Tanqeed’s – Morning Breakfast News Hour by FS

Saif confirms rom-com with Natalie Portman

The Oscar winnning actress of Black Swan fame will be in his next production. But the actor refuses to divulge any more

As Agent Vinod,s he got to zip around the world in sharp suits and sharper shoes. The box office response notwithstanding, it seems to have whetted his appetite for globetrotting adventure.

During a telephonic exchange with this newspaper, Saif Ali Khan let it slip that he will be seen with Academy award winner Natalie Portman in his next, a romance. The actor messaged, “A love story we are working on… It’s a secret…We are doing a film with Natalie Portman.”

As far as formulas go, Saif, in an earlier interview to this newspaper had admitted that he was happy with the response to Cocktail, and would not mind replicating it. Perhaps which is why he has decided to stick to what he does best – romance.

And trying to rope in an actress who won the Oscar for her performance in Black Swan last year may just prove beneficial. However, when we prodded, he chose to remain mum about details of his project. In fact, he did not even divulge whether the film will be a Hollywood production or made under his home banner.

Though Saif did say one thing. He rubbished all rumours about Diana Penty being cast in his next home production.

https://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/30/201207262012072602040120479f3200f/Saif-confirms-romcom-with-Natalie-Portman.html

Abhishek waits to party with Amitabh Bachchan

As Bol Bachchan is inching towards the `100-cr club, Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan want to throw a bash for its success.

So what is stopping them you ask? Well, we have learnt that Amitabh Bachchan, who is in London for the Olympics is expected back in India only on August 5, has sent his son a message saying that he wants to be a part of the BB celebrations and that Ajay and Abhi should wait for him to return before getting into party mode. One also hears that since Amitabh is the one who carried the Olympic Torch in London a day before the opening ceremony, Ajay and Abhishek want to throw a party in Big B’s honour. So it’s a twin celebration for the Bachchans.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Abhishek-waits-to-party-with-Amitabh-Bachchan/articleshow/15162929.cms

Sonakshi hurts eye while filming song

Actress Sonakshi Sinha had a tough time on the sets of ” Oh My God” as she hurt her eye while shooting for a song in the film.

The actress was required to shoot for the “Go go govinda” in a three-day schedule, but unfortunately it had to be stalled, thanks to the colours and water used during the song.

“Sonakshi was shooting for the song ‘Go go govinda’, which was meant to be a three-day schedule. The climax of the song required lots of colours and water. On the last day she severely hurt her eye due to the colours and the shoot had to be stalled for two days,” said a source.

Produced by Akshay Kumar, “Oh My God” features the actor along with Paresh Rawal and Mithun Chakraborty in prominent roles.

The actress, who is riding high on the success of “Rowdy Rathore”, will be seen in “Son Of Sardaar” and “Dabangg 2″ later this year.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Sonakshi-hurts-eye-while-filming-song/articleshow/15159552.cms

I will work till I am 90, says Kareena Kapoor

Reigning Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor does not intend to give up her position to anyone in the industry and insists that she will continue to work till she turns 90.

In Madhur Bhandarkar’s much awaited film, ‘Heroine’ Kareena will be seen as a superstar. The film chronicles the various phases, she goes through as an actress — from a glamorous high life to a tragic downfall.

When asked if she fears that she will have to make place of other actress, Kareena said, “I haven’t thought of it as yet. And obviously I wish and hope that. I think I will be like Zohra Sehgal who would be working till 90…so tough luck. I am not going to give my place to anyone.”

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/I-will-work-till-I-am-90-says-Kareena-Kapoor/articleshow/15161639.cms

Why ‘Chenab Gandhi’ was stalled?

Chenab Gandhi, a film which was supposedly to be produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, was scripted keeping Harman Baweja in mind three years back. Harman’s role went to John Abraham later. It was speculated that the film would also Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan. Then it was rumoured in some Bollywood trade magazine that Asin was supposed to replace Vidya Balan.

When Sanjay Leela Bhansali came to know about the news, he was furious. “Why on earth will I replace Vidya with Asin?” Sanjay had earlier told TOI. The replacements did not come to end even then. After John and Harman, it was Rajeev Khandelwal’s turn. The Aamir actor was all set to venture into big budget projects with Chenab Gandhi, we hear. And then all went kaput.

Sources close to Rajeev inform us that the project is shelved “and for good.” “Out of 100 films only four to five films find the light of the day. Chenab Gandhi did not even reach the stage of production. We had only read the script which was very interesting. There was a rift between the director, who is Sanjay’s assistant, Vibhu Puri, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali and thus the project was stalled. Otherwise, who wouldn’t like to work with Sanjay Sir?” informs the source.

Rajeev, who is currently shooting in some remote island of Fiji for Aditya Dutt’s Table 21, was unavailable for comment.Chenab Gandhi was based on the life of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a freedom fighter, who was also known as Frontier Gandhi.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Why-Chenab-Gandhi-was-stalled/articleshow/15164589.cms

Anil Kapoor beefs up for hi-tech action drama

Aamir Khan is usually known to prep up for his roles, be it a beefed up look or a moustache or a buzz cut. But now, an actor many years his senior, is readying to embark on as intense an exercise and diet regimen just to fit into his role of special agent Jack Bauer in the ambitious desi version of the American action series 24.

We’ve learnt, Anil is leaving no stone unturned to get into the skin of his character for the Indian version of the series to be aired on national television early next year onward.

In October, the actor is flying down a special trainer from Australia, Mark Mead, to train him for this hi-tech action drama, at his own expense, and will put him up in a suburban hotel.

A friend of Anil told us, “Mark will be training Anil for two and a half hours every day; 90 min in the morning and 60 min in the evening. The sessions will be held partly at Anil’s Juhu residence and partly at a gymnasium. However, Anil’s own gymnasium at his bungalow is quite well equipped for the purpose.”

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-interviews/Anil-Kapoor-beefs-up-for-hi-tech-action-drama/articleshow/15158211.cms

I wonder why heroines get insecure: Arjun Rampal

Actor Arjun Rampal, who essays the role of a superstar in Madhur Bhandarkar’s magnum opus ‘Heroine’, says he is clueless as to why actresses are insecure.

‘Heroine’ takes a closer look at the undesirable aspect of glamour world of actresses in Bollywood and especially looks at the life after stardom fades away.

“The film does not show dark side of the industry. The good part is that Madhur has been able to stick to the character of a ‘Heroine’, what her state of mind is like and that actresses do get insecure,” Arjun told reporters here last evening at the first look of ‘Heroine’.

“I still wonder why (actresses get insecure), as they don’t sit on edit table, or discuss budget, or are present in producer’s meeting, or involved at scripting stage, they sit with hair and make-up done,” Arjun said.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/I-wonder-why-heroines-get-insecure-Arjun-Rampal/articleshow/15161553.cms

Mumbai murals recall old Bollywood as centenary nears

Frustrated by the lack of old Bollywood glamour on the streets of Mumbai, two film buffs are trying to brighten up India’s movie capital with mural tributes ahead of the industry’s 100th birthday.

The iconic image of a reclining, cigarette-smoking young Amitabh Bachchan, the biggest star of Hindi cinema, has been lovingly recreated on a roadside wall, replicating the dying style of hand-painted poster art.

Bachchan’s character Vijay joined the underworld of the city’s mean streets in the 1975 hit “Deewaar” (The Wall), but the film’s antihero now has pride of place on a lane in the hip Bandra suburb, home to many film stars.

Despite the abundance of slick new posters plastered around Mumbai, artist Ranjit Dahiya says he was struck at how the city’s rich film heritage was being forgotten in recent years.

“I couldn’t see any Bollywood in Bombay, yet this is the city of Bollywood,” Dahiya said, using the city’s old name. “So I thought I should paint the walls on the street.”

The mural in Bandra is the second to be completed as part of the Bollywood Art Project (BAP), a self-funded venture set up by Dahiya and his friend Tony Peter to create film artwork “accessible for everyone”.

The duo hope to finish about one painting a month in the run-up to May next year, when India will celebrate a century since its first silent feature film “Raja Harishchandra” opened in Mumbai in 1913.

Getting permission is not always straightforward, with plans for a 70-foot (21-metre) dancing girl thwarted by unimpressed locals.

“It depends on the people,” said Dahiya. “Some people are sensible and really know about the art.”

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=/data/entertainment/2012/July/entertainment_July31.xml&section=entertainment

Katrina Kaif May Sign Ketan Mehta’s ‘Noor’

Filmmaker Ketan Mehta admits he is in talks with actress Katrina Kaif to play legendary World War II spy Noor Inayat Khan in his ambitious project “Noor”.

“It’s too early to comment. I am in the initial stages of negotiation. I will make a formal announcement soon.”
Asked if Katrina is on board for the biopic, Mehta says: “It’s too early to comment. I am in the initial stages of negotiation. I will make a formal announcement soon.”

Meanwhile, the director also plans to make another biopic titled “Mountain Man”, about a Bihar-based labourer named Dashrath Manjhi, who spent over two decades of his life carving a road by cutting a mountain.

The lack of a road had prevented him from taking his wife to hospital, and she lost her life.

Mehta is keeping his options open for the film’s lead actor.

“‘Mountain Man’ is a great biopic. I am yet to cast someone for the lead role. I am keeping all my options open (to cast a newcomer or an established actor). I am planning to finalise things in the next 10 days,” he said.

Mehta’s “Rang Rasiya” has been ready for the last three years, but is yet to hit the screens. The director plans to get started on the proposed two biopics only once the Randeep Hooda and Nandana Sen-starrer releases.

https://businessofcinema.com/news/katrina-kaif-sign-ketan-mehtas-noor/

People will come for erotica, not Sunny: Pooja Bhatt

MUMBAI: “Jism 2? director Pooja Bhatt feels while many people will be curious to watch Indo-Canadian porn star Sunny Leone on the big screen, many might overlook her for the erotica in the movie.

“There is a whole section of people who will go to theatre only to watch Sunny while there will be another who won’t be bothered with her being in the film. They will come to see the erotica,” Pooja told IANS.

The movie, releasing Aug 3, also features Arunoday Singh and Randeep Hooda in prominent roles.

https://businessofcinema.com/news/people-erotica-sunny-pooja-bhatt/

Oprah Winfrey Offends India

MUMBAI: When 58-year-old Oprah Winfrey came down to India in January this year to capture a slice of life, little did she realize that ‘her perspective’ would end up showing the country in poor light offending most Indians. She did a special two-part TV show on The Oprah titled ‘Next Chapter: India’. The programme was initially shown in the US this April, but premiered in India over the weekend. And after the telecast here, her show has been dubbed ‘myopic’, ‘unaware’, ‘ignorant’ and even ‘snobbish’ and ‘snooty’.

The programme shows Oprah’s first visit to the country, where she met people in the slums on one end and Bollywood royalty on the other. She also engaged in a sari fitting with a top designer. The episode opens with shots of crowded roads filled with painted elephants, snake charmers and cows roaming the streets. This very much set the tone for how she views the country.

Oprah questioned “I heard some Indian people eat with their hands still?”
Oprah used the word I am going to ‘experience’ India, and public’s outcry was, “What is India some alien land on Mars?”

In another scene, Oprah visits the Hegdes, a family of five living in a 10-by-10-foot room in a slum in Mumbai. “When I stepped in the door I was thinking, ‘OK, where is the house? Where’s the rest of the house?’ And then I realized I was already in it,” Winfrey says in the episode. A spokeswoman for Harpo, the company that produces ‘Oprah’s Next Chapter’, said in a statement, “The intention of the program was to explore the beautiful culture and spirit of the country.”

Indian celebrities took to reacting through Twitter:

Shobhaa De: “Oprah’s Last Chapter! That’s what angry Indians r calling the much hyped bt ridiculously shabby show. Oprah has lost her groove. Honey, pack up!”

Actress Sandhya Mridul: ‘Dear @Oprah yes many of us still eat with our hands just as many of you use your hands to massacre people in a movie hall!’

Mini Mathur: ‘It’s time to unfollow @Oprah.’

Actress Maria Goretti ?: ‘it is so sad that someone as inspirational as @oprah just did not get the pulse of India, her loss completely ..’

https://businessofcinema.com/hollywood/oprah-winfrey-offends-india/

KBC 2012 To Be Back In Prime Time Slot

MUMBAI: Game show “Kaun Banega Crorepati”, to be hosted by megastar Amitabh Bachchan yet again, will be back in its prime time slot, channel officials said Tuesday.

KBC had been slotted for either 8.30 or 9 p.m. time band so far.
“It will be a prime time show. I can’t tell you the exact slot because we are in discussion we are brain storming the right time. But certainly it will be a prime time slot,” Sony Entertainment Television (SET) senior vice president and marketing head Danish Khan told IANS.

“We have not decided the days but the talks are on. We will soon make an official announcement,” he added.

KBC had been slotted for either 8.30 or 9 p.m. time band so far.

https://businessofcinema.com/news/kbc-2012-prime-time-slot/

Ranbir Kapoor Pleads Guilty In Smoking Case

JAIPUR: Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor Thursday pleaded guilty, through his lawyers, to charges of smoking publicly during a movie shoot in Rajasthan’s Udaipur district about four months ago and sought exemption from personal appearance in the case, a lawyer said.

https://businessofcinema.com/news/ranbir-kapoor-pleads-guilty-smoking-case/

Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum May Prolong July Run

The month of July is becoming a great time to release a film as the last two July’shave only seen just one major release not do well at the the box office and that was Bbudah Hoga Tera Baap.

Last year Delhi Belly, Murder 2, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and Singham all scored and this year the two major July releases Bol Bachchan and Coctail also did very well. It is down to Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum to prolong the July run.

The film is a sequel to Kyaa Kool Hai Hum released in 2005 which did very well and grossed around 15 crore nett which was a very good total at the time so there is recall value for the film which should help its box office prospects.

https://www.boxofficeindia.com/boxnewsdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=4721&nCat=

Unplugged! Agnee, the band behind Avengers Hindi theme song

You watched The Avengers, were blown away by its awesomeness and then wondered how come it had a Hindi theme song. Agnee, the band behind ‘Hello Andhero’, is all set to enter Bollywood as music producers with the film Aalaap.

Comprising K Mohan on vocals and Koco on guitars, Agnee was formed in 2006 after the duo kept bumping into each other at jamming sessions with a common friend. Moving lyrics, soulful melodies and songs like ‘Sadho Re’, ‘Yaariyan’ from Cocktail, and reality show Splitsvilla’s theme song ‘Aahatein’ have made the band a name to reckon with. They collaborate with musicians Aditi Singh Sharma, Meiyang Chang, Angaraag Papon, Nitin Joshi and others.

At a recent concert marking their foray into films, DNA’s Blessy Chettiar got the chirpy Mohan and the quiet Koco talking about their kind of music, The Avengers and Bollywood.

Congratulations on turning film music producers. From an indie band to Bollywood, what prompted the move?
Mohan: We hadn’t really decided we wanted to turn film music directors. For Avengers, we were approached by Walt Disney to compose the theme song (‘Hello Andhero’). That was followed by the producers of Aalaap, which releases this week. We heard the story and decided this wasn’t the typical Bollywood guy out to make money. There was genuineness in the passion he showed. So we agreed.

Composing for films means being bound by a brief, the demands of a script unlike when you’re on your own as an indie.
Mohan: So far we’ve been lucky. People have come to us asking us to do what we do best. As long we can do that there’s no problem. But we also know it’s not going to be like that forever. It is the storytelling that is important. As long as we can retain our originality, we’re good. But asking us to change our music to suit the film won’t do justice to any of us. That’s where we draw the line.

Does Agnee as an indie take a back seat?
Mohan: Our primary aim is playing live. There is nothing compared to playing live in front of an audience. We’d do that 365 days a year. Our clear rule is that we cannot cancel a show for a recording but we can cancel recordings for a show. The feeling of performing on stage is always fun. We’re never going to stop non-film releases, solos.

https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/interview_unplugged-agnee-the-band-behind-avengers-hindi-theme-song_1720147

Aditya Chopra gifts Rani a Rs 1.25 crore car

Till date, Aditya Chopra and Rani Mukerji have never publicly professed their love for each other.

While the alleged sweethearts are extremely careful about not being spotted together by the shutterbugs, there have been rumours about the both of them spending holidays and important occasions in each other’s company. Now, buzz is that as a token of his love for her, Aditya has gifted his ladylove a luxury Audi A8 W12 worth Rs 1.25 crore.

An eyewitness tells us, “Adi brought the car to Rani’s bungalow on Tuesday evening and asked her to step inside the car just to go for a spin. After the ride, he left the car inside the bungalow’s premises and left in his own car which was driven in by his driver.” Our sources also add that their impending marriage is very much on the cards and this expensive gift could be a big hint of what’s to come.

https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2012/jul/260712-Aditya-Chopra-gifts-Rani-a-Rs-1-25-crore-car.htm

Shah Rukh and Farah’s tummy wars

Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan were in their element at an event on Tuesday for Bela Sehgal’s film starring Farah. It appeared that King Khan was keen to check out Farah’s recent tummy tuck while she was wondering if he has started working out on making a six-pack abs again for her film with him. Looks like the two have put behind any differences over Farah’s hubby Shirish Kunder and SRK’s brawl earlier in the year.

https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2012/jul/260712-Shah-Rukh-and-Farahs-tummy-wars.htm

Saif to take a call on wedding date: Kareena

The impending marriage of star couple Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan has been talk of the town since last year, but the actress says its her beau Saif who will decide on the wedding date. Earlier Saif Ali Khan’s mother Sharmila Tagore had confirmed that his wedding with Kareena will take place on October 16 at the Pataudi Palace in Pataudi village.

When the excitement around the marriage of the couple started growing, Saif surprised everyone when he denied having marked the date on his calendar.

“I think we all should wait for Saif to give an official announcement on the date. Right now I am focusing on my film (‘Heroine’),” Kareena told reporters here last night, at the first look of her film.

Earlier Saif in an exclusive interview to PTI, had said, “It is going to be a year-end wedding. We haven’t fixed a date for the wedding yet.” Saif and Kareena, lovingly called ‘Saifeena’, have been dating for five years and are going strong.

The couple had declared officially that they will tie the knot in the beginning of 2012, after the release of their film ‘Agent Vinod’. But that postponed to October 16 and now year-end.

41-year-old Saif has two children — son Ibrahim and daughter Sara from his previous marriage to actress Amrita Singh in October 1991 and Kareena ended her three-year relationship with Shahid Kapoor, before she chose the Nawab of Pataudi.

https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2012/jul/260712-Kareena-Kapoor-wedding-plans-Saif-Ali-Khan-Heroine.htm

Audiences yet to trust my banner: Ekta Kapoor

After making a mark with hit shows on the small screen, producer Ekta Kapoor made successful films like “Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai”, “Shootout at Lokhandwala” and the blockbuster “The Dirty Picture”, but believes her home banner Balaji Motion Pictures is too young to have earned the trust of the audiences completely

“I don’t think we have still built that reputation where people will automatically assume that a Balaji film will be very entertaining. So I am hoping that when three to four more films release, the audience will trust the banner more,” Ekta said here.

“No one comes to watch Balaji films. The tickets priced at Rs.100 and Rs.200 are too much. People take it out from their budget, and youngsters from their pockets. They don’t come for a brand name. “In films, we are only two-and-a-half years old honestly, before that we were doing one-offs as a company,” added the 37-year-old.

Balaji Motion Pictures’ last film “The Dirty Picture” was a super hit and the next from the banner is adult comedy “Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum”, releasing Friday. Asked is she is scared of higher expectations after a film like “The Dirty Picture”, Ekta said: “That was a different film, this is different. I request the audience not to compare the two films.”

She stresses that they have tried to make the film as entertaining as possible. “My director and actors have tried not to waste the audience’s three hours and, instead, made the film entertaining. We also know when the audience rejects it, how bad it feels and when they love, how nice that feels,” said Ekta. “Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum” stars Tusshar Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, Sarah Jane Dias and Neha Sharma.

https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2012/jul/270712-Audiences-yet-to-trust-my-banner-Ekta-Kapoor.htm