Archives for June 2007

Indian film-makers have been shakeup for an authorized release of Bollywood films in Pakistan. Years back, films with a distinct Pakistani flavour, Soni Mahiwal, Mughal-e-Azam and Taj Mahal, were cleared for release, but because of political problems, no contemporary Bollywood title has ever found a simultaneous theatrical release in Pakistan.  Mahesh Bhatt's Awarapan, releasing today, will create history in Pakistan, if the Federal Film Censor Board in Lahore is understanding. A print of Awarapan was taken to Pakistan to be shown to censor officials on Wednesday. If the film is cleared, it is likely to witness a theatrical release in Pakistan concurrently with the rest of the world, giving the cinemas there a fresh lease of life and the audience a valid reason to rejoice.
The screening of Awarapan before the Censors does not come as a surprise given the Bhatts' affinity for Pakistan and the talent there - be it in the form of actress Meera or music personalities like Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Ali Azmat, to name a few. "It's payback time," says an industry insider. "Pakistan should let Awarapan release in its country as there are compelling reasons to justify this." In Awarapan, Mahesh Bhatt has introduced the chartbusting compositions and renditions of Roxen vocalist Mustafa Zahid, Annie and Rafaqat Ali Khan, making this the first Bollywood soundtrack to feature musical talent from Pakistan in entirety. This is also the first Bollywood film in recent years to have been shot in Lahore. (The Rishi Kapoor-Zeba Bakhtiar starrer Henna had been shot in Pakistan more than a decade back).

HIMESH RESHAMMIYA tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that he is planning to start his own music schools and clothesline shortly
What exactly is your debut movie as a producer cum leading man ‘Aap Ka Suroor’ all about?
The film is a dramatic love story directed by Prashant Chaddha who was earlier assistant to the late Mukul S. Anand. ‘Aap Ka Suroor’ will have shades of me in my real life. Vijay Taneja has presented the film.  You can call it autobiographical to some extent. It is inspired from my personal life. I would say that ‘Aap Ka Suroor’ is the costliest film made till today.

Is it true that you had imported an auto rickshaw from Mumbai and shot a sequence in Germany?
Yes. We had shot the film in Germany where we had even imported an auto rickshaw from Mumbai for a particular scene. I have composed nine tracks for the film. To prepare myself as a leading man, I had even stopped eating ice cream. I am not a John Abraham but Himesh Reshammiya. I have kept up my promise to every one that I will drop my hat for the film.

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Indian producers have been campaigning for an official release of Bollywood films in Pakistan. Years back, films with a distinct Pakistani flavour, Soni Mahiwal, Mughal-e-Azam and Taj Mahal, were cleared for release, but because of political problems, no contemporary Bollywood title has ever found a simultaneous theatrical release in Pakistan.

Mahesh Bhatt's Awarapan, releasing today, will create history in Pakistan, if the Federal Film Censor Board in Lahore is understanding. A print of Awarapan was taken to Pakistan to be shown to censor officials on Wednesday. If the film is cleared, it is likely to witness a theatrical release in Pakistan concurrently with the rest of the world, giving the cinemas there a fresh lease of life and the audience a valid reason to rejoice.

Director Mohit Suri confirmed the story, "It's true that Awarapan will be censored in Lahore. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Studio 18 International is giving the film an overseas release, so it would be unfortunate to have Pakistan left out of the equation. If it works out, I will get a chance to have the first simultaneous release in India and Pakistan."

As of utter release instance it was the most excellent that CHAIN KULLI KI MAIN KULLI might have expected. JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM wasn't accurately setting box office on flames and to add to the fun, CK2MK was the sole release of the week. In spite of these two factors going in it's favor, CK2MK took a no-show start at the box office. Reason was simple - poor promotion and near-zilch awareness.
Ok, so agreed that Rahul Bose doesn't have a standing that he can pull a movie completely on his own. But give him just the right platform, an able promotional campaign and some good visibility and one can be rest assured that his fan following would help do some talking. Unfortunately none of that happened in case of CK2MK which just released suddenly and is not expected to sustain beyond a week.

                                        Shashi Ranjan to Launch Pakistani Talent Contest:
Is making a hilarious comedy next, titled “Dhoom Dharakka “ produced by Anushka Images, Shashi is all set to launch Pakistani talent contest winner Zak in the forthcoming movie. Zak was selected from over 10,000 contestants in a nation wide talent hunt show which was telecasted on Pakistan National TV. This will be the first time that a Pakistani will make his movie debut directly in Bollywood; generally Pakistani actors who have proved themselves in Lollywood make the shift to acting in the Hindi Film Industry.

Hema Malini, who is candid about thoroughly disliking some of Dharmendra's new films, was moved to tears by his role in "Apne" in which he co-stars with sons Sunny and Bobby Deol.

"After a long time I've seen Dharamji in a movie that I've really liked. It's so nice to see all three of them in the same film together. Audiences have waited so long to see the whole family in one film and they won't be disappointed," Hema said.

"After so long Dharamji is in his element," said Hema, adding that she was appalled by some of the films that her husband was seen doing lately like the one opposite Bollywood siren Mallika Sherawat in "Kiss Kiss Ki Kismat".
"He should only do what he feels comfortable doing. I'm very happy with what Dharamji has done in 'Apne'."

But "Apne" is a half-complete family saga. The other-half of Dharmendra's family - Hema and her two daughters Esha and Ahana - are not a part of this much-touted family film.
"Never mind. Maybe we'll all be together in the next Deol production. Right now I'm not doing any films. The offers that I get aren't tempting enough," she said.

The association of Sudesh Bhosle, the singer with the voice of the Big B with the superstar goes back to many years ago when Amitabh received  a jolt when he heard Sudesh’s voice for the first time. Sudesh, it seems, was rehearsing some tracks when the Big B happened to drop in. Hearing an exact copy of his own voice, Big B is said to have nearly jumped out of his seat. Later on Amitabh walked up to the singer and said, “ Arre bhaiya, hamari aawazein to bahut milti-julti hain”. Sudesh who took this as a compliment could hardly whisper out a mangled “ji!” that too feebly.

Meet Abhishek Awasthi, the man who's better known for his relationship with item girl Rakhi Sawant.He started his career with Cinestar Ki Khoj, an acting talent hunt show, but was noticed for his exceptional dancing talent. Fame came to him late and not really because of his work. Meet Abhishek Awasthi, the man who's better known for his relationship with item girl Rakhi Sawant.

Ready to appear an album with this supergirl, Abhishek is on a new high these days, "This is the first time we have appeared together onscreen and it was great fun. Our dance and chemistry is so good that it will compel viewers to watch it again and again," says the lad who hails from neighbouring Kanpur.

So is he insecure about his more famous girlfriend? "No way," he declares, "Rakhi is getting what she deserves and she has really struggled hard for it. Honestly, I am really happy with the way her career is shaping up," quips Abhishek

Singing in Hindi intended for the album Rang Rangeeli might have been presently satisfying babyhood goals for Giju, who was forever enamored of Bollywood and its swinging ways, but learning Salsa was not the natural path for this young man, who grew up in Thiruvanathpuram learning Bharatnatyam and Carnatic.
Giju is an Indian-born and raised vocalist who currently resides in California, U.S. where his creative talents are expressed through music and as an engineer of the R&D department for a major chip Manufacturing Corporation. Having acquired the right foundation through proper training, Giju has pursued and shared his passion for music and dance since childhood. He received training in Indian classical music (Carnatic), along with training in Bharatanatyam, an Indian classical dance form. He has participated in professional music bands both in India and in the U.S.

Shashi Ranjan's succeeding Bollywood contribution ‘Dhoom Dadakka’, will be a split deafening side-splitting humor set to free by the end of this year. Produced by Anushka Images, this will be Shashi Ranjan's second Hindi movie after the critically acclaimed family drama ‘Dobara’, starring Jackie Shroff, Raveena Tandon and Mahima Chowdhury. 
Shashi is all set to launch Pakistani talent contest winner Zak in the forthcoming movie. Says Shashi, "Zak was selected from over 10,000 contestants in a nationwide talent hunt show which was telecast on Pakistan National TV.
The movie, which is scheduled to go on the floor in the last week of June, will have an ensemble cast of comedians including Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik, Gulshan Grover, Anupam Kher, Rakhi Sawant, Koena Mitra, Chunkey Pandey, Bhavana Balsaver, Razzak Khan, Bobby Darling.