Gupshup aka Baat Cheet (Bombay Talkies)

[kaytee]

Our very own Superhero Krishh aka Hritik Roshan.

[sandeep]

Bipasha to host Seven Wonders show

Bipasha Basu will host the global show for the New Seven Wonders of the World on 7th July at the Benfica Stadium in London. She will co-host the show along with Oscar winners Ben Kingsley and Hillary Swank to announce the New Wonders which have been selected by global voting for the first time ever.

Bipasha is ecstatic about this opportunity as she thinks it's an honour to be a part of history. But for this event, she has agreed to wear contact lenses for her bad eyesight which otherwise she is reluctant to wear.

Meanwhile, the global event will have performances from pop diva Jennifer Lopez, Spanish Ballet Dancer Joaquin Cortes, American Singer Chaka Khan and Italian singer Alessandro Safina among others.

Let's hope Bipasha's presence proves lucky for our only Indian contender - The Taj Mahal

[mukesh]

Guys & gals,

You gotta read this article on rediff - "Please retire Mr. Bachchan"

Something everyone wanted to say for a long time

http://www.rediff.com/movies/2007/sep/10bs.htm

[sandeep]

Reliance strikes a 'Big' deal with Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks SKG
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, September 22, 2008 - 13:11 IST


Over the last few years, the Hindi film industry has seen the emergence of a lot of big corporate players and probably the biggest among them is the Anil Ambani owned Reliance Big Entertainment. The company, which has already made its presence felt across areas such as film production, distribution, exhibition, home video, DTH and music, has now bagged one of the most lucrative deals in the history of Indian cinema.

Reliance Big Entertainment has inked a 1.5 billion $ deal with Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks SKG to set up a new age DreamWorks studio. The studio, to be based in Los Angeles, will produce 6 films per year for the next 6 years and the rights for all these films across platforms such as theatres, DTH, television, DVD's will remain with Reliance.

As per the deal, DreamWorks will become a 50:50 joint venture of Spielberg, current DreamWorks chief executive Stacey Sinder and the Anil Ambani owned Reliance Big Entertainment.

This coming together of one of the biggest conglomerates in India and the most popular director in the West (Steven Spielberg) is surely a 'Big' step for Indian cinema.

[sandeep]

Preity Zinta wins Best Actress award at the Chicago International Film Festival
By Bollywood Hungama News Network, October 27, 2008 - 10:51 IST

"I am so happy and excited. I'm going to get blissfully debauched this evening," says Preity Zinta as she jumps up and down on her seat.

And with reason. She has just heard that she has won the best actress award at the Chicago International Film Festival for her performance as the battered Punjabi wife grappling with domestic violence in Deepa Mehta's Heaven On Earth.

"It was my director Deepa Mehta who informed me on Saturday afternoon that I had won. I couldn't go to Chicago, and neither could Deepa. Without any lobbying I've done it." She squeals, as she informs her mom and buddy Karan Johar of the posh international triumph just when back home, the rave reviews are coming in for her performance in her latest release Heroes.

And now the huge honour at the Chicago Film Festival has Preity in a daze. "I'm walking on sunshine. I can't believe where I am!" Preity is immensely thankful to Anupam Kher. "I attended his acting school to get my Punjabi right for both the roles. He taught me how to pronounce the words properly. He has been a blessing."

What really pleases Preity is that this international award will help sell Heaven On Earth to a global audience. "It is a film in Punjabi and I felt the language would limit the appeal. But trust Deepa to break the cultural barriers."

As Preity's cup of joy runs over you gently suggest marriage. "Oh no not now. I don't feel the time is right. I'd want to get married only when I want to have children. Right now let me enjoy this moment. Everyone who thought those dimples needed to shut down now (yup, that's what one critic wrote)...this one is for you, guys."

Adds Deepa Mehta, "It's amazing, isn't it? I'm so happy for Preity. She's luminous in Heaven On Earth...just like Shabana Azmi in Fire. Coincidentally, Shabana was the other actress to win the Best Actress Award at Chicago. I don't think any other Indian actress has won this award. I'm happy Preity is getting rave reviews for Heroes. I've seen bits of her performance in Heroes. And in fact it was that performance which reassured me that I had made the right choice for Heaven On Earth."

[kaytee]

Woooaahhh that is surprising...and what the hell is Heaven on Earth...

[sandeep]

Woooaahhh that is surprising...and what the hell is Heaven on Earth...

Now you know! You coming for it?

[sandeep]

Neetu Kapoor returns to the silver screen with hubby Rishi Kapoor

Her husband Rishi Kapoor has been a regular with Yash Raj Films. And he's made quite an impression playing middle aged characters with his performances in Fanaa and Hum Tum. But nobody was successful in getting Neetu Kapoor to move out of the house and enter the studios again. Karan Johar had offered her the role of Preity Zinta's mother in Kal Ho Naa Ho, (eventually played by Jaya Bachchan) but Neetu Kapoor turned it down as she was busy shaping son Ranbir's career. Now with Ranbir's career having taken off in a big way, Neetu Kapoor has finally returned to films. But if you thought she will be working with the Chopras or with Karan Johar you thought wrong.

Neetu Kapoor and her husband Rishi Kapoor will be seen together in a film to be produced by Planman Motion Pictures. After several weeks of persuasion, Neetu agreed as she loved the story of the film. The film apparently is the story of two middle-aged couples. After Neetu Kapoor agreed to the project, the producers are desperately hunting for the second couple. But getting Neetu to sign on the dotted line was a major achievement for Planman Motion Pictures. Let's hope Neetu's comeback venture is a bigger hit than her son's debut film Saawariya.

[sandeep]

Newsweek's Top 50 Influential people:

1: Barack Obama
2: Hu Jintao
3: Nicolas Sarkozy
4-5-6: Economic Triumvirate
7: Gordon Brown
8: Angela Merkel
9: Vladimir Putin
10: Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud
11: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
12: Kim Jong Il
13-14: The Clintons
15: Timothy Geithner
16: Gen. David Petraeus
17: Sonia Gandhi
18: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
19: Warren Buffett
20: Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
21: Nuri al-Maliki
22-23: The Philanthropists
24: Nancy Pelosi
25: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
26: Mike Duke
27: Rahm Emanuel
28: Eric Schmidt
29: Jamie Dimon
30-31: Friends of Barack
32: Dominique Strauss-Kahn
33: Rex Tillerson
34: Steve Jobs
35: John Lasseter
36: Michael Bloomberg
37: Pope Benedict XVI
38: Katsuaki Watanabe
39: Rupert Murdoch
40: Jeff Bezos
41: Shahrukh Khan
42: Osama bin Laden
43: Hassan Nasrallah
44: Dr. Margaret Chan
45: Carlos Slim Helú
46: The Dalai Lama
47: Oprah Winfrey
48: Amr Khaled
49: E. A. Adeboye
50: Jim Rogers

[sandeep]

http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/07/31/13122/index.html

Abhishek-Ash stranded in Kerala jungle after an elephant went berserk

We all know Bollywood's most romantic couple Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan pine to spend quality time together. But the way they were stranded together on Wednesday in the jungles of Athirapilly in Kerala was anything but romantic.

The day, according to the unit, started normally and ended being one of the most calamitous and nightmarish days of the couple's life. Says a source, ''Abhi and Ash left with Mani Ratnam on Wednesday morning to check out an elephant which was supposed to participate in the shooting from next week. Little did they know what was in store.''

The elephant went berserk killing the mahout and taking off on a stampede that had Abhishek, his wife and director hiding in the jungles until people who could control the elephant and rescue the couple could reach.

Says the source, ''For ten hours, Abhishek, Aishwarya and Mani went without food or water. They just hid themselves from the elephant's rampaging wrath. Finally, they were rescued late at night. But until then there was no news of their safety and wellbeing. Abhishek and Aishwarya's parents were delirious with worry.''

Raavan seems to be the most troubled film that Mani Ratnam has shot. From the director's health scare to a rampaging elephant to severe viral infections and malaria, the cast and crew has seen and experienced enough to make a fast-paced thriller on the making of Raavan.

[sandeep]

Mallika Sherawat receives Honorary Citizenship by City of LA

One can always trust Madame Mallika Sherawat to do something that's worthy enough of being national headlines. Right from the time she entered Bollywood, till date, anything and everything she does becomes iconic statements!

This time round, she added yet another feather in her already overloaded cap by being the first Bollywood star to be bestowed with an Honorary Citizenship and Official Resolution by the City of Los Angeles. Mallika Sherawat received the prestigious honor in front of members of the entertainment industry, friends, family and fans during a ceremony at Los Angeles City Hall on the eve of the Indian Independence Day.

In the City Hall Council Chambers, Councilmember Jose Huizar presented Mallika with the said honour. Mallika accepted the Resolution, which was signed by the Mayor and all City Council members, before giving an inspiring speech to numerous rounds of applause throughout the hall. In her profound speech of thanksgiving and acceptance, an emotional Mallika said that she is deeply, and humbly, grateful for this grand honor, in addition to thanking the Councilmember Huizar, Mayor Villaragosa, Mayor Riordan, and all the City Council. Said the actress, "As the first Indian Bollywood actor to receive this Recognition, I proudly accept it in honor of my home country, mother India, and my beloved Bollywood, the world's largest film industry." She concluded the heartfelt speech saying "I am deeply touched, and eternally thankful for this acknowledgment. Jai Ho, Los Angeles!"

Way to go, Mallika. India and Bollywood are equally proud of you!

http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/08/17/13177/index.html

[fizz]

I guess LA doesn't have enough hills...

[sandeep]

LOL :-D

I guess LA doesn't have enough hills...

[kaytee]

Vishal is all set to start work on his next film, this time with Hrithik Roshan in the principal lead. "This is the first time I am confirming the news. Yes, Hrithik and I are working together. The project will roll once Hrithik is through with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's GUZAARISH. In the meantime, I am wondering if I should make another film in the intervening period," Vishal divulges.

[shariqq]

Hrithik sure has some fantastic representation, or great networking.