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Priyanka Chopra's biggest fear: loneliness

Loneliness is killing Priyanka Chopra.

"I have a hundred million acquaintances in Bollywood, but there isn't a single friend I can call in the middle of the night from my bed and bare my heart," laments the beauty queen-turned Bollywood star.

Priyanka is speaking from her hotel suite in Boston, a city she had much of her high school education in, and where her father Ashok Chopra is being treated for a tumor in his liver.

In between talking about her new films, including Bluff Master with Abhishek Bachchan to be released next month, the former Miss World talks about her worst fear. "It seems to be the higher you get in this profession, the more success you get, the lonelier you are," says Priyanka, slated for half a dozen A-list films.

Her upcoming roster includes Rakesh Roshan's Krrish opposite Hrithik Roshan; Farhan Akhtar's Don remake with Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar; and Nikhil Advani's next film, currently untitled. Then there's Farah Khan's Happy New Year, with Shah Rukh and Amitabh Bachchan.

"I have been around for about three years, and these incredible things are happening," she says, quickly adding that she's never worried about her career.

"I am afraid of loneliness, and being without a friend," says Priyanka who has been linked to a number of Bollywood men, including her frequent co-star, Akshay Kumar. "I am afraid of dying without any of my friends around. I don't want that to happen."

In Boston, her mother Madhu Chopra -- who, like her husband, is a physician --  has several family members helping her deal with her husband's treatment. "The family is a great comfort and resource," says Priyanka, mentioning that she has always felt very much at home in Boston.

"I come here almost every year, and my best friends are in this city," she says. "I am going through a very difficult period in my life right now. But for my relatives and friends here, it would not have been easy to cope."

Her father had been taken ill in Mumbai several weeks ago. Priyanka says she has been lucky with all her directors. "Humbly, each film I have done is a milestone in my career". Particularly working with directors such as Rakesh Roshan and Rohan Sippy (Bluff Master) helped her ease her pain.

"Rohan has made an intriguing, funny and romantic film with a lot of life lessons," she says of Bluff Master. "It is quite sophisticated and contemporary. I think it should appeal particularly to the overseas audiences." She plays a strong woman whose integrity and openness bothers her boyfriend, a professional conman (Abhishek ).

"There is magnetism in my character," she continues. "She is angelic, she has integrity, and she cannot be bought over."

The movie could make her known more widely with audiences in America, Canada and Britain, she says. For one thing, she does not have to share the limelight with other actresses, as has happened in the case of films like Andaaz, which also featured Lara Dutta, and Aitraaz, where Kareena Kapoor starred alongside her.

"But please see it in the theatres, first," she adds. "See all our films in the big theatres. Good films such as Bluff Master, in particular, deserve to be seen on the big screen.".

"If you want better quality films made in India," she emphasises, "support only the legitimate business, even while buying the video and DVD."

Even as she talks about her films with enthusiasm, Priyanka turns back to her personal life. Her father's illness has made her realise, more than ever, the importance of a beautiful inner life, she says.

"I go to temples and pay my respect to the gods," she continues. "But I also strive to keep my body and my mind pure. I am believing more and more that a person's body is a temple, its purity, and it is where god resides, and hence, should not be violated."

Many of her school friends in Boston are studying in universities. Does Priyanka, who had once thought of being psychologist, regret not having gone to college?

"I was 17 when I became Miss World," she says. "Things began changing so fast thereafter, that I had no time to think if I should somehow continue my studies.

"But I would not want to change anything in my life. I have been very lucky and let me be grateful to god for that."

"Amitabh of Art Films" celebrates

An artistic actor Om Puri , a versatile personality of the tinsel world, has been justly described "Amitabh of Art Films" . He celebrated his birthday on October 18th. Om Puri played the real character of an angry young man in 'Ardhsatya'. Besides, Om Puri has influenced Hollywood movies too with his realistic and angry looks in movies like "city of Joy', 'King of Bollywood' besides a very brief role in Richard Attenborough's 'Gandhi'. Despite this he has acted in comedies too. His 'Aakrosh' is worth mentioning where he expresses himself even while keeping quiet.



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 8-12-2006 03:02 PM ]

ISN'T SHAAHID STEPPING INTO AFTAAB'S SHOES?

Is Shaahid Kapoor following in the footsteps of Aftaab Shivdasani? Both of them have different styles of acting though. While Shaahid is described as another Shah Rukh Khan because he shares some common acting traits with the latter, Aftaab is called a non-actor. Let's analyze it. Some two years ago, Feroz Nadiadwala produced 'Aawara Paagal Deewana' under the direction of Vikram Bhatt starring Suniel Shetty, Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Aftaab Shivdasani. While Suniel and Akshay were action players and Rawal a comedian, Aftaab played no significant role except that of showing different faces. Again, Vikram Bhatt is repeating in a Nadiadwala movie titled 'Deewane Huye Paagal' with the same team of Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty and Akshay Kumar but without Aftaab. Here, Aftaab is being replaced by Shaahid. Since Rawal will play a comedian and Akshay and Suniel actions, Shaahid will be left to repeat the role of Aftaab in 'Awaara Paagal Deewana'. Hopefully, Shaahid will not step into the shoes of Aftaab!

Shahid Kapoor


Aftab Shivdasani


[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 8-12-2006 03:04 PM ]

Shahid is not nervous

Any other actor in his place would be feeling anxious, tense and nervous, but Shahid Kapoor is made of sterner stuff. The next few weeks are crucial for the teen sensation since as many as three Shahid starrers are due for release before the year comes to a close.

There抯 Deewane Huye Paagal on November 25, followed by Shikhar on December 16 and Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi on December 23. Three releases in exactly one month! 揟he point is, none of them are solo hero films,

Ness admits love for Preity

Mumbai industrialist Ness Wadia has publicly admitted his special relationship with Bollywood actress Preity Zinta as expressed by us earlier in these columns. Wadia said this while addressing a press conference to announce regular services at cheaper rates by his newly formed "Go Air". When asked by the media if he was going to appoint a brand ambassador for his airlines, Wadia said that if they referred to Preity Zinta he would say no if Preity demanded money for it. In fact, he said, his airlines didn't need any ambassador. Business and sentiments don't go together, he added.

Preity Zinta


[ Last edited by Gadis_Venus at 12-1-2006 10:03 PM ]

Salman on small screen too

Now, it was the turn of Salman Khan to follow in the footsteps of his colleagues like Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda to be on the small screen in view of its larger viewership than films. Sallu appeared on Zee channel's musical show titled 'Sa Re Ga Ma Pa 2005 '. The channel felt proud that a big and popular star Salman Khan had appeared on their channel. Besides, the channel discovered that Salman had a good knowledge of music as the latter had said, "I have never participated in such a show." In fact, Salman was too much excited with the performances of the participants in the show that he advised one to learn more by staying in Mumbai. So, the participant decided to defer his return to the UK until he acquired expertise in Mumbai. Salman participated in the show as a judge.

Salman, Satish appear in blackbuck poaching cases

Bollywood star Salman Khan, and comedian Satish Shah, today appeared in a local court in Jodhpur in connection with blackbuck poaching cases against them. According to the counsel for the actors Hastimal SAraswat, Rajasthan Forest Officer Lalit Bora, was cross examined by the defence lawyer for three and half hours in the court of chief Judicial Magistrate B K Jain.

The statements of Salman Khan, Shah and 14 other accused in the cases would be recorded on November 23 as today's hearing was concentrated on the forest officers' cross examination and no time was left for cross examining others, Sarswat told PTI over the phone from Jodhpur.

"Even the Forest officer's statement was incomplete and would continue during the next hearing of the case on November 23", he said. Two cases of poaching of chinkara against Salman, Shah and 14 others were filed by the forest officer on October 11, 1998. In one case Bora alleged two chinkaras were killed, while in the second one chinkara was hunted by the accused near Mathania in Jodhpur district during the shooting of a film.

The prosecution has produced before the court 31 out of 38 witnesses in first case, and 38 out of 46 witnesses in the second case so far, Sarswat said, adding the statements of these witnesses were recorded.

Salman Khan


[ Last edited by Gadis_Venus at 14-1-2006 06:47 PM ]

Marriage rumor irks Shilpa

Shilpa Shetty is fed up with the people inquiring about her marriage. She wonders why the people are so anxious about her personal matter. Yes, she has grown up so what, she says. The recent media report of her marriage with music director Sandep Chowta had spread like wildfire and her relations and well wishers had started congratulating her parents to the latter's utter surprise. This had provoked Shilpa to cry from the rooftop that her marriage is in God's hands. He would decide when and with whom to marry. However, at present she is more involved in her career than the marriage, she adds.

You don't need to be a Khan to be a super-star! - Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar is going through the best phase in his career. With Garam Masala emerging a success story, the actor has proved that there's no stopping him from staking a claim at the throne. In a free-wheeling interview with this writer, the Khiladi No. 1 talks about the hitherto unknown facts concerning his career. Excerpts from the conversation with Akshay after the release of Garam Masala.

Congrats! Success seems to be your second name these days.
It feels nice to know that one's films are working at the box-office. But success to me is not delivering a hit one Friday and another hit after two years. To consistently deliver successful films is important. Besides, sustaining in the industry is far more important than a stray hit. Just one Friday shouldn't be the barometer for success.

Agreed. But, honestly, did you expect Garam Masala to steal the march over Kyon Ki

MAHIMA'S MOVIES REFLECT HER REAL LIFE?

Showman Subhash Ghai's discovery 'Pardes' girl has had so many ups and downs in her career graph that she is unable to comprehend them . Though her contemporaries and even those who entered films much later than she have already moved far ahead, leaving her much behind, Mahima Chaudhary blames her bad luck for it. " Perhaps, I began my career from the climax. That's why I couldn't reach the cherished status." Anyhow, we have found the reflection of her real career in her forthcoming movies.

Take for example, Tanuja Chandra's 'Filmstar', in which a film star faces a rough phase in her life? Not only that. Even Mahima's another movie, 'The Film' directed by Zunaid Menon likely to release soon, is a shadow of her career inasmuch as the actress here wishes to make a movie. And, in yet another 'Home Delivery' of Sujoy Ghosh, Mahima plays the character of a struggling star. All these different phases are similar to ones confronted by Mahima in her career. At one time she is seen as a heroine in grade B film and at another in A grade movie.

Hrithik's date with destiny

When Mangal Pandey failed to rise at the box office, did Hrithik Roshan smell trouble? Exclusive rights to a few directors and faith in papa dear's skill on the megaphone implies that he, too, like Aamir, will be on-screen after a pretty long layoff.

His last release, Farhan Akhtar's Lakshya, earned Hrithik praise for his performance and even got him nominated at most popular awards. But is the disappearing act for the sake of exclusivity going to work in these cut-throat times, where media blitz ensures that every star of every film is played up?

So does Hrithik and Roshan senior risk staying out of public memory for too long?

To start with, while the box office was in a slump, and trade wasn't really going great guns during Hrithik's flop phase, it has picked up now. 2005 seems to have been an exceptionally good year, and the likes of Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham, who are yet to have a solo hit of their own, are walking away with endorsements and films.

Will the box office bend to Hrithik Roshan's tunes next year?
Abhishek played second fiddle to Hrithik in Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon and wasn't even in contention in pre-Bunty aur Babli days. But as of today, with two biggies behind him, and that retosexual look being part of Junior B's appeal, will Hrithik's moves enthral audiences as much as they did earlier?
Close friends of Hrithik say he won't fall into the same trap twice, although he has teamed up with the Barjatyas again after the disastrous Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. But before that, he will be seen in his first bad guy role, opposite Aishwarya Rai in Sanjay Gadhvi's Dhoom 2, and then as a young emperor in Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodha- Akbar.

Directors understand that Hrithik brings with him a whole load of expectations. "With every film, Hrithik raises the bar that is expected of him. If Krrish releases before Dhoom 2, it will be the joint responsibility of the directors and Hrithik to keep answering that challenge," says Gadhvi.

And though his absence hasn't been for as long as Aamir's, it has seen the likes of Abhishek and Saif Ali Khan and John gain greater visibility, market share and plum roles under big banners while Hrithik has stayed home. Literally.

Saif, for instance has, in a matter of a few films, moved from being a cute sidekick to a saleable solo hero, who garners initials on the basis of his star power - something that John and to some extent Abhishek are yet to prove.

Of Abhishek, John and Hrithik, the latter, despite being around for the same number of years, has done the fewest films (11 as opposed to John's 12, who came in much later, and Abhishek's 20). But the question that arises now is, will he be back with a bang, and do audiences miss him as much as before?

Six different looks, the stunt choreographer of Matrix and Kill Bill, and a pairing opposite Priyanka Chopra, who plays a schoolgirl, may make Krrish the vehicle which could take his solo-starrer score not only above the slew of multistarrers featuring Saif, Abhishek and John, but also renew the SRK vs Hrithik argument.



[ Last edited by Gadis_Venus at 13-1-2006 12:13 PM ]

Shah Rukh, Dilip Kumar invited to Pakistan

Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan and thespian Dilip Kumar have been invited to Pakistan to take part in a conference on Hindko

I salute Aamir & Shah Rukh: Paresh Rawal

From being the most hated man after Naam to moving you to tears in Tamanna to keeping you in splits with Hera Pheri, the effortlessness with which Paresh Rawal moves with each character can make a chameleon blush. Right now, Paresh Rawal is on a 'laugh trip' - his latest being Deewane Huye Paagal and the actor in him is already getting cagey.

Is it true that Deewane Huye Paagal is a sequel to Awara Paagal Deewana?
DHP is not a sequel of APD. These stories must have been spread because the name is quite similar to Awara Pagal Deewana and so is the font of the film on the posters. Moreover the cast of that film, Akshay, Suniel and myself have been repeated in this film.

Also the fact that we three are doing a sequel to Hera Pheri must have added to the confusion of us doing a sequel to APD as well. In DHP, I'm one of the four guys (Akshay, Suniel, Shahid and me) chasing the same girl (Rimii Sen); each of us tries different ways and uses different tactics to win her heart.

What do you think is the popularity behind the Akshay-Suniel-Paresh combination?
I would attribute the success of Akshay-Suniel-Paresh to the great tuning and rapport that we share amongst ourselves; it's excellent. There's no insecurity. We respect each other's work and motivate each other to do their best. When we work together, it's like working in a film with a family member.

For an actor who's done all kinds of roles, you're now more often seen in comedies?
That's because all my comedy films have done well. But yes, even I'm beginning to get cagey about doing just comedies. I'm looking out to play some good, meaty characters - it could be serious, it could be negative. Anything but comedy especially since I have done varied roles in the past like - Sardar, Tamanna, Kabzaa, Sir, Naam, Hatya. I am a character actor and I have no regrets about that since it gives me so much scope to do much more than just being a hero.

It's strange to see an actor like you working so well with Akshay and Suniel, who've known to be non-actors in the initial stage of their career. Comment.
No, I wouldn't call them non-actors. I've always been of the firm belief that given a good role, good material and good directors any actor can excel. Look at Akshay and Suniel

LONG LIVE JUHI CHAWLA, MALA SINHA!

A very, very happy birthday to Bollywood's two prominent stars - the yesteryears' talented Mala Sinha on November 11 and the former beauty queen and star Juhi Chawla on November 13. Mala Sinha acted as a superb heroine with almost all heroes in sixties and seventies. Beginning with a Bangla movie 'Roshanara', Mala shifted to Hindi in 'Baadshah' as early as 1954. She regrets that those who came on the screen much later than she considered her a 'B' grade heroine. This is despite the fact that she has been the only actress to be described as a director's heroine. How else even a director like Yash Chopra could dare imagine making 'Dhool Ka Phool' without her? Mala Sinha had readily agreed to act as an unwed mother, and that too decades ago. Besides, Mala acted as a villain in Gurudutt's 'Pyasa' inasmuch as she preferred a rich publisher to a not-so-rich Urdu poet. However, she was never placed in that category. All this can be attributed to her varied talent.

Juhi Chawla is the one actress who is closely linked with today's top stars, while Mala Sinh acted as heroines in sixties and seventies with actors ranging from Raj Kumar to Rajesh Khanna. Juhi Chawla has been an important heroine in the filmi careers of both Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. In fact, Aamir Khan began in 'Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak' with Juhi only. And, Shah Rukh Khan joined her even in their commercial venture 'Dreams Unlimited' along with Aziz Mirza. It's another thing that their company's big project 'Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani' failed at the box office.

She hasn't taken sanyas or retired from films though she isn't as prominent an actor as in the past. Presumably, Shah Rukh Khan feels that Rani Mukherjee or Aishwarya Rai better fits in his designer movies like 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Lejayenge' or 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum'. So, her unlimited dreams have turned limited! But she isn't out yet. She is very much there. She is happy with her two recent movies -'Teen Deewarein' and 'My Brother Nikhil'. She looks as pretty as ever even though she got married several years back.

Juhi Chawla


[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 28-4-2006 11:19 PM ]

Isha Koppikar is a singer too

Isha Koppikar is a singer too. This has come to the notice recently when her fans wondered why she had been made a special judge in the music TV show titled 'Fame Gurukul'. Later, she admitted that she could sing too. However, she regretted that the directors and the producers haven't availed her this talent, presumably because they aren't aware of it. Isha says that she will sing in a movie when she produces one. That's right. She will be free to do whatever she likes in her own production. But it may take a long time for her to become a filmmaker . So, she shouldn't deprive the industry of her additional talent. Are the producers and the directors listening?

Aftab follows Govinda

Aftab Shivdasni is reported to be following his senior star Govinda in ways more than one. First, he wants to do comedy roles like those of Govinda. Second, he reaches late at the sets, and also absents himself even after getting the sets ready. Third, even after inviting the media, he bunks. When Govinda made these lapses, he fell short of offers. Now, Shivdasani is repeating the same mistake. It is wondered if Aftab will also soon start losing offers like Govinda. Aftab needs to remember that he cannot afford to lose offers in Bollywood. Govinda, of course, could afford it.

Aftab Shivdasani


[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 8-12-2006 03:12 PM ]

Aftab injured while shooting for `Shaadi Se Pehle`

Aftab Shivdasani recently injured himself on the sets of the Subhash Ghai produced, Shaadi Se Pehle.

He was shooting for a particular scene, wherein he was seated on a horse. All of a sudden, the horse just jerked, hurting the actor.

He had a body double for the more complicated riding shots. The stuntman also suffered some injuries because of the same horse. It was not very well-trained.

The actor has suffered a torn muscle and will undergo a surgery next week. He will complete the schedule with the help of painkillers. Ouch! Now that抯 the price that one has to pay for stardom.



[ Last edited by Gadis_Venus at 22-1-2006 03:50 PM ]

Packed houses for Amitabh's debut film in Kannada

Amrithdhare has redefined the commercial boundaries of Kannada cinema.

It is a bitter sweet story of a newly married couple, their sweet tiffs and fluffy fights, and the wife's undying wish to meet her idol Amitabh Bachchan.

"The director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar and I teamed after the success of my first film Nanna Preethiya Hudugi. And I get to fulfil my heroine Ramya's undying wish when she's dying," says the film's leading man, Dhyaan.

"I introduce her to Bachchan in the film."

Getting Bachchan was relatively easy.

"A close friend who's also close to Bachchan asked him if he'd make a guest appearance in Kannada and he immediately agreed. The date for shooting was worked out within a week. That's what I call professionalism," recalls Dhyaan.

Four films old in Kannada cinema, Dhyaan's stocks have been rising with every film. "I love the Kannada film industry and its resident stars far too much to even think of being threat to anyone. Please! I'm treated like a very special guest in Bangalore.
"The city has become a second home to me. After my work I go back to Mumbai where I've a handful of decent films under production."

Dhyaan, however, doesn't mind admitting a close proximity to his Amrithdhare co-star Ramya.

"The onscreen chemistry that Ramya and I shared was superb. In fact it's so natural and spontaneous that after watching the film people may presume that we are romantically involved offscreen too. The credit for this goes to the friendship that we share for a long time now.

"There is no formula but you instinctively know when your onscreen timing with a co-star works. That feeling is there between us. We had a great time shooting for the film and have become very good friends now. I am sure after this film we will be offered a lot of work together."

Dhyaan is flooded with offers in Kannada films. "Let's see if I can do them. It's always a pleasure to work in Bangalore. 'Amrithdhare' was memorable on many counts. I played a married man for the second time. When I did so the first time in Mona Lisa I was raw and inexperienced in the love scenes. All that has changed now."

According to him, the greatest pleasure of doing Amrithdhare was to share screen space with the great Bachchan.

"My colleagues here have to wait all their careers for the privilege of doing a film with Bachchan sir. I got to do it so soon, and that too in a Kannada film where he has worked for the first time.

"Both Bachchan sir and his son Abhishek are wonderful people. In fact Abhishek has been very encouraging and friendly. Karnataka or Mumbai, I don't think guys who come from film families have an attitude. On the contrary they know exactly what makes a strong and durable star."



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 8-12-2006 03:12 PM ]

Amitabh Bachchan: Man On Fire

The small room in the basement at the Dream Hotel was packed with over hundred people for the press conference of Ek Ajnabee.

There were journalists from the Indian-American media, Bollywood fanatics, Indian-American filmmakers, other men, women and children who had turned up with their cameras just to catch a glimpse of Amitabh Bachchan, the lead player in the film.

People pushed and jostled for a view of the front of the room. Before the stars arrived, security personnel were called in to clear one of the two swinging doors leading into the room. In the process they pushed away several journalists.

In the front of the room there was a set of four white chairs. Also in the middle was a bigger chair with brown leather upholstery.

"Big chair for the Big B," several people in the room commented.

When Bachchan arrived - 40 minutes late from the scheduled time of 8 pm - people accompanying him, including the film's producer Bunty Walia, and co-stars Arjun Rampal and Vikram Chatwal, who is also the proprietor of the hotel, insisted that the veteran actor should sit on the big chair. But Bachchan placed himself on one of the white chairs.

"No, I am not going to sit there," Bachchan was heard saying to his entourage. "Take it away. Remove it."

The chair was moved. Later Ek Ajnabee director Apoorva Lakhia (Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost) placed himself on the chair befitting royalty.

The event started with a bunch of slickly edited previews and music videos of Ek Ajnabee.

Inspired by the current crop of Hong Kong films, the previews mostly featured a very cool looking Bachchan walking, driving and in action sequences on the streets of Bangkok. Adoring fans in the room cheered when Bachchan first appeared on the screen. And at the end of the first preview, a woman yelled out, "He's done it again." This much was clear from the previews.

In the film, Bachchan is a bodyguard to a little girl, daughter of an NRI couple, played by Chatwal (minus his beard and turban) and Perizad Zorabian. The previews left no doubt that the film was another version of the Denzel Washington-Dakota Fanning-Radha Mitchell film Man on Fire.

"People talk a lot about cross cultural films," Chatwal said, introducing the film. "These films don't necessarily have to be like Monsoon Wedding or Bend It Like Beckham. This is not another Hindi film. This is not a remake of Man on Fire. If you see the way it is shot, edited and directed, it is setting new standards. Mr Bachchan is reinventing himself. So please don't turn this film into another Bollywood film."

Lakhia had no qualms admitting that his film was inspired by Man On Fire, which is based on a novel by the late British author A J Quinnell.

"Man On Fire has been made into four films in five different languages," the director said. "So this is the Indian version. It has all the necessarily ingredients required for a movie to come out of India."

Later Bachchan was questioned on his views on Bollywood films repeatedly lifting from Western movies. "It's not just that we adapt from Hollywood," he said. "It is the other way round too."

He pointed out that his 2002 film Aankhen will soon be made into a Hollywood movie and that The Magnificent Seven was an adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's classic Seven Samurai.

"The first thing you need to do is to give your own interpretation and Apu (Lakhia) insisted on that," Bachchan added. He did not mention that while there are plans to remake Aankhen in the US, it will be an Indian-American group backing the film. Hollywood is mostly unaware of films that come out of India.

Ek Ajnabee was shot in 35 days on location in Bangkok, Lakhia said. "Bunty and I selected Bangkok because we wanted our characters to stand out. When they are walking on the street they will look different. Both my heroes are over six feet and Thai men are not as tall. So it was really important to be in a place where they could stand out."

"I needed a place with a little bit of debauchery, little grey areas," Lakhia added talking about Bangkok as the location of the film. In addition, Thailand provides a fantastic infrastructure, with highly trained film crews, he said.

Lakhia wrote the script of Ek Ajnabee with Bachchan in his mind. "The most difficult part was going to him and asking him if he would be interested in doing the film. So when I first went to sir, in 15 minutes we got a yes, but it took two years to get the dates." "I wanted to thank sir for making it simple for me and for mostly making me do my work better. I woke up every morning, focused and I never wanted once for Mr Bachchan to question that I didn't know what I was doing. So it made me work that much harder."

Rampal talked about his first scene in the film where he had to look directly into Bachchan's eyes. "And I forgot what I was to say. Mr Bachchan was like, 'You have done a movie with me. Why are you nervous?'" Rampal then explained that in their first film together - Aankhen, he wore dark glasses and spent most of his time not looking directly at the superstar. The people in the room laughed as Bachchan smiled looking uncomfortable.

The love fest with Bachchan continued with Lakhia referring to the superstar as "India's last cowboy" and the press and the fans cheered with approval.

Not one person in the room referred to Bachchan by his first name. People either called him sir or Mr Bachchan. A female radio reporter offered to be Bachchan's leading lady, when he said that no one wants to cast a 63-year-old actor with an actress. "See you after this," Bachchan joked as the giddy reporter laughed with excitement.

But when another reporter asked the actor to comment on a question from the point of view of a living legend, Bachchan seemed to have had enough.

"Why do you ask 'from the point of view of a living legend?'" Bachchan asked.

"Because you are a living legend," the reporter responded, repeating himself a couple of times.

"What's that got to with the role I play?" Bachchan retorted, sounding annoyed.

The reporter mumbled a few words, but Bachchan cut him off.

"Anyway, we don't believe in all these lovely epithets that you create for us. Thank you so much."



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 9-6-2006 04:55 PM ]

KAJOL MAKES A COMEBACK

Kajol makes a comeback with 'Fanna'.

One of the all time favourite Bollywood star, Kajol is making her comeback with Yash Raj directed film 'Fanna'. The actress was last seen in 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham', in the lead role in 2001 and made her guest appearence in Karan Johar's 'Kal Ho Na Ho' in 2003.

The actress started her career in 1992 with 'Bekhudi'. 'Dilwale Dulhaniya le Jayenge' was the turning point of her career, after which there was no looking back.

Kajol, who is fond of diamonds, as Asmi's brand ambassador on Tuesday unveiled the latest collection of Asmi, the contemporary diamond jewellery brand from Diamond Trading Company (DTC).

The actress is not only returning back to movies but is also enduring herself to her fans endorsing for various brands like 'Whirlpool', 'Tata Indicom' and now 'Asmi', not for money or glamour but she said its only because she believes in it.

Having acted in variety of roles, Kajol is once again all set to blaze her way to glory with 'Fanna' after a long break.



[ Last edited by  Gadis_Venus at 1-6-2007 02:26 PM ]