Bollywood

Actress Soha Ali Khan’s forthcoming movie “Mr Joe B. Carvalho” is a comedy and now the actress says she wishes to do a romantic comedy.

The 35-year-old has been part of films like “Rang De Basanti”, “Khoya Khoya Chand” and “Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns”.

Soha said: “I want to do a rom-com and I am eagerly waiting to do a rom-com. I have romanced before in ‘Khoya Khoya Chand’ and other films, but I have never had an opportunity to do rom-com. I don’t like watching them, but I want to work in a rom-com.”

Just three days before the grand finale of “Bigg Boss – Saath 7”, VJ Andy was evicted from the popular reality show.

He was eliminated in the mid-week eviction Tuesday night.

Andy, along with the other contestants Gauhar Khan, Ajaz Khan and Tanisha Mukherjee, was nominated for the eviction. Sangram Singh was not a part of the elimination after he chose the mystery briefcase and was selected as the first finalist.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will perform with Swedish-Greek actress Elli Avram Saturday at the grand finale of the popular reality show “Bigg Boss – Saath 7”.

The duo will be seen performing to the song “Mashallah”, which was picturised on Salman and Katrina Kaif in the hit spy thriller “Ek Tha Tiger”.

Many felt that Elli, who made her Bollywood debut with “Mickey Virus”, was one of Salman’s favourite contestants on the show. He often referred to her as “paanch saal pehle ki Katrina Kaif”.

Pakistani actress Veena Malik has tied the knot with businessman Asad Bashir Khan Khattak in Dubai Wednesday, a media report said.

“I’m more than happy today, I think I’m the happiest girl in the world,” Geo News quoted the actress as saying.

Veena, who became a known name in India post her stint on the fourth season of reality show “Bigg Boss”, said it was an arranged marriage.

“Destiny just plays its part, we were destined to be there on this particular day,” Veena said.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will perform with Swedish-Greek actress Elli Avram Saturday at the grand finale of the popular reality show `Bigg Boss – Saath 7`.

The duo will be seen performing to the song `Mashallah`, which was picturised on Salman and Katrina Kaif in the hit spy thriller `Ek Tha Tiger`.

Many felt that Elli, who made her Bollywood debut with `Mickey Virus`, was one of Salman`s favourite contestants on the show. He often referred to her as “paanch saal pehle ki Katrina Kaif”.

Versatile actor Rajkummar Rao, who has been cast as a Jat boy in Arbaaz Khan`s `Dolly Ki Doli`, says the character is unlike what he has ever done before.

“I am very excited about this role as it`s very unlike the kind of roles I have played before. I`m playing a Jat boy in the film and I have never done it before. I hope I pull of the role well,” he said.

Rajkummar says since he is from Haryana, he will be fluent with his dialogue delivery.

The actor says the film`s shooting will begin by March 2013.

If all goes as planned, Anil Kapoor-starrer gripping and thrilling TV drama `24`, which recently came to an end, will be released in a DVD version packed with all of its 24 episodes.

A well-placed source said: “We are exploring the idea (of coming up with a DVD version of the show. It`s still work in progress stage, but not confirmed.”

An espionage thriller, `24` was the Indian adaptation of the eponymous American TV series, which starred Keifer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer.

An unreleased 1990 Bollywood film, ‘Aag Ka Dariya’, starring one of India’s most loved actors, Dilip Kumar, is set for its first theatrical release some time around New Year.

The director of the film, VS Rajender Babu, told the BBC that the film did not get released initially because of a financial dispute and the original print of the film was badly damaged in the intervening years.

But Babu recently found a “perfect print” of the film with a distributor in Singapore.

Babu asserted that he was surprised when he saw the negative of the print, as it was kept so carefully.

In 2013, the centenary year of the over $2 billion world of Indian cinema, the Hindi film industry saw several high points – whether it was “Dhoom 3” becoming the fastest to mint Rs.100 crore ($22 million) in just three days, “Chennai Express” collecting a whopping Rs.216 crore or megastar Amitabh Bachchan making his initial foray into Hollywood.

IANS lists down Bollywood’s high points in the year gone by:

* New box office record: Around mid-2013, Shah Rukh Khan proved he is indeed the ‘badshah’ of Hindi films as his “Chennai Express” became the biggest grosser at Rs.216 crore.

Actor Vivek Oberoi has confirmed reports that he has been offered to essay the character of younger Narendra Modi in a US-based director’s film.

According to reports, Vivek has been approached to portray the role of a young Modi who used to run a tea stall and also worked in the staff canteen of the Gujarat Road Transport Corporation, before he took a plunge into politics.

The ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’ actor in the hill town to attend a youth summit, today said to a question, “Yes I have been offered to work on this film but I am yet to give my word.”

Having worked with stars such as Akkineni Nagarjuna, Nandamuri Balakrishna and Mahesh Babu, southern actress Anushka Shetty has expressed interest in working with Pawan Kalyan in “Gabbar Singh 2”.

“I would love to share screen space with Pawan Kalyan. If I get an opportunity to work in ‘Gabbar Singh 2’, I would blindly accept it because it will be an honour to work with him,” Anushka told IANS.

“Gabbar Singh 2” is a sequel to highly successful Telugu blockbuster “Gabbar Singh”, a remake of “Dabangg”. The actress denies that she was approached for a role in the film.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan praised his son, actor Abhishek Bachchan for his success at the box office with his latest film ‘Dhoom 3’.

The film, which is the third offing from the ‘Dhoom’ franchise, saw the 37-year-old Junior B reprise the role of a cop.

“‘Dhoom 3’ weekend collection all India is Rs 107 crore. This is going beyond all records ever !! And going beyond berserk,” Bachchan, 71, posted on Twitter.

The actor also shared a childhood picture of Abhishek and said he never imagined his son to become a star one day.

It is being said that Armaan Kohli-Tanissha Mukherjee were faking their romance on “Bigg Boss 7” to get viewership. But well-known television journalist Rajat Sharma, who conducted a mock-trial of the finalists, says the relationship is for real.

“One can fake it for while. But when numerous cameras are watching you constantly, you are bound to show your true feelings. No, I don’t think they’re faking it,” said Sharma, who visited the house last week.

Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and actress Soni Razdan’s youngest-born Alia Bhatt has gone from the baby of the family to the babe of Bollywood in no time at all. The 20-year-old now has an impossible dream.

“I want to be directed by my father (Mahesh Bhatt). But I don’t think he will ever direct again,” said Alia.

Bhatt, the director of “Arth”, “Saaransh”, and “Zakhm” among others, quit direction in post “Kartoos” and “Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan” in 1999. Now he focuses on production part of his banner Vishesh Films, which he co-owns with his brohter Mukesh Bhatt.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is a proud daddy. Revelling in the box office success of his son Abhishek`s `Dhoom 3`, he says he “never imagined” his boy would become the star that he is today.

The 71-year-old posted a childhood picture of Abhishek Bachchan on Twitter.

“Abhishek on rare Sunday at Prateeksha, never imagined he would become what he is today…`Dhoom 3`,” Amitabh posted on the microblogging site Tuesday.

Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, whose last film `Gori Tere Pyaar Mein` did not do well at the box office, says she isn`t dejected by the failure of the movie.

Imran Khan and Kareena made the audience fall in love with them with their first outing `Ek Main Aur Ek Tu`. The two teamed up again for Karan Johar`s home production but the romantic comedy which released last month failed ton create magic at the box office.

Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah, who was part of legendary artist late M F Husain`s `Gaja Gamini`, says he could not comprehend the film and felt bewildered while doing it.

“I wouldn`t recommend it (to watch it). Hussain sir came to my house to ask if I would do it. How could I say no. I thought whatever he makes, it will be something worth participating in it. But I was wrong. It was no fun,” Naseeruddin said recently.

Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah, who was part of legendary artist late M F Husain’s ‘Gaja Gamini’, says he could not comprehend the film and felt bewildered while doing it.

“I wouldn’t recommend it (to watch it). Hussain sir came to my house to ask if I would do it. How could I say no. I thought whatever he makes, it will be something worth participating in it. But I was wrong. It was no fun,” Naseeruddin said recently.

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, who is on a visit to the hill state, found interacting with the inmates of an orphanage overwhelming.

“Felt the true Christmas spirit in their smiles as the kids ate their cakes and sang Christmas carols! The joy of sharing, giving and caring!…,” Vivek, who also visited an old age home here, said.

Praising the Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who was with him during the trip, Vivek told the youth at a summit, “He is so progressive. He also sings and dance and if ever I become a politician, I want to be just like him.”

Aamir Khan-starrer “Dhoom: 3” has grossed Rs.107.61 crore in the first three days of its release and the collection of the sleek action thriller includes earnings from the Tamil and Telugu versions. Trade pundits predict that it will amass Rs.250 crore by the end of this week.

“Dhoom: 3”, which came out Dec 20 on about 4,000 screens, earned Rs.36.22 crore on the first day, followed by a slow Rs.33.36 crore on Saturday. It minted Rs.38.09 on Sunday, an official statement said.

The 15th Annual International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards will take place at Tampa Bay in Florida from April 24 to 26 next year.

“We are thrilled to be making our debut into the United States of America next year and preparations for this
very special IIFA weekend are well underway. The Tampa Bay area is a fantastic destination and will be a great host for a spectacular IIFA weekend,” Andre Timmins, Director, Wizcraft & IIFA, said in a statement here.

The unprecedented demand for IIFA has been tremendous and has created the need to take IIFA awards to the largest

After acting with popular actors like Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone now wants to work with other superstars – Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan.

“Every year I am asked this question (which Bollywood actor I would like to work with now), but I hope in the next one or two years I will get to work with Hrithik, Salman and Aamir,” Deepika, who has given four back-to-back hits this year, told reporters here at her success party.

“Till now I have not worked with these actors (Aamir, Salman and Hrithik),” she added.

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan today said his actress wife Aishwarya Rai is a “super mom” and expressed his desire to protect his daughter Aaradhya from the world of showbiz so as to offer her normal childhood.

“Her (Aishwarya’s) professionalism and dedication is unquestionable. As a mother (of Aaradhya) she is superb… she is a super mom. As a co-star, I have always loved working with her. It is a pleasure,” Abhishek told PTI.

Abhishek said he and Aishwarya wanted their daughter Aaradhya be guarded from the showbiz.

Actor Shahid Kapoor says that though sometimes even a hit film may not bring in more offers, in his case, despite the failure of his dream project ‘Mausam’ at the box office in 2011, he had got 18 new projects.

“I went through a phase before ‘Vivah’, when I had no film offers for six months. That is the only time (when I was out of work). After I did ‘Mausam’, I had 18 film offers. I was very shocked,” Shahid told PTI in an exclusive interview here today.

In a plot straight out of Bollywood, a film producer was arrested for allegedly trying to implicate Salman Khan in a fake attack on himself in order to coerce the film star to work in his next project.

47-year-old Hardev Singh, a city-based businessman and owner of a film production house in Mumbai, was arrested along with his accomplice and cousin Devender (44) yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Alok Kumar said.