Sonam beats Sonakshi Sinha to be Shahid's girl

Pankaj Kapur’s “Mausam’ had a number of contenders for the female lead opposite his son, Shahid, like Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter Sonakshi, Govinda’s daughter Narmada, and Alyque Padamsee’s daughter Shazahn Padamsee. However, looks like it’s going to be Sonam Kapoor who takes away the cake. According to sources, everyone on the unit of “Mausam’ is glad to have Sonam join the team. They are of the opinion that Sonam is a good choice for the role. Supriya Pathak, Pankaj’s wife, is the most excited of them all to have Sonam in the film. She got along with Sonam amazingly well during the shooting of “Delhi-6′. Sonam was chosen for the film without an audition. While that is alright, the film was supposed to look for girls all over the country for the role. Apparently, the idea was dropped as it proved to be too troublesome.

"Deepika has impressed me completely" - Imtiaz Ali

When it comes to defining an original voice in films today, director Imtiaz Ali leaves a unique stamp on conventional genres, from Socha Na Tha to Jab We Met and his soon to be released Love Aaj Kal, his ambitious take on the classic romantic era of the 1960's and today's 2009. With its old fashioned and grown up romance that is heart pounding, thrilling and cinematically exquisite, Love Aaj Kal seems like an unapologetic work of a visionary filmmaker with his own unique style, who is clearly happy that the journey has ended. So when asked by a journalist what his take on love is, at the recently held press meet to promote Love Aaj Kal, Imtiaz said, "Love is something that I don't understand. It's an inappropriate word." UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent met the 'Lost in Love' director to figure out what he thinks of the saying 'Love makes the world go round', the in-love Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, the lovely Deepika Padukone and his take on love yesterday and today.

Jab We Met was such a big success. As a filmmaker do you think you've graduated with Love Aaj Kal?
Honestly, it's difficult to say because you become very subjective towards the film you do and you can't really be a critic as well. When I was making Jab We Met, I was trying my best to make the best. In Love Aaj Kal, I've done the same thing.

I'd like Kareena to be in all my movies but the point is that I need to be fair to her and her talent

You obsessed with love?
Yes. Mere andar bahut pyaar hain. It gets reflected through my films, I guess.

Your films have got this earthy feel and innocence in them. Is it to do with your upbringing?
I have grown up in a middle class family in smaller cities of India. My father has been on a transferable job. When I finally reached Delhi and Mumbai, I saw the grandeur of big cities. So obviously, the movies that I make will be in some way a reflection of what I've seen in my life. The fiber that you're talking about comes from my upbringing.

Kareena has expressed a lot of sorrow as you didn't rope her in Love Aaj Kal in spite of her calling you her favourite director.
I'm very happy to hear that Kareena thinks so highly of me. I should also say that Kareena is my favourite actress. But just for the greed of working with your favourite actor, you cannot cast her wrong because you'll be doing injustice to everybody including the actor. My role as a director is to avoid such mistakes. I'd like Kareena to be in all my movies but the point is that I need to be fair to her and her talent.

Deepika has impressed me completely because of her synergy with the character she plays, just like how Kareena impressed me while she played Geet

So what was special in Deepika then?
When you see the film you'll know better. There is a sense of silence in Deepika and a sense of innocence. I cannot express that in words. There is a certain character or the nature of Meera, the role which Deepika plays in the film, which suited her. Deepika has impressed me completely because of her synergy with the character she plays, just like how Kareena impressed me while she played Geet.

Are you nervous of your film being pitted against Kambakkht Ishq?
You see, I don't get time to get nervous, luckily. As the release date is just around the corner, I feel happy that the film is finally going to be seen by the world. But I think that nervousness is a luxury that I don't think directors can really afford because we are always working.

Saif was never a producer for me. He was only the actor for me

In better words, what's going through your mind now?
I am not scared. The last thing I want to do is to make myself embarrassed in front of the audience. I like such films that don't embarrass me. That's going through my mind right now.

How about your new producer?
Saif was never a producer for me. He was only the actor for me. He was really happy only to be an actor too. He has come in with his intelligence, common sense and an extremely good creative idea for the publicity of the film. Only as an actor he could've done justice to Love Aaj Kal.

How was the title born?
Aaj Kal thoda boring ho raha tha. We wanted to go ahead with 'Aaj Kal' as the title of the film but because I'm such a lovely person making films that are based on love, the title changed to Love Aaj Kal.

Are you judgmental about love yesterday and love today?
Love is something that I don't understand. It means different things for different people. It's a very confusing term. I believe in words like affection, intimate, togetherness, but love for me is always an inappropriate word. I am not judgmental about it. There is really no message that I'm trying to convey through this film. I cannot comment conclusively. I can only tell you that if you think there is no innocence and love now, and you only consider that there was love back then, you're wrong. That's not true. If people get a bit more physical in love now, it doesn't mean that the intensity of pure feeling between two people is less in this generation.

Are you in search of love through the films you make?
May be yes. People who write books about Gods don't know Gods. They are trying to look for him. May be I'm too.

If people get a bit more physical in love now, it doesn't mean that the intensity of pure feeling between two people is less in this generation.

Did the yesteryear couple Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor give you any insights on love back in their era?
Both Neetuji and Rishiji didn't give me any inputs. They gave me this positive romantic energy.

Has success ever pressurized you?
When I will get success I will answer that question. I am not being modest here. This is the truth and I know it.

You think Love makes the world go round?
Yes I do. That's why I've made this film. The whole idea of the story came from us talking about love back then and love in today's time. People say that today love is only about having sex. All the fifty plus say that love has lost its essence. Whereas in the current world, we think that yesteryear lovers were fools. They took their entire lifetime to convey the message of love. But the elders think that the 2009 love is like an equation. How one can solve it is pretty strange. Love is surely making the world go round.

Another MTV Roadie turns dramebaaz

If Palak is busy flaunting her manly oomph in the Malaysian jungle, here in India other roadies are also striding on their way to showbiz. According to our sources, “Suzzana of Rodies 6.0 will soon enter the NDTV Imagine’s show ‘Janam Data’ as Akshay Anand’s daughter in the serial”. Just to remind you guys, she preferred to keep a low profile during roadies and seldom did the talking. But at times, she has really stunned the audience with her vigour while performing task. Her ouster from the show is a story of betrayal. Her hell mates who pretended to be her friends turned hostile to save themselves and she was out. She could not sustain the Reality drama for long; we wish her all the strength to carry the daily dose of it now.

B0X Office Collection

The new release, SHORT KUT, has done marginally well in U.K., but given the number of screens, it should've fared much, much better. However, the business is below the mark in U.S... KAMBAKKHT ISHQ is maintaining very well in the three major markets. The 10-day total from U.K., U.S. and Australia is approx. Rs. 11.65 crores.

Medical Glossary

Weekend: July 10 - 12, 2009.

U.K. BOX-OFFICE

Bollywood Mivire Review

• KAMBAKKHT ISHQ [last weekend: No. 8, this weekend: No. 10]: In its second weekend, the film has collected £ 97,388 on 52 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,873. Total: £ 5,43,833 [approx. Rs. 4.37 crores].




• SHORT KUT has debuted at No. 11 position. In its opening weekend, the film has collected £ 80,488 [approx. Rs. 64.64 lacs] on 34 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 2,367.



• NEW YORK [last weekend: No. 15, this weekend: No. 20]: In its third weekend, the film has collected £ 19,349 on 13 screens, with the per screen average working out to £ 1,488. Total: £ 3,51,683 [approx. Rs. 2.82 crores].

Leading lady of Aladin, Jacqueline Fernandes, unveiled

It's time for the red carpet to be laid out. Aladin is aiming for a Diwali release and as the film hits the screens, Bollywood would also see the arrival of its 'most exotic' import ever - Jacqueline Fernandes.

All set to regale the audience with a lethal mix of cute persona and some sensuality, Jacqueline is finally being unveiled by the makers of Aladin. "Well, the journey has just begun. Last one year was quite happening but now it is going to be even more exciting times with Aladin being round the corner", she says.

Over the last few months, Jacqueline was closely guarded for all the right reasons. 2008 had seen quite some noise being made around the number of newcomer girls (Asin, Anushka) while Aladin was still quite some distance away.

Says Sujoy Ghosh, the film's director and co-producer, "There was no point for anyone associated with the film to gaga over Jacqueline because of two major reasons. First and foremost she had just stepped into the industry and she wanted to focus on doing a good job in her debut film. Secondly, it was felt that her being 'exposed' to millions out there so soon would have resulted in an over exposure."

The protective director goes on to add, "Since Jacqueline is one of the four major protagonists of the film, other than Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Riteish Deshmukh, she has always been someone special. Now is the time for her to reach out to the world and I am sure Bollywood followers out there would be stunned with what they see of her."

Jacqueline gets nostalgic while remembering the times she spent on the film's sets, "Playing Jasmine was all fun and frolic with just the right ingredients of quintessential Bollywood 'naach gaana' routine and countless romantic and dramatic moments. It couldn't have been a better start."

Considering the fact that 2009 is perking up now after a dry beginning, it only makes Jacqueline's arrival in the industry even more precious.

An import from Sri Lanka who already has a beauty pageant crown in her kitty (she was Miss Sri Lanka 2006), Jacqueline has been academically inclined as well, as apparent from her degree in Media and Communications from Sydney, Australia. Ambitious to the core, she had once stated - "Being independent and accomplished was imperative to me and I always demanded the best of myself. Perfectionism is my strongest asset."

That's something which is pretty much on display, as clear from her choice for her debut film Aladin which is a co-production of Eros and Sujoy's 'Boundscript' and stars none other than Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt along with Riteish Deshmukh.

Says Jacqueline while spreading out that million dollar smile of hers, "The way Riteish's character is fleshed out in the movie, it was all rather cute. However, nothing can beat the excitement of working with Mr. Bachchan and Mr. Dutt. In a way, they were just the antithesis of Riteish. I couldn't have been luckier."

Akshay and Katrina have a blast on the sets of De Dana Dan

Akshay Kumar and Katina Kaif's jodi is among the most successful on-screen jodis in recent times. The duo has given super-duper hits like Namastey London, Welcome and Singh Is Kinng. Now ace director Priyadarshan who has given many a hit films with Akshay Kumar will be banking on this jodi for his forthcoming film De Dana Dan.

Bollywood-Celebrities-Wallpaper

Bollywood Hungama brings you some on-the-sets stills of Akshay and Katrina shooting for De Dana Dan. While Akki looks dapper wearing a white sweater over his black shirt, Katrina is at her sexiest best in this lemony yellow dress.

Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif's chemistry was there for all too see in Namastey London, Welcome and Singh Is Kinng. Now the duo would be hoping that audiences like their pairing this time too. The pair recently shot major portions of De Dana Dan in Singapore and from the looks of it, the camaraderie between the two stars is quite likeable.

De Dana Dan also brings back the Hera Pheri team of Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, and Paresh Rawal back together on the big screen. However, this time they have three gorgeous ladies Katrina Kaif, Neha Dhupia and Sameera Reddy for company.

Most of Akshay and Katrina's numbers have been super-hits. Hope this song for which the actors are shooting turns out to be a chartbuster too.

'Pole Ke Peeche Kya Hai?' Now don't get naughty...but we just couldn't help singing this song wondering what Akki and Kats are upto doing in this particular shot?

I am planning to kiss Shabana this year

By Subhash K Jha Shabana and Boman are buddies. In fact she sends him SMS messages in Parsi. "Yes, she sends me Parsi messages asking how I am, where I am. Just yesterday she messaged in Parsi asking where I was early in the morning. She's a very morning person. " After stealing kisses with Shabana Azmi in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd and Sorry Bhai, Boman Irani has stolen away her favourite director Shyam Benegal, and that too for a film which takes Benegal back to his roots in Hyderabad where he started his career with Shabana in Ankur. And Boman who has been waiting for years to work with the prolific director is above the moon. "I think it's a great moment. Shyam Babu is such an engaging intellectual. He can laugh at life and still be serious about it. When he summoned me and I walked into his office he said the sweetest thing. 'I wanted to work with you for a long time. ' We met again in Bangkok for the IIFA when he got the lifetime achievement award. I was hosting the show. After that he said, 'I finally have something that's right for you. ' It 's wonderful to walk into a film that's meant for me. " The film takes Benegal back to his home town Hyderabad. Says Boman, "I play a guy from the city who visits his village in Andhra Pradesh. I play the central character. Minissha Lamba plays my daughter. " Boman is sorry his second film with Shabana, Sorry Bhai, didn't work. "It was released the day after 26/11. There were five people in the theatre. Who goes to the movies on the morning after a terror attack? Who gets to kiss Shabana twice in two films? I am dying to make it happen again this year. " Shabana did her first kissing scene with Boman in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. "It was just a coincidence there was another one in Sorry Bhai. I hope it has something to do with me. Of course both the kisses were decent and aesthetic. Everyone is tickled because it's a triumph for the 50-plus age-group. We decided to do another film together on the last day we shot for Sorry Bhai. We love each other's company. There's so much to laugh and talk about. She wants us to work together as much as I do. She's at her relaxed best with me. " Boman had a slew of releases in 2008. "What happened was they all tumbled out after a long lull. I was in New York for the first screening of Sooni Taraporewala's Little Zizou when my first release this year Dostana came. Then came Maharathi, Yuvraaj, etc one after another. And I've several films lined up in 2009. Ravi Chopra's My Cousin Vinny (Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai) where I play the judge. The trick is to stay within character and yet be funny and entertaining. Raj Kumar Hirani's 3 Idiots is being readied. I don't play one of the title roles. Do I look like an idiot?" he guffaws. "Initially I was hesitant about taking up this assignment. My role is similar to what I played in Raju Hirani's Munnabhai MBBS. They're both vice -chancellors. But Raju convinced me that the same profession doesn't make the two characters the same. "