Bollywood

Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who earlier produced the 2009-released film “Paa” which turned out to be a hit, is now set to produce his next film to be directed by R. Balki and also featuring Amitabh Bachchan.

“Balki’s new film is a much bigger film. It will require a higher budget compared to ‘Paa’. We are currently in the process of locking the script and working on it. The pre-production is going on. It’s a bigger film so the film requires bigger budget,” Abhishek told IANS when asked about the budget and pre-production plans of the film.

Actress Upasana Singh, who plays the popular character of “bua” (paternal aunt) on “Comedy Nights With Kapil”, says nobody can replace Sunil Grover as Gutthi on the show.

The show is aired on Colors TV.

“Nobody else other than Sunil (Grover) can play Gutthi. Only he is Gutthi,” Upasana Singh told reporters here at the red carpet of Colors Golden Petal Awards.

Reportedly, the actor left the show recently as his contract was getting over and the show’s producer and host Kapil Sharma was not ready to give him a hike he had asked for.

Indian Idol 2 winner Sandeep Acharya died today at the age of 29 in a private hospital in Gurgaon after suffering from jaundice.

Sandeep, afflicted with the disease for the past few days, was crowned the winner of singing reality show ‘India Idol Season 2’ on April 22, 2006.

The singer was shifted to Gurgaon in Haryana after his condition deteriorated, family members said adding he breathed his last in the afternoon.

The playback singer, who is survived by his wife and a month-old daughter, had won the award for best new Bollywood talent in New Jersey, USA.

Actress Madhuri Dixit, who will be seen on the big screen after 2007 film “Aaja Nachle”, says she chose to be part of “Dedh Ishqiya” because she has faith in the makers of the film – Vishal Bhardwaj and Abhishek Chaubey.

After the success of 2010 movie “Ishqiya”, director Chaubey teamed up with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, who has produced “Dedh Ishqiya”.

“I didn’t wait for seven years for the script. I have my reasons. I was not even living here before. I was staying abroad so to come here and work and go back was getting very tedious,” Madhuri told IANS.

Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who has been a constant feature in ‘Dhoom’ series, says he is the hero of the film which could not have been made without him and co-star Uday Chopra.

In the third installment of ‘Dhoom’ series, Abhishek and Uday are reprising their roles as Jai Dixit and Ali Akbar, respectively, while actors Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif form the antagonist duo.

Soha Ali Khan, who was one of the poll ambassadors for the elections, has revealed that she will never enter politics because one is supposed to abide by many rules and she can’t.

Bollywood hearthrob Hrithik Roshan, who has announced his wife Sussanne’s decision to split from him after 13 years of marriage, says she will forever remain the “love of my life”.

“This is my greatest tribute to love. Sussanne is and always will be the love of my life for the rest of my life,” Hrithik posted on his Facebook page early Saturday morning.

“If her smiles are brighter without me, my love for her must accomplish that. Unconditional,” added the 39-year-old.

Acclaimed Indian actor Irrfan Khan won the best actor award for his brilliant performance in “The Lunchbox” at the 10th edition of Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF).

Irrfan won the award Friday in the Muhr AsiaAfrica Feature category, while films writer-director Ritesh Batra got a special mention for screenplay for the film about a lunch box, which becomes a symbol of hope, in the same category. World renowned Indian filmmaker Shekhar Kapur headed the jury.

British singer-actress Sofia Hayat, who has filed an FIR against “Bigg Boss Saath-7” contestant Armaan Kohli for hitting her on the show, now plans to also sue Colors channel which airs the reality show.

At a press conference here, Sofia was asked if she thinks that the channel is wrong in not taking any action against Armaan despite having a “no violence” clause in the contract.

To that, Sofia said: “I didn’t think practically that I should sue Colors also, I could see only Armaan Kohli. But yes, you are right, I will talk to my legal team also about this.”

Sussanne, Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan’s wife of 13 years, Saturday said their separation is based on their “individual choices”. But, they will continue to care for each other and for their two sons.

“We are two individuals who respect and care for each other and have made our own individual choices,” Sussanne said in a statement Saturday.

The duo was dating for four years before they tied the knot Dec 20, 2000 post the success of Hrithik’s debut film “Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai”. They have two sons – Hrehaan and Hridhaan.

Actor-producer Aamir Khan would be happy if his daughter Ira joins Bollywood, but says he has no intention of imposing his decision on his children.

“I would love that, but I have no idea. I don’t ask them,” Aamir told IANS when asked would he be okay if his daughter joins filmdom.

Aamir has two children – son Junaid and daughter Ira with his ex-wife Reena. He also has a son named Azad with his current wife and filmmaker Kiran Rao.

Bollywood heartthrob Aamir Khan, who attended the opening ceremony of the 11th Chennai International Film Festival (CIFF) Thursday, said that he wishes to see a chain of theatres in India which will screen films from across the globe.

“I sometimes wish in India we had a chain of theatres which would throughout the year showcase films from different parts of the world. Even films from different parts of our country, films from different languages which we could all get to watch…” he told reporters here.

Movie making is as tough as running a business, which is tricky and taxing, says actor Arshad Warsi, who tried his hand at production with “Hum Tum Aur Ghost” and ended up burning his fingers.

“Sehar” fame director Kabeer Kaushik wielded the megaphone for “Hum Tum Aur Ghost”, which saw Arshad as a guy who can see dead people, but the story failed to connect with either the audience or the critics.

The 45-year-old’s experience has taught him that a “producer’s job is a thankless job”.

Shaking a leg with megastar Amitabh Bachchan once is not enough for actress Madhuri Dixit. She hopes to act with him someday and is keeping her fingers crossed for that.

The two were seen dancing together in “Makhna” in the 1998 film “Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan” along with Govinda.

“There were nearly three films which we did together, but they never happened. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Maybe, something will work out,” Madhuri told IANS.

But at the moment, she is busy promoting “Dedh Ishqiya”.

Actress Deepika Padukone is happy to be touted as the most successful leading actress of Bollywood this year and thanks her well wishers and fans for supporting her.

The actress is riding high on four back-to-back hits – “Race 2”, “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani”, “Chennai Express” and “Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-leela”.

“This year (2013) has been very good for me. A lot has happened in my life this year,” Deepika told reporters here Thursday at Shiamak Davar’s dance show “Selcouth”.

Actress Madhuri Dixit, busy promoting her forthcoming women-centric drama “Dedh Ishqiya”, admits that the world is male dominated and it’s up to a woman how she makes a mark for herself.

“The whole world is male dominated, not just this industry,” she said when asked whether the option gets narrowed down for an actress post-marriage and does she feel that the film industry is male dominated.

The Kingfisher Swimsuit Calendar 2014 calendar features six models, mostly beauty pageant winners, including Sobhita Dhulipala, who recently represented India at Miss Earth 2013 contest in the Philippines.

Former Miss Earth Nicole Faria, former Miss India International Rochelle Rao, former Miss Canada Sahar Biniaz, model Rikee Chatterjee, and yet-to-be announced winner of the Hunt for the Kingfisher Supermodels 2014 also feature in the calendar to be launched in Mumbai Dec 21.

Actor Arshad Warsi, best known for his role of ‘Circuit’ in ‘Munnabhai series, says the film may have done wonders but he did not get any work for six months after that.

The Raj Kumar Hirani directed ‘Munnabhai MBBS’ (2003) and ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai’ (2006) showed the comic adventures of Munna Bhai or Murli Prasad Sharma, played by Sanjay Dutt, and his sidekick – Circuit or Cirkeshwar – essayed by Arshad.

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was spotted at the premiere of adult movies star-turned Bollywood actress Sunny Leone-starrer “Jackpot”, hopes to work with her someday.

She made her Bollywood debut with 2012 film “Jism 2” and the superstar has shown interest in working with her.

“I have never been part of casting my films. Directors do it. If there is a film, I will be fortunate enough to work with Sunny Leone,” Shah Rukh said here Thursday.

The Kaizad Gustad directorial hit the theatres this Friday.

Soha Ali Khan has spilled the beans about her live-in relationship with her boyfriend Kunal Khemu, asserting that he is very much a part of her personal space and she likes coming back home to him.

The Bollywood actress told L’officiel Magazine that the she loves the concept of wearing a relationship on her sleeve and making a statement about living together solidifies it for her.

The 35-year-old beauty insisted that her relationship with the actor is at such a stage that she didn’t feel the need to hide anything from anyone unlike other celebs.

Actor Kunal Khemu will be seen alongside real life girlfriend Soha Ali Khan in upcoming detective comedy ‘Mr Joe B Carvalho’.

Soha will be seen playing a police officer for the first time in the movie, which will have a cameo appearance by Kunal Khemu.

The Bombay High Court today reserved the order on a plea made by Sabah Galadari, divorced wife of Pakistani playback singer Adnan Sami, seeking access to his two flats in suburban Andheri.

The court was hearing Sabah’s appeal against a single bench order of the high court which had refused to disturb the judgment of the family court granting access to Sami and his current wife Roya Farabi to two flats on the 13th and 14th floors at Oberoi Garden in the posh Lokhandwala complex here.

Actor Fardeen Khan and his wife Natasha have welcomed their first child, a baby girl, here.

The actor’s cousin, jewellery designer Farah Khan Ali shared the news via Twitter, and congratulated the new parents.

“Woke up to wonderful news. My cousin Fardeen and his wife Natasha were blessed by a beautiful baby girl Diani Isabella Khan yesterday (Wednesday),” Farah posted on the microblogging site Thursday.

“God bless my little niece with loads of health, wealth and happiness. Congratulations to the parents,” she added.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is left wondering about the consequences of the recent Supreme Court ruling that consensual sex between adults of the same gender is an offence.

The 71-year-old took to his blog Wednesday night to share his thoughts on the ruling.

“The Supreme Court has passed judgment that homosexuality is a crime…and that has triggered a massive reaction among those that have till now had the preference of choice, as per human rights, to lead their life the way they wish to…I wonder where this shall lead to,” Big B posted on srbachchan.tumblr.com.

Ali Zafar has become the first person from Pakistan to be crowned as the Sexiest Asian Man by the Eastern Eye newspaper’s list of the 50 Sexiest Asian Men In The World.

The 33-year-old singer turned actor narrowly beat two-time winner Hrithik Roshan into second place, the Daily Times reported.

Zafar said that he was very flattered and never expected to be given this title, asserting that he would like to thank all those who voted for him from the bottom of his heart. (ANI)