theoxygenious: December 2008

'I'm making a film with Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai'

You seem to have quietly signed a Pakistani actor called Imran Abbas for 'Heera Mandi'.
So quietly that even I don't know about it. I haven't signed anyone called Imran Abbas. I'm not making 'Heera Mandi' right now. It may happen much later. I'm now directing another film with Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai. I'm very excited about the film, and so are they.

What prompted you to sign Hrithik Roshan?
Hrithik and I have been wanting to work together for a very long time. I've always been impressed by his sincerity as an actor. I was waiting for the right opportunity to sign him. Working with Hrithik would be a new and rewarding experience.

You and Aishwarya Rai created magic in 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' and 'Devdas'. Time for a hattrick?
Aishwarya is very special to me. She suits the role in my new film to perfection. When she read the script she was deeply moved. Of course the true friend that she is, she told me she would've agreed to work with me even if I didn't send her the script.

Will this Hrithik-Aishwarya film be your first for an international market in English?
'Black' was in English, too. It's important for me to make my films for our market. But we must take our cinema to the remotest corner of the world. Today the spoken language is no barrier. The spoken language in our country is as much Hindi is as English. I want to capture that feeling of everyday conversations.

You continue to be fearless in spite of 'Saawariya'?
This is the time when filmmakers need to be fearless and experiment with themes. Fearlessness is my biggest asset as a filmmaker. I will continue to make films that come from deep within me. My very first film "Khamoshi: The Musical" didn't do well at all. A lot of people think it's my best work.

There were reports that some actors, like Ranbir Kapoor, don't wish to work with you?
People are writing tragic tales about me every day. They are even deciding what film I'm making and also casting actresses in them... Maybe stories about me sell. But when the misrepresentations go beyond my tolerance, it's time to speak up. The truth is Ranbir and Sonam would be there for me whenever I need them. However, at the moment I'm making a film with Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai.

The Hits and Misses of 2008

As the year 2008 comes to an end, we assess what worked in Bollywood and what did not. Broadly classifying films in 5 main categories as per their box-office performance, we present to you the hits and misses of 2008.

Super Hit

Akshay Kumar's Singh is Kinng (approx.131cr) proved that slapstick still works if served with star value. Akshay Kumar's global fan-following and the Punjabi audience base in India as well as overseas gave this film a superhit status.

Ashutosh Gowariker's magnum-opus Jodhaa Akbar (approx.113 cr), despite its gigantic budget of around 40 crores, managed in to rake good collections and the overseas audience contributed a good percentage of the box-office figures.

Celina Jaitley reveals her twin!

What is our light-eyed Celina Jaitley up to these days? Well, she tells us that she is busy spending time with her twin

Celina Jaitley. (TOI Photo)More Pics

brother!

Now that’s a new one. Wherever did he come from? “Well, it’s my brother Captain Vikrant who is on leave from work and in town! He’s just one year elder than I am but we are like twins... we play mind-reading games, fight, scream and bring the whole house down.

We are crazily connected to each other. I share everything with him.” Aah, now we know whom to go to if we have to get details of some German connections, right Celina?

And we could counter check those coloured eyes versus coloured contact lenses rumours with him, too!

Shilpa to celebrate New Year in Spain

After recuperating from her foot injury Shilpa Shetty preferred to celebrate Christmas in London and now she will be celebrating New Year with her family and beau Raj Kundra in Spain.

Shilpa Shetty's foot injury is responsible for this extended holiday. It is known that Shilpa was supposed to shoot for her first international film Desire which got delayed because of her injury. However Shilpa Shetty has taken full advantage of her 'rest period'.

"I enjoyed Christmas in London," she told us, "The trees were beautifully lit up, the hustle and bustle of last-minute Christmas shopping was exhilarating, the excitement and warmth on people's faces was umatched," said Shilpa Shetty.

Not just that the actress who loves cooking, cooked delicious dinner for her loved ones. "I do love cooking, but cooking for 15 people can be back-breaking. Yet it was worth. I was showered with generous compliments for my chef skills, so that felt good," said Shilpa Shetty.

The actress and her family also sat around the table and maintaind a two-minute silence for those who had lost their lives in 26/11. "It was an awakening," she told us. Shilpa Shetty hopes for love and peace in the year 2009. And just how is she bringing in the New Year? "In Spain, my darling!" she claims.

In the best phase in my life: Kareena

Her first film ‘Saawariya’ was a disaster, but she managed to get a huge fan following owing to her freshness and beauty. Talking about Sonam Kapoor, the gal has had no other releases as yet post ‘Saawariya’. She is busy doing Omprakash Mehra’s ‘Delhi 6’ opposite Abhishek Bachchan and has just signed in her first endorsement deal.

Now, the young actress will be the brand ambassador for international cosmetic brand L’Oreal and will launch its new range of products targeted at the young generation. Aishwarya Bachchan has been the brand face of L’Oreal for three years now. However, looking at her age and status, the company has decided to sign in young face Sonam Kapoor for their new product to be launched soon.

Ash will continue to be with the brand but she will represent only women of her ages and Sonam, the younger groups. Sonam was signed for a huge amount commensurate with what the actresses of today like Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra are charging. The deal was brought about by celebrity management company, Atul Kasbekar’s Bling. Sonam has already shot for her first L’Oreal ad which will be launched sometime in January next year (2009).

Kangana can't dance!

Kangana Ranaut is having a tough time on the sets of Kites. The film features a song that centres on a dance contest. The said number requires Kangana to compete with none other than co-star Hrithik Roshan! Needless to say, Kangs is having mucho trouble remembering her dance moves when Hrithik starts practicing his. Daddy Rakesh Roshan has found a solution to that too. He’s roped in one of the best choreographers from America to give the song the best damn feel it could get.

Is Katrina Bollywood's number one?

That is the industry’s hottest dispute. Katrina Kaif has steered ahead comfortably, leaving behind the likes of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Kareena Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra and the rest. The British-Indian beauty has now been bestowed with the maximum number of titles, has signed the juiciest endorsement deals, with the most plum films in her kitty. Her lips had already been declared the sexiest in Bollywood, after which she was voted the sexiest Asian woman in the world. Eventually, she also knocked Aishwarya out of a campaign she’d been associated with for a long time. Katrina replaced the Bachchan bahu as Nakshatra Diamond Jewellery’s new face and it doesn’t stop there. Kat has just been voted the Best Female Style Icon. Miss Kaif also has a long line-up of blockbuster hits to her name. Starting with 2007’s Namastey London, Partner, Welcome and 2008’s Singh Is Kinng, the lucky lady has hit the nail in the head time and again. But before you’d go on and term her as No.1, she begs to disagree. “Not at all. That’s exactly the opposite of what I feel like,” she says. Like it or not, we kind of agree with her too. Watch why we think she has a long way to go.

Aamir doesn’t dare to fight SRK

As the war of words intensifies between Aamir and SRK, Aamir has again went ahead to make indirect comments at his fellow Khan- SRK.

He says, “For me Amitabh Bachchan is No 1. Do Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar and Amitabh Bachchan say they are number one? No one who sits on the top needs to say he is number one. Others keep claiming to be there.”

When quizzed about SRK calling himself the biggest brand, he says, “I don’t believe in competitions with others. I only compete with myself.”

He ends on the note that he cannot fight SRK, saying, “Do you think I could dare to fight with Shah Rukh. He is a good friend and so I can’t fight with him. I respect him a lot.”

Talking about his next flick Three Idiots, he says, “My forthcoming film after Ghajini is Rajkumar Hirani’s Three Idiots and I play the character of an idiot with R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi. But I think Shah Rukh, Salman and I are truly the three idiots of Bollywood.”

Well looks like these stars know how to be politically cunning and correct at the same time.

Bollywood Celebden Award for Best Actor/Actress in Negative role

Today we have the category for the Best Best Actor/Actress in Negative role award. The nominations for the Best Best Actor/Actress in Negative role award 2008 are as follows

1. Akshaye Khanna (Race)
2. Katrina Kaif (Race)
3. Anil Kapoor (Tashan)
4. Kay Kay Menon (Drona)
5. Urmila (Karzzzz)
6. Ghajini (Pradeep Rawat)

Psst: Don’t forget to vote for your favourite 2008 song.Click here now!!!

Vote for Best offbeat movie of the year Celebden Award.Click here now!!!

Vote for Best Comedy Movie of the Year Celebden Award. Click here now!!!

Vote for the Best flop Movie of the Year Celebden Award. Click here now!!

Vote for the Best Debut Actor of the Year Celebden Award. Click here now!!

Vote for the Best Debut Actress of the Year Celebden Award. Click here now!!

Vote for the Best Supporting Actor of the Year Celebden Award.Click here now!!

Vote for the Best Supporting Actress of the Year Celebden Award.Click here now!!

"Chinese stuntmen are way ahead of us" - Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar can't help but admire the stuntmen from China with whom he worked in close collaboration during his 'Chandni Chowk To China' shoot. He truly believes that they have mastered the art of action. Also, there is a lot that not just India but the world can learn from the Chinese when it comes to Kung Fu skills.

"They are the best in the business and we all were in awe of them when we saw them contributing to 'Chandni Chowk To China'. The kind of preparation they do is unparalleled", says Akshay Kumar who is returning to action four years after Raj Kumar Santoshi's 'Khakee' and Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Aan - Men At Work', "The sort of dedication they demonstrate is for all of us to learn."

He also goes on to state, "It is great to see how such world class performers are making an impression all over. Even in India, if we go just a little back in time, we had stuntmen who were not really in the best of shape and were also overweight. However, today the scene is changing in Bollywood with exposure to world cinema. Our own people too have become conscious about their bodies but still we have a lot of catching up to do with the Chinese."

"It is not wrong to admit that we are behind them in this department", Akshay goes on to add while stating that it only adds on to the positive energy if one is willing to learn from your contemporaries, "Chinese stuntmen are way ahead of us so fair enough, let's try to observe what and how they are doing better than us. They have an amazing stamina and willpower and I am sure we too can develop that. For me it was a learning experience to revisit the art of Kung Fu. I came back enriched."

He also talks fondly about sharing screen space with Sir Gordon Liu, who plays the role of the main villain 'Hojo' in the film. A veteran of over 75 international films, Liu is the same actor who was seen in the legendary film '36 Chambers of Shaolin'. He has also played prominent roles in both the editions of 'Kill Bill'.

"I was awestruck with what I see in '36 Chambers of Shaolin' and tried to learn from it. Working with the same man who made that film so popular was amazing. If you haven't seen '36 Chambers of Shaolin', go and watch it today", concludes Akshay while promising that 'Chandni Chowk To China' would live up to the international scale it has been set in.

Cute Saloni Stills

Kollywood actress Saloni looking cute in Saree and striking a sexy feet in the air pose.

And on the grass in Saree...

Miss India 2008 Winners doing Yoga

The winners of the 2008 Femina Miss India competition Parvathy, Simran and Harshita de-stress with Yoga, at the launch of a yoga club in Mumbai. Its very late to post the photos of Miss India 2008 competition, but better late than never. (Note: Harshita Saxena lost her crown over some technical issue)

Ultra High Quality photos from the event...

Salwar Suit Models

The second part of the post on beautiful Indian Models in Salwar Suits. The photos have been taken from various websites and Catalogues.

Sexy Kangana

Kangana Ranaut is back with another hot barefoot photoshoot for this months cineblitz. Here are the scans from the issue

Here is a bonus photo from one of her South Indian film appearance. Kangana wet and in the air..

And to wrap it, one of her smiling poses in white,

Akshay Kumar to join Special Olympics Torch run

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar will participate on Sunday in the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run here for Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Akshay is the celebrity supporter and brand ambassador for the event that is being organised prior to the world games.

Called the Flame of Hope, the torch will pass through Delhi Dec 21. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit will flag it off.

Special Olympics is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of the society through sports training and competition.

The games will be held in Boise, Idaho, US, Feb 2-13 next year.

Shilpa Shetty in Desire, an Indo-Chinese film!

While her contemporaries are keeping themselves busy in Bollywood, Shilpa Shetty has decided to take a leap across the Great Wall of China... quite the case of Chembur (mumbai) to China, eh!

Apparently, Shilpa has signed an Indo-Chinese venture called Desire , and this desirable actor is excited, not only because this is an 'international venture' and a 'new experience' but more so because she'll get to share screen space with one of the mainstream Chinese actors.

About the 'Indo' connection... the film is to be directed by a leading Malayalam director R. Sarath. Well, Shilpa can surely take a crash course in the Chinese languages from a certain Mallika Sherawat who has hobnobbed with the Jackie Chans of the world.

And then there's of course ex-beau Akshay Kumar who can teach her a 'stunt' or two... after all he must've picked up some words of the language while shooting for Chandni Chowk To China , na?

Sanjay Dutt in Anees Bazmi's next

Bazmi is known for his comedies. Recently, he directed two hit comedies - Singh Is Kinng and Welcome . Explaining his single-minded focus on directing comedies, Bazmi said: "It's the need of the times. Who wants to go to a movie theatre and be lost in gloom for three hours? The times are awful. People need diversion from their everyday worries. Even my next film with Salman Khan for T-Series will be a comedy.

" No Problem will be an out and out comedy with Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna and Anil Kapoor. I've worked with the other two, but Sanjay will be a first time," said the excited director. The film will be backed by Anil Kapoor Productions.

But there may be some title trouble. No Problem , the title is owned by UTV, and the big question is: Will UTV be willing to part with it?

"That's right. The title No Problem is with UTV," confirms Anees, "I was supposed to make another comedy with that title for UTV with Ajay Devgan, Nana Patekar and Riteish Deshmukh. That didn't happen. I'm committed to make another comedy with Akshay Kumar for UTV. But the title No Problem suits Anil Kapoor's film. I hope UTV parts with it," said Bazmi.

Beautiful Model in saree

20A gorgeous looking model in a highly decorative Bridal Saree barefoot for a photoshoot. Only two photos but since the colours were so good, so worth posting.