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Latest News and Gossips:
Madhuri and sex education!
What has marriage to Dr Sriram Nene taught Madhuri Dixit? Going by a press release to Maharashtra government officials, the "dhak-dhak" lady has finally learned from her hubby that AIDS is a killer disease!
Fresh from her new education, Madhuri has now volunteered to act in some TV newsreels to help spread awareness on the disease. All free of cost.
A film star doing such social work in her free time comes as a refreshing change from the current trend of stars disgracing their fans by dancing in weddings for hefty pay packets. But pray, why did it need the good cardiologist to educate the queen bee on the deadly virus? Is it because a New York doctor knows more about AIDS than the suffering millions in India?
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"Pukar" release today
"Pukar", scheduled to release on February 4, is generating enormous attention in both audiences and trade circles. For one, it will be Madhuri Dixit-Nene's first release after she officially declared her state of wedded bliss. And everyone is waiting with bated breath to see if she will finally break the glass ceiling and be accepted by her fans. As a married heroine! Then, there is Anil Kapoor. Whose performance in the movie is being lauded by all those who have seen it.
Director Rajkumar Santoshi is as known for his highly-delayed films as for the warmth with which they are received at the box office. While producer Boney Kapoor is synonymous for the extravagant lavishness of his films. True to form, he has had the song "Que sera sera" recorded thrice before it met with his standards of perfection. While Santoshi, as late as the last week of January, flew down with some of his artistes to Hyderabad where Anil is shooting for the next Kapoor production, "Humara Dil Aapke Paas Hain". And actually shot an entire scene that is now incorporated in the pre-climax.
Finally, there is the money. Boney Kapoor has spent slightly over Rs 240 million on "Pukar", which has been sold at an expensive Rs 22.5 million per major territory.
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Shah Rukh : blowing his own trumpet
Enter the swanky office of Dreamz Unlimited in a posh Mumbai suburb. Among the other state-of-the-art ingredients that make up the swell place, you will easily spot the glitzy chambers of the owner-partners, Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Aziz Mirza.
Juhi and Aziz, sensible people both, have put up simple nameplates on their doors. But can Shah Rukh ever be "ordinary"? So, on the door to the Khan's cabin hangs no ordinary nameplate, but this huge, gold-plated star. And what's written on the star? Not Shah Rukh's name, but the word "Superstar"!
Is the situation that tight that you have to blow your own trumpet?! We know almost all the recent solo-starrers (Baadshah, Duplicate) have failed and despite the good that came out of the superb "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", the credit was shared by Kajol, Rani Mukherjee, director Karan Johar, even guest artist Salman Khan!
Still, we guess focussing on the quality of work would be a better idea to hang the superstar tag on your name.
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Ash and Sush : twins of destiny?
They burst upon the big scene together in 1994, like the twin stars of the Gemini sky. Both went on to capture international beauty titles. Both went on to join the Bollywood rat-race as soon as their tenures as Miss Universe and Miss World ended.
While Aishwarya Rai managed to bag a plum project opposite the then red-hot newcomer Bobby Deol, Sushmita Sen got a heroine-dominated movie opposite Sharad Kapoor. Not that it made any difference, as both their debut vehicles ("Aur Pyar Ho Gaya" and "Dastak", respectively) sank without a trace! The flops piled up for both.
Then came the glorious summer of 1999, and Ash's "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" was a big hit. As was Sush's "Biwi No.1." "Taal" reinforced Ash's position as the new dream-girl, while "Sirf Tum" re-iterated Sush's claim as the sex goddess of the nation.
And finally the Gemini twins had reached pole position. The new millennium has already started off on an auspicious note for the gorgeous twosome-while Ash picked up the Best Actress Award for HDDCS, Sush bagged the Best Suporting Actress at the same ceremony (the Videocon Screen Awards 1999-2000).
Now is this just another coincidence, or proof of the indelible golden thread of fame that binds these twin souls together!
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Sushmita's cold-blooded affair
Sushmita Sen has developed a cold-blooded passion these days. And, dear netizens, before you think we've going bonkers (how can the hot hot Sush develop a cold cold passion), let's tell you its absolutely true.
You see, the Sush just loves this new python she's bought for a pet. Anaconda, that's what she calls it.
In fact, Sush is so obsessed about her new interest that she makes it a point to pack up work on time, so that she can be home to keep company with her pet snake.
By the way, Sush's Ana darling is five months old and seven feet long. And where does Ana have its evening walk? On Sush's billiard table, of course!
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"Hey Ram" ready for release
In the making for many months, actor-director Kamal Hasan's big film "Hey Ram," that spans fifty years of Indian history, is now complete. Shot simultaneously in Hindi and Tamil, the bilingual film is set for a mid February release. It has already attracted much controversy and has even run into censor trouble, largely due to its attempt to humanise Gandhi. According to Shahrukh Khan, "The film is set in the forties and at that point of time nobody thought of Gandhiji as a Mahatma. At that time, he was just a person who was taking a stand for what was right."
"Hey Ram" sees Kamal Hasan in a variety of roles. He is the actor, writer, producer, director and even lyricist for one of its songs. Directing his third film, he plays Saket Ram, a freedom fighter and it is through his recollections on his deathbed that the events of 1947 unfold. Participating in the project is Gandhi's great-grandson Tushar.
With "Hey Ram" projected as one of this year's most promising films, audiences across the country are looking forward to its release.
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Rakesh Roshan undergoes heart surgery
The actor-director Rakesh Roshan who survived an attempt on his life last week was rushed to the Camballa Hill Heart Institute after he complained of chest pain.
After an angiography, Roshan was diagnosed to have six blocked arteries which needed immediate surgery, Dr K R Shetty, Director of the Institute said.
The surgery was performed by leading heart specialists Dr. S K Mathew who flew from Chennai and Dr. S Bhattacharya. The surgery took four hours without stopping the heart, Dr. Shetty said.
Roshan would be kept in the ICU for two days and after a week's rest at the hospital he shall be discharged. "Roshan would be walking from tomorrow, however, he would need three to four weeks to recover completely and go back to work," the doctors added.
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Ash gets a hairy cover
Aishwarya Rai sure is one smart cookie. No sooner did she bounce back into bigtime with her stupendous show last year, the pangs of real stardom (read, getting mobbed) started hitting hard. And the silk-smooth Ash has wasted no time in acquiring a rugged exterior coating.
News is that Ash has just gotten herself this fabulous multi-purpose assistant (and before all you naughty minds think otherwise, let's tell you the attendant is female). What does Ash's assistant do? To begin with, she's our gorgeous gal's hair dresser but that's only the official job. The rugged girl is reportedly hell-bent on being the protective gear to li'l o'le vulnerable Ash. And so, she also doubles up as her bodyguard, a veritable boxing glove to fend off any unwanted company intruding upon her mistress' privacy. Of course, there is an exception. Ash watchers swear that all those strictures are laid at rest when Salman Khan enters the vicinity. Leave alone fending her boss' privacy, Ms Boxing Glove herself vanishes from the scene then.
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Yukta Mookhey: to be or not to be?
Picked up this dope on the early years of Miss World Yukta Mookhey. Apparently, even as she was rising star on the ramp, Yukta was keen to join films. And she did get an offer -- a director named Sudarshan Rattan reportedly offered her the lead role in his project-in-the-pipeline, Gulabo.
For the uninitiated, Rattan is the same man who made the offbeat Manav Hatya, one of Madhuri Dixit's earliest films. Watching the greenhorn Madhuri sizzle in front of the camera then, Rattan had predicted the girl would go far.
In fact, he wanted to sign Yukta for his next film because he saw the same promise in her. But that was not be. Pretty soon, Yukta was crowned Miss India, and in no time was boarding a plane to conquer the world.
Let's hope Yukta comes back to face the camera after her one year's tenure of global fame.
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"Kahon Na Pyar Hai" reflects Roshan's inspiration from "Titanic"
Director Rakesh Roshan brings up a love story with suspense as a launch pad for his son, Hrithik, who is making his debut in "Kaho Naa Pyar Hai". To his credit, the lad puts his best foot forward. So, we have Hrithik singing, dancing, romancing, emoting, fighting and also playing a double role in "Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai!"
In this film Rakesh comes up with a romantic tale set in exotic locations. Rohit (Hrithik Roshan), who dreams of being a pop star, falls for Sonia (Amisha Patel), the only daughter of a rich man. It is love at first sight, and the two start seeing each other. During a trip on a luxury yacht, the lovers realise their obsession for each other. The director, obviously inspired by "Titanic", has shot some beautiful sequences of the two meeting on the deck under a clear sky. The two find themselves marooned on an island after a freak mishap. Time for some mushy dialogues.
The romance, of course, is short-lived. Anupam Kher turns up on the island to take his daughter back home, not before harping on the gulf between the rich heroine and the poor hero. Turns out that there is a criminal side to Anupam Kher - he gangs up with Dilip Tahil and corrupt cops Ashish Vidyarthi and Mohnish Behl to indulge in a drug racket. When the police commissioner tries to nail them, the evil cops gun him down. Hrithik, who is an witness to the crime, now becomes a target of the gang. He is shot and drowns with his mobike. Time for popcorn break. A sad Sonia is packed off to New Zealand.
Sonia's hopes are smashed when she discovers that the new "avatar" of Rohit is known as Raj, belongs to a rich family and has never been to India. Meanwhile, Raj is smitten by Sonia's charms and he follows her to India. The tale takes an exciting turn with the gangsters fearing that the dead Rohit has re-surfaced alive. To his credit, Rakesh Roshan steers clear of cliches like separated twin brothers or the drowned Rohit surfacing in New Zealand waters to justify the identical characters.
Debutant Hrithik Roshan acts with confidence. The boy has an impressive height and his biceps are awesome. He switches from one role to the other with ease. Hrithik may well turn out to be the new teenage sex symbol, thanks to his fast steps on the dance floor. He radiates raw energy and that will help him in the future. Amisha Patel makes up for her not-so-slim figure with a very photogenic face. The two newcomers do make a nice pair.
The highlight of the film is Kabir Lal's splendid camerawork. Long shots of sea, the beautiful yacht, snow-capped mountains and the lush greens - La's camera captures all of these exquisitely to make the movie a visual delight.
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Sridevi, Madhuri bury the hatchet
Boney Kapoor has just done the casting coup of the new millennium. He has brought the "dhak dhak" sensation Madhuri Dixit and the gorgeous-than-ever-before Sridevi, together on the same platform.
No, this is not the lead female cast of some new film that the flamboyant producer is launching. But for all those who thought getting the erstwhile arch rival queen bees to put their acts together for the same goal was impossible, Boney has done the impossible.
Sridevi and Maddhuri are going overboard co-operating with each other to ensure Boney's new production, "Pukar", seizes popular imagination like hell before its early February release. Madhuri had already done her bit on screen, sizzling with a wonderful performance as Pukar's heroine.
But now, Sexy Dixie is sparing all the time Boney wants for the nationwide pre-release publicity functions of the film. That, despite her personal life taking a busy turn after marriage.
Never one to be outdone, Sridevi, too, has gone all out for hubby Boney. She readily agreed to participate in the publicity schedules of "Pukar" -- something she never did even for her own films in her heydays. And that, despite "Pukar" being rival Madhuri's first film post-marriage as a heroine.
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Manoj Vajpayee to play Atal in 'Zubeida'
Manoj 'Bhiku Mhatre' Bajpai is reported to have turned an avid fan of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's speeches. The reason behind his sudden love for Vajpayee's speeches is purely filmi. Manoj will be emulating the PM in Shyam Benegal's new movie, Zubeida. Manoj will use Vajpayee's trademark style of speaking in the film. The popular Indian TV star Shekhar Suman also uses the Vajpayee style to create humor on his popular talk show Movers and Shakers on Sony TV.
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Sunny side's not up!
This is a super scoop of sorts. Sunny Deol may have put up a brave front after the colossal crash of his maiden directorial venture, "Dillagi". And all those eloquent lines about him taking failure in the stride and moving ahead did make great copies for the glossies. But the super scoop lies elsewhere.
Absolute insiders tell that so frustrated was Sunny after "Dillagi" bombed, he did not come out of his home for 10 days. Well, Sunny boy, its no use putting up a false show of confidence, its best rather to own up your mistakes.
Anyway, here's wishing all the best for your next directorial venture with Amisha Patel.
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Karisma : cold, calculating cat!
Karisma Kapoor is one hell of a career planner. What else would you attribute her spiralling success to -- from her pelvic-thrusting days that earned her the title of Queen of smut, to winning a National Award and shaping up into the sophisticated dream queen she is today.
The latest : the lady has tightened her film schedules, signing selected quality films that will keep her in the limelight. And she has decided to play "pyaari behna" to hunk Hrithik Roshan.
We're not joking, its absolutely true. Lolo has just signed up a film called "Fizaa", where she will be Hrithik's sister. You guessed it, this one's a story centered around a brother and a sister.
The role was originally offered to Urmila Matondkar, who, of course, would rather do another six flops as a heroine than play Hrithik's sister in a solid script. All of which gives us a sense of deja vu.
Remember the second heroine's role in "Dil To Paagal Hai?" Rejected by Urmi babie among other glam girls, the role was scooped up by Karisma, who not only walked away with the film, but also most of the awards thereafter with her performance!
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Raveena's thunder lands her in soup
Raveena Tandon is not exactly having a "mast mast" time these days. Her drastic attempt to change image has not exactly clicked.
To begin with, Raveena's going overboard in praising Manoj Bajpai eversince the two teamed up in "Shool" may have got sadda Ravs a few meaningful roles opposite the talented actor, but another talented star is none too pleased. Govinda, with whom Raveena saw some success over the past few years after a prolonged dry spell. "Chi Chi bhaiyya", the buzz has it, is avoiding films opposite Ravs like the plague these days, since Raveena's attempt to turn "arty" will not do his films any good.
But there's more. In a recent "tete-a-tete" with a filmy glossy, the thundering Tandon announced she would never dance in weddings like several of her colleagues do.
Fine decision that, only she needn't have put her foot in the mouth by declaring all the stars who dance at weddings are "nautankiwaalas". The outcome? Actors like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda and Karisma Kapoor, who have danced in weddings in the past, have now launched an out and out non-cooperation movement against Raveena.
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Bobby Deol: An impressive line up!
Though home production "Dillagi" didn't quite make major ripples at the box-office, the Deols are very much in business. While bade bhaiyya Sunny Deol is hell bent on completing all his films as quickly as possible, "chotte bhaiyya" too is very busy indeed.
In fact, Bobby's date diary is so full that he can't give you a day for the next six months at least. And what an awesome line up too. There's Vicky Kumar's next directed by Naresh Malhotra, Vijay Gilani's next to be directed by Abbas-Mustan, Morani's under-production to be directed by Bunty Soorma, Rajiv Rai's next and Guddu Dhanoa's "Bicchu". Well, Bobby certainly has a very busy year ahead.
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