Entertainment

Mumbai, December 12: Looking super hot and sexy in her latest film “Pankh’ Bipasha Basu is becoming the talk of the town for her smoldering avatar in Sudipto Chattopadhyay’s film on dysfunctional child actors.

Gathering applauds for her looks Bips has managed to steal hearts in the song titled “Ji Jala’ featured on her and co-star Maradona Rebello.

“Bipasha is an epitome of Bengali beauty,” exclaims the music composer of the song Raju Singh, “she has never looked as beautiful before as she has looked in this song.”

Mumbai, December 12: Ranbir Kapoor had a strange experience recently when he was out dining with his good friend, Imran Khan. He hadn’t shaved off the beard he had grown for Shimit Amin’s Rocket Singh –Salesman of the Year.

And that beard rendered him unrecognizable…at least for a 16-year-old girl who was at the restaurant.

Mumbai, Dec 12: Ranbir Kapoor had a strange experience recently when he was out dining with his good friend, Imran Khan. He hadn’t shaved off the beard he had grown for Shimit Amin’s Rocket Singh –Salesman of the Year. And that beard rendered him unrecognizable…at least for a 16-year-old girl who was at the restaurant.

Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan were eating at the restaurant when the teenaged girl came in with a friend. A little while later, she noticed Imran. She got up, leaving her food, and rushed to Ranbir and Imran’s table.

Mumbai, December 12: Many directors wish to work with A-listers like Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shahrukh Khan and Ajay Devgan, etc but there are quite a few directors who get to work with these actors very early in their career.

And among those few newbie directors, Shimit Amin is the lucky one who got an opportunity very early in his career to work with B-Town’s stalwarts- Shahrukh Khan, Nana Patekar and now Ranbir Kapoor, who is the star of his latest film “Rocket Singh- Salesman of the Year’.

Mumbai, December 12: “Harishchandrachi Factory’, India’s official entry to Oscar Awards this year, is doing the rounds of various film festivals and has also been critically appreciated.

The Marathi film, which is directed by theatre-veteran Paresh Mokashi depicts the struggle of Dadasaheb Phalke in making India’s first feature film “Raja Harishchandra’ in 1913. A film, that narrates the birth of Indian cinema and the beginning of one of the world’s biggest film industry.

Mumbai, December 12: Aamir Khan has come up with an unique way to promote his forthcoming film “3 Idiots” — he has launched a game where one has to spot the Bollywood star who will travel across the country for two weeks in different get-ups.

“Everyone is welcome in this game. I will play this game with you and my audiences. If you are watching this video, you are already a part of the game,” Aamir said in a recorded video message shown here at the game launch function Friday.

New Delhi, December 12: Seasoned theatre and TV actress Apara Mehta, who became a household name with the hit serial “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi”, has been around in the industry for three decades, but she still yearns to play the full-fledged role of a prostitute.

“I have never got an opportunity to play the full-fledged role of a prostitute, but that’s something I would really like to do. It would be a big challenge for me,” Apara told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Mumbai, December 11: 2009 started with a faux pas of sorts when Akshay Kumar’s much hyped CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA hardly turned out to be autobiographical; something that the film’s marketing and promotion team wanted audiences to believe. Though there were shades of Akshay Kumar’s life (which was just specific to his journey from ‘Chandni Chowk’ to Bangkok), there wasn’t anything else in the Nikhil Advani directed film that bore similarities.

Mumbai, December 11: Lay the red carpet for the young Ranbir Kapoor who didn’t quite have an auspicious beginning two years back with SAAWARIYA, got a breather in the form of BACHNA AE HASEENO, found respect as an actor as well as commercial acceptability with WAKE UP SID, woke up the industry, media and of course audiences alike with AJAB PREM KI GHAZAB KAHANI and is now all set to get some more success coming his way through ROCKET SINGH.

ROCKET SINGH-Marketing strategy of the year

Mumbai, December 11: Priyadarshan was recently presented with an offer to remake his National Award winning Tamil film KANCHIVARAM. However, the ace film maker, who has made a career in Bollywood by mostly remaking his own films into Hindi, didn’t quite bite the bait. He declined the offer stating that a film like KANCHIVARAM can be made only once.

Mumbai, December 11: The trailers of PHOONK 2 have managed to arouse quite a curiosity amongst patrons of horror movies. Some are likening it to Sony Pictures’ THE GRUDGE (2004), which was the first horror film to top the Halloween box office after HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1991).

Mumbai, December 11: After their public fallout during one of the award ceremonies in Bollywood, acclaimed filmmakers Ashutosh Gowarikar and Madhur Bhandarkar have patched up once again. The patch up happened recently and according to some reports it was the handiwork of their respective wives.

The two filmmakers had a public fallout when Ashutosh Gowarikar had protested the winning of an award by Madhur Bhandarkar’s leading lady Priyanka Chopra. This had resulted in some cold war between the two and given rise to rumors that the friendship between the two was over and done with.

Mumbai, December 11: Aamir Khan played a prank with the media today after the actor did not turn up despite being the top guest for the occasion. Aamir’s disappearing act was seen as a gimmick to attract more attention to the film.

Mumbai, December 11: IDream Production Pvt. Ltd. forthcoming film FIRED, a horror flick by debutant director Sajit Warrier will be releasing on 29th of January, 2010. With Rahul Bose, British Model Militza Radmilovic and Dinesh Lamba in the lead, FIRED is a 90 minutes psychological horror Hindi film. Based in London the movie is the shocking tale of a man who pays a steep price for his cold-blooded actions.

Mumbai, December 11: Well known actor Anil Kapoor will soon be changing his mode of transport. The actor will prefer a bus to his luxury cars now. The only difference being that this bus happens to be one of the costliest, worth a whopping Rs 2 crore.

Bonding time for Anil and Ajay

The said bus has been designed by ace auto designer Dilip Chabaria and it took him more than a year to design this expensive bus which comes with some state-of-the-art features. Apart from an office space, the vanity bus also boasts of a make up room and high end washrooms.

Mumbai, December 11: We all dream to make it big some day, yet thought and its execution never go hand in hand. There is a great divide between reality and aspirations and perhaps this is the message behind Ranbir Kapoor starrer ‘Rocket Singh – Salesman of the Year.’

Post ‘Wake Up Sid’ and ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’, Ranbir Kapoor once again sets out to conquer the heart of the audiences by his ‘Sardar’ act! ‘Rocket Singh’ is the story of all ordinary people who stand on the threshold of ever elusive success – mediocres who always struggle for break-through in life.

Mumbai, December 11: Hrithik Roshan is out of his comfort zone for the actor is sporting a beard which he can’t shave until he completes the shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Guzaarish.’

It is believed that Hrithik abhors facial hair so much so that he used a fake beard for ‘Kites.’ However, the actor was disappointed when he was not allowed to carry a fake one for Bhansali’s film and as a result, the grumpy actor wants to complete ‘Guzaarish’ as soon as possible.

Patna, December 11: Deeply inspired by the Hinduism, Hollywood actress Lindsay Lohan, who is visiting India, will come for “spiritual nirvana” in Bihar.

Lohan, 23, will work in three British Broadcasting Corporation documentaries in the country on child trafficking which will be shot in Bihar, sources in BBC said. In the course of her shooting, Lohan will stay at an ashram in North Bihar – bordering Nepal – and will study the Hindu faith.

“I want to do something good and different. That’s the reason why I am associated with this project, which is a charity initiative,” Lohan said.

New Delhi, December 11: Miss India World Pooja Chopra considers it lucky that former title winner, Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra is going to be on the judges’ panel for the Miss World contest in Johannesburg this year.

Pooja, who will represent India at the international beauty pageant, thinks that she has a connection with the star in more ways than one.

“Priyanka is my lucky charm. She had performed at the Miss India pageant in which I won the Miss India World title.

Mumbai, December 11: Farah Khan choreographed a circus-themed lingerie fashion show for the brand Triumph and wowed the celebs who called it a “fabulous” event.

“It was a fabulous show. It was as fabulous as everything Farah does,” Vivek Oberoi told reporters after the show here Thursday.

Katrina Kaif said: “It was a grand night. It was lot of fun. It’s not that easy to pull off a show like this in India. You have to do it in a way that every one is happy and comfortable and that’s exactly what Farah did.”

Bangalore, December 11: Kannada actress Aindhritha Rai has accused well known director Nagathihalli Chandrashekar of slapping her during a recent film shoot in Hong Kong, a charge dismissed by the filmmaker as one made with “a hidden agenda.”

The up and coming actress in a complaint to Film Chamber and Producers’ Association, alleged that the director slapped her without any provocation on her left ear, which left her unable to hear clearly.

Mumbai, December 11: The casting process for Rohan Sippy’s untitled film on drug-busting activities in Goa is getting pretty complicated, what with the hunt for a parallel lead coming to a halt each time it begins.

First, it was Farhan Akhtar who said no to the role of Abhishek’s companion in the drug-busting drama. Now it’s Emraan Hashmi who has declined the part citing dates as the reason.

Mumbai, December 11: High-adrenaline action flick and Nicolas Cage-Angelina Jolie-starrer Gone In Sixty Seconds went on to become a big hit worldwide following its release in 2000. A decade later the film is still high on recall because of its high-speed car chases.

The Indian version will be changed to suit the Indian sensibilities. It will have drama and songs. Yusuf Khan who made Khel (2003) directs the remake. The film will have Sunil Shetty playing Nicolas Cage’s role. Shreyas Talpade and newbie Rehaan Khan form the rest of the cast.

Mumbai, December 11: She started with ad films and then gained popularity when she acted and produced the play Unspoken Dialogues. Shazahn Padamsee will hit screen near you this Friday with Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year. Here she talks about her role, her hero and why she will never quite theatre.

Q Your dad is a well-known theatre personality, what did he have to say about your film debut?
He is very excited obviously, it’s a new thing for all of us. It’s a new inning for every one. We just want to see the film before we make any opinion. We haven’t seen it yet.

Washington, December 11: Jessica Simpson has moved on from her ex-boyfriend, American football star Tony Romo and is dating Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.

Simpson has been friends with 42-year-old rocker Corgan for a while, reported Ace Showbiz.

“She has fallen hard and is smitten and they are officially dating. But her friends think he’s too old for her,” said a source. Simpson was dumped by her ex-Romo on the eve of her 29th birthday in July.
–Agencies