I often find I’m defending myself – Akshaye Khanna

Akshaye Khanna was appreciated for his work in his last release Salaam-E-Ishq, even though the movie failed at the BO. Now, the actor, along with Abbas-Mustan and Bobby Deol, hopes to unleash the magic of Humraaz with Naqaab. Akshaye reveals out why he always avoids the media? He says “I do take my work very seriously, and I am first and foremost a very dedicated actor. I am also a very shy guy so you won’t find me chatting or talking that much. Besides, I often find I’m defending myself more than talking in interviews these days. Personal questions, or accusations about delivering flops or not doing good films end up being accusatory sessions where I have to defend myself. That’s why I prefer not to do interviews.”

Gossip is a full time vocation – Vidya Balan

There were reports that Vidya Balan opted out of Pradeep Sarkar’s Laaga Chunari Mein Daag bcoz she didn’t want to play second lead in a Rani Mukherjee starrer. As per Vidya, she says “I actually can’t believe I’m not doing dada’s (PradeepSarkar) film. There’s no way I could’ve let this happen. But dada wanted to complete the film within a certain period and those dates were committed to Sajid Khan’s Hey Baby a year back. Not being in his film was inconceivable to me. I can’t believe the film is being made without me. The ads and the film (‘Parineeta’) that I’ve done with dada are very precious to me. Not doing dada’s film wasn’t an easy call to take. When people say it’s shocking to hear that I’m not in dada’s film, do they realise how shocking it is for me? You can’t believe how awful I felt to not be in it. Inshallah, I’ll be in his next. They tell me they miss me there. To even talk about it makes me emotional.”

Vidya Balan

After “Lage Raho Munna Bhai”, Vidya has almost completed another socially relevant film. She’s excited about Raj Kumar Santoshi’s “Halla Bol”. She plays the wife of Ajay Devgan. It is the story of the mail protagonist’s journey from real to reel hero. She adds, “Like I always say, the true barometer of a role is not its length but how much of a difference it makes to the plot. And if you take away my role from ‘Halla Bol’, it makes a difference. I don’t mind doing one scene as long as that scene makes an impact.”

The script of Namaste London chosen for Academy of Motion Pictures library

The script of Vipul Shah’s Namastey London will also be kept along with the biggies like Devdas, Kal Ho Na Ho and Lagaan. Namaste London, which is one of the major successes of this year has been chosen for Academy of Motion Pictures library. It will be stored permanently for cinema students reference. The academy has got in touch with Vipul Shah directly to procure the script. It seems more and more Bollywood films are on the international radar now. It looks like Academy is now keeping track of what’s happening in Indian motion picture scene.

Bipasha Basu is signed on by Kinetic Motor to endorse Kinetic-SYM scooter

Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu has been signed on by two wheeler manufacturer Kinetic Motor as brand ambassador. Though she can be the ambassador for all Kinetic brands, she would primarily be seen endorsing the upcoming Kinetic-SYM scooter, slated for launch next month. The scooter is targetted at women riders. Bipasha Basu is identified as a great brand fit based on a comprehensive research among 1200 intending buyers of gearless scooters. The research also showed that college girls aspire to be confident and ambitious. Bipasha Basu is viewed as a woman who has made it on her own merit and signifies the independent modern woman. Especially her role in the movie Corporate was found to be the favourite portrayal of today’s professional woman, and clinched her selection as the brand ambassador for the Kinetic-SYM scooter.

Kaafila release postponed by a week

If only one movie is released in a week, the film can accumulate as much as they can in that week. If the movie is scheduled to be released with an other, the earnings get divided. KAAFILA has been shifted ahead by one week. The film will hit the screens on 3rd August. Since the movie was unable to complete the effects on the last few reels, which happens to be crucial to the film, the movie release is postponed by a week. With Kaafila now slated for 3rd August, it’s now expected to clash with Anil Kapoor‘s Gandhi My Father.

Partner 2 coming up…

Even before the release of Salman Khan and Govinda starrer, Partner, the grapevine is that the makers are planning to continue with the series. Next on the cards may be Partner 2

Shahrukh will be seen in wildlife conservation awareness campaign.

Sanskara Development Trust, along with the Asian Conservation Awareness Programme (ACAP) / WildAid, will launch a national educational awareness campaign on wildlife conservation. The campaign is a multimedia education and awareness campaign that aims to protect the future of the world’s endangered wildlife by drastically reducing consumer demand for endangered species parts and products. With the support of the Indian Broadcasting Foundation (IBF), the campaign will run on leading television networks like Doordarshan, National Geographic, Discovery/Animal Planet, CNN IBN, NDTV, India TV, among others. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), Ministry of Civil Aviation, and Parliamentarians in India have also supported the campaign that will start with the broadcast of superstar Shah Rukh Khan‘s message across all international and domestic airports. Shah Rukh highlights the challenges faced by forest guards in protecting India’s wildlife in his message.

Randeep Hooda goes back to school

“You can never learn enough about acting,” asserts Randeep Hooda as he prepares to go back to school. Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Wood, as it happens to be. For all practical purposes Randeep is going to Whistling Wood on two-week tenure as a lecturer. “But more than teaching, I’m going to school for learning. Because I feel teachers like Subhash Ghai and my mentor Naseeruddin Shah will have a lot more to offer me than I’d have to offer to the students.” Hence while teaching the students at Whistling Wood Randeep’s primary motivation is to imbibe from the acting maestros who would come to lecture in the school. “This would give me a chance to prepare for my role of the calendar-art painter Ravi Raja Varma in Ketan Mehta’s film. The character has no reference points and I need to build on it from thin air. I need guidance” says Randeep who has had huge fun working on the romantic comedy Love Game . “It features some of the most beautiful actresses I’ve worked with. I’ve always been surrounded by beauty.” The actor will now disappear into Whistling Wood for two weeks. “It’s important for every creative artiste to refurbish himself. I don’t want to grow jaded.”

Ram Gopal Varma’s Sholay now titled Aag

If all goes according to plan, then Ram Gopal Varma will be having two back to back releases. Slated for releases on August 31, is his much awaited, much changed Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay (or is it Ram Gopal Varma Ke Aag?). The following week will see the release of his other film Darling again produced by him along with Bhushan Kumar. Knowing the status of his version of Sholay, it is likely that the release of the film might get delayed. Until then, two of his own products will battle it out at the box-office.