We have had South Indian stars doing Bollywood films and vice versa. Bollywood beauty Aishwarya Bachchan is reportedly planning to do a couple of Kollywood films. The stunner is no stranger to Tamil having debuted in Mani Ratnam’s Iruvar in 1997. She was raw debutant then. Today, she is a sophisticated star and one of the Bollywood's top heroines.
The actress has come full circle since those times. After almost a decade, two of Aishwarya’s upcoming projects will have Tamil versions. Raavan and Robot will be dubbed in Tamil as Ravana and Endhiran respectively. These are her most ambitious Kollywood ventures so far, though she has done films like Jeans and Kandukondain Kandukondain.
In Raavan, she teams up with hubby Abhishek and mentor Ratnam while in Robot, she will be seen with Rajinikanth. A Tamil coach tutored her on the language and diction for Raavan. She wooed everyone by dubbing for her own lines. She also got the tone and accent right! For Robot, it was Rajini himself who gave her lessons. A source revealed that Ash is a fast learner. Though she found it difficult at first, she was able to rattle off lengthy dialogues with ease!
This has made the diva more confident about doing Tamil projects. She loves Tamil films as they are technically and script-wise very rich. When asked about it, she stated that she has to understand the dialogues before delivering them. She dislikes mugging dialogues without knowing what she is saying. So she made special efforts to learn the nuances of Tamil before embarking on these projects. The results are there for everyone to see! Vannakam anyone?
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Kristen Stewart will not be a Bollywood Bella
Contrary to recent reports, Kristen Stewart is not Bollywood bound to star in Paani.
Speculation was mounting after it was ‘revealed’ that Paani’s director Shekhar Kapur had offered the Twilight star the role and she had supposedly accepted.
Bollywood movie fans were said to be excited at the prospect of K-Stew starring opposite Hrithik Rishan in a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ style story, but this will not happen.
Stewart’s rep told celebrity gossip website Gossip Cop, “She is not set to star in this movie.”
Kristen is concentrating on promoting rock biopic The Runaways and her summer schedule will be filled with press appearances for Twilight Eclipse.
She will then go on to work on Twilight Breaking Dawn, which is believed to be going into production this winter.
Speculation was mounting after it was ‘revealed’ that Paani’s director Shekhar Kapur had offered the Twilight star the role and she had supposedly accepted.
Bollywood movie fans were said to be excited at the prospect of K-Stew starring opposite Hrithik Rishan in a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ style story, but this will not happen.
Stewart’s rep told celebrity gossip website Gossip Cop, “She is not set to star in this movie.”
Kristen is concentrating on promoting rock biopic The Runaways and her summer schedule will be filled with press appearances for Twilight Eclipse.
She will then go on to work on Twilight Breaking Dawn, which is believed to be going into production this winter.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Kevin Spacey denies reports Kate Moss will appear in his theatre work
Actor/director Kevin Spacey has denied reports of him approaching supermodel Kate Moss to appear in one of his upcoming London plays.
Spacey, 50, who serves as artistic director at the city's Old Vic theatre, is said to have taken Moss, 36, out to dinner earlier this month in a bid to convince her to take on a stage role.
But the American Beauty star has insisted on his Twitter.com page that there's "not a grain of truth" in the rumours.
"Great to hang w/ (with) Kate Moss last wk (week) but not sure where stories of her treading boards at the Old Vic came from. Not a grain of truth in it!" the Daily Star quoted him as writing.
Spacey, 50, who serves as artistic director at the city's Old Vic theatre, is said to have taken Moss, 36, out to dinner earlier this month in a bid to convince her to take on a stage role.
But the American Beauty star has insisted on his Twitter.com page that there's "not a grain of truth" in the rumours.
"Great to hang w/ (with) Kate Moss last wk (week) but not sure where stories of her treading boards at the Old Vic came from. Not a grain of truth in it!" the Daily Star quoted him as writing.
Hema Malini, Esha Deol walk down Wills India Fashion Week ramp
Bollywood actress Hema Malini and her daughter Esha walked the ramp for designer Rocky S at the 15th edition of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW) Autumn-Winter 2010 here on Friday.
Designer Rocky S, who is among the Bollywood's most popular designers, showcased his bridal collection, a collection that he described in one word as ‘Grace.’
Rocky used bright colours with eclectic combinations like blue, red, teal, pink, peach, burgundy and green with a heavy use of borders, motifs and tassels used with all the bright hues.
The fabrics used included silk, georgette, chiffon and brocade.
The collections included all the traditional Indian lehenga cholis, saris, churidaar kurtas for women and brocade long coats known as sherwanis for men.
The designer said he created these keeping in mind the mother and sister of a bride.
"Well this is a very simple and traditional collection. I wanted it more for family… for a woman who is getting married; her sister can buy something, her mother can buy something. I wanted to keep it very traditional. So the colours are very pure…Indian colours. The fabrics are Indian… traditional embroidery is being used. I just wanted to stay away from black for a change," said Rocky S.
Actor Esha walked the ramp flaunting her heavily embroidered maroon and green bridal lehenga-choli, whereas Bollywood's veteran 'Dream Girl' Hema Malini accompanied her with grace in a similar coloured sari teamed with an embroidered burnt orange coloured blouse.
Hema Malini, who stole the show with her grace, praised Rocky's collection.
"It was wonderful working on the ramp with Esha for Rocky…it's a beautiful colour combination …2-3 colours are there in this sari with a striking bright blouse. So it looks very nice," said Hema Malini.
Designer Payal Jain also showcased her collection.
She titled her creations Solitary Monk, saying it was inspired by the mystic allure of the historical textiles and bewitched lifestyle of the monks in Laos.
The most inspiring features of the collection were the unorthodox usage of colour, print, texture and fabrics.
The fabrics ranging from linen and cotton jersey to hand-woven khadi to self-jacquards and soft flowing silk jerseys were draped and styled into clean and simple ensembles.
Attractive models stood tall and pretty in draped dresses, flowing tunics, structured jackets, bias skirts, prayer pants and draped shells in a colour palette of indigo, burnt coral, warm chocolate and slate black.
"This is a fall winter, you have to have warm colours. This collection is inspired by monks and monasteries, as you could see the bells, the music, the chanting and all," said Jain.
The WLIFW-AW 2010, hosted by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), will witness the participation of 130 designers, 75 of them also presenting shows and among whom 19 are debutants.
The fashion extravaganza will feature 43 shows.
Designer Rocky S, who is among the Bollywood's most popular designers, showcased his bridal collection, a collection that he described in one word as ‘Grace.’
Rocky used bright colours with eclectic combinations like blue, red, teal, pink, peach, burgundy and green with a heavy use of borders, motifs and tassels used with all the bright hues.
The fabrics used included silk, georgette, chiffon and brocade.
The collections included all the traditional Indian lehenga cholis, saris, churidaar kurtas for women and brocade long coats known as sherwanis for men.
The designer said he created these keeping in mind the mother and sister of a bride.
"Well this is a very simple and traditional collection. I wanted it more for family… for a woman who is getting married; her sister can buy something, her mother can buy something. I wanted to keep it very traditional. So the colours are very pure…Indian colours. The fabrics are Indian… traditional embroidery is being used. I just wanted to stay away from black for a change," said Rocky S.
Actor Esha walked the ramp flaunting her heavily embroidered maroon and green bridal lehenga-choli, whereas Bollywood's veteran 'Dream Girl' Hema Malini accompanied her with grace in a similar coloured sari teamed with an embroidered burnt orange coloured blouse.
Hema Malini, who stole the show with her grace, praised Rocky's collection.
"It was wonderful working on the ramp with Esha for Rocky…it's a beautiful colour combination …2-3 colours are there in this sari with a striking bright blouse. So it looks very nice," said Hema Malini.
Designer Payal Jain also showcased her collection.
She titled her creations Solitary Monk, saying it was inspired by the mystic allure of the historical textiles and bewitched lifestyle of the monks in Laos.
The most inspiring features of the collection were the unorthodox usage of colour, print, texture and fabrics.
The fabrics ranging from linen and cotton jersey to hand-woven khadi to self-jacquards and soft flowing silk jerseys were draped and styled into clean and simple ensembles.
Attractive models stood tall and pretty in draped dresses, flowing tunics, structured jackets, bias skirts, prayer pants and draped shells in a colour palette of indigo, burnt coral, warm chocolate and slate black.
"This is a fall winter, you have to have warm colours. This collection is inspired by monks and monasteries, as you could see the bells, the music, the chanting and all," said Jain.
The WLIFW-AW 2010, hosted by the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI), will witness the participation of 130 designers, 75 of them also presenting shows and among whom 19 are debutants.
The fashion extravaganza will feature 43 shows.
Sandra Bullock decides not to return home
Sandra Bullock reportedly has no plan to return to the home where she lived with hubby Jesse James while the man who cheated on her is still there.
The Oscar-winning actress, who has avoided the public glare for the past two weeks, has no intention of sleeping at their home while James is there and so she has moved out, it has been reported.
"Sandra is such a classy woman.... To have her husband cheating on her and cheating with so many women, it's just something she doesn't deserve," The New York Post quoted an insider as telling RadarOnline.com.
The site also reported that Bullock, 45, is currently staying at her Hollywood Hills home, which she bought before she married James nearly five years ago.
The source added: "She has always conducted herself with dignity.
"A lot of people never understood her attraction to James, but she was loyal to him. And not only did he cheat, but he cheated with these women that just make you shake your head. Not that it matters anyway — the only thing that matters is [that] he cheated."
Bullock has been avoiding the public glare after allegations of James, 40, romping with tattoo model Michelle 'Bombshell' McGee emerged nearly two weeks ago.
The Oscar-winning actress, who has avoided the public glare for the past two weeks, has no intention of sleeping at their home while James is there and so she has moved out, it has been reported.
"Sandra is such a classy woman.... To have her husband cheating on her and cheating with so many women, it's just something she doesn't deserve," The New York Post quoted an insider as telling RadarOnline.com.
The site also reported that Bullock, 45, is currently staying at her Hollywood Hills home, which she bought before she married James nearly five years ago.
The source added: "She has always conducted herself with dignity.
"A lot of people never understood her attraction to James, but she was loyal to him. And not only did he cheat, but he cheated with these women that just make you shake your head. Not that it matters anyway — the only thing that matters is [that] he cheated."
Bullock has been avoiding the public glare after allegations of James, 40, romping with tattoo model Michelle 'Bombshell' McGee emerged nearly two weeks ago.
Spider-Man star James Franco eyes PhD
Spider-Man star James Franco has been accepted into the prestigious Yale University, where the actor will study for his doctorate.
The actor has already done a film-making course from New York University, and also took writing classes at Columbia University, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts diploma, reports The Daily Express.
A representative has confirmed that Franco was accepted into Yale, in Connecticut.
He will begin courses for his PhD in September if he accepts his place, according to the esteemed institution's student newspaper The Yale Herald.
The actor has already done a film-making course from New York University, and also took writing classes at Columbia University, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts diploma, reports The Daily Express.
A representative has confirmed that Franco was accepted into Yale, in Connecticut.
He will begin courses for his PhD in September if he accepts his place, according to the esteemed institution's student newspaper The Yale Herald.
Shakira wants to start a family after her next tour
Shakira is looking forward to starting a family with her long-term fiance Antonio De La Rua. The singer is hoping to settle down but needs to fulfill her commitments first.
"Do I have any plans for children? Little wolves? Yeah, of course. I'd really like to have kids, but first I need to go on tour and release this new album - and then we can sit down and talk about it," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.
The 33-year-old star told the Big Issue magazine that even though she and Antonio got engaged over four years ago, marriage is no longer high on her list of priorities.
"Maybe 15 years ago, I'd dream about wearing a white gown, a wedding cake and a room full of guests and me feeding them canapés," she said.
"Do I have any plans for children? Little wolves? Yeah, of course. I'd really like to have kids, but first I need to go on tour and release this new album - and then we can sit down and talk about it," Contactmusic quoted her as saying.
The 33-year-old star told the Big Issue magazine that even though she and Antonio got engaged over four years ago, marriage is no longer high on her list of priorities.
"Maybe 15 years ago, I'd dream about wearing a white gown, a wedding cake and a room full of guests and me feeding them canapés," she said.
Stars take the hit after films flopped
It’s official. With film producers pressing for a reduction in their movie’s budgets, many leading actors have taken a cut in their fees. In fact, the cut in salaries has percolated down to all levels including directors, technicians and even extras.
Shailendra Singh, managing director of Percept Pictures, says, “The fees of stars had reached unprecedented levels. In some cases, even 90% of a film’s budget went into paying the stars. We have been lobbying and pressing for a correction for a long time. So now I am glad that it is happening finally. The stars are finally getting to learn that a fee cut is the only option left for everybody to survive in this volatile market.”
Confirming the development, a senior official at IDBI Bank says, “The film fund size was Rs500 crore (last year) and we had increased it to Rs1,000 crore (for this financial year). Again, we are thinking of reducing it to the original size (Rs500 crore) as film budgets have shrunk. This is because around 80 per cent of the cost of making a movie is acting fees. We are hearing that these have come down to reasonable levels now.” IDBI is one of thebanks in India that maintains a substantial corpus of funds to be invested in Bollywood.
Producer Vipul Shah says, “Some corporations in their bid to nudge out the independent producers had made obscene payments to a few stars. The stars were obviously happy to take the money home. Now, after most of their films have flopped, they have been left with no other option but to reduce their fees drastically. I know this for a fact that Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn have dropped their prices by several notches to help producers.”
During the course of an earlier interview, Salman had said, “I am always there for my friends. If I think that me doing something will help them then I am willing to go that extra mile. I always try to accommodate a request and I will not charge exorbitant prices ever.” Salman was speaking before his last film Veer’s release.
Shailendra Singh, managing director of Percept Pictures, says, “The fees of stars had reached unprecedented levels. In some cases, even 90% of a film’s budget went into paying the stars. We have been lobbying and pressing for a correction for a long time. So now I am glad that it is happening finally. The stars are finally getting to learn that a fee cut is the only option left for everybody to survive in this volatile market.”
Confirming the development, a senior official at IDBI Bank says, “The film fund size was Rs500 crore (last year) and we had increased it to Rs1,000 crore (for this financial year). Again, we are thinking of reducing it to the original size (Rs500 crore) as film budgets have shrunk. This is because around 80 per cent of the cost of making a movie is acting fees. We are hearing that these have come down to reasonable levels now.” IDBI is one of thebanks in India that maintains a substantial corpus of funds to be invested in Bollywood.
Producer Vipul Shah says, “Some corporations in their bid to nudge out the independent producers had made obscene payments to a few stars. The stars were obviously happy to take the money home. Now, after most of their films have flopped, they have been left with no other option but to reduce their fees drastically. I know this for a fact that Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn have dropped their prices by several notches to help producers.”
During the course of an earlier interview, Salman had said, “I am always there for my friends. If I think that me doing something will help them then I am willing to go that extra mile. I always try to accommodate a request and I will not charge exorbitant prices ever.” Salman was speaking before his last film Veer’s release.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
MGR's birth anniversary celebrated in Chennai
Processions, garlanding of statues and distribution of sweets marked the 93rd birth anniversary of founder-leader of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and late Tamil Nadu chief minister MG Ramachandran (MGR), in the state today.
AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa garlanded MGR's statue and distributed sweets at the party headquarters.
Deputy chief minister MK Stalin paid floral tributes to the late leader.
MGR, who died 23 years ago, was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka in 1917, and his family moved to India a few years later. Poverty compelled him to join theatre at the early age of seven, and then enter the movie business as an actor.
Depicted in his films as saviour of the underprivileged which endeared him to the masses, MGR was the numero uno of Tamil cinema before he took the plunge into politics in 1953, joining the DMK.
He floated the AIADMK in 1972, and became Tamil Nadu chief minister in 1977, defeating the Karunanidhi-led DMK, and continued in the post till he died following cardiac arrest in 1987.
The leader is remembered by people for many of his social welfare schemes, including the free mid-day meal scheme for school children.
MGR's death saw his party split into two factions, one led by his widow Janaki and another by Jayalalithaa, who had acted as his heroine in over 50 movies. After the 1989 assembly polls, both factions merged under Jayalalithaa's leadership.
AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa garlanded MGR's statue and distributed sweets at the party headquarters.
Deputy chief minister MK Stalin paid floral tributes to the late leader.
MGR, who died 23 years ago, was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka in 1917, and his family moved to India a few years later. Poverty compelled him to join theatre at the early age of seven, and then enter the movie business as an actor.
Depicted in his films as saviour of the underprivileged which endeared him to the masses, MGR was the numero uno of Tamil cinema before he took the plunge into politics in 1953, joining the DMK.
He floated the AIADMK in 1972, and became Tamil Nadu chief minister in 1977, defeating the Karunanidhi-led DMK, and continued in the post till he died following cardiac arrest in 1987.
The leader is remembered by people for many of his social welfare schemes, including the free mid-day meal scheme for school children.
MGR's death saw his party split into two factions, one led by his widow Janaki and another by Jayalalithaa, who had acted as his heroine in over 50 movies. After the 1989 assembly polls, both factions merged under Jayalalithaa's leadership.
James Cameron eyes Australia for next film
Hollywood director James Cameron is set to make Australia his next stop to oversee his ongoing film project after the phenomenal success of Avatar.
The Oscar-winner is presently involved with the $30-million psychological thriller Sanctum that is being shot in Gold Coast.
The Titanic filmmaker, serving as executive producer, praised Australian director Alister Grierson for his talent with the lens.
"I am actually coming down to the set in a couple of weeks, and I am going to stay there through the underwater shoot," Herald Sun quoted Cameron as saying.
"They are doing great. Alister Grierson is a really talented director – his first film was Kokoda. I would be proud if that was my third film," he added.
The Oscar-winner is presently involved with the $30-million psychological thriller Sanctum that is being shot in Gold Coast.
The Titanic filmmaker, serving as executive producer, praised Australian director Alister Grierson for his talent with the lens.
"I am actually coming down to the set in a couple of weeks, and I am going to stay there through the underwater shoot," Herald Sun quoted Cameron as saying.
"They are doing great. Alister Grierson is a really talented director – his first film was Kokoda. I would be proud if that was my third film," he added.
Satyajit Ray's private eye Feluda enters new arena
Satyajit Ray's super detective Feluda is going great guns.
Created in 1965, the Charminar cigarette-puffing private eye, whose real name is Prodosh Kumar Mitter, will now feature in an animated series.
This is another stint for Feluda, who has had a successful stint on the silver screen, besides being a novel and comic book hero.
Hyderabad-based production and distribution group DQE will produce an animated tele-movie and TV series based on the adventures of Feluda, who teams up with his cousin Topshe and friend Lalmohan Ganguli to capture devious culprits and solve puzzling mysteries.
According to DQE chairman and CEO Tapaas Chakravarti, "We have confirmed acquisition for Indian broadcasting in several languages from a leading global broadcaster, and this has been a huge affirmation that these stories will be received well by audiences."
The Kathmandu Caper is the first animated tele-movie being adapted and written for animation in London by famous children's writer, Charles Hodges.
The tele-film revolves around the kidnap of a stranger in the neighbourhood which leads Feluda, Topshe, his friend Jatayu and Bones, their wily dog, to Kathmandu.
Last year, publishers Penguin under its Puffin imprint brought out the exploits of Feluda in comic format.
The titles were A Bagful of Mystery, Beware in the Graveyard and Murder By the Sea.
The comic strips were scripted by Subhadra Sen Gupta with illustrations by Tapas Guha.
"These great stories deal with eternal themes – loyalty, greed and courage... all we did was make them visually contemporary, so that kids relate to them better. We have not touched the plots, they are all Ray's," says Subhadra.
According to her, beyond occasionally changing the location from inside to outside, no changes to the original scripts were made at all. "Ray being a filmmaker and artist wrote very visually, giving detailed descriptions and also taking the stories to all sorts of locations, and that made the stories ideal for a comic strip," she says.
"We grew up reading Feluda, and the miracle is that he is now a part of our lives, and he and the other characters feels very real to us."
In A Bagful of Mystery, Feluda's client Dinanath Lahiri has a strange problem. On a train from Delhi to Kolkata, someone has taken his bag and replaced it with an identical one. The action-packed search by Feluda and his sidekicks take them through the busy streets of Kolkata and Delhi and into the final dangerous climax on the snowy slopes of the Simla hills.
Created in 1965, the Charminar cigarette-puffing private eye, whose real name is Prodosh Kumar Mitter, will now feature in an animated series.
This is another stint for Feluda, who has had a successful stint on the silver screen, besides being a novel and comic book hero.
Hyderabad-based production and distribution group DQE will produce an animated tele-movie and TV series based on the adventures of Feluda, who teams up with his cousin Topshe and friend Lalmohan Ganguli to capture devious culprits and solve puzzling mysteries.
According to DQE chairman and CEO Tapaas Chakravarti, "We have confirmed acquisition for Indian broadcasting in several languages from a leading global broadcaster, and this has been a huge affirmation that these stories will be received well by audiences."
The Kathmandu Caper is the first animated tele-movie being adapted and written for animation in London by famous children's writer, Charles Hodges.
The tele-film revolves around the kidnap of a stranger in the neighbourhood which leads Feluda, Topshe, his friend Jatayu and Bones, their wily dog, to Kathmandu.
Last year, publishers Penguin under its Puffin imprint brought out the exploits of Feluda in comic format.
The titles were A Bagful of Mystery, Beware in the Graveyard and Murder By the Sea.
The comic strips were scripted by Subhadra Sen Gupta with illustrations by Tapas Guha.
"These great stories deal with eternal themes – loyalty, greed and courage... all we did was make them visually contemporary, so that kids relate to them better. We have not touched the plots, they are all Ray's," says Subhadra.
According to her, beyond occasionally changing the location from inside to outside, no changes to the original scripts were made at all. "Ray being a filmmaker and artist wrote very visually, giving detailed descriptions and also taking the stories to all sorts of locations, and that made the stories ideal for a comic strip," she says.
"We grew up reading Feluda, and the miracle is that he is now a part of our lives, and he and the other characters feels very real to us."
In A Bagful of Mystery, Feluda's client Dinanath Lahiri has a strange problem. On a train from Delhi to Kolkata, someone has taken his bag and replaced it with an identical one. The action-packed search by Feluda and his sidekicks take them through the busy streets of Kolkata and Delhi and into the final dangerous climax on the snowy slopes of the Simla hills.
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