Reality World

Kolkata, (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Vadra cheered for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's Kolkata Knight Riders that took on Deccan Chargers in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the Eden Gardens here Sunday evening. After defeating Bangalore Royal Challengers, this was the Knight Riders' first tie at home. And Shah Rukh had a galaxy of film stars and celebrities on hand to cheer for his team. Also present at the stadium were team co-owner Juhi Chawla, buddy and film director Karan Johar, actors Rani Mukerji, Viveik Oberoi, Mallaika Arora Khan, Arjun Rampal and music composers Bappi Lahiri and Vishal-Shekhar. Shah Rukh also had a full entertainment package for the spectators. It was a euphoric atmosphere at the sell-out Eden Gardens, which also looked like a fortress as some 10,000 policemen were deployed to provide security to the stadium. The evening started with a laser show and Cyrus Broacha jazzing up the atmosphere with his humour wi

New Delhi, (IANS) India is like a "second home", say members of the popular Pakistani rock band Jal who have produced chartbusters like "Woh Lamhey" and "Aadat". "Though we get the same kind of respect wherever we go, there is something special about being in India," Goher Mumtaz, rhythm guitarist, composer, lyricist and the founder of the band, told IANS. The band members - Farhan Saeed, Shazi and Goher - were in the capital to promote their new album "Boondh", which has 12 songs. "The album includes two unplugged versions of our songs 'Sajni' and 'Humein Itna Pyaar'," said Goher. According to him, India offers a major platform for new talent in Bollywood. "Bollywood is a good and healthy platform which makes India an attractive place to exhibit our talent. And our work is so well appreciated here," the musician said. Goher feels that Indians welcome talent from all corners of the world with open arm

Mumbai, (IANS) Critically acclaimed actress Nandita Das has just completed shooting her first directorial venture, "Firaaq... In Such Times", about how violence affects people's lives. The filmmaking process consumed her so much that she has no plans to direct another film soon. "During the shooting I said never again. Now I'm not too sure, ha, ha. Though no direction again immediately," Nandita told IANS. "For the past year I've been completely consumed by my film. It's become my 'Arjun ki aankh'. I can't focus on anything else. I'm enjoying the whole process of creating a film. We've named it 'Firaaq... In Such Times' for now and a hunt is on now for a Hindi title." The film is in conversational language. "Some English, Hindi, Urdu. It features an ensemble cast in five different stories. I've taken some terrific theatre actors like Shahana Goswami. I've also taken seasoned actors like Naseeruddin S

New Delhi, (IANS) He is cocky, young and down-to-earth. Actor Arya Babbar, son of actor-politician Raj Babbar, wears his attitude on his sleeve. "I never wanted to be anything else but an actor. Some people are immensely gifted; they do so many things. Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be under the arc lights, though dad says I can be a good politician," Arya told IANS in a free wheeling chat on the sprawling green lawns of the Purana Quila fort in Delhi. The 27-year-old actor has three new movies lined up this year. "There are three significant projects - `The Partition', a Hollywood production about the India-Pakistan split of 1947 starring Jimmy Mistry, Neve Campbell, Irrfan Khan and myself as the antagonist; Kabir Kaushik's 'Chehra' where I play a psychiatrist; and a crossover movie, 'Tune for Her', where I play an Indian music director in love with a white Canadian girl," he said. Born Jan 4, 1981, Arya debuted with "Ab Ke Bara

New Delhi, (IANS) Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has no equals in the Hindi film industry and now his business acumen seems set to overshadow that of India's tycoons. Shah Rukh has already got the biggest bang out of each penny that he has so far sunk into Indian Premier League (IPL), the richest domestic cricket tournament in the world. To begin with, he bagged Kolkata Knight Riders for only $75.09 million as against the $111.9 million that industrialist Mukesh Ambani paid for Mumbai and the $111.6 million that liquor baron Vijay Mallya spent for Bangalore team. And in the bargain he also got the country's best stadium and the most fanatical fans. Then when the players went up for auctions, it was Shah Rukh who ended up paying less for the entire team than all the business magnates and their army of advisors. Advised by Kolkata Knight Riders' team captain Saurav Ganguly, who himself hails from a business family, Shah Rukh built up a team, which comprised Ishant Sharma,

Isabel is a young starlet from United Kingdom. Her passion is to hindi films and Salman Khan is going out of his way to help her. And Isabel so happens to be none other than Katrina Kaif’s little sister. Salman Khan’s Veer will commence in August and director Anil Sharma is busy writing its dialogues. Meanwhile an interesting buzz doing rounds of Bollywood is that Katrina’s younger sister Isabel Kaif will be paired opposite Salman Khan. Veer is a period drama sets in the year 1852 to 1900. It will be Salman’s first period film. While according to an industry insider Katrina, whose little sister harbors a dream of joining Bollywood is looking forward to the right film to make her debut. Katrina feels beau Salman’s period film will be the right film to launch her sister. Hence the actress has insisted that the filmmaker cast Isabel in Veer. However, director Anil Sharma declines it, calling it a rumor “I am working on dialogues of the film. I am yet to finish some parts of the script. On

Black & White Starring: Anil Kapoor, Anurag Sinha, Aditi Sharma Producer: Subhash Ghai Director: Subhash Ghai It certainly is a valiant bid by the master showman Subhash Ghai to suddenly shift gear and express his social concerns on celluloid. Kudos to him for stepping into the world of real cinema. The genial Professor Rajan Mathur (Anil Kapoor) who teaches Urdu in a Delhi college unwittingly becomes associated with a suicide bomber Nomair Qazi (Anurag Sinha) whose secret mission is to blow up the Red Fort on Independence Day. Posing as a victim of the Gujarat riots, Nomair wins the sympathy of the professor and his activist-wife (Shefali Shah) and uses them to accomplish his task. The climax is a classic nail-biter. This without a doubt is Anil Kapoor’s most nuanced performance till date. In fact, he gives all the right shades to Black & White with his stellar show. Newcomer Anurag Sinha is a discovery. But there was no need to wear that permanent scowl on his face. Quite a f

Ranbir, Deepika are in love Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni can stop vying for Deepika Padukone’s affections. Rumours notwithstanding, the truth is that the Om Shanti Om girl’s Saawariya is the suave Ranbir Kapoor. The two are said to have grown close during the shooting of Bachna Ae Haseenon in Australia. Back home, they shot for an ad together and the rest, as they say, is history. At the Filmfare Awards function in Mumbai, they were even caught by the media confessing their love for each other, backstage. Ranbir has in fact gone on record as saying that Deepika is his girl though it’s too early for both of them to think of marriage. Where does that leave Sonam? “Well, we’re childhood friends. She’s an amazing girl but we’re not seeing each other,” clarifies Ranbir. Sanjay Bhansali finds his ‘Saawariya’ Saawariya might not have ignited the box office but it sure kindled the spark of love in the hearts of its director and choreographer. Yes, after all the speculation it’s offici

The slated big releases of April are the Saif-Kareena-Anil Kapoor-starrer Tashan and U Me Aur Hum directed by Ajay Devgun, starring Kajol and Ajay himself. A film in English to be released in Hollywood is being shot in the idyllic settings of Ooty in southern India. The thriller titled Karma - One Life in Two Life Times is being produced by Golden Tickets Private Ltd., an Indian production company. Karma... is a mystery tale of reincarnation in which a former maharaja's American daughter-in-law unravels her bloody tryst with Ooty in her previous life. American actors, Carl Weyant and Alma Sarcassi, play the maharajah's son and daughter-in-law. The film will hit the screens in April. Aishwarya Rai has been offered the role of Yashodara, wife of Prince Siddharth, in an English-Hindi bilingual film called Buddha being made by Paris-based Indian filmmaker Pan Nalin. Kangana Ranaut is going places. The actress will now be doing an English film, a modern day version of Romeo and Juli