'Agent Vinod' franchise like a dream come true: Saif

From a game to a graphic book to a 12-city tour, Saif Ali Khan is using every possible marketing tool to promote his newest production " Agent Vinod". The actor-producer says marketing is expensive but vital to a film's success.
"We are marketing the film in various ways. It is expensive and a completely different area of production. It is something you have to take very seriously nowadays," Saif, who has been in the movie business for about two decades, told IANS in an interview.
"If we look at the US, it's amazing to see how they market their movies through merchandise and all kinds other of things. The Indian marketing business is growing tremendously with each film and the more you spend on marketing, more good it is. It has become a very important part of filmmaking," he added.
Saif is not only producing "Agent Vinod", but also playing a spy in the thriller directed by Sriram Raghavan. Releasing March 23, it will also feature Kareena Kapoor and yesteryear villain Prem Chopra in the cast.
In the last few years, the economics of filmmaking have undergone tremendous change. As a result, the box-office business has virtually become a matter of the first three days of collection.
"The numbers are so big and people are busy today. In those days there was not much for entertainment, apart from just watching films. You would see any film five to six times and learn all the dialogues and that was the only excitement. Today, there are so many other things to do, so it is a big thing that the first weekend goes houseful."
Summarising the current business strategy, the 41-year-old said: "On the first three days, a film takes an opening because of the hype around it, which is, 'Does it give you a feeling to go and watch the film?' Then Monday is the test day of a film to find out what kind of film it is - whether it will pull off? If the next weekend is also strong, then it's a super hit. That's the business."
Saif, however, is confident about his product's long term run and said: "We are looking at two weeks already."
What about word of mouth? "It is generally for small films that hope to grow over a period of time. Today we need multiple prints and instant impact of the release," he said.
Censor board has awarded U-A certificate to "Agent Vinod" and the actor is happy as he feels the it will help in getting more eyeballs.
The 41-year-old also feels "it is first film to have the potential of running into single screens as well as multiplexes."
The 1992 movie "Parampara" marked Saif's entry into filmdom and he gave powerful performances in "Omkara", "Being Cyrus" and "Ek Hasina Thi". But the actor says his role in "Agent Vinod" has been most demanding so far.
"'Agent Vinod' has been the most demanding role so far, but it was fun. I think if you want good result, you have to work hard. There has to be either physical bumps and bruises or mental bumps and bruises."
He doesn't rule out the possibility of "Agent Vinod" franchise.
"Let us take one step at a time. If the audience likes the film, may be we could then think of making a sequel. I feel the film is perfect to be a franchise. If it works and it becomes a franchise, then it can be a dream come true," he said.
Asked to explain his strategy as an actor, he said: "The whole idea is to work with different and interesting people, to keep trying and improve the quality. I hope to make some very good films as a producer and do roles that not only surprise me but also challenge me, and take me out of the comfort zone."

Can Kareena Kapoor's Heroine beat Vidya Balan's Kahaani?

After an age-long rule of the male stars in Bollywood, the current woman-centric scripts have paved a way to the actresses to play central characters in films. The current scenario is such that the actresses are at par with each other with the power of such challenging movies.

Vidya Balan's back to back success The Dirty Picture and Kahaani might face a threat from Kareena Kapoor's upcoming Heroine, since all these movies are based on female-centric themes. Vidya who was basking in The Dirty Picture's success, has yet again won herself acclodes for Kahaani, where she herself plays the hero of the movie.

But reports say that Bhandarkar's Heroine is one of the finest female centric scripts Bollywood has ever seen. In fact the filmmaker has even promised that the world will see Kareena as never before. While Vidya's performance is being talked about so much for Kahaani, Bebo's glamorous avatar is such that there would be fireworks all over again with Heroine.

Both the stories are based on different story lines, while a pregnant Vidya runs for her missing husband, Mahie Khanna (Kareena) in Heroine traces the meteoric rise and tragic downfall of the fictitious actress.

Witnessing National Award winning Bhandarkar's confidence, filmmakers Sujoy Ghosh and Milan Luthria are possibly facing a tough time in accepting Heroine's upcoming surprise.

Anglina jolie

THE HAGUE — Hollywood star and activist Angelina Jolie greeted the conviction of a Congolese warlord Wednesday, praising the Hague court for its "strong message against the use of child soldiers".
The International Criminal Court in its first verdict found Thomas Lubanga, 51, guilty of abducting and conscripting children as young as 11 to fight and kill in a conflict in a gold-rich region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
After watching from the front row of the public gallery, Jolie in a statement said that "the delivery of the ICC's first verdict is an important moment for the court, for the DRC and for the rule of law".
"Most of all, it sends a strong message against the use of child soldiers," she said, adding that she hoped the conviction would also "provide some measure of comfort for the victims".
Known for her humanitarian work around the world, and her campaigning against the use of child soldiers, Jolie is funding the "Lubanga Chronicles", a public information campaign in the DRC on the trial.
The Lubanga chronicles have spread news of the landmark proceedings through the distribution of written reports, short audio clips played on local radio stations, and short videos on the Internet.
Jolie, who wore a grey two-piece business suit in court, listened intently from behind the glass partition as Judge Adrian Fulford read the verdict, 10 years after the tribunal was launched.
The actress and director left the courtroom via a service elevator after the hearing. It was her fourth visit to the court's fortress-like headquarters in a southern suburb of The Hague.
Previously, she attended the testimony of a child soldier and a victim as well as the closing arguments last August.

Emran Hashmi never accept awards

Emraan Hashmi is never seen at Bollywood award functions, whether as a guest, performer or winner. This year, he was up for a Stardust Award in the category of Best Thriller/Action Actor for Murder 2 (2011) and had two nominations at the Apsara Awards — Best Actor in a Leading Role (Murder 2) and
Best Actor In A Supporting Role (The Dirty Picture). He didn’t win and he’s not surprised. In fact, Emraan says that if he were to get an award now, he would not accept it.

“Audience appreciation matters more to me than this recognition. And I’d be happy if I could pass on an award meant for me to a contemporary who values it more and takes days out of his schedule every year to attend these functions,” he reasons, adding that he had once attended an awards night, but walked out after 20 minutes. “I know it was wrong to get up and leave but I just couldn’t sit through it anymore. So rather than insult a function again, I’ve decided not be there.”

Emraan, however, isn’t averse to performing at a show even though he hasn’t for the past three years because of time constraints: “Other actors need only a few hours of rehearsal but I have two left feet and require a few days’ practice. If I can make time for that towards the end of the year, you’ll see me on stage,” he says, adding that he wouldn’t agree to be a performer just to make money. “If that were the only criterion, I would have taken on projects of producers who were willing to pay me three times my market rate. Whether it’s a film or a function, I don’t want to do something I don’t believe in.”

Whether you loved her movies or dissed them, those of us girls who grew up in the '90s can't deny that secretly, we all wanted to, well, be her (remember Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon). Yes, men and women alike were smitten by her billion-dollar-smile and were heartbroken when, at the peak of her career, she decided to give it all up post-marriage for a life of domesticity in Denver, Colorado. But the former screen goddess is now very much back in India, and looking as fabulous as ever.
What does beauty mean to you?It's oft repeated, but I believe that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. What's beautiful to me might not be beautiful to someone else. However, I do feel one must use everything in one's power to look and feel good. Stress has become a major part of our lives, particularly because everybody is working so hard. Add to this, the harsh effects of the sun and the environment. Luckily, science has made advances, and products like Olay Regenerist have been developed to help women look their best and give them that extra confidence. It is a product that allows any woman to look her best at any age.
Why do you endorse Olay Regenerist?Olay Regenerist challenges what's possible, and so do I, and that is why I endorse the product. I have always believed in challenge-right from the very start. Early in my career, I was told that I wouldn't become a major heroine, and I challenged that and proved everyone wrong. I was appreciated for my dancing, but somewhere along the line, I was being limited to classical dance. With Ekdo-teen, all that changed. Films like Dil Toh Pagal Hai, Beta, and Pukar, further proved that I was good at Western dance too. It was a challenge when I left my career at its peak and went to Denver to live a quiet life. Now it is a challenge to move back to India and start from where I left off. I revel in new challenges and will always step up to them.
Which is your favourite product from the range?The day and night creams. The day cream includes SPF, and the night cream rejuvenates the skin. Both contain green tea, which has antioxidant properties and is a great moisturiser.
What's the bare minimum makeup that you would dare step out in?I believe a woman's beauty comes from within. How you carry yourself is very important. There are a lot of times that I go out of the house without any makeup at all. Olay Regenerist's glow gives you the confidence to step out of the house without a trace of makeup.
Any must-haves in your handbag?I love lipgloss and eyeliner. You will always find these two things in my handbag.
Grooming secrets you swear by?Moisturise, moisturise, and moisturise, and just wear SPF. Also, oil your hair. It is very important to oil your hair before you wash it.
Who is your favourite makeup artist?Mickey Contractor, because when he works on a face it is on a very individual basis. He brings out the best of your features. And of course, I've worked with him for many, many years.
Your favourite perfume?Issey Miyake fragrances; they smell beautiful. define your personal style. For me, comfort is essential no matter what I wear. I love pastels and basic colours, and not too much embroidery. I find myself in a happy space when all of these elements come together.
What is your fitness regimen?I currently work out six days a week, eat healthy, and try to get plenty of sleep. Ideally, I will have five to six small, healthy meals a day. I don't believe in fad diets. It is very important to maintain your vitamin intake and supplements as necessary. Most people generally forget that their skincare is a part of their health regimen. So use the Olay Regenerist range for your face to look healthy too.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/madhuri-dixit-nenes-beauty-secrets/1/177566.html

sakshi tanwar

Intimacy isn’t explicit on TV in India because channels cater to family audiences. Usually, all you see is hugging, caressing and sighing, shots of various portions of the actors’ anatomy, romantic songs in the background, flying hair, candle flames wavering and flowers strewn about theset.
But in Monday’s episode of Sony’s Bade Acche Lagte Hain(BALH), the characters played by Ram Kapoor and Sakshi Tanwar were shown making love for the entire episode — caressing each other and kissing twice (though the first kiss was just a brush of the lips). “The lovemaking scene will take intimacy a notch higher on TV,” says Manuj Aggarwal, CEO, Balaji Telefilms.
“BALH is a mature romance and doesn’t have the usual melodrama, which is why it connected with the audiences. It would have been a letdown to portray the characters’ intimacy in a fictitious manner. To use symbolism wouldn’t have been right.” The scene is the highest point of Ram and Priya’s marriage in the show. The chemistry between them was so strong that Ekta Kapoor, Joint Managing Director and Creative Director of Balaji Telefilms, has urged the actors to perform a romantic act on stage at Balaji’s Global Indian Film & Television Honours 2012, to be held soon.
Reactions to the love-making episode have been as intense as the scene itself. Hyderabad-based Shiromani Das, 26, says, “The episode was good, the chemistry was rocking and they make a cute couple.” Sanjeev Mimani, 38, from New Delhi, was thrilled. “Thank God they made out. It was about time. The whole scene was cool and had the right touch.”

Katrina Kaif to play Sridevi's role in Himmatwala.

MUMBAI: Even as Katrina Kaif slips into Sridevi’s shimmering chiffons from Chandni in Yash Chopra’s next directorial venture, she is on to another Sridevi project, this time far more directly than Chandni.

 

If all goes  well, Katrina is all set to slip into Sridevi’s role from K. Raghvendra Rao’s 1983 hit Himmatwala, the film that catapulted Sridevi to superstardom and gave her the dubious distinction of being dubbed ‘Thunder Thighs’ by the film magazines. Interestingly, like Katrina who started on a false note with Kaizad Gustad’s Boom and then found her bearings with David Dhawan’s Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya, Sridevi too was written off in Hindi cinema after Solva Sawan only to be crowned a Bollywood queen with Himmatwala.

 

Katrina finds the role of the  evil Zamindar’s arrogant whip-wielding daughter in Himmatwala interesting. And Sajid is keen to work with her. Says a  source, “Katrina shares a warm relationship with Farah and Sajid Khan. Sajid is adamant that Katrina do the role. After she finishes with Kabir Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger which is almost complete, she goes into two more Yashraj films, the Shah Rukh starrer and Dhoom 3. Himmatwala is the speedbreaker she is looking for.”

 

There is an added incentive for doing Himmatwala. Says the source, “Katrina has not been paired with Ajay Devgn so far. She was offered Singham but didn’t find the role exciting enough. She’d love to work with Ajay Devgn.”

uditya goswami

Although actor Udita Goswami has done few films as part of her B-Town stint, her Bollywood repertoire fetched her sobriquet of 'bold and the beautiful', nonetheless.
This Dehradun girl has constantly been in the news; be it for her bold roles, her relationship status or her support for social causes. After creating a storm at the BO with her debut movie Paap and films like Aksar, Aggar, Zeher and Chase, Udita recently tried her luck at the BO with Diary of a Butterfly.
Ask her about the long break that she had taken from the big screen and she says, "People keep telling me that I have taken a long break and I was not in news. But actually I have been busy all this time. I am regularly making appearances at some show or the other. I am also writing my own script which I will even be co-directing and act in."
About doing thriller movies constantly, she goes on and adds, "After my first few movies, I did feel that I have been typecast in thriller/suspense movies. And I never wanted to do any multi-starrer movie. I don't want to do a movie where I have four scenes and one song. I like to be the queen in the film. It should revolve around me."
Udita spent three months in the US meeting a lot of celebrities. Ask her about her Hollywood plans and she says, "People saw my pictures with Denzel Washington and other Hollywood celebs. I heard of the news doing rounds that I have moved to Hollywood. But that is not true. I would never shift my base to the US. I love my dogs too much to leave India!"
But when the topic steers towards promotions of movies, Udita clearly states that she does not enjoy this promotion process at all. "Promotions have become very important. And I do like meeting new people and interacting with them. But I do not like this entire promotion process; it's like you are trying to sell something. I don't like it when people are imposing on me and I just have to talk about the work that I am doing."
Udita, who was in a relationship with director Mohit Suri for seven years, has strong opinions about love and relationships. She says, "My advice would be, never to extend a relationship for too long without some sort of commitment. People start taking you for granted after a point of time. Either get married or do not stretch your relationship. Just leave the person."
With two actresses sharing the screen space, catfights are bound to happen. But with Udita, it is a different case altogether. She avers, "The glam industry changes a person completely. But I am a very honest person with no pretenses. I have been the same person that I always was even after doing movies. And I bonded with Sofia Hayat (on the sets of Diary of a Butterfly) very well. I can say now that she is a friend I have in the industry. Unhe yahan ki hawa nahi lagi hai,aur shayad completely lagne bhi nahi wali."

sanam kapoor

Ask him if Sonam would be part of it, Kapoor says, "It depends upon Rhea as she is very particular about casting. If she feels Sonam is the right choice, then she would be there."
"Women-centric films need to be made in Bollywood. I myself made a woman centric film like 'Aisha' and I am very happy and proud of that. I have worked in quite a few women oriented films. I have been very proud and honored. I think we leading men must support and encourage women oriented films," he said.
"I see that leading men are not very happy being part of women oriented films. And the best films made in our country including Mother India was a female centric film, and even till today the film is remembered," he said.
The 52-year-old actor along with his younger daughter Rhea had produced 'Aisha' (2010), based on the 1815 British novel 'Emma'. The film starring Sonam and Abhay Deol in lead roles had not fared well at the box office.
The actor, who attended the event, based on the concept of time-distance-speed, suggested that women must go for regular check-ups to prevent cancer.
Lavasa Women's Drive, this year is aimed at spreading awareness about cervical cancer. "When a girl or woman crosses the age of 20, they should undergo constant check-ups. If cancer is detected early, it can be eradicated and this is the kind of awareness we all need to spread. This would stop and control cancer,? he said.
"I feel lot of women in the interior parts of this country need to be educated and made aware, about cancer than women living in metro cities. It is the interiors, small towns ..where things are completely different and I feel we are lagging there

Is vidiya balan new rekha for bollywood

 

If Vidya Balan's saree-clad traditional look is reminiscent of the evergreen Rekha, the similarity is meant to be. The actress says she has always been inspired by Rekha, be it her looks, her attitude or her body of work.

Vidya has been following a path less travelled. After all she has been modelling her career on a certain diva and she openly admits to it. "I take it as a huge compliment... I have grown up watching her," Vidya said recently answering a question on Rekha being her inspiration.

Her unabashed admission to this fact makes people wonder how true it really is. Are there actually a lot of similarities between the two powerhouses? While Rekha is a woman with many faces, many roles and many lives, Vidya proved to be a dark horse, an almost ugly duckling who metamorphosed into a sizzling hot actress who has no qualms about admitting that she was no demure dame lost in woods but a woman with womanly curves.

"I am comfortable with my body," Vidya said. Both Rekha and Vidya were gawky and voluptuous when they started out, Rekha in her film Sawan Bhadon and Vidya in Hum Paanch (a TV comedy serial). Both have transformed into what they are today.

Another similarity between the southern sirens is the fact that the two do not bat an eyelid about displaying their sexuality for a role. The fact that Rekha was Vidya's co-star in the latter's first film Parineeta was probably a sign of things to come.

They both have an extremely personal individualistic style sense as both of them love their Kanjivaram sarees and look fabulous in them. Both the actresses do not mind changing their look to suit a character. Rekha's burnt face from Khoon Bhari Mang and Vidya's prosthetic tummy in Kahaani were bold choices which the two took.

Both divas are extremely quiet about their personal lives which in its own way create a mystery around these women. Rekha and Vidya are powerful women who have not bowed down to society.

Today, Vidya is secure enough to wade on uncharted choppy roles like that of Silk in The Dirty Picture. And then she transforms completely into the character of Vidya Bagchi in Kahaani. With more such women dominated roles in Vidya's kitty, she sure is following in beautifully in Rekha's footsteps!

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/vidya-balan-rekha-bollywood-kahaani-the-dirty-picture/1/177760.html