star of the week

bipasha basu

Akshay transitions from Katrina to Deepika

What makes Akki – the leading star of Bollywood? Naturally, his insatiable passion for acting shores him on best grounds. Indeed, he's one fine performer signing projects after heeding to scripts without a frame missed out. On the pars, the actor is keen on his leading ladies pairing up with him.
Glimpse through his flicks of the past, there goes a big history he made with actresses Shilpa Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Priyanka Chopra and recently with Katrina Kaif. The Akki-Kaif duo swayed continuously with 'Humko Deewana Kar Gaya', 'Namastey London', 'Welcome' and 'Singh is King'.
Well, it's time for Akki to change his on-screen girl and looks like Deepika has turned to be his on-screen ducky. Much before their 'Chandni Chowk to China' would hit the screens, they have signed for yet another flick 'Houseful' directed by Sajid Khan. Also talks are on the verge with a big production house churning out 'Come on Pappu'. David Dhawan's son Rohit Dhawan wields megaphone for this flick. Meanwhile Akshay and Katrina would be seen together in 'De Dhana Dhan' slated to hit screens in late 2009.
Listen to Songs from 'CC2C'on Raaga.com

Bebo's squabble with Priyanka, Bips, Deepika, Katrina

Oh! What's fudging between Bebo and red-hot missies of Bollywood? There aren't such big issues over them. Well, Kareena Kapoor backed off from performing at Grand Fiesta of Screen Film Awards. There happens to be a special feature titled 'Five Divas Special' where Kareena was supposed to shake her legs with Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu and Priyanka ChopraEarlier, Kareena had agreed to take part in the awards ceremony having demanded with big-payment. But later as she got to hear about other missies dancing with her, the actress had no options other than stepping out.
One of the closer sources revealed that Kareena felt Deepika is a newcomer while Katrina Kaif isn't up to her level. Dancing with them would undoubtedly put her in their box-status. That happens to be her fine rigid reason for backing off. Apart from this, we get hear from another source, 'Sister Karisma had advised her not to take part in stage performance and preferably Kareena should've considered this.'

A. R. Rahman wins Golden Globe: International journey begins

India's very own talented musician A. R. Rahman has taken a giant stride forward as he won the prestigious GOLDEN GLOBE award in the Best Original Background Score category for the film 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

It was a moment to cherish for A. R. Rahman and all his fans when the hosts at the 66th Golden Globe Awards announced his name as the winner. A moment that told the world that Indian talent was well on its way in making its presence felt globally.

The man TIME magazine called 'Mozart of Madras' shook hands with many as he went on to the stage to collect the award. The first word that came out of Rahman was 'Unbelievable' followed by a chuckle. He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket as he said he had a long list although he though he wouldn't win.

Rahman thanked Almighty God for the award. His thank you list also had Danny Boyle, Fox Pictures and all his musicians in Chennai and Mumbai. Rahman thanked the billion people from India who were looking forward to his winning the award.

'Slumdog Millionaire' was about a boy born and raised in the slums of Mumbai who eventually goes on to become a millionaire thanks to his winning the 'Who wants to be a millionaire' contest. The film was directed by Danny Boyle who also won a Golden Globe for Best Director. The film won two other awards as well – Best Picture and Best Screenplay (Simon Beaufoy).

Does Rahman's winning a Golden Globe signal to the world that Indian talent would be a breath of fresh air to World Cinema? In addition to this Rahman had also won Six popular Awards for his compositions in 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

• The Broadcast Film Critics Association Award
• The Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award
• The New York Film Critics Online Award
• The Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
• The San Diego Film Critics Society Award
• The Satellite Awards - International Press Academy

This honor would most definitely be cherished by India's Film Industries and the scores of Rahman fans would be ecstatically jumping for joy.

So what can Rahman look forward to?….well, it sure is going to be the Oscars next up….and then some innovative compositions that would enthrall world audiences.

A dynamic musician's international journey has begun. Indian Cinema has been made proud of by Rahman and let's hope our filmmakers can utilize this extraordinary talent properly in such a way that the world bows down to India.

Hats off A.R. Rahman….the Oscar is waiting.

Indiaglitz salutes the incredibly talented A. R. Rahman….we rejoice with you….

Click here to listen to the ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ tracks on Raaga.com

Bringing Golden Globe to your homes

Other than emerging as the frontrunner in providing the thousands of movie buffs with a huge array of fantastic movies from around the world and enabling them to get entertained and also to know the range of variety that exists in the world of film making, the movie channel UTV World Movies has made a giant leap by grabbing an impressive contract.

UTV World Movies has become the first Indian channel to get the exclusive rights to telecast the prestigious Golden Globe Awards for the next three years in the SAARC region excluding Pakistan.

This agreement starts with the live transmission of this year's 66^th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

The award ceremony will be beamed on January 12 at 6.30am. and a repeat telecast will be done at 8 p.m. on the same day.

For a channel which was launched just 10 months ago, the contract is a great achievement.

The presence of the highly acclaimed movie 'Slumdog Millionaire' which has a great connection with the Bollywood as well as with the city of Mumbai as a top contender for the coveted awards is also going to make this live transmission a widely watched programe in India.

A movie from the UTV World Movies Library titled as 'Waltz With Bashir' is also there in the fray for this year's Golden Globe Awards.

The movie's story is about two friends who while talking with each other in a bar goes back to a part of their life in which both were participants.

The old friend of director Ari tells him about a frightening nightmare in which 26 dangerous dogs chase him every night and that it has been coming and haunting him for long.

Rahman bags yet another plum award

Slumdog Millionaire, the rags-to-riches story of a Mumbai slum dweller, has bagged five prestigious prizes including the Best Composer Award for Indian music maestro A R Rahman at the Broadcast Film Critics Association's 14th annual Critics Choice Awards.

British Director Danny Boyle's Indian drama was a big hit at the award ceremony last night. It won Best Film, Best Director for Danny Boyle, Best Writer for Simon Beaufoy, Best Young Actor for Dev Patel and Best Composer for A R Rahman.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association's 14th annual Critics Choice Awards (BFCA), which took place at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium recently, is the largest film critics organization, with more than 200 members in the US and Canada.

Watch A. R. Rahman speak to the press….

Shilpa is the heroine of 'Junction'

Shipa Shukla acted in the highly acclaimed nationally and internationally recognised movie 'Khamosh Pani' but only after the block buster 'Chak De' she began to get recognition and offers.

She was called Bindiya Naik in Shah Rukh's movie which had enough space for Shilpa to show her talent.

So what was this lady doing all this time after she acted in 'Chak De India'?

Shipla was getting offers but the issue of getting stereotyped was also there to be handled.

The roles that she was being offered all had shades of negativity in them as she played a slightly negative role in 'Chak De'.

She thought that it is better to wait for the right movie to make its calling than make compromises and accept what is being offered to be just in the limelight.

And her patience has paid off.

Shilpa has been selected to be the leading lady opposite Abhay Deol in his next movie titled as 'Junction'.

The love story is to be directed by the debutant director Atul Sabharwal.

Atul has been working previously as a script writer and has written scripts for films like 'Phir Milenge', 'My Wife's Murder' and 'Darna Mana Hai'.

SRK invited to Golden Globe Awards

For the first time in 66 years since its origin, an Indian celebrity has been invited to present an award. Yup! Shah Rukh Khan's charisma is far-famed all over the globe and recently getting positioned at 41^st rank amongst World's 50 topmost powerful people has made it all bigger. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), organizers of this award ceremony had recently held discussions about finalizing celebrities to present awards where SRK was ensconced.

One of the sources said, 'Officials from HFPA would soon fleet to the shooting spots of My Name is Khan at LA and extend an invitation to Shah Rukh Khan.' The award ceremony would be held on January 11, at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. King Khan would be signing a letter confirming about his presence for the ceremony.

Shah Rukh says, 'The officials from HFPA had approached me for presenting awards for a best film under Drama category. As I would be free from shooting on Jan 11, it's gonna be a great time as A.R. Rahman is nominated for best original score in 'Slumdog Millionaire'. I would love to watch him winning the awards'.

Director Danny Boyle along with A.R. Rahman would be representing Slumdog Millionaire. Filmmaker Karan Johar too has been invited to grace over the occasion.

Send your B'day wishes to AR.Rahman

Easily the most successful Indian musician to go global, A. R. Rahman turns 43 today. Having started his career in tinsel town with Mani Ratnam's 1992 film 'Roja', the talented Rahman has literally taken the world by storm with his magnificent orchestration and apt music.

A major strength of this musical wizard is the art of fusing many styles of music to produce an end result that is so very soothing and energizing with the desired mood…. an incredible ability and yet something that A. R. Rahman does quite naturally. Apart from his millions of Indian fans who shower accolades on him by the hour, Rahman's incredible talent had attracted the attention of the famed TIME Magazine which referred to him as the 'Mozart of Madras'.

Born as A. S. Dileep Kumar in the year 1966 in Chennai, the young lad has always been associated with music, thanks to his family. Losing his father at the tender age of nine, young Dileep's family was involved in renting out musical instruments. In the late 1970s his family converted to Islam and Dilip Kumar became Allah Rakkha Rahman.

Passionate about music all the time, young Rahman worked his way up to the recognition level by composing jingles for commercials, working on the background scores for documentaries and television programs. The big break came his way when Mani Ratnam approached him for the film 'Roja'. A seldom talked about fact is that A. R. Rahman is the recipient of the prestigious Rajat Kamal Award for Best Music Director at the National Film Awards. He received this award on debut. Such an instance was never heard of before.

A musical genius was born. All spotlights were turned on him and scores of Tamil films followed. 'Puthiya Mugam', 'Gentleman', 'Kizhakku Cheemayile', 'Uzhvan', 'Thiruda Thiruda', 'Duet', 'May Maadham', 'Kadhalan', 'Bombay' etc. Almost all the songs that featured in these films went on to become big time chartbusters. A. R. Rahman had taken the world of Tamil Cinema by storm with his magnificent style of music. The musical genius was bestowed with an appropriate title 'Isai Puyal' (musical storm).

Soon after, Bollywood came knocking on his doors and A. R. Rahman's tunes in the blockbuster 'Rangeela' set the whole of India dancing to his tunes gleefully. The 'Mozart of Madras' started to spell magic with every single outing and he had become hot property.

Minsara Kanavu (Tamil), Kabhi Na Kabhi (Hindi), Fire (Hindi), 'Kadhal Desam', 'Jeans' (Tamil), 'Taal' (Hindi), 'Padayappa', 'Kadhalar Dinam' (Tamil), 'Lagaan' (Hindi), 'The Legend of Bhagat Singh' (Hindi), 'Boys' (Tamil), 'Warriors of Haven and Earth' (Mandarin & Japanese), 'Rang De Basanti' (Hindi), 'Sillunu Oru Kadhal' (Tamil), 'Ayutha Ezhuthu / Yuva' (Tamil / Hindi), Elizabeth: The Golden Age' (English), 'Jodha Akbar', 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na' (Hindi), Sakkarakatti (Tamil), 'Yuvvraaj', 'Ghajini' (Hindi), 'Slumdog Millionaire' (English) etc. have all rocked audiences. A. R. Rahman had become a world phenomenon by now….

A. R. Rahman's international recognition for the English film 'Slumdog Millionaire' is simply outstanding. The Los Angeles Film Critics Award, New York Online Film Critics Award, International Press Academy Satellite Award, Black Reel Award and the San Diego Film Critics Award.

A. R. Rahman has been nominated for the Golden Globe Awards for 'Slumdog Millionaire' and also at the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award. Results are awaited….but Rahman is expected to win these as well.

The music wizard has many films up his sleeve and they include 'Asokavanam' (Tamil), 'Puli' (Telugu), 'Sultan: the warrior' and 'Endhiran' (Tamil).

Apart from movies, Rahman is also known for his albums that have gone on to break collection records. 'Vande Mataram', a patriotic album that was composed in the 1997 to commemorate India's fiftieth year of Independence is something every patriotic Indian cherishes close to his or her heart.

Going by the host of recognition this incredible talent is receiving, the Oscars might not be far away. We surely have a genius in our backyard who is sought after internationally. Let's hope A. R. Rahman continues to do what he does masterfully – sway our hearts with his enthralling music.

Indiaglitz salutes and wishes A. R. Rahman a magnificent birthday….
5th january is a.r rahmans birthday.

Happy Birthday Deepika Padukone!

'Wordlessly stupefying' are her looks and she's there to throw everyone transfixed with these factors of great elegance. Right with her first appearances on screen, she grabbed everyone's attention around the globe and today we've this missy celebrating her 22nd birthday.

Fine! Deepika's birthday wish is that she would like to start-up with her new endeavor of 'interior designing'. On her favorite film Deepika says, "Om Shanthi Om would be my all-time favorite movie as it had everything; fun, love, emotions and more…"

Getting into filmdom, the young actress says that she had to sacrifice everything her favorites including the best-loved foods, maintain heavy-diet, keep travelling and miss her close friends too.

So, who's the role model who inspired her a lot as an actress? 'Undoubtedly, it's Aishwarya Rai who has been invigorating my spirits. Well, she has been a model right before commencing her career as an actress and these attributes gets us closer'.

IndiaGlitz wishes Deepika Padukone a very happy birthday and let this New Year bring the most fortunate things in her life. 5th january is deepikas birth day.

Kajol's eye-catching looks on Men Magazine's cover

Quite inquisitive, how this didn't happen earlier? Her charismatic looks goes now featured on the cover of splendid magazine. After Priyanka Chopra and Tabu, it's Kajol's turn to appear on the cover of M, a lifestyle and luxury magazine for men…

One of the closest sources revealed, "Commonly, independent and successful actresses with best attitudes are featured on the magazine cover. Nevertheless, everyone got fascinated with Kajol's entrancing looks". Also adds they've decided to use her pictures for interviews too of January issue.

Well, the much elated Kajol says that she had a great fun reaching out for different looks of both classic and contemporary. She earnestly thanks Jatin Kampani for getting her sported attractively.

Pranav Capila, executive editor of M utters, 'Featuring Kajol on M's edition has been our all-time wish and we're so gleeful that Kajol accepted our offer'.

Star of the week

Kangana Ranaut

Ghajini, the Game to hit markets soon

Witnessing tremendous success, producers of Ghajini have filled their sacs with around Rs. 1Billion in first 5 days after film's release. Well, now they have planned to move their success to next level. A PC video game named 'Ghajini, The Game' is set to hit the markets by this week. Earlier, plans were to launch the game a month prior to film's release. But, producers of the film were looking for a furthermore fine-tuned version to make the 'chasing aspects' more interesting for the viewers….
Designed by Sashi Reddy, chairperson of FX Labs and Madhu Mantena, producer of Ghajini, the game has been produced at a cost of around Rs. 30million. Getting on with yet-to-be-launched game, Producer Mantena says 'It's same as any cat-and- mouse computer game with a graphically presented Aamir Khan chasing the villain. The game starts from the point where Aamir's character is hit on the head till the moment where he traps first culprit'.
Other levels in the series take the players to further chases with more interesting panoramas.

Asin: Head among the stars?

After the stupendous opening that 'Ghajini' has witnessed (raking in over 100 crores in a week), the film's female lead Asin is in the news for all the wrong reasons.
According to a leading national daily, the actress has been throwing 'starry tantrums' on the sets of 'London Dreams' in which she co-stars with Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan. The film's shooting is currently on and according to the daily, the make-up artists and designers of the films are feeling the heat of Asin's chin-up attitude so much so that Manzoor Khan (make-up artist and hairstylist) walked out of the film.
It is reported that Manzoor Khan was getting bad vibes from Asin and could not handle the actress's high-handed behavior. Manzoor had reportedly stated that Asin was from the South Indian film industry but behaved as though she had come from Hollywood.
The paper also reported that not all are against Asin's attitude. The producer of 'London Dreams' Vipul Shah has sided with Asin and stated that Manzoor Khan was asked to leave because his work was not appropriate for the film.
Many film enthusiasts in South India are of the opinion that Asin might not return to South Indian films as she has tasted phenomenal success in Bollywood. Only time will tell what Asin's plans for the future are….

Om Shanthi Om mania in Billu Barber

Well, 2007 had them rendering the most sensational flick 'Om Shanthi Om' and they're back in town now. Yeah, Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Farah Khan are sure to rock with 'Billu Barber' where these bigwigs would be shaking their legs together.

The film produced by Shah Rukh Khan for his home banner Red Chillies is a remake of Malayalam blockbuster 'Katha Parayum Pol'. Hitting screens on February 13, King Khan would be spotted with his ducky girl Deepika for the song 'Love Mera Hit Hai Hit Hai'. Of course, Farhan Khan would be choreographing this song on the screen.
A happy mom Farhan says, 'There isn't any feeling about the fact that we are filming together again.. 'Billu Barber' is completely different from OSO on all vistas including dance movements too…' Though Farah was getting through post-maternal convalescence, she accepted to take up the offer as she couldn't say 'No' to Shah Rukh.
Well, Deepika Padukone is all charged up as it kindles the memories of Om Shanthi Om within her. 'I am much elated working with Shah Rukh and Farah Khan. They paved a stupendous way for me here in Bollywood. Manish Malhotra who designed costumes for me in OSO is right here and of course, our caterer Muthusamy is there again with us on the sets' says Deepika Padukone.
Fine! For those who felt nostalgic about team of Om Shanthi Om, we have few words 'Lekhin Film Tho Baaki Hey Meri Dost….

Will Aamir remake Forrest Gump?

Perhaps, Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood would soon get ennobled as 'Man of Experiments'… Yup! Glimpse through the flicks picked by Aamir Khan, each one varies with its genres and the actor is so keen on choosing them. Well, fleeting with colors of success, Aamir Khan has let his tongue about remaking his favorite Hollywood movie 'Forrest Gump'.
Be it a film historian, a film buff, an aspiring filmmaker or media student; none would have missed watching this chart-topping film in the world of cinema. 'Forrest Gump' starring Tom Hanks in lead role was directed by Robert Zemeckis. Much impressed by perfect making of this film, Aamir Khan uttered if has an opportunity of remaking a Hollywood film; it would be 'Forrest Gump'.
'Well, all films aren't appropriate to be remade unlike Forrest Gump' says Aamir Khan who continues adding that the film has whole lot of crème de la crème panoramas that attracts universal audiences. Everyone who watches the film is sure to get adhered to the role of Tom Hanks.
Released in 1994, Forrest Gump topped the charts of Hollywood Box Office grossing with incredible profits. The film also won 6 academy awards including Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Director, (Robert Zemeckis), and Best Actor (Tom Hanks).

Sameera's fresh tryst with acting

There may be countless moments filled with stress, will breaking incidents and phases of insecurity but the one thing the professional actors are blessed with is the chance to be someone else for a prolonged period of time.
It can never be said that this getting inside the skin of a particular character will always be a delightful experience, but at least sometimes it can act as a tool to get transformed and get inside the psyche of a fictional character who lives in a totally different atmosphere under different circumstances and thus get a great change from the regular life routines.
Even though she is an experienced actress Sameera Reddy went through an exceptional time as she shot for the film 'Yeh Hausla' at a remote place situated at the outskirts of Jodhpur in Rajastan.
In the movie directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, Sameera plays a simple village woman and the dusky beauty felt a strange king of bonding with her role which only intensified as the shooting days progressed.
It was John Abraham who advised Sameera not to let go this role and John upon knowing the nature of the role told her that completing the whole shooting at a single stretch is the best way to do justice to the character.
So Sameera did not take a single break and remained in Rajasthan for the schedule of 47 days.
Sameera says "Nagesh has taught me so much. I have connected with emotions within myself that I never knew existed. I felt I have gone to acting school. It was a different world without the trappings of urban life. I felt I had gone back to basics. I was in a ghagra-choli walking bare feet in the mud and these peacocks would accompany me everywhere. I have never been so close to nature before. And the thought of flying off to Bangkok for my next film gives me strange feelings of cultural dislocation".
Nagesh Kukunoor offered this meaty role in 'Yeh Hausla' to Sameera after coming to know how after working with the B-Town actress in 'Kaalpurush' and 'Ami, Yasin Ar Amar Madhubala', the veteran film maker Buddhadeb Dasgupta had found her worthy enough to make a comparison with the late acting legend Smitha Patil

Sizzling Tabu on New Year's Vogue

She carries us out everyone with her elegant gestures and her stunning looks would freeze our senses. Undoubtedly, it's Actress Tabu whom we're getting on with. Alas! 2008 wasn't a year as favorable for Tabu as she didn't have any of her flicks hitting screens. Perhaps, the very beginning of 2009 has her on the World's best top-charting fashion magazine Vogue.

The pulchritudinous fille is spotted hot on her spectacular silk dress embellished with Swarovski Stones. Well, this issue has the actress catching up for a chit-chat with 'Being Cyrus' fame Homi Adanjania. It goes inclusive about Tabu sharing her cherishing moments in Bollywood, her debut flick with Rishi Kapoor and more….

So, all the fans of Tabu who were quite disappointed during previous year will have a great time to rejoice….

Another way to experience 'Ghajini'

The framework to launch India's first 3 dimensional PC Action Game based on a Bollywood flick has been made.

The film is none other than the latest fad among film lovers and the action oriented Aamir Khan's 'Ghajini'.

One of the leading film production and distribution companies Eros International worked together with the game development company FXLabs to create this game which can use the immense popularity and craze the film has already generated to be a top favourite among the gaming lovers.

The game has been titled as 'Ghajini-The Game' and will be made available in the Indian and International markers by Eros International.

By being a partner in the creation of the game Eros International is trying to get a taste of the nature of the business of games based on hit Bollywood films.

Aamir Khan was also much exited at the idea of the game based on 'Ghajini' and has lent his voice.

The game makers promises to give a fantastic opportunity to all the Ghajini fans to experience the movie in a more intimate way through movie locations and scenes recreated in the 3D world and live the tough life as experienced by the lead character Sanjay played by Aamir Khan.

Katrina in her make-up's flick

Katrina's deeds are so exquisite than her beautiful looks. Of course, the entire tinsel town knows about this missy for her charming nature. Amidst of busy schedules, Katrina Kaif has consented to the offers of her make-up artist Subash Singh who has turned producer along with Prema Virendra.

Subash has been Katrina's personal make-up man right from her debut flick. Reciprocating for his good works, the actress has now agreed to perform female lead in the film to be produced by him. More excited with high-spirits, Subash says that the film would be a fun-loving entertainer of three lads falling in love with a fine-looking girl. As Katrina suited the characterization depicted by Director Aziz Mirza, they approached her and got it done with call sheet schedules.

Sources have revealed that both Subash and Aziz are in talks with John Abraham and Ranbir Kapoor for the lead roles and nothing has been confirmed till the moment. Subash Singh and Prema Virendra have planned to churn out three films every year…..