Bollywood masti

Way back in 1998, Karan Johar's directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai clashed with David Dhawan's much-hyped Bade Miyan Chote Miyan - both released on the same day. Now a little more than a decade later, history is repeating itself with Wake Up Sid coming face to face with Do Knot Disturb on Oct 2.And Vashu Bhagnani, who has produced both Do Knot Disturb and Bade Miyan Chhote Miya, is surprisingly happy that his film is hitting theatres on the same day as Karan Johar's production."I am really very pleased that both our films are releasing on the same day," Bhagnani told IANS.Doesn't he feel that two much-hyped films should not clash with each other?"I am someone who believes a lot in coincidences. When Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai were released on the same day, there were murmurs even then around which film would eventually succeed. We all know that both the films not just survived each other at the box office but also registered huge numbers. They both met with blockbuster success," he said."Isn't that a coincidence that earlier our film was supposed to release on Sep 25, but then it got postponed by a week to come along with Wake Up Sid? Such things just happen and I like to call them happy coincidences," the producer said.While Do Knot Disturb is directed by Dhawan and stars Govinda, Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta and Riteish Deshmukh, Wake Up Sid is Ayan Mukherjee's directorial debut with Ranbir Kapoor and Konkana Sen Sharma.In 1998, things worked well for both Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan as they belonged to different genres and hence found good audiences. Bhagnani is confident that the situation won't be any different in 2009 either.Do Knot Disturb and Wake Up Sid belong to diverse genres due to which I am sure that audiences won't really have to pick and choose. I am happy with what David has made and I am sure Ayan too would have done good work in Wake Up Sid. I would want both the films to succeed," Bhagnani said.Dhawan is also eager to know how the audiences will react to his latest comedy."I am aware of the fact that people look forward to me and Govinda coming together. However, I have to add that Riteish (Deshmukh) too has done an excellent job in the film. I'm happy that I roped him in..."I have worked with Lara earlier in Partner as well as Sushmita in Maine Pyaar Kyon Kiya, Biwi No. 1 and Kyonkii Main Jhuth Nahi Bolta. I really understand their worth and audiences would be in for some treat when they watch these gorgeous women on screen," he said.Another coincidence is that while Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was Karan's directorial debut, Wake Up Sid is Mukherjee's first film as director. Karan, who has produced it, is quite forthcoming when it comes to backing his young team."Ranbir (Kapoor) along with Ayan (Mukerjee) have been able to model Sid really well. They come from the kind of age bracket that Sid belongs to and live the same kind of life. This is why they were able to bring their own selves to the film."It's the combination of Ayan and Ranbir that has made Wake Up Sid real and honest. Ayan's honesty and conviction is the kind that is bound to connect with the audience. He is convinced with the world that he has created and is quite honest about his writing more than anything else," said Karan.

He is 43 and she is 29, but their age difference is no matter. Salman Khan and Kareena Kapoor make an "adorable" couple on screen in his forthcoming Main Aurr Mrs.Khanna, says debutant director Prem Soni."The age difference between Salman and Kareena was never a consideration. They make an absolutely adorable couple and complement each other on screen," Soni told IANS over phone from Mumbai."They look good together in the film as there are no loud moments between them. The film has romantic instances here and there, but it has a very subtle treatment. There are cute scenes in the film and both of them have carried them really well," he added.Newcomer Soni considers Salman his "godfather" and says the superstar was on board the project as soon as he heard the script and even asked his brother to produce the film."I had written the script and then fixed an appointment with Salman. His reaction after the narration was overwhelming. All he said was, 'I'm doing it'. That's how the project began," the director said."Salman is indeed my godfather in the industry as he is the one who has given me a break," he added.For Soni, it was a cakewalk to get Kareena to play the heroine. "I went for the script narration to Kareena in Goa where she was shooting Golmaal Returns. She loved the role and when I told her that Salman is doing the film, she said - 'Why would I say no to Salman?.' She instantly agreed," he said."Kareena is such a delight to work with. She is among the finest actors these days. She is so effervescent and dedicated as an actor," he said. A co-production of Sohail Khan Productions and UTV SpotBoy Pictures, the film also features Sohail in a pivotal role. But unlike popular belief, the film's plot is not based on an extramarital affair, Soni clarified.Main Aurr Mrs.Khanna is not based on an extramarital affair. It is just a story of three people. The whole extramarital thing is only a perception. For the real thing, you need to go and check out the movie," he said.Asked about the USP of the movie, Soni said: "Its simplicity. The movie is very ordinary, very simple. It will touch a billion hearts with its real touch and that is what will make the story effective to the audience. We have given it a very contemporary look, but it isn't flashy at all."Main Aurr Mrs.Khanna releases Oct 16, the same day as much-awaited action flick Blue and comedy All the Best, but Soni says he is unperturbed."I have no apprehensions. It takes a lot of energy for every filmmaker to make a movie. So there are no hard feelings for anyone. May the best win because they are all of different genres and have their own set of audiences," he said.

Ghajini producers Allu Arvind and Madhu Mantena are going to make a Hindi remake of Telugu blockbuster Magadheera and they are reportedly considering Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan to play the main leads."Yes Allu Arvind and I are remaking Magadheera in Hindi. As for the cast, it's too early to talk about it. But Magadheera is definitely being planned to be bigger than Ghajini," Mantena told IANS.Released in July this year, Magadheera has already grossed over Rs 65 crore in India alone and is said to be the second-biggest Telugu hit after Ghajini.With this Telugu remake into Hindi that is expected to take off early next year, Arvind and Mantena hope to raise the bar for action-drama cinema in Hindi once again. The remake, to be budgeted at Rs 70 crore, is highly ambitious. While in the original, which is set in 17th century and present, the hero Ram Charan Teja plays a double role, the remake will split the hero's personality into two parts. Apparently Hrithik will play the samurai from the Middle Ages while Aamir will play his present day avatar.

On the rebound from his high profile relationship with Lara Dutta, Dino Morea has rekindled his romance with old flame, Nandita Mahtani.The couple is not shy about their public appearances, and Nandita was Dino’s date at Arjun Rampal’s restaurant launch. One source says “they were seen hand-in-hand at the party throughout the evening”.Our source said, “Dino and Lara broke up about eight months ago and ever since, Dino and Nandita have become close again. They have always remained friends and Nandita’s constant presence in Dino's life was always a worry factor for Lara. After Lara and Dino broke up, Lara moved on to date tennis star Mahesh Bhupati, while Dino was single for a few months. However, he became close to Nandita again and they have been dating for a while. They have been extremely comfortable with each other at private parties; however they have been mum about their relationship to the media.”Dino Morea has not commented on his relationship with Nandita Mahtani.

Vijendra Singh, world champion boxer, is venturing into showbiz. The Olympic bronze- medalist will debut in Bollywood in the Anand-directed film, entitled One. The screenplay of the movie, which is inspired by true events, is written by Yagnesh Shetty.The boxer will be required to train in martial arts for the action-packed thriller. Yagnesh has taken up the responsibility of preparing Vijendra for the role, “It’s an interesting script and Vijendra is very excited about it. The film also has a lot of action sequences because of its terrorism backdrop. I am currently training vijendra in martial arts and stunts”.Vijendra seemed thrilled about his new project, “I am doing the film. The role suits my image of a boxer. However, I don’t want to reveal too much about the film or my role right now. I will speak when the time is right.”

Nightingale of India Lata Mangeshkar says that she wants to continue singing forever, provided she is offered meaningful songs."I want to continue singing for the rest of my life," said Lata who turned 80 on Monday."I’m open to all kinds of songs, but the only thing I look for is the lyrics. The lyrics have to be meaningful. I would like the producers and the directors to approach with soulful and meaningful tracks,” added the veteran singer at the launch of an album here.The melody queen, as she is popularly known, has sung more than 30,000 songs in over 20 Indian languages. And she has sung all kind of songs - from light classical music to film songs, from ghazals to bhajans and pop.Having worked with almost all top music composers and singers in the industry, Lata has also featured in the Guinness World Records from 1974 to 1991 for having made the most recordings in the world.When asked about her opinion on the number of reality shows that are doing the rounds, Lata said that more than singing, the focus is on performance. Reality shows these days are all about singing, dancing, performing and latest fashion. New singing stars have potential but they concentrate more on overall performance rather than singing itself, which is a total contradiction."Singing is a divine form of art and blending it with other art forms takes away the very soul of music. So it’s better if reality shows concentrate purely on the talent of singing and music,” Lata maintained.Now, after more than six decades in the industry, the singer says that she doesn't regret anything."Whatever I achieved is by god's grace. I'm completely satisfied and content with my life and career," she said.

Veteran Hindi film actress Shabana Azmi, who was in Dhaka to inaugurate a painting exhibition, says that South Asians will have to work together without losing their diversity if they want a place in the global arena."We, South Asians, have to work together if we intend to make our presence felt on the global stage. No, we're not talking about homogeneity. This is not a melting pot where individual identities get submerged. The subcontinent is a colourful mosaic and this diversity is our strength," she said, while inaugurating the painting exhibition.The actress was moved by the works of Bangladeshi artist Shahabuddin that depict the travails of the people during their liberation war against Pakistan in 1971."Words cannot adequately express the overwhelming emotions surfacing when I saw his works," The Daily Star quoted her as saying Monday.The exhibition has been named "Jai Bangla", a slogan given by the country's founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It became the war cry during the freedom movement."I was looking at Shahabuddin's works, and I wasn't alone. This was not the best setting to fully appreciate art, but these images stopped me in my tracks. I was immersed in the world of his paintings."When you give even one viewer this feeling, as an artist you have earned your greatest honour," she said as her eyes glistened with tears, the newspaper reported.