[24 march 2008 ] Bollywood Showbiz New

[.BZU.]

Kajol's Holi attack on Ajay Devgan::
Vivacious Kajol and ultra sober Ajay make one of the most romantic real-life Jodis in Bollywood. Kajol at her mischievous best sluicing down Ajay in the above picture says it all. The couple was spotted having a gala time playing Holi at their Juhu residence.

Looking at the scene one can surely appraise the beautiful relationship the couple share. The couple will also been seen onscreen soon in the romantic flick U, Me Aur Hum. Wonder, what must've been the scene on the sets of the film considering the fact that Ajay himself is the director of the film.

Shekhar Kapur to take over New York, I Love You:
Internationally acclaimed filmmaker, Shekhar Kapur, is all set to do something which he has never before done in his career. Shekhar would be taking over and completing New York, I Love You, a series of short films which was to be originally made by British director Anthony Minghella who passed away last week.

Minghella, who has made films like Cold Mountain and The English Patient in the past, was a good friend of Shekhar. In fact, the late filmmaker had even asked Shekhar to take charge of the project since he was not keeping well. This will be a first of its kind experience for Shekhar to enter the creative zone occupied by another man.

The series has lot of directors (including Mira Nair) who would be shooting love stores in New York City. Some other bigwigs attached to this project include Brett Ratner (director of the Rush Hour series of films), Scarlett Johannson and Natalie Portman.

Shekhar would be flying to New York for getting ready with the production of the film in the first week of April.

"I had to be sure about Ashwani" - Tusshar Kapoor:

Ever since he made a much hyped debut in Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai way back in 2001, Tusshar Kapoor has tried to be careful in signing films. Out of 15 odd releases in last 7 years, some have worked, some haven't. However, he continues to learn and is being overtly selective in his choice of roles and directors. This is why he didn't quite jump from his seat when One Two Three came his way.

"I had to be very sure before signing on the dotted line. I had to be sure about the film as well as Ashwani (Dheer) since he was a first time director. Though he had 'Office Office' on TV behind him, I didn't want to take any chances. I wanted to sit with him for a detailed narration before I give my consent for the film", discloses Tusshar.

Since he is one of the most prominent actors from the vast cast and crew of One Two Three to be talking about the film, he must certainly have been pleased with the sitting?

"Just one narration and I was on. I was very confident the moment Ashwani read out the script to me. You know, there is a certain vibe that you get in certain instances. I experienced that in the way Ashwani went about One Two Three. He was so sure about what the characters would do, how they would do and when would they do", says Tusshar excitedly.

Talking about his confidence in the project Tusshar discloses, "In fact, not many know but I was the first actor to sign One Two Three. Since the film has as many as 14 important characters, it took another 6-8 months to get the rest on board. However, the film's shoot was a cakewalk and we were able to wrap it all up in quick time."

It seems that One Two Three is a lot of fun. But is it brainless as well, as has been the case with numerous recent comedy hits? Should audience keep brains at home while venturing into One Two Three?

Laughs Tusshar, "If you are looking at an intellectual or some pseudo-artistic cinematic experience, then it is my humble request to you to keep your brains at home. One Two Three is neither pretentious nor does it aim at being realistic. But yes, is not one of those brainless flicks either. There is so much of confusion happening all around that you have to be constantly alert while following up the thread and the actors. One Two Three is a comedy of errors and you need to have brains fully on to catch the reason behind each of the errors and their solutions!"

Emraan forced to kiss in Jannat:
If Emraan had his way Jannat would remain smooch-free. "But then my director Kunal Singh got greedy," he says with a twinkle in his eyes. "He first persuaded me to do one kiss, then another." Emraan who turned 29 on March 24 was quite sick and tired of kissing?and cutting cakes.

"I had already cut four cakes post-midnight, the first one of course with my wife", he rattles off dutifully. "Then my friends had dropped in and we had a private get-together. The next morning I was on the sets and doing it all over again. I can't say I don't enjoy all the attention on my birthday. But if I really had one wish granted on my birthday it would have to be?no shooting! Sadly, that's what I'm doing today," Emraan cribbed from the sets of his new film Jannat. "The film is over. Just needed some patchwork. I enjoy working. But not at a time when I'm wanted by family and friends."

Jannat is the film about match-fixing where Emraan plays a bookie. "Though the film is inspired by real -life incidents in the cricketing world, we've covered our bases well. We don't want real-life figures from cricket to identify themselves in the film and create trouble in Jannat. So, ironically in a film based on true-life incidents we've consciously steered away from getting too close to reality for comfort."

Though real-life cricketers play the field in Jannat, they aren't modelled on any real cricketers. Does Emraan get on the field at all? "Actually I don't like cricket at all. Don't play it and hardly ever watch it. Fortunately, I play a bookie. So I don't have to play in Jannat,

Emraan is all praise for his costar Sonal Chauhan. "She's totally new. The 14th girl to be launched with me. I don't know how many ladies Mr. Rishi Kapoor launched in his heydays. But I'm getting there."

Emraan shivers when he remembers the uncanny resemblance between Bob Woolmer and the actor who plays him in Jannat. "When I saw the actor Richard Burton I froze. He looks so much like Bob. And on top of that they turned out to be close friends. Not me, I?d say Richard is the perfectly cast actor in Jannat."
he mumbles sheepishly like a brat boy who hasn't done his homework.
Akshaye Khanna on why he was missing from Race promotions:
Contrary to rumours, Akshaye Khanna isn't unhappy with his role nor the promos in Abbas-Mustan's Race. "Where do these things start from?" Akshaye laughs heartily. "I've been in Bangkok for almost a month now shooting for my friend Anil Kapoor's Shortcut. We're going to be in Bangkok until April 20. This is the last schedule. We'll finish the film and return. So, where was the time to come home for Race? I really enjoy working with Saif. He's 24-hour entertainment. A joke-a-minute pal. And after Dil Chahta Hai he's really blossoming as an actor."

But isn't Saif moody like Akshaye? "I've never seen Saif's moody side. Am I moody? Honestly, it was a reputation well-earned at the beginning of my career. But now no longer applicable. Everyone is entitled to their highs and lows. I'm not temperamental. I get annoyed easily. But I don't get angry easily."

And right now Akshaye sitting in Bangkok is far from angry. "Race has had a smash-hit opening. It's got a bigger opening than Anil Kapoor's other release Welcome. Mine is a very effective role. My character is the karta-dharta (the mover-shaker) of the script. Abbas-Mustan had earlier cast me as negative character in Humraaz. I enjoy being wicked. Such roles are fun to play. And fun to watch. When I had heard the script of Humraaz, I told Abbas-Mustan, 'Boss I'm the hero; though conventionally I'm the villain. But my character is the most entertaining.' Sure enough people came out of Humraaz wishing me not to die."

Akshaye goes into a wicked rewind. ?If you look at the history of great screen villains, for example Anthony Hopkins in The Silence Of The Lambs, audiences don't want them to die in the film. So many people have told me they didn't want me to die in Race. That's a very positive sign about my negative roles."

Akshaye can't stop glowing over the way Race has been received. "Abbas-Mustan really know how to use me well?so for that matter does Anil Kapoor. I enjoyed shooting ShortcutGandhi My Father for Anil as much as the films of Abbas-Mustan. I wouldn't give up either. There's a greater likelihood of people watching Race than Gandhi My Father. But no one can tell what would work, what wouldn't. I'm really proud of that film. No other film has given me what Gandhi My Father has. And it will continue to make me proud."
Rani, Bipasha to do SRK's music video for IPL:
Shah Rukh Khan has roped in buddy Rani Mukherjee and Bipasha Basu to participate in his IPL video. But Preity Zinta who's currently in London makes it clear she's in no competition with Shah Rukh Khan as far as a star line up in the IPL music video is concerned.

Completely cutting down rumours that Preity intends to get buddies Sunny, Bobby and their dad Dharmendra to do a music video, a source very close to Preity says, "The playing field when the matches start in April will be filled with star-cricketers. That takes care of the glam-element. As for the music video, we feel it should represent the earthy feel of Punjab and Chandigarh. Hence, the robust that Preity and Ness have recorded for their team, as opposed to the poetic lyrical mood of Kolkata and SRK's team. We feel we can't capture the flamboyant and vigorous flavour of if we bring in film stars into the video. Preity wants the video to be very Punjabi. That's why she got Daler Mehndi to sing their theme song."

Shah Rukh Khan and Vijay Mallaya on the other hand seem to believe star-lineups to be the best way to attract big crowds to their cricket matches.