[ItzToday.com] Vipul Shah: Plays are platform to test run scripts

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• Vipul Shah: Plays are platform to test run scripts
• Justin Bieber calls himself uncool
• Singer Taylor Swift to launch own fragrances
• Amrita Rao walks the ramp in Red Bridal
• Dev Patel punched Freida Pinto while shooting for 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Vipul Shah: Plays are platform to test run scripts Posted: 03 Nov 2010 03:23 AM PDT Vipul Shah loves bringing plays to the silver screen and he is doing the same with his new film "Action Replayy". The hit Bollywood filmmaker feels it is a successful proposition as theatrical productions are a testing ground for scripts. "I have been adapting my plays for the screen. My first play that was adapted into a movie was 'Aankhen'. Then I adapted Aatish Kapadia's play as 'Waqt'," Shah told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai. "The 'Action Replayy' script was with me for a long time. I was not finding the right budget to do it. I finally had the technology and budget to make a film of this kind; so I decided to do it," he added. Has taking plays to celluloid become a fascination? "No. I just pick up these scripts because these are what I believe in. I believe that if these are presented first on stage, they can achieve greater success and greater heights as movies. It is not a new trend. It has been so the world over. Films have been adapted either from books or from plays. "And plays already make a good platform for the test run of a script. You already know the parts that have been loved by the audience and appreciated. So it's very easy to adapt these into a film," he said. Theatre is his first love, but movies have kept him busy for years. Recently he returned to the stage after a gap of 14 years with "Bas Itna Sa Khwab", his fifth theatrical work. Starring his actress wife Shefali in the lead, it is a Hindi version of the famous Marathi play "Dhyanimani". "Action Replayy", on the other hand, has been based on his 1994 Gujarati play by the same name. Penned by Kapadia and with Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai in the lead, it is a time-travel comedy capturing Mumbai in the 1970s. Produced and directed by Shah, it also stars Neha Dhupia, Randhir Kapoor and Rajpal Yadav in pivotal roles. It is releasing Friday. So are there any sci-fi elements in the movie to support the time travel? "No. It is fantasy, not science fiction. That's the biggest difference. Indian audiences are not very keen to see science fiction. Fantasies work. If I have to give a reference point to 'Action Replayy', it would be 'Mr. India', which was not a sci-fi but a fantasy," said Shah. " 'Action Replayy' is a fantasy in the world of romantic comedy and a romantic comedy in the world of fantasy. It is about what happens if you get an opportunity to relive your life. The film starts in 2010 and goes back in the 1970s," he added. Romantic comedies are Shah's forte - he gave hits like "Namastey London" and "Singh Is Kinng" with his favourite actor Akshay. "Camaraderie with Akshay has grown with time and it has become bigger and better. I hope to continue my relationship with Akshay and make some really fantastic cinema with him." With "Action Replayy", the filmmaker presents Akshay and Aishwarya for the first time as a romantic couple. "In 'Khakee' (2004), they were not a romantic pair, but in this film they will be romancing each other. They bring a lot of freshness and terrific chemistry on screen," said Shah. He is tense about his movie's fate at the box office. "Apprehensions will be there till the audience gives its verdict. We will be tense, nervous with sleepless nights while waiting for the release. But our expectations are high. We have really worked hard and tried to make a product to entertain the people. There is a festival bonanza on Diwali and that is the expectation that we are hoping to fulfil," he said. Shah's future projects are "Kuch Love Jaisa"; a remake of Tamil hit "Kaakha Kaakha" with John Abraham; an outing with Abhishek Bachchan; another with A.R. Murugadoss and "Singh Is Kinng 2" with Akshay.

Justin Bieber calls himself uncool Posted: 03 Nov 2010 03:17 AM PDT Singer Justin Bieber doesn't understand why he is so popular with fans because he thinks he is uncool. "I'm not even that cool, like seriously. What is so cool like that you freak out. These girls crying, it's like I can't believe that, I'm so honoured that you're crying but, I don't know, it's crazy to me," femalefirst.co.uk quoted him as saying. The 16-year-old singer, who recently released his autobiography "First Step 2 Forever", hopes to be an inspiration to people. "I wanted something with my own words. to describe what I'm going through and describe how I got here. I want people to look up to me, I want people to say, 'You know, I look up to you." The singer said his fans will be surprised by how "funny" his book is. "The humour in it, it's just funny, it's fun. There are so many surprises in here that you're just going to be like, 'What?' and a lot of things people don't know about me."

Singer Taylor Swift to launch own fragrances Posted: 03 Nov 2010 03:05 AM PDT Singer Taylor Swift is set to launch her own range of perfumes. The "Love Story" singer has signed a deal with Elizabeth Arden to release a range of fragrances, with the first one coming out late next year. "I have always loved how fragrance can shape a memory. The way certain scents remind you of events and people that are imprinted in your thoughts. Lately I've been having fun experimenting with combining some of my favourite scents, so I'm really excited about working with Elizabeth Arden to develop my own unique fragrance," Swift was quoted by contactmusic.com as saying. Swift will be involved in developing, packaging and marketing the perfumes which will bear her name. Ron Rolleston, executive vice president of Elizabeth Arden, said the 20-year-old beauty was chosen because she appeals to so many people. "Equally important to us is what Taylor represents as an artist - a role model who inspires her global fan base every day. We look forward to launching a new fragrance brand that reflects every facet of this extremely talented young artist," he said.

Amrita Rao walks the ramp in Red Bridal Posted: 03 Nov 2010 02:58 AM PDT Bollywood actress Amrita Rao walked the ramp in a red bridal outfit as the showstopper for designer Archana Kochhar's show at the Aamby Valley India Bridal Week (AVIBW), which was dedicated to NGO Nanhi Kali that works for the girl child. "Today the collection was dedicated to Nanhi Kali. It is a charity that looks into the issues of a girl child. So when we are doing a show for brides, I thought that they all emerged from 'nanhi kalis' and its very important to create awareness about them so we did this show in association with this NGO," Archana told IANS. The collection, which was an amalgamation of three lines, saw Amrita walking down the ramp wearing a heavy, red lehenga coupled with a long red sheer coat. Asked why she roped in Amrita, the designer said: "It was a pleasure having Amrita as the showstopper. She is a very dear friend and I love having her as my showstopper. I love the way she carries her clothes and also the aura." The actress too was excited to walk the ramp dressed as a bride. "Being an actress I'm not professionally qualified to walk on the ramp but I have always enjoyed this experience. Though you are nervous as a turkey backstage, I think it's the sheer idea of entering into another territory that excites me," said Amrita. The actress added that she was happy that the show was in association with an NGO for the girl child. "When we do something for entertainment but is also done for a good cause, then one feels very good. I'm really happy to be part of this," she added. The collection was called 'gulal', 'genda' and 'gehna', which are all part of a wedding in India. The first segment of the show displayed garments in the colours of 'gulal' - red and pink. The second segment was inspired by 'genda' (marigold) and hence yellow and orange as colours were used. Then the final section was 'gehna' (ornaments) so the whole line was gold in colour and was embellished by red and green resembling rubies and emeralds.

Dev Patel punched Freida Pinto while shooting for 'Slumdog Millionaire' Posted: 03 Nov 2010 02:50 AM PDT Freida Pinto remembers how co-star and boyfriend Dev Patel once accidentally punched her in the face while promoting "Slumdog Millionaire". The 26-year-old actress took a blow from Dev while they were promoting "Slumdog Millionaire", the Oscar-winning movie that brought them together in the year 2008. She, however, seemed to enjoy it. "Small things bring so much joy to us, like when we were first doing interviews, there was one time when Dev punched me in my face by mistake," femalefirst.co.uk reported Freida as saying. This accidental punch was one of the many intriguing events that took place on the sets of the movie and the actress believes only she and Patel can understand them. "The only two people who can understand what happened on 'Slumdog...' are the two of us. Even our families, who appreciate and support us, are still on the outside and that is why we hold it so very dear to our hearts," she said.

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