Sushmita Sen to organize charity event

Sushmita Sen, the very name that spells confidence to the core, is indeed a self made woman. After her stints with Bollywood and modelling, Sen is now all set to elevate her charitable organization ‘Iam Foundation’ to a different level together.

The actress is putting together a show called ‘A Brush With The Divine’, which will see the coming together of 35 top artists display their works and sell as well. Most of the artists have pledged half of their proceeds towards the foundation, while others have pledged the whole amount. The event is being sponsored by Govind Kakadia of Kiah. Looking at the response to this event, Govind has now decided to go with two exhibits, as opposed to one earlier. An elated Sushmita also added that they have been invited to Australia and Dubai to conduct similar type of events.

Now that’s what we call a ‘Divine’ woman. Touche’ Sush!

SRK to work with Vishal Bhardwaj in Nadiadwala’s adaptation of novel Two States

This has to be the biggest development of the year as 2010 comes to a close. No one could see it coming but the fact is that Shah Rukh Khan has been signed by Sajid Nadiadwala for the screen adaptation of Chetan Bhagat’s ‘Two States’. The film would be directed by Vishal Bhardwaj which is again a first.

Says our source who broke the news, “This announcement is going to shock quite a few. All this while one had been hearing about Saif Ali Khan to act in ‘Two States’ adaptation which was to be directed by Siddharth Anand. Sajid Nadiadwala had the rights and while there was an announcement in this regard a few weeks back, there was some road block as the screenplay was taking some time to shape up.”

However, this sudden development means that the film has now taken an entirely new dimension. While Saif and Siddharth (who had earlier collaborated on Salaam Namaste and Ta Ra Rum Pum) are no more associated with the project, a long standing wait of watching Shah Rukh Khan in a Vishal Bhardwaj film is also over.

“That’s right”, continues our source, “For a long time Shah Rukh Khan and Vishal Bhardwaj wanted to work with each other. In fact there were also rumours of how both of them were upset with each other during one of the films that they wanted to make earlier. There were some creative differences pertaining to the script and both had to part ways as they couldn’t converge at a common point.”

The duo still didn’t give up on the idea of working together. In fact a few days back there were also rumours of Shah Rukh and Vishal coming together for the remake of The Departed. However, there is a complete turnaround in the proceedings with Sajid Nadiadwala being the producer who has actually got them together and that too for an altogether different film.

“This immediately makes ‘Two States’ adaptation as a huge film to be made in 2011. This Chetan Bhagat novel is a hit as well, just like his previous ones”, says a trade expert, “In any case, when you think Vishal, you know that it is going to be quality cinema. When such a film maker comes together with Shah Rukh, you know that the film would have a definite aesthetic value to it and would cater to mainstream. However, the moment Sajid comes on board as a producer, you know that this one is going to be one big budget commercial masala entertainer. Sajid can’t be expected to think any lesser.”

Well, one has to believe the statement being made here. After all even at the production level, the film would also be collaboration between Sajid Nadiadwala and Shah Rukh Khan as Nadiadwala Grandson and Red Chilles Entertainment would be jointly producing this film.

Now this is indeed a coming together of ‘two states’!

Helen skips Teesri Manzil screening for Dabangg

The solidarity, unity and love within Salman Khan’s family would put a Sooraj Barjatya film to shame. On Saturday evening, at a special screening of Vijay Anand’s Teesri Manzil, Helen who played a pivotal part in the film couldn’t make it because she was busy with a screening of Salman’s Dabangg.

Teesri Manzil’s leading lady Asha Parekh who missed Helen at the screening says, “Why only Helen? Salim Khan saab too acted in Teesri Manzil! They both were expected for the screening. But couldn’t come because of Salman’s film. In fact, while I was watching Teesri Manzil, Helen called to invite me for a screening of Dabangg on Sunday.”

Talking about Helen, Asha Parekh states, “She looked so much lovelier and danced so much better than me in Teesri Manzil. She looks no more than 17-18 in the film. God bless her.”

The special screening of Vijay Anand’s Teesri Manzil saw quite a turn-out of technicians and artistes association with this evergreen film. While the late Vijay Anand was represented by his son Siddharth, the film’s producer, Nasir Hussain’s son Mansoor Khan did not turn up for the show (Mansoor was in Ooty). Nasir saab was represented by his nephew Aamir Khan.

Dibakar Banerjee to make political thriller titled Shanghai starring Abhay Deol

Though Dibakar Banerjee’s next film is called Shanghai it won’t be shot in China. And though this political thriller has a wonderful role for the female protagonist it won’t star Katrina, as expected.

But Banerjee is sold on his old favourite Abhay Deol. What’s more, the uncompromising director has even modified the main character in the script of his next film Shanghai accordingly.

Dibakar now hopes that Abhay’s next two films, which are out-and-out commercial ventures, would work. “This would automatically help my project to acquire an enhanced commercial clout. Although let me add we’re making it on a tight budget of Rs. 12 crores with no frills. Shanghai is not an extravaganza. And it certainly won’t be shot in China!”

The film will be produced by PVR.

Thanks to the success of Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti, gritty political thrillers seem to have a life beyond the film festivals. Laughs Dibakar, “I told my writer, thanks to the success of Raajneeti we now know there’s a market for more than just teenybopper romances and farcical comedies. Shanghai, let me tell you, is not set in China. The title describes a mindset. Beyond that I wouldn’t like to reveal the plot.”

This is the same project that Dibakar wanted to make with Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif. “But Imran said no to Shanghai,” informed Dibakar. “That’s when me and writer Urmi Juvekar decided to change the character. With Imran out the script suddenly, it became more gritty. The protagonist’s character was naïve and innocent when Imran was to play him. Now he’s not that innocent.”

Dibakar hopes that Shanghai would take Abhay’s career to the next level of stardom. Says the director, “When an actor evolves the project too changes. When I did Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye with Abhay that was a different actor. Today after Dev D (for Abhay) and Love Sex Aur Dhokha (for Dibakar) we’re both in a different zone creatively.”

Dibakar recently returned from the Munich Film Festival which concluded on July 4. His Love Sex Aur Dhokha had four screenings in Munich.

Dibakar was overwhelmed by the response, “The Indian films in Munich were not your typical Bollywood films. Nor were they obscure offbeat kinds. They were successfully unconventional films like mine and Abhishek Choubey’s Ishqiya. One of my screenings was held on the day Germany was playing for the World Cup against Argentina. And we were still full!”

Dibakar feels the praise for LSD from abroad is a sign of the changing attitude of the West to our cinema. “What I liked was the fact that we were judged as world cinema, not ‘Bollywood’. 70 percent of the audience at each screening was German. I feel Indian cinema will take a while to not be seen as anything more than a diversion by international audiences. But we’re getting there.”

Back home, Dibakar continues to spend all his waking hours with his adopted daughter.

Says the proud father. “Ira now has two front teeth. Watching her become an integral part of my wife’s and my life is the greatest joy of I’ve experienced. I plan to return to direction next year.”

Shahid Kapoor to star in Sabbir Khan’s next titled Heer And Ranjha

After directing the Akshay Kumar- Kareena Kapoor starrer Kambakkht Ishq last year, Sabbir Khan is now ready to get rolling with his next project, once again for producer Sajid Nadiadwala. The film in question is a love story tentatively titled Heer And Ranjha and the buzz is that Shahid Kapoor has been signed to play the male lead. The hunt for the female lead is still on.

The makers are still tight-lipped about the project as it’s too early to talk about it but in all probability the film will go on floors sometime in Feb 2011. As for Shahid, this would be the project that he would be jumping onto after wrapping up dad Pankaj Kapur’s Mausam. Incidentally, this is the first time that Shahid would be working with Sajid Nadiadwala who has worked with almost all the big names in the industry. Director Sabbir Khan too has been working extra hard on the script of this young love story. With the combo of Sajid, Shahid and Sabbir coming together, this one promises to be another fun-filled entertainer.

SRK and Gauri to appear in TV commercial for furniture brand

He is known as King Khan, she is known for being a successful film producer and together this real life couple is now ready to create magic on screen. We’re talking about Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan. The couple is all set feature in a TV commercial.

But this isn’t the first time that the couple is coming together on screen to do an ad. Back in 1994, Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan did a series of commercials for the then popular soap brand Cinthol. And this time, they are all set to promote the high end home furnishing brand D d

Ranbir, Deepika Not on Speaking Terms

Ranbir, Deepika not on speaking terms , Bollywood’s hot couple Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone is in the news for all the wrong reasons once again. The sources say that they are not on talking terms after fighting for a couple of days. They didn’t even attend Karan Johar’s show. They were spotted at designer Shabina Khan’s bash but everyone present could sense the rift between them. It is said that the problem started, as Deepika thinks Ranbir isn’t committed towards her. Confirming the news a daily quoted a source as saying, “Everyone knows that Neetu, Ranbir’s mother, never really approved of Deepika after which she decided to draw back”.

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Ranbir, Deepika Not on Speaking Terms was first posted on October 21, 2009 at 1:40 pm.

Katrina Kaif in Hera Pheri 3

Katrina Kaif in Hera Pheri 3, Producer Firoz Nadiadwala is relieved. The third part to the Hera Pheri series is finally set to be made. The third part will have Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty and Paresh Rawal coming together yet again. This time, the heroine of the film will be Katrina Kaif and it will be directed by Anees Bazmee, unlike the previous two films that were directed by Priyadarshan and Neeraj Vohra respectively. The film will be called Hera Pheri 4 instead of 3. The reason for doing so will be given in the promos of the film when it is ready. Akshay Kumar was earlier having date issues but he managed to fit in Hera Pheri into his schedule anyhow. Meanwhile, he is going to be seen with Sunil Shetty and Paresh Rawal.

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Katrina Kaif in Hera Pheri 3 was first posted on October 21, 2009 at 1:57 pm.