Aishwarya Rai: No Hot Stuff!

Aishwarya Rai has turned down Karan’s Johar’s next film, saying she would feel uncomfortable doing the role she was offered, in which she is cast opposite not one but two guys -hubby Abhishek and John Abraham.

Her decision may be considered the aftermath of Dhoom 2 , in which her sexy, skimpy outfits and liplock with co-star Hrithik Roshan reportedly caused heartburn in the Bachchan household.

Being a married woman now, Ash is not game for such roles anymore.

Unwilling to play the role in Karan’s production, Ash reportedly had a very frank talk with Johar and explained her point of view to him.

There has been a cast reshuffle in Karan Johar ’s next production that will be directed by his assistant Tarun Mansukhani. The yet untitled movie was initially slated to star Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan in lead roles. Ash had apparently said yes to the film after hearing the screenplay at first.

But she changed her mind after the script and her role in it was narrated to her in detail.

Karan says he respects Ash’s decision. So now Priyanka Chopra has been roped in to fill Ash’s place in the film. Priyanka has previously worked with Abhishek in Bluffmaster and she is also doing Drona with him.

As for Ash, she has no dearth of films with her hubby.

Movie Review: So How Exactly Is Nishabd?

A film that attempts to break new ground in terms of subject and storytelling should be applauded. And in that sphere, Nishabd doesn’t hold back. Yes, it does try to soften the blow to an over-protected audience used to tamer stuff, but the blow is still there.

Domesticated 60-year-old photographer Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) has a teenaged daughter Ritu (Shraddha Arya) and a wife of 27 years (Revathi), with whom he describes his life as having “no complaints”.

Enter his daughter’s friend Jiah (Jiah Khan) who comes to their home to spend the holidays. She’s everything he’s not – young, free, irreverent and brash. An attraction develops, fuelled by Jiah’s playful flirtations with him. They confess their love to each other and the story takes it from there.

Before seeing the film, one wondered what would happen — would the film see their attraction find a conclusion, or would it be a safe touch-and-go romance, like in Dil Chahta Hai? The answer is, it does both. While the film boldly explores their guilty relationship, it also has the most hurried and unexplained endings, that leaves you feeling cheated.

This is one mistake that several filmmakers who touch upon unconventional topics commit – they dare and then they duck. Like in DCH, where the older woman- younger man relationship was conveniently taken care of by the abrupt and unconvincing death of Dimple Kapadia’s character. Here too, the film takes a stand, but then shifts.

The interludes where Bachchan’s Vijay directly addresses the audience and “explains” how and why the relationship happened are truly unnecessary, and pull down the pace of the film. Is it really necessary to spoon-feed the audience with preachy clarifications?

Predictably, the film rest on Bachchan’s able shoulders, as he emotes with all sincerity and brings forth the nuances of his complicated situation. He’s especially delightful in a scene where he breaks into an uncontrollable, spontaneous laughing fit recollecting Jiah’s antics, as his worried wife looks on, and he can’t tell her why.

Jiah Khan, perfectly cast, ably supports him. She’s a delight to watch in her effortless rendering of the straight-talking girl who loves making everyone just a bit uncomfortable.

One sore point – Jiah is shown to have divorced parents, hence the insinuation that she’s from a broken family…therefore a bit unstable…therefore susceptible to such a romance, is an unacceptable cliché, and very disappointing.

On the opposite spectrum is Vijay’s wife, another cliché – a sacrificing, plain, devoid of any sexuality, saas-bahu serials-watching, strict housewife who does ‘kit kit’. What’s also putting off is the unnecessary and too-much emphasis on Jiah’s sexuality.

Apart from provocatively licking a lollipop, her legs miraculously find their way into the frame of almost every shot. Then of course there’s the garden hose pipe scene where she’s in the garden, drenched and playing with the water pipe (who does that?) as Vijay rushes to click her pictures.

The cinematography (Amit Roy) is noteworthy and the camera effortlessly glides and ponders over the protagonists’ lives. Costumes are stylized, and Jiah’s look with her noisy junk jewellery and Bachchan in his dapper jumpers and jackets are a treat to watch.

One can admire a film for breaking convention but there are other factors that come into play when one must decide whether to recommend or not recommend a film — how convincing is it, how absorbing, how moving?

Nishabd, though partly all three, is never fully any one. And part emotions simply don’t work in a cinema hall. Watch the film, without expectations, if you are a severe Bachchan fan and like to sample variety in your films. Else, rent out the far more complex and intriguing Lolita instead.

No Objections If Ash Continues To Work After Marriage: Big B

Soon-to-be-Bachchan ‘bahu’ actor Aishwarya Rai will be a working member of the family and need not quit movies like other actors, according to her would-be father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan.  Well, there is certainly no one like Big B

The Big B, in an interaction with 50 young fans on NDTV 24×7 news channel, was asked if Aishwarya will continue to work in films after marriage with his son Abhishek.

“I don’t see any problem in her wanting to continue her career and wanting to continue acting,” he said in the interaction that will be telecast on February 17.

Several Bollywood actor, including Aishwarya’s would-be mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan have put their acting career on the back-burner after marriage.

Read more

Rolls Royce Phantom For Big B

Rolls Royce phantom rolls in Amitabh’s backyar, right after the Bentley What a life Big B.

Expressing gratitude to Amitabh Bachchan for his “stunning” performance in the yet-to-be -released “Eklavya”, the film’s director Vidhu Vinod Chopra today gifted the actor a Rolls Royce Phantom worth Rs 3.5 crore.

The silver car was presented by Chopra to the Bollywood icon at the latter’s Janak office in northwest Mumbai’s Juhu suburb.

“Mr Bachchan’s performance is simply stunning in ‘Eklavya’ and I felt such an accomplished performance deserves an extra special acknowledgement and what better than a Rolls Royce for a person who has a passion for cars,” Chopra said.

Asked for his reaction, Bachchan said, “I am over the moon. I wanted to work with Vidhu for a long time and this finally happened after a long wait of 30 years.”

Read more

Amitabh Bachchan Did Not Give Abhishek The Bentley

Two days after Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan received a Bentley worth Rs 1.7 crore on his birthday, his father Amitabh today denied having gifted him the car.

Speaking to reporters while receiving a Rolls Royce Phantom from director Vidhu Vinod Chopra for his performance in “Eklavya”, Bachchan said, “I have not gifted the Bentley to him.” Asked about media reports on the matter, Bachchan said he did not know how the reports had come about.

He refused to say who had given the car to Abhishek.

On Monday, Abhishek received a white Bentley for his 31st birthday. He went for a drive in the car with his fiance Aishwarya Rai before going to his Juhu residence.

Amitabh Bachchan On KBC Tritiya

Fans of popular game show Kaun Banega Crorepati are in for a treat with its host superstar Amitabh Bachchan saying that 24 more episodes are in line.

“Twenty four episodes from the previous lot are pending. Now we are talking to the Star TV how we can complete these episodes. It will be done,” Bachchan, who was in London as the brand ambassador for IIFA said.

Asked how soon the serial would be resumed, 64-year-old Bachchan said it was up to Star. “They are working it out.”

He said Sarkar II was in the making and he, his wife Jaya and son Abhishek will feature in Pradeep Sarkar’s Parineeta.

About his role as Gabbar Singh in Ram Gopal Varma’s proposed remake of Sholay, Bachchan said “It is a challenging role. Let us see.”

With Bollywood planning a string of remakes and some eminent personalities criticising the trend, the actor said “we can’t stop people from criticising. At the same time we can not say it should not be done. Remake of any film will add to creative enhancement. Whether it is good or bad is a different matter.”

Asked about his views on parallel cinema, Bachchan said “I don’t believe in parallel and artistic cinema. Cinema is Cinema.”

On whether he planned to set up a film Academy, Bachchan quipped “I don’t have the acumen to start an academy. I am barely managing to be an actor and I would like just to keep it to that.”

Amitabh Bachchan Makes A World Record

Is there no end to Amitabh Bachchan’s zest for life and work? Barely weeks after his 64 th birthday the Big B continues to stun friends, admirers and well-wishers with his gusto and energy level.

On Tuesday he shocked the entire unit of Apoorva Lakhia’s Shoot-Out At Lohkandwala by completing 23 scenes in 5 hours….an unheard-of feat in any part of the world.

Reveals Lakhia, “In one word, we were speechless. In fact the other cast members got tired. But Amitji just went on almost uninterrupted. I asked Arbaaz Khan to take a break. But watching Amitji he was totally enthused into pushing himself beyond his limits.

That’s the kind of impact Amitji has on the entire unit. When you see this 64-year old wizard out-doing everyone’s energy level you kind of pull up your socks and go for it.”

Lakhia admits he never caeses to be amazed bu the actor. “Each time, Amitji does something unimaginable we wonder how he’ll break his own record next.

This time he out-did himself. He was kind enough to give me four of his precious days to complete my entire work with him. We finished in just two days!”

Lakhia stops to marvel at a phenomenon that defies analysis. “Besides his unmatchable zest for his work, there’s another reason why Amitji is the quickest and most time-conscious actor in country. He knows every minute detail about camera angles, frame positioning and shot composition.

When he goes in front of the camera he’s not just fully prepared, he’s also mentally completed the shot even before it has started. Now do you know why he is who he is?”

Tell the Big B that 23 scenes in five hours is a world record, and he brushes off the compliment in his usual self-deprecating way. “It’s nothing. It’s just work. And it’s for a friend Apoorva Lakhia whom both Abhishek and I are very fond of.”

Oh Sir Amitabh, We love you. And really respect the dedication you have for your work.

How Is The New Looking Gabbar? Like A True Villain

After years (not just months) of speculation, Ram Gopal Varma’s Sholay finally went on floors this week. The man seems hell-bent to prove his detractors wrong. And with Sholay, what one looks up to the most is Gabbar Singh – Indian cinema’s most popular screen villains. Esp. when Amitabh Bachchan plays the part!

The look of Gabbar Singh in one of the biggest act of remakes in Indian cinema is already generating a lot of excitement. And the suspense behind this look was unveiled at a grand party planned by Adlabs on Saturday, October 7, at Le Meridian, Mumbai.