The Hindi films releasing Friday have a common thread

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`Apartment`, `City of Gold`, `Bird Idol`, `Kuchh Kariye` and `Muskurake Dekh Zara` - all the Hindi films releasing Friday have a common thread. All of them have Mumbai as the backdrop for themes varying from the space crunch in the city to organised crime and even an animation flick.

In `Apartment`, director Jagmohan Mundhra portrays a "contemporary story, set in today`s Mumbai" where people share room with complete strangers "because of the space crunch and the steep real estate prices". The movie stars Rohit Roy, Tanushree Dutta and Neetu Chandra.

`City of Gold` is a no-holds-barred look at the birth of the city`s underbelly and organised crime. Director Mahesh Manjrekar, who also plays an important role in the film, highlights the plight of Mumbai mill workers who sacrificed a lot so that the 21st Century Mumbai of swanky malls and glittering multiplexes could be built.

`Bird Idol`, on the other hand, is an animated laugh-riot where the birds of Mumbai are as human as the people who inhabit it. Director Jyotin Goel, who made Sanjay Dutt-starrer `Safari`, narrates how birds go to school, watch TV, go out on dates and enjoy reality shows, especially a musical show known for making overnight stars.

`Bird Idol` has voice-overs by Juhi Chawla, Shaan and Kailash Kher.

`Kuchh Kariye`, produced and directed by Jagbir Dahiya, deals with the current socio-political scenario. It`s the journey of a man meeting his destiny and coming to terms with himself in Mumbai, after he is forced to leave his hometown. The film also marks the debut of singer Sukhwinder Singh as an actor.

It also stars Vikrum Kumar, Rufi Khan, Shriya, Surendra Pal and Mukesh Tiwari.

`Muskurake Dekh Zara` is the story of a young man who drives from his hometown to Mumbai after an embarrassing incident. And he finds love in the city. A story of emotions and disappointments in love and life, the movie is about winning back one`s zeal with an upright attitude and ability to put people in their place after moving away from home.

`Muskurake Dekh Zara` is produced and directed by Som Shekhar, who has been an executive producer of movies like `Rangeela`, `Satya` and `Company`. The film is the launch pad of debutants Gashmeer Mahajani and Twinkle Patel.

As far as the casting goes, Friday seems to be missing out on films with big stars. What is to be seen is if the five movies manage to set the ticket windows buzzing.

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Milind Soman performs most of the action sequences by himself

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Akshay Kumar and Aamir Khan often cast aside body doubles and insist on doing their eye popping stunts themselves. Another addition to this brave club: Milind Soman.

Actor Milind soman plays a cop in an action thriller ’27-13.20 Nakshatra’, Milind performs most of the action sequences by himself without the aid of any body double.

In spite of having met with an accident recently on the sets of the same film, wherein he injured his thigh, Milind yet continues to enjoy the thrill of performing the dare-devil acts himself.

A sports enthusiast and a fitness freak, Milind is gearing up to be the next action hero.

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Lahore has been sought by US studio Hollywood Gang for a remake

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Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan’s debut Lahore has been sought by US studio Hollywood Gang for a remake and the director says he is "not surprised" considering the global appeal of the film.

"Lahore is an international subject with a global appeal and has been made keeping the western sensibilities in mind just like in Hollywood. So I am not surprised when they [Hollywood Gang] approached us," an elated Chauhan said.

"Scott Carr, the director of development of Hollywood Gang mailed Sai Om Films [producer], the rights holder of Lahore, about a week ago that they were noticing our film since long and they wanted to purchase the rights of the same," he said.

"The Intellectual Property Rights of the film are mine and I said yes on condition that they don’t tinker with the story except for any surface changes... the core story should be the same. It is very important for us that the structure of the film is kept the same in the remake," he explained.

Hollywood Gang has to its credit movies like 300, Everybody’s Fine and upcoming films Xerxes (2011), Immortals (2011) and a remake of Excalibur (2012).

Asked if he would be wielding the megaphone for the Hollywood version too, Chauhan said: "I am open to direct it and [will be ok] even if anyone else does it."

"However the director, cast, etc. is yet to be decided as right now everything is just at the preliminary stage. The contract is going to be signed soon," he added.

Released in India on March 17, Lahore is now going for a phased release in the US and Canada followed by Europe and East Asia.

Set against the backdrop of competitive sports (kick-boxing) in the international arena, it already has a multiple international connect with the likes of Rob Miller as sports consultant who also worked on Chak De! India, Tony Leung as action director, Wayne Sharpe as background music composer and Avatar vocalist Lisbeth Scott as singer.

Lahore stars Nafisa Ali, Farouque Shaikh, Ashish Vidyarthi, late Nirmal Pandey, Sabyasachi Chakraborty, Saurabh Shukla, Sushant Singh, Kelly Dorji, Shraddha Das, Shraddha Nigam and Mukesh Rishi. Actor Aanaahad made his debut with the film.

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures India, it has also won an international award - the jury award for the Best Feature Film at the 42nd WorldFest International Film Festival, Houston, Texas, where the world premiere was held on April 20 last year.

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Indian films will compete for top honours at the 43rd Annual WorldFest

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Three Indian films, San Banerje`s `Bodhisattva`, Saeed Mirza`s `Ek Tho Chance` and Nikhil Bhat`s `Saluun`, will compete for top honours at the 43rd Annual WorldFest here. The films have been nominated to receive the prestigious Remi awards at the festival which begins on April 9.

Billed as the oldest independent film and video festival in the world, the annual WorldFest dates back to 1961 and has been entertaining film fans, students and industry experts for decades. Pritish Nandy Communications (PNC) production `Ek Tho Chance` starring Purab Kohli, Amrita Arora and Rajat Kapoor is a tale of the millions who get off the train at Mumbai`s VT station every second of the day hoping to latch on to the magic of the city.

"Earlier in 2004, our movie `Jhankaar Beats` won the Remi award. Later in 2007, `Pyaar Ke Side Effects`, a romantic comedy starring Mallika Sherawat and Rahul Bose won the Silver Remi Award for `Best Comedy Feature`," Ishita Nandy, Vice President of PNC told reporters.

Nikhil Bhat`s `Saluun`, revolves around the life of Asok, a small-town simpleton, who gets entangled in the web of corrupt government machinery when his road side salon is burned down by the local municipality. San Banarje`s `Bodhisattva` is the story of Maya (Trisha Ray) and her father, Bodhisattva (Soumitra Chatterjee) and the evolution of their relationship.

"Maya suffers from Electra complex and compares every man with her father and is even willing to commit a crime at his bidding," says Banarje, whose English film `Money` was screened at the 2007 Cannes film festival. "Getting this far was beyond our imagination as we even missed the deadline.

And to be in competition with bigwigs with such a small film only proves that God has stamped our hard work," Trisha Ray, the lead female actress in the movie told reporters.

"The fact that we are nominated alongside movies like `The Joneses` starring Demi Moore and David Duchovny with our little Bengali film with no song, no dance, no regular feel of a typical Indian films or known faces, cant beat that," she said. Indian film `Lahore` had won the Special Jury Award in the Action/Adventure category at the festival last year.

`Mudhal Mudhal Varai` won Remi Bronze in Foreign Feature category, and `Zor Lagaa Ke Haiya`, won the Remi silver Award for family features.

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Bengali filmmaker decided to pay homage to Rabindranath Tagore

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With the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore being celebrated this year, Bengali filmmaker Pranab Chaudhari has decided to pay homage to the Nobel laureate with his film "Muslomanir Galpo", based on a story written by Kabiguru a few months before his death.

"Muslomanir Galpo" is about Hindu-Muslim harmony and atrocities against women. In the story, the lead character Kamala transforms herself into Meherjan and leads her life for the welfare of abandoned and repressed Hindu girls.

"I was searching for a different story for my film. Tagore wrote the story just one and a half months before his death (on Aug 7, 1941). Probably he wanted to tell his readers to stop these atrocities," Chaudhari told our source over phone from Kolkata. He plans to release the film May 9 to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore.

Chaudhari says the story of "Muslomanir Galpo" is relevant even 68 years after Tagore`s death.

"I have made this film to give the message to the wider section of viewers to stop atrocities against womanhood and to keep Hindu-Muslim amity, the main essence of Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore`s story.

"The story is still relevant in the prevailing socio-economic condition of our country as well as in several parts of the universe. Perhaps at the fag end of his life he (Tagore) just reminded us about the atrocities against womanhood and also the need for communal harmony," added the director, who has been in showbiz for 30 years.

Chaudhari, who has made documentaries, feature films and television series, said Tagore still remains the main motivating factor for the Bengali-speaking people.

"Bengali culture and mindset is totally encompassed with the writings and philosophy of Tagore. He is an embodiment of Bengali culture. As a minuscule student of literature, I have not come across any writer who has dealt with so many aspects of life," he said.

Produced by Pitrashish Marketing Enterprises Pvt Ltd, "Muslomanir Galpo" is made at a shoestring budget of Rs.85 lakh. Shooting for the film started Feb 17 and has since been completed. Post-production work is going on now.

The film was shot at Itachuna Rajbari, Khannan, Hooghly, West Bengal and the surrounding villages of Itachuna.

Made in the Bengali language, the film will be released in West Bengal, Tripura and other Bengali-populated areas of India.

"At the same time English-subtitled print will be made available for release in different major cities of India as well as English-speaking foreign countries."

For Chaudhari, it will be the most privileged moment if any member of Tagore`s family sees the film.

"In our country atrocities and discrimination against women and Hindu-Muslim riots are still continuing with great vigour. We shall be able to pay our real respect to Tagore when we can eradicate these injustices prevailing in our country," said Chaudhari.

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Arshad Warsi is taking his own sweet time to decide on a subject

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Arshad Warsi seems to have got bored of his comic acts. Though his last film ISHQIYA portrayed him in a different light, the actor is seeking options to get rid of his comic actor image.

Though a lot of films are being offered to the actor, but Arshad is taking his own sweet time to decide on a subject that is more serious in nature.

The actor has been bombarded with scripts that have a comic tone, without denying their importance; Arshad Warsi thinks that a serious subject is what he has his mind set out for.

Well, while his quest for a serious role continues, let’s wish Arshad keeps entertaining us the way he has done in the past. Serious or comic, whatever it may be.

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Cinema has never taken an ’escapist’ route for filmmaker Shyam Benegal

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Cinema has never taken an ’escapist’ route for veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who continues to weave social issues with entertainment in his movies.

The 75-year-old filmmaker, who is known as the pioneer of New Wave in Indian cinema during the seventies with films like `Ankur`, `Nishant`, `Manthan`, has turned to comedy with `Welcome To Sajjanpur` and most recently `Well Done Abba`.

The filmmaker says his aim is to bridge the gap between the young generation and rural India as he believes that cinema plays a major role in developing our sense of reality.

"I do feel its important to tell our generation about the problems faced by rural India. One of the problem we have had in the past 10-15 years of Hindi cinema is that it has become so predominantly urban that the rural India has just fallen off the map," Benegal told PTI.

"But in reality it does exist. A lot of us know the world through cinema. So if you are going to be so completely urban you would not realise that next to you there is a large rural hinterland. Therefore it became important for me that the problems of rural India are shown once again," Benegal added.

And to attract the Gen Y, the Padma Bhushan filmmaker is using the English titles of his films as a hook.

"English has become a predominant language among the college going kids and working class so the title does help to connect with them," Benegal said.

After making gritty social dramas in the past the multi National Award winning director feels that his style has changed and he now prefers the genre of satire.

"I have mellowed down and I look at the ironic side of the problems now. I feel that they can be explored in a different way with the medium of comedy," Benegal said.

But the multiple National-Award winning director will always be telling the stories of soil through his work as he believes that they are appreciated.

"I was very happy to notice that `Welcome To Sajjanpur` did really well. It was like by people in metropolitan cities, in first class cities, small towns. It had a single screen presence as well as in multiplexes which was very heartening," Benegal said.

The filmmaker hopes that his Boman Irani, Minnisha Lamba starrer `Well Done Abba` which hits the theaters on Mar 26 will also be well received.

"The film has done its rounds in International film festivals like New York, Dubai, Palm Spring and we got good reception. Although its an extremely Indian story, it has been liked by foreign audiences as well," he added.

According to Benegal, `Well Done Abba` is a comedy which has two things at the centre of it-- a political satire and a romantic comedy.

Minnisha, who grabbed eyeballs as the `bikini babe` in `Kidnap`, will be seen in a total de-glam avatar in the film.

"She plays a young, feisty girl. I don`t make my actresses look like they will win Miss World title. But they require a certain kind of personality that makes them very attractive. I look for that and I think she has done a wonderful job in the film," Benegal said.

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Arshad Warsi is all set to take on the challenge of directing a movie

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After carving a niche for himself with some of the most memorable roles, Arshad Warsi is all set to take on the challenge of directing a movie. And the actor plans to dedicate this entire year to learning the nitty-gritty’s of the trade in order to take on the directorial mantle next year.

Buzz has it that the actor is dedicating his first directorial effort to superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘Zanjeer’. And even though the entire cast of the film is yet to finalised, industry is abuzz with reports that Arshad’s directorial venture will have Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra in the lead.

Titled ‘Akadd’, the film will is set to go on floor next year. Confirming the news, Arshad said, “I’m ready to direct and the film called Akadd. It will be very realistic quirky action comedy. I won’t be beating up 25 people in the film. The style of acting, dialogue delivery, the actors’ body language would all be life-like. The heroine’s role is very, very important.”

When asked as to why he didn’t consider his favoruite co-star Vidya Balan for the role, Arshad said, “I wish. But the role doesn’t suit Vidya at all. We’re looking at someone else.”

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Hong Kong Film Festival will pay special tribute to India’s Guru Dutt

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The prestigious 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), from March 21 to April six, will pay special tribute to India’s late actor-director-producer-writer Guru Dutt, whom it calls “Bollywood Guru”.

Festival will showcase his “Kaagaz Ke Phool” (1959, with Waheeda Rehman), “Mr. & Mrs. 55” (1955, with Madhubala), “Sahib Bibi aur Gulam” (1962, with Meena Kumari & Waheeda Rahman), and “Pyaasa” (1957, with Mala Sinha & Waheeda Rehman) films. While “Sahib Bibi aur Gulam” was directed by Abrar Alvi, rest were all directed by Filmfare Award winner Guru Dutt himself.

Commending HKIFF for honoring Guru Dutt, Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged India Government and large private conglomerates of India to promote independent cinema.

India was full of creative and excellent filmmakers and they only needed an integrated effort in funding, encouragement, marketing/promotion, exposure in global avenues, and organization of world-level film festivals in India, Rajan Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, added.

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Resul Pookutty met one of his idols Quentin Tarantino

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He wasn’t nominated for the Oscars this time, but Academy Award winner Resul Pookutty struck a deal for his second major international film after Slumdog Millionnaire and met one of his idols, Quentin Tarantino, while he was in the US to attended the awards ceremony.

"I am an absolute fan (of Tarantino). And I had to tell him how I liked his Inglourious Basterds. When I spoke to him, Quentin turned out to be a great guy with a warm sense of humour. He asked me a lot of questions about my work and Indian cinema," said Pookutty, the sound recordist who the Oscar for his work in Slumdog Millionnaire last year.

He, however, said his Oscar experience was nothing compared to the last year’s.

"I realised unless you’re nominated there’s no fun in attending the Oscars. This time I was just a spectator and to that extent I got to meet a lot of interesting people, including the best actress and best director winners, Sandra Bullock and Kathryn Bigelow, who were absolutely charming," Pookutty said from New York.

Behind the visit to the Oscars, the sound recordist had a far bigger mission to accomplish. On Wednesday, he closed the deal for his second major international film, this one starring Joaquin Phoenix of Walk The Line and Gladiator fame.

"My second international film after Slumdog... had to be an honourable follow-up. I couldn’t he happier because I am doing a period film. It is a very special challenge because I’ve to recreate the sound textures of New York in 1854."

Throwing more light on the project, Pookutty said: "It’s an adaptation of a haunting thriller entitled The Beautiful Cigar Girl by Daniel Stashower. It’s based on an eerie real-life experience of author Edgar Allan Poe which happened just months before his death. Joaquin Phoenix plays Edgar Allan Poe."

The film, to be directed by Henry Miller, will be shot in the US this summer and Pookutty needs to wrap up his work in India before he devotes three months to the project.

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Bollywood director Vikram Bhatt is out to scare again

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Bollywood director Vikram Bhatt, after two successful horror films to his credit, is out to scare again. He describes his forthcoming film `Shaapit` as a narration of how a curse works.

"The curse is such an old thing in Indian ethos and we have seen its influence even in Indian mythologies like Ramayana and Mahabharata," Vikram Bhatt told reporters.

"The curse played a pivotal role in Indian stories and mythologies, but I don`t think there is any film made on the subject. So I thought that it would be an interesting thing to make a film on a curse and how it works in one`s life," Vikram said.

"I did some research and a very important fact emerged. It was how a curse actually functions. The person who has cursed and the person who has been cursed may no longer be there but the curse remains on their family for generations," he explained.

Vikram is known for launching new faces and in "Shaapit" he introduces Aditya Narayan and Shweta Agarwal in the lead roles.


"I think the casting of any film depends on the subject you are dealing with. There are some subjects that don`t work without a star and there are some subjects that don`t need a star. I think horror by itself is a star, because people go to get scared and in that if you have Shweta and Adi, it is a fantastic launch for them," Vikram said.

The story of "Shaapit" revolves around Aman (Aditya Narayan) who proposes to Kaaya(Shweta Agarwal) but neither of them knows that there is a curse that plagues Kaaya`s family.

"Before starting this film, I did a course of psychic meditation. By psychic meditation we can speak to spirits. With constant meditation you can avoid that too. I have seen spirits. If we believe that there is a spirit in every body then we have to believe that after we die the spirit remains. It`s all about belief," Vikram said.

Vikram Bhatt had directed the horror film "Raaz" in 2002 and "1920" in 2008.

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Rapper Hard Kaur is now focusing on an acting career in Bollywood

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Billed as the country`s first female rapper, Hip-Hop star Hard Kaur is now focusing on an acting career in Bollywood and is kickstarting it with `Patiala House` alongside superstar Akshay Kumar.

Kaur, who rose to fame with the song `Glassy` sang her first Bollywood number `Mover Your Body` in `Johnny Gaddaar` and then delivered a string of hits in movies like `Singh Is Kinng`, `Kismat Konnection`, `Bachna Ae Haseeno` and `Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani`.

"In `Patiala House` I play the role of Akshay kumar`s cousin. I first met him for `Hello India` in UK for which I recorded a song. He is very naughty and cracked lot of jokes when we were shooting," Hard Kaur told reporters.

She also featured on a TV dance show recently and insists she believes in being the best in whatever she does.

"I have always believed in being the best whether it was singing or dancing during `Jhalak Dikhla Ja`. I am not a big star but I would love to do more acting in the future and need to be careful about what I choose," Kaur told reporters.

The film to be directed by Nikhil Advani is about generation gap in a family living in London. It also stars yesteryear`s heartthrob Rishi Kapoor.

"Rishi Kapoor plays my Bauji and Akshay`s father. He is an amazing actor and even at this age he is very professional. My character is very different from the real me. She is a very simple girl," Kaur said.

She is also upbeat about her upcoming show `IPL Rockstar` on TV channel `Colours` which she will be hosting.

"I love cricket and I am a good batsman myself. I am very excited to be a part of this show. There`s music and it will be on the ground so it would be good. It`s my first time as a TV host and I am just worried about speaking Hindi," Kaur said.

Kaur, whose first solo album `Supawoman` was released in 2007 is happy with different opportunities coming her way but wants to break into the mainstream as a rapper.

"I have just finished an album but my first dream still remains to break into the mainstream and I would like to go and meet D-12 from Eminem`s group, I already have a song ready with him," she said.

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There is a lot of curiosity about Imtiaz Ali's next venture

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There is a lot of curiosity about Imtiaz Ali’s next venture. And why not it will be the next project after great and entertaining films like SOCHA NA THA, JAB WE MET and LOVE AAJ KAL.

It was recently publicised that for his next project, ROCKSTAR, Imtiaz had signed Katrina Kaif opposite Ranbir Kapoor, though there was no confirmation from the concerned people. To know the exact situation we decided to ask the person at the helm of affairs, Imtiaz Ali.

As per Imtiaz, "It is true that that the name of my next project is ROCKSTAR, but it is only a working title. As you know JAB WE MET too was TRAIN initially (as we had broken the news from Shimla in May 2007) but got a final title only after completion."

As for the cast, Imtiaz says, "Ranbir is there definitely but as of today we have not finalized Katrina or for that matter any leading lady for the film being produced by the same production house as JAB WE MET, Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd."

Before signing off the soft spoken and down to earth Imtiaz discloses the shooting venue, "We will shoot predominantly in Delhi."

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Abhay Deol and Tannishtha promoted their upcoming film Road Movie

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Bollywood actors Abhay Deol and Tannishtha Chatterjee promoted their upcoming film `Road, Movie`, a film about a young man who runs away from his house to find his own calling in life, here.

Produced by Ross Katz, Susan B. Landau and directed by Dev Benegal, `Road, Movie` stars Mohammed Faisal Usmani, Virendra Saxena, and Yashpal Sharma.

On this occasion, Bollywood actor Abhay Deol spoke at length about his role in the film. "The name of my character in the film is Vishnu and he offers his service to drive neighbour`s truck to a museum. What happens to him in the journey and who all he meets during driving the truck is the story of the film, “said Deol.

Director actor Satish Kaushik, who is well-known for his comic roles, said that he would be seen in a different role in this film.

"This is truly a film on the international level and before this also I did another film on the international level. I really feel very happy on being the part of such films because you get to see my other side that is of a very serious, passionate person who is very serious about acting," said Kaushik.

Michael Brook has composed the music of the film, which is hitting the theatres on Friday (March 05).

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Swamy Nithyananda’s scandal video has been broadcasted on SUN TV

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Swamy Nithyananda’s Sex scandal video has been broadcasted on populat Tamil channel SUN TV. In the video which SUN TV has broadcasted, Nithyananda was having sex with a top Tamil actress who’s name starts with “R”. The actress face was masked in the video.

This will be a shocking video for the People who believed in Nithyananda as a Swami (spiritual person). According to Nakkeeran, the actress in the video is popular tamil actress name starts with R.

Yesterday Telugu News Channel Tv9 has revealed the frauds of Sri Bhagawan and today Tamil news Channel Sun news have revealed the sexual affair of Swamy Nithyananda. These people are playing with the beliefs of common people who are blindly believing in these Swami’s and Baba’s.

Yesterday Sun News released the this unbelievable news of Swami Nithyananda (Nityananda) fraud. In this video footage he is having sex with some Tamil actress.

This video was released yesterday by Sun News live and people are saying then onwards him a big fraud since then.

Here in the following video footage from Youtube shows that he is doing sex with two woman.

Swami Nithyananda is supposed to be a spiritual person and this shocking video of him in bed with an actress has only shown how some people take the common person’s faith for granted.

No comments has been recored by Swami yet and the matter will soon be investigated.

It can be seen in video that he is getting intimate with an actress whose name happened to start with “R” leading to speculation if it is Ragasudha or Ranjita photos. DHYANAPEETAM Chennai(Madras).

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Oscar-nominated short film to catch the eye of Bollywood filmmaker

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He is no `slumdog-turned- millionaire` but Mumbai boy Sagar Salunke, who plays the lead role in Oscar-nominated short film ‘Kavi’, has managed to catch the eye of Bollywood filmmaker Anurag Kashyap.

"I met Anurag Kashyap and he said he liked me in `Kavi` and will cast me in his next film," Sagar, who is all set to walk the red carpet at the Academy Awards night on
March 7, told reporters.

Kashyap said he will be taking Sagar in his next project, praising his performance in ‘Kavi’.

"Yes, I will be casting Sagar in my next movie. `Kavi` is an important and a moving film on the subject of child bonded labour," he said.

Sixteen-year-old Sagar plays the lead in debutante American director Gregg Helvey`s fictional Hindi film which has been nominated in the Best Live Action Short Film category at this year`s Oscars.

The 19-minute-long film, made as part of Helvey`s diploma project, is about a boy who wants to escape from a brick kiln where he is forced to work as a `modern-day slave`. He yearns to play cricket and go to school like a normal kid.

Sagar`s life is not much different from the one depicted in the film. He comes from a slum in Jogeshwari and is the youngest child in the family of six. But unlike his character, Sagar studies in the class IX and dreams of ecoming like Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan.

He is looking forward to attend Oscar red carpet and hopes to return home with the golden statuette and meet President Pratibha Patil.

"I have already got warm clothes because it will be cold there but I will do my shopping there only. Someone has sponsored the trip for me," Sagar said.

"(If I win) I will first bring the Oscar to India, I will come straight here. I want to meet our President after I return with the award," he hoped.

The film was shot on a shoe-string budget with senior technicians like Berry John chipping in for free.

"We have put our heart and soul in this movie. We had no money when we started but we have come this far and hopefully will be able to highlight the issue further. We never expected Oscar nomination but are very happy," said producer Harish Amin.

He said he got a very positive response from the government and hopes that the film will make a positive difference in Sagar`s life.

"He comes from a very modest background and we are trying our best to get him education. There are only two people allowed at the Oscars but we wrote to the Academy because we want to give Sagar the exposure. Miracles do happen. His passport was ready within three weeks. But it is a long way," said producer Guneet Monga.

She said Oscar-winning films like "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Smile Pinki" made their task easy.

"They created a positive atmosphere for us and helped us tremendously. It is awesome the way world is looking at Indian film industry. It is very encouraging," she said.

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Konkona Sen restricting herself to the bigger banners

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With the kind of success she is enjoying, any other actor in her place would have signed films in dozens by now but not Konkona who continues to go by her instincts. Continuing to mix various genres of cinema without restricting herself to the bigger banners and known names, Konkona is content with the choices that she is making.

While ATITHI TUM KAB JAOGE? is a comedy on surface, at the core of it the film appears to be boasting of a realistic setting, what with Konkona and Ajay playing a married couple and Paresh Rawal being an unwelcome guest. Due to the realism factor involved, one tends to believe that Konkona must have felt like being in a comfortable zone. After all the talented actress has always reveled when it comes to being natural in her act.

"Why just this film", questions back Konkona, "I am sure most of the films that I have done before have boasted of a realistic setting. So there wasn’t a question of a ’comfort zone’ or anything."

How about the familiarity factor? With Ajay Devgn, she is working once again after OMKARA. Her old association must have come in handy, isn’t it?

"Yes, I knew him a little bit from the OMKARA days, but then I didn’t have many scenes with him", says Konkona, "Instead I had more scenes with Kareena and Saif. I worked more closely with Ajay this time around and it was reaffirmed once again that he is not really that serious and intense that he is made out to be. Instead he is so easy to work with since he is really relaxed and chilled out. I saw a really nice side of him."

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Suniel Shetty feels Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to save hockey

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Bollywood star Suniel Shetty feels Congress MP Rahul Gandhi should step in to save the sport from the "doldrums".

"Only Rahul Gandhi with his initiative and youth power can rescue hockey from the doldrums. Otherwise the game is doomed," Suniel told reporters.

Suniel intends to request Rahul Gandhi to bring a sense of direction to the game.

The fiasco on Saturday at the sports event hosted in Chandigarh by the AMR Sports Foundation, where the national hockey players apparently asked for Rs.500 million at the eleventh hour to play at the event, has not left Suniel disillusioned or discouraged.

"See, what happened in Chandirgarh was really sad. I don`t know what happened between the event`s organisers and our boys from the national hockey team. If they really asked for the money, then they shouldn`t have.

"But think of it from their point of view. Hockey players in our country are still so underpaid. They`re under so much pressure from their family to give up hockey and do something more paying. How long can our players withstand the financial pressure?"

The sports event at Chandigarh was touted as the ultimate teaser before the World Cup matches, but ended up being a damp squib. Dharmendra and his sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, were shooting in Patiala and were expected to attend, cancelled at the last minute.

"It was not Dharamji`s fault at all. He was all set to travel from Patiala to Chandigarh when the organisers informed him not to come because of the chaos that happened over the money the hockey players demanded. I was also told not to come. But I didn`t listen. And I`m glad I went. There were 30,000 expectant people in the stadium at Chandigarh," said Suniel.

He feels every sport in the country barring cricket is in a shoddy condition.

"Look at the way our world-class sport persons like Abhinav Bhindra are treated. It`s a shame. We really need to respect sports and sportsmen other than cricket. We keep forgetting we have a Hockey World Cup coming up. And we cannot allow our hockey players to be demoralised in this way. Like I said, we need Rahul Gandhi to step in," said Suniel.

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TV actor Sunil Grover is all set to play a role similar to ‘Mr.Bean’

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Stand-up comedian and TV actor Sunil Grover is all set to play a role similar to ‘Mr.Bean’, the lovable and comical character from the popular British series of the same name, in ‘Gutur Gu’ - a silent comedy show being launched by SAB TV.

The actor, who is better known as Sud of radio show ‘Hansi Ke Phuvare’, will be seen as Balu Kumar, a simple, innocent and super-enthusiastic character who invariably manages to get into misadventures in his everyday life.

Asked about the similarities his character has with ‘Mr.Bean’, Grover told IANS: ‘The thing is that since ‘Mr.Bean’ is also silent comedy, the genre is similar. Plus my look - the unruly tie and short trousers, but this (similarity) could be a coincidence. We never thought about making our character look like ‘Mr.Bean’, but it is a coincidence… there has been no intention for such a thing.’

‘Even if the characters look similar, it’s not bad. It’s not bad because it becomes easier for people to relate to and understand the concept,’ Grover said at the show’s launch here Tuesday.

‘It’s happening in India for the first time and the stories are in a family set-up. The show is for Indian masses, majority of whom may not have had the exposure to ‘Mr.Bean’ or ‘Charlie Chaplin’ and other such English content. Maybe you and I are aware of these shows, but lot of people don’t (know). For them it’s a new thing,’ he added.

Grover has earlier been seen as a host on shows like ‘Kaun Banega Champu’ and ‘Kya Aap Paanchvi Fail Champu Hai?’ on channel Filmy. As a stand-up comedian, the first-time actor had a tough time keeping his mouth shut while shooting for the show, but says he managed it fine. For his role, he did look for inspiration from classic silent comedies like ‘Charlie Chaplin’ but says he stopped watching them beyond a point.

‘I did start watching ‘Charlie Chaplin’, ‘Mr.Bean’ and ‘Laurel and Hardy’ before we started. But after watching two or three films, I thought, ‘Let it be now’. The set-up (of ‘Gutur Gu’) is different, the storytelling is different - so rather than concentrating on my own thing, I thought it would be wise to develop a chemistry with the other actors of the show,’ he said.

‘Gutur Gu’ is a weekly show, produced by B.P. Singh of ‘CID’ and ‘Aahat’ fame. It will be on air every Friday starting March 5.

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Ace designer Rohit Bal underwent an emergency angioplasty

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Ace designer Rohit Bal, who suffered a massive heart attack on Tuesday morning, underwent an emergency angioplasty late last night after he complained of fresh chest pain.

Reports state that the doctors had to rush the procedure as a major part of Bal’s muscle was left damaged by the cardiac arrest. Talking about Bal’s condition, chairman of interventional cardiology at Medanta Dr Praveen Chandra, who conducted the angioplasty, said, "We realized that if we didn’t conduct the angioplasty immediately, Rohit Bal’s heart would suffer more damage."

As to what caused the heart attack, doctors said that one of Bal’s arteries - the left anterior descending (LAD), was blocked almost 90%. A thrombosuction to clear up the artery was then conducted on Bal following which he was administered a clot dissolving medicine to clear up the remaining partial block. A stent was then put into the artery. LAD supplies blood to the front of the left side of the heart.

Another artery - the right coronary, was also found to be blocked 100%. But doctors left that untouched since they found that the body had already created a bypass channel.

An intra aortic balloon pump has also been put on Bal which will support the fashion designer’s heart in the next 48 hours and help it recover faster. The balloon will increase blood flow to the heart muscle and decrease the heart’s workload through a process called counterpulsation.

"We will have to be watchful over the next 24 hours. He is on the intra aortic balloon pump and blood thinning medication. The attack was very severe," said Dr Chandra added.

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