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Sholay Ladies on Koffee with Karan

Garima — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:08:40 +0000

No one knows it better than Karan Johar when it comes to getting friends and family speak their heart out! Recently K.Jo shot with Hema Malini and Jaya Bachchan and their daughters - Esha and Shweta. The two veteran actresses disagreed on the remake of Sholay being made by Ram Gopal Verma, saying that at least their characters in the new Sholay should not have the same name. However, Jaya Bachchan admitted that she will have to watch the film for Mr. Bachchan. Talking about Sholay, Jaya Bachchan joked that she should have played Basanti then, as she really liked Dharmendra. She even remembered her first meeting with Dharamji and said, ‘He looked like a greek god!’

Hema Malini too joined in the fun, and nodded to what Jaya said. The two ladies also pointed out that probably Sholay was the only film then, whose on screen pairs went on to become off-screen pairs in reality. The other important subject over which both Hema and Jaya bonded on the show was politics. With Jaya saying that whenever she sees Hema in parliament she feels good. Hema seemed to be a bit distraught about the roles for veteran actresses like her in Hindi films. Inspite of doing Baghbaan and Baabul, she said that good roles are still hard to find for actresses like her. Whether small or big roles, the actresses want to contribute positively in a film they said. The conversation also veered to the much awaited and hyped Abhi-Ash wedding. ‘Aishwarya has fitted well in the family!’ said an elated Jaya.

Via IndianTelevision

IIFA Awards launches green campaign

Garima — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 12:56:38 +0000

In the wake of making a difference to the world, IIFA Awards launched a campaign against global warming. The campaign is called IIFA Bond for Global Cool, it’s supported by Indian and international celebrities like Sienna Miller, John Abraham, Lara Dutta, the Bachchan family and many more are expected to join the green campaign.

Global Cool is an organization campaigning against the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, which have resulted in an increased amount of global warming. Global Cool’s partnership with IIFA will spread awareness in millions of Asians. Needless to say, the impact of Indian cinema is huge, and IIFA is indeed a great platform for Global Cool.

IIFA announced its pledge to support Global Cool at Madame Tussaud museum, London. It was a day after the SRK statue was unveiled at the Museum. IIFA ambassador, Amitabh Bachchan announced the IIFA nominees and its attempt to make difference at a global level. The event was also graced by Global Cool ambassador Sienna Miller and host of other dignitaries from UK and India.

After having travelled around the world, IIFA is being held in Yorkshire, UK. In the past cities like London, Singapore, Dubai, Amsterdam have witnessed the IIFA magic. IIFA, unlike other awards of its ilk, all different categories register votes from the Indian film fraternity. In its eighth year now, IIFA will start from June 7 to June 10. The ceremony will be called IIFA weekend, expect a lot of enthusiasm as Yorkshire has a good concentration of NRI community.

Via Rediff

SRK says Namaste London

Garima — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:31:35 +0000

After Amitabh Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, Shahrukh Khan is the third Indian actor to join the bollywood league at Madam Tussauds museum, London. After India, Shahrukh’s biggest fan base is in UK. No wonder that the NRI community there is extremely happy to see their favourite star at London’s prestigious museum and the most famous tourist attraction. After a stupendous performance at Zee Cine Awards held in Malaysia, SRK and family flew to London to unveil the statue on 3rd April. News channels in India were in a frenzy to give the best coverage about the big news. Apparently, SRK had shared with the media in one of his early interviews that, his mother on one of her visits to London many years ago, was mesmerized by the wax statues placed at the museum, and wished that her son would to be equally successful to grace the museum in a wax form. Not only this Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan too joined Shahrukh in London. Hopefully putting a dead end to all the rumours.

2007 so far has been an eventful year for Khan so far. KBC has gained respectable acceptance among Indian audience. A book on him by friend Mushtaq Sheikh titled Still Reading Khan was released early this year, and an array of his films are up for release this year, one of which is directed by good friend Farah Khan. Strange coincidence though but seems like SRK and Amitabh Bachchan will always be connected to each other, first it was the movie Don, then KBC and now Madam Tussauds. Whoever once said that ‘great minds think alike’ was so right!

Via MadameTussauds, MalaysiaSun

The Enigma of Bachchans

Garima — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:47:30 +0000

I don’t think the entire nation can ever grow out of affection for the Bachchan family. Here are some highlights of news on them in March.

Abhi-Ash Wedding on 20 April
Finally. the cat is out of the bag, Aishwarya Rai will become Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on 20 April next month. The media is already in a frenzy gathering scoops. Although the news is that the very selected guests will it make it to the 20 or 25 special invitees. The venue and other affairs is under wraps. Just hope that it’s not similar to Liz-Arun wedding which was a nightmarish experience for media. The exclusive contract with Hello! magazine barred press people to loiter near the Udaipur palace. Don’t think the Bachchans would ever do that.

Nishabd does average business
Even the sultry Jiah Khan could not get hoards of cinegoers to watch Nishabd. Though the promos look fabulous....with Bachchan singing Rozana in his trademark baritone style, Nishabd did average business. It was a difficult story adapted from Vladimir Nakobov’s novel Lolita (though Ramu denies this). But Bachchan was extraordinary in the film. Not to forget that Ramu made the Indian version of Godfather with him and justified it fully, and he reassured with this one too. But it will take time for an average cinema freak in a small town to like films like Nishabd.

Looking For the Big B
Yes! Thats the name a of a new book on Amitabh Bachchan..no it’s not by Khalid Mohammad or Subhash K Jha. It’s by brit author Jessica Hines...does the name a ring a bell? She’s the same journalist Aamir Khan was linked with about year and a half ago. Jessica is a prolific writer/researcher on Indian films and its flurry. She has known AB for more than seven years, and to evade any sort of questioning by the star himself or to avoid any confrontation - Jessica took a safer route...she chose to write about him through the voice of various people - peers, rivals, critics including herself.

Amar ‘Bentley’ Singh
Yes...he did not gift a Bentley to Aby Baby. Now after Sonia Gandhi V/S Amar Singh-Amitabh Bachchan and Parivar, the climax is SRK V/S Amar Singh-Amitabh Bachchan. The short and motormouth politician of UP has become the bone of contention between SRK and AB.
Why? Well...Shahrukh being Shahrukh...had a funny dig on Amarji while hosting Filmfare Awards. Now Amar Singh should understand that SRK doesn’t even spare himself, so who is he? All the news channels flashed the breaking news of the so called tug of war between Amar Singh and SRK; Singh said on IBN7, ‘SRK himself is a joker’
But the war reached a high point when some Samajwadi Party workers demonstrated a dharna outside SRK’s bunglow-Mannat.

Don’t know where all this is going to; But yes, Amitabh Bachchan will definitely be a scapegoat in this social drama.

A lot has been said about the cold war between Bachchan and Khan. Both are dignified and mature stars to have this loose talk affect them. Amar Singh ji...please take a lesson!

Via: rediff, yahoo, daily mail, DNA

KBC's first season with SRK comes to end

Garima — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 08:50:14 +0000

First season of KBC winds up on 28th March on the sets, though the programme will continue to air till mid-April on Star Plus. Best in the TV business, Star India chose Shah Rukh Khan to bring new life to the show, as the KBC format was known to all in the country. So what else could one have done? Undeniably, SRK and the KBC team made the show very very infotaining; his thinking cap, giving away TAG Heuer watches and even Santro cars, made the contestants cherish their KBC experience.

There were inevitable comparisons between King Khan and Big B. Opinions were shared on every possible platform. Some of the contestants even made their fondness for Amitabh very clear at the hot seat. Nonetheless, Shah Rukh Khan took everything in stride. He too had many girlfriends in the audience every day, screaming and shouting all the time. The show producers-Synergy Adlabs, and broadcaster-Star India, both are happy with the TRPs of KBC. After all, it got Star Plus back in the race, not that they were down and out, but yes definitely Zee was giving them a tough competition. The second season will start in October or early next year. Having watched SRK on the sets - I have to mention that he’s an absolute pleasure to watch - quick and witty all the time. Though at times, his comic repartees were considered bit over the top, but one can’t ignore him. Indeed, SRK and KBC changed the lives of many in three months.

Source: IBNLive