Emraan Hashmi's first intense love story

Emraan played a painter in the thriller "Raaz - The Mystery Continues" and he will once again essay the role in "Tum Miley". But Emraan Hashmi (pictured left) will this time get to actually paint to look convincing on screen.

"This time I actually paint. In 'Raaz', I wasn't really able to do much of that. All the paintings were done beforehand and I didn't get a chance to paint on screen apart from a few strokes," Emraan told IANS.

In "Tum Miley", Emran's newly-discovered painting skills will go a lot further.

"I'm shown to be a far more intricate painter, doing not just brush painting but also charcoal, etc. Here I can't fake it. I'm using all the skills that I learnt as a painter in 'Raaz' for 'Tum Miley'," the actor explained.

Emraan says he now seriously intends to pursue his painting.

"And my character in 'Tum Miley' is helping me do that. It's my first intense love story," he said.

The film is based on the deluge in Mumbai on July 26, 2005. All the scenes depicting the coming together of the leading lady and him during the deluge were shot in one go on a studio set.

Asked if there were any kissing scenes in the film, he said: "It's my first film with Soha Ali Khan. Do I kiss her? Let that be a secret. I consciously moved away from the serial kisser's image in 'Raaz 2'. I don't want to be known for something so frivolous. I want to move on."

The actor seems to have moved on from filmmakers Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt in "Tum Miley", which has been directed Kunal Deshmukh of "Jannat" fame.

"This is a Percept (Picture) film. I won't say I've moved on. But, yes, I want to clear the misconception that I work exclusively for the Bhatts," said Emraan, who made it big with the Bhatts' "Murder".

Salman Khan didn't buy me a house: Asin Thottumkal

How difficult was it for daddy’s daughter to work independently after her father was hospitalised?
It wasn’t very difficult. My dad
was never a baby-sitter on the sets. Between us, it’s a client-and-manager kind of a relationship. Since I don’t have a manager or a secretary, my father plays a three-in-one role. Recently, I went to Bangalore to launch the Bangalore Food Guide. I called him up at one in the morning to just wish him good night. Even then, his phone was engaged! My work-related issues had been keeping him busy so late in the night. Now, there is somebody to accompany me in his place. The only difference is, since this person is doing a professional job, the personal touch of having my father around, is missing.

Do you have your parents accompany you while shooting?
My mother, who is a doctor, has opted for VRS. My father isn’t there to stare into the monitor as I shoot. He sees to it that everything is organised, and then leaves. It’s disturbing when people confuse my father with the ‘baby-ko-juice-doh’ kind of parents who are always there on the sets. My dad is an independent thinker and never indulges in such behaviour

How difficult is it to shoot romantic scenes in your father’s presence?
I’m quite comfortable when he is around. It’s my profession. If I can agree to a scene that will be viewed by my parents in the audience, why won’t I be able to shoot it in front of them?

A lot is being said about how Salman Khan gifted you a house ...
How silly is that! I’ve been living in the same house ever since I went to Mumbai to shoot for Ghajini. I hadn’t even met Salman then. The media has got him to gift me a new house, someone to do the interiors and even adorned my walls with his paintings and posters!

Isn’t the audience mature enough to understand that these link-up stories are a part of the movie’s marketing strategy?
There are so many untrue stories and misquotes that I think many people would have become conscious of the media games. Of course, a percentage would want to believe it as a topic of discussion, even if they actually have doubts about it.

Can’t the publicists of a film be responsible for this too?
I’m not familiar with such a strategy. During Ghajini, I knew exactly how the movie would be promoted by first releasing Aamir’s look. But the London Dreams team has not discussed anything of that sort with me.

How differently do Salman and Aamir approach a role?
Salman is very relaxed and chilled out. He is spontaneous and even if he has done the homework for his role in his mind, on the sets, he does an impromptu job. In Ghajini, Aamir would come and discuss the role with me, suggest changes and seek suggestions. As for me, I prefer a mixture of both.

You’ve featured in the Lead India campaign to woo voters. Ever considered campaigning for individual stars?
No. I’ve been approached in the south, but I have always declined such offers. Be it difficult or easy, one has to say no when one doesn’t want to do something.

Kangana Ranaut bonds with Sushmita Sen

Kangana Ranaut intends to have a ball on the sets of her first comedy No Problem.

“So far I’ve never had fun on the sets. All the character I’ve played have been introverted and troubled. So I’ve been in my shell. During Fashion Madhur Bhandarkar used to scold me for being in a shell all the time. But if I play insecure paranoid characters I can’t be laughing and playing around. But it was the nature of the characters. For Anees Bazmi’s film I’m changing completely. I’m going to organize parties on the sets, constantly crack Santa-Banta jokes and most important of all, I will bond with Sushmita. Hopefully our bonding will last beyond one film.”

After signing a film together, Sushmita Sen has taken the lovely Kangna Ranaut under her wings. Always known to be warm towards her co-stars Sushmita has taken a special fancy to Kangana because of her facial resemblance to Sushmita’s daughter Renee.

Says Kangana Ranaut, “On the first day that we met we struck a special chord in each other’s hearts. I was standing at a premiere and she came up to me. She held my face in her hands and said I’ve hair exactly like her daughter. And that whenever she saw me she was reminded of her daughter. From that moment onwards we bonded. Luckily I play Sushmita’s sister in the film that we’re doing together. I love calling her Didi.”

Kangana Ranaut is pleased as hell to be finally doing comedy. “I was really hurt when people said I was destined only to play tragic roles. I wanted to do comedy for the longest time. And that I’ve Sushmita playing my sister in the film is an added bonus. We’ll have a ball playing sisters.”

The film is Anees Bazmi’s comedy No Problem produced by Anil Kapoor.

Says Kangna, “I had decided whenever I do my first comedy it would have to be either with Anees Bazmi or David Dhawan. Everyone thought I was wrong for the part in No Problem. No one was convinced I could do comedy, not after playing all those traumatized roles. But Anilji convinced everyone that I could do it.”

Dimple Kapadia defends Akshay Kumar's 'unbuttoning' act

Akshay Kumar has a very spunky defender – his mother-in-law, Dimple Kapadia

The actress doesn’t mince words when she’s asked for her opinion on the controversy over Twinkle unbuttoning Akshay Kumar’s jeans at a Mumbai fashion show.

“F*** all this news!” she says. “By God’s grace, both my girls are happy and doing really well. If the world wants to presume things – let it. So many times, such things have been shown on television, and nobody says anything. They should either stop doing this moral policing or stop what’s being shown on TV first!”

But hasn’t she gotten used to these things yet? Many would have said many different things about her donning a bikini in Bobby and scorching the silver screen in 1973. “No, not at all. In fact, nobody even raised an eyebrow,” pat comes her reply. If things were so cool then, she must be finding it really hard to digest all this now. “I am not only shocked but also stunned at people’s reaction. What Akshay and Twinkle did was just for fun. It was just humour, not anything lurid, there was no vulgarity or any display of physical assets!” she adds.
What would she tell the moral policing experts, then? “Maybe their wives don’t open the buttons on their pants. I think they should try that. I know I’ve made a tall statement, but I stand by it,” she says.

Amitabh Bachchan didn’t want to work with Abhishek

Sujoy Ghosh’s Aladdin is set to release this year. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh.

Originally, the script included Big B and son Abhishek Bachchan, but the actor requested Ghosh not to include Abhishek Bachchan in the script. Although the father-son duo have given some good performances together, Big B didn’t want to work with his son, saying that they had done too many projects together already. This is when Riteish was roped in. He owes Big B big time!

Shahrukh Khan coming home with his IPL team!

The Elections never seemed more special, what with the whole Bollywood fraternity pitching their vote bank with abundant accountability.

While many of the A-Listers like Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan will make sure they’re in Mumbai on April 30 to cast their vote, Shahrukh Khan is going to go a step further. He will be flying down from South Africa with his IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders just for a day on April 30 to cast their vote before flying back for their next match.

According to sources, Shahrukh has requested Vijay Mallya, who hosts a rival IPL team, to lend him a private jet to make the whirlwind visit back a home possible.

Says a source close to the iconic actor, “Shahrukh is very particular about exercising his voting rights. There was no way he’d miss the chance to cast his vote, or let his team members skip this important day in the Indian calendar. He’s very clear on the matter and would’ve insisted on heading home on April 30 even if a match was scheduled that day.”

Shahrukh has even inspired rival team-leader Preity Zinta to not slip up on her democratic rights. Preity too will head back home on voting day with her team. However Shilpa Shetty and her team would have to skip the vote as they have a match on April 30.

Salman Khan sings promo track for Wanted

One can trust Salman Khan to be original as original, creative as creative and dedicated as dedicated. That explains the reason as to why anything and everything that's associated with this man becomes so special, be it his acting, his paintings or his NGO, Being Human.

Now, Salman has added one more feather to his cap, by allowing the makers of his upcoming Wanted, (that's being produced by Boney Kapoor) to use a track that was produced and recorded in his own voice.

Ace music director Sajid of the Sajid-Wajid duo, who are also composing the music for Wanted, said: "Being in Salman bhai's company for so many years, I have realised that, whatever Salman bhai does, he gives his 200 per cent. And as far as this song is concerned, all that I can say is that it's the result of the long-time pending urge that he was nurturing to sing. Over a period of time, after regular jamming, we (Wajid and me) realised that Salman has become very melodious and versatile in his verses and voice."

When asked Sajid about the USP of the song, Sajid said: "Everything about this song is the USP of the song. It has got 101 sounds, all of which are selectively hand-picked by Salman himself. Even though there is a feel of pain in the song, the rhythm of the song has been recorded at a whopping 140 bpm (beats per minute). The song has a very 'today' feel in it. And believe me; you will be shocked when you hear this song and most importantly, when you hear Salman bhai touching high notes like a true professional.

Overall, it's a song to watch out for with bated breath."

Ironically, the last time when Salman sang a full track in a feature film was for Hello Brother, music of which was also composed by Sajid-Wajid.

Amitabh Bachchan Stylist In 'Aladin!'

He has always been a trend-setter, but this time Amitabh Bachchan goes a step further by adding a
personal touch to his character in the anticipated Bollywood film, 'Aladin.' While planning a shoot for a special number for his forthcoming film, Amitabh Bachchan suggested doing his own styling for the song's picturisation.

Apparently Amitabh Bachchan was extremely excited about the groovy track that featured himself
and Ritesh Deshmukh. While planning the shoot for the peppy number, he expressed his desire to
contribute to the song in his very own way by choosing his own outfit for it!

Of course, the director happily agreed and the Big B went on to choose a deep red velvet jacket which
added that extra touch of grandeur to his already larger-than-life persona in the film. Now that's what
we call flaunting your style with panache!'The film arrives in theatres on 24th July. The contemporary take on the classic fairy tale is packed with fun, music, masti, action and adventure.

The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Ritesh Deshmukh and introduces Jacqueline Fernandez.
Check out the pictures of Amitabh Bachchan below and let us know what you think about his fashion
sense (keep in mind he plays a Genie!).

Feroz Khan's last wish was to remake Qurbani

Feroz Khan's last wish before he passed away in Bangalore was to finish his dream project - a remake of his 1980 blockbuster film "Qurbani".

"His last wish was to remake 'Qurbani' as 'Kurbani'. He was very keen that the film be made again and was working towards it," Rajkumar Tiwari, Feroz Khan's manager of 25 years, told IANS over phone from Bangalore.

"When he fell ill, he realised that a lot of energy was required to make a film, so he took a break and was adamant that he will make the film. Few songs had already been recorded. This project was his last wish and I am sure someone will take it forward," he added.

Feroz Khan passed away late on Sunday at his farmhouse in Bangalore after a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 69.

He had announced "Kurbani" at the 2006 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event in Dubai. His son, actor Fardeen Khan, was to reprise his father's role in the new version of the romantic thriller.

Apart from Feroz Khan, the original also starred Vinod Khanna, Zeenat Aman and Amjad Khan in pivotal roles.

The actor had also decided to star in the remake of the film. According to media reports, he had roped in filmmaker Sanjay Gupta to wield the megaphone for the movie. When contacted, Gupta refused to comment on it.

Anand Raj Anand, who has been signed to direct the music for the remake, said: "We had already recorded three songs for 'Kurbani' but his health was an issue. Right now I don't want to comment anything more on this as I am very sad about hearing of his demise."

With hit songs like "Aap jaisa koi" and the title qawwali "Qurbani qurbani", the music of the original was a chartbuster.

Bollywood's style icon Feroz Khan is dead

Bollywood actor, producer and director Feroz Khan has died after losing a year-long battle with cancer.

Khan, 69, died at 0130 local time on Monday (2000GMT Sunday) at his farmhouse in southern Bangalore state.

His funeral is due to take place in Bangalore city later on Monday, his family said.

The actor, who appeared in more than 50 films, became one of India's best-loved heroes with his role in the 1980 hit film Qurbani (Sacrifice).

His son Fardeen Khan is also a Bollywood actor and model.

Feroz Khan made his Bollywood debut as the co-star in the movie Didi in 1960 and went on to star in a number of films in the 1970s and 1980s.

Although Qurbani was the biggest hit of his career, he is also known for Dharmatma (A virtuous soul) which was inspired by the Hollywood film, The Godfather.

Some of his other hit films include Jaanbaaz (Brave heart) and Dayavan (Kind-hearted).

The last film he acted in was Welcome in 2007. For his work, Khan was given several prestigious awards by the Indian film industry.

Feroz Khan was like a father to me: Shahrukh Khan

Bollywood is in a state of shock at the sad demise of veteran actor Feroz Khan. Calling his death a big blow to the industry, the film fraternity has paid tribute to his remarkable contributions.

Many actors have flown to Banglore from various parts of the country to attend the last rites of this legendary figure.

His brother Sanjay Khan, who reached Bangalore after his death, said, "He was a lion. He was a wonderful, passionate man. His contribution to the film industry is immense. It's a deep loss to the family. I can say that there was a lion who used to roar but today he is no more."

Even King Khan expressed grief and said that he was like a father to him. Shah Rukh said, "I miss Feroz saab a lot. His death is a personal loss. Fardeen had told me about his illness. I was emotionally attached to him because my father too died of the same illness. I still remember when I met him for the first time and he kissed and hugged me. Whenever I met him after that he always showered his love on me and treated me like his son. He is one of the most beautiful people I have met in the film industry."

Bollywood actor Arbaz Khan too said that he was shocked when he came to know about Feroz Khan's death through an SMS. "I convey my condolences to the entire family. It's a very difficult time for Fardeen and other family members. I am so disturbed after hearing this sad news."

Other actors like Celina Jaitely, Malaika Arora Khan, and Zeenat Aman have expressed their condolences on his death. Zeenat Aman has reportedly said that she remembers Feroz Khan as a legendary actor for his memorable and inspiring work in the film industry.

Amitabh Bachchan remembers Feroz Khan

Mourning the death of veteran actor Feroz Khan, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan says that despite several attempts in the past the two could not work together.

"There were many attempts by both of us to work together but somehow it didn't work out," Amitabh posted on his blog.

"He will be remembered for his passion and commitment to the craft. May his soul rest in peace and may the Almighty give his family strength to bear the loss," he added.

The flamboyant actor-filmmaker died on Sunday at his farmhouse in Bangalore after battling cancer for a year. He was 69.

Amitabh describes Feroz Khan, who made hits like "Dharmatma" and "Qurbani", as a flamboyant filmmaker.

"A flamboyant filmmaker, one that in the middle of his acting career became a producer and director and gave us some very memorable films - all with a certain stamp of flamboyance.

"What he displayed in his persona, reflected in the way he made his films. In many ways, he pioneered a certain flash and sophistication in his very first venture as a maker and that remained with him and all his films throughout," he wrote.

Amitabh also pointed out that Feroz Khan always had a "progressive and visible difference in the way he functioned" including the "content of the subjects he chose, in the unique casting that he did or in the fresh talent that he introduced in music and presentation".

Amitabh recalled the recent Stardust award function where Feroz Khan was given the Stardust Pride of the Industry award.

"In a most poignant moment, his son Fardeen had received it on his behalf from Jaya (Bachchan) on stage - Feroz being too ill to be present," he added.

We have been preparing ourselves for Feroz Khan's death

Akbar Khan says his brother was fearless to the end

He was gracious and loving till the end, says Feroz Khan's brother Akbar. He added that they had been preparing themselves for his death for quite a few months.

"For three months now we've been watching him slowly sink. We prayed to either relieve him from pain, or life," Akbar told IANS.

Feroz Khan died on Sunday (April 26) at his farmhouse in Bangalore after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 69. The entire family was gathered in Bangalore for the funeral, which took place on Monday (April 27).

"The entire family was here towards his end literally feeding him out of our hands," said the grief-stricken sibling. "And he enjoyed his glass of wine in the evenings with us till the end. He was a very loving friend and bhai (brother).

"We buried him next to our mother. It's unfortunate that we couldn't bring him back to Mumbai for so many of his friends and well-wishers to see him for the last time. But his last wish was to lie eternally next to our mother in our home town near Bangalore. And we had to fulfil that wish."

Akbar, who recently made the historical epic "Taj Mahal - An Eternal Love Story", says that contrary to his flamboyant image, Feroz Khan was a sensitive person.

"He was much loved by all his friends and colleagues. Contrary to his flamboyant image, he was a very gentle sensitive soul. Even in his frail condition towards the end he'd get up from his chair to greet each one of us in the family no matter how old or young. He was a friend first, then a father-figure," said Akbar.

"He was fearless even when faced with death. He was the apple of our mother's eyes. All of us five brothers and two sisters looked up to him. We've lost a father-figure. But he's relieved of his pain. But he was fearless to the end. He didn't even fear death. He'll always be with us."

Meanwhile, actress-politician Hema Malini, who is busy campaigning for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, catches her breath to remember Feroz Khan and says he was the only colleague to use an endearment for her and give her a sensuous avatar in his hit film "Dharmatma".

"He was the first and last man who called me 'baby'. No one has ever dared. I wish they would. What a suave man he was," Hema told IANS.

"When I agreed to do 'Dharmatma' he made it very clear I was there in the first-half only. He said, 'You can't say no, baby!' That was a new experience for me. My mother was more shocked than I was. With everyone addressing me as 'ji' it feels nice if someone comes up with a term of endearment.

"Earlier this week I was in Darjeeling campaigning when someone from the crowd shouted out 'Hemu' and disappeared into the mountains. I felt good because that's what my near and dear ones call me," she added.

Feroz Khan calling Hema 'baby' was not the only change that he brought to her life.

"He decided to take on the challenge of making me look more glamorous and sensuous than ever before. That was a tough job because I was constantly fighting to cover myself up more than those costumes by Parmeshwar Godrej allowed. I don't think I've ever used so many safety pins in my entire lifetime. He wanted me to be as uninhibited as today's heroines. That wasn't possible for me."

Hema shot in Afghanistan for "Dharmatma" and says it was a memorable experience.

"I don't think any film unit had gone there before. It was a memorable experience. And we really had to rough it out. It was freezing cold in Kabul. We had to stay in tents. In the evenings, we'd all sit together and prepare for next day's scenes.

"Otherwise after shooting I always kept to myself. But he persuaded not just me but also my mother to join the unit in the evening. 'Come on, mom. Join us.' My mother was taken aback. We're basically very shy people. But he'd make her part of the discussions. That's the way to make films. One gets so charged and enthusiastic. I wish Feroz Khan and I had done more films together," Hema said.

Bollywood Dancer Hrithik Roshan teams up with Ganesh Hegde again

Bollywood Dancer Hrithik Roshan and ace choreographer Ganesh Hegde created magic with the dance moves in 'Koi Mil Gaya' and the two have teamed up again - but this time for a TV commercial for popular biscuit brand Hide-n-Seek.

The commercial required a radically different sound concept and what Ganesh conceived, composed and executed was brilliant,' Hrithik said in a statement.

Working on the commercial with Ganesh was a gift from god. After three agonising years with damaged knees, managing to justify his genius choreography was extremely challenging. I'm happy to say that this one is going to be our best yet and the entire credit goes to Ganesh,' said the actor, who underwent a knee surgery last year.

The TV ad will be aired later this month.

Amitabh Bachchan teams up with Ben Kingsley

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is set to share the screen space with Oscar-winning actor Ben Kingsley in Leena Yadav's "Teen Patti" which is said to be inspired by Hollywood flick "21".

Amitabh, who is currently in London to shoot the last schedule of the film, posted on his blog: "Soon after we (have to) get into a photo shoot and (start) reading rehearsals for the shoot with Sir Ben Kingsley. He plays an important part in the film."

Recent media reports indicated that Hollywood star Richard Gere also too would be a part of the film and Amitabh has fuelled rumours hinting presence of some big names in the film on his blog.

"There are some important names being mentioned for the shoot, but unless it all happens it would be premature to talk of them. Perhaps a little later when we are deep in progress on our work," he wrote.

On his first day in London, Big B was told that famous commentator and TV presenter David Frost wished to interview him and the former was elated.

"I am told Sir David Frost, that great commentator and TV personality, wishes to interview me for a programme he does on India. Such an important personality, what ever would he find talking to me, I wonder."

"The possibility of meeting up with two decorated personalities and in fact working with them together seems awe inspiring," said Amitabh.

In "Teen Patti", Amitabh plays a professor who tutors five of his brightest proteges, played by R. Madhavan and newcomers Siddharth Kher, Dhruv Ganesh, Vaibhav Talwar and Shraddha Kapoor for high stake gambling, but with a cause.

Salman Khan Is Now On IPL

The Khan war starts again as Salman Khan agrees to cheer for Priety Zinta's team in South Africa.

The Salman Khan v/s Shah Rukh Khan battle resumes. This time however the setting is not Mumbai, but South Africa where the IPL matches are being played. Sources reveal that Preity has approached Sallu to cheer for her team Kings XI Punjab and the actor has agreed.


However, what's interesting is that Preity has asked Salman to be there when her team battles out Shah Rukh's Kolkatta Knightriders. Even though Salman couldn't attend yesterdays match, he has assured Preity that he will make it for the next round.

At the moment Salman is busy campaigning for various political parties. The actor plans to take a break from his hectic schedule and rush to South Africa to cheer for Preity's team. Interestingly Salman is the only actor who is planning to cheer for another actors team this IPL season. Last year Akshay Kumar had cheered for the Delhi Daredevils however he hadn't done it for free. "Akshay was paid a bomb for the cheerleading.

However Salman is doing it for free because Preity has asked him a favour."

Insiders add that Salman has been telling close friends how Shah Rukh is busy minting money at the money while he's rallying around asking people to vote. "Salman campaigning for Preity will be a direct challenge to Shah Rukh. It will be interesting to see him on the same stadium where SRK's team is playing."

Salman has promised Preity that he will help her team but has yet committ the dates he will travel to SA.

Filmfare Power List 2009 Aamir Khan tops the list

Filmfare has just released its power list for 2009 which features Aamir Khan at the top. Consecutive hits from Aamir including Taare Zameen Par and Ghajini’s has made Aamir a force to reckon with in Bollywood. Here’s the complete list of the powerful personality in Bollywood

1. Aamir Khan
2. Shah Rukh Khan
3. Yash and Aditya Chopra
4. Ronnie Screwvala
5. Karan Johar
6. Akshay Kumar
7. Farhan Akhtar
8. A R Rahman
9. Hrithik Roshan
10. Kareena Kapoor

Besides being the overall No.1 the actor has scored a hat trick by emerging first in the list of top ten actors and directors as well. As for producers, the father-son team of Yash and Aditya Chopra is still the top name in the game, but Aamir is close behind — his two films ‘Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na’ and ‘Taare Zameen Par’ had the box-office jingling sweetly.

Shah Rukh Khan remains entrenched at No. 2. Yash and Aditya Chopra, for two years in a row, are down to No. 3, preceded by the two Khans — Aamir and Shah Rukh — who are now eyed as the two power centres in filmnagari.

A surprise showing was Ronnie Screwvala, a new entrant who has stolen a march over Karan Johar who produced just the one film this year, ‘Dostana’. Contrast this with Screwvala’s company, UTV Motion Pictures, which has had a golden run in 2008 with commercial success for ‘Jodhaa Akbar’ and critical acclaim for ‘Aamir’ (the film not the actor), ‘A Wednesday’, ‘Welcome to Sajjanpur’, ‘Fashion’, ‘Oye Lucky Lucky Oye’ and ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’.

Despite all the hype surrounding ‘Singh is Kingg’, Akshay Kumar slid from No. 3 to No. 6, while composer A R Rahman (obviously the poll was a pre-Oscar one) is at No. 8. In a more serious upset, Hrithik Roshan is now at No. 9, having been rocked by filmmaker-turned-actor Farhan Akhtar who is at No. 7.

Kareena Kapoor is the only woman (Heroine, Actress) in the top 10, and she’s made it by the skin of her teeth at No. 10. None of the Bachchans grace the coveted list this year.

Shahrukh Khan Fired as Brand Ambassador for PepsiCo

Sorry to Bollywood King Shahrukh Khan, you're getting old. Well at least according to PepsiCo. Pepsi which has long used the Bollywood superstar has now dropped him, in favor of a younger look. Pepsi has undergone some changes recently, aiming more for a younger audience. Pepsi has changed their famous logo and is pushing their "Youngistaan" ads.

The Coca-Cola Company has come to the aging stars aid and has picked him up to endorse their Sprite brand. Currently the company has three of Bollywoods biggest stars. Akshay Kumar endorses Thums Up, Aamir Khan endorses Coca-Cola, and now Shahrukh will be sporting Sprite. The commercial due out soon will feature Shahrukh Khan hanging out with some of the members of the "Kolkata Knight Riders" cricket team, the commercial will be seen during IPL matches.

In the past, The Coca-Cola Company had made fun of Pepsi ads that featured Shahrukh Khan so it could be seen as a bit strange for the golden boy of Bollywood to be switching sides. Shahrukh isn't the first star to be snubbed by Pepsi. Rani Mukherji and Sachin Tendulkar have also been kicked out by the brand. Pepsi has instead offered contracts to Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor.

Other brands are following in Pepsi's footsteps. Shampoo company Pantene has dropped Sushmita Sen for Katrina Kaif. Katrina has also taken Aishwarya Rai Bachan's endorsement deal for Nakshatra Diamonds. Marketing specialist however say that youth might not be all that's involved. Stars like Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan can be expensive to endorse. Going after younger celebrities can be cheaper and if they make it big, the brand can take credit for discovering them.

But tell us what you think. Do you that Shahrukh Khan is just too old for the "Youngistaan" ads and companies just want younger faces. Or are brands going after younger celebs because they're cheaper and brands can take credit for finding them. Lets us know here at DesiHits!

Bollywood Superstar Salman Khan to show his dum again!

Very Soon, Superstar Star Salman Khan will begin shooting for the second season of his TV show ‘Dus Ka Dum’.

The 43-year-old Bollywood superstar has recently been on a campaign trail for different political candidates to woo voters during the elections. He’s also been courting a few controversies while shooting the historical drama Veer .

Now, reports have it that Salman is set to return to the small screen with the second season of ‘Dus Ka Dum’ which he might shoot in May and June.

It is being speculated that for the last year’s show Salman got a whopping Rs 89 crores for 104 episodes. And the actor apparently demanded a fee hike of Rs. 44 crores for upcoming shows. However, the show’s producers can’t afford to shell out that much of money to the superstar.

The ongoing economic recession makes it virtually impossible to pay such astronomical amounts to stars.

So now, Salman has done something unexpected. Reports say he has not only dropped his demand to take a fee hike, he’s also reduced his fee this year compared to what he was paid last year.

Bolllywood Actor Salman Khan's Congress Road Show

Bollywood's Rock Star Salman Khan's Congress Road Show

Bollywood King Shahrukh Khan : If we win, I'll fly

Bollywood King Shahrukh Khan is indefatigable.

He’s in South Africa to cheer the ‘boys’; injured shoulder notwithstanding. But he spoke to BT minutes before departure, not without his usual brand of positivity and humour. And he intends to hold the IPL trophy aloft with his Knightriders this time — but that’s something he’s not telling ‘how’!

So Shahrukh Khan, all set for South Africa? India will miss you!

Hey. Don’t make it sound so bad. I will miss India. Especially Kolkata. It was intended this way. But I’m so emotional about this that I intend to dash back in May, assuming we’re doing well, Inshallah, and doing something special in Kolkata with the people.

Still, a tournament that’s primarily ‘Indian-owned’, will it fly in Arica?

Look, it may be a foreign country, but the passion for cricket is common. And cricket is an international passion. The cricketers are international, too. So they’re recognisable faces. And though no one can match the craze that Indians have for the game, which is something I’ll miss and something that makes the Indian board the best in the world, it’s still cricket. Also, I think that people in South Africa love me, my films and my shows there, so I should have an advantage.

African beats seem to be pulsating through your new music video too?

Yes. We took Vishal Shekhar’s composition and infused some wildness into it. At first, I thought I wouldn’t be part of it with my injured shoulder, but I couldn’t resist. This one has some naughty, nasty, wicked lyrics and beats added. It’s ‘cool’ like the youngsters say.

How confident are you about your team this time? Last time you were disappointed...

Not disappointed, I was sad. I wished success for the boys who stuck it out with us. It wasn’t as much SRK’s team as it was their own. I was sad because my son was sad about it. We hope to raise the standard this time. Now that the venue has shifted, losing is NOT an option. But NOT learning to be losers is an option that’s always with us.

Today IPL season is considered ‘no release’ zone for movies. Do you feel a sense of guilt when movies don’t fare well or do not release at all?

You know, I’ve always been passionate about sports. I want to promote it in every which way. And I’m an entertainer. I love the big stage. I do movies, TV, stage-shows, sports – whatever it takes. Yes, IPL did affect some last year, it hit my TV show too. But we’ve tried to work around exams, holidays and made it easier. It’s just another entertainment platform and more and more like Bollywood what with Preity, Juhi, Shilpa and many more joining in.

Last year, you wrapped your legs around Shoaib Akhtar in excitement? This year?

This year, post surgery, I can’t even raise my hand to signal ‘sixes’. I can only signal ‘fours’. No leg wrapping around this time. I will refrain. But if we win, then leave alone jumping, I’ll fly.

And now that you’ve shaken hands with Aamir, will another Khan be next?

Like I’ve said before, I don’t plan so far ahead as to how my day will unfold, or who I have to shake hands with. I don’t strategize about those things. I simply strategize about how to win on the field and in the movie theatres.”

Roshans miffed with Kangana Ranaut

The Roshans have faced trouble ever since they started shooting for their home production “Kites”.

The film has already got delayed because of Hrithik’s injury and his dad Rakesh Roshan, is trying hard to complete the movie on time.

But now it is lead actress Kangana who is throwing tantrums.

Hrithik and Rakesh never wanted Kangana in their film but they settled for her since she was director Anurag Basu’s choice.

Ever since the shooting started she did not gel with the team. She also remained absent for a couple of days stranding the shoot.

Kangana then insisted that she would have her own designer. Rakesh overlooked all this and continued with her.

Later things went worse. She was upset Mexican actress Barbara Mori was given more importance than her and that Barabara was hogging the limelight despite being the second lead.

To voice her displeasure Kangana has now decided to give Roshans a tough time. She remained absent for the group meetings and is not showing any interest in shooting for the film.

The Roshans have also made it clear that if such things continue then they might just drop Kangana from the film!

Sushmita Sen single again

Bollywood Actress Sushmita Sen and her director boyfriend Muddassar Aziz have split.

While shooting for his directorial debut film “Dulha Mil Gaya”, Sushmita took a liking for the young Muddassar. The two subsequently were often spotted together. In fact, Sush even took him to meet her father in Kolkata.

Apparently, the trouble started when Muddassar frequently started talking to the media about Sushmita and their relationship. This irritated Sush and she started backing off from the relationship.

Muddassar, however, has denied the split.

Meanwhile, his “Dulha Mil Gaya” is showing no signs of completion after being in the making for three years.

Shahrukh Khans eyes is on Oscar now

Bollywood King Shah Rukh Khan had earlier claimed to the media that he did not feel bad about rejecting “Slumdog Millionaire”, which later went to Anil Kapoor, but he is dejected about the Oscar glory that came the film’s way.

Now it seems that he has changed his mind for the better and wants to do cinema which potential to make it big internationally.

And good friend Preity Zinta has got a good advice for him. It seems Preity told SRK that she will be teaming up with Indian-Canadian filmmaker Deepa Mehta for her next film.

Shahrukh Khan immediately told Preity to invite her to South Africa for the IPL matches, as he could not meet her when Deepa was in Mumbai. He wants to make up for it and also wants to discuss movies that will reach him to the Oscars!

Akshay Kumar & Kareena Kapoor are the best dressed in Bollywood

Dressing up Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone and Brandon Routh was the most fabulous experience of her career and she is floored by their humility, says Indian celebrity designer Shabina Khan.

"It was fabulous designing for Sylvester Stallone and Brandon Routh (of 'Superman' fame). It was my finest experience. They are professionals and did whatever I asked them to do. Apart from designing for them, what I learnt from them was how to be humble. Both of them are extremely down to earth," Khan told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Stallone and Routh are making special appearances in producer Sajid Nadiadwala's "Kambhakkt Ishq", a film about an Indian stuntman who takes Hollywood by storm but cannot find true love.

"As both of them were playing themselves in the film, what I had kept in my mind while designing for them was how people dress up in Hollywood. Since most were action sequences, I gave them more of cargos, hoodies (T-shirts with hoods) and tight T-shirts," she said.

Directed by debutant Sabbir Khan, the film has Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor in lead roles. Akshay plays Routh's body double in the actioner.

Shabina Khan also designed Akshay's clothes and said the filmmaker didn't want anything "conventional" for him.

"The director wanted a macho look for Akshay but not the 'ganjis' and tight T-shirts. So I created a new trendy look for him. I gave him tight cargos, waistcoats, boots and scarves," she explained.

Starting in 1988, Khan has worked as a designer for more than 30 films, including "Hum Aapke Hain Koun?", "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam", "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" and "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham".

"I started designing for Salman Khan initially. Both of us were in the same college. I designed for him for 13 years," said Khan who has also dressed stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Madhuri Dixit.

She considers Akshay Kumar & Kareena Kapoor the best dressed Bollywood celebrities.

"Anything and everything looks good on Akshay. He has a perfect body and a perfect face. He can carry anything off. Kareena is very versatile. Whether it's Indian or Western she can carry both with elan and look stunning," she said.

Khan's forthcoming projects are Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Chenab Gandhi", Vipul Shah's "Action Replay", Sajid Nadiadwala's "Housefull" and Priyadarshan's "De Dhana Dhan" among which two are period films.

"'Chenab Gandhi' is a period film. Since 'Action Replay' starring Akshay and Aishwarya (Rai) is set in the 1970s, I consider that a period film as well," she said.

"It is extremely difficult to design for a period film. You have to be accurate with your homework because if you miss anything, you'll completely mess up. Therefore, at the pre-production level, a lot has to be done," she said.

Genelia D'Souza, brand ambassador of the Fanta in Chennai

Bollywood New Actress Genelia D'Souza, brand ambassador of the Fanta in Chennai

Akshay Kumar's '8x10 Tasveer' Bombs at Box Office

Bollywood Star Akshay Kumar has established himself as one of Bollywood's hottest and most bankable actors of late. His films, like 'Singh is Kinng' have set records and have given other box office kings - Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan, a run for their money. So it comes as a pretty big surprise that Akshay's latest film, '8x10 Tasveer' has marked his third flop in a row, after the animated, 'Jumbo,' and 'Chandni Chowk to China.' Unlike the previous films we just mentioned '8x10 Tasveer' was a major disappointment from the beginning.

According to reports the film's start was as low as 25% - 35% at multiplexes and even lower at single screen theatres in India. Which if you follow percentages at the box office is painfully low for a star such as Akshay Kumar.
Something else interesting to note is the fact that the film was kept under wraps until the day of its release, meaning that there were no screenings held - not even for the cast and crew. Producers sited wanting to keep the climax of the film a secret until people actually saw the film, as it was touted as a suspense thriller.

The finale was supposed to be the jewel of the film, however many critics are saying that's just not the case. '8x10's' disastrous fate is being blamed on the writing and the story going way off track in the second hour, with some saying the latter half is almost unbearable to watch. Many are unanamous in claims that the director Nagesh Kuknoor just did not know how to end the film.

So thus is the fate of '8x10 Tasveer' with business being so bad that it's probably going to be imposible to recover the cost of the film. With all that said does this mean Akshay's star power is dropping? After delivering hit after hit, he's hit a pattern of flops. With his next film, 'Kambakht Ishq' hitting theatres this summer we'll just have to wait and see if Akshay will continue his string of flops or finally break the cycle.

Bollywood King ShahRukh Khan does it again for Hyundai!

Those interested in the field of automobiles will recall how the Korean Auto giants, Hyundai, made a stunning entry into the Indian market with its flagship brand, Santro. The state of the art hatch-back car, equipped with features like Multi Point Fuel Injection (MPFI), woke up the market leaders Maruti Suzuki from its deep slumber and into a frenzied changeover.

So, why are we talking about cars on a Bollywood site ? Well, the answer is very simple! The face of Hyundai Santro is our very own Shah Rukh Khan, and that is known to all and sundry. After Santro, Hyundai introduced a number of car models (in the mid and luxury segments) in the Indian markets, but their sales figures turned out to be a ho-hum affair. However, their year old launch in the Indian market, i10, has made a grand debut. As per the annual sales figures, i10 is one of the top six selling models in India (along with Santro). So, what is common to the two models? Shah Rukh Khan, who else! Once again, Hyundai roped in the services of King Khan and the stupendous results are there for all to see. In these times of recession, these are pretty fantabulous numbers and SRK deserves to be applauded for the same.

Bollywood Star Hrithik Roshan’s Professionalism

We all know that Hrithik Roshan is a true proffesional. Once again proving that he’s a professional even when shooting a commercial, Hrithik Roshan recently had jaws dropping with his newly unveiled lean look. The actor is endorsing a brand of clothes for which the producers suggested him to lose some of his lean muscle. Though Hrithik has a well-toned body, the actor agreed to shed his muscles.

And the perfectionist that he is, Hrithik went ahead with a strict regime to decrease his waistline from 32 to 28 in spite of stiff opposition from his father Rakesh Roshan. Even though his dad pointed out that he’s set to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for an untitled film, the actor is confident that once the commercial shoot is over he can bulk up his body. We wonder how Suzanne Khan feels about her husband’s ever shrinking waistline that’s giving half the Bollywood beauties a run for their money!

Akshay Kumar is Bollywood's taxpayer number one

Bollywood Actor Akshay Kumar has taken a giant leap from last year to emerge as the highest tax payer from Bollywood this year, even beating Shahrukh Khan .

Last year, Akshay paid a tax of only Rs 12.5 crores. But this year, after having emerged the most bankable star despite a couple of flops, Akshay doled out a huge tax sum of Rs 31 crores to the I-T department. Shahrukh comes a close second with Rs 30.99 crores as his tax payment.

The third spot is taken by Salman Khan , who’s also made quite a leap from his taxes of Rs 6.7 crores in the previous year to Rs 14 crores this year. Saif Ali Khan , who’s had a busy year, takes the fourth spot, having paid Rs 8.6 crores.

The most surprising is to see the yesteryear star Rajesh Khanna (well, he’s still working in a couple of B-grade flicks) in the top five tax payers, even ahead of Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan. Mr. Khanna is the fifth highest tax payer from Bollywood after paying Rs. 6.9 crores.

The sixth spot is taken by Aishwarya Rai with taxes of Rs. 4.7 crores. Kareena Kapoor is placed at number seven after paying Rs 3.7 crores. Abhishek Bachchan comes eighth with a deposit of Rs. 3.2 crores. Singer-turned-actor Himesh Reshammiya seems to be making more money than Amitabh Bachchan . Himesh is at number nine after paying Rs. 3 crores, while Mr. Bachchan paid Rs 1.25 crores. Surprisingly, Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif are not in the top ten list.

The list of top ten tax payers from Bollywood is as follows:

1. Akshay Kumar
2. Shahrukh Khan
3. Salman Khan
4. Saif Ali Khan
5. Rajesh Khanna
6. Aishwarya Rai
7. Kareena Kapoor
8. Abhishek Bachchan
9. Himesh Reshammiya
10. Amitabh Bachchan

Bollywood Hunk Hrithik Roshan back in action

Bollywood Hunk Hrithik Roshan, the superhero of Bollywood is back to to doing daring action stunts. But this time it will not be for a movie but for a commercial that he shot recently. Hrithik was recently in South Africa shooting for a Godrej Cinthol TV Commercial under the direction of Abhinay Deo who is directing Aamir Khan Productions’ Delhi Belly.

Our source informs, “Hrithik shot for the TV commercial in South Africa for four days and it required him to jump from a great height and also a lot of running, putting pressure on his knees. This is for the first time that Hrithik Roshan has gone for action sequence after a long time. Even during the shooting of his upcoming film Kites, he would not only avoid action sequences but also be very careful about strenuous dancing, which could have put pressure on his knees.”

It may be recalled that Hrithik had injured his knees during the shooting of super hero flick Krrish, which got aggravated during the shoot of Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Jodhaa Akbar. Since that time Hrithik has undergone surgery two times-first in Mumbai and second in Los Angeles.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan starts campaigning for Congress Party

Bollywood actor Salman Khan has started campaigning for Congress Party in Mumbai. He is one of the many Bollywood stars who will be seen actively campaign for India’s main ruling Party.

Earlier he addressed many election campaigns in Uttar Pradesh where Congress is fighting elections on its own. It has not entered into electoral alliance with any political party including the Samajwadi party that was its ally in United Progressive Alliance (UPA).


Salman Khan’s rallies in favour of Congress Party in UP were mammoth success.

Hundreds of thousands of people gather to get a glimpse of their favourite actor. Salman is very popular in rural India particularly in Hindi heartland of UP and Bihar.

Other actors who will be seen campaigning for the Congress include Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, Raj babbar, Nagma besides many others.

Book Review: Shah Rukh Khan Can

This one is a voluminous book. A real voluminous one at that. If Bollywood King Shah Rukh Khan has been known for his non-stop talk then writer Mushtaq Sheikh too doesn't appear far behind when it comes to translating his thoughts into words. He writes, and writes and then further writes about Shah Rukh, something that makes one feel that more than a friend and a colleague, Mushtaq looks at Shah Rukh as a hero. Someone who is not just his hero but also an entire country's - correction, entire world's hero! It is this very 'fan factor' that makes 'Shah Rukh Can' a read that seems to be coming straight from an admirer's heart.

For a writer, such scenario has two sides to it:

a) Because you are so much in love of a celebrity, you want to explore anything and everything that you had always wanted to know about him.
b) Because you are so much in love of a celebrity, everything about him is taken entirely positively. It all becomes quite one-dimensional and even when there is something remotely negative that pops up, as a writer you have defences available even for that!

This is exactly what one senses after reading 'Shah Rukh Can'. If the book is to be believed, Shah Rukh has never taken a step wrong, he is the smartest actor/performer around and if at all there are some areas of improvement for him, he doesn't need to work in that direction because he can be loved even with the weaknesses continuing to persist. Now this could well be true; after all it may all be a solid fact that Shah Rukh Khan is a fantastic human being after all. It's just that one feels the lack of a single written word which is 'not-so-good' about the King Khan.

Is he a perfect human being, may be, but we do not get to know about it 100% through this book.

Leaving aside this factor, 'Shah Rukh Can' explores those facets about the actor and so many other tangents in his life, both pre and post his stardom. The kind of detailing that Mushtaq explores in this 350 page book (which by the way is pure text with hardly any pictures) is a testimony to the fact that the writer would have spent quite some time not just with the actor in question but also quite a few other prominent members from the film industry. Not just that, there are clear indications that he did extensive research on the biggest actor in the country today and was fully prepared before beginning to pen down 'Shah Rukh Can'.

From a book that claims to talk about 'The Life and Times of Shah Rukh Khan', the least you expect is some trivia from the actor's life, both personal and professional, about which not much has been written about in the past. The kind which makes you wonder if something like that had really happened in the actor's life. Thankfully, Mushtaq extracts quite some trivia out of the actor's life and surely there would have been in numerous instances that even Shah Rukh may not have remembered unless specifically pointed in that direction.

So you get to know how Shah Rukh was offered the role of Anil Kapoor's car driver in 1942 - A Love Story, which he rejected (of course!). Eventually Raghuvir Yadav did that role. Or how Shah Rukh completely surrendered to the director's vision and withdrew himself when he couldn't follow the trajectory of Subhash Ghai's Pardes. It's a different matter though that Shah Rukh was appreciated for his performance in the film but so was he in Karan Arjun too, which by the way he dared not watch over the years because he didn't connect with the role.

There are number of such little instances that make 'Shah Rukh Can' an interesting read. But is it just about the actor and the trivia around his life? Not at all. One of the unexplored facets of Shah Rukh that is covered in the book in extensive detail is his views around acting v/s performances. There are reams and reams that are spent on the actor's philosophy around acting and other finer nuances of filmmaking. Now does that make for an interesting read? Well, not exactly and that's because this entire episode in the book not just becomes a lot verbose but also hugely technical.

Credit goes to the writer of the book to have got Shah Rukh into such conversation which has seldom (or shall I say never) been covered by any other journalist/author in the past. In this regard, Mushtaq deserves a pat on the back for bringing in something which no one ever thought earlier. After all so excited have audiences been about Shah Rukh's personality and stardom over last decade and a half that seldom has anyone bothered to know about what makes the superstar tick in front of the camera.

However, one fact that still needs to be considered is that majority of readers of this book would be the same set of audiences who love to see him as Rahul and Raj on screen. For them, how does Shah Rukh differentiate between acting v/s performance doesn't quite make for an interesting read. Probably, they don't even care. All they want is his arms going up in the year with the dimpled cheeks facilitating a smile that continues to make millions look at him in awe. Now how does he achieve that? Well, that thesis is left for the intellectually inclined, which actually forms a miniscule part of the readers. Hence the reason why 3-4 chapters have been dedicated to this very aspect of Shah Rukh make for a quick skip read!

But ignore this part of the book and you have so much to know about Shah Rukh. Views about him come from the biggest of the makers, some of them being the kinds who have never ever given an interview. Case in point is Aditya Chopra who opens up in a big way while talking about his association with Shah Rukh. He remembers how he had to literally chase Shah Rukh to make him consent to do Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. Apparently the actor was not too keen on doing love stories and wanted to stay away from that until Aditya convinced him otherwise and paved the way for a dozen odd love stories to follow over the years.

Some of the other interesting stories the books talk about:

- Why Shah Rukh went ahead and did an atrocious movie called Guddu
- His appearance in TV serial 'Waage Ki Duniya' as a rash driver
- Shah Rukh coming into Chamatkar after Deepak Malhotra (who had a one film career in Lamhe) rejected the film
- Viveck Vaswani being Shah Rukh's pillar of support during his initial years in Mumbai
- His struggling period in Mumbai when along with wife Gauri, he had to keep working hard in order to pay rent for his house
- His admiration for Amitabh Bachchan and how he considered him to be THE hero when compared to Dilip Kumar (there is great detailing that he gives around this - visit Page Nos. 206 and 207)
- His lack of understanding with Devdas when Sanjay Leela Bhansali narrated the script for the first time
- How he motivated Karan Johar even though the first shot that he took for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was terrible
- Aditya Chopra believing that Dil To Pagal Hai wasn't great cinema
- How Farah Khan had reached the point of frustration when Shah Rukh Khan had made her wait for three years before saying yes to Main Hoon Naa.

And last but certainly not the least (after all this is most topical in the current scenario), how years back Shah Rukh had made a candid confession before stepping into filmdom -

"I'll destroy Aamir Khan. I'll take over Aamir. Main jab filmon mein aoonga na, baja doonga sabki"!

Boney Kapoor banks on Salman Khan's luck

Bollywood Actor Salman Khan has been wearing a blue sapphire bracelet for quite sometime now. The bracelet is his lucky charm and Salman Khan does not leave the house without it. He has even been seen wearing it in all his recent movies.

Now filmmaker Boney Kapoor is banking on this lucky charm for his forthcoming Salman Khan starrer, “Wanted”.

Apparently the posters of the film will not show Salman Khan but will only feature the bracelet on his hand.

The shooting of the film is over and it is expected to release in July provided that the ongoing war between the producers and multiplexes comes to an end.

Meanwhile, one good thing has happened to Salman.

After being criticised for putting on too much weight and ageing badly, Sallu had taken good friend Aamir Khan’s advice seriously and given up drinking in December.

And the results are showing. Sallu has already lost 10 kgs and gone are his sagging double chin and puffy eyes.

We are happy to see Salman on the way to getting his good looks back!

Filmmaker - Actor Aamir Khan Speaks

The Hindi film industry has come to a grinding halt. The standoff between multiplexes and producers and directors is still on and there seems no end in sight. On the evening of April 7, filmmaker-actor Aamir Khan, actor Shah Rukh Khan and filmmakers Karan Johar, Yash Chopra, Ronnie Screwwala addressed the media about the ongoing strike. This is the text of Aamir Khan's speech.

Today is not a happy day for us. It is our responsibility, as the film industry, to entertain people. But there are certain issues in front of us that prevent us from doing that. We won't be able to run our films at multiplex chains across the nation. As entertainers, it is our responsibility to be honest to our audience. And that is why we are here. We all feel very bad but it's important for us to convey to our audience why we are doing what we are doing and why some of our audience won't be able to see films for a while.

The most important issue right now is that producers, distributors and all of us believe that this is one industry where everyone can earn and survive. That is our primary thought. Every sector of the industry has to earn what it deserves. Till that happens, I don't think the industry can be healthy and happy. All of us producers and distributors think that if any sector, including the exhibition sector is not happy and healthy, then the film industry as a whole will not be healthy and happy.

How it works
Traditionally, what has happened is that a producer makes a film; the distributor buys it from him and sells it to the single screen theatres where they run it for audiences to see. Our seniors like the late Raj Kapoor and the late BR Chopra and others started a system where the creative or production side kept a share of the profit and passed the film to the distributor. Traditionally, the distributor and exhibitor had an understanding of profit sharing at 80:20 where the distributor kept 80 per cent and the exhibitor kept 20 per cent. At some places the ratio was 70:30 or 65:35. That was the tradition. Our seniors must have found something viable in this ratio because the industry has followed this tradition for years. In my mind, the value and respect we have for creative minds is in favour of the greater good.


Required change
But now, things are changing. We have corporate companies among us, in the production and exhibition sector. We value and respect the change the multiplexes have brought in. They have built multiplexes with a lot of hard work and expertise and we value and respect that. I feel happy that my film is being screened in an environment where the sound is good, quality of screening is good and the food is good. So the traditional formula of 80:20 needs to be redefined. We need to understand and value what the new multiplexes are bringing in and share much more with them than we did traditionally because there is a lot of investment in the exhibition sector.

The change that is required. Every sector, be it the multiplexes or the producers, everyone makes an investment. In the film industry, things are changing with the corporate companies coming in the creative and exhibition sector. Some people will make films while the others will show films. There is a huge investment and effort from the sections: the creative section and the exhibition section. My common sense says that it should be a partnership of equals even though creative people may think that they are crazier and greater than everyone else. As a creative person, I want that equality and I feel that two people need to shake hands: one person makes the film and the other exhibits it. A fifty percent partnership of equality is what I think is fair.

Partnership of equals
In the 50 per cent share, the multiplex has to figure out how to make the business affordable and profitable for them. The distribution and production side has also figure out how they will derive profit from their 50 per cent share. Even if I make a film at a budget of Rs 500 crore or Rs 1,000 crore, I cannot go the multiplex and ask for an 80:20 share. It is my problem to figure out the profit. This is a partnership of equals. As far as affordability is concerned, my investment is my problem as a producer, my investment is my problem as a distributor and my investment is my problem as an exhibitor. I have to make my business viable and reduce costs accordingly. The person who doesn't do that needs to bear the brunt of it.

Many times, I have heard that films haven't lived up to expectations because of poor content. No producer thinks or wants to make an exceptionally bad or flop film. We all persevere to make good, entertaining and successful films. When I was young, I would see my father making films. As I grew up, I wanted to become an actor. My family told me not to enter this line because it is a very volatile business; one day you are on top, the next you are not and one film may do well while the other won't. There is no stability or consistency. My parents asked me to join a steady profession like engineering or accountancy. That was the concern of my parents but I came here because I loved films and filmmaking. All of us here love films.

I think it is very important for the new entrants in this business like the national multiplex chains to understand the volatile nature of this business. No matter how hard you work, you will know the result only on a Friday. Even after a few weeks of its release, you will wonder that why your film didn't work in spite of it being a good film. Mera Naam Joker was a very good film, but it didn't work and there is no reason (why it did not work). The newcomers need to understand that there is no steadiness here and you can't exactly predict the fate of a movie. There is no steady flow of business. This business needs heart, emotion and we need to know that there is no specific or particular reason as to why films work or don't work.


Tough stand on multiplexes
A few days ago, we were calculating how multiplexes have contributed to our business and made films more successful. We realised that the gross and net figures are bigger but the distributors' share is the same before and after the entry of multiplexes. No matter how big or small the film, it has made no difference to the share of the distributor. So where has the business increased? It is not for the production or distributions sector. As an industry, we need to understand what the multiplex issues are that are bordering on illegal like the INR being charged at 1 per cent instead of 2 and the entertainment tax being levied where it isn't supposed to be. We have to deal with these practices very seriously.

My suggestion as a member of the industry is to find a solution. Attempts have been made through negotiations. I would recommend strongly that before we set up a committee for the producers' and distributors' side and from the multiplex's side, we need to set up a committee that does research on the problem and finds a solution. This solution should be presented to the two committees. At this time, we should not be fighting and we should unite to find a solution that is fair and contributes to every sector.

Shahrukh Khan : We want fans to see our films !

Bollywood Actor Shah Rukh Khan shares his views on the multiplex owners versus producers and distributors standoff. Speaking at a press conference, Khan said he agreed with Aamir Khan and why he felt equality is the best solution to the problem.

First of all, I would like to say that none of us, whether Aamir Khan, Karan, Rakeshji (Rakesh Roshan), Ratanji (Ratan Jain), me or Yashji (Yash Chopra) or our seniors is the leader of this forum. We are here to share our collective thoughts for a clear perspective.

On calling for a gathering
We are not here to prevent our fans, supporters and well wishers from seeing films. We don’t want to do that at all. I speak very honestly for everyone here. We love films and making them. Our biggest wish is to die making films. The entire fraternity is here because we love to make films and show it to an audience. We are not here to stop showing the films to the audience. Filmmaking is what we do as we know how to do it. Films are being made as we speak.

The problem is, we know how to make films but we don’t know how to take it to the audience. That is why we have partners. There are distributors, theatres and the media for that. This partnership, bond, pipeline or marriage is now suffering. So we are here to repair the problem.

This is not a strike at all. It is a halt due to repairs that we are working towards and we apologise for this halt. This is not a strike and we need to repair the pipeline.

On why the profit sharing ratio must change
We are not doing for this greed or profits or for an extra one or two per cent. None of us are here for that. Some of us are very senior and legendary filmmakers. We are not here to loot anyone. The basic fight is for equality to create a platform for all sorts of films whether big or small, whether good or bad, whether made by an independent producer or by a studio. This fight is more for small films because somewhere along the line, they get left behind in negotiations. They don’t know anything about profit sharing so they just plead to the multiplexes to release the film. In the long run, the rightful path or our slogan, Fair Rights for Friday Nights, will benefit small films more than the big films.

On his take on the multiplexes
We are not here for a power show; (to show) that powerful people have come together on a platform. We will not use our ‘power’ to shake multiplexes. There is nothing like that at all. This is a marriage where we all are partners. The film federation has directors, producers, technicians, actors, studios, distributors, exhibitors and multiplexes as partners. We work together to show films to an audience. This is a show of coming together and of uniting.

A certain part of our family is not on the right path and we want to bring this issue to the forefront. We want a fair dialogue.

This is not a deadlock. We are not saying, “This is it. Take this or leave this. It is our way or the highway”. Not at all!

We have had discussions in good spirit with the multiplex owners for months, but we have not reached a final solution. That is why we have united to present our opinions and thoughts to them. We want to sit across with the multiplex and talk about getting fair rights for Friday nights for everyone.

I am saying this with a lot of humility. As Aamir rightly said, reasons such as bad films or bad content are cited for films not being played at multiplexes. I don’t think that is an issue multiplexes can discuss. No one tries to make a bad film. No matter how the film, it has the right to be seen by the audience that decides the verdict. By the second show on Friday, we know in very clear terms (whether) the film is good or not. I think all these little issues about creativity should be left to the creative people and the audience. The connecting pipeline should not have much say in it.

I would like to say that this issue is not confined to the studios, producers and distributors. It is going to impact everyone. For some time, we will see fewer films. Sadly, we are coming to a halt to repair the pipeline. The media and the audience need to unite.

On wanting fair rights for Friday nights
We are here to repair the problem. We stand by all films and we want equality for all films. We want Fair Rights for Friday Nights. This is not a deadlock; it is a panel that is available for discussion to the multiplex owners over coffee 24 x 7 throughout the year.

We don’t think the multiplex is the mafia. We aren’t badmouthing the multiplex owners at all. This is a temporary problem in our family and at the end of it, we will all be united. No one is a leader here and we are followers of what the audience wants and what they dictate.

We are living because the audience tells us what they want. Unfortunately, we are not listening or succumbing to the demands of the multiplexes. We are employees of the audience. We need to understand that this is a partnership and the issue needs to be sorted out quickly so we go back to making good or bad films that get released for audiences to see and judge.

One thing that Salman Khan can’t live without!

One thing that never separates from our Bollywood Macho Man Salman Khan is his blue sapphire bracelet. It is believed that it is sort of a lucky charm for Salman Khan and he never takes it off his hand in real or on reel.

He has always sported the bracelet in all his movies. Salman Khan has been going through a dull phase when it comes to his filmi career. His previous releases, God Tussi Great Ho , Hello , Heroes and Yuvvraaj , despite coming from good banners, bombed at the box office.

But it seems Salman wants to take no chances henceforth. The actor has become choosier about the films he signs and has also asked his father, Salim, to help him choose the right scripts.

And with that in place, Salman is also making sure that luck works in his favour this time. Salman is flaunting his bracelet in the first look of Boney Kapoor’s ‘Wanted Dead Or Alive’. The Khan strongly believes in the luck factor that his bracelet brings with it and thus has decided to flaunt it on even the cover of his forthcoming film.

Hrithik Roshan And Susanne very much together!

Hrithik Roshan wed longtime sweetheart Sussanne Khan on December 20, 2000. Over the years, Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne were the quintessential happily married couple who always were seen together and never shied away from PDA. Even after Hrithik became one of the hottest stars and worked with some of the most beautiful actresses, his marriage with Sussanne was rock solid. But lately, there have been rumours that all is not well between the two. Many blame it on Hrithik's proximity with Latino actress Barbara Mori, his co-star in his home production , Kites. After yesterday's story in a section of the media saying that Hrithik and Sussanne have split, the usually reticent Sussanne decided to speak up for herself and her family to squash the rumours

Have you and Hrithik Roshan split

Rubbish. Everything is fine. But yes, Hrithik and I are very upset with the story of our so-called split. Nobody can break my marriage with Hrithik. We are together. Our relationship is very strong.

You and your children are staying at your parents' (Sanjay and Zarine Khan) house

That's right. But I am not alone. Hrithik is with me. He came from Cape Town last night and stayed with me. I fail to understand why so much crap is being circulated about us. Somebody is trying to put Hrithik down.

How have your parents taken this

They are not going to be affected by cheap stunts. I think some enemy is trying to break my relationship with Hrithik. They want to scar the family that's never been scarred (pauses). But this happens doesn't it Every actor faces this problem. Such rumours are part of the industry.

Why are you staying at your parents' house since the past few days

We have a termite problem on our floor (10th Floor in Palazzio). We had been planning to do some renovation since a long time. Initially, we had planned to shift to the JW Marriott until the work was over. But after 26/11, we temporarily put on hold the idea of shifting. Now that the renovation has started, I am staying at my parents' house.

But rumours about Hrithik and Barbara's affair have been only getting stronger.

So Barbara has come home so often. Hrithik, she and I have gone out together . We are friends.

It is said that Hrithik and Barbara went to Amby Valley together

Rubbish.

Did you question Hrithik about it

There is nothing to ask Hrithik about. I know for a fact that there is no truth in this.

How is Hrithik as a husband

He is an amazing human being. He and I share a very beautiful and strong relationship.

Are you in touch with Barbara Mori after she left India

Of course, we are in touch with Barbara. She is a part of our forthcoming film (Kites) and she is also a family friend.

Has Barbara called you or Hrithik after the news about your so-called split

No, but we are going to call her. I guess we'll have a good laugh over it.

How is your interior designing work progressing

That too is going fine. I am going to do up Shilpa Shettys (Ruia Park) house. And I have one more project at hand - my two lovely kids, Hrehaan and Hridhaan.