Bollywood Male Celebrity

Press Trust of India Wednesday, May 12, 2010 (Mumbai)

Bollywood star Salman Khan will be the brand ambassador of the IIFA Charity Initiative, which includes housing, literacy and rehabilitation measures for the people in the Northern and Eastern regions of Sri Lanka.

The initiative is part of IIFA Weekend being held in Colombo from June 3 to 5.

Addressing a press conference here, Salman, who runs the Being Human charity foundation, said he supported IIFA’s initiative to build bridges with the Lankan people who have suffered hardships due to the decades-old war that ended last year with the military defeat of the LTTE.

“I am happy to be the Ambassador for change and believe that it is crucial to make a difference and contribute to this worthy cause,” the 44-year-old actor said.

A charity cricket match is being organised between Indian celebrities and Sri Lankan cricketers on June 4 as part of the ‘cricket for change project’ under which former child soldiers will be rehabilitated.

The kids, who bore the scars of the ethnic conflict, will be educated and trained in cricket and get to participate as volunteers at the IIFA Weekend.

As a symbol of solidarity with the people of the island nation, IIFA, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, will adopt and rebuild a village housing refugees with the proceeds of the cricket match being donated for this cause.

Habitat for Humanity is an international NGO with which former US President Jimmy Carter is associated.

The global organisation, devoted to building simple and affordable housing, is already doing considerable work in
Sri Lanka, Sabbas Joseph, Director of Wizcraft, which organises the IIFA Weekend, said.

The housing project would involve building 100 houses in the Jaffna region, he said.

Actors Lara Dutta, Riteish Deshmukh and Boman Irani will once again host the IIFA Awards function on June 5. Sri Lanka Deputy Minister of Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena expressed confidence that IIFA, that showcases Bollywood to the world, will play a vital role in strengthening co-operation between India and his country.

“Sri Lanka, called the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, has great potential for investments in tourism, agriculture and film co-productions that will contribute towards the rapid development drive initiated by the government,” he said, adding a Film City is being developed near Colombo.

Indian icons Rabindranath Tagore, Pandit Ravi Shankar and filmmaker Satyajit Ray were part of Lanka’s culture and heritage as much as they were in their home country, he said.

Dileep Mudadeniya, Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism, said the number of Indian tourists visiting the island nation is about 100,000 a year. “We expect the number to double in 2012.

So far, we have invested $ 4 million to create infrastructure to hold international events.”

Source: NDTV

Press Trust of India Wednesday, May 12, 2010 (Mumbai)

Amidst the debate on the inclusion of caste in the national census, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has said that he does not believe in caste and neither does his family.

The 67-year-old veteran said that if asked about his caste, he will answer that he is an Indian.

“My Father never believed in caste and neither do any of us. He married a Sikh, I married a Bengali, my brother a Sindhi, my daughter a Punjabi, my son a Mangalorean, in his autobiography my father had expressed that future generations of his family should marry into different parts of the country. So far that tradition has been kept alive,” wrote the actor on his blog.

Census enumerators came calling on the Bachchan household, prompting the actor to express his views on the issue.

“Officials from the BMC, the Bombay Municipal Corporation, troop into Prateeksha to detail in on information. All kinds of information is sought name, place, age, dependents, place of birth, house, residence years. I wait for them to come to the crucial controversial one…caste. They don’t.

“Wary of the sensitivity that this has raised recently by politicians, they keep away from it. I tell them irrespective of what the system decides, my answer is ready, caste, Indian,” wrote Bachchan.

Political parties including Samajwadi Party, which has Bachchan’s wife Jaya amongst its members, are demanding that caste be included in the ongoing census.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said the government will soon take a decision on caste-based census in the country.

Deputy leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Janata Dal-United (JDU) president Sharad Yadav are amongst those demanding that caste be registered during the census exercise.

Source: NDTV

Press Trust of India Wednesday, May 12, 2010 (Toronto)

Akshay Kumar’s celeb status came to his rescue when he escaped the wrath of a Canadian police officer despite hitting his car.

The actor got the traffic ticket when he hit a police car by accident while shooting his film ‘Thank You’ but when the official realised that he was a renowned Indian actor, he shook hand and even posed for a picture with Akshay.

Akshay was filming a scene for the Anees Bazmi film where he had to drive his car back and forth and in the process, the actor rammed his car into a Canadian policeman’s car by mistake.

He had to pay a fine for his mistake but when the cops got to know that it was all for a shoot, they posed with him and took snaps, media reports said.

Akshay is quite popular with the Indo-Canadian community here for his roles in films like Namaste London and Singh Is Kinng.

Source: NDTV

Indo-Asian News Service Wednesday, May 12, 2010 (Panaji)

After being caught by an anti-tobacco watchdog for smoking in a college campus in Goa, Bollywood actor Arshad Warsi has vowed not to smoke while making a public appearance.

In a letter to National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) General Secretary Shekhar Salkar dated May 10, Arshad has expressed regret about the incident earlier this month and has admitted that “fans follow their on-screen idols and copy their actions”.

“Henceforth, I will ensure that I throw away the cigarette before I make a public appearance,” Arshad has said in his letter to NOTE.

Explaining the course of events earlier this month, which eventually ended up with him being photographed along with actor Tusshar Kapoor, smoking in public, Arshad said that he was in his vanity van, when fans stopped by to meet him.

“I was smoking in my vanity van parked far away from the college building, when a group of youngsters knocked on the door. As usual I go out of my way to satisfy my fans and I came out to sign the autographs, involuntarily holding the cigarette in my hand,” said the actor, who played the memorable role of Circuit in the Munnabhai series.

Speaking to IANS, Salkar said that Arshad’s response speaks well about the actor.

“We are delighted to know that somewhere deep in Circuit’s heart, traces of good old Munnabhai still live on,” said Salkar, whose organisation has in the past dragged Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to court for directly or indirectly promoting smoking.

“We at NOTE appreciate that you have accepted it was wrong on your part to interact with your fans with a cigarette in your hand. It was nice to learn through your explanation that it was just a subconscious act,” said Salkar.

Source: NDTV

Indo-Asian News Service Wednesday, May 12, 2010 (New Delhi)

After three back-to-back duds Dil Bole Hadippa!, Chance Pe Dance and Paathshala, actor Shahid Kapoor has risen again with his latest outing Badmaash Company that has got a decent opening at the box office.

“The initial weekend collection has been anywhere around 60-70 percent all over India,” trade analyst Atul Mohan told IANS.

“The movie has made somewhere around Rs.30-35 crore gross in the first three days,” an industry source said.

Amit Awasthi, manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas, said: “Badmaash Company has been above average and done good over the first weekend. It brought us around 72 percent occupancy for 20 shows and an initial weekend gross of Rs.14 lakh. Though content wise people are neutral about it.”

“We are expecting it to stretch for another weekend as there are no as such any big releases this Friday.”

Produced and distributed by Yash Raj Films, Badmaash Company is actor Parmeet Sethi’s directorial debut. Starring Shahid Kapoor in the lead, it also has Anushka Sharma, comedian Vir Das and reality show star Meiang Chang.

Set in the Bombay of 1990s, the movie is about four youngsters who come together to start a business and con people to make their way.

Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas) of Wave Cinemas, said: “Badmaash Company got an okay initial. The movie has been average with around 70-80 percent occupancy. It is not a family movie and is only for youth.”

Britain-based Indian filmmaker Gurinder Chadha’s It’s A Wonderful Afterlife also released on the same day but saw a below average response.

“The English version of It’s A Wonderful… has been okay with 40 percent occupancy while the Hindi version fell flat,” said Awasthi.

Produced by Sharan Kapoor, It’s A Wonderful Afterlife stars Shabana Azmi, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Goldy Notay, Sally Hawkins, Jimi Mistry, Zoe Wanamaker and Mark Addy.

Source from PVR said: “It’s A Wonderful… has been just average as it is meant only for class audiences.”

Released in Hindi as Hai Marjawaan!, the romantic comedy revolves around a mother (Shabana) who goes to extreme lengths to get her overweight daughter married.

“It’s A Wonderful… has been below average with only 40 percent occupancy. It has been nothing like Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It Like Beckham,” said Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (cinemas) of Wave Cinemas.

Source: NDTV

Indo-Asian News Service Monday, May 10, 2010 (Mumbai)

Shahid Kapoor-starrer Badmaash Company, about four friends doing con jobs to become rich overnight, has got good reviews and viewers have enjoyed their capers but first time director Parmeet Sethi says he wrote the script of the film in frustration.

“The bell actually rang three years back when I was sure that I will direct a film. This is the second script that I have written,” Parmeet said.

“Yash Raj Films (YRF) had approved my first script too, but we couldn’t make it. I waited for one and a half years, but the film didn’t take off and I was frustrated. I was in a dilemma whether to stick to my plans to direct a film or go back to acting. Then in frustration, I wrote this script,” he added.

“I had five ideas with me out of which two were most compelling. I wanted to write another script before this but that required research work in Canada, which would have taken six months. I didn’t have the money. I didn’t have the time. So I chose this one because I enjoy the genre very much. I think no one has done a full-on con film intelligently,” the actor-turned director said.

Set in the 1990s, Badmaash Company is about four young friends – Shahid, Anushka Sharma, Vir Das and Meiyang Chang – from middle-class Mumbai who get together to start a company. Their business is an instant hit because they find a way to beat the system by doing all the wrong things in a right way.

The critics have praised the film despite it being too long.

“First, I worked out the whole con thing in my head, then I put it down on paper as script and then wrote dialogues. There are four con jobs in the film and I had to come up with interesting ideas each time to make it as believable as possible,” said Parmeet.

To get the right feel of the 1990s, he shot some scenes in Hyderabad.

“The cars, the houses and other locations that we shot in Mumbai, I was particular about everything because I wanted to bring the essence of the 1990s. I actually went to Hyderabad to shoot the airport scene. Mumbai airport of today is very, very modern. But the Hyderabad airport still looks like the old Mumbai airport,” he said.

The director, who worked with freshers like Vir and Chang, says he signed Anushka Sharma on Aditya Chopra’s recommendation.

“I wanted some very fresh faces and Vir and Chang were the perfect choice. I didn’t want to have predictable faces. Anushka was Adi’s recommendation. I didn’t know her personally. I was a little doubtful, but Adi assured me that I’ll like her once we meet,” he said.

Parmeet, who featured in Aditya’s directorial debut Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), says he was sceptical while approaching YRF to produce the film.

“I spoke over phone and asked for an appointment with Adi and I got it. That’s all I did. In the last 15 years I hardly met Adi as he hardly socialises…everyone knows that. I was hoping he hadn’t forgotten me. But he not only gave me the appointment but gave me respect and was pleasantly surprised by my script,” he said.

Parmeet now wants to be behind the camera and make more films but doesn’t rule out the possibility of getting back to acting.

“I haven’t said good bye to anything. I don’t want to be cocky about life. But as of now it’s only direction for me. I think this is my main career now.”

Source: NDTV

Press Trust of India Sunday, May 09, 2010 (Mumbai)

Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan says he considered quitting acting as he virtually slipped into depression after Jodha Akbar.

The 36-year-old star was so badly injured while shooting for Ashutosh Gowariker’s epic drama that he thought acting would not be his cup of tea anymore.

“Before beginning shooting for Kites, I was trying to get my knee treated and doctors said it will not be able to function. I was heartbroken and was even contemplating an alternative career in singing or direction,” Hrithik told PTI.

The actor wondered how he could compromise with his work as an actor when he could not jump or dance. “I was on crutches,” he said.

The actor had sustained knee injuries while shooting stunt sequences in Krrish
and Dhoom 2. Even in Kites he suffered hand injuries after meeting with an accident while breaking the window in a scene.

“It was an emotional scene and I was engrossed in the character. The accident was a good reminder that you should be careful even during small stunts,” he said.

However, director Anurag Basu’s script was so strong that the actor got into the skin of the character which helped him forget his pains. “Within a week of shooting, my knee pain just disappeared,” he said.

The actor said that it was after Koi Mil Gaya that he started enjoying the true flight of an actor.

“The phase before Koi Mil Gaya in my career was a reference phase. I was doing reference acting…doing things I had seen somebody doing. From Koi Mil Gaya, I started to enjoy the true flight of an actor,” he said.

Hrithik, who will be seen after a gap of two years in Kites releasing May 21, said he had not deliberately planned the break.

“I shot Kites for seven months. The English version of Kites is presented and reworked by the well known Hollywood director Brett Ratner. If he says that he wants five months to work on it, We cannot say no. Hence, Kites got delayed,” the actor said.

He completed Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzarish which also stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan during that period.

“I will have two releases this year and hopefully Zoya Akhtar’s film (Running with the Bulls) will also release in the first quarter of next year,” he said.

The actor also said that he is in talk with Shekhar Kapur for his next project Paani.

Source: NDTV

Indo-Asian News Service Sunday, May 09, 2010 (New Delhi)

Veteran actor Pankaj Kapoor, who was last seen in Rajkumar Santoshi’s 2007 film Halla Bol, is craving to face the camera again.

“It has been some time since I have been in front of camera and now I am dying to act,” said Pankaj who is currently busy with his directorial debut Mausum.

Starring his son Shahid in the lead, Mausam is an out-and-out romantic film and the writer-actor-director says audience will see a new side of Shahid in it.

“Shahid has proven himself in the past with his acting and now the audience will get to see a new dimension of Shahid’s acting in the movie,” he said.

Pankaj was in the capital Saturday with wife Supriya and son Shahid to attend an event for special children, organised by Umeed, a vocational training centre run by Air force Wives Welfare Association.

“My father always complains that I am keeping him away from acting which he enjoys the most,” said Shahid.

Shahid, who was appreciated for his performance in Kaminey and recently-released Badmaash Company, will be seen playing an Air Force officer in his father’s dream project.

Asked how it feels to work with his dad, the actor said: “I am confident that this will be the toughest job of my career. And it will also be a learning experience for me – it’s like learning acting all again. I will try to deliver at least five percent of what I see my dad doing on screen,” He added.

Source: NDTV

Indo-Asian News Service Sunday, May 09, 2010 (Mumbai)

We’ve heard of actors carrying their roles home. But Akshay Kumar would be the first actor to take his part in Patiala House to the playing field. Getting trained as a bowler, Akshay says he is now almost as good as a national-level player.

“I’m working towards it. Practising my cricket gives me the biggest high,” Akshay said.

Akshay is rapidly becoming an expert bowler. “I am not yet good enough to play national-level cricket but I am getting there. I’ve been taking bowling lessons for Patiala House from one of the best trainers. I’m trying get to a national level. I’m very sporty by nature. So it was quite easy for me to pick it up,” Akshay told IANS.

“Every morning I look forward to practising with Balwinder Singh Sandhu.”

Akshay trains in cricket for a couple of hours every day. “I’m getting good enough to play beyond the film. And I will very soon. I promise you.”

Directed by Nikhil Advani, Patiala House also stars Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia and Anushka Sharma.

Akshay reveals he has already worked with 52 directors and is still looking for filmmakers who can tap the best out of him.

“I’m still hungry. I want to work with directors who can help me tap emotions that I don’t know about,” the actor said.

Introspecting on his career, Akshay said: “I’m very happy with the kind of work I’m doing. I tried doing more serious films. But they were rejected. So I am back to comedy. Nikhil Advani’s Patiala House is not a comedy. But it has comic portions. Priyadarshan’s Khatta Meetha is a film on road mafia done in a light vein. That apart, I’m not signing any more films. I’ve been working the whole year and I need a break. Then I’ll be doing another film with Vipul Shah.”

So how was it like playing a loser in laugh riot Housefull?

“I enjoyed playing a loser more than any macho role I usually play. See, all us men are duffers underneath the swagger anyway. We may act cool for the ladies. But that’s all an act. If you take away my wife, my designer clothes and my flashy car, I’m just a scared little boy at heart. Without the support system we’re losers. In Housefull, I play an out-of-luck guy who gets caught in a crazy situation,” Akshay said candidly.

But the actor had a ball doing Housefull, where he has three wives.

“Not just the three ladies but also Riteish Deshmukh and Arjun Rampal. Riteish was great fun. Shooting was a playground with him around. He just cracks me up. We once put all the cutlery at the breakfast table in a hotel in Italy in Jiah Khan’s bag and told the waiter to check her bag. Jiah took it sportingly.

“Arjun Rampal too has great comic timing. Lara Dutta is such an elegant lady and yet she can be one of the boys when it comes to comedy,” he said.

In Housefull, he also got to pay homage to Mithun Chakraborty and Dharmendra.

“Director Sajid Khan’s sister Farah was doing the choreography. I suggested we put in the pelvic movements of Mithun-da and the extempore dance movements of Dharam-ji. It was my life-long ambition to dance like these two legends. They dance from their heart. I’m also a big fan of Dutt-Saab’s (Sanjay Dutt) dance movements. I remember how taken up I was when Rocky released. He used to make his long hair dance,” the actor said.

So what about full-on actioners like the Khiladi series?

“I might do another Khiladi film. Who knows about the future? I had said I’d never produce a film. Today I’m co-producing all my films, including Farah’s Tees Maar Khan,” Akshay said.

Source: NDTV

Press Trust of India Saturday, May 08, 2010 (Mumbai)

Actor Hrithik Roshan, who visited Shirdi today, said he lost his cool with media persons because they tried to invade his privacy.

Media alleged that the actor behaved roughly with them when they tried to shoot his pictures at Shirdi.

“I can’t believe they (media) can now enter gods shrine for TRP. Polite words requesting them were ignored. It took efforts to pray with 30 media cameras feeding off every private moment,” Hritihik said after the incident.

“Right now I am trying to forgive myself for losing my cool but I guess when it comes to family any man would do the same,” Hrithik said.

The actor whose film Kites is scheduled for release, said he visited Shirdi this morning as per the tradition of the Roshan family to visit Shirdi before release of every film of theirs.

Hrithik was accompanied by father Rakesh Roshan, mother Pinky Roshan and wife Suzanne.

The actor said he felt vulnerable as an actor for the first time in his life but wished he had kept his anger in check.

“For the first time in 10 years as an actor, today I felt my privacy being invaded. What they did was wrong. But I wish I could’ve risen above and given them all a big hug…,” the actor said.

Source: NDTV