Cool Bollywood

B-Town was abuzz about Aamir Khan cancelling a vacation with his family. The actor had planned an overseas trip with his mother Zeenat and children Junaid and Ira apart from some other family members to take time off from Mumbai.

Says a source, “Aamir had planned the trip but at the nth hour, decided not to go. His children have already left with their cousins for a skiing holiday in France. The actor has rented a bungalow at the Chamonix ski resort for the trip.”

His wife Kiran Rao was not slated to accompany him as she is tied up with the post-production of her film, Dhobi Ghaat. In his usual style, Aamir was also have private screenings of Dhobi Ghaat to gauge reactions from family and friends.

Aamir’s publicist maintains, “He has not canceled his trip. Kiran and he left Wednesday night. His children left earlier. His entire family has gone for the trip.”

Last year (in May), Aamir had taken his children on a holiday in Canada which ended up as a skiing expedition for him. At that time, he had stated on his blog, “Thanks to my persistent kids, I ended up committing to a week of skiing, and I am glad I did. We were in Banff, a popular ski resort in Canada a very warm and friendly place and great for skiing.

Lovely slopes, very good facilities and great instructors. My kids have been there twice before, first time for me. “Those of you who have the resources and ability to try out skiing please do so, it is absolutely one of the best things I have done in a long time.”

Following its successful European premiere at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival, Aamir Khan produced ‘Peepli Live’ will be released in Germany along with India.

Mumbai-based UTV pictures, which has the distribution rights of the Anusha Rizvi directed movie, has reached a deal with the Cologne-based Rapid Eyes Movies for the release here with German sub-titles in August. The German company has also bought the home video rights for the film.

“Simultaneous to its Indian release, ‘Peepli Live’ will also be released in Germany. The film could not be released in India earlier as we had to rush for the Sundance Film Festival,” Rizvi told PTI.

The debutante director said that it was a great honour for her film to be screened in the Berlinale Special section, the second highest festival slot after the competition section.

‘Peepli Live’ is the second Indian film to get this privilege after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s film ‘Om Shanti Om’ was shown in this programme two years ago.

“I am thrilled by the enthusiastic reception given to the film by the Berlin Film Festival audience. Their response exceeded my expectations,” Rizvi said.

The film is about two destitute farmers in an Indian village facing the risk of losing their land for failing to repay their bank credit. When one of them announces his decision to commit suicide so that his family can claim a government support, his house is soon besieged by TV reporters, politicians, police, hawkers and businessmen.