Russia's Ksenya Sukhinova was crowned Miss World 2008 after beating scores of international beauties, including India's Parvathy Omanakuttan who finished first runner up, at a glittering African extravaganza held here.
"Miss World 2008 is Russia," announced Julia Morley, head of the Miss World committee that organises the event. The 21-year-old Parvathy, who hails from Kottayam in Kerala, narrowly missed out on joining five Indian glamour queens Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999) and Priyanka Chopra (2000) who had won the title.
The second runners up was Gabriel Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.
More than 100 international beauties participated in this year's Miss World pageant, hosted by South Africa.
Sukhinova, who took over the title from Zhang Zi Lin of China to become the 58th Miss World, was crowned after a two-hour long spectacle that combined elements of travelogue and reality show. She beamed as she was crowned.
Sukhinova also had won the contest's top model award and was third in the swimsuit competition. Miss South Africa Tansey Coetzee had made it to the final five.
"I think I can help people and I want to help people and today if I walk away with this crown I will do that," Sukhinova told judges through a translator after being asked why she should be crowned the winner.
India's Parvathy, who had won the Miss femina contest in April this year, said: "In India and South Africa people are warm and warm-hearted. I felt at home in Johannesburg." "Presence of two great leaders Mahatma Gandhi (India) and Nelson Mandela (South Africa) have influenced millions of people in both the countries," she said.
Asked About her experience in the beauty pageant, the 5 feet 9 inches tall dusky beauty said: "It is a great journey for me."
South Africa, who hosted the event for the sixth time, became the country that has held more Miss World pageants than any other. The event was broadcast to millions of viewers in 187 countries.
Beauties from 109 countries were whittled down to 15 semi-finalists with India, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, Angola and South Africa named the five finalists as the audience willed their favourite to go forward.
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Upcoming film is not an biographical: Akshay
Actor Akshay Kumar Tuesday said that his upcoming film "Chandni Chowk to China" was not a biographical account.
"The only similarity was that like myself in real life, the protagonist also works as a cook," Akshay who is originally from Delhi and worked as a cook in Bangkok before making it big in Bollywood, told reporters at the music launch of the film.
The actor whose recent releases have raked up over Rs 500 crore worldwide virtually threatening to upstage Bollywood 'badshah' Shah Rukh Khan, said that he owed his
success to hard work and blessings of parents.
"People like me and Shah Rukh had no forefathers in the film industry. But, we made it due to hard work and blessings of parents. If we can do it,anybody can," he said.
Akshay described "Chandni Chowk to China" as an international film which showcases Kung fu in Bollywood for the first time.
"I always want to be my character in a film and hence practicising Kung fu was very hard.
"I shared screen space with Sir Gordan Liu who introduced Kung Fu to big screen
several years ago," he said.
Akshay said "Chandni Chowk to China" starring himself with Deepika Padukone in the lead and produced by Rohan Sippy and Warner Brothers, has been a memorable experience.
"It is for the first time that a Bollywood film has been shot at the 'Great Wall of China'. Not even a Hollywood film has been shot there so far. Kung Fu requires lot of
discipline and the film will showcase the need for discipline in one's life. We need discipline in our country as well," the actor said.
"The only similarity was that like myself in real life, the protagonist also works as a cook," Akshay who is originally from Delhi and worked as a cook in Bangkok before making it big in Bollywood, told reporters at the music launch of the film.
The actor whose recent releases have raked up over Rs 500 crore worldwide virtually threatening to upstage Bollywood 'badshah' Shah Rukh Khan, said that he owed his
success to hard work and blessings of parents.
"People like me and Shah Rukh had no forefathers in the film industry. But, we made it due to hard work and blessings of parents. If we can do it,anybody can," he said.
Akshay described "Chandni Chowk to China" as an international film which showcases Kung fu in Bollywood for the first time.
"I always want to be my character in a film and hence practicising Kung fu was very hard.
"I shared screen space with Sir Gordan Liu who introduced Kung Fu to big screen
several years ago," he said.
Akshay said "Chandni Chowk to China" starring himself with Deepika Padukone in the lead and produced by Rohan Sippy and Warner Brothers, has been a memorable experience.
"It is for the first time that a Bollywood film has been shot at the 'Great Wall of China'. Not even a Hollywood film has been shot there so far. Kung Fu requires lot of
discipline and the film will showcase the need for discipline in one's life. We need discipline in our country as well," the actor said.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Bollywood now eyeing Thailand locales
Bollywood's fascination with foreign locales is not new, but Indian filmmakers seem to have taken a fancy to shooting action movies in Thailand and say it works out cheaper as compared to Europe.
At least two dozen action-adventure films during the past two years have been shot in Thailand.
In fact, recently one couldn't take two steps in Bangkok without running into a Bollywood crew. Among them were the cast and crew of Nikhil Advani's "Chandni Chowk To China", Anthony D'Souza's directorial debut "Blue" and Suniel Shetty's "Loot".
Neil Nitin Mukesh, who has been shooting there for "Freeze", told IANS: "There was so much of Bollywood in Bangkok I was confused whether I was in Mumbai or Bangkok. We did a lot of heavy duty action scenes in Bangkok. I guess the atmosphere there is conducive to crackling and bone-cracking stunts."
A producer has to reportedly shell out about $1,000 per week to shoot in Bangkok, which is much cheaper than in Europe. In terms of airfare too, Thailand is nearer and therefore cheaper.
Is this an indication of geographical aptness or plain practical common sense?
Hansal Mehta thinks it's laziness and lack of imagination that propel all actioners to Bangkok.
Soham Shah, who shot his rugged adventure film "Luck" in South Africa, said: "I think thrillers are shot in places like Bangkok and Thailand because a crime action adventure film needs a dark dingy hectic atmosphere with shady bylanes and alleys.
"Bangkok gives a certain edge to a crime drama. Because it has a history of crime behind it whereas European countries like Switzerland with their green virgin locales lend themselves well to romance."
Director Kunal Kohli, who shot his romantic films "Hum Tum" and "Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic" in Europe, thinks it's all about economics.
"Action films cost a lot of money. So they anyway need cheaper locations with good infrastructure. You get that in Southeast Asia."
Echoing the same, Sanjay Gadhvi, who shot his actioner "Kidnap" in Mumbai but went to Bangkok for one crucial action scene, said: "Why Bangkok? I'll tell you. It's more economical. Shooting shifts for action films are far more expensive. So costs are cut through cheaper locations."
Added producer Bunty Walia: "South Asian countries have the look, manpower and the expertise to execute complicated action scenes at a comparatively cheaper rate. As for love stories, filmmakers need virginal beauty spots, imposing architecture and super outdoors. Understandably they head for Europe and Australia."
Walia is currently busy with his film "Lamhaa", which is being directed by Rahul Dholakia and stars Bipasha Basu and Sanjay Dutt.
Milan Luthria of "Kachche Dhaage" fame attributes the exodus for action to Southeast Asia to these factors.
"There are so many props required in an action film. There are cars, bikes, chopper and boats to ply and wreck. Action crews are far cheaper in South Africa and Southeast Asia. And since an action film needs a much bigger crew to be transported, the airfare to these countries is relatively cheaper.
"Regarding romance, European and Australian locales are prettier for love and the quality of light in these countries is best for close-ups and other intimate moments," said Luthira.
Anurag Basu's "Murder" was said to be the first film to be shot entirely in Bangkok. Other Hindi movies shot there include "Ek Ajnabee", "Zinda", "Family".
At least two dozen action-adventure films during the past two years have been shot in Thailand.
In fact, recently one couldn't take two steps in Bangkok without running into a Bollywood crew. Among them were the cast and crew of Nikhil Advani's "Chandni Chowk To China", Anthony D'Souza's directorial debut "Blue" and Suniel Shetty's "Loot".
Neil Nitin Mukesh, who has been shooting there for "Freeze", told IANS: "There was so much of Bollywood in Bangkok I was confused whether I was in Mumbai or Bangkok. We did a lot of heavy duty action scenes in Bangkok. I guess the atmosphere there is conducive to crackling and bone-cracking stunts."
A producer has to reportedly shell out about $1,000 per week to shoot in Bangkok, which is much cheaper than in Europe. In terms of airfare too, Thailand is nearer and therefore cheaper.
Is this an indication of geographical aptness or plain practical common sense?
Hansal Mehta thinks it's laziness and lack of imagination that propel all actioners to Bangkok.
Soham Shah, who shot his rugged adventure film "Luck" in South Africa, said: "I think thrillers are shot in places like Bangkok and Thailand because a crime action adventure film needs a dark dingy hectic atmosphere with shady bylanes and alleys.
"Bangkok gives a certain edge to a crime drama. Because it has a history of crime behind it whereas European countries like Switzerland with their green virgin locales lend themselves well to romance."
Director Kunal Kohli, who shot his romantic films "Hum Tum" and "Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic" in Europe, thinks it's all about economics.
"Action films cost a lot of money. So they anyway need cheaper locations with good infrastructure. You get that in Southeast Asia."
Echoing the same, Sanjay Gadhvi, who shot his actioner "Kidnap" in Mumbai but went to Bangkok for one crucial action scene, said: "Why Bangkok? I'll tell you. It's more economical. Shooting shifts for action films are far more expensive. So costs are cut through cheaper locations."
Added producer Bunty Walia: "South Asian countries have the look, manpower and the expertise to execute complicated action scenes at a comparatively cheaper rate. As for love stories, filmmakers need virginal beauty spots, imposing architecture and super outdoors. Understandably they head for Europe and Australia."
Walia is currently busy with his film "Lamhaa", which is being directed by Rahul Dholakia and stars Bipasha Basu and Sanjay Dutt.
Milan Luthria of "Kachche Dhaage" fame attributes the exodus for action to Southeast Asia to these factors.
"There are so many props required in an action film. There are cars, bikes, chopper and boats to ply and wreck. Action crews are far cheaper in South Africa and Southeast Asia. And since an action film needs a much bigger crew to be transported, the airfare to these countries is relatively cheaper.
"Regarding romance, European and Australian locales are prettier for love and the quality of light in these countries is best for close-ups and other intimate moments," said Luthira.
Anurag Basu's "Murder" was said to be the first film to be shot entirely in Bangkok. Other Hindi movies shot there include "Ek Ajnabee", "Zinda", "Family".
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