Katrina on Manoj's wishlist

By Hindustan TimesNew Delhi, July 5 -- Katrina Kaif might be away in Spain, bonding with Hrithik Roshan during the shoot of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara..., but Manoj Bajpai continues to be all praise for her after their Raajneeti experience.Now, Bajpai is hoping that Prakash Jha casts Katrina in his next film, Aarakshan too, says Rajni.So far, Bajpai has been finalised for the movie on reservation, along with Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Dev...

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Vidya Balan: Husain's latest pick

By Hindustan TimesNew Delhi, July 5 -- After Madhuri Dixit, Tabu and Amrita Rao, painter MF Husain has found a new muse. The 94-year-old has reportedly watched the film Ishqiya 12 times already and is "fida" over Vidya Balan, the film's leading actress. Husain, also a filmmaker, now wants to paint her and also wants her to act in his next directorial venture."A painting by Husain saab would immortalise me, though I don't know how to react to him calling me 'gorgeous'," Balan laughs.She admits that though she has seen his art, she hasn't watched his films - Gaja Gamini and Meenaxi - A Tale of Three Cities. "I will definitely watch both the films...

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Inspired, Sonam

By Hindustan TimesMumbai, July 6 -- She has been hailed as the most fashionable celebrity in Bollywood by glossies and designers alike. But actress Sonam Kapoor's style sense may be no more than a mere inspiration.On more occasions than one, the actress has been spotted sporting the exact same look as Hollywood stylistas such as Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker and the Olsen twins. Last month, Kapoor attended a promotional event for I Hate Luv Storys in Dubai, where she wore a black Chloe dress. Her dress, as well as the hairdo, were exactly the same as Diaz's at a dinner in Paris two weeks prior.Earlier, in March, she repeated Parker's look....

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Kunal wants a partner

By Hindustan TimesMumbai, July 6 -- Madhu my Mottu Maid has sauntered in, without my mochaccino yet again. She wants me to hear about Kunal Kapoor's dukh-bhari story. Nah, it has nothing to do with his dard-e-dil, but I'm told that the dude is telling whoever stops to listen that he is bored of practicing parkour all alone.The actor who loves to learn new stuff was excited about parkour. Now he's finding it "rather boring to jump around" all by himself. So much so that he's tweeting to the whole world, asking if "any soul knows of anyone or any group that practices parkour in Mumbai?" informs Mottu.The Kapoor dude is even promising to reward...

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Imran at FIFA Final

By Hindustan TimesMumbai, July 6 -- Imran Khan will be Coca Cola's representative from India at the FIFA World Cup final. Fiancee Avantika Malik will not be with him since she is currently in Europe, but Khan will be taking along a couple of his friends because "it's no fun watching football alone".He admits that he is not a football fanatic and has no favourites. But he did catch two of the quarter final match. "Spain was expected to go through but I was shocked by Germany's 4-0 demolition of Argentina. Their teamwork is phenomenal and Germany has a good chance of making it to Sunday's final," says Khan, who is packing for his first trip to...

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Salman inspires Sanjay Singh

By Hindustan TimesNew Delhi, July 6 -- Mottu is insisting on serving me a tiddy-bitty on Salman Khan. Seems the actor's 'Being Human Foundation' is inspiring his Udaan producer, Sanjay Singh.Mots tells me that Singh is planning to start his own NGO, like Sallu. Until then, he has pledged his support to the actor's foundation to use his contacts - coming from a policical background being son of netaji Kripashankar Singh - to do some noble deeds. Chalo, badhiya h...

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Dhoni Ki Shaadi Facts and Fiction

By Hindustan TimesNew Delhi, July 6 -- 24 hours after MS Dhoni's hush-hush wedding with girlfriend Sakshi Rawat in Dehradun on Sunday night, several rumours - right from the wedding guests to post-wedding bashes - are now doing the rounds. The couple made a stop in Delhi yesterday, en route to Ranchi, leaving a trail of further speculation.For starters, while it has been claimed that the two studied in the same class in school, sources close to Dhoni say, "There's a substantial age gap between the two... how could they possibly be in the same class?" HT City debunks other rumours around what is being called the wedding of the decade. -Sabyasachi...

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We are not hosting party for Dhoni: Bipasha

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu has denied reports that she along with boyfriend John Abraham will throw a party for their friend, cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his wife Sakshi Rawat."Ok for everyone who thinks me and John are hosting a party for Mahi, just want to say it is a rumour. Not true!" Bipasha clarified through micro-blogging site Twitter.John and Bipasha are close friends of Dhoni, who tied the knot with Sakshi Sunday evening at a very private affair on the outskirts of Dehradun Sunday evening, a day after the couple's hush-hush engagement.While John made it to the wedding, Bipasha couldn't attend the event...

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Watch out Shakira, here comes Liji

By Hindustan TimesMumbai, July 6 -- It may be 'Waka waka' in South Africa, but in South India, it is 'Lakka lakka...' Popstar Shakira's official FIFA song has found its desi version in Kerala. Sung by Malayalam singer Liji Francis, the video is almost the exact replica of Shakira's - same music, same imagery, same choreography and almost the same excitement. Within three days of being on YouTube, the video has attracted more than 70,000 views."Cooooolll! A gud attempt," posted Lini, a viewer. "Haha... it's hilarious. Nice mixing for a non-pro work," wrote bitsgoa. 'Lakka lakka...' begins with visuals of the cheering soccer fans in South Africa....

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Listen to young talent to remain contemporary: Javed Akhtar

Mumbai, July 4 (IANS) Legendary screenplay writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar, who has penned the lyrics of actress Sonam Kapoor's next film "Aisha", says he tries to remain contemporary by listening and understanding the language of the young talent he works with."You need not to show when you have to bring change in your language, it automatically becomes apparent," Akhtar said."I work with very young talent, some are even younger than my children. I listen to them very carefully, what they are saying, why they are saying so, keeping aside the jokes. If we listen to them and try understanding them then we will also remain contemporary," Akhtar...

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India gets its own music awards

Mumbai, June 30 (IANS) India is finally getting its very own music awards. The Indian Music Academy (IMA) has joined hands with Reliance Broadcast Network Ltd to create awards that will be a celebration of all music genres.At an event that had panelists like Shivkumar Sharma, Jagjit Singh and Salim and Sulaiman Merchant among others, the creation of Big IMA Awards 2010 was announced."We have many awards in our country but no exclusive music awards that will honour musicians from all over the country. With this award, we aim to encourage our music industry," Shivkumar Sharma told IANS."Musicians never get their due, honour and dignity in our country,...

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'Tere Bin Laden' soundtrack quirky, but average (Music Review)

By Ruchika KherFilm: "Tere Bin Laden"; Music Directors: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy; Lyricists: Jaideep Sahni, Dhruv Dhalla, Jaspreet Singh and Ali Zafar; Singers: Shankar Mahadevan, Ali Zafar, Jaspreet Singh, Suraj Jagan, Akruti Kakkar, Master Saleem and Anousha Mani; Rating:**1/2It is touted as a different kind of film and it seems that the music has been composed to suit the mood of the movie as the majority of the songs in "Tere Bin Laden" are not hummable, making the soundtrack average.The album boasts of seven originals and one remix.It kickstarts with a very quirky song titled "Ullu da pattha", crooned by Shankar Mahadevan and Ali Zafar, who is...

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Sonu Niigaam hits highest note for patriotic song

By Hindustan TimesMumbai, June 30 -- Music director Shamir Tandon can't stop raving about Sonu Niigaam who hit the highest note ever for a patriotic track in the film Kandahar. Directed by retired army officer, Major Ravi, the trilingual project in Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam, toplines Amitabh Bachchan and Mohanlal."The song in question is 'Naman hai..' and Sonu has hit the highest note in human vocal registry with an open-throat effort without singing falsetto," explains Tandon.Technically, the last octave is the highest possible note that can be humanly hit. And it's usually achieved while singing falsetto when the voice begins to vibrate and...

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Boman Irani now wants to sing

By Hindustan TimesBy Dibyojyoti BaksiMumbai, June 27 (IANS) Boman Irani, who started life as a photographer, just loves exploring different avenues. After some crackling performances, including in comic roles, the hugely talented actor is trying his voice as a singer.He is touring five Indian cities with music director Shankar Mahadevan but says he does not want to make a career out of it."I never look at it as a career. First enjoy it yourself and make sure that others also enjoy it. And you are not sickening them with your work. But I don't say that I want to be a singer because I got to make a career out of it. I don't plan that too much,"...

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Lata Mangeshkar sings after four years

By Hindustan TimesMumbai, June 28 -- Lata Mangeshkar's divine voice was last heard in Rang De Basanti, Veer Zara and Page 3. After that, she took a self-imposed break from commercial film songs, though occasionally she agreed to do a bhajan. She is now singing the title track of Sanjay Sharma's Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyun, India's first gay love flick, which is set for release on August 1.Sharma's brother, Kapil Sharma, the film's writer who also plays the lead role, still can't believe his dream of seeing Lataji sing for his movie is finally coming true.Destiny on sideSays music director Nikhil, "When I presented Kapil the composition of the track,...

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Ash Ki Guzarish

By Hindustan TimesMumbai, July 6 -- Hi da hi my dimsums! How's the tadakti Tuesday morning treating you? I'm still feeling a little under the weather, thanks to the kabhi baarish, kabhi dhoop days lately. Now, before you think I'm digressing, lets me get straight to your dose of daily goss, and fill you up with what everyone in movie town is gupshupping about. Read on dahlings...So listen. For starters, a jasoos from Juhu has just dropped in, claiming to have a scooplet on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Seems she was banking on Mani Ratnam's Raavan a lot... And is very disappointed that it tanked with such a tepid response at the box-office. So?So khabru...

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Peepli Live song refers to rising petrol prices

Mumbai, July 6 -- The Bharat Bandh yesterday that brought the city to a standstill was a reaction to the escalating petrol and diesel prices that have hit the consumer hard with household budgets going haywire. Interestingly, that's one of the issues that a song - 'Mehangaai daayan...' - in Aamir Khan's forthcoming production, Peepli Live, raises.Anusha Rizvi's directorial debut takes off with a farmer, Natha's (Raghuvir Yadav) announcement that he will commit suicide to save his land. But Khan says that his film also touches on the subject of migration with villagers coming to the cities in search of better paying jobs and then getting pulled...

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Crook in Australia?

By Hindustan TimesNew Delhi, July 6 -- The unit of Mohit Suri's Crook - It's Good To Be Bad, starring Emraan hashmi, is wrapping up the last couple of days of work, in Mumbai and not Australia. The Melbourne City Council inexplicably withdrew permission to shoot in public places forcing the team to return to India."I could understand their diktat of a seven-day turnaround at the beginning of the schedule that resulted in a five-day delay, I fail to understand why they would suddenly bring up the same clause towards the end," Suri says. "I won't mind shooting in Australia in the future if I get a valid reason for this roadbloc...

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Audiences fall head over heels for 'I Hate Luv Storys

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) As cynical as it may sound, Imran Khan and Sonam Kapoor starrer romantic comedy "I Hate Luv Storys" (IHLS) might be about a guy's hatred for mushy movies, but it has managed to bag just the opposite from audiences. The film has done a net business of approximately Rs.21.5 crore (Rs.215 million) in the domestic circuit in the first three days of its release.Co-produced by UTV Motion Pictures and Dharma Productions, the movie opened with net collections of Rs.6.5 crore (Rs.65 million) Friday with soaring business over the weekend."We have got a good amount with almost 85 percent occupancy during the weekend. People are...

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Strike affects shooting of movies, serials

By Ruchika KherMumbai, July 5 (IANS) Bollywood and the TV industry cancelled their shooting shedules Monday due to the nationwide strike called by the opposition parties against the hike in fuel prices."Today, shootings at various places have been cancelled because of the bandh (strike). It will resume after seven in the evening. Till then, its very unlikely that something will take place," Dharmesh Tiwari, President of Federation of Western India Cine Employees, told IANS.There are six main studios in the city - Filmistan, Kamal Amrohi, Mehboob, Natraj, R.K. and Filmcity. And most of them either had no bookings or cancelled their shoots."Two-three...

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Bipasha wants to learn 'Waka Waka' moves (Film Snippets)

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) Actress Bipasha Basu has featured in sizzling dance numbers like "Beedi" and "Billo Rani", but now she wants to learn Shakira's moves in "Waka Waka", FIFA World Cup 2010 official song."Monday music...'Waka Waka' all the way...takes away the Monday blues. Want to learn Shakira's 'Waka Waka' moves!" Bipasha posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.The actress joined the Bollywood bandwagon on Twitter Sunday.-*-Imtiaz Ali hogs on 'aloo kachori' in capitalBollywood director Imtiaz Ali, who made hits like "Jab We Met" and "Love Aaj Kal", was spotted relishing 'aloo kachori' at a popular joint in Bengali Market Sunday evening."Imtiaz...

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Bangalore, Bollywood new brand icons of India: Economist Guy Sorman

By Madhusree ChatterjeeNew Delhi, July 5 (IANS) Bollywood and Bangalore have changed the image of India in a globalised world, says noted French economist Guy Sorman."In the era of globalisation, countries are competing for software and trademark. The image of India has been positively impacted by the competitive computer software and the Bollywood trademark. Before Bollywood and the IT revolution, the Western media mentioned India only when the nation was rocked by a train accident or a similar catastrophe," Sorman told IANS in an interview here.The economist was in the capital for the launch of his book, "Economics Does Not Lie", a study of...

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