying his hands at comedy in this film.
Again, though it may not be a super hit, Vipul Shah’s London Dreams has managed to pull crowds and proved to be a profitable deal for the producers. Moreover, despite the fact that his role had slight negative shades in it, Ajay Devgn is being praised all-over for his excellent performance in London Dreams.
Happy with the success of All The Best and the praise he has got for London Dreams, Ajay Devgn recently threw a party at his house. When asked Ajay said the good response to the two films was important for him, since it showed that he was being accepted in different kinds of roles. Ajay added, "It’s a great feeling that at this stage of my career, I am being seen in movies as diverse as a London Dreams or an All The Best. At one point of time, I was doing only intense roles.”
Happy with the response to his films, it is expected that Ajay Devgn will now be encouraged to try for different kind of roles.

Quelle: http://bollywood-prince.blogspot.com/200...-his-films.html

MEENA IYER , TNN 17 November 2009, 12:20am IST

Remember Amita Pathak? She’s the girl who made her debut opposite Adhyanan Suman in Haal-e-Dil. Now Amita is back wearing the producer’s hat.

The 20-something has just launched her banner Wide Frame Films. And, she is combining forces with Hollywood giant Warner Bros Pictures India to make her first production — Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? — a subtle satire which when translated means, ‘Guest when will you leave?’

Amita says, “The story idea is mine. We had a guest at home for three months who over-stayed his hospitality. And it lead to so many funny and frustrating situations. When I narrated this to my director (Ashwini Dhir) and to my father (Kumar Mangat) they felt it made the perfect premise for a rip-roaring comedy. And that’s how Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? was born.”

Amita even managed to get not one but three National Award winning artistes — Ajay Devgan, Konkona Sen Sharma and Paresh Rawal to greenlight her project almost immediately.

Says Ajay, the leading man, “I liked the script because it is very real... and has some slice-of-life comic situations. It is also very cleverly written and the humour in the dialogue makes it very likeable. I’m sure people from all walks of life will identify with this because every home must have had a guest who has been the bane of their lives.”

The music for this film is by the hot-shot composer Pritam and the film will release globally on February 26, 2010. “The script of Atithi... itself is a non-stop laugh riot and when you add the comical talents of Ajay, Paresh and Konkona, we have a winner at the box office,” says Denzil Dias, Deputy Managing Director (Theatrical) , Warner Bros. Pictures India.

Quelle: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/enter...how/5235355.cms

17.11.09 New Delhi

Warner Bros. Pictures India and Wide Frame Films join hands for their next Bollywood film ‘Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge?’ starring Ajay Devgn, Konkona Sen Sharma & Paresh Rawal under the direction of Ashwani Dheer. Amita Pathak, daughter of Kumar Mangat will take on the reins of a Producer for the first time with this project.

“The script of Atithi… itself is a non stop laugh riot and you add the comical talents of Ajay Devgn, Paresh Rawal & Konkona Sen, we have a winner at the box office” says Denzil Dias, Deputy Managing Director (Theatrical) , Warner Bros. Pictures India

Says the debutant producer Amita Pathak, “When my director (Ashwani Dheer) narrated the script to me, I could completely relate to it as we have also faced a similar scenario at home leading to a lot of funny and frustrating situations. We felt it made the perfect premise for a rip-roaring comedy. And that is how ‘Athithi Tum Kab Jaoge’ was born.”

This is the first time 3 National award winners like Ajay, Konkona and Paresh have been cast together for a light hearted comedy.

Says the main lead, Ajay Devgn, “I liked the script because it is very real and has some slice-of-life comic situations. It is also very cleverly written and the humour in the dialogue makes it very likeable. I’m sure people from all walks of life will identify with this because every home must have had a guest who has been the bane of their lives.”

To be shot over 50 days at Yashraj Studios and other locales in Mumbai, the film is slated to release on 26th February 2010.

The Music for the film will be composed by Pritam while the lyrics have been penned by Irshad Kamil.

The Cinematographer of the film is Aseem Bajaj, Sound recordist Shubhash Sahu while production designs will be by Sabu Cyril.

Quelle 1: http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/200...3487/index.html

Quelle 2 http://www.financialexpress.com/news/aja...b-jaoge/542706/

Posted on 17 November 2009

MUMBAI- The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to add two more team to its existing 8 team for the fourth edition of the IPL in 2011.

IPL have offered the Bidders a choice of eight to 10 cities that can be made their home team venues and they will be allowed to bid for any number of cities. The highest two bids will be chosen and companies will use the name of that city as their home base and team brand.

Several individuals and companies have shown interest in owning IPL teams, such as actors Ajay Devgan, Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt, and the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG).

The minimum floor price for bidding has been fixed at $250 million, five times the floor price for the eight original teams that were auctioned in 2007. This price is two times the higest bidder in the 2007 for Mumbai Indians (Mukesh Ambani) at $111.9 million.

The bidding for the the two team is set to be held early next year prior to the of IPL3 March 2010.

Quelle: http://www.sportsbizasia.com/featured-ne...-team-ipl-2011/

Nov 18, 2009

MUMBAI: Bipasha Basu is taking a well deserved break. The actress who has been shooting round the clock has decided to give shooting a skip and is chilling at home. But get her talking about her movies and she is quick to talk about her latest with Priyadarshan. And the first thing the actress comments upon is, "I have heard so much about the way the South film industry functions, but this is my first with a Tamil director and the experience is fabulous."

Basu has been cast in a political thriller in Priyadarshan's latest which has Akshaye Khanna, Ajay Devgan and Paresh Rawal. Basu declared, "This is what I love about my life. After so many years of hard work, I can choose my films. And it is very important for me to keep taking these small holidays. What do you think, that I shoot round the year… No ways."

The actress who has been doing up her house for the past one year is still putting the final touches to her place. She said, "I think my home needs my attention. There has been no respite. After all the repair work was done, there was a water leakage. And now when that has been fixed, it is my air conditioning. I hope after this I never have to call any technician."

Career front, Basu is still basking in the success of her last release, All The Best. There has been a round of celebratory parties and Bips has enjoyed every moment of it. Guess Basu believes in "All hard work and no play…"

Quelle: http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=14911

Posted: Nov 20, 2009 at 1721 hrs IST

Nana Patekar, who walked out from the sets of Rajniti after a heated argument with filmmaker Prakash Jha over the execution of a certain scene, is back in the film. The actor, who had just three days of shoot remaining for the film, later sorted out his differences, confirmed Jha. He added that the actor will also be dubbing for his role. With the film’s two-month long schedule wrapped earlier this month, Rajniti is complete. Featuring Ajay Devgn, Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal and Nana Patekar among others, the film has been shot extensively in Bhopal.

Quelle: http://www.screenindia.com/news/Revathy-...xt-year/543298/

20.11.09

AHMEDABAD: Exactly 49 days ago, Harshil Nanda was a severely ill thalassemic patient with B positive blood group. Today, he is a healthy infant with A positive blood group and a confirmed evidence of how stem cell transplant
can cure thalassemia.

The change in his blood group is in fact proof that Harshil’s procedure, the country’s second stem cell transplant from umbilical cord blood of a stranger child received from a private bank, has worked.

Harshil’s rapid recovery has cheered stem cell transplant surgeons at Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI) where the first such transplant was performed nearly a year ago.

“This means that unrelated umbilical stem cell transplant can be termed as an established treatment. As they say, first success could be luck but second is science,” said director of bone marrow transplant department at GCRI Dr Sandip A Shah. The transplant was assisted by Dr Kinnari Patel and Dr Kamlesh Shah.

The first success story was of Rishi, a thalassemic major child from Kutch, who was cured by umbilical cord stem cells transplanted from an unrelated donor as he did not have siblings. Harshil is also the only child of his parents.

“While it took three months in Rishi for the donor blood cells to completely take over and change his blood group, Harshil has recovered within two months,” said Dr Shah.

For children without siblings and suffering from thalassemia, aplastic anaemia and similar blood problems, this is good news. The success rate of such transplants is 70 per cent.

Doctors are now poised to perform a third unrelated umbilical cord stem cell transplant. “The third patient is a girl called Zeel, who has got Rs 10 lakh as donation from Bollywood star Ajay Devgan to perform the transplant,” said Dr Shah.

Quelle: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/...how/5253092.cms

22.11.09

To witness Ajay Devgan and Konkona Sen Sharma paired opposite on the silver screen is going to be full of surprise element. Yes, Ajay and Konkona will be seen sharing the screen space for the first time as love birds in Ashwani Dhir’s ‘Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge?’.

And it becomes a hell lot of a task for the musicians associated with the film to work on such an unusual pair. When we asked the lyricist Irshad Kamil about his experience, he says, “Well, for musicians characters and situations play an important role in the making of songs.

However, it will be a treat for audience to watch two superb actors Ajay and Konkona on-screen. I feel they compliment each other really well.”

Already much had been talked about the unconventional jodi of Ranbir-Konkona who took everyone by surprise with the ultimate on-screen chemistry in Wake-Up Sid. So, will Ajay and Konkona too bring the same magic gives way to an interesting risk for the cine-goers.

Quelle: http://www.santabanta.com/cinema.asp?pid=32782

Published: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 at 16:44 IST

Mumbai: Versatile actor Ajay Devgan is all set to play a challenging role in an upcoming flick. He has done a great job in films like Apharan and Gangajal.

In these flicks, Devgan exploited his acting skill efficiently. His acting brought laurels to him. Sources say that in yet another forthcoming project, he will be doing a challenging role.

In the movie, he will be playing a role designed on the lines of former underworld don Haji Mastan, said the source.

The movie features other stars, including Prachi Desai and Imran Hashmi. Prachi Desai is playing an important character.

Movie named as “Once Upon A Time in Mumbai” is based on story of emergence of mafia world in Mumbai. Milan Luthiria is director of the movie.

Quelle: http://www.samaylive.com/news/ajay-devga...tan/668680.html

Published by Webmaster at 02:07:53 pm on November 23, 2009

Karan Johar, Farhan Akhtar, Ranbir Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Yash Chopra, Boman Irani, Nandana Sen, Neha Dhupia, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Mugdha Godse, Ramesh Taurani, Gul Panag — just a couple of Bollywood log who will be part of a special song-cum-music video dedicated to the 26/11 terror attacks.

The video, conceptualised and produced by Viraf Patel, directed by Arjun Sablok and composed by Monty Sharma, will go on air on the 26th itself and will also feature the aam junta — Mumbaiites from all stratas of society and all walks of life — besides the Bollywood brigade.

“The song will be interspersed with the stars and the people giving out their own personal, heartfelt messages, the crux of which will be ‘I am Indian’, ‘Main Hindustani Hoon’, ‘Main Bharatiya Hoon’… the variations of the same statement is a deliberate attempt to reflect the diversity and unity of India. Although the terrorists struck Mumbai, every Indian was affected. The aftermath was pan-Indian. The idea of the single is to stir the emotions of every Indian,” says Viraf of the music video which will be aired on all television channels.

Quelle: http://www.radiosargam.com/films/archive...tack-video.html