'I'm not the only actress showing skin'

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It’s a good feeling that women want you: Abhishek
Saturday May 15 2004 16:15 IST

IANS

MUMBAI: Abhishek Bachchan says he is too busy with work, and not having affair with any of the actresses he has been linked to.

"I think people have very fertile imaginations. I have loads of friends, of both sexes. And I enjoy spending time with them. I'm just enjoying my life. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong," Abhishek told IANS in an interview.

He also refused to be compared with his father Amitabh Bachchan, saying the latter was a "phenomenon" that happens once in a lifetime. Excerpts:

The rugged look of Run is impressive.

In the midst of several multi-hero films like Yuva and Dhoom, it's a solo-hero film and the responsibility is therefore multiplied. People seem to think Run is an out-and-out action film. I disagree. Zameen was an action film. Run is a romantic-action film.

I think the audience likes to see me in action films. But to be honest, I don't think audiences want to see heroes being typecast. If they like a film they like the actor.

Your dad's most successful films were actioners.

I disagree with you. He had Anand, Namak Haraam, Chupke Chupke, Amar Akbar Anthony...I don't think it's fair to compare me or my career to him.

He's a phenomenon that happens only once in a lifetime. Amitabh Bachchan is beyond a yardstick of contemporary success. He is an ideal we can only aspire to. I'd like to believe every actor from this and earlier generations want be like Bachchan. Apart from being his son, I'm also his huge fan. I think he's an ideal human being and actor.

Run is a remake of a very successful Tamil film. Think it'll work in Hindi?

It's about a small-town boy who falls in love with a city girl, wins her and takes on the family. But the USP is the confrontations with the girl's brother played by Mahesh Manjrekar.

Sounds pretty routine!

In most of our films the hero takes it upon himself as a challenge to win over the girl's family. In Run, I really couldn't care less. I play an aggressive character. I like that.

Are you an aggressive person in real life?

I think aggression is a very strong emotion. It should be used sparingly and sensibly. But I identified with my character's single-minded determination.

Are you still single (after the break-up with Karisma Kapoor)?

What a strange question! I've been very busy working round the clock. I've been running from set to set. Whenever I get free time I go out with my parents, or friends. Life is wonderful and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

But you're linked with Amisha Patel, Esha Deol etc?

It's extremely flattering and embarrassing to be linked with different girls all the time. It's flattering to be considered wonderful and desirable. It's a good feeling that women want you....in whatever way!

However, it's embarrassing because it's not true. You know there's a very funny quote from Zsa Zsa Gabor where she says we actors spend half our lives trying to be famous ...and then we hide behind sunglasses. It's wonderful to be noticed.

What about Preity Zinta?

I think people have very fertile imaginations. I've loads of friends, of both sexes. And I enjoy spending time with them. That doesn't mean I'm romantically involved with any of them. I'm just enjoying my life. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. There are people's reputations at stake here. Let's not talk about women so loosely. It's unbecoming.

You're doing a guest appearance in Manjrekar's Rakht?

I don't do guest appearances. I'm either a part of a film or not. And I am part of Rakht, period. Like I'm part of Mani Ratnam's Yuva.

Run is a bigger responsibility for me. Because I have to carry the film on my own shoulders. But an ensemble cast like Yuva and Dhoom is so much fun.

What about Ram Gopal Varma's Naach?

Who am I to talk about Varma? His work speaks for itself. We're been trying to work together for a very long time. I'm very excited to work with him. He encourages actors to become a part of the creative process. He'd give me the scene and ask my opinion on it. I like that.

Now you're going to be sharing screen space with your dad for Varma's remake of The Godfather?

I'm not entirely sure I'd be doing the film. I've never said I'm doing Sarkaar. I said I'd do anything Varma offers me. So far he has only discussed Sarkaar on an informal level. But the prospect of being part of Sarkaar with my dad is very exciting.

But I wouldn't like to compare my dad to Marlon Brando or any other international actor. Nor for that matter do I want to be compared with Al Pacino in The Godfather. Incidentally dad and I start shooting together in July for our home production, Rajkumar Santoshi's Ranveer.

You're also working with a woman director for the first time!

Yes! Revathi's Phir Milenge finished in one schedule. It was so refreshing working with her. Apart from being a great actor, she's a wonderful director. I had a great deal of fun making this film. It's a film very close to my heart.

As a woman Revathi thinks of things that no man would. That added to the scenes. Revathi mothered all the other artistes. I was really pampered by her. I'd say, 'I'm tired' and she would mollycoddle me...and then send me right back to do my shot. Now I want to work with more women directors. I've been very lucky with my directors. They're all my friends.

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Kamal Haasan returns to Hindi films
Sunday May 9 2004 17:40 IST

IANS

MUMBAI: Kamal Haasan is set to return to Bollywood with a bang in a bilingual Hindi-Tamil venture tentatively titled "Kumar Sambhavam", which will see him pairing up with Madhuri Dixit.

While His protégé Madhavan is busy shooting his third Hindi film "Bawarchi" (soon to be re-titled "Ramji...London Se") in London with model Samita Bangargi, Kamal Haasan is all geared up to do the epic film.

To be directed by Sangeetham Srinivasa Rao, who earlier fashioned the trend setting silent movie "Pushpak" with Kamal Haasan, the project has been in the pipeline for months now.

Only Dixit's approval is required. Dixit, who earlier worked with director Rao in Kumar Gaurav's home production "Phool", is reportedly all for the new project with Kamal Haasan.

Kamal Haasan said: "Madhuri and I have never worked together before. When I wrote the script for 'Kumar Sambhavam', I couldn't think of anyone but her.

"My film requires a woman of substance who would look convincing as a wife and mother. There was really no second choice for the role."

Negotiations for the film are in the final stages.

Bharat Shah, who's financing the project for producer Kamal Haasan, has taken upon himself to get Dixit, who earlier worked in his financial undertaking "Devdas", to sign on the dotted line.

The deal is expected to be finalised soon.

With Dixit's nod for the film almost certain, Kamal Haasan's project looks like a very tempting proposition.

The film also requires another leading man. "I already have someone from Mumbai in mind for that role. But I'll reveal his name only after Madhuri is finalised," said Kamal Haasan, currently shooting the Tamil version of "Munnabhai MBBS" in Chennai.

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She flashes a million-dollar smile. The look in her eyes is worth a bit more. Yes, we are talking about Aishwarya Rai, the reel-life dream for countless admirers worldwide. And at last, here is a book that covers everything about her. Her struggle. Her triumphs. Her ambitions. Her love life.

The book Hall of Fame Aishwarya Rai by Biswadeep Ghosh unfolds secrets you wanted to know but did not, and lots more, as if manifests every facet of her journey through life. Surprising at times, shocking on occasions, the book shows exactly what makes her so unique in the film industry. And with some photos you have never seen earlier. Here are some of the facts from the book, which makes it an interesting read.

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Star salary vs market price!
Thursday, 13 May , 2004, 11:27

With the box-office fate of many a movie not being all that good as expected, producers are coming up with new ways to keep their project under budget.

So now an actor's remuneration will not be as per his market price but more of performance oriented. The trend has started with K. Sera Sera's forthcoming venture Galti Se and Jaan Bujhke where Anil Kapoor will not take home his stipulated fee but is on a profit sharing deal. Kapoor will take home 35 percent of the film's box-office profit.

Such a deal is substantially risky for an actor for in case the film fails at the box-office the actor would get considerably less than his established market price. But then he would be benefited equally if the film turns out to be a hit (which is a rare phenomena in Bollywood).

However to compensate for the actor's risk factor, the producers are giving higher profit percentage margins to the actors. (Perhaps this aspect could encourage more actors to take up such deals).

On the other hand the producers would be in complete advantage with such a deal as they can strictly keep their project under budget by not committing on star's fees. Also there's a strong belief in the industry that a shift from revenue-sharing to profit-sharing will put down the star system in Bollywood and bring forth a performance based structure.

After Anil Kapoor, Sail Ali Khan and Ajay Devgan too are considering such deals with K Sera Sera for their forthcoming projects Darwaza and Time Machine.

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I am not having an affair: Abhishek
SUBHASH K. JHA

IANS[ SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2004 01:03:32 PM ]

MUMBAI: Abhishek Bachchan says he is too busy with work and is not having an affair with any of the actresses he has been linked to.



"I think people have very fertile imaginations. I have loads of friends of both sexes. And I enjoy spending time with them. I'm just enjoying my life. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong," Abhishek says.



He also refuses to be compared with his father Amitabh Bachchan, saying the latter is a "phenomenon" that happens once in a lifetime.



The rugged look of Run is impressive.



In the midst of several multi-hero films like Yuva and Dhoom , it's a solo-hero film and the responsibility is therefore multiplied.



People seem to think Run is an out-and-out action film. I disagree.



Zameen was an action film. Run is a romantic-action film.



I think the audience likes to see me in action films. But to be honest, I don't think audiences want to see heroes being typecast. If they like a film they like the actor.



Your dad's most successful films were action flicks.



I disagree with you. He had Anand , Namak Haraam, Chupke Chupke, Amar Akbar Anthony... I don't think it's fair to compare me or my career to him.



He's a phenomenon that happens only once in a lifetime. Amitabh Bachchan is beyond a yardstick of contemporary success. He is an ideal we can only aspire to.

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Preity Zinta`s first love
Friday, 28 May , 2004, 09:59

The brand ambassadress of TVS - Preity Zinta, will feature in her latest commercial endorsing the 75 cc, four-stroke Scooty PEP.

The ad shows Preity bidding adieu to her beau before boarding the train on a railway station and hands him her Scooty Pep keys requesting him to drop the vehicle back home.

And as soon as the train departs the guy sets off on the Scooty to a pleasure ride. Preity whose train runs on parallel to the guy catches a glimpse of her boyfriend on her Scooty and infuriatingly pulls the train chain.

She gets down the train, stops her boyfriend, snatches away the keys and rides off leaving her lover on road thereby signifying the Scooty's tagline 'Scooty PEP. First Love.' However, having taught her boyfriend a mild lesson, she returns to him after a short while and takes her along. Indiafm

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Bollywood's brush with AIDS

ANI[ SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2004 04:42:25 AM ]

MUMBAI: The first mainstream Hindi film to tackle the sensitive issue of AIDS - Phir Milenge - stars Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Shilpa Shetty.



Directed by renowned south Indian actress Revathy, the film is loosely inspired by Tom Hank starrer Philadelphia , story of a gay AIDS patient.



Phir Milenge is a love story, with Salman playing a singer, Shilpa a successful and independent-minded advertising professional and Abhishek, a lawyer who takes up Shilpa's difficult case.



Bachchan said cinema was a good medium to create awareness about the disease.



"The medium of cinema is very widely accepted in the Indian subcontinent and if through that medium and through being actors and public figures we can create some public awareness I think that is fantastic. Whether they accept it or not is up to them. That's something we have no control over but it should be our endeavor and our want to try and make a difference in whatever little way," said Bachchan.



The country has the second-largest concentration of AIDS-afflicted people, behind sub-Saharan Africa, which has an estimated 28 million sufferers.



Film insiders say that Salman's character of an AIDS patient had no takers when Revathy first came up with the idea. The actor stepped in for old times' sake, having acted in Hindi film Love with her more than a decade ago.



Revathi herself admits it was difficult to find an actor for Salman's role, with several turning it down, mostly because of the social stigma attached to the disease.



Salman said the film was a mixture of both commercial and parallel cinema with a message and star value attached to it.



"This film is like a slap on the face of those who think that parallel cinema and commercial cinema are different, that parallel cinema is something that nobody watches. This film is a commercial film of that genre, which is brilliant. If you want to give a message your theatres should be full, if you want to make money then also your theatres should be full. This film has done both," said Salman.



Mahesh Manjrekar's Nidaan and Rituparno Ghosh's Ashukh have dealt with the subject but they failed to make an impact since the films were not promoted well at the national levels.



Lissome Shilpa, who has worked with Revathy for the first time, said she had a great experience.



"It is hard to describe, but the little nuances that are there, that only a woman can explain to another... I was able to grasp that very beautifully. Also the fact that Revathy is such a simple and clear artist herself has definitely been a great help," said Shetty.



Phir Milenge is the second film in Shetty's decade-long career, which would showcase her acting prowess after Dhadkan .



The film, made at a cost of Rs 4 crore, will hit theatres across the country on June 25.

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Saif is great fun: Rani

IANS[ SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2004 11:30:48 AM ]

MUMBAI: She is one of India's best looking actresses but refuses to take credit for it.



Also, it is a good comfort level with her co-stars that she looks for in her films and not necessarily big names.



"I think it is more about the comfort level that you have when you work with certain stars. It does not really matter if the hero has had hits or not," Rani Mukherjee said.



Whatever her formula for success, she is one of Bollywood's most bankable heroines. Last week saw the release of Yuva and this week she is seen in the youthful Yash Chopra film Hum Tum opposite Saif Ali Khan.



Excerpts from the interview:



Tell us about your character Rhea Prakash in Hum Tum ?



She is like any girl of my age. She is modern yet she is Indian at heart and her values are in place. The entire story starts when she is 21 and ends when she is 28.



She is carefree but not frivolous. Relationships matter to her but that's not going to distract her from her career goals. Although Karan and Rhea seem to be diametrically opposite, their relationship strengthens into friendship, and one's character is complemented by the other.



Rhea is a woman of today, strong and independent, but with a sensitivity and warmth that endear her to everyone. Although she initially seems to be the cliché that Karan feels all women are, the nuances of her character start to convince him that perhaps not all women are the same.



I think many girls will relate with this film as it is the story of their life or perhaps that of their friends.



How was the experience working with Saif?



It was a lot of fun as rarely do we get movies on just two characters. If these two characters don't work then the film too doesn't work. So we had to really work hard to get our chemistry right and make sure that the two of us vibe well together.



We had to really rehearse well and get the timing right. It was an adventure as for every scene we were trying to do something different.

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Saif is great fun: Rani

IANS[ SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2004 11:30:48 AM ]
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This happens to be your first film with Saif. How comfortable were you with him?



Saif's mom is Bengali, so each time he would ask me to teach him things in my language so that he could go to his mom and tell her those things. So we had a great Bengali connection.



Mani Ratnam himself said your character in Yuva is the strongest?



It's difficult to believe that someone as accomplished as him can be so normal. The best thing about him is that he shoots the most complex scenes very casually. I play a middle class girl whose husband beats her and at the same time is crazy about her. She is not weak as a person who can go through trauma has to be a very strong person.



It is quite amazing how different one can look. Like in the case of Yuva and Hum Tum - two absolutely different looks. How do you manage to look so different?



People fail to credit the people behind it. When an actress looks good, it is a team effort and not just the actress. It is all thanks to the cameraman, the makeup man and even the director. Sometimes, when the director does not have the time, the actress looks bad on screen. I feel lucky to work with the best makeup persons and cameramen.



Will you work with just big names like Shah Rukh Khan and Yash Raj Films?



No, nothing of that sort. When I started my career I acted with a newcomer called Shadab Khan. I worked with Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan when they were just newcomers. As for Shah Rukh and Aamir Khan they were my seniors as they had already acted in many other movies while I was a newcomer in front of them.



I think it is more about the comfort level that you have when you work with certain stars. It does not really matter if the hero has had hits or not.

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ishwarya checks cosmetics before endorsing
IANS



L'Oreal India, part of the Paris-based L'Oreal group, has announced 10 years of its presence with the launch of a new TV campaign featuring Aishwarya Rai.

The actress said she would never be part of any cosmetic company unless she was sure about the quality and effects of the product.

"I had long interactions with the company people as I wanted to make sure that the products were of top quality," Aishwarya told IANS.

She joins the L'Oréal Paris dream team that includes some of the world's most beautiful and inspiring women such as Laetitia Casta, Andie MacDowell, Milla Jovovich and Gong Li.

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`Aayitha Ezhuthu` creates records
Friday, 28 May , 2004, 11:40
Mani Ratnam’s Aayitha Ezhuthu may not be palatable to the common man but is creating a new box office record!

At Satyam theatre in Chennai, the highest collecting movie house in South India, Aayitha Ezhuthu has netted an amazing Rs 15,00,300 in 30 shows (including Sat and Sun morning shows). This is a new theatre record for the 1260 seater which reported almost 100 percent collections.

Aayitha Ezhuthu is doing extraordinary business in Coimbatore, Kerala and Bangalore while in the rest of Tamilnadu in B centres like Tanjavur, Tirunelveli and Salem it is sliding. In Kerala, Aayitha Ezhuthu and Yuva combined has netted Rs 31 Lakhs from 13 prints in the first week.

For distributors in Tamilnadu the film may break even as it was sold at a reasonable price to compensate the losses they had incurred in Madras Talkies` earlier film Kannathil Muthamittal. Madras Talkies themselves were distributing the film in Chennai city where the film is expected to do Rs 80 Lakhs to 1 Crore business!

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Colleges clamp down on skin show
NAZIA VASI

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2004 11:14:11 AM ]

MUMBAI: After being straitjacketed in school uniform for a decade, teenagers entering college can’t wait to flash their hip, new wardrobes. Tank tops and super low-rise jeans, insist youngsters, are vital to express their newfound freedom.



Mumbai’s college principals, however, are unimpressed by such notions. Spaghetti straps, they say, aren’t exactly conducive to the pursuit of knowledge.



An unwritten dress code has long been in place on many of the city’s campuses. As principal of St Andrew’s College A D Mascarenhas states plainly, "Anything that disrupts the class is not allowed."



And at St Xavier’s, the fashion capital for teens, principal Fr Frazier Mascarenhas is equally clear. "Xavier’s has an age-old policy on how students should come clad to college," he says. "The clothes that students wear reflect the attitude of the institution."



FORUM: Should Ur College Tell U What To Wear?



At Xavier’s, identity cards are confiscated for low necklines, high hemlines or other lines that allow skin to peep through. At St Andrew’s in Bandra, three-fourths, cap sleeves, short skirts, caps in class and gunjees are banned and the rule is observed quite strictly.



Sophia College’s dress code is decided by the authorities but is enforced by the student council. Arefa Bhatri, a Sophia student, is glad that attire regulations are not so strict at Sophia. "Apart from shorts and spaghetti straps we can wear almost anything," she says.

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Mobile phones are the other bugbear of college authorities. They are allowed in most colleges as long as they don’t beep in class. Also, most colleges have an unwritten rule on tattoos and body piercing preferring to turn a blind eye to these trappings as long as they don’t turn their bodies into murals.



Other colleges such as KC, Jai Hind, Sydenham, Grant Medical College and National may not have a declared dress code, but a basic decorum is understood by all students.



Explains Aditi Gowitrikar, model, and ex-Mrs World, who went to Grant Medical College, "There was no specific dress code but since it was a medical college we all came well dressed to college."



Adds Shenaya Lalkaka, a student from National College, "There is no dress code as such, but everybody comes decently dressed to college."



FORUM: Should Ur College Tell U What To Wear?



Students aren’t unduly upset by the need for a dress code although some feel that they should be cut some slack. As Shenaya Pochkanawalla of St Xavier’s puts it, "We are teenagers, this is our time to explore and have fun. Clothes represent our personality, the faculty should ease up on their regulations."



Sunil Pimento of St Andrew’s has another take on it. "I don’t mind going along with the dress code,’’ he says, “but many women do crib."

[mulga]

As many white models are ready to show skin and dance to items, there is no option for indian babes to strip and show, it is very tough competetion......,

[babu015]

quote

stating the obvious