Sunday, October 25, 2009

Katrina Kaif shares chemistry with co-star in much-awaited flick

Bollywood actor Katrina Kaif hails the energy levels of her co-star Ranbir Kapoor on the sets of their much-awaited film Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani (APKGH).

After delivering some serious films, director Rajkumar Santoshi is all set to provide the audience with a breather with his upcoming romantic comedy APKGH.

With a title that is too long, and quite unlike a typical Bollywood name, the forthcoming movie has already made its presence felt.

And the other thing making news is the on-screen chemistry seen in promos and off-screen chemistry seen in media briefings between actor Kaif and Kapoor. The actors have been paired for the first time for this romantic comedy.

Kaif, while talking to reporters at a promotional event here on Friday said that they gelled well with each other because of their similar working style of keeping the energy flowing on the film set.

Kaif recalled the entertainment on the sets of the film and said that when the filmmaker is passionate, then the energy level on the sets is much better.

"When we were shooting this film, we had the cameraman, assistants and the lighting guys, all playing baseball between shots. I think I was wearing some heavy dress but still I managed to play. It's just the matter of wanting to be on the film set. If you are working with someone who wants to be there and passionate about making films because that's what they love doing, then the energy is so much better."

The film is a romantic tale of two youngsters, Prem and Jennifer, played by Kapoor and Kaif.

Shot in Ooty, Goa, Mumbai and Turkey, Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani is slated to release on November 6.

It's payback time for Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's business manager of 12 years - Hari Singh - is making a movie revolving around the story of a war widow and After Hrs has learnt that Ash is helping him out by doing a special cameo in the movie without charging a single penny. It's Ash's way of giving back to Hari Singh who has been by her side as she grew from a beauty queen to one of the most recognised Bollywood stars in the world.

The yet untitled movie is set to be directed by Jagmohan Mundhra who earlier directed Ash in Provoked. In Hari Singh's film, Ash is supposed to play the character of a lawyer who makes an appearance at the end of the movie - a courtroom climax - to make a case for the war widow.

Says Jagmohan, "Hari Singh approached me to direct a film that tells the emotional and heartrending tale of a war widow, and I have agreed to do it. Ash has a special appearance in the film and it will certainly be the USP of the movie. It can't be called a cameo as it is an extremely crucial character that gets all the attention in the courtroom drama. We are expected to shoot next year as soon as the rest of the cast is finalised. I'm thrilled to team up with Ash again." Hari's daughter Bhumicka Singh is expected to play the lead in the movie.
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I would love to do Rock On 2: Farhan Akhtar

He rocked through the hearts of the youth with his memorable act in Rock On!! and Bollywood actor-director Farhan Akhtar hopes that he will get a chance to reprise his role in future.

"I would love to do another Rock On!! if given a chance," Farhan told PTI.

Farhan, who made his directorial debut with Dil Chahta Hai in 2001 has come up a long way in Bollywood and has tried out his hands at everything coming his way being a script writer, actor, playback singer, lyricist, film producer, and a television host.

"Rock matches my identity, and I have over 18, 000 songs on my iPod. I listen to classics like Pearl Jam and Guns N' Roses for inspiration.

"My mind is open to everything and I do everything with equal amount of passion. I have tried acting and singing, maybe after one or two years you will see another asset of mine," Farhan said on the sidelines of his rock performance as the brand ambassador for Maruti A-Star on its first anniversary.

However, Farhan who followed up Dil Chahta Hai with Lakshya and Don is perturbed by reports that he is not interested in making films any more as his last movie Positive, a short film on AIDS starring Shabana Azmi and Boman Irani came way back in 2007.

"I feel bad about such reports; I was ready to direct Don 2 this year but Shah Rukh had to undergo a surgery so we had to postpone it. I am also also working on a movie called Sid but it is in a very initial stage and we are still putting it together," says the 35-year-old director.

The son of scriptwriters Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, Farhan will next be seen in Karthik Calling Karthik opposite Deepika Padukone.

"It was an extremely enjoyable experience working with Deepika. My character in the movie plays with the Rubik's cube and now I am mastering it to solve it in minimum time," says Farhan who also learnt how to ride a bike for the film.

"As a kid, I was told by my mom that she will disown me if I ride a bike. So I was always into cars and I once covered my whole room with cuttings of sports cars," he adds.

Farhan, who also starred in his sister Zoya Akhtar's directorial debut Luck By Chance this year dismissed reports that she is making a film Gulel this year starring Hrithik Roshan and Abhay Deol alongside him.

"I have heard this name very often now but I have no idea what this is about. As far as I know there is no movie like this," he says.

Farhan is awaiting the release of his first movie as an actor The Fakir of Venice (2007) directed by Anand Surapur's which has not hit the silver screen yet.

"It is the first thing I worked in as an actor, but I am not the producer of the film. I hope it releases soon," he says.

Farhan feels there is no need to draw a line between realistic and commercial cinema.

"Look at Taare Zameen Par and Rang De Basanti; they are intelligent movies and yet they entertained the audience. You should not mix comedy and entertainment," he says.

India not nominating right movies for Oscar: Resul Pookutty

Oscar winning sound technician Resul Pookutty says the film federation of India is not nominating right movies for the Oscar.

"Why are we not figuring ourselves in the foreign film category is a good question that we should ask filmmakers of the country. Why are we falling behind. We should ask the film federation why we are not sending the right films", Pookutty told PTI.

Stating that there was a misconception about the Oscars, he said Oscar is not for Indian movies. "Oscar is for American movies that had been shown in American theatres. ''The only way Indian films can appear is in the foreign category.We are competing with so many other countries that are making fabulous movies for many years.''

Pookutty, who also will be a part of the elite 6,000 member organisation (Academy of Motion Pictures) that chooses the winners of Oscars, said media plays an important role in making people aware of movie making.

"Media is giving so much attention. In a way it (media) makes people aware of my trade", he said. Pookutty, also a member of jury in the recently concluded India International Disablity Film Festival, organised by Ability Foundation, said films on differently-abled people should make a positive change in society.

"My capacity this year is a part of the Foundation as a jury member.Whatever the foundation asks me to do in future I will continue to do in my own capacity as a person and also a technician". From making his debut in a small budget film 'Private Detective' in 1997, Pookutty has come a long way.Pookutty had won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing for the film 'Slumdog Millionaire.'

Resul Pookutty will join compatriot, music maestro AR Rahman, as a voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and hopes that the new role might attract Hollywood's attention.

This is It features stand-ins, not MJ, claims family

Michael Jackson's family claims that the late singer's film This is It features stand-ins, not the real star.

The documentary's promo posters boast MJ "like you've never seen him before".

However, the late King of Pop's father Joe and sister La Toya accuse Sony Pictures of "fooling" fans by using his impersonators.

Joe, who has seen 12 minutes of This is It, said, "This movie features body doubles, no doubt about it. I think people will tear this movie apart."

And La Toya's business partner Jeffre Phillips told News of The World, "I see all these great movements in the trailers but I don't believe most of those shots were Michael. He wasn't well enough. I've seen clips where I even thought, 'That's not Michael's voice.'" It's very upsetting for La Toya."

US concert promoter Terry Harvey said, "From what I can see, Michael wasn't even singing live in a full segment. He was struggling. I was told he had his vocals sequenced on stage so if he didn't want to sing live, they just switched on the tape."

Essex Jacko impersonator Navi Parasram, 36, turned down an invite to appear in the film.

He said: "They asked me to do long shots, visuals, placements."