| Top 10 Bollywood Actress Posted: 15 Nov 2010 05:38 AM PST |
| Pamela Anderson entering 'Bigg Boss 4' on Wednesday Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:25 AM PST  Former "Baywatch" star Pamela Anderson, who will enter Colors TV channel's reality show "Bigg Boss 4" Wednesday for a three-day visit as a guest, says she is "excited" about the show as well as her first visit to India. The 43-year-old, known for her curvaceous body, will reach Lonavala, where the show is being shot, Tuesday. "Namaste India! I am very excited to come to India and meet the 'Bigg Boss' housemates. Actually it's my first visit so I hope I will be able to get some impressions of the country during my stay," Anderson said in a press statement. The Hollywood celebrity, who has done TV series like "Home Improvement" and "V.I.P" and used her international fame for social causes, is the first American citizen to be invited to "Bigg Boss", the Indian version of international show "Big Brother". The ongoing season of the show, being hosted by Bollywood star Salman Khan, has already been full of surprises with the choice of contestants, the catfights, romances and a wedding. "With Salman as the host and eclectic mix of housemates, we have kept millions of Indian viewers glued-on to their TV sets for the last couple of weeks. With Pamela Anderson coming as a celebrity guest, the glamour quotient of the show will go up several notches," said Ashvini Yardi, head of programming, Colors. "Bigg Boss 4" currently has Indian celebrities like actors Ashmit Patel, Manoj Tiwari, Shweta Tiwari, Sara Khan, Sameer Soni, Dolly Bindra, model Hrishant Goswami, WWE wrestler The Great Khali and former dacoit Seema Parihar. 
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| Kristen Bell dosen't gives importance to marriage Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:11 AM PST  Actress Kristen Bell has revealed that getting married is no longer important for her. The "You Again" actress, who has been engaged to actor Dax Shepard for almost a year, claims that marriage is increasingly becoming less important to her as she grows older. "I come from a very traditional household. For a while, I thought a marriage certificate was important, but the older I get, the more I see how little it means," contactmusic.com quoted Bell as saying. Although Bell admits that he is in no hurry to marry Dax, she loves having someone to share her life with. She said: "I think one of the most important things you can do in your life is pair up with someone else. I think living alongside someone and sharing everything with them is just beautiful." 
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| Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan On-screen chemistry in 'Guzaarish' is due to scripts Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:07 AM PST  On-screen chemistry is something that exists between a film's characters and not between the actors essaying the roles, says Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai about her success with co-actor Hrithik Roshan. "Actually the chemistry is between characters that have been written (in script) and not between actors. When the audience experiences a moment that is magical between the characters you guys call it a sizzling chemistry between actors," she said, when asked about her on-screen chemistry Hrithik ahead of the release of their "Guzaarish" Nov 19. "It is an interesting coincidence that this is my third film with Hrithik Roshan. It was wonderful working with him. Earlier, we both have acted in two films 'Dhoom 2' and 'Jodhaa Akbar'," she said. "During 'Jodhaa Akbar' we both had said that we had done two movies which were diametrically opposite in terms of genre and perspective...both the films were hugely appreciated," she told reporters while addressing a promotional event of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Guzaarish" here. "Dhoom 2" was set up in the backdrop of the 21st century. Hrithik played the role of a thief who steals valuable rare items using various hi-tech gadgets. He fell in love with Aishwarya, who was actually a spy working for the police. The film also had Aishwarya's real life husband Abhishek Bachchan, who played a cop. On the other hand, "Jodhaa Akbar" was a film which revolved around the romance of Mughal emperor Akbar, played by Hrithik, and his wife, Hindu Rajput princess Jodhaabai, played by Aishwarya. "Then came Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Guzaarish'. We as co-actors were really excited to work in yet again a movie which was so different from the previous two. I think it rarely happens that as co-actors we are working in three movies which are so eminently and distinctively different from each other," Aishwarya said. "Guzaarish" revolves around the character of magician Ethan, played by Hrithik, who becomes quadriplegic when one of his tricks goes wrong. Aishwarya plays the role of a nurse, Sofia, who has been accompanying Ethan for the past 12 years. Ethan's life revolves around Sofia and they share a silent tacit love which is both beautiful and spirited. "We both maintain and it's true that as actors we always say that chemistry is on paper. It is there on paper in the script and in the screenplay. We actors can only infuse life in it. But if that chemistry is absent in the script, we can try all we want but the moment will never be magical," said the actress. "I think when the audience experiences the moment that has actually been written and thought by the director that is all we call a magical moment or sizzling chemistry," she said. 
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| 'The Chronicles of Narnia 3' to release in India before US Posted: 15 Nov 2010 03:28 AM PST  Indian fans might be ecstatic to know that the third in the Narnia series, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader", will release here a week before its US screening. To be the first outing in the series to come out in 3D format, it will hit Indian screens Dec 3 with over 800 prints in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. It is being distributed by Fox Star Studios here. In the US, it will release Dec 10. "We are delighted to offer our Narnia fans this unique opportunity and that too in 3D and multiple Indian languages. It's great entertainment which will appeal to a wide cross-section of demographics across the country. The buzz that is building up for 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader' is very encouraging," Vijay Singh, chief executive officer, Fox Star Studios India, said in a statement. The Narnia franchise features in the top five Hollywood film franchises in India of all time. Directed by Micheal Apted, it is the big-screen adaptation of the third published novel in C.S. Lewis's epic fantasy series. It stars Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Will Poulter, Ben Barnes, Liam Neeson and Simon Pegg. The latest Narnia extravaganza will see Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, who along with their pesky cousin Eustace Scrubb, find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to a Narnian ship headed for the very edges of the world. Joining forces once again with their royal friend Prince Caspian and the warrior mouse Reepicheep, they are whisked away on a mysterious mission to the Lone Islands, and beyond. On the voyage, the trio face magical Dufflepuds, sinister slave traders, roaring dragons and enchanted merfolk. However, only an entirely uncharted journey to Aslan's country - a voyage of destiny and transformation for each of those aboard the Dawn Treader can save Narnia, and all the astonishing creatures in it, from an unfathomable fate. 
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| Abhishek Bachchan's role in 'Dum Maaro Dum' pays homage to Zanjeer cop Posted: 15 Nov 2010 02:56 AM PST  Abhishek Bachchan's role in "Dum Maaro Dum" is a homage to his father Amitabh Bachchan's portrayal of an irate cop cleansing corruption in the 1970s-release "Zanjeer". Says a source: "Abhishek's role in 'Dum Maaro Dum' of a cop on a drug-busting mission in Goa has distinct shades of his dad's career-turning role as a cop settling scores in Zanjeer." "Since both Junior Bachchan and director Rohan Sippy are huge fans of the Big B, Abhishek's role in 'Dum Maaro Dum' will now be a full-on homage to the irate cop's cleansing of corruption in Zanjeer," the source adds. Apparently, the action sequences that were the forte of "Zanjeer" are now being strengthened in "Dum Maaro Dum". Also, with two back-to-back Abhishek Bachchan-starrers Ashutosh Gowariker's "Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey" and Abhinay Deo's "Game" scheduled for this year, Fox Star Studios have pushed "Dum Maaro Dum" to April next year, although the film is nearly complete. The studio, whose maiden attempt at cracking Bollywood in "My Name Is Khan" showed impressive results, decided to squeeze in another quickie "Khichdi" to keep Fox's kitchen in India running until the next biggie had a free-way for a smooth run. Serving up "Khichdi" served up a dual purpose. It provided an easily identifiable comic connectivity with the audience. And television actors had all the time in the world to give to the film as the serial had closed down two years ago. Confirming that "Dum Maaro Dum" had indeed been pushed to next year to accommodate the other two Abhishek starrers, Fox Star Studio's CEO Vijay Singh says: "We are going to complete the film this month. But we'll hold on to it till April 2011." "There's no point in cluttering the market with three Abhishek Bachchan-starrers. However, 'Khichdi' was not a stop-gap film for us. Much thought had gone into producing it," he adds. Singh is proud that Khichdi was the first large-screen adaptation of a television series in India. "We released it with as many as 400 prints across the country. For us it was not a small film at all. And it was certainly not a stop-gap project meant to absorb the delay in the release of Dum Maaro Dum," he says. 
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| Rahul Bhatt calls Sara Khan, Ali Merchant marriage in 'Bigg Boss 4' a complete fake Posted: 15 Nov 2010 02:50 AM PST  The marriage between Sara Khan and her beau Ali Merchant on "Bigg Boss 4" was nothing but "nonsense, completely fake and utterly staged", says Rahul Bhatt who was earlier evicted from the show. He also accuses Colors channel of changing his words to suit its TRP plans. How can two people get married on a reality show, wondered Rahul. "It's all nautanki (drama) staged for TRPs. If two people want to make a tamasha of their relationship, that's their problem. I refused to get pally with the girls just to spice up the show," he said. In a shocking revelation, Rahul accused the channel of changing his words to suit their TRP plans. We heard Rahul say in the confession room of "Bigg Boss" that television actress Shweta Tiwari was hitting on him. Rahul completely denies this allegation against the single mother. "What I had said was, it was another contestant Sakshi Pradhan who was line-maroing (hitting) on me. Not Shweta Tiwari." So how could Rahul be heard mentioning Shweta Tiwari's name? Said Rahul: "Ask the channel that. They played a little bit of mischief. It was Sakshi Pradhan who was coming on strongly. Not Shweta Tiwari. You can see on the show we're absolutely comfortable with one another. They changed my words. They're ready to go to any lengths to spice up the show. Crazy!" Rahul revealed that the female contestants inside the "Bigg Boss" were regularly called inside the confession room for long periods to be briefed on how to conduct themselves vis-Ã -vis the male contestants. "The ladies were called ostensibly for counselling because they got emotionally disturbed. But they were actually in the confession room for 20-25 minutes, getting briefed on which male contestant to get friendly with, etc etc," he said. "I was detached from all the drama. It was all very unreal for me. I was just being myself. I was boring because I was neither romancing nor fighting. Rather I was fighting off romancing," he quipped. Rahul got along with Dolly Bindra in the house. "I found her to be quite forthright. She didn't do nautanki, though I didn't approve of her picking fights with Shweta Tiwari." "Aanchal Kumar was the only girl I hit it off with. She's decent and cultured. I also got along with Khali, great guy who is honest. I can't forget that moment when Khali walked in through the 'Bigg Boss' door. He is my childhood idol. I also liked the Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari," he added. So, how was the "Big Boss" experience? Rahul said: "I can't say I didn't enjoy the 'Bigg Boss' experience. It was a learning experience. People had only heard about Rahul Bhatt. Now they've seen and heard me." "I've developed great patience after the first controversy that happened to me (the David Headley case when Rahul was questioned for befriending the 26/11 plotter). It also made me wary of making friends," he said. The original plan of Rahul playing a suicide bomber in a film has also been aborted. "Unfortunately 'Suicide Bomber' cannot be made now. It required international collaboration. Now the idea is obsolete." The Bhatts have decided that "Suicide Bomber" as Rahul's debut would not quite be the politically correct move for the debutant after the unsavoury controversy regarding his unwitting and unsuspecting friendship with Headley made news some months ago. Candidly Rahul admitted that playing a terrorist or doing a John Abraham act a la "Jism" are not quite the correct thing for him. "I'm very clear about the kind of work I want to do. I'm an action guy. So dad (Mahesh Bhatt) is trying to conceive something with a patriotic touch and lots of action for me. Good scripts are not easy to come by," Rahul said. He is looking at making his debut with the kind of film that Salman Khan does. "Oh yes! I want to be launched in a film that is a hybridized version of what Salman and Sunny Deol do. I think that's my forte." 
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| Aishwarya Rai to play a different role in 'Guzaarish' Posted: 15 Nov 2010 02:22 AM PST  Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai feels that audiences will get to see her in a new light in her upcoming movie 'Guzaarish'. "Audiences will find a new Aishwarya in 'Guzzarish'... It's a different role I have played altogether in this movie. And it's really a special role for me," Aishwarya told reporters while addressing a promotional for the soon-to-be-released film, the latest from the Sanjay Leela Bhansali stable. It would be Aishwarya's third film directed by Bhansali after "Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam" and "Devdas". "My character in this film is a departure from Nandini ('Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam') and Paro (Devdas)," she said. In "Guzaarish", Hrithik Roshan plays a magician who becomes quadriplegic when a trick goes wrong. The film that will see Aishwarya Rai as a nurse is slated for a Nov 19 release. "In this film I am playing the character of a nurse, Sophie and Hrithik plays the character Ethan. It's my third film with Hrithik as well. Ethan is a quadriplegia patient in this film and I am his care giver," said the 36-year-old former Miss World. Aishwarya had earlier paired with Hrithik in "Dhoom 2" and "Jodhaa-Akbar" and both films did quite well at the box office. "You will discover me as a nurse with a very serious personality. This serious personality is because of a past story of mine in the film. You will see how a nurse also lives a life of a quadriplegic in this film. That makes the character special for me. This is all I will say right now," she said. With two flops and a blockbuster hit "Robot" this year, the Bachchan bahu is keeping her fingers crossed for "Guzaarish". Aishwariya's character is an elegant nurse who has been accompanying Ethan like a shadow for the past 12 years. Ethan's life centers on her and they share a silent tacit love which is both beautiful and spirited. The scenario takes an unexpected turn when Ethan decides to take matters in his own hands and files an appeal in the court for mercy killing. This leaves Sophie in an impasse that challenges their relationship and their love. 
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| Baywatch Star Pamela Anderson to enter 'Bigg Boss 4' Posted: 14 Nov 2010 09:05 PM PST  What could set the mercury at the "Bigg Boss 4" house soaring real high? Well, international star Pamela Anderson of course. The former "Baywatch" star, best known for her sex appeal, is expected to land in Mumbai Monday night and will enter the show next week, according to highly placed sources. In case she is on the show, the 43-year-old will be the third international celebrity to be on "Bigg Boss", the Indian version of internationally popular show "Big Brother". Earlier, late American reality TV star Jade Goody and German model Claudia Ciesla were part of second and third seasons of the show respectively. The "Bigg Boss 4" house in Lonavala, Maharashtra, is already quite a pot full of controversies ever since loud-mouthed actress Dolly Bindra entered the show. There are catfights and arguments, oodles of love and romance, jealousy and rivalry... but it will be interesting to see how the housemates take to Pamela's entry. Pakistani actress Veena Malik is already a hot piece on the reality show. The ongoing season of the show, where celebrities are locked inside an isolated house without any communication with outsiders, is being hosted by Bollywood star Salman Khan. Pamela will have to stay with Indian celebrities like actors Ashmit Patel, Manoj Tiwari, Shweta Tiwari, Sara Khan, Sameer Soni, Dolly Bindra, model Hrishant Goswami, WWE wrestler The Great Khali and former dacoit Seema Parihar. 
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| Hollywood Movie: 'Skyline' Review Posted: 14 Nov 2010 08:01 PM PST  Film: "Skyline"; Directors: Colin Strause, Greg Strause; Actors: Eric Balfour, Scottie Thompson, Birttany Daniel, Crystal Reed; Rating: ** Alien abduction movies have been done to death. What do you do if you have to make another? Obviously, you pick the best of every movie on aliens there ever has been and hope it works. Sadly, despite its best intentions, "Skyline" does not. After blue lights descend on the city of Los Angeles attracting people to it and sucking them to its source, the survival of mankind is at stake. Trying their best to survive in this melee are Jarrod (Eric Balfour), his pregnant girlfriend Elaine (Scottie Thompson) and a few of his friends. "Skyline" does seem like a good plot for a sci-fi movie. And it is. Sadly, there are so many elements taken from so many other sci-fi films that it becomes impossible to find "Skyline" in that. Perhaps, you'll realise, there is no "Skyline" left at the end of the day. Among the most notable lifts for the film include "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "Independence Day", "Cloverfield" and "District 9". A decent sci-fi fan will tell you exactly which scene is taken from which film. There's perhaps nothing wrong in being inspired this way. What is wrong is when the end-film made out of such a jamboree does not work. Two things, however, could have saved the film despite its flaws - good writing and actors. Potential for a few good sub-plots are missed. Even the resolution of the conflict in the main plot between the two main protagonists is not handled well. The actors do a shoddy job, thus drawing your attention to what does not work in the film. The ending is shocking, but not in a good way. It is way too bizarre, and an obvious lift from "District 9" for the digestion of even the dumbest fan. Yet, the good thing about the film is its special effects. Yes, we have seen effects as good as this, but none with its paltry budget of approximately $10 million. It had to be the Strause brothers responsible for the effects of such films as "Avatar", "Iron Man 2", "X Men", "Jumper", "Torque" and "300" to do this at such a low budget. This bodes well for independent filmmakers who so far have written special effects out of their budget. One no longer needs to make that compromise -- and that is perhaps a good thing for cinema. 
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| Anupam Kher wants to spread optimism Posted: 14 Nov 2010 07:56 PM PST  Anything is possible - that's what he believes in deeply. And now versatile actor Anupam Kher, a diehard optimist, is to translate his life's philosophy into motivating others through inspiring lectures. Anupam is taking on the avatar of a motivation speaker as part of a worldwide programme, called Power Within, he is launching early next year. "I'm a great optimist and I have lived a life which has had its own ups and downs, and I have never indulged in self-pity or bitterness... the only way to live is to live optimistically and the only way to live is to decide to be happy," Anupam, 55, told IANS in an interview. The actor, who has worked in more than 400 films, has already lectured in many international and national universities and even to corporates. He will officially launch the programme in February or March 2011. IANS caught up with the Padma Shri awardee to ask him more about his latest venture. Excerpts from the interview: Q: Tell us something about this programme Power Within. A: Power Within will be launched officially early next year in February or March. Till then I will continue doing what I'm doing. For the last almost two years I have been lecturing at various places, which come under the bracket of motivational lectures. The idea is to spread my optimism. I'm a great optimist and I have lived a life which has had its own ups and downs and I have never indulged in self-pity or bitterness. So basically the idea is to make people understand that there is no point dwelling upon your shortcomings, failures or setbacks. One should turn them into something positive because the only way to live is to live optimistically and the only way to live is to decide to be happy. Q: What prompted you to become a motivational speaker? A: I believe that if you have not made a difference in anybody's life, life is not worth it. Also my autobiographical play "Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai" was the major thing that prompted me to go deeper into this. I was always positive and optimistic but this play was the culmination of all those things that zeroed down on my philosophy of life that anything is possible. That's when I decided to do something about this programme. Q: What do you think goes in your favour as a motivational speaker? A: What is my plus point in giving these lectures is that I have lived it, I don't have to borrow examples, I don't have to read a book and say that this is written in that book, my theory is based on my book, my life. So since it's on a life lived, it's a culmination of that, it's much more direct. That's why I don't make powerpoint presentations or I don't write notes. I just understand the kind of audience that I get and then talk. I always feel that being yourself can be the most difficult thing in the world and can also be the easiest thing in the world. You need to choose and I choose being myself. Q: Till now where all have you lectured? A: I have done it in Kellogg School of Management, University of Maryland, Illinois Institute of Technology. In India, I have taken lectures in various organizations of corporates like Tata, Chartered Accountants Organization of Bombay, many IITs, IIMS, etc. Q: So what has the audience response been like till now? A: The response is fantastic. Lots of people come up to me and say that it actually made a difference to their lives. I'm a people-oriented person and wherever I have spoken, it has made a difference in people's mindsets or at least they have done a certain kind of retrospection. Also my lectures are based on a certain kind of humour because I make maximum fun of myself; that makes it interesting. Then there is a lot of audience participation. I get a member of the audience on stage and tell him to get rid of his inhibitions and stuff; so it's a very interactive kind of thing. Q: Do you remember any of your weak moments when someone motivated you? A: When I was a struggling actor that was the most difficult part of my life, those three years from 1981 to 1984 till I got "Saaransh" were tough. But I survived on motivational lives. I survived on autobiographies of Charlie Chaplin, "Lust For Life" - autobiography of Vincent Van Gogh, Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography and even Pandit Nehru's. Then I realized that these great people have also gone through so much, so what if I'm also going through tough times, I'll make it one day and then I'll talk about my life. That kept me going. Even my grandfather's stories helped me; I used to remember them. Q: You are an actor, you have acting schools, a talent company, a foundation, your own play and many other things. How do you manage so many things together? How do you balance your life? A: My grandfather used to say that a busy man has time for everything; so I follow that. Q: You said that you have always been an optimist, but have you ever regretted anything that you have done personally or professionally? A: No I don't look at life like that. I have no regrets, I'm very happy to be born in the family I've been born in, comical, strange, all kinds of people. I don't look at regrets. I feel sad and disappointed sometimes but the optimist in me is so strong that it washes everything else. 
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| Abhishek Bachchan starrer 'Dum Maaro Dum' to be released next year on April 22 Posted: 14 Nov 2010 07:49 PM PST  The release date of Abhishek Bachchan-starrer "Dum Maaro Dum" has been shifted to April 22 from Feb 4, as producers Fox Star Studios and Ramesh Sippy wish to cash in on the Easter weekend. "We are in the midst of researching for the film amongst various target groups and are excited with the response that we are getting. It has a great script, it's vibrant and contemporary, and we expect the film to appeal to the multiplex and single screen audiences," Vijay Singh, chief executive officer of Fox Star Studios, said in a press statement. "Since Easter is a big holiday weekend, it will provide a great release window in India and across international markets," the statement added. "Dum Maaro Dum", directed by Rohan Sippy, features Bipasha Basu, Rana Daggubati, Prateik Babbar and Aditya Pancholi, apart from Abhishek, who plays a fearless cop. The thriller is shot in the bylanes, beach shacks and rave parties of Goa. "The film has shaped up very well and the audiences should get ready to enjoy a gripping, moving film with great visual appeal. The colours, feel and sounds of Goa are further complemented by music composed by Pritam and lyrics by Jaideep Sahni," said producer Ramesh Sippy. 
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