First Look: Hrithik getting in shape for Krrish 2

Hrithik Roshan is multitasking -- he is not only promoting his forthcoming release "Agneepath", but also working on his fitness for his role in his father's production venture "Krrish 2".

"I just need to get into top shape because from Jan 29 we have 80 days of action one after another. So I better be in the best shape. So all of you pray for me, pray for my health," said the actor, who turned 38 Tuesday.

"Krrish 2" is the sequel to 2006 superhero film "Krrish", directed and written by Hrithik's father, Rakesh Roshan. The cast and crew of the film have already wrapped up the first schedule.

"I am very happy because the script is very, very good and papa is very happy for the first schedule because it has gone very well. It was difficult but we managed," said Hrithik whose journey with supernatural thrillers began with "Koi... Mil Gaya" in 2003.

Meanwhile, Hrithik's fans are eagerly awaiting "Agneepath", which releases Jan 26. He plays Vijay Dinanath Chauhan, a role essayed by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan in the 1990 originalthat won him national award for his power-packed performance.

"Krrish 2" is expected to hit theatres by the end of 2012. It also features Priyanka Chopra, Vivek Oberoi, Kangana Ranaut and Riya Sen.

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Shahrukh ignored by his best friends

Hrithik and Arjun, SRK's close friends, ignored him at Dabboo Ratnani's calendar launch

We wonder why SRK got the cold shoulder

Ace photographer and stars’ favorite Dabboo Ratnani had a gala, merry party for the launch of his new calendar. But one man who returned home from the party bitter and glum was none other than SRK.
According to an eyewitness the party was easily one of the hottest events of the year because stars kept pouring in throughout the evening. SRK surprised everyone by arriving early at 10.05 PM because he usually shows up after midnight at most events. But this event was not half as shocking as what happened next.

Apparently, Arjun Rampal, who co-starred with him in last year’s debacle ‘Ra.One,’ abruptly stopped talking to his circle of friends and walked out of the door. Hrithik Roshan who always makes it a point to put in a word of praise for his close friend and predecessor surprisingly followed behind Arjun and left the scene.
The eyewitness expressed that what really got the attendees’ attention was that the actors didn’t even greet SRK and were in a hurry to leave the venue.

We also learnt that at Dabboo Ratnani’s party SRK wasn’t all alone. He was seen, letting go off his ego and chatting with Junior B with whom he previously had a strained relationship. The actor even took a step further by inviting Abhishek to the sets of his upcoming Yashraj film with actress Katrina Kaif.

This news follows close on the heels of another shocking episode in Dubai. When Arjun, Hrithik and SRK vacationed with their families in Dubai to usher in the New Year they didn’t even bother to meet each other which is very unusual for stars.
Now we really do sympathise with SRK but we are also curious to know what may have caused his good friends to give him the cold treatment on such a happy occasion.

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I Will Never Strip For Hollywood

Has Veena Malik turned a new leaf in the new year?

Veena Malik

Controversy is her middle name. And she knows how to milk it to maximum effect. In the last two years, ever since she burst into Bollywood’s consciousness through the reality show ‘Bigg Boss’, Veena Malik has done enough to ensure she has stayed in the limelight. Indeed it wouldn’t be wrong to say that if headlines don’t chase Veena, Veena chases them with a vengeance!

The year 2011 was quite eventful for the Pakistani actress, to say the least. The FHM controversy (where she alleged the men’s magazine had doctored her cover image to make her appear nude), her sudden ‘disappearance and reappearance’ from the sets of her film to being finalised for another reality show ‘Swayamvar’, everything Veena did, made news. Critics might sneer but Veena is on a roll and why not? It’s her time to make hay while the controversy sun shines! We met her during her recent visit to Dubai.

What what brings you to Dubai?
It’s a mix of both, work and pleasure; I was performing for New Year’s Eve show. Moreover, I love Dubai, there is so much shopping to do. Some of my family members are here too.

You made a lot of news in 2011…
2011 was crazy! There were so many things happening, the most exciting of which was hosting the World Cup. A lot of projects came my way and 2012 looks even more promising. Apart from three or four films, I also have ‘Swayamvar’ to look forward to.

Your bold image hasn’t gone down well in your home country, Pakistan, has it?
My fans have been very supportive. There is a small section that criticizes me just for the heck of it but I have a large support base among the youth. The true Veena Malik fan will always be with me!

What or who is a true Veena Malik fan?
You will a true Veena fan among the youth and the liberal sections of society. They love me. Meet them and you realise how loyal they are! In India, I became famous after ‘Bigg Boss’ but I was already known for my Pakistani films, modeling and TV shows. But I was surprised by the support I got from Indians. Do you know I was nominated eight times for elimination on ‘Bigg Boss’ and each time my fans voted for me to stay?


You will appear on ‘Swayamvar’, a show about finding your groom. Are you actually planning to get married?
Yes, I think it’s very exciting. It took me six months to agree to the show. I was engaged twice before and each time I had wanted to settle down with the person. So I am very serious about getting married. Of course, it depends on the man too.

Won’t your image go against you?
I am bold and honest but that doesn’t mean I am bad! I have my own set of principles and rules. I have no control over my image. Recently, I read an article which said that I claimed I’ll strip for Hollywood. I never said that! I will never strip for Hollywood. Of course, I have been offered such films and shoots, but I have always refused. No matter where I work, I have my set of dos and don’ts.

So what is your limit?
I have worn bikinis in the past and that’s what I am comfortable with. I am not comfortable with intimate scenes. Of course, it depends on the script and character. If there is anything that justifies the character, you can extend your limits.

What is the staus of your case against FHM?
I have filed a case against them, but you know how long these cases take to reach a conclusion. I should have investigated the magazine properly before the shoot. All I can say is that the picture that I shot with them had me fully covered. They morphed it and made it appear as if I was topless. 


Do you think you have finally arrived?
Well, even before Bigg Boss I was offered films. I now have three offbeat women centric films on hand. Moreover, there are two item song as well. I chose them from among the many I was bombarded with! I am sure the ‘Channo’ number will rock the charts! So yes, there are lots of things happening.

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Taking centre stage

Founder of Showtech, Shaji George, shares his success story

The Founder-Director of the light and sound company, Showtech, Shaji George has added true pizazz and shine to the best events in the region. He recently made the Masala! Awards a spectacular success by converting fantastical concepts into magical reality. From concerts, award ceremonies, product launches, weddings and corporate parties to indoor-outdoor events and more, Shaji and Showtech have, since the company’s incpetion in 1998, made a mark in the region. We get talking with the man himself...

Please tell us about yourself. How did you come to Dubai?
My journey started as a single person looking for opportunities in Dubai. I was always confident about my talents and kept on looking for the right opportunity to come my way.

How did you start Showtech?
During my college days, along with dancing and choreographing shows, I used to organise events. Having gone through all the aspects of organising an event I felt that the technical production was the most difficult and crucial part of the success of a programme which is why I chose to get into it.

What challenges did you face when you initially entered the business?
In the very beginning every day was a challenge. With no capital in hand, being a first-generation entrepreneur was a task. I still remember a time when I used to personally install and operate equipments at events and run my business from my small office in Bur Dubai. From introducing and marketing myself to various clients and event management companies, providing technical advice and drawings, executing the drawings and making the event a huge success, I did everything. Showtech, gradually, gained recognition and grew.

Can you take us through the process of planning an event?
Conceptualising an event is different from producing it. We are a production house and every event has its own challenges. The most challenging part is trouble-shooting – presence of mind and experience assist us during such situations.

What are the most memorable events you have done in the past 13 years?
Whether a 20-person house party or a live concert of 25,000 people, Showtech places equal importance on all the events we do. I can’t single out any one show.

What is the biggest compliment you have received for your work?
Most of our clients are event management companies. The success of each event is a compliment in itself. We are truly honoured, however, when the end user compliments our client (the event management company in question) for a job well done.

What qualities are needed to succeed in your line of work?
Honesty, hard work and perseverance are some of the most important qualities. Additionally, our professionalism gives us the winning edge.

Every person who is a part of Showtech, whether a technician or the head of a department, takes true ownership of his or her responsibilities. There are very few organisations where people stay connected for more than a decade. I feel proud that there are people who have stayed with us for that long. Every member of Showtech is my extended family.

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Bollywood’s 2012 bonanza

Get a dose of the biggest movies to rock 2012

Hrithik Roshan in 'Agneepath'

If you ever wonder why Bollywood churns out one of the highest number of movies in the world then get a load of this. Last year around 120 movies hit the theatres and filled the coffers for B’wood with nearly Rs 2,600 crore. Trade experts called 2011 a ‘landmark year’ for B’wood. But for now, for reasons of our own, we can leave the math aside and look forward to 2012’s top movies only because we love our celebs so much.

‘Agneepath’
Why? The movie is a remake of the 1990’s blockbuster ‘Agneepath’ which possibly gave B’wood’s Shahenshah, Amitabh Bachchan a second lease of life when he was inching towards his 50s.
Irresistible facts: The film, a revenge drama is produced by Karan Johar. It stars B’wood’s biggest hulks Hrithik Roshan and Sanjay Dutt and super-hot Priyanka Chopra. Before you think the star cast is too much for you to handle we’re going to throw another irresistible fact your way. The movie features a sizzling number by scorcher Katrina called ‘Chikni Chameli,’ which fans already think is better than ‘Sheila Ki Jawani.’
Release Date: 26 January

‘Ek Tha Tiger’
Why? It is a produce of Yashraj Films.
Irresistible facts: This could well be Salman’s hat-trick hit after ‘Ready’ and ‘Bodyguard’ both of which were the highest grossing films of 2011. Not only does Sallu tempt us with his killer physique and good looks he also brings a unique flavor to the movie by recreating the magic of his tempestuous romance with Katrina. The movie is a romantic thriller and also stars UK’s red-haired beauty Lisa Byrne.
Release Date: Possibly Eid, as it always turns out lucky for Salman.


‘Talaash’
Why? It is a psychological thriller.
Irresistible facts: The movie stars Mr. Perfect Aamir Khan as a cop and his leading ladies Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukherji. The movie has been directed by Reema Kagti (‘Honeymoon travels’) and written by Zoya Akhtar. Knowing Zoya we can definitely expect witty dialogues and a strong narrative.
Release Date: 1 June

‘Heroine’ 
Why? It made enough news with Ash backing out from the highly ambitious project at the last minute due to her pregnancy.
Irresistible facts: Madhur Bhandarkar makes hard-hitting movies and with ‘heroine’ we can expect him to show us both rock-bottom and mountain-high of becoming a successful heroine in Bollywood. Be it the 2001 cult classic ‘Chandni Bar,’ ‘Corporate,’ ‘Page 3’ or 2008’s hit movie ‘Fashion,’ the leading ladies of all these movies went on to win awards and praise from the critics. We are sure Kareena could possibly have a national award winning performance to speak of after the movie’s release.
Release Date: Sometime in September

‘Agent Vinod’
Why? It could be India’s answer to Roberty Downey Jr.’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’
Irresistible facts: B’wood’s ‘Chote Nawab’ is rumored to play a leather-jacket-wearing, suave detective. Not only does Saif perform death-defying action stunts in the movie he is said to share the sizzling screen space with his squeeze and soon to be wife Kareena Kapoor. The movie is directed and written by Sriram Raghavan whose love for ‘film noir’ is all too apparent in the Saif- Urmila starrer ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ and 2007’s ‘Johnny Gaddar’ which won Neil Nitin Mukesh loud applause from fans and critics alike.
Release Date: 23 March 

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Madhur Heroine will be a shocker

The director reveals that Kareena will be bold and beautiful in ‘Heroine’

Bebo is sizzling in the racy movie

Director Madhur Bhandarkar who is known for making hard-hitting films such as ‘Page 3,’ ‘Corporate,’ ‘Fashion’ and his most acclaimed film ‘Chandni Bar’ assured that fans of his movies can expect to be absolutely shocked when they see Kareena Kapoor in his upcoming project ‘Heroine.’

At a recent event, Madhur said that Kareena plays Mahi Arora in the film who has a very modern outlook, has no inhibitions when it comes to doing all that it takes to reach the top in her profession, is in every sense of the word bold, beautiful and ambitious. This description according to the director will keep fans on the edge of their seats.

The 43-year-old director cum producer expressed that he had great confidence in his leading lady and believed the role could be a milestone in her career. He further revealed that ‘Heroine’ was about 25 percent complete, the remaining parts would be shot by April and that the film would hit theatres around September.

No doubt Madhur Bhandarkar’s efforts have to be commended. Not only was he able to pick himself up even after Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, slated to play the role, quit from the project due to her pregnancy, but also put up with Kareena’s demands of often postponing her shoots due to her commitment to other projects and preparations for her wedding with actor Saif Ali Khan this year.

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Does SRK regret Ra.One?

The superstar admits he should have made a better film!

Shah Rukh Khan

Finally it looks like Shah Rukh Khan has accepted what critics and a lot of his fans had been saying – ‘Ra.One’ was a greatly marketed but poorly made film!

The superstar believes marketing has become an indispensable part of filmmaking because of the rising ticket prices but feels he could have made the sci-fi superhero movie in a better way. "It's very important because a film like 'RA.One' lends itself a little more, it's for children, it's superhero and stuff. I wish I had made it a little better because people started jumping on my back, 'Itna market kiya aur aisa picture banaya tumne’ (You marketed it so much, and made a film like this). So, I got a little waylaid on that," he said in a chat with news channel NDTV on the sidelines of the NDTV Profit Business Leadership Awards 2011 where he won the award of Creative Entrepreneur Of The Year.

However, he doesn’t discount the importance of marketing a film (but naturally!). “I think it's very, very important in entertainment to get into merchandising, to get into gaming and be on the net... we cannot negate that any more, whatever the level of film you are making,” he said.
SRK, known for coining some of the best marketing strategies to sell his films, associated with over 50 brands for his ‘RA.One’. However, he received mixed reaction for the movie which was directed by Anubhav Sinha. Most critics gave it between two and three stars.

The movie, a sci-fi project, had a production cost of Rs 150 crore, and according to reports, his tie-ups to market the film were worth Rs 52 crore. Shah Rukh, a graduate in Economics, feels it's important to look at films as a product nowadays. "I think you really need to take films and think of it as a product and put it across, and inform everyone what this product is because it is very expensive to go and buy the ticket.”

"You know it's Rs 500-Rs 700, so you need to tell the customer this is what it is going to be. The more the channels you can inform on, I think more you are right about your product," said Shah Rukh, who had begun promoting ‘RA.One’ months before its release.

We agree with you SRK, but can you keep aside some money from the mammoth budgets to develop a good script too?

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AGNEEPATH action challenges Hrithik

	view AGNEEPATH movie stills

Bollywood hunk Hrithik Roshanhas pulled off most perilous stunts brilliantly and done some grueling scenes with ease without batting an eyelid. However doing the action sequences for upcoming film AGNEEPATH was not Hrithik's cup of tea. For Hrithik the climax scene of AGNEEPATH was the most challenging affair of his career.

Hrithik reveals, 'The most difficult scene I have ever done in my career is the climax of my upcoming film AGNEEPATH. However, I won't say more about it. Just go and watch the film.'


With a revelation coming from someone like Hrithik, we now know what to expect from the much-awaited film AGNEEPATH, which releases on January 26, 2012.

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Clash between Salman's exes: Katrina vs Aishwarya

Recently, Salman Khan was caught in an uncomfortable spot when both his ex-girlfriends Aishwarya and Katrina, and Salman himself landed up at the same venue for their respective assignments.

Last heard, the two women can't stand each other. While both have been Salman's girlfriends at some point (an obvious reason to dislike each other), zoom reporters dug deeper to find out that when a famous toy company modeled their new doll on Katrina, Aishwarya tried to undermine Katrina by saying that the toy company had originally approached her, but she refused the offer and so it went to Katrina. This obviously did not go down well with Katrina.

	KATRINA KAIF and AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN

So the dislike that started over Salman seems to have escalated into a full blown war between the two leading ladies and now, as reports speak, the fate has played out yet another twist in this uncomfortable love saga!


Katrina Kaif will be playing Rajinikant's leading lady in his next movie KOCHADAIYAAN and the grapevine is that Aishwarya will do a cameo role in the same movie!

Now what remains to be seen is how will the two ladies deal with having to share the same man, once again? Will Katrina overshadow Aishwarya's cameo in the movie or will Aishwarya hog all the limelight and leave Katrina sulking?

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Hollywood actor Richard Gere enters Bollywood

Nila Madhab Panda enjoyed rave reviews for his critically acclaimed film I AM KALAM. And this time he seems to be geared up for his next yet untitled film which is based on the issue of world food insecurity. The director is all set to star none other than Hollywood actor Richard Gere who he contacted through a common friend.

	RICHARD GERE

Richard was impressed with the script and consented to do the film, which will also star Harsh Mayar, the protagonist of I AM KALAM. The film will be produced by a company from Netherland and its pre-production work will begin in January 2012. Nila will be shuttling between India, Amsterdam and Los Angeles for the shooting.

Gere, who plays a foreigner in the film visits India and gets involved in the socio-political set up of a village where he interacts with Harsh Mayar. Interestingly, another Hollywood actor Will Smith has also shown interest in the script and the filmmakers are in talks with him regarding the modalities of the film. Well, if this works out too - it will be twice as nice for Nila and the film!

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