Rahman to give fresh touch-up to ‘Roja’

The music maestro is coming back to his first movie. AR Rahman might be having his hands full with Indian and international projects. But that doesn’t make him neglect this project.

It is said that Rahman will be re-recording the music of the well-acclaimed movie, ‘Roja’. The music composer started his musical journey with this movie and it was the same movie which rocketed him to success skies. ‘Roja’ has been planned to go abroad. Meaning, it is going to be released overseas and so it will be dubbed in English.

This Mani Ratnam’s movie had received several prestigious awards and its songs are considered as the most memorable ones till date.

An honourable opportunity to see this movie touching the English shores!

Kajol refuses Aparna Sen’s offer

‘Actress Kajol is keen on working not more than one project at the same time’ – says one of the closer sources. It’s all about the concern for her 6-year-old daughter Nysa that stops Kajol from signing for more deals.

Actress Kajol happily married to Ajay Devgan is getting through a feel-of-paradise with a supportive husband and lovable child. Although, Ajay stands supportive to her decisions pertaining to professionalism, she doesn’t want to get herself committed to various projects that may gradually scatter her attention from Nysa.

It is said that Kajol has refused Aparna Sen’s offer to do a Bengali movie. The reason for rejecting the offer might be that the actress has already given her dates to Karan Johar’s film. The movie is based on Hollywood’s Stepmom with Kareena Kapoor and the film’s schedule has been planned in USA.

No Hrithik, No Abhishek in Agneepath remake

Remake of 1990 Agneepath – who’s playing lead? Adhered to an unstoppable buzz about Hrithik and Abhishek Bachchan enacting lead roles, Karan Johar finally gets into the picture denying the rumors.

According to Karan Johar, he clearly states that nothing has been confirmed on the part of lead role enacted by legend Amitabh Bachchan in yesteryear version. At the moment, he says that his close associate Karan Malhotra hasn’t yet completed penning the screenplay. Totting up on his non-involvement in behind-the-lens for this remake, the auteur lets his tongue on Karan Malhotra wielding megaphone.

Karan Johar produces this film under his banner of Dharma Productions. Karan Malhotra has worked as assistant for Ashutosh Gowariker on ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, Farah Khan on ‘Main Hoon Na’, Farhan Akhtar on ‘Lakshya’ and Raj Kumar Santoshi’s ‘Lajja’ and ‘Pukar’ amongst others.

Luck Movie Review - 2009 Hindi Movie

Star cast: Sanjay Dutt, Imran Khan, Shruti Haasan, Mithun Chakraborty, Danny, Ravi Kissen and Chitrashi Rawat; Director: Soham Shah

Rating: *** – Is a edgy thriller.

Mafia king pin Kareem Musa (Sanjay Dutt) takes the game of betting to an altogether different level by involving humans as betting objects who are made to fight their own luck to survive. Every year his trusted aide Tamang (Danny) assembles for him in South Africa, 20 participants handpicked from across the globe who have a proven record of extreme luck. Betters across the globe put their money on them through Musa’s syndicate. During the new season, amongst the participants are Ram (Imran) a white collar job youth who is hell bent on earning big money to compensate the huge fraud his scamster father was reason for, Ayesha (Shruti) who has her own personal agenda, Retd. Col Singh (Mithun) who desperately needs money for his wife’s operation, Shortcut (Chitrashi) a Pakistani camel racer girl who dreams of buying a Lexus with the prize money and Raghav (Ravi Kissen) a serial murderer. What happens after these participants are put into extremely dangerous life taking games of luck and who manages to win the big jackpot amongst them forms the rest of the film.

Luck begins with an exciting opening sequence that gets your heart in your mouth watching a blindfolded Dutt cross the multiple railway lines with trains running around in fast speed. Soham Shah shows tremendous progress as a technician with Luck. He succeeds in getting you all hooked throughout the first half. However, in the second half the pacing drops in between but then picks up yet again towards the pre-climax. Soham and Rensil D’Silva’s screenplay strikes the perfect balance between a slick action thriller and a mass entertainer. Dialogues are citeee worthy at places. The film may have its share of criticizers who need to understand that it’s a different genre altogether and that it should not judged with the same parameters of a realistic film or a feel good entertainer. Luck is edgy stuff. Soham also scores big points in his casting of the veterans. It is almost after 20 years that the trio of Dutt-Mithun and Danny has come together for any film. They were last cast together in Jeete Hain Shaan Se (1988). However, the climax could have been more effectively shot and culmination slightly less over the top. Editing and Camerawork is excellent. Salim-Suleiman’s music is racy and goes perfectly with the film. Amar Mohile’s background score is effective. Hari Dwarak’s sound design is excellent.

Amongst the actors, sadly the young brigade disappoints whereas the veterans shine big time. Imran Khan though earnest, is most of the times expressionless. Kamal Haasan’s daughter Shruti Haasan has a striking screen presence but needs a crash course in dialogue delivery. Sanjay Dutt has achieved a mastery of sorts of playing the big hearted ‘bhai’ and here too he is in his safe zone. Dutt appears super chilled out and enjoying himself. Mithun Chakraborty is extremely impressive. Danny is a scene stealer in many sequences. It is great to see the veteran actor back in top form in a very meaty role. Ravi Kissen is terrific. Chitrashi Rawat is good. Snita Mahey playing Dutt’s team member is super hot.

Luck is a feast for adrenaline pumping edge of the seat cinema lovers. It is one of the slickest action thrillers to hit Indian screens. Action fans should not miss it.

Sonam Kapoor is a Lady Gaga Fan

Sonam Kapoor who is in the city shooting for 'Aisha' is "obsessed" with 'Pokerface' hitmaker Lady Gaga as the racy singer's music helps her get into character as the bratty socialite in the upcoming film.

The 24-year-old who is set to break away from her "coy beauty" image with the movie which is being produced by her father Anil Kapoor, plugs into the tunes of the singer who often grabs headlines with her risque outfits and provocative lyrics.

"I'm off to Delhi tomorrow, I'm obsessed with Lady Gaga's paparazzi right now, and her music is what I am listening to get into the mood of Aisha," twittered the actress.

The 'Delhi 6' beauty has undergone a complete make-over for her film which a modern adaptation of the Victorian novel 'Emma'.

"Very excited about sinking my teeth into 'Aisha'. Got a beautiful haircut," twittered the actress.

After 'Aisha', Sonam will be seen in 'I hate Luv Storys' opposite Imran Khan.

Sharukh is in Farah's 'Happy New Year', not Big B

Choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan has rubbished rumours that her upcoming film 'Happy New Year' will see the coming together of Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.

The 'Om Shanti Om' director said her best friend SRK is the only actor who has been finalised for the movie, which is still in its scripting stage.

"There is no truth in the rumour that Big B is going to star in the film. Besides SRK, I never cast anyone in my film till I have my script ready. As of now, only Shah Rukh and me are in the film," Farah said.

Earlier, it was reported that the 'Main Hoon Naa' director will bring the two actors together in the film. The duo was last seen together in Bhoothnath also starring Juhi Chawla.

The other actors who were said to be working in the movie were Sanjay Dutt, Zayed Khan and Juhi Chawla, a claim denied by Farah.

Describing the film as "modern and contemporary", the 44-year-old director said it would go on floors this year.

"I would resume my work on the script once I finish shooting for the chat show," she said.

Shilpa Shetty- Raj Kundra marrying this year??

Shilpa Shetty, the sizzling hot sexy bombshell of bollywood who has been dating UK based business tycoon Raj Kundra for a while, is all set to marry him by the end of this year.

The revelation about Shilpa Shetty’s impending marriage came to light when his father Surendra Shetty filed an application for the release of his passport before a Surat fast-track court. Sources say that Shilpa Shetty’s father has requested the court to allow him to go out of country for the wedding of his daughter which is likely to take place between 1st September and 31st December this year. The passports of Shilpa’s father and mother had been impounded by the court in a case of extortion filed by a Surat-based businessman in 2007.

Though Shilpa Shetty has never publicly spoken about her impending marriage with Raj Kundra, but there has been buzz about this for a while in bollywood. Sources say that after marriage with Raj Kundra, Shilpa Shetty will finally settle in London itself and will leave India for ever.

In fact, Shilpa Shetty has already started spending her time more and more in Britain than in India. The recent acquisition of stake in V8 Gourmet Group food business in the UK was an indication of the coming fact that Shilpa Shetty wanted to finally settle in the firang country.

Shilpa Shetty also has plans to open a chain of restaurants in the UK that will serve Indian meals, especially chicken tikka masala and other mughlai cuisine liked by the UK and other European clientele. Shilpa’s plans to go whole hog with her expansion plans around Christmas in UK.

It may be recalled that during her stay at the house of ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ reality show in UK with Jade Goody, Shilpa Shetty had been accused of not being able to cook the chicken properly. In fact, this had become a contentious issue between Shilpa and other inmates of the Big Brother house.

Now, some goes to the extent of saying that Shilpa Shetty’s chain of restaurants in the UK is a sort of a tribute to the memory of Jade Goody, who was mainly responsible for the uncooked chicken controversy, and also indirectly responsible for Shilpa’s win of the reality show (Jade aroused sympathy in favor of Shilpa).

However, Shilpa Shetty’s connection with India will continue to be very strong due to her spa chain in Mumbai and ownership of Jaipur cricket team in IPL. Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra have invested crores in Jaipur team and would not leave that without supervision.

Though Shilpa Shetty’s bollywood career is not going great guns at present, but it has its own attraction and the gorgeous babe would hardly be able to resist it( remember even Madhuri Dixit keeps coming to bollywood from the USA), what say??

Randeep Hooda swinging between Love and Lust!

He has got every element of what an actor has to have in him- Looks, attitude and oodles of talent make this actor, stand apart.

From Deshu in super serious D Company to 18 stupendous roles in Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye, Randeep surely has come a along way, and now is hitting back with a bang with his forthcoming film Love Khichdi. The ex-beau of ever-sensuous Sushmita Sen will be seen surrounded by many girls namely- Riya Sen, Sonali Kulkarni, Divya Dutta, Rituparna SenGupta, Kalpana Pandit and Sada. The film is slated for a August 28 release.

In a candid interview, Randeep Hooda talks about love and lust, on and off-screen!

So many girls surrounded you; they must have really showered you with attention. How did it feel getting wooed by so many women?

Well, it’s not girls who are wooing me, except for Riya’s character. In fact, it’s my character that discovers the true meaning of love. His definition of love is limited to lust, which he has for all the girls, including his bai played by Sonali Kulkarni. He goes through these seven beautiful experiences and comes across the real definition of love. So, the entire female characters; except for Riya, who is in love with me have got equal share of attention and wooing.

Have you ever been wooed by so many girls in real-life?

(Blushes) Without sounding boastful- Yes, I am used to loads of attention from the opposite sex, and I enjoy it.

Is that so… do tell us about any particular incident?

Well, that’s something I would like to keep under wraps. Honestly, I am a little skeptical and scared of whether my building residents will let me enter the building after watching this film.

You were heard of being slapped by Divya Dutta on the sets while shooting for a funny scene…any other incident that tickles your funny bone or brings a smile on your face?

Well, another lady Sada slapped me too. Sada’s character slaps me while shooting on Worli sea-face. My three and half year old nephew was present on the sets, along with my mother. As soon as Sada slapped me my nephew immediately reacted and turned to mother saying, “Nani Nani yeh ladki toh gayi, Mamu isse banduk nikalkar maar denge” (Grandmother, this girl is gone, Uncle will shoot her with a pistol). We had a big laugh on that incident. Another incident was when Kalpana was to join me in the bed in a particular scene. And she ends up bringing a whip along to beat me. I had a hearty laugh at the sight, which was so embarrassing though.

There has been a transition in your acting from some super serious roles to some lovey-dovey kinds. Was it a deliberate effort or just a coincidence?

See, serious genre of films is my forte. However, an actor is an accomplished one if he is versatile, something which gives an actor an edge over others. So, it’s very important to experiment in different genres. I have different shades of traits in my persona, which I experiment with, in reel-life.

Tell us about the other projects in pipeline?

Karma Aur Holi, Kusar Prasad Ka Bhoot, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, Rang Rasiya- Colors of Passion are some films which are lined up for this years release.

Coming back to Love Khichdi, what do you think is the USP of the film?

Reality driven script, and most important- loads of talking with the camera; it’s a very interactive film, where audience would be involved throughout.

Irrfan's unscripted lip-lock with Dia Mirza!

Irrfan Khan is known to be a thorough professional. He is pretty serious about his job and will do whatever it takes to make his role look perfect.

But recently, this dedication took an interesting course. During the shoot of Acid Factory, Irrfan kissed Dia Mirza on the lips even though the scene only required him to kiss her on her cheek. Shocked, Dia phoned producer Sanjay Gupta and informed him about the incident.

According to sources, the shoot was on in South Africa. The scene going on was when Dia introduces Irrfan to Fardeen Khan and Irrfan comes forward to kiss Dia on the cheek and make it clear to Fardeen to not enter into his territory. He has to do this because he suspects something is going on between Fardeen and Dia. However, everyone was surprised when Irrfan suddenly kissed Dia on the lips. It was unexpected, not being a part of the script, but she chose not to make an issue about it at that time and simply called up Sanjay later on.

Meanwhile, Dia doesn’t seem to be very upset. She admits she was surprised, but she thinks that he did it to establish the chemistry between them in the scene. She also thinks it wasn’t much of a kiss. Sanjay also feels that Irrfan did it to make the scene look more real. After watching the rushes, he feels Irrfan succeeded. And since Dia isn’t making an issue over it, he’s fine with it too.