Monday 7 April 2014

Exposed! Bollywood's Serial offenders

Some Bollywood actors have made it a habit to ditch one project in favour of another 

Choosing a script is one thing and making the most of it is another matter. There have been several instances where actors read a film's script and agreed to the project only to leave it later and take up another film. hitlist points out a few names who have done this more than once...

Nargis Fakhri
Last release: Main Tera Hero (2014)
Lowdown:
 The actress walked out of the forthcoming Shaukeen remake as she wanted to be part of a Hollywood project. Nargis is said to have done the same with Akshay Kumar's next project, Khiladi 786.

Shahid Kapoor
Last release: R...Rajkumar (2013)
Lowdown:
 Going by the trade buzz, this actor seems to be attracting some good films, although he has been selecting ones that don't work for his graph. In recent times, Shahid allegedly walked out of Milan Talkies as well as Bejoy Nambiar's upcoming film due to creative differences.

Varun Dhawan
Last release: Main Tera Hero (2014)
Lowdown:
 After a dream launch by Karan Johar's Student of the Year, Varun walked out of a film contract with Balaji Films because of creative differences. Later, he declined a role in Milan Talkies as well as Remo D'Souza's ABCD 2 as he wished to star in Sriram Raghavan's untitled film.

Priyanka Chopra
Last release: Ram-Leela (2013)
Lowdown:
 PC is known for selecting a script and sticking with it. But she failed to commit dates to Ek Thi Daayan (2013) nor did she have any for Ekta Kapoor's Milan Talkies.

Kareena Kapoor
Last release: Gori Tere Pyaar Mein (2013)
Lowdown:
 This talented actress abandoned Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Ram-Leela to take up Punit Malhotra's project, Gori Tere Pyaar Mein. She also opted out of Karan Johar's Shuddhi due to unspecified reasons.

Katrina Kaif
Last release: Dhoom 3 (2013)
Lowdown:
 Last year, Kat turned down Ayan Mukerji's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani as she was keen to star in Aditya Chopra's Dhoom 3. Now she has reportedly walked out of Rahul Dholakia's Raees due to unspecified reasons.

Kangna Ranaut
Last release: Gori Tere Pyaar mein (2013)
Lowdown:
 She violated Yash Raj Films' contract in order to star in Bhatt camp's Aashiqui 2 (2013). She then walked out of Umesh Shukla's next, saying that she didn't want to work opposite older actors.

Jacqueline Fernandez
Last release: Ramaiya Vastavaiya (2013)
Lowdown:
 She has been starring mainly in sequels. So it's worth noting that the two films that she walked out of - Murder 3 and Krrish 3 - are also a part of popular franchises.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

What's making Sonam nervous?

Actress Sonam Kapoor says she is nervous to see her younger brother Harshvardhan on-screen. Joining the latest bandwagon of celebrity children entering Bollywood, Anil Kapoor's son, the youngest of his three children, is being launched by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra in his next film 'Mirza Sahiba'. 
"I am happy he is here (in the film industry). But I am very nervous because he is a kid and I hope he does well," Sonam told PTI. The film is a love tragedy based on folklore which has been given a contemporary touch. Harshvardhan will be seen as Mirza in the film. The newbie returned from the US after studying screenplay writing and acting. Earlier, he worked as assistant director to Anurag Kashyap on his upcoming film 'Bombay Velvet' which stars Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma.
Sonam is happy about the way her cousin brother Arjun Kapoor is doing in Bollywood. "I think he (Arjun) is an incredible actor, he is good looking. He is really a nice person. I think good people should do well in life," Sonam said.
Sonam and Arjun share a good friendly relation and both are protective about each other. "He loves to be my brother, he loves playing that role. I would love for us to be friends. I think I am more protective about him.
He is also protective even though he pretends he is not. He wants to be my friend and wants to be cool but he is not," she said.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

Sonakshi Paired With Rajnikanth But Only After Age-Difference Justified By Script

Sonakshi Sinha has been finalized to play the lead opposite Rajnikanth in K Ravikumar's next film.
However the offer was accepted only after the yawning age difference between the two actors was justified.
Says a source close to the family, `Shatruji and Rajnikanthji are contemporaries. When the two of them worked together in K C Bokadia's Asli Naqli Sonakshi was running around on the sets in frocks! Now to be offered a role opposite him is a bit like cradle-snatching.
Informs the Sinhas' close associate, `She wanted to work with Rajni Sir, who doesn't? And Rajni Sir has worked with heroines who are almost as young as Sonakshi.Working with younger heroines is no big deal in the Mumbai film industry. Even Kareena Kapoor was just a kid running around on the sets when Akshay Kumar worked with Kareena's sister Karisma. Later Akshhay and Kareena were fine as a screen pair.Sonakshi has worked with actors far older than her including Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan. 
According to a source in Chennai, director K Ravikumar who has hit on the brainwave of casting Rajnkanth with Sonakshi ,re-worked the script to justify the age difference.
Says the Chennai source, `When Rajnikanth's arch-rival Kamal Haasan had cast Sonakshi in Vishwaroopam it was the role of a woman married to a man far older than she. Sonakshi had backed out feigning a date problem.If Sonakshi is going to be cast with Rajnikath who is far older than Kamal, the pairing would have to be rationalized for the North Indian audiences. In the South Rajni Sir's fans are used to seeing him work with heroines his daughter's age.

Where costumes worn by Bollywood stars in films end up

Most outfits worn by stars and the rest of the cast in a film end up in the production house's trunks. And later, these clothes are mixed and matched for extras and background dancers in other films 

Ever wondered what happens to the numerous outfits worn by actors in a film? Bollywood stars break into a song on screen, crooning atop snow-capped mountains, flowing valleys and exotic flower beds or, gyrating in different costumes every nanosecond. By the time the last shot of the film is taken, there are stacks of clothes left behind.
Some may be garish, others outlandish and some wearable off screen as well, but most make their way to the production house's trunks, or petis in Bollywood parlance. They are stacked and rehashed for the production house's future projects. 
Of course, at times, something an actor fancies goes home with him or her (no questions asked). Or when celebrity designers are styling for the lead stars, the outfits go with the designer. It all comes under the production costs incurred for a film.
Actress Ayesha Khanna, who starred in the recent release Dishkiyaaon, has been a stylist for Yash Raj Films such as Band Baja Baaraat (2010) and Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl (2011). She says, `At Yash Raj, all the costumes are stacked in petis. Each peti is labelled so that you know exactly for which film the lead stars, supporting cast and the extras wore the clothes. Later, for another film, things get mixed and matched.`
Ayesha cites an example, `Aishwarya Rai's Kajra Re item number outfit from the 2005 film Bunty Aur Babli was used on a background dancer in Band Baaja Baaraat in 2010. It was mixed and matched. The choli was worn with another ghaghra, so it was impossible that anyone will notice it.
However, not all stylists follow this mantra. Navin Shetty has styled for several films, including Zanjeer, Himmatwala and Agneepath. He styles Ajay Devgn in his films, too. The designer does not believe in the reuse theory or in cutting corners. `I approach every film afresh. I don't recycle stuff or rehash from costumes used in an earlier project. After understanding the actor's character in the film, I go about making the costumes. Sometimes they may be bought off the shelves, if something catches my fancy and I feel it suits the character.`
He adds, `Once the shoot is over, everything goes to the production house's petis. It is their property, I have nothing to do with it. By that time I have moved on to another project.` He also styled brother-in-law, director Rohit Shetty, for the ongoing reality show, Khatron Ke Khiladi which he hosts. `All his outfits have gone back to the production house,` he adds.
B-Town designer, Leepakshi Ellawadi, who is currently styling Shraddha Kapoor for Ek Villain says, `For a designer, once the film's shoot is complete, so is the job. What the production house or the stars do with the outfits, is their prerogative. Often an actor wants to add his or her touch to his/her look in the film and gets stuff from his/her own wardrobe.`
She earlier styled Amitabh Bachchan in his 2011 film Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap. Big B had accompanied her on a shopping trip in London. `We picked up a lot of high-end labels. Several alterations had to be made. He was apprehensive about whether he could carry it off, but he pulled it off well.`
Even when stars have taken a personal interest in the shopping, the stuff usually goes back to the petis.
Some actors may like an outfit and want to keep it for nostalgia's sake, but it is no big deal,` concludes Ayesha.

One film, 125 costumes
Aishwarya Rai wore over 125 costumes in Vipul Shah's 2010 film Action Replayy. The makers claimed that it was a record as most Bollywood films have 40 costume changes on an average including those in songs. The wrap-up shot alone had the actress doing nine dress changes. The justification came from the fact that Ash's character had a fetish for clothes. Vipul realised that the number of costumes were high when the person who was managing Ash's costumes kept demanding more and more space to store them.
Small screen scene
On the small screen, too, outfits are often reused. Television designer Nikhat Neerushaa who styles actors for the ongoing mythological show Devon Ke Dev Mahadev among other shows says, `The saris and lehengas of the saas-bahus are often reused by production houses.`
TV producer Rajan Shahi (Aur Pyar Ho Gaya and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai) maintains, `We give a contract to a supplier and the outfits are returned after use. Clothes are not repeated to maintain freshness in the look. For special episodes such as wedding sequences, we get clothes stitched in advance,` he explains.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

Dad took 31 years to be a star, give me 15: Soundarya Rajinikanth

Soundarya may have played it safe with her directorial debut "Kochadaiiyaan" by teaming up with her superstar father Rajinikanth, but she is feeling the pressure of high expectations. She said if her dad took over three decades to attain stardom, she should be given at least half the time to prove herself.
She said: "It's a tough life for star kids...for people they are stars; for us, they are the people that we know." 
"As star children, we face the expectations, which is as much as that of the achievers who are the fathers or mothers who took so much time to achieve it. My father is a superstar now, but he took 31 years to reach here, at least give me 15 years," the 30-year-old, who is married to Chennai-based businessman Ashwin, told IANS.
Rajinikanth, who rose to meteoric heights from a bus conductor to Tamil cinema's superstar, enjoys a huge fan following. 
Achievers' children can't afford to take their lineage for granted, Soundarya said.
"Be it in any business, when the achievers' children enter, the expectation and pressure on them are much more. Yes, we do have an access no doubt, but there is too much of pressure," she said.
"Kochadaiiyaan", a Rs.125-crore film, said to be India's first motion capture photo-realistic 3D animated movie, is expected to release worldwide May 1 on about 6,000 screens in six languages.
Bollywood diva Deepika Padukone plays the female lead opposite Rajinikanth in the film, which also features Jackie Shroff, R. Sarath Kumar, Shobana, Nasser, Aadi Pinisetty and Rukmini.
Shot predominantly in Ocher studios, owned by Soundarya, the film features no live locations. Everything was shot indoors. 
Sharing the shooting experience with her dad, she vouched for his professionalism and punctuality. 
She said: "My father is a thorough professional - what the script demands, what the director demands, he will do it. Even if the director is convinced with the shot and the actor of his seniority thinks he can do better, he will take that extra effort as an actor even if the director says it's okay."
"Time punctuality? My god! He is the most punctual person I have ever seen...the discipline he has on the floor is outstanding," she added.
Soundarya, who has a clear idea about what fans expect from her father on the screen, said "Kochadaiiyaan" has all the commercial elements that will excite viewers.
"We have done a lot of commercial elements that will excite my dad's fans. For me, my father doing Rudra Tandav excites me. The feedback I have received from my father's fans has been commendable. 
"What the audience wants from my father is that they want to see him on the screen as commercial star because they are used to seeing him like that.
"My father's older movies, if you have seen, are performance-oriented roles. He reached a stage in his life where he became the mass hero where people wanted him to be just that - larger than life... Entertainment is what my father's fans want," she added. 
The Tamil period-drama has been passed with a U-certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification. 
Soundarya, however, lamented that animation is still not understood in India. 
"In our country, animation is not understood yet. Animation is associated with cartoons and it is very tough for us as technicians. Animation is a process and the toughest part for me was to explain the process. 
"Films like this take six to seven years to make. As soon as I finished shooting, everybody was like when can we see the film? But it's like you can only see the dots, it's like the capture point. People feel the film has been delayed, but it's not delayed. It's a time-consuming process," Soundarya added.

Parineeti ready to be in a relationship

Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra put end to rumours of her dating anyone during her appearance at the finale of celebrity talk show 'Koffee With Karan' on Sunday (April 6). The 'Ishaqzaade' actress further said that she is ready to fall in love and get into a relationship reports Times of India.
Parineeti Chopra made her Bollywood debut in 2011 with YRF's 'Ladies vs Ricky Bahl' and later her breakthrough came with 'Ishaqzaade' in 2013, for which she won a National Award.
Parineeti Chopra said, `I really want to be in love. I genuinely want to be in a relationship.`
The actress has been linked with 'Ladies vs Ricky Bahl' and 'Shuddh Desi Romance' director Maneesh Sharma .
Parineeti said she respects Maneesh. Parineeti said, `For me it is - for the lack of better word - cheap, when people say that you have got the film because you are in a relationship with Maneesh. For me Maneesh is like Adi (Aditya Chopra). I respect them both too much. They have given me my whole life. Maneesh and me is just wrong and my respect for him is something else.
When Karan Johar pushed Parineeti Chopra further saying you can love someone you respect, the actress was quick to say, `Yeas but my feeling for Maneesh is totally different and I can't explain it. There is no romance there because I have never thought of him like that.` Parineeti Chopra will be next seen with Aditya Roy Kapur in 'Daawat-e-Ishq'.

Kaif Me If You Can: Isabelle follows sister Kat's footsteps

Katrina Kaif's sister Isabelle has also curiously used Kaif as her second name for her big screen outing
Shakespeare may have said, `What's in a name?`, but in Bollywood, a known last name certainly carries more weight. Katrina Kaif's sister Isabelle, who features in Salman Khan's first international production, 'Dr Cabbie', has also added Kaif to her name. The youngster's name reads as Isabelle Kaif in the film's first look that has just been released.
Says a source, `Isabelle has taken on Katrina's last name for her big screen outing as well. It offers easier recognition and a higher recall value.`
The credits at the end of the first look of Dr Cabbie which features Isabelle Kaif
When Kat started out in Bollywood with Kaizad Gustad's 2003 film 'Boom', she was Katrina Turquotte. The film's producer, Ayesha Shroff, felt that Kat needed an Indian connect since at that time, Indian audiences preferred stars whose names they were familiar with.
Ayesha had initially thought of Katrina Kazi, but later, it was decided that Kazi had religious undertones to it. As Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif was in the limelight at that time, his name was pencilled in.

Incidentally, the initial brochures for Boom had her name as Katrina Kazi, but that was passed off by the makers as a printing error.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

Sonakshi's unrealistic dream?

Actress Sonakshi Sinha hopes the country gets rid of corruption and expects a change in political system after the upcoming Lok Sabha election. 
Sonakshi's father, noted actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, is contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Bihar. On her hope of dream India, Sonakshi says, "To stay corruption free... Everyone is fed up of that main root problem and petrol prices (should reduce)."
Though she won't be entering politics, Sonakshi shares same political ideologies as that of her father. "My father has always taught us that irrespective of the party, whoever is doing good or delivering good work, one must vote for that party. He has followed this always and his heart is in the right place.
Such people (who can deliver) should step into politics," she said. When asked if BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will be able to deliver well, she said, "I hope so... We as nation are looking for change and are serious about it. I believe it is time for change and that change will come."
Sonakshi is happy being an actress and has no plans of entering politics. "There are actually no political aspirations. I think you need to have the right attitude and aptitude for it. I don't think I have the right aptitude for it. I think it is unfair to push somebody in that direction.
Just because my father happens to be a politician. My work, my job is here (in films), I am very happy and content here," she said. The actress also said that she won't be campaigning for her father during the elections but she hopes him to do well in politics.
"I think people are expecting more from me than my father. My father doesn't need me to come there. I am not a political personality, my job is not to go there, my job is to be here and do my work. As a daughter I support him and wish, hope and pray that he does well. He doesn't want me to come there," Sonakshi added.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

Why Should Boys have all the fun? Yami takes off from 'Action Jackson' shoot


Yami Gautam took time off from her film shoots and endorsements for a girls weekend to Krabi, Thailand recently. 

Ever since one of her friend's wedding was fixed, the Vicky Donor and Total Siyappa actress wanted to do something special for her buddy. When shooting in Thailand for Prabhu Dheva's Action Jackson with Ajay Devgn, Yami had checked out the beach resorts and settled for Krabi.

The actress hosted a bachelorette party as a pre-wedding surprise for her pal. And what did the girls do? They went on an endless round of spas and shopping.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

Let Bygones Be Bygones: Raveena and Shilpa's girl bonding

Raveena Tandon and Shilpa Shetty bonded big time at the latter's jewellery store launch. Time was when Ravs and Shilpa couldn't see eye-to-eye due to their involvement with a certain Mr Khiladi. 

In the last couple of years, the two have let bygones be bygones, Shilpa had earlier invited Raveena to her Diwali bash in 2011 after which there has been no looking back.

By arrangement with Mid-Day.com

Sonakshi goes gaga over Arjun Kapoor?

Actress Sonakshi Sinha is working with Arjun Kapoor for the first time in "Tevar" and says she respects her co-star for being a thorough professional.
"He is cordial with everybody. He is not overtly friendly, but he is a very chilled out guy and good to work with," she said. 
"What I really respect and like about him is that he is a good co-star and very professional on the sets and knows what he is doing depite the film being his father's production," added the 26-year-old. 
Both Arjun and Sonakshi are star kids - while Arjun is the son of producer Boney Kapoor, Sonakshi is the daughter of actors Poonam and Shatrughan Sinha.
Sonakshi knows her co-star since her school days as she, Arjun and his cousins - actress sonam Kapoor and her sister, producer Rhea went to the same institution.
Actually, Arjun and I were in the same school. I knew him because Rhea and Sonam too studied in the same school, so I knew him as their cousin brother, but we were never really friends. Now we are just trying to get to know each other. He is really a good actor and bright fellow."

Now Miss World and Bollywood on Koyal Rana's wish list

Jaipur girl Koyal Rana knows what she wants and says after winning the Femina Miss India 2014 title that her next target is Miss World -- but in the meanwhile, if "good Bollywood offers" come her way, she wont' mind accepting them either. 
I am feeling on top of the world. I have clarity about what I exactly want to do in life. After being Miss India, now I aspire to be Miss World," Koyal, who was crowned Saturday at the 51st edition of the beauty pageant here, told IANS. 
She "look up to Sushmita Sen" for inspiration as she feels that the former beauty queen has "achieved so much in her life". 
"Sushmit is a perfect example of beauty with brains. Even she won Miss India title and then she was crowned Miss Universe. Besides that she also does a lot of social work. I totally look up to her," she said. 
"My journey has been great so far and I wish to achieve lot more in life," she added. 
What about films? 
She said: "I am focusing on Miss World, but if I get good Bollywood offers, then I am open to doing films as well. But at the moment it's too early to decide anything."

Born in Jaipur and raised in Delhi, Koyal says education is as important for her as being Miss India.
She said: "Education is certainly important for me. I also want to focus on my studies. I am pursuing Bachelor of Business from Delhi."

Kareena Plays Akshay Kumar's Wife In Gabbar

It's not just a song appearance for Kareena Kapoor in director Krish's Gabbar . It's a full-fledged role.
A friend of Kareena reveals, `Bebo plays Akshay's wife in the film.She is killed before the film begins. So Akshay keeps remembering her in flashbacks. The role is like that of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in Aditya Chopra's Mohabbatein. The film's leading lady played a kind of spirit that ran across the film. Likewise in Gabbar.`
In the original Tamil film entitled Ramanaa Simran had played the role that Kareena has just completed in Gabbar.
Says Kareena's friend, `Bebo and Akshay share a fabulous rapport. They've played husband and wife in Aetraaz. She agreed to do so again because her character propels the story forward.`
Kareena now leaves for Pataudi where Saif's 12-bedroom ancestral palace is being re-done by Kareena and her mother-in-law. `The entire palace is being re-done by Sharmilaji and Bebo.Saif has no time for this He has left the job to the ladies,` says Kareena's friend.
On 7 April Kareena leaves for Bucharest to shoot a cosmetic ad.
Says Kareena's friend, `This is Bebo's first visit to that part of the world.She is very excited.She wants Saif to accompany her. But he cannot spare the time.So Bebo would've to go it alone. These days Bebo is hardly able to meet her husband. Saif and she have not met for nearly a month now.`

Alia wants to marry Ranbir (Bollywood)

Actress Alia Bhatt says she finds Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor adorable and has expressed her desire to marry him.
Alia will be seen in the upcoming episode of filmmaker Karan Johar's celebrity talk show 'Koffee with Karan' and when the host 'asked what is your vibe like with Ranbir', the 21-year-old actress was all praises for him.
"I remember the first time I spoke to Ranbir.. you called him up when 'Rockstar' released and you said, here talk to Ranbir tell him how much you love him. And I just spoke so much rubbish, I was just talking non-stop. But later I have hung out with Ranbir and I still think he is really adorable and I still want to marry him," Alia said.
When asked if she has expressed her love for him to Ranbir's mother Neetu Kapoor and more importantly does Katrina Kaif (his rumoured girlfriend) know about it, Alia said, "Everybody knows my plan. I have gone on record and said it as you said.. and I am very open about it except to Ranbir." In the rapid fire round, when Karan asked Alia to name a person from the film industry who she would like to go on a romantic date with, Alia promptly replied Ranbir.
Alia has been often linked with her 'Student of the Year' co-stars Varun Dhawan and Siddharth Malhotra but she laughs it off saying, "They (Varun and Siddharth) are constantly pulling my leg. O Pari (Parineeti Chopra) is so sexy..O Pari is like this... Pari is like that. But I know that they love me more than her. And its the same with Arjun Kapoor. So that's fine." Arjun was paired opposite Parineeti in his debut film 'Ishaqzaade'.
While Parineeti and Siddharth were seen together in the recently released film 'Hasee toh Phasee'. Also, there have been rumours that Alia and Arjun are dating each other, but the young actress rubbished such reports.
On the worst dressed man in Bollywood, she said, "I think Ranveer (Singh) has been really experimenting, sometimes I think it is really cool but sometimes it is a miss." The upcoming and last episode of the chat show this season will also have Parneeti Chopra as a guest. It will be aired this Sunday on Star World.