| Aamir Khan turns barber Posted: 15 Oct 2010 08:50 AM PDT  After playing a milkman, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan will be seen donning the garb of a barber and a shopkeeper in new TV commercials. Aamir, who is the brand ambassador of TataSky, plays a barber and a shopkeeper in two different television commercials of the DTH service. In both the ads, the customer walks in asking for a particular haircut or a white shirt, while he is forced to take something completely different. The situation shown in the films draws a parallel between the DTH companies and the barber and the shopkeeper and has been communicated through the use of humour and satire. Conceptualised by Ogilvy and Mather, the core theme of the ads revolves around TruChoice Packages being offered by Tata Sky. Television viewers -- whether cable or DTH -- don't have the true choice of selecting only those channels that they wish to watch. In the process, they end up paying for a host of channels they don't watch or like. These packages give the subscriber the option of watching only those channels he/she likes to watch. Earlier, the actor had actually turned into a barber while promoting his film "Ghajini", where Aamir was seen giving his typical Ghajini-style haircut to his fans. 
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| Emraan's image didn't bother: Neha Sharma Posted: 15 Oct 2010 06:53 AM PDT  Newbie Neha Sharma, who was seen as Emraan Hashmi's love interest in the recently released "Crook", said she was not concerned about her co-star's serial kisser image while giving nod for the film. "I was not sceptical before saying yes for this role. The story is most important to an actor, so when I heard the narration, I realised that it's a brilliant film and there is no way that I'm going to miss out on this," Neha told IANS in an interview. "As far as the kissing bit was concerned that was not the agenda in the story as far as my character is concerned. The relationship that Emraan and I portray in the film, didn't need that," she said. Emraan locked lips with actresses like Mallika Sherawat in "Murder", Udita Goswami in "Zeher", Tanushree Dutta in "Aashiq Banaya Aapne" and Kangna Ranaut in "Gangster - A Love Story". Neha thinks that "Emraan's kissing star image is his USP and his fans won't be disappointed even in this film." The actor kisses an Australian girl in the movie. The actress describes Emraan as down-to-earth person in real life. "Emraan is a wonderful actor but when you get to meet him you realise that he is a very down to earth person. He makes you very comfortable. I never felt that this is my first film and he has done so many other films. He is very disciplined. He is always on time, never makes you wait, shows no tantrums so it was basically wonderful working with him," said Neha. "Crook", directed by Mohit Suri, that revolves around the issue of racial bias suffered by Indians in Australia had an average opening when released Oct 8. Talking about her role in the film, Neha said: "I play the role of Suhani, who is a very young, college going girl, born and brought up in Australia yet very Indian in her sensibilities. She is a very strong-headed girl mostly because of the things she has been through in her life. "For a newcomer it's a brilliant role so I consider myself very lucky. I got to play emotions, which are so complicated and diverse in the film. It was really challenging and at the same time very educating as an actor." 
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| Hollywood Movie: The Switch Review Posted: 15 Oct 2010 06:42 AM PDT  Director: Josh Gordon, Will Speck; Actors: Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Thomas Robinson, Jeff Goldblum, Juliette Lewis, Patrick Wilson Often we go through relationships in life, comfortable in the existence of a best friend who supports us. What we don't consider is that the best friend could become the spouse. Wally (Bateman) and Kassie (Aniston) have that relationship. Though Wally likes her and keeps telling her that in different ways, Kassie strictly keeps him in the best friend zone. Problem occurs when Kassie decides to get artificially inseminated and looks around for a sperm donor. Wally asks what's wrong with him but Kassie wants to have the best possible sperm for herself. She finds Roland (Wilson) and throws a party on the day. In a drunken stupor, however, Wally replaces Roland's sperm with his own, not even remembering the incident. After becoming pregnant, Kassie moves away from New York and returns seven years later with her son Sebastian (Robinson). When Wally interacts with Sebastian, he suspects the worst. When his fear that he is the father turns true, he wants to tell Kassie but can't. To complicate things further Kassie begins a relationship with Roland. "The Switch" is a commentary on many aspects of modern life. In our zest for the best, we forget the most compatible one that is next to us. The solution is merely to make a switch in one's mind and consider a different possibility. Jason Bateman plays the distraught Wally well. Jennifer Aniston is plastic, and cannot emote, perhaps due to the botox on her face. The boon of starring in "Friends" has become her "bane" and she has been unable to shake off that stereotyping. It is however Thomas Robinson who plays his part as an over intelligent, hypochondriac kid with believability, cuteness and a quite a few laughter. Here's a kid to watch out for. Observant Indian audiences will notice a first of its kind censor cut, where the reason this time is male nudity and not female. The mainstay of the film is a steady pace throughout, believable characters, settings and dialogues, even though the concept might seem a little far-fetched. Though branded a comedy, it is a little slice of urban American life. Considering the rapidity with which urban Indian life is turning American, Indian audiences are bound to enjoy this. 
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| Hindi Movie 'Ramayana' Film Review Posted: 15 Oct 2010 04:41 AM PDT  Director: Chetan Desai, Voiceovers (Hindi Version): Manoj Bajpayee, Juhi Chawla, Ashutosh Rana, Rating: **1/2 It is a story passed on for millennia. And through the ages, it has either shown people the way or in the hands of fanatics led to distress and destruction. And yet, the story can be interpreted in many ways. Sadly, "Ramayana" isn't that and manages only to affirm cliches. Exiled prince Ram (Manoj Bajpayee) of Ayodhya has taken the help of an army of apes to fight a formidable foe Ravan (Ashutosh Rana) after the abduction of his wife Sita (Juhi Chawla). A major flaw of the film is a lack of guts, and its affirmation of stereotypes - be it of animation, the story of Ramayana or its characters. Thus, the heroes are faultless and the villains have no redeeming qualities. This black and white simplification is also factually incorrect as the character of Ravan in the most popular versions of the epic is not entirely evil, but is a knowledgeable scholar flawed by his vanity. Rather than displaying the prowess of Indian animation, "Ramayana" ends up becoming a show of strength for Ketan Mehta-owned Maya Digital Media. And though it's below global standards, it's still India's best product in its category. The other thumbs up you can give this film is that it is low on Ram and religious rhetoric. In a story whose mythology and religion is based on the stated perfection of one man, this is hard to do. Instead of becoming simply a religious film, it does manage to become a story of a man. What is often jarring though is its dialogue. Though attempts have been made to keep it pure, many Urdu words creep in, denoting sloppiness from its writers. Why the animation is far from reaching global standards, you can tell by watching the first few minutes of the film. Though the detailing is far superior to most other animation films in the country, it fails to give depth and expression to the faces of its characters. And a story filled with such pathos cannot afford to do this. Also, in many ways, "Ramayana" reaffirms Hollywood animation stereotypes. And that lack of thought and vision has been the bane of Indian animation. Unlike the Japanese, who have made their own style of animation that is now the toast of the world, India has so far failed to go anywhere besides some notable baby steps. And this, despite the world's greatest collection of mythology, fables and different, ancient artistic styles to choose from, seems an inexcusable error. Like the ignited tip of a firecracker in a dark night, "Ramayana" manages to sparkle with the possibility of brilliance, both in animation and in the way it tells an old story, but it is a bomb that fails to burst. And that, depending on your outlook, could be either just sad, or a major setback for animation in the country. 
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| Hindi Movie 'Aakrosh' Film Review Posted: 15 Oct 2010 04:37 AM PDT  Film: Aakrosh; Starring: Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna, Paresh Rawal, Bipasha Basu; Directed by: Priyadarshan; Rating: ***1/2 Caste based atrocity is one of the worst, chronic and a few millennia old injustice of the world. Yet its continuing prevalence, especially in India, is one of its best kept open-secrets. India's vibrant cinema has paid scant attention to it. The commercial venture "Aakrosh" comes as a late but welcome populist attempt to correct this gross neglect. After three Delhi medical students disappear from a village in Bihar, two CBI officials Sidhant (Akshaye Khanna) and Pratap (Ajay Devgn) are sent for investigation. They encounter not just an inefficient police, but an openly antagonistic one. Their attempts to uncover the truth lays bare a Pandora's box of corruption, illicit power-play, ruthless casteism and murders and abductions to maintain the status quo. When all official means fail to bring the guilty to book, the two committed men are left with no course but to resort to every alternate means possible to deliver justice in a failed state. "Aakrosh" is loud and sometimes crass in typical Bollywood fashion and, as they say, its fiction. What it is not - is a lie. In its own way, it lays bare the power structures that obstruct justice and thus the true growth of India, all because of the corrupt collusion of the police, bureaucracy and politics that uphold age old casteism. The film thus uses a lie to tell the ugly truth of our society. "Aakrosh" is also rife with analogies. The Batman and Robin team of Sidhant and Pratap is a team of an upper-class Brahmin and a lower-caste Dalit fighting for the same cause but in their own ways. When the straightforward methods of the no-nonsense Brahmin fails, they have to resort to the street-smart ways of the Dalit to bring the guilty to book. This is perhaps a message to the subjugated masses of the country that justice has to be delivered at any cost, and it is the oppressed that have to use any means available to do so. There are factual inconsistencies, like the brazen manner in which the local police insubordinates a CBI inquiry. Akshaye Khanna is unconvincing while Ajay Devgn is believable as the quiet but angry ex-army major who has suffered the consequences of being a Dalit. Paresh Rawal, the master-key like actor who slides into any role, plays a slimy but smiling police officer with aplomb and epitomizes the rarely acknowledged truth, that in rural areas the police is not part of the solution, but is often the main problem. Robin Bhatt and Akash Khurana's writing is crisp and direct. They spare the audience needless preaching, thus giving the message that it is time for some action and justice instead. Sometimes you have to like a film just because its heart is in the right place, and because it dares to say something few have said before. "Aakrosh" is one such convincing film whose demerits are swept under the carpet of its boldness. Of course, even a commercial venture like this cannot correct a few thousand years of injustice. But at least it can hold a mirror to the disgust in our society. Thankfully, if not gracefully enough, Aakrosh holds a correct and sturdy mirror. 
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| Actor Ravi Kishan admires Baring all for 'Man from Banaras' was challenging Posted: 15 Oct 2010 04:27 AM PDT  Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan, who has reportedly bared all for his upcoming project "Man from Banaras" says he had his inhibitions to portray the role of "aghori baba", but the requirement of the script gave him the boost. "I play an aghori (wanderer) in 'Man from Banaras' and as per the requirement of the script and my role, I put myself in challenging circumstances. I was nervous but I was sure I could do it," Ravi told IANS in an interview. The film, directed by Sudhir Kadam, is bilingual and produced in English and Hindi. The 39-year-old actor, who has earned a name in Bollywood industry with films like "Raavan" and "Well Done Abba" says he is getting his due in the industry slowly and steadily. "Looking back on my career graph I feel proud. Slowly and steadily I am getting my due in the industry and roles with which I can experiment my talent. My worth as an actor is getting recognised now, which makes me feel content with my growth," he said. Ravi who is set to enthrall his audience with Imagine TV's "Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka-2" says this season is high on content and excitement. "The second season of 'Raaz Pichhle Janam Ka' is going to be even more interesting for the audience. This time the show has a lot of content and brings out the genuine phobias of an individual. "However, the format of the show remains the same, there are no changes, the doctor, the hypnotherapy -- everything is similar to the first season." The reality show which featured common man in the last season is said to bring only celebrities this time. "The only difference and surprise that the viewers are sought to experience is that this season will not feature any common man instead it will be high on Bollywood quotient." Ravi reveals the episode featuring actress Mahima Chaudhary and Chunky Pandey shook him completely. "The episode which shook me the most has been Mahima Chaudhary and Chunky Pandey's. Their phobias and emotions will touch and connect with a lot of viewers. The actor who produces Bhojpuri films under his banner Mahadev Production says he wants to produce for Bollywood too. "I have thought about this and I think now I will take up Bollywood projects because I want to produce them now," he said. Ravi's future projects include big names like "Agent Vinod" starring Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, a film with Shyam Benegal and Sudhir Kadam's "Man from Banaras". 
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| Yash Chopra gets National Kishore Kumar award Posted: 15 Oct 2010 04:20 AM PDT  Veteran Bollywood filmmaker Yash Chopra has been honoured with the National Kishore Kumar award by the Madhya Pradesh government for the year 2009-10. State Cultural Minister Laxmikant Sharma conferred the award at a ceremony held at late actor-singer Kishore Kumar's birthplace Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh Oct 13 (Wednesday) which also happened to be his 23rd death anniversary. The award carries a traditional shawl and a cash prize. Chopra, who has films like "Waqt", "Deewar", "Kabhi Kabhie", "Silsila", "Dil To Pagal Hai" and "Veer-Zaara" to his credit, was overwhelmed at receiving this award and thanked the Madhya Pradesh government, said a press statement issued here. "By agreeing to accept this award, Yash Chopra has added to the reputation of Madhya Pradesh as a state. He is one such great director whose films have been socially relevant since more than 50 years," said Sharma. The Kishore Kumar award, given in fields of direction, acting, script writing and lyrics every year, was instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government in 1997. Noted Bollywood personalities like Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, Shyam Benegal and Amitabh Bachchan had received it before. 
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| Heidi Klum shoots for Ann Taylor's Christmas range Posted: 15 Oct 2010 04:08 AM PDT  Supermodel Heidi Klum has reportedly shot a campaign for Ann Taylor's Christmas range. The German supermodel will show the brand's party dresses, gifts and day-to-evening separates in the advertising for the festive season. "I love dressing up! If you're going to a party, why not make the most of it?" contactmusic.com quoted her as saying. "This new collection is all about luxurious fabric, really great styles and fun accessories. More is more, so have some fun with it," she said. The 37-year-old recently unveiled her first fashion collection in collaboration with New Balance in New York. 
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| Hollywood Actress Jessica Biel in awe of Meryl Streep Posted: 15 Oct 2010 02:57 AM PDT  Hollywood actress Jessica Biel is in awe of the Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep and hopes she can emulate a career like her. "Meryl Streep can do 'Mamma Mia, 'Doubt' and then 'Julie and Julia' and nobody questions it. I would hope that for my future, that I can be challenged by different genres and characters, but at the same time I'll never look back and think, 'Oh I've made it now, you can relax', because I don't think successful women ever feel that way," contactmusic.com quoted her as saying. The "Elizabethtown" star admits there are other actresses she admires for their versatility including 61-year-old Streep. "There are lots of people I look up to, like Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet as well as Meryl. Those are the women that can do anything," she said. 
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| Russell Brand says Wedding will be normal Posted: 15 Oct 2010 02:49 AM PDT  British comedian Russell Brand insists that his wedding to fiancee singer Katy Perry will be a normal affair. "We just love each other and we want to get married in front of our friends and family and keep it very normal," usmagazine.com quoted Brand as saying. "It ain't about selling the pictures, it ain't about doing no pre-nup, it's just a normal thing," he added. Insiders have revealed that their marriage will be culminating in a traditional Indian ceremony in Rambagh Palace in Rajasthan Oct 23. It is the same place where he proposed the "Teenage Dreams" singer. Guests (including Rihanna) will be flown out via private jet and will sleep in "pimped out" tents. They are planning seven-day wedding celebrations. However, Brand is mum on any details, "I'm trying to preserve it, to keep it a beautiful thing. I think people get the wrong idea on how we want the wedding to play out. Love between two people is the most spectacular yet ordinary thing in the world." 
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| Kate Moss, Jamie Hince married? Posted: 15 Oct 2010 02:44 AM PDT  British supermodel Kate Moss reportedly tied the knot with rocker boyfriend Jamie Hince in August. According to a source, the 36-year-old catwalk queen exchanged vows at a small church on the Mediterranean island of Sicily Aug 7, reports contactmusic.com. "It was quiet but still very romantic. Kate has had a fairly turbulent love life but she's a romantic at heart. The plans were not revealed as Kate wanted the day to be low-key and purely a celebration of their love," said the source. "She's never been one for convention or tradition but Jamie's been there for her through thick and thin, and she simply felt the time was right," a source said. "They planned the day for weeks and were so excited. Kate didn't want a stuffy, formal do, but something spiritual. Minutes after tying the knot, the giggling newlyweds were outside the church, dancing under trees. Afterwards, locals from the village were milling about, joining in the festivities. It was an incredibly happy day," the source added. The couple has been dating since 2007 and Hince was rumoured to have proposed to Moss on her birthday in January. They fuelled speculation that they were engaged when Moss was spotted wearing a diamond on her ring finger. 
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| Christina Aguilera to divorce jordan bratman Posted: 15 Oct 2010 02:36 AM PDT  Singer Christina Aguilera has filed papers to end her five-year marriage with music executive husband Jordan Bratman. In the divorce papers filed at Los Angeles Superior Court, Aguilera has cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split. She has also asked for joint physical and legal custody of their son, Max, reports people.com. Aguilera, 29, and Bratman, 33, married in California's Napa Valley in Nov 2005 after getting engaged in February the same year. After announcing her separation, Aguilera said: "Although Jordan and I are separated, our commitment to our son Max remains as strong as ever." 
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