BOLLYWOOD: Guftugu | SILICONEER

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BOLLYWOOD | Guftugu | OCTOBER 2011

Katrina’s Big Win: Dhoom 3
Candice: From Playboy to Bollywood
Ship Shape Hrithik
Friendly Priyanka
Bigg Boss 5 Sizzling
Sonakshi: Well Prepared
Akshay: Safe Driver
Soha Ali Khan: Soundtrack Delayed
Karisma: Lights, Camera, Action… Again

Katrina’s Big Win: Dhoom 3

(Above): Katrina Kaif

Aamir Khan is one name that invites attention. The stakes are high enough to interest many including top international names, when it comes to being paired in a movie opposite Aamir. And when the movie is a sequel to a two-time hit, the stakes are too good to let go.

We’re talking Dhoom 3 with Aamir in a lead role. So who gets the prize?

Katrina was the first choice for the part. But the actress had major misgivings about some aspects of the role. There was the mandatory ‘girl-in-a-bikini’ Dhoom shot.

With her new policy of ‘no kissing’ and ‘no exposure,’ Katrina called off the role.

The hunt for Aamir’s Dhoom girl went international. But Katrina’s name kept coming back to haunt the banner’s casting aspirations. They needed a girl who not only looked ‘hot’ but also could look extremely homely and ‘wholesome.’ A combination of Hema Malini and Zeenat Aman.

So what changed Katrina’s mind?

First, Aamir Khan.

Having bagged a role with Shah Rukh in Yash Chopra’s next film, she was keen to be paired with Aamir. And (as we see it) so was Aamir.

Finally, there was a long meeting between Katrina and Aditya Chopra just before she left for the shooting of Ek Tha Tiger in Dublin, that sealed the deal. Aditya convinced Katrina as to why doing Dhoom 3 would take her career to another level.

Apparently, the kissing and bikini scenes were addressed as well.

With Dhoom 3, Katrina Kaif becomes the only heroine to do four back-to-back films with the Yash Raj banner.

On being called Yash Raj’s lucky mascot, she quipped, “I really don’t like being called a lucky mascot. It makes me sound like a ghodi at the derby.”

She is using the off-shooting hours in Dublin to get fighting-fit for Dhoom 3. Martial arts and samurai sword-fighting, et all.

Beauty, weapons, bikini, and Aamir… Dhoom 3 is already showing the signs of what might be a befitting sequel.

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Candice: From Playboy to Bollywood

(Above): Candice Boucher

There’s word that a Playboy girl is coming to screens at theaters in India. Candice Boucher will now be seen on the big screen. Though quite an eye candy, if her dare-bare pictures flooding the Internet are any indication, when it comes to facing camera for the Bollywood flick Aazaan, she seems to have mellowed down quite a bit.

“Don’t expect her to go nude in the film . . . there are no false expectations being set for the audience lest they start wondering whether they have been cheated.”

So why go all the way to South Africa and rope in a model with zero acting experience when her very ‘assets’ aren’t put on display. After all, it is fair to expect that the audience would want to see Candice in the kind of avatar that she has from being a Playboy girl.

According to producer Sachiin Joshi, “Candice is someone who is comfortable with her skin and can exude oomph even when she doesn’t go down to bare minimum. Also, she doesn’t have problems exposing but the film didn’t really require her to go all the way. Aazaan belongs to the genre of Mission Impossible or Bourne series’ instead of a Murder franchise.”

While one waits to see what really unfolds on the big screen, Candice is currently being seen getting into a quintessential Bollywood romantic zone with the melodic track Khuda Ke Liye.

“There are a few scenes that Candice has shot which would keep the front benchers happy. . . yes she has exposed but it is still lesser than what many other actresses in Bollywood are capable of doing today.”

From the looks of it, this whole stint seems to be aimed at getting publicity, audience beware.

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Ship Shape Hrithik

(Above): Hrithik in “Agneepath.”

Hrithik Roshan first dropped a few sizes for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, then gained it back for Agneepath. Yes, and he did it by apparently consuming as many as twenty-two eggs a day!

Hrithik has to undergo muscle maturity as he starts training for his forthcoming film, Krrish sequel.

Though he gained weight for Agneepath, now that he finished the portions where he was supposed to look bulky, he has again become lean. With a deadline in place, the star has to follow a strict diet plan and exercise regimen to get into the shape his father Rakesh Roshan wants for the sequel to Krissh.

You have to give the man credit. He can do this on a regular basis and has no qualms about it. Talk about discipline.

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Friendly Priyanka

(Above): Priyanka in “Don,” the last movie where she worked with Kareena.

Priyanka Chopra and Kareena Kapoor are known for being rivals both on and off screen. Priyanka reportedly refused an item song in Saif Ali Khan’s home production Agent Vinod.

It was said that she didn’t want to do the film because it was also Bebo’s film. Priyanka wanted to avoid Kareena’s wrath by doing a song in her boyfriend’s film.

Saif was recently asked if he was upset that Priyanka didn’t want to do the song, and he replied, “I am completely fine with that, as most actresses do not want to share screen space with Bebo.”

Priyanka however says working with Kareena would be fun. “I was approached for the item song, but it never went further than a conversation. I would love to do a song with Kareena in her film; it would be fun. I believe Agent Vinod is shaping up to be a fantastic film, but I haven’t even heard the song yet. So please, stop the speculation,”

Let the junglee billi(s) have some peace.

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Bigg Boss 5 Sizzling

(Above): Sanjay Dutt, co-host of Bigg Boss 5, seen in “Agneepath.”

As the fifth season of the reality show Bigg Boss starts, the suspense over the new inmates is growing even as Nihita Biswas, wife of convicted murderer Charles Sobhraj, reality TV star Pooja Bedi and actor Shakti Kapoor are said to be among the participants.

Pooja came into the limelight with Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. She was earlier seen in reality shows like Nach Baliye, Khatron ke Khiladi and Maa Exchange.

Other names include actress Mahek Chahal, who was seen in Wanted.

Shonali Nagrani, a model-turned-actress, has made appearances in films like Dil Bole Hadippa and has hosted a couple of TV shows as well.

Actress Shraddha Sharma, who made headlines for her alleged relationship with Raja Chaudhary, estranged husband of television actress Shweta Tiwari, is also participating in the show.

Celebrity transgender and social activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi has also made it to the list.

International personalities like former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, Columbian singer Shakira and former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, are likely to enter the house at a later date.

The 14 handpicked strangers will be locked in the house for about three months with over fifty-five cameras following their every move.

The contestants will have to do all household chores like cleaning the washrooms, cooking, and waking up in the wee hours to obey the Bigg Boss house rules.

Looks like there is all the making for a ‘one big happy family!’

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Sonakshi: Well Prepared

(Above): Sonakshi and Akshay in “Joker.”

Sonakshi Sinha is working in a film called Joker, and she is pretty serious about the whole deal.

She is a great learner, and does her homework too!

Playing the leading lady opposite Akshay Kumar, she has impressed the veteran actor as well as the director enough that they can’t stop singing praises about her.

Shirish was amazed to find her totally prepared when it came to complex scenes. She actually did these scenes in one take.

Sonakshi isn’t leaving anything to chance. For her, Joker is as serious an affair as was Dabangg.

All this has been especially rewarding for Sonakshi. She has managed to rope in more films with Akshay and director Shirish as well.

Kudos Sonakshi!

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Akshay: Safe Driver

(Above): Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar’s clean driving record apparently makes him one of the safest drivers in India. But even the moon is not spotless. According to Akshay, the only accident he has had was not even his fault.

“I was in Delhi, riding a bike, when I passed under a flyover and a pigeon dropped its excreta on me. I did what anyone would do by reflex. I looked down at my pants to see the damage, and when I looked up a second later, there was a car right in front of me. I crashed right into it and flew off my bike, on to the car. But otherwise, I’m a good driver, and careful too!” said Akshay.

He was narrating this when talking to Camilla Belle, the American actress of his film Speedy Singhs as she marveled at the miracle that there weren’t more accidents on Delhi roads, given how people drive. As he finished his story, Camilla interrupted with, “But you know, in my country, it’s considered lucky if a pigeon does that on you.” “Yes, yes, here too,” Akshay nodded vigorously. “I think I should go looking for an Indian pigeon then!” exclaimed Camilla, laughing.

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Soha Ali Khan: Soundtrack Delayed

(Above): Soha Ali Khan in "Soundtrack."

It’s been a tough fortnight for Soha Ali Khan. She was in the middle of promoting her film Soundtrack when her father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi had to be hospitalized. Bravely, the daughter continued with her nationwide promotion. Soha Ali Khan’s father meanwhile passed away, leaving her too broken to even think of the film.

The film’s producers and director Neerav Ghosh had two options. Either to go ahead with the promotion of the film without Soha or postpone the release.

Understandably, they opted for the latter option and chose not to talk about it as a sacrifice. The official reason given for the postponement was too many releases on September 30.

Neerav then said, “It was certainly not the crowd of releases that bothered us. Because we’ve gone from one clutter to another the following week. No. It was Soha. All of us, me, Rajeev Khandelwal, Mrinalini Sharma and Soha have become one closely-knit family. And if one of us is in distress, the rest of us can’t go on normally. We definitely postponed because of Soha’s bereavement.”

The decisive moment came in Delhi when the Soundtrack director was live on air with Soha on the day Pataudi passed away. “It was ghoulish. We were in a segment promoting our film. During the break we could hear them loudly talking about Soha’s father. To her credit, Soha was very composed. But we decided, that was it. We decided to put aside the film until she was ready to face the world and her work again.”

Soha will join the promotion of the film after the memorial service.

Curiously, the Bollywood brigade is being uncharacteristically discreet about sharing the Pataudis’ grief. A prominent star said, “I am going . . . and a lot of others are, I believe. But it’s a private moment of condolence and grief.”

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Karisma: Lights, Camera, Action … Again

(Above): Karisma Kapoor

Bollywood seems to have run out of scripts (and heroines). So it seems, with remakes being the order of the day.

Sanjay Dutt is all set to work on his second production, a remake of 1982-hit Satte Pe Satta. The film will be directed by Soham Shah, who has also directed Kaal and Luck.

Sanju will play the dual roles of ‘Ravi’ and ‘Babu’ which was played by Amitabh Bachchan in the original film.

Karisma Kapoor, who is making her Bollywood comeback with Vikram Bhatt’s Dangerous Ishq, is casting opposite him.

Kajol was the original choice for the role played by Hema Malini in the original film but since she just delivered a baby, our Munnabhai M.B.B.S. was considerate enough to let her rest. Sanjay then approached Lage Raho Munnabhai co-star Vidya Balan for the role but even she was busy with other assignments. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan got pregnant, and there were also talk of Madhuri Dixit Nene being approached for the same role.

Finally, it was decided that Karisma Kapoor fits the bill perfectly. Dutt is also planning to request Amitabh Bachchan to introduce the characters in the remake.

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