Shahid Kapur to receive Rajiv Gandhi Award

I feel humbled and honoured, says actor

After eminent personalities like Sachin Tendulkar, Mukesh Ambani, Sunita Williams and Amitabh Bachchan, Bollywood actor Shahid Kapur becomes the latest recipient of the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Award.
The 28-year-old is going to be presented with the 12th Rajiv Gandhi Award in the best actor category. The award function will be held in the second week of August.

"I was pleasantly surprised to get the news about my being chosen for the prestigious award. I am only 28 years old and it's really early in my career. I feel humbled and honoured to be chosen by the jury," said Shahid.

This year, Shahid will be seen in three films - Vishal Bharadwaj's "Kaminey" opposite Priyanka Chopra, Aditya Chopra's "Dil Bole Hadippa" opposite Rani Mukerji and a Ken Ghosh movie opposite Genelia D'Souza.

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After Salman, Aamir is a painter too!

Clever cookie Aamir Khan is at it again. Though wife Kiran Rao’s Dhobi Ghat has been promoted as Pratiek Babber’s starring film, Aamir Khan has a significant role in it and not a cameo.

A source explains why this marketing strategy will benefit Khan. “It is a very clever marketing gimmick to say that Aamir only has a guest appearance in the film. It ensures that the audience will go to watch the film with minimum expectations from an actor of Aamir’s calibre. What the filmmakers want is for the audience to be glad to see Aamir throughout the film after expecting him to play a brief role in it. Consequently, viewers will feel that they have got more than their money’s worth and that will work in the film’s favour. Which is why, it has been intentionally announced that Aamir only has a cameo in the film. Actually, Aamir plays the central character along with Pratiek. Even the publicity around Aamir will be low-key.”

And what role does Aamir play in the film? “Aamir shot for 30 days for the film. He plays a painter who lives and works from his tiny studio-apartment in a noisy and congested Mumbai neighbourhood (Bhuleshwar in South Mumbai). In our normal day-to-day life we meet so many people on a daily basis… say a watchman, a servant or a dhobi. Pratiek plays a dhobi and the film is about how one day such people become very significant in your life. That’s the story of Kiran never wanted to cast Aamir in the film but Aamir insisted and even screen tested for the role.”

The film is complete and is under going post-production and will release in a couple of months. Singer Monica Dogra of Shaa’ir + Func plays the female lead in it. It is Kiran Rao’s directorial debut.

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Salman Khan is a lion heart

Bollywood’s daredevil is all set to wrestle a lion in Veer. He is doing to save a damsel in distress. The lady in question is Lisa Lazarus.

Salman Khan is back in an action role after a very long time and he is leaving no stone unturned to make a memorable impact. He won’t fight the lion in a loin cloth but in all his warrior costume glory.

So is Salman worried about the upcoming sequence? “No, not at all! Salman is a Veer in true sense. Besides, the lion which will be utilised for the shoot will be trained,” said a source.

Director Vijay Galani explained the scene, “The scene is a rescue act. Liza Lazarus (Miss UK Universe 2008) is on a hunting spree in the jungle. Suddenly, a lion attacks her. Salman spots her in trouble and fights the lion to save her.”

The fight scene will be shot abroad next month. “We have not decided on the foreign location, but it will surely not be shot in India. We don't have very good facilities to shoot such scenes here.”

Salman has written the script and is very excited about the film. He often gives his creative inputs and this scene is no exception.

“The scene was always there in the original script but we had reserved the shooting for the end. We will need three days to film the scene with the lion. Salman is very excited about this. Ditto for Liza,” said the director.

It has been a while since such scenes have been shot. Dharmendra started the trend with Maa (1976) when he wrestled with a tiger. He also did a similar sequence in Kartavya (1979).

This is the first time one of the hottest Khans around will be wrestling a lion. Salman is the perfect choice, the lion could gobble up Aamir and SRK, don't you think so?

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Wishing Priyanka Chopra a very happy Birthday!

Even though she has 'PR' as her initial two letters in her name, she is one chic who just does not need any PR to be in the news. On the other hand, it's the term 'PR' that feels honoured and gratified to be a part of her name. We are indeed talking about the one and only gorgeously astonishing girl whom the world knows as 'Priyanka Chopra'. We would rather call her the 'Birthday Girl' as she celebrates her grand birthday today (18th July).

Hailing from a middle class family, Priyanka is a perfect example of ethics, morals, values and principles. Not just that, she is also an epitome of three vital ingredients that's required to be extraordinarily successful, viz., hard work, dedication and sincerity. All that it took for Priyanka is a win at the Miss India competition which eventually escalated her to an emphatic win at the Miss World pageant, followed by a galore of never-ending list of modeling assignments! After all of this, was her ultimate step towards superstardom which came in a golden platter called 'Bollywood'. A sample list of films that can be termed 'instrumental' for her to be today's Numero Uno', include the likes of Andaaz, Krrish, Don - The Chase Begins, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Aitraaz, Fashion, Dostana... to name a few.

Join Bollywood Buzz as we wish Priyanka Chopra a very happy Birthday simply by posting your wishes below:

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In Pics: Anushka Sharma walks the ramp

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In Pics: Neha Dhupia at the launch of an Samsung's automatic Washing Machine in Chennai

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In Pics: Rakhi Ka Swayamvaram

Rakhi Ka Swayamvaram Photos..

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Jashnn - Movie Review

The Bhatts have often told stories that seem straight out of everyday life. Their new outing JASHNN also mirrors the thoughts of zillions of hopefuls. It's about a nobody who wants to achieve success in life, wants to live his dreams, wants to become a somebody some day. In that respect, JASHNN, with director duo Raksha Mistry and Hasnain Hyderabadwala in the driving seat, drives home the point convincingly.

You can't deny the fact that JASHNN brings back memories of the immensely likable ROCK ON!!, for JASHNN is also about a boy band, about dreams, about defeat and about success. Like ROCK ON!!, JASHNN also looks at relationships, but the relationships here are poles apart.

In this case, the protagonist [Adhyayan Suman] is living off his sister [Shahana Goswami], who is reduced to being the mistress of a wealthy entrepreneur [Humayun Saeed] and who loathes the protagonist. Actually, the relationship between the siblings and also the volatile relationship between Adhyayan and Humayun are the mainstay of the film. Sequences between them expose the stark reality of life.

But JASHNN is not without its share of hiccups. The romantic track could've been as intense as the volatile ones. Also, it gets long drawn towards the second hour and robs the film of its sheen to an extent. But the climax more than compensates for the blemishes. Thankfully!

All said and done, JASHNN is yet another compelling tale from the house of Bhatts. Super music coupled with bravura performances from its principal cast makes JASHNN an interesting watch.

Akash [Adhyayan Suman] thirsts to become a singing icon. But though he has dreams in his heart, he is unable to find that distinctive voice that he can call his own, that will propel him to the top. Only when he confronts a bitter truth - that he is freeloading off his elder sister Nisha [Shahana Goswami], who, in order to offer him a decent lifestyle, has become the mistress of a rich businessman Aman Bajaj [Humayun Saeed] - is he is able to touch his inner core.

Jashnn Call it irony or a twist of fate, but the person who sees him through this dark night and mentors him when he's down and out is none other than the sister of the person who he hates most in the world - Aman Bajaj. It is Sara [Anjana Sukhani], Aman's sister, who makes him realize that he is an extremely talented man and is simply going through a bad phase.

In the end, he not only touches his inexhaustible potential and becomes an overnight star, but also humbles his biggest detractor Aman Bajaj and in the process, lives up to the faith that his sister and Sara had in him all along.

Director duo Raksha and Hasnain step into a different domain [emotions], after attempting thrillers. And the relationships here are too complex. Some instances...

* Watch out for the tiff between Adhyayan and Humayun, when the latter abuses Shahana. The subsequent sequence, when Adhyayan apologises to Humayun at his office, is heart-breaking.

* Here's another. Adhyayan and Shahana enter Anjana's party and the confrontation that ensues with Humayun there. Another master stroke!

* Note another sequence. In the post-interval portions, Adhyayan's demo is rejected by the music company baron and his outburst at this point. It breaks your heart!

* The same night, he takes refuge in drinks and even robs money from another guest at the hotel. What happens thereafter is astonishing.

* In the climax, Adhyayan calls his sister on stage and makes her accept the trophy from Humayun. Clapworthy, but deeply emotional!

But, as mentioned earlier, JASHNN loses its grip during the romantic sequences. The film dips in the second hour, which is long drawn and half as convincing at times. The low phase that Adhyayan goes through could've been more effective and shorter.

Jashnn Director duo Raksha and Hasnain show sparks of brilliance in the above-mentioned scenes and they get solid help from writer Shagufta Rafique, whose screenplay is watertight, barring the portions mentioned above. You expect every Bhatt movie to be embellished with melodious and soulful music and the songs in JASHNN are seeped in melody, especially the final track. Dialogues are powerful and dipped in acid at times. Camerawork is up to the mark.

All four actors shine in their respective roles. Adhyayan Suman takes giant strides. Note the helplessness, the sorrow, the dejection and the eventual exhilaration. This is Adhyayan's showreel. Humayun Saeed, from across the border, is brilliant. This film makes you wake up to this talent, which gives the film a rich texture. Here's an actor to watch. Shahana Goswami is already going from strength to strength and JASHNN only proves that she's matchless. She handles her part with amazing understanding. Anjana Sukhani is a revelation. Again, this film should act as a showreel for her. She's excellent.

On the whole, JASHNN is a moving tale with three USPs - its music, the emotional quotient and the performances by its four actors. Despite some loose ends, it should slowly and steadily win over cinegoers based on these three factors.

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No going shirtless, I have a girl: Imran

Imran Khan personified the term ‘cool dude’ when he came to Delhi on Thursday.

In a Superman tee, which showed a bit of the tattoo on the back of his neck, a pair of fashionably tattered jeans, an electric blue belt and sneakers, Imran exuded casual cool. He was here for a Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM activity – Mall Pe Kabza – which was held to celebrate Mirchi’s newly launched show 18 Hamesha with RJ Stutee at DLF Place, Saket.

And looking the way he did, Delhi girls didn’t spare him for a single moment. “Marry me!” said one of the 500 girls who’d gathered at the mall to meet Imran and enjoy shopping, a sumptuous lunch and a latest film as a part of the 18 Hamesha gang. “Take your shirt off!” shouted another, adding, “Flex your muscles for me, Imran.” And all Imran could manage was, “Please stop screaming, you’re embarrassing me. There’s no shirtless scene in my next film! I have an evening flight back to Mumbai, where my girlfriend is going to tell me that I came to Delhi just to flirt with the girls here. Waise, in Mumbai, we believe that Delhi girls are hotter. I’m going to take my report card back and tell the others about the girls here.”

“No, no, take that shirt off,” insisted a fan. “Listen, I’m not the Khan that takes his shirt off! I’m a different Khan,” Imran said.

But the girls couldn’t get enough of him. “How did you propose to Avantika?” enquired a girl, adding, “Could you do what you did for her here?” “I’m slightly old-fashioned on matters concerning love, etc. I think the guy should make the first move,” Imran said. “I didn’t go down on my knees, exactly, but I asked one of Avantika’s friends to take her out. And with the help of another friend of hers, I decorated her room with candles. That was how I proposed. I’ve been seeing her for the last six-and-a-half years now and I know that it’s a good thing to be scared of your girlfriends. All smart guys are!” said Imran.

Yatish Mehrishi, cluster head and station director, Radio Mirchi, was present too. “Imran’s given us a cool break in this hot weather. Our show, which is aired Monday to Saturday between 11 am to 2 pm with RJ Stutee, is about those who, even if not 18, want to stay 18 Hamesha,” he said.

And when we got to speak to Imran one-on-one, inside the Radio Mirchi live studio at the venue, we were the subjects of much jealousy. Is he a tattoo person – there’s a tattoo on the back of his neck. “It’s a sun and it represents Gen X – my generation. My best friend designed it and we went out and got it done at 17. I do like tattoos because I think they’re an interesting way of expressing yourself. But it’s something permanent, you have to be clear about what you get tattooed because you’re going to have it for life,” he added.

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My Name Is Khan set being constructed at Film City

The cast and crew of Karan Johar’s My Name is Khan is back from San Francisco and according to sources, the next schedule of the film is most likely to take place at Film City.

READ MORE ON SRKTHEDON

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Big B home alone, as family visits Amar

With his family in Singapore by best friend Amar Singh’s side, lending emotional support to the politician who has undergone a surgery, Amitabh Bachchan who was diagnosed with a stomach ailment was resting at his bungalow Prateeksha.

Insiders say the superstar has been advised complete rest by his super-efficient medical team.

He has even been keeping away from answering regular emails, etc. If his health looks up, the actor, however, is likely to go to Singapore (reportedly accompanied by his own physician) because he wants to personally be there for Amar Singh.

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Priyanka Chopra turns 27 Saturday, wants a quiet birthday

She is one of Bollywood's leading actresses and turns 27 Saturday. But Priyanka Chopra says she is not a party animal and would like to just have a quiet birthday with her near and dear ones.

"I'm not a big party person and I don't like throwing parties at all. So this time a lot of my family members have decided to fly down to be with me," Priyanka said.

"It's likely to be a day spent doing nothing in particular - just hanging out with the people who love me and want to be around me to make my day special. That's all," she added.

Priyanka has had a fulfilling year with two hits "Fashion" and "Dostana", which fetched her lots of awards.

She is entering a new year in her life, but hasn't set any goals for herself.

"I've never set any goals for myself. I've always been destiny's child and destiny has always looked after me. I think someone up there always manages my life and does what's best for me. So I just leave it up to Him. I just work hard at what he sends my way," she said.

Currently, Priyanka is busy shooting for Yash Raj Films' "Pyaar Impossible" along with Uday Chopra and Dino Morea.

The actress is also looking forward to the release of Vishal Bharadwaj's "Kaminey" with Shahid Kapoor and Ashutosh Gowariker's "What's Your Rashee?" in which she plays 12 different roles.

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Yash Raj Films denies signing Salman Khan

Bollywood's prestigious banner Yash Raj Films has denied reports that it has signed Salman Khan for a movie, saying they are "completely baseless".

It was reported that writer-turned-director Vijay Krishna Acharya, whose directorial debut "Tashan" was produced by the banner, is directing his second film for Yash Raj Films and that Salman would star in it.


"We would like to clarify that this is a completely baseless and incorrect story. Vijay is still in the process of writing his next script for Yash Raj Films. No casting has therefore been done nor has anyone been considered for the same," stated the banner.

"As and when we do finalise the script and the casting is complete, a suitable announcement will be made," it added.

Salman, who has worked with almost all the filmmakers in the industry, is yet to be seen in a Yash Raj Films production.

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Hollywood smitten by Priyanka

Award-winning international director-producer Ben Rekhi has his eyes set on Bollywood sensation Priyanka Chopra to feature in his film based on debutant novelist Karan Bajaj's best-selling novel, Keep Off The Grass and his forthcoming magnum opus.

Ben says, "I'm writing a graphic novel with Kamlesh Pandey (writer of Rang De Basanti, Delhi-6 etc) which I'll make into a movie. It'll be ready in the next two months. The film will be called Beti and it'll be a superhero sci-fi film where I want Priyanka Chopra to play the lead."

While this American director is best known for writing, directing and producing his directorial debut Waterborne with Shabana Azmi, he's awestruck by Priyanka Chopra's beauty, he said ecstatically, "I met Priyanka two weeks back at the photoshoot of a magazine but I didn't tell her about this project of mine because I didn't want to talk about work when she was already working," he says, adding, "She is unbelievable. I would be really excited to make a film with her."

The movie based on the book will be in Hinglish and though the book mentions the protagonist joining IIM Bangalore, Ben says, "We will not shoot at IIM Bangalore for this part. I was doing a recce at the institute for Rajkumar Hirani's 3 Idiots. I don't think I'll shoot there because I know there'll be a lot of comparisons between my film and 3 Idiots."

Ben has worked with George Clooney in Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, where he shot some portions which Clooney had asked him to can. Will he cast a biggie like Clooney with Piggy? Wait and watch!

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Mugdha-Bipasha Dost Dost

Rohit Shetty’s All The Best has wrapped up. However, all wasn’t hunky dory on the sets as leading ladies Bipasha and Mugdha didn’t get along.

A source tells, “Bipasha is a veteran compared to newbie Mugdha (even though Mugdha is more talented than Bips and is equally hot). The two actresses were insecure about the length of footage they had in a song. Bipasha is a good dancer and thought of mentoring Mugdha. She wore the choreographer’s hat, even though Bosco and Caesar were present and showed her some steps. This may not have gone down very well with the graceful and Kathak-trained dancer Mugdha.”

He further adds, “Apparently, the actresses couldn’t tolerate each other. Shooting the second song became even more difficult, almost impossible as the actresses refused to be in the same frame. Bips can be quite demanding and Mugdha, who was at the top of her game in modelling, is not someone to back down. Also, Bips has a problem with most of her co-stars, be it Neil Nitin Mukesh or Katrina Kaif. She even tried to pull down Deepika Padukone during the promotions of Bachna Ae Haseeno. Mugdha on the other hand is quite a friendly girl. She is friends with her co-stars Neil, Priyanka and Kangna.”

Bips said that everyone had a great time while shooting and she had no problem with Mugdha or with anyone on the set, Mugdha corroborated her claim as she told us, “I don’t want to talk about it as there is no truth to it. Please understand.”

StarBoxOffice thinks we will have to wait and watch whether the dusky hot women are the latest girlfriends in town or the latest rivals in town. It’s high time Bips grew up and stopped acting so high-handed.

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Babe Vs Baba mud slinging

And the Babe Vs Baba debate continues…

Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley has been publicly ridiculed by yogic mahaguru Baba Ramdev who seems to be of the opinion that 'actresses like her' change partners every month. An infuriated Celina has shot back stating, “Well, isn't it strange that this great Brahamachari seems to know more about my sex life then I may know myself?”

Baba has accused her on national television of not having any moral integrity or bharatiya sanskriti. Celina, in her outburst has asked him to check her 10 point reference to give her a clean chit on her being more swadesi than most Indians.

1) I am a 4th generation Bhartiya fauji kid. (Father, V.K. Jaitley was Indian Army colonel and mother Meeta, a nurse also in the Indian army)

2) I am a Bhartiya Sundari 2001 (Femina Miss India)

3) My 80 per cent education has been in Bhartiya Hindi medium at Kendriya Vidyalaya

4) My education background is science and computers

5) I had Sanskrit as a subject until 10th grade

6) I have lived all my life in the interiors of India

7) I speak five Indian languages

8) I can recite 500 Sanskrit shlokas

9) I have been a Yoga practitioner since the age of 14

10) Need I say more?

All this volley of words started when Baba learnt of Celina’s support to the gay movement in the country, after section 377 was decriminalised, which makes consensual sex between adults, irrespective of their sexual orientation not illegal.

The ball is back in the baba’s court, wonder what he has to say about her now. We will bring it to you soon enough, stick around.

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In Pics: Priyanka Chopra Endorses J. Hampstead Menswear

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In Pics: Stars With Kids at Harry Potter Premiere

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In Pics: Stars at Climate Rescue Station launch

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In Pics: Deepika Padukone's Item Dance In Telugu Movie Love forever

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