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Want to read Shahrukh Khan's blog

Blogging is now no longer an exclusive cyber tool that only journalists and software geeks employ; it is fast being adopted by Bollywood film stars to promote their movies.
For those new to the Internet, a blog, short for web log, can be described as a sort of online diary, that can be viewed by all- like web pages.

From Aamir Khan to Rani Mukherjee and even Amitabh Bachchan, they have all entered chat rooms and blog spaces to woo fans all across the globe.

"Blogs have traditionally been used for communication of the litterati types. Till six months back they were being used by journalists, writers and techies for information sharing. But now these blogs have reached a new level - to the common man," says Krishna Prasad, head, programming, MSN India.

"Blogs are reaching new communities, larger bases and Bollywood is one of them. Since it is a medium for communication, it is a big opportunity for entertainment," says Prasad.

Many producers are setting up full fledged websites of their movies so that they can be promoted in one go all over the world, he says.

The chat and blog story of film stars initially started with Lagaan. "It was the first such experiment and people went crazy. When Aamir was chatting, we had over 1000 users in one go," says Yasheel Jain, Head, Chat group of a website.

"It was also the time when we received maximum hits," he says noting "it is like being in direct touch with the star..... it works very well for the movie."

However, Prasad says these blogs are an indirect method of film promotion in the sense that they are not promoting the movie. "We use stars as the medium, they tell people about themselves, their work and the particular movie. Since it is not possible for filmstars to answer 20,000 questions, everything they want to say can be reached to masses through the blog."

MSN set up a blog for Aamir at the time of Mangal Pandey and again for Rang De Basanti. "There is something intriguing about him. People want to know about him all the time and so his blog is an instant hit," he says.

Blog groups are also putting up webcasts of the premiere of the movies along with the blog to lure more people. "Blogs are infact emerging as an ideal vehicle for film cast to interact with a wider audience on their movie, its making and on the special events leading upto its release," he says.

But then Prasad laments, "You can't use this sort of promotion for each and every film, Only big names sell. People would want to read what the Big 'B' or King Khan have to say. But they would lose their meaning if every Tom, Dick and Harry in Bollywood sets up a blog."

He says besides film stars, those associated with TV and soaps are also using this medium in a big way to promote their TV serials, besides offering a peep into the lives of these actors.   

Meet Salman's new heroines

Not only has Bollywood run out of original ideas, but it is also recycling names of old hit films. Now, the classic Amitabh Bachchan-Shashi Kapoor comedy Do Aur Do Paanch is being remade, but with female protagonists.
Amitabh's character is being played by Shivi Malhota, and Vishaka Singh steps into Shashi's shoes. The movie, directed by Abhijeet Sengupta, revolves around these two heroines playing orphaned sisters. If reports are to be belived, the film also stars Salman Khan!

In real life, the two girls are poles apart, despite the fact that they share their birthday -- May 5.

Read on to find out more about these new Bollywood entrants.

Vishaka has lovely eyes, with a determined jaw line.
Born on the fifth hour of the fifth day of the fifth month, Vishaka ignored her bachelor's in business administration and came to Mumbai with stars in her eyes and dreams of being the next Rani Mukerji.

Her parents were sceptical. They gave her just 10 days to try her luck; she was offered an advertising assignment on the ninth day.

The visibility the ad gave her resulted in a few movie offers. She auditioned for Swades, and among 25 girls who were shortlisted, she made it to the final three.
Then she was offered a role in the skin-fest Neal 'N' Nikki. But three kisses and a bikini did not appeal to her.

Then came the Do Aur Do Paanch offer, and she accepted. Being the shorter of the two girls, she plays the younger sister.

On the sets, she recollects one memorable scene. "Ranjeet, the villain, had to push me. He did that a little too forcefully, and I went flying out of the frame. Without batting an eyelid, Shivi grabbed me and set me upright. We continued with the shoot."

Shivi Malhotra is fair, tall, funny and so full of energy that you expect her to blast off at any moment.
She was born in Canada and moved to Florida as a teenager, where she did a course in film and television. Then came a New York movie, Indian Fish In American Waters. She came to India to integrate art and social work. She wants to act and use the money she earns to empower women in India.

When asked about the men, she replies, "The men here are already independent, it's the women I want to help."

This she plans to do by teaching arts and crafts.

In Mumbai, she wanted to act in art films. But she found a break difficult and so she turned to commercial movies.

A year and a half after she landed in India, Do Aur Do Paanch came along.
About the differences between New York and Mumbai, she says she has realised that there when they do not like you for a role, they say, 'No!'; in India they say, 'We will see.'

She appeared for many an audition before she got the Do Aur Do Paanch role. "You have to keep putting the coins in, before you hit the jackpot," is her take.

In the West, casting directors asked her to be subtle, but here "it was more lively, like you hit the audience on the head with your act."

Let's wait and watch if the two new girls can hit Bollywood audiences on the head with their act.

Kalau u all nak tengok interviews with BOllywood stars and Karan JOhar as the host...tengok StarWorld channel 18 every sunday night pukul 9.00pm malam...Cable Vision...Singapore

Originally posted by ss290353 at 8-2-2006 09:23 PM
Kalau u all nak tengok interviews with BOllywood stars and Karan JOhar as the host...tengok StarWorld channel 18 every sunday night pukul 9.00pm malam...Cable Vision...Singapore

Wah...unfortunately,me tkde SCV la.. :-(

Abhishek dragged Ash to the dance floor!

A star gives a first-hand account of how Aishwarya floored birthday boy Abhishek.

Aishwarya Rai looked slightly tense when she arrived at Abhishek's birthday. But later, she hugged AB-junior before gawking onlookers, saying, "Hey, birthday boy!"Then Abhishek escorted her to the party, holding her hand.

Big-B and Jaya were also waiting for Ash. "Jaya Bachchan introduced her to all her relatives. Shweta made it a point to be around Ash, seeing to it that she was comfortable.

Most of Abhishek's heroines were also present at the party, including Priyanka Chopra. Priyanka (whom Abhishek prefers to call Piggy Chops) was seen giggling away. Abhishek hugged Priyanka too, and kissed her hand.

Ash observed this from a distance, later she was seen in a whispered conversation with Abhishek. No one knows what passed between the two of them, but after this converstaion, everyone noticed a change in Abhishek's behaviour. He became more formal with his female co-stars.

This was probably the first time that Ash was so open, before the entire film industry, about her fondness for Abhishek.

After Abhishek Bachchan cut the huge chocolate cake he made it a point in give a piece to Ash, after Amitabh and Jaya. Ash brought a small gift for Abhishek which, of course, he didn't open at the party.

The two danced to Right here right now and Kajra re. Every time Ash tried to leave the dance floor, Abhishek dragged her back.

Abhishek Bachan


Aishwarya Rai

Hrithik was the first choice for Karan in RDB  

Whoever has seen Rang De Basanti, can抰 stop talking about it. The surprise package of the film was Siddharth who plays Karan and Bhagat Singh. Post RDB, this young actor has found many a fans in women all over the country. But did you know that the original choice for this role was heartthrob Hrithik Roshan? Apparently, Aamir Khan wanted Hrithik for this role. So much so, that he actually went to meet Hrithik along with Rakeysh. It seems that Hrithik wanted to play Aamir抯 role. But Rakesh Roshan has denied this and stated that Hrithik could not do the film since he was shooting for Krrish. Incidentally, even Arjun Rampal was slated to do the same role. However, due to differences with the producers, the role was finally passed on to Siddharth. That抯 Bollywood! You win some, you lose some!

Hrithik Roshan

Preity Zinta to present Jain Trophy on Sunday
  
Preity Zinta has been invited to present the Dr. S C Jain Sprinters

Deepa Mehta signs John, wants Amitabh for next

The raves and waves for Water have still to reach their optimum level. But the film's director Deepa Mehta and leading man John Abraham have decided to come together again.

Deepa has decided to sign John for a key role in her next project Komagata Maru.

Says Deepa: "After Water I have realised how professional and pleasant Indian actors can be. John's discipline before, during and after Water is exemplary. Here was this actor from an English-speaking background who mastered the Sanskrit words in the dialogues, learnt to play the flute and to wear the dhoti and came on location in Sri Lanka fully prepared.

"I was totally bowled over. As the shooting progressed, I realised what a fine performer John was. I think subconsciously I had made up my mind to work with John again even before Water was completed."

Deepa is also keen to have Amitabh Bachchan play a central role in Komagata Maru.

"I think it's very important to have the cast in place. When I close my eyes, I see Mr Bachchan and John in Komagata Maru."
Elaborating on the impact John has made on the director personally and on the movie, Deepa says: "His goodness of heart shows up on screen and in his real-life conduct. You have no idea how much of an impact John made with his performance. He has mobs of fans of every age and gender running after him."

Deepa regrets her first choice for the two leads in Water didn't work out.

"I sincerely wanted Kareena Kapoor for the main lead. I had seen her in Refugee and thought she was the perfect blend of beauty and talent. She's ethereal. I thought she would be perfect as Kalyani. I flew down to Mumbai, met her with her mom. Kareena seemed so excited. Then suddenly I was left with only her secretary to deal with...

"As for Rahul Khanna, I am very fond of him. It's a pity he couldn't do Water. But it was all for the best. Because I can't imagine Water without John and Lisa."

John goes into Komagata Maru as soon as Deepa finishes her script. "Right now we are enjoying the attention after Water."

John Abraham


Amitabh Bachan

John Abraham on bikes and Bips!

On Sunday, Bollywood hunk John Abraham joins Simi Garewal in her popular chat show Rendezvous with Simi Garewal.

And the two chat about everything from bikes to Bipasha.

Simi: Fame and adulation is something that happens outside of you. Does it change something inside as well?

John: It does to an extent. In the sense, it works two ways actually. Either you become a little more secure about yourself or you become a little more insecure about yourself post getting a lot of fame. Because the more you get the more you want. And that is where most of us fall, very honestly.

Simi: Didn't you date a lot of girls?

John: I did date girls, but there were never one-night stands or frivolous relationships.

Simi: When you started seeing Bipasha you were quite unknown and today it's you who gets the most attention. Has that changed the balance in your relationship?

John: Not in the relationship. But, yes, the projection outside the relationship has changed. You know, earlier I was Bipasha Basu's boyfriend but today, I am John Abraham. I have an identity of myself. It's great to be in a relationship, but it is very important to be known singularly.

Simi: Is your relationship settled enough to withstand the pressures of Bollywood?

John: Our relationship is very settled because Bipasha is very mature. But there are pressures other than Bollywood. There is compatibility; there are other issues that are more important than just pressures from outside and I think that's something we deal with in everyday life.

Simi: Are you protective or do you like to be mothered?

John: Well, I thought I was protective. But when Bipasha and I argue, she always says, 'Don't treat me like your mother.' Because I am always being pampered, I need food to be served, but I am quite self-sufficient when I am alone. But, I guess you take people for granted when you know they are there. I know Bipasha is always around.

Simi: Are you a better brother, lover or son?

John: Better son. I would like to believe so. I want to keep my parents extremely happy.

Simi: Is money important?

John: Yes, money is very important. But I don't splurge. For me, one rupee is 100 paise. I have imbibed the value for money from my father. I did my schooling from Bombay Scottish, where all my mates had cars. I used to demand my father for a car. But, he always told me, 'Learn to travel like a common man.' Even today, my father travels by public transport in spite of me having gifted him a car with a driver.

Simi: Is a bike a female or male?

John: She. She is elegant, graceful.

Simi: So, there are two shes in your life?

John: Yes, one keeps changing and getting updated.

Simi: And the other?

John: The other one is constant.

John Abraham


Bipasha Basu

Censors passed Holiday without cuts: Pooja Bhatt

Pooja Bhatt says she has broken a record of sorts with Holiday as it is the first film from the Bhatt banner to get a 'U' certificate without any cuts.

"It is a family film and for the first time in the Bhatt khandan a film has got a 'U' certificate without any cuts. It is a record. We had got a 'U' in Tammana and Sur but with a few cuts and now I have broken the record," Pooja told IANS in an interview.

Holiday, starring Dino Morea and Onjolee Nair, hit the screens this Friday and is Pooja's third film. The director points out that newcomer Onjolee faces the camera without any makeup.

"In today's time there is so much pressure on women to be perfect. The special thing about Holiday is that you have a heroine who says don't hide behind your makeup - take your makeup off and face the world the way you are."

Dino plays a dance instructor in the film.

"About Dino people used to say he is not a dancer. That only Hrithik Roshan or Shahid Kapur can dance, but if you watch the film you won't say Dino is not a dancer."

The film is Pooja's baby, as she didn't take any help from her father for it on the sets.

"I am very proud of Holiday because for the first time I have made a film without Bhatt saab. If there is any flaw in the film, I will be responsible for it. And if the film succeeds at box office - I can say proudly I am Mahesh Bhatt's daughter.
"After watching the film, Bhatt saab sent me a message, 'I can die peacefully now'. That's the greatest compliment you could get from your father."

She is candid about her domineering image. "If a woman talks a little loudly they say she is a fascist but if a man puts you on hold for five minutes on the phone you will say he is very ambitious.

"You are a journalist, you won't get a bite if you don't push and shout. Similarly, I won't get a shot if I don't shout."

The film was screened late last year at Kara Film Festival in Karachi and was received well.

"General (Pervez) Musharraf came for the closing ceremony and thanked all Indian artistes. I almost fell off the chair because he took my name and said 'I know Pooja is here and I know she has done some good work'. So it is a great compliment for you when your enemy praises you."

Pooja also takes credit for introducing models in the industry, John Abraham being a prime example. "It is easier to work with models," she says.

"The reason is they are familiar with the camera and know how to hold themselves in front of the still camera or when the camera rolls. You don't have to teach them the basics. The fallacy that models can't act, I think, we proved wrong with John," she added.

She insists she has just taken a break from acting.

"I have not quit acting, I have a taken a break from acting. I think after doing movies like Daddy, Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Sir, Zakhm and Tamanna, you get a little spoilt for roles. Unless the role is as challenging as Zakhm or as special as Everybody Says I Am Fine, why should I act?"

Pooja, who tied the knot with VJ-turned-hotelier Munish Makhija, believes a good marriage means no change in you and a bad marriage forces you to change.

"So luckily for me I met a man who is big enough in his heart to be able to absorb me the way I am."

Aamir Khan will be back on BBC  

Some weeks back, UTV had got Aamir Khan to do an exclusive chat with his worldwide fans on the BBC Asian Network to promote his recent hit, 'Rang De Basanti'.
Given the overwhelming response to the film and to Aamir that day, the BBC Asian Networks Film Caf

Aftab Shivdasani turns producer!

With actors like Sunjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Suneil Shetty, Saif Ali Khan, Aamir Khan and many others turning producers, it is Aftab抯 turn now. Yes, the Mast boy is ready to add another leaf to his career.

However, Aftab is not keen on revealing much about the project. His father confirms the news saying,  揧es, he is turning producer but there are lots of things to be worked out. So things are just progressing slowly and steadily but there are too many things to get into the right place. Let us see how things shapes up?

When Sameera's 'dil' went 'dhak dhak' for Salman

The voluptuous Sameera Reddy might not still have found her Prince Charming, but she vividly remembers her first crush. This was when she was still in school and had yet to step into her teens. At twelve, the young Sameera, suddenly discovered what it was to passionately love someone, when she watched Maine Pyar Kiya and fell head over heels in love with the cute and macho Salman Khan. She says she got so carried away with the movie that she ended up seeing it 16 times! She used to come back from school, throw her bag on a chair and sit down and watch the movie without even bothering to change or wash! Her family got quite exasperated with her infatuation with the movie.

Luckily for Sameera, Salman Khan was a family friend, and when her parents saw how their daughter just couldn't have enough of her screen idol, they even invited him over for her birthday party. Sameera dressed up in a velvet gown for the occasion, but was too star struck to say anything to him. Salman was gracious enough to attend the party and treated the lovestruck teenager like the kid that she was.

After meeting Salman, Sameera was in a daze throughout the day. Later he invited her over to make friends with his younger sister Arpita. Sameera's crush for Salman lasted for full two years. Much later in life, when chubby Sameera had transformed into a sultry siren, Salman offered her a role opposite his brother in Maine Dil Tujhe Diya .

Sameera Reddy


Salman Khan

Wedding bells for Amisha?

Amisha Patel and Vikram Bhatt have been a couple for quite some time now and from initially denying their relationship, to serenading their love in public, it was only a matter of time before the two decided to tie the knot. The couple's romance has had its share of controversy, with Amisha's parents accusing the married Vikram Bhatt of misleading Amisha and of causing a rift between them and their daughter. It was Vikram Bhatt who made Amisha threaten to sue her parents for misappropriation of her funds, leading to her walking out on her parents and home.

If industry insiders are to be believed the two are now contemplating sealing their relationship by exchaging marrage vows. The marriage might be as soon as next month. What caused these rumours to surface was the actress' keenness to wrap up her current projects by March. She has announced that she will be taking on fewer movies in the near future.

Vikram Bhatt is also settling all pending legal and other domestic issues with his wife, another indicaiton that he might be serious about starting afresh with Amisha, very soon.

Hrithik Roshan turned down Rang De Basanti

None other than Aamir Khan tried to persuade Hrithik to sign on for the movie. But Hrithik wasn't convinced about his role. We are talking about Karan's role, which ultimately went to Siddharth. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the director of the movie first approached Hrithik to do the role. Luckily for Siddhartha, Hrithik's refusal to do the role, did wonders for his career, providing him an excellent launchpad to showcase his acting skills.

Hrithik seems to have made it a habit to turn down sure winners. After his string of flops, he has become extremely cautious about the movies he is offered, preferring to limit himself to his father's productions. In the process he has lost out on doing Main Hoon Na where he was offered Shah Rukh's younger brother's role.

Other than his father's Krrish, the only other movies he has taken on are Dhoom 2 and Akbar Jodha. The former is sure to be a huge success at the box office, while the latter, being an Ashutosh Gowariker movie, has already generated a lot of buzz in the market.

Shah Rukh Khan loses his wedding ring

Others might feel superstitious about losing it, but not Shah Rukh Khan who lost his wedding ring during the shooting of Farhan Akhtar's Don. The ring slipped off and soon couldn't be found.

This wasn't the first time that King Khan has lost his ring.

This time he had everyone on the sets searching for it, jokingly saying that unless they did, he would have to get married again, to get himself a new wedding ring.

Everyone on the sets had a good laugh at his joke. Wonder if it was only that? Or is the often misplaced ring a premonition of things to come? Will Shah Rukh be going the Aamir way?

What stars really think of Filmfare

Fardeen's Qurbani for dad!  

Once a stylish filmmaker, always a stylish filmmaker. That's Feroz Khan for you. The debonair filmmaker has decided to come out of his self imposed exile and get behind the camera once again. And this time he doesn't want to experiment or take a chance. Instead, he will rely on a tried and tested formula - that of a remake. So after a series of remakes made news in Bollywood, Feroz Khan too has decided to jump into the remake foray and will be remaking one of his own classics - his 80's hit movie Qurbani. And guess who is going to play the lead role? None other than beta Fardeen. Now that抯 what we call following in dad抯 footsteps!   

Aftab-Yana: 慒ood

Gurdas teams up with Juhi again!  

After the grand success and much deserved National Award for Des Hoyaa Pardes, popular Punjabi singer turned producer cum actor Gurdas Maan has decided to cast himself once again with his lead heroine and lucky mascot Juhi Chawla to make a film based on the life of the legendary Sufi poet Waris Shah who wrote one of the greatest epics Heer Ranjha. No prizes for guessing who's going to play Heer and Ranjha in the film!  

Juhi Chawla