Rimi Sen

Neha Dhupia

No kisses for Katrina

That’s the dilemma Karan Johar, Tarun Mansukhani and Manish Malhotra are facing as they plan Katrina Kaif’s look for Dostana 2.

Whatever the producer, director and stylist respectively come up with, they realise has been done before with Priyanka Chopra in Dostana… right from beachwear to sarees. Dostana 2 moves completely away from Miami and shifts to London. That’s another issue. London has been done to death by Bollywood. Practically every second film from Vivek Agnihotri’s Goal to Abbas Tyrewala’s 1-800-Love has been shot there. There is not a spot in London that Indian moviegoers aren’t familiar with.

The third issue facing Dostana 2 is Katrina’s no-exposure, no-kissing clause. Since the film won’t go anywhere near beaches, the actress needn’t fear exposure. As for kissing, the kiss is again between Abhishek and John!

Publish by: <a href=”http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/No-kisses-for-Katrina/articleshow/5742536.cms”>Times of india</a>

Mani blasts bomb for Ash

One of the finest filmmakers in India, Mani Ratnam is nearly ready with his most ambitious film Raavana. While shooting for an extremely risky action scene for the film, he took inspiration from a real life incident, which almost killed him in 1995.

A source said, “Mani wanted stunt director Sham Kaushal to shoot an action sequence where a petrol bomb was being used. The scene was being shot with Vikram and Aishwarya Rai. It was a difficult scene to execute as Mani wanted the bomb to blast midair, a few feet away from Vikram, just seconds before it would hit the ground.

If there was even a slight error in the timing of the blast, Vikram would get seriously injured. Mani insisted that the scene should be executed just the way he wanted it and that too with Vikram, Aishwarya and rest of the actors in the frame.”

Commenting on why Mani was so adamant on making the scene as precarious as possible, the source said, “Mani himself had been in a similar situation when his film Bombay had released and a bomb had blasted midair and he was saved by just a few seconds in 1995.”

Sham Kaushal, action director of the film, confirmed the news and said, “Yes, it was an extremely difficult scene but Mani sir was very clear about the way he wanted to shoot it. Somebody had to throw the bomb from a distance of 25 feet and the bomb had to blast midair at a distance of about 15 feet from where the actors were standing.”

“The next day we shot it exactly the way Mani wanted it and he was happy with the result. When I asked him why he wanted it to be shot in a particular way, he told me that he had faced a similar situation. He told me that he was reading a newspaper at his Chennai residence when someone had thrown a pipe bomb at him but he was saved as the bomb had erupted midair before it hit him. That’s why he wanted the same sequence. I guess that’s why all of us readily push ourselves that extra mile for him,” added Sham Kaushal.

It’s pure love for SRK, Hrithik

It took a decade for two of Bollywood’s biggest heroes to put their egos behind them and strike up a friendship based on “pure love”.

In 2000 when Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai and Mohabbatein released, reigning actor Shah Rukh Khan and one of the most talked about newcomer Hrithik Roshan most certainly didn’t see eye to eye. In fact, the media had a field day playing up their differences. Sources say that even when Karan Johar brought them together for his film Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, the two were just about cordial with each other.

However, things are quite different now. The last year and a half has seen a 180 degree turn in the equation between Shah Rukh and Hrithik, who are now best friends. Hrithik says, “We have our wives to thank for this. Gauri and Sussanne are very very close. And yes, in a way they have brought Shah Rukh and me closer.”

Pondering over their now thick as blood relationship, Hrithik says, “Shah Rukh has always been extremely warm even when we were not so close. I have come to respect him for that.”

“We have become very close and have partied together so often. We have celebrated each other’s successes and also each other’s failures. Shah Rukh and I are just happy friends and we look for every little excuse to spend time with each other,” adds Hrithik.

Hrithik says that while the world sees just the two of them being friends, SRK and he are part of a much larger group. Karan Johar, Uday Chopra, Sanjay Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Chunky Pandey, Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar also hang out with them.

“All of us usually go out together,” says Hrithik. “It is nice to have people who care for you and are there for you especially in an industry where it is very easy to get entangled in ego clashes.”

He sums up his equation with SRK saying, “Shah Rukh and I have a relationship where there is no competition or jealousy. There is nothing but pure love.”

Publish by: <a href=”http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Its-pure-love-for-SRK-Hrithik/articleshow/5741715.cms”>Times of India</a>

I walk the ramp to feel like a princess: Minnisha Lamba

New Delhi: Walking the ramp is something that makes Minnisha Lamba nervous but the Hindi film actress still loves to do it as she can savour the feeling of a princess in those brief moments.

“I walk the ramp only on rare occasions and that too because for those 40 seconds you are treated like a princess and all the attention is on you,” said Minnisha after her catwalk to showcase the designs of Ranna Gill at the Wills India Fashion Week today.

She, however, was quick to add, “I am always nervous about walking the ramp, with hundreds of people and so many cameras looking at you.”

The petite actress looked stunning in a brown chiffon gown with a heavy brocade neckpiece. She was supposed to do the ramp on Wednesday, but shows on that day were cancelled.

“It was very unfortunate what happened on that day, but I loved Ranna’s collection and I reworked my schedule in order to be here today. Her designs are all about the strong and feminine identity of a woman,” she said.

Minnisha was also happy with the positive reviews of her film Well Done Abba that released last week.

“I am glad that the film has got good reviews, otherwise I would have called Ranna and cancelled the show,” she joked.

Gill’s collection comprised dresses, shorts, jackets and skirts, all in colours of blue, brown, green and with floral prints.

“There was a lot of colour in my Autumn/Winter collection, a lot of embellishments. I do contemporary fashion, so the dresses were very modern but in terms of accessories we tried to bring in the ethnic touch,” the designer said.

Publish by: DNA

Russian Film Festival in Mumbai

Mumbai: For the lovers of Russian cinema, it is time to rejoice. A film festival will take place in the city soon that is going to focus on Russian cinema. The Culture Centre of Russia has joined hands with Enlighten Film Society to organise the Russian Film Festival to commemorate the 65th year of Russia’s victory in the Great Patriotic War (World War II).

Interestingly, though it is a Russian film festival, it will not feature any work by the most famous Russian directors, Andrei Tarkovsky and Sergei Eisenstei. Since it’s about the World War II, the three films that will be shown at the festival are the war classics: The Cranes Are Flying, Come and See and Ballad of A Soldier.

Pranav Ashar, founder of the society says, “Unlike Hollywood, European or Asian cinema, Russian cinema has not been explored by cinegoers despite having some of the most influential masterpieces in their kitty. These three films were highly regarded during their release worldwide. This is a great chance for everybody to come and embrace the masterworks from a country which has produced some of the most beautiful films ever.”

While all the films are woven around the war, each film tells a different but touching story. The Cranes Are Flying depicts the brutality of war and how the Soviet psyche suffered because of World War II. Ballad of a Soldier tells the story of a Red Army soldier Alyosha who falls in love Shura on his way home during leave. Come and See (cited as a film that “makes Apocalypse Now look lightweight”) is a haunting film about a boy who loses his innocence and then his mind while surviving the atrocities of war, especially the merciless German forces.

While The Cranes Are Flying (1957) won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival becoming the second of two Soviet films to win the award, Ballad of a Soldier (1959) won prizes at Cannes, BAFTA, Bucharest, besides being nominated at the Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay. Come and See is comparatively a new film released in 1985 which won prestigious awards at the Moscow International Film Festival and was hailed as an instant classic by critics globally.

Publish by: DNA

Kim Kardashian posts bikini-clad photos on Twitter

NEW YORK: Socialite Kim Kardashian has posted photos of her sexy bikini-clad body on Twitter.

Kardashian, 29, who is newly single after splitting up from New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush, is in Miami with her sisters as they tape their reality show.

“Working on my tan today!” the New York Daily News quoted her as tweeting on March 27, along with a sexy photo of herself.

“What a relaxing day on the boat with my sisters!” she added.

Publish by: DNA

Vanity rules for Ash, Priyanka!

Our Bollywood babes are vain. But then, why not? Most of them have the face or a figure they can boast about.

What is however distressing is the news of the tantrums/or the treatment meted out to their designers. A few weeks ago, there was news of how Priyanka Chopra reportedly drove a designer bananas with her costume demands. Now we hear from a reliable source that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is equally demanding. Apparently some designer had made a skin tight outfit for Ash. And the source said it was amusing to watch the designer’s female assistant pull the tight garment over the ex-beauty pageant winner, while she reportedly stood there absolutely stand-still, refusing to help. Of course, the end result was rocking because Ash usually looks stunning in whatever she chooses to wear. But, phew! The pains the assistant designer had to go through!

Publish by: Times of India

Akshay sinks teeth into Kat

Katrina Kaif’s health problems just don’t seem to end. After several health scares, including a recent one when she fainted on the sets of Tees Maar Khan, on Friday evening Katrina was injured on the film’s sets when Akshay Kumar’s jaw accidently hit her head while shooting a dance sequence at Malshej Ghat.

A source said, “It was a ballet-like dance sequence and Katrina’s head bumped into Akshay’s jaws and his teeth hurt her head badly. Katrina immediately realised the gravity of the injury as director Farah Khan rushed towards her. Since it was a head injury, Katrina felt dizzy for a few minutes but immediate care was taken to make her feel better.

When Akshay saw that Katrina’s head was bleeding due to the impact, he told her that she will have to take at least four stitches. The very thought that she would need stitches made Katrina all the more scared and she almost started crying when Farah stepped in and told Akshay to not scare her anymore.

A doctor was called to the sets to have a look at Katrina’s injury before she left for the day. Akshay couldn’t help but joke that though he is an action hero, it is Katrina who keeps getting injured. First she fainted on the sets, and now this injury.”

Farah Khan remained unavailable for comment as she was shooting in a no network zone in Malshej Ghat. However, the spokesperson of Tees Maar Khan confirmed and said, “Yes, Katrina did get injured badly after which Akshay kept pulling her leg. Katrina is fine now and has resumed shooting.”

Publish by: Times of India