Live Webcast Of The First Look Launch Of Ekk Main Aur Ek Tu

We are doing a Live Webcast of the First Look Launch of 'Ekk Main Aur Ekk Tu' at Bollywood Hungama tomorrow Wednesday Nov 30 at 1500 Hrs. Imran Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Karan Johar and Director Shakun Batra will be present. See you there.

http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/livetv/ekmainaurekktu/index.html

Farhan Akhtar To Direct Don 3?

I asked Farhan Akhtar in an interview yesterday if he has any plans of making Don 3. He seemed a bit surprised and said that as of now there were no plans. It is always interesting to chat up with Farhan. Even though I admire his work as a director, producer, actor and writer but when I told him that Game (he was the dialogue writer and producer) was an aberration (since the dialogues were not that cool as one expects from Akhtar), he didn't turn sullen. In other words, he seems to be open to free debate-n-opinions and that's always encouraging for a journalist like me who'll never have any agenda while chatting up with celebrities.

Farhan spoke about the Don Comic Book. It'll be available in book stores and even at railway stations. And yes it will also be available in Hindi. I asked if there could be an online version considering Shahrukh has a huge fan base overseas and so does Farhan, Akhtar said that there may be a possibility of it. Farhan spoke on 'Junglee Billi' Priyanka. So, does Roma get to love Don? Finally. Ra.one has done exceptionally well overseas (estimated at Rs 60-70 crores), are they planning to have a wider release abroad especially in areas where Shahrukh's popularity is very high? Akhtar also spoke on his acting assignment 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'.

On sunday Nov 27, I was in Gurgaon for covering 'The Dirty Picture' promotions at Kingdom of Dreams. It was a thanda show. It is very obvious that after relentlessly promoting the film all over the country, the starcast is tired. I got to do one on ones with Vidya, Emraan and Tushar. All the one on ones were satisfying. Even Tushar. I couldn't resist asking him that having delivered a commendable and respectable performance like Shor In The City, shouldn't he desist from doing silly films like Hum Tum Aur Shabana. He agreed.

Here's the link to Vidya's interview



I met up with old friend Asif and his family who live in DLF, Gurgaon. It has been a while since I caught up with them. I have always been fond of Asif's mom. And Aunty as always treated me to aroma chai and nashta. Asif's 15 month old daughter Aania is a sweetheart. Kids always ooze such positive energy. I also got a taste of Dilli Ki Sardi. Divine :)

I also interviewed Anushka Sharma and Ranveer Singh yesterday. Ranveer is very warm and genuine. I've done some fun interviews with Anushka but this time I was meeting her with a preconceived notion as I've been reading all sorts of stories about her high handedness with journos. I posed my fear to Anushka during the course of the interview. She opened up and said that she is fine if her work is criticised but baseless speculative stories based on 'sources' is something that she doesn't like at all. I asked them about one of their co stars in the film, Parineeti Chopra, a PR executive who had been part of their marketing team during the promotions of 'Band Baaja Baraat'. Parineeti, incidentally is Priyanka Chopra's cousin. When she met me for the first time, she told me about her Priyanka connection but requested not to divulge. I kept my word till it was announced that she has taken the plunge as an actress and the world came to know about the Chopras. I always found Parineeti very pretty and sprightly during several interactions at YRF (though she needed to lose some weight, which I guess she must have once she turned an actress). And the people who've seen 'Ladies Vs Rickey Bahl' say that she has delivered a fine performance.

A friend from Sweden sent me a link of 'Oi Amma Oi Amma' a song from Jeetendra-Jaya Prada 1980s film 'Mawali'. He says the song sounds somewhat like 'Ooo Lala Ooo Lala' from 'The Dirty Picture'. I guess the 'inspiration' is true to some extent as well. What do you say?



We are coming up with Year End Special Feature Videos. Here are teasers of what we shall be offering to you guys:

Bollywood Hungama 2011 One On One



Bollywood Hungama 2011 It's A Wrap!



Bollywood Hungama 2011 The Year That Was

"Salman, Shahrukh, Aamir...All So Fabulous": Jeetendra

Now, this is an interview I am very proud of. Jeetendra ji is one of the biggest stars of Indian cinema and these days, he gives very few interviews. In the first part of this interview Jeetu ji (thats how most of the industry refers to him as) talks about his start in the industry with films like Navrang and Geet Gaya Paththaron Ne, how he made it big with a film like Farz, why he owes his career-n-success to V Shantaram ji, the phase in 1980s when he worked in South remakes like Tohfa, Mawali, Himmatwala that boasted of colourful garish costumes, dhinchak music, lots of pots n pans and fruits as props. Jeetu ji also talked about the alleged rivalry with Mr Bachchan and how he stayed away from being a part of the number's game. He also talks about the experience of working with item girls of 1980s like Disco Shanti and Silk Smitha. Hope you guys like it.

"...To Be Compared To Salman": Chetan Bhagat

Noted author Chetan Bhagat talks about his latest novel 'Revolution 2020' being acquired by UTV for being made into a movie. Chetan talks on various aspects of the novel and how it can possibly be adapted in the form of a movie.

Pics Of Shahrukh Khan At The Inauguration Ceremony Of IFFI, Goa

"Shahid Priyanka...Amazing Chemistry": Kunal Kohli

Kunal Kohli talks about his directorial next starring Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor. There's a lot of information on the film.

Jeetendra Exclusive, Chetan's Revolution, SRK At IFFI

It was a huge pleasure and honour to interview Jeetendra sahab today. The moment he entered the room, I was awestruck. Extremely simple, humble and relaxed person. Films like Justice Chaudhry, Tohfa, Himmatwala and Mawali are some of the most succesful films of 1980s. Jeetu sahab said that he had produced a film 'Deedar-e-Yaar' in 1982. It was a big budget film that bombed badly. To get his finances back on track, he went to Madras and did one film after another (all four were part of that phase). He said that things were more organised down South then as compared to the Bombay film industry. What about the criticism that was meted out to these films for pots and pans and hundreds of dancers etc? "I was constantly shooting in Madras. I didn't even go for the release of my films to Bombay so I didn't know what is happening, what people are saying," Jeetu ji said.

I also asked Jeetu ji about his first film Navrang in 1959 where he had a very small role. His first film as a hero was Geet Gaya Paththaron that released in 1962. He seemed specialy proud of this film and owed his success to his director V Shantaram. Farz was a turning point in his career. Jeetu ji was obviously proud of his films with Gulzar sahab (Parichay, Khushboo and Kinara) specially because of the sensible themes and poetic songs. He cutely said that he told his then girl friend Shobha that if his film 'Bidai' does well, he'll marry her immediately. The film did well and within a few days of its release the two were married.

Before Jeetendra sahab, I interviewed Chetan Bhagat. It was a long interview. Somehow, I always enjoy chatting up with Chetan. He spoke on the film deal that he has signed with UTV for his latest novel 'Revolution 2020'. He also spoke about Ranbir Kapoor admitting that he has been approached for 'Two States'. I also told Bhagat what his critics had to say about his works. He patiently answered all the questions.

In other news Shahrukh Khan inaugurated IFFI in Goa today. The teams of Desi Boyz and The Dirty Picture are heavily into promoting their respective films. Puneet Issar's I Am Singh is also releasing on Dec 2. It is releasing with a lot of prints in North India especially Punjab. It wouldn't be surprising if it opens well at the Boz Office specially coz of the emotional issue it is dealing with.

So much for now. Spoke to my Dad a short while back. He is better. Please pray for his health and comfort.
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