Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan wished a very happy birthday to his “jiggerypoo” John Abraham, who turned 38, and Riteish Deshmukh, who turned 31, Friday.
“Here’s wishing my jiggerypoo John and my little brother Riteish the happiest birthday,” Abhishek posted on his Twitter page.
He calls John by the name ever since the duo shared a crackling chemistry when they posed as gay in the hit film “Dostana”.
Actor is certain that it’s difficult to match the performance of his father Amitabh Bachchan in “Agneepath”, but he has high hopes from Hrithik Roshan who is playing the iconic Vijay Dinanath Chauhan in the cult film’s remake.
The 1990 film fetched Amitabh his first National Award.
“I wish him good luck. I think it’s a very brave thing to do. If you think of top 10 characters of Hindi cinema, Vijay Dinanath Chauhan is up there. It’s difficult but I have immense respect for Duggu (Hrithik) as an actor,” Abhishek said.
“He knows his job very well. So, obviously, he will sort it out. He’s not going to take on anything on whim or fancy. I am pretty sure they have a different interpretation of the entire story altogether,” he added.
Yash Johar produced the original “Agneepath” and the remake would be produced and directed by his son Karan Johar.
Abhishek feels that Big B’s film shouldn’t be remade frame by frame, as it would put huge pressure on the new actor.
“I think with ‘Paa’, you should not remake his film directly scene by scene because he is too iconic an actor. I feel that for most iconic actors. I feel it becomes a huge burden for the new actor to do. If you have a different perspective on it, like I think when Shah Rukh Khan did ‘Don’, they had a completely different perspective of the original one,” Abhishek said.
Abhishek rubbished all speculations that he was approached with the role before Hrithik. “I was never asked,” he clarified.
With Golmaal 3 having swept the country by storm, Rohit Shetty is on a roll. Besides remaking the Tamil flick Singam, Rohit is also contemplating a comedy with Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan as protagonists. Sources have it that Shetty wants to rope in his lucky mascot, Kareena Kapoor ,to play the female lead. “Both, Golmaal Returns and Golmaal 3 had Kareena Kapoor in the lead. Rohit and Kareena share an excellent working relationship.
The director is keen that she be a part of this comedy film too.” But, with Abhishek in the film, will the Kapoor gal grab this opportunity to work once again with the big director? Sources close to Shetty however, maintained that the director has not approached anybody and is yet to finalise on the female lead.
Sometimes, repeating a winning formula makes sense. R Balki, the man who made Paa, at least believes in this statement. Apparently, the director is all set to make another film with Abhishek Bachchan. But, the winning formula will be tweaked a bit. There will be no Amitabh Bachchan and no Vidya Balan in his next venture. The film touches upon a new genre which is why the others have been excluded.
Our source said, “Balki was to start a film with Amitabh Bachchan but he has a script which suits the image of Abhishek perfectly. So he has dropped the idea of making the film with Sr. Bachchan for now and will start his film with Abhishek next year. Balki is not willing to reveal the subject of the film right now and the project is being kept hush-hush.”
The source added, “This film will also exclude Vidya Balan and she will not be starring opposite Abhishek. Balki will be looking at other leading actresses for the role.”
Tired of seeing Katrina Kaif on screen time and again with Ranbir Kapoor, and Abhishek Bachchan with Aishwarya Rai? Well, a new Bollywood jodi is in the works.
Katrina and Abhishek have lately been green-lighting one film after another, and as things stand today the duo now has three films in their kitty. Which means they are going to be busy shooting together for many months this year and early in 2011. Knowing how secure Ash is in her marriage with Abhi, we’re sure she won’t be jealous of her hubby’s budding working relationship with the most beautiful woman in the industry, apart from herself, that is.
Abhishek and Katrina will first team up for the sequel of Dostana. The film’s shoot will begin in August when Katrina returns to Mumbai after completing the shoot of Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara in Spain.
Kat and Abhi would also get together for Abbas-Mustan’s Hindi remake of the Hollywood crime thriller Italian Job.
The hat-trick would complete with a Vipul Amrutlal Shah film which will be a romantic comedy to be shot in January next year.
IKLANWhen Raavan opened to below average houses on Friday, it was mauled by the audience as well as the critics and showed no improvement over the weekend, it was certain that this Mani Ratnam film won’t even become a respectable disaster like Kites. Respectable? Because Kites, despite all its negatives, still managed a good first weekend for itself that helped it come closer to the 50 crore mark as the lifetime total. This means that the film had the ignominy of being the biggest disaster ever with the highest total for a disaster/flop tag. Before Kites, the position was held by Chandni Chowk to China, Delhi 6 and Tashan which were the ’highest grossing flops’ ever with a final total managing to cross 30 crores.
However, for Abhishek Bachchan, it would be a painful experience to see his Raavan not reaching even the 30 crore mark. If the poor start to the film wasn’t enough, the film nosedived over the week. This meant that the first week stood in the vicinity of 25 crores. However, it would be challenging for the film to gain even the 5 crores mark if the trends had been any indication. With no takers for the film in the second week as well, the film would wrap up well under 30 crores.
Does that mean the end of the road for Abhishek Bachchan? Certainly not. Though the world has held him responsible for the failure of the film, if one thinks objectively it’s the character which has failed here, not the actor. This is the reason why Abhishek can still look forward to the future is because he has some prestigious projects like Ashutosh Gowariker’s Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Se, Farhan Akhtar-Ritesh Sidhwani’s Game and Rohan Sippy’s Dum Maro Dum lined up in next nine months. Of course these are crucial months but one hit should change the equation for the actor who has survived for a decade now.
Next nine months would indeed be looked at quite carefully by all Abhishek followers. And of course the detractors!
IKLANWhat does Abishek Bachchan have that the senior Bachchan doesn’t? Three films with the movie making maverick, Mani Ratnam, that’s what! And it has begun to rankle the Big B.
He has been urging Mani to fill that valuable lacuna in his repertoire.
Laughs Abhishek, “Pa keeps pulling my leg and Mani’s about it. He keeps telling me, “You’ve done three films with Mani whereas I haven’t even done one.” I keep retorting. “But you’ve worked with my all-time favourite director Manmohan Desai.”
Shooting in the sinister jungles for Mani Ratnam’s Raavan ,Abhishek was more concerned for the wellbeing of his wife Aishwarya who had to perform some of the most dangerous stunts ever done by a female actor .
“I am a normal man and a normal husband. I was definitely concerned for my wife’s wellbeing. And she was equally concerned about me,” says Abhishek.
Ironically the dainty-looking beauty was more than equal to the gruelling stunts in the jungle.
Says the proud husband, “Oh she’s very very strong. But Mani wouldn’t allow her to do anything that was unsafe. Speaking for me it was great fun. Ask any of Mani’s actors. They’ll tell you they’re willing to do anything that he asks them to. Raavan is the most difficult film I’ve ever done. It offered me my most challenging role to date. It was deeply challenging film for me and Aishwarya because we shot in the jungles under the severest of conditions. But finally it was worth it.”
How does he rate his performance? Abhishek says, “I can’t say I’m satisfied, though. When I saw the film recently I realized there is so much more that I could have done with my role. Given the opportunity I’d do Raavan all over again, and a lot more.”
Raavan is Abhishek’s third and by far the toughest film by the magical Mani Ratnam.
Says Abhishek, “I believe Raavan is even more magical than Yuva and Guru. It’s a territory that neither of us have ever visited. I believe it’s Mani’s most massy film till date. You know it’s funny , but because Mani has a fantastic aesthetic sense and he’s constantly raising the bar with every film of his it is believed that his films are high art meant for a select audience. Not true! Mani is for the masses.”
The three-film rapport with Mani is the envy of the entertainment industry. Abhishek says he never questions Mani’s judgement. “I completely go by his judgement and believe he knows the best.”
Mani is all set to work with Ranbir Kapoor in his next. Does that make Abhishek jealous? “I would’t be jealous if he works with another actor. My love and respect for Mani isn’t restricted to a role. Our relationship goes beyond films. Having said that, I would of course want to work with him a fourth time. The entire industry wants to work with him. Why wouldn’t I?”
Raavan wrenched Abhishek away from his comfort zone. “To shoot in the jungles wasn’t easy. But why do a film unless it challenges you to go beyond your comfort zone? I’ve always done films that remove me from the comfort zone and put me in a place I’ve never been.That’s one of the main criteria for choosing a role.”
Focussing on the emotions while doing those heart-in-the-mouth stunts wasn’t easy.
Says the evolving actor, “That was double challenge. First I was doing a role that required me to perform the most challenging physical activities. Then I also had to emote in ways that I had never done. And the one couldn’t be compromised for the other. It was very difficult. But now I realize the pain was worth it.”
Abhishek says Mani Ratnam showed him the film as it was being made. “So I was aware of what we were shooting together. I knew it was something very very special.”
Raavan and the shooting in the jungles brought Abhishek closer to nature. “It couldn’t get any more natural…we were in the jungles with the animals, insects, waterfalls, rain and Nature for months.It was Mother Nature in all her glory. I’ve always been very ecologically savvy. But this experience just changed my life.”
Abhishek has seen both the Tamil and the Hindi version of Raavan and he’s amazed by how different Aishwarya’s performance is in both. Abhishek also struck a chord with Vikram who plays the protagonist. “I’ve known Vikram for a very long time. He’s a very sweet chap. I take it as a compliment when co-stars enjoy working with me say they enjoyed the experience. Making a film should be as much fun as watching it.”
IKLANActor Abhishek Bachchan, who hopped to seven locations across the city to promote Mani Ratnam’s “Raavan”, was overwhelmed to see fans going crazy for him and said he never knew that so many people know him.
“I like to promote my films myself. I want to go out to the audience and tell them about the film directly. It’s a good fun. I was shocked by people’s response. I never knew that so many people know me. Honestly. I was shocked to see so many people showed up,” said Abhishek at a press conference at Cinemax Versova after a day-long tour Saturday.
People across the road were seen shouting his names and clicking photographs from their mobile phones.
Aishwarya Rai, who didn’t accompany Abhishek during the rally as she was busy in other promotional activities, joined him at the conference.
“I was also busy with other promotional activities. It was decided that Veera (Abhishek) and his troupe would be out. So I made sure that at the last stop I will come and join you all and meet you so that’s how I am here.
“This was during the course of the day, I was getting photographs. People were clicking and sending me and I realised that it was too much fun,” said Aishwarya.
“Raavan” features Aishwarya Rai as a dance teacher who is happily married to a policeman, played by Tamil superstar Vikram, and shows how Veera causes mayhem in their lives.
Asked if she planning anything like Abhishek to connect with her audience, she just said, “Wait and watch. There are couple of days for the film to release, so wait and watch”.
Releasing Friday, the movie has been co-produced by Reliance BIG Pictures and Madras Talkies.
IKLANAbhishek Bachchan seems to think love is in the hair. He is very particular about his haircut and styling but he had a bad hair day while shooting for his upcoming release Raavan. Believe it or not, it was filmmaker Mani Ratnam who gave Abhishek a hard time.
Mani wanted Abhishek to sport a very short hair in the film, as he plays a dalit leader who kidnaps Aishwarya Bachchan. He was not satisfied with the haircut that hairstylist Aalim gave before they left for Kerala. So, he picked a pair of scissors and started trimming his hair. The result? The actor ended up looking weird.
Knowing that something had gone wrong, Mani called in Aalam to Kerala that night itself to give the finishing touch. Since then, he was flown in every week to make sure that Abhishek’s hair was in right shape.
Aalim revealed that Abhishek had to go for a dangerous look with stubble, thick moustache and a very short hairstyle for his role in Raavan. He added that he cut his hair with the filmmaker monitoring it.
Well, we’ll see Abhishek’s new hairdo when the film releases next Friday, June 18. Watch out guys!
IKLANBollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, who will be seen in the Hindi version of Mani Ratnam`s "Raavan", feels it is easier to give the right expression while speaking Hindi dialouges.
"Hindi is such a beautiful language that you just have to say your dialogue and mean it. If you say it honestly, your performance will come automatically," he said.
"Hindi is a very simple language. What you speak is what you write and that translates into action. As opposed to English, which can be interpreted in so many different ways," Abhishek added.
IKLANBollywood star Abhishek Bachchan is a happy man after having won at least one award for his work in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi-6 - even if it was for the worst accent.
The actor was declared the winner of the Dara Singh Award for worst accent in Delhi-6 at the second annual Golden Kela awards, a spin-off on Hollywood’s Golden Raspberry Awards, also known as the Razzies, which recognizes the worst in cinema.
"Another milestone in my career. I won the Golden Kela award for worst accent in Delhi 6. Chalo at least, Delhi-6 won something. I’m overjoyed!" Abhishek posted on micro-blogging site, Twitter.
Abhishek had no competitors for this special award.
The Golden Kela awards night was held in New Delhi on Friday with funnyman Cyrus Broacha as the chief guest. None of the stars who were named for the awards were present at the event.
IKLAN
