RE: November 2009 - News - 3

DNA Monday, November 23, 2009 3:58 IST

Mumbai: Happy endings are no more the norm for Bollywood production houses. The trend, perceptible over the last few years, has become disturbingly familiar in 2009. With movies bombing and losses mounting -- Rs300 crore and still counting -- the script is going awfully awry.

As the sizzling chemistry between lead pair Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor failed to send the cash boxes ringing and Kurbaan collections nosedived, it was the same old story playing out. The latest from Karan Johar's Dharma Productions had a poor 40-50 % opening this weekend, say analysts.

"Kurbaan managed a modest 30% opening on Friday across all our properties," informs Vishal Kapur, COO of Fun Cinemas. On Saturday, says Kapur, the film garnered only an additional 5%. In Cinemax theatres across India, the film opened to a slightly better 45% on Friday, but didn't go up by a great margin on Saturday.

2009 has already been a woeful year for producers. Barring a couple of stray successes, it has been a bloodbath at the box office. Almost 90% of financiers have lost money.

Experts attribute this to threereasons. First, the second quarter saw no movies releasing due to the stand-off between the producers and multiplex owners. This meant no box office revenue was generated for around three months.

Second, the ripple effect of the strike saw people borrow more money at higher bank interest rates.The rate is as high as 14-15% for public banks and 18-24% for private financiers compared to 3% in Hollywood. And there is no relaxation allowed for interest payment if movies don't release on time.

Finally, pricing of movies took a beating with recession setting in as producers had sold their products at overwhelming rates with stars too charging astronomical amounts. Such movies did not give the same returns, forget profits. Like rights for London Dreams, Blue and others were apparently sold Rs120 crore and more. But trade analysts say such movies, especially London Dreams, tanked at the box office leaving a hole in the pockets of the makers.

After All the Best (starring Ajay Devgn and Bipasha Basu) and Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif) became hits and others like Wake Up Sid and Kaminey did relatively well, analysts felt things were on the upswing. They were banking on the last two months of the year to see a cut in losses. But with Kurbaan not living up to the hype, the hopes of the industry have taken a hit.

Now a lot rests on four back-to-back big star cast movies -- De Dana Dan (Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in the lead), Paa (with Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan in a unique father-son role), Rocket Singh Salesman (starring Ranbir Kapoor) and the Christmas release, Aamir Khan's 3 Idiots.

"Kurbaan not doing well is a body blow. The losses are set to rise for sure. Box office collections account for around 50% of revenue. The industry is bleeding with hardly any hits and the losses are way over the Rs300 crore mark,'' said veteran trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

He added: "In 2007, Taare Zameen Par and Welcome; and in 2008, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Ghajini managed to cut losses. This year needs the next four films to be blockbusters to revive the box office."

Quelle: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/re...-bleeds_1315210

TNN 26 November 2009, 12:00am IST

Films
Total Ten – a film made on the events of 26/11, directed by Surinder Suri, starring Rajan Verma as Kasab, along Ashish Vidyarthi and Aroon Bakshi

A telefilm titled Un Hazaaron Ke Naam, featuring Vinod Khanna and Seema Biswas, also Sadiya Siddique, Jyoti Dogra, Bobby Parvez and Vikrant

Actor Nikhil Dwivedi, who also features in Mani Ratnam’s Ravan, has recently finished dubbing for an animation film named Crackers, where he plays the protagonist. “My character is called Zoobi, and the story is about four teenage boys whose lives get affected in various ways due to the terrorist attack,” says the actor. The songs have been sung by singers like Shaan, Shreya Goshal, Hariharan, Pamela Jain, Raja Hasan and Jolly Mukherjee. Nikhil adds, “I was informed about this project a few days ago and after I heard the concept, I decided to do it for free.” The movie is being directed and produced by Anil Goyal

Comic Book
Delhi-based Raj Comics is going to produce a double-issue comic book on 26/11. Made in both Hindi and English, it will feature the characters Doga and Nagraj, along with a team of superheroes, fighting the terrorists in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Sanjay Gupta, the creative head of the enterprise, has been quoted as saying, “We have taken special care to deal with the topic in a sensitive manner. In a way, it’s something people can relate to, because the real life superheroes, that is, the NSG commandos who fought valiantly against the terrorists, didn’t have any extraordinary powers. They were people like you and me and Doga happens to be just like that – a hero sans extraordinary powers.”

Videos
Singer Shibani Kashyap is releasing a video today called Alvida in an event in Delhi, that’s dedicated to the 26/11 victims

A music video by Karan Johar being released today features regular Mumbaikars and filmstars from Bollywood. It has Yash Chopra, Ajay Devgn, Farhan Akhtar and Ramesh Taurani in it, besides many others

Museum
Indian Railways will set up a museum in the memory of the 26/11 victims. Railway minister Mamata Bannerjee has announced the move, saying that the museum will include details of all the railway staffers who lost their lives, as well as the security personnel, railway commuters and members of the general public who lost their lives in the 60-hour terror attacks that began on November 26.

Concert
Today, 15 Bollywood singers, along with Big B, are coming together for a special anthem in Mumbai. The anthem, an initiative of the Mumbai police, will be led by Sonu Niigaam, and the others participating include Shaan, Kailash Kher, Roop Kumar Rathod, Hariharan, Jagjit Singh, Shankar Mahadevan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Suresh Wadkar, Talat Aziz, Alka Yagnik, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Kunal Ganjawala and Richa Sharma. A special video will be shot at the venue to accompany the anthem.

Quelle: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/enter...how/5268174.cms

November 26th, 2009 - 1:49 pm ICT by IANS

By Joginder Tuteja
Mumbai, Nov 26 (IAN) Ajay Devgn starrer “Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge?” is based on noted satirist Sharad Joshi’s short story. To avoid any copyright problem, the maker of the film has bought film rights of the story.

Joshi’s story is found in Class IX textbooks as a part of the CBSE Hindi curriculum.

“Though it’s just a short story of a few hundred words, we didn’t want to take any chances. To avoid any controversy, we approached his daughter and bought rights for the story,” Kumar Mangat, producer of “Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge?”, told IANS.

The story is about an unwanted guest, Paresh Rawal, who enters the household of a married couple, played by Ajay and Konkona Sen Sharma, and lives for a long time by continuously extending his stay. So much so that the couple is exasperated and starts praying for his exit.

“With all due respect to the man (Joshi), I must add that our film is an entirely new take and just has a basic thread of an individual extending his stay as a guest in a married couple’s home,” said Mangat, who had earlier produced films like “Omkara”, “Sunday” and “No Smoking”.

Joshi isn’t a new name to those who have followed Hindi literature. Other than writing daily columns for newspapers, books and short stories, he has also been the man behind TV serials like “Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi” and “Vikram Aur Vetal”.

He has also written dialogues for movies like “Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin” (1991), “Chhoti Si Baat”, “Naam” (1986) and “Chameli Ki Shaadi” (1986).

Currently, the shooting of “Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge?” is in full swing. It’s being directed by Ashwani Dheer and Mangat is quite confident that he will do justice to the laugh riot.

“Some people who are unaware of the economics of filmmaking believe that ‘One Two Three’ hadn’t worked at the box office. However, ask any trade analyst and he will confirm that the film was a success.

“I have complete faith in the abilities of Ashwani and am backing him quite strongly. The way he has written ‘Atithi…’ and is giving it shape, I can foresee good results yet again”, he said.

The film is also special for Mangat since it’s the maiden production of his daughter Amita Pathak who made her acting debut with “Haal E Dil”.

“Her acting career is still on and she is in talks with two-three filmmakers. But in the meanwhile, she also wanted to learn film making and expressed her desire to produce ‘Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge?’ I am there for all the support but the film would be primarily her baby,” said Mangat.

“Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge?” is set for Feb 26 release.

Quelle: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/ente..._100280273.html

By: Upala KBR Date: 2009-11-26 Place: Mumbai

Film shoot stalled after key character is diagnosed with pneumonia and is hospitalised

The shoot of Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge? had to be cancelled after Mac Mohan (best remembered as Sambha in Sholay) took ill and had to be hospitalised on Wednesday morning.

Says Amita Pathak, producer of ATKJ, "Mac Mohan, who plays himself in the film, was taken to the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri after his health took a turn for the worse. He has been diagnosed with pneumonia and we don't know when he can shoot again. We can only hope he gets better soon."

She adds, "Mac Mohan was to shoot for three days. It was a party scene which had Ajay Devgn, Satish Kaushik and Mac Mohan in it. We have put up a set designed by Sabu Cyril at Film City, costing almost Rs 30 lakh for the shoot."

Directed by Ashwani Dheer, Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge? also stars Konkona Sensharma and Paresh Rawal. The film is about an unwanted guest (Paresh Rawal) who enters the household of a married couple (Ajay and Konkona) and keeps extending his stay leaving the couple exasperated.

Who is Mac Mohan?
~ He shot to fame as the gun-toting Sambha in Sholay. Mac Mohan has essayed a number of villainous roles.
~ His first film was Haqeeqat (1964). Mac Mohan has acted in films like Kaala Pathhar, Qurbani, and Amaanat and acted with stars like Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna and Sanjay Dutt.
~ He is actress Raveena Tandon Thadani's uncle.
~ Bombay To Goa (2007) was his last release though he has acted in regional films.

Quelle: http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/200...e-Mac-Mohan.htm

November 24th, 2009 - 11:02 pm ICT by sampurn -

Veteran actor Nana Patekar is nowadays known more for his whimsical ways than his acting. A chain smoker that he has been for many decades now, Nana has suddenly quit smoking for good.

A close pal of the Nana Patekar tells us, “Nana has been smoking the cancer stick for over 30 years now and on the sets of “Rajneeti’, he finally called it quits. The actor has now quit smoking for over two months and seems to be pretty cool about it. In fact, since his ouster from the film, he had been giving lectures to co-actors Arjun Rampal and Ajay Devgan about the same.

He further added, “Nana has been trying to quit smoking for a long time now. However, it’s only recently that he managed to do so. The first film he shot after that was “Rajneeti’ and he was obviously not enjoying the fact that other co-actors and the unit members were smoking. Ajay Devgan and Arjun Rampal are both chain smokers and Nana used to get irritated when he was around them.”

-Sampurn Media

Quelle: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/ente..._100279551.html

Geety Sahgal
Posted: Nov 27, 2009 at 1530 hrs IST

Hi-powered bikes ride into our B-town guys’ hearts

They are the two passionate bikers of the industry. John Abraham, whose first love is his bike, has this dream of adopting a little girl and taking her for a drive on his Yamaha! Then there is Sanjay Gupta for whom riding a bike is like a religion! “It’s not the thrill from speeding. I like to cruise long distances on an open road. It is almost meditative for me as that’s the time I am truly with myself,” he says. There are others too who love their hi-powered two wheelers. Not considered serious bikers they generally like to ride their mean machines to and fro from their shoots, or go cruising in the night.

Salman Khan has loved bikes ever since he was a kid, and can be spotted giving nocturnal rides to his girl in and around Bandra. His brother Sohail Khan was spotted recently with son Nirvaan at the promotional campaign of the launch of the Harley Davidson in India. Shahid Kapoor is also a biker who loves to put on his helmet and take off for night drives on his Yamaha which he bought early this year.

Though he does not own one now, Sanjay Dutt too loved speeding around Bandra on a bike. Ajay Devgn bikes to his shoots and cruises around during breaks, especially if the location is the open air Film city grounds in suburban Mumbai. Goa is another place where he spends ample time riding bikes! Other bikers connected to the world of glitz are Arshad Warsi who has been spotted around his locality on his Yamaha, while Zayed Khan couldn’t resist buying the Ducati 999, the bike he drove in his film Blue. Rohit Roy, Pravin Dabbas and Shabbir Ahluwalia are also bike lovers from tinsel- town.

Quelle: http://www.screenindia.com/news/ZIP-ZAP/546569/

November 26, 2009 6:07:38 PM IST
Bollywood Trade News Network

Silence was observed on the sets of Warner Bros and Wide Frames Films newest venture ATITHI TUM KAB JAAOGE. The entire cast and crew maintained silence for two minutes in memory of those brave souls who lost their lives in the 26/11 terror attacks.

A source tells us, "The entire cast including Ajay Devgn, Konkana Sen Sharma, Paresh Rawal, director Ashwni Dhir along with the rest of the crew wanted to show that even though a year has passed by, they still haven't forgotten the wreck and havoc the attacks caused in Mumbai. So everyone gathered at the Filmcity helipad and decided to observe a two minute silence."

And even though it was Kumar Mangat's birthday, he was in no mood of celebrating. The source confirms, "Yes, even though it was Mr. Mangat's birthday he discouraged all celebrations and even resisted their attempts to bring a cake for him."

This just goes to show that along with the entire nation; even the film industry has not forgotten all that we lost last year and respects the heroes who lay down their lives.

Quelle: http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/09...sets-110914.asp

November 26, 2009 3:39:49 PM IST
Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Trade News Network

Milan Luthria, the film maker who is known most for his debut effort KACHCHE DHAAGE (Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan) and TAXI NO. 9211 (Nana Patekar, John Abraham), has been signed by Sanjay Dutt for a film which would start rolling in mid-2010. This would be the second time that Milan would be working with Dutt who has earlier featured in his biggest project till date DEEWAR (2004).

Incidentally, Sanjay Dutt had earlier entrusted Milan with the responsibility of making BEEHAD which was support to kick start in 2008. The film would have also marked the revival of Late Sunil Dutt's banner Ajanta Arts. It was to be made in collaboration with G S Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and K Sera Sera. BEEHAD could never get on floors though there are talks of it's revival in late 2010. However, before that Sanjay would be making another film (which is not yet titled) for his production house Sanjay Dutt Productions.

Confirms Milan, "Yes, I would be making a film with Sanjay Dutt who is not just producing it but also acting in it. We should hopefully begin shooting for it in the middle of 2010. I am currently neck deep into shooting ONCE UPON A TIME IN MUMBAI with Ajay Devgn and Emraan Hashmi. Shooting a period film comes with its own challenges and intricacies but results so far have been superb. Once I am done with the film, I would begin work with Sanjay Dutt."

When questioned on the genre and subject of the new film with Sanjay Dutt, Milan replied, "It is too early to state anything right now. I will talk about it in due course of time once everything, including rest of the star cast, is finalized."

Quelle: http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/09...nite-110909.asp

Mumbai, Nov 27 (IANS)

Director Prakash Jha has completed shooting for “Rajneeti” and clarifies that the characters in the political drama are not inspired by any real life politician.
“There is no resemblance to any living or dead politician. In characters, actions and incidents, you may find some shades here and there, but it is not based on any politician,” Jha told reporters here Thursday.

“I have completed shooting for ‘Rajneeti’ and it is in its post production stage,” he added.

Starring Ajay Devgn, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Nana Patekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Arjun Rampal and Manoj Bajpayee, the film was entirely shot in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

Jha is planning to release it May 28, 2010. Before that he will have premieres across the globe to raise funds for his NGO Anubhooti, established in 1991. It will help in building a hospital in his home state Bihar.

“All my artists are committed to attending the premieres that will help in raising funds to set up the hospital in Bihar,” said Jha, who plans to provide efficient medical service at minimum cost to people in his state.

Quelle: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/ente..._100280803.html

28 November 2009, 12:00am IST

Director Rohit Shetty, after the success of Golmaal, Golmaal Returns and All the Best will launch Golmaal-3 on April 1, 2010.

I will release the film by Diwali,” says Rohit, who has already signed Ajay Devgn as his leading man. Rohit is also sure that Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade and Arshad Warsi will be in the movie.

As for the leading lady, he wants to sign Kareena Kapoor. “When she returns from Sydney I’ll meet her,” says Rohit. Guess there is something to look forward to on All Fool’s Day.

Quelle: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/enter...how/5275484.cms

Prithwish Ganguly / DNA
Friday, November 27, 2009 23:59 IST Email

Mumbai: Kareena Kapoor may soon become the highest paid female actor in Bollywood. Sources say she has been offered Rs10 crore for Rohit Shetty's Golmaal 3. If she takes up the offer, she will supersede Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan as the highest paid female actor.

Though Kareena and Rohit remained unavailable for comment, a source said, "Post Jab We Met, Kareena's success graph has risen even more. She was apparently paid Rs2.5 crore for Kambakkht Ishq and little more for Golmaal 2. Rohit's film went on to become a hit and the director wants to repeat the cast for his next that will take the story forward. Till now, Kareena has never been a part of any sequel. So to make her sign this film Rohit has offered Rs10 crore."

But with her Bollywood graph on the rise, has her brand value in the advertising world gone up too?

Yudhajit Dutta of Mindscapes, a company that also manages Mahendra Singh Dhoni, said, "Kareena's brand value is definitely on the rise. She is getting big banner films; even if they don't work, it will push up her brand equity."

However, Anirban Blah, the head-honcho of Kwan Entertainment and Marketing Solutions that handles Saif Ali Khan and Freida Pinto, thinks otherwise.

He said, "Just because she is being offered Rs10 crore for a film doesn't mean that her brand image has shot up drastically. Rohit would want to keep her in his film because he is making a sequel; without her it would be a different film. Under such circumstances a star is generally paid more. Her brand will rise sharply only if she signs on big ad campaigns. This year she has only signed one big campaign."

Quelle: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/re...the-top_1317339