The focus should now be on Rs 1000 crore club, says Karan Johar

The focus should now be on Rs 1000 crore club, says Karan Johar

Every time a film crosses Rs.100 crore, the Bollywood industry celebrates its success with great pride and enthusiasm. However, filmmaker Karan Johar feels Rs 1,000-crore box office is not far away if the industry taps potential across all verticals.

Karan Johar, who is also the co-chairman of the FICCI Frames 2013, says that the film industry is limiting itself by focusing wholly on the Rs.100 crore benchmark. Now, the focus should be on Rs.1,000 crore club.

“Rs.100 crore is restricting the limits of our self. We must add one more zero the Rs.100 crore films and take it to the next level. Rs.100 crore is limiting the growth and content (of films). The possibilities are endless, and we must focus on Rs.1000 crore mark instead,” Karan Johar said here.

“In next five years, we will be in a position… it might sound aspirational, but there is a possibility that we may have achieved all that,” added the filmmaker.

Karan took to stage on Monday at a press conference of FICCI Frames 2013. The entertainment and business summit of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) will begin on Wednesday in Mumbai, with the theme, “A Tryst Destiny: Engaging a Billion Consumers”.

At the FICCI meet, various topics like digitization, censorship, marketing, exhibition, distribution, the future of content consumption in an era progressively getting defined by the digital media, innovation and planning required in various policy issues within TV, cinema, animation and gaming, will be discussed.

Full article at: Celebrity Gossip

Check out Ranbir & Deepika in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Check out Ranbir & Deepika in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Bollywood’s most good looking couple, ex-lovers Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone are back again onscreen in director Ayan Mukherjee’s love story Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. The first look of the movie was released yesterday, with Ranbir and Deepika sharing an awesome chemistry.

The film is produced under the banner of Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and directed by Ayan Mukherji. ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ is a rom-com that also sees Aditya Roy Kapur and Kalki Koechlin will play supporting roles.

Ranbir and Deepika were last seen in the 2008 film Bachna Ae Haseeno. It was during this period when the lovers split. The duo ended their relationship on a bitter note. Now that RK and Deepy share a cordial relationship, this will be their first film after their much talked about spat.

The first poster sees the couple in a happy-go-lucky mood, all delighted and jubiliant. While poster 2 sees them playing Holi.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani has been in news ever since it has been in its baby stage. Ranbir and Deepika recently wrapped up the final schedule of their movie in the picturesque Kashmir valley. Finally, the dhamaka duo are all set to win over the hearts of the audience, come May 31.

Full article at: Celebrity Gossip

Saif Ali Khan to give up royal habits for ‘Bullet Raja’

Saif Ali Khan to give up royal habits for ‘Bullet Raja’

Saif Ali Khan and Jimmy Shergill’s characters in Bullet Raja are very similar to that of Paul Newman and Robert Redford’s roles from ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’, says director Tigmanshu Dhulia.

Incidentally, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” happens to be one of Saif’s favorite movies and the actor plays a trigger-happy protagonist in the film. ‘Bullet Raja’ has been names after Saif’s character in the film who has a tendency of firing bullets and riding the Bullet brand of motorcycle.

“Saif and Jimmy are akin to Paul Newman and Robert Redford’s roles from ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’. Irrfan Khan comes into the story midway as a ruthless cop who is summoned to stop Saif’s no-holds-barred outlawry,” said a source.

“Bullet Raja” portrays Saif Ali Khan as the fastest gun in Lucknow, the source added, saying: “And he loves it. He is exploring the adventurous royal side of his personality, firing guns, screeching down dusty roads on his trademark Bullet mobike, looking for a new adventure every day.”

Saif will have to get rid of his royal habits and cultured accent so as to get into the character.

Said Dhulia: “Saif is really enjoying himself. He is the only star-actor after Aamir Khan, who has the draw and the ability to get completely into character. I am his dialogue coach on location here. I brief him very closely on how to deliver his lines. He listens, absorbs, and practises the dialogues till he gets them just right.”

According to Dhulia, Saif is talented enough to get into any character given to him.

“He possesses a world-view, has a sound knowledge of music, literature and the fine arts. He has taken possession of Bullet Raja’s character. He lives the role even when the camera is off. He wants to know what the character is doing when he is not in the frame. That kind of dedication I got when Irrfan played ‘Paan Singh Tomar’.”

Bullet Raja is set against the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh-based mafia while dealing with the underworld. The film will release on 6 September 2013.

Full article at: Celebrity Gossip

Kai Po Che! is as good as “3 Idiots”, says Chetan Bhagat

Kai Po Che! is as good as “3 Idiots”, says Chetan Bhagat

Author Chetan Bhagat says Abhishek Kapoor’s Kai Po Che is a real film without frills. He also says that people are bound to compare Kai Po Che! with 3 Idiots, both of which are based on his books, though they are entirely different films.

“That (comparisons) will happen. (The film) ’3 Idiots’ was also made (based) on a book… But if you watch ’3 Idiots’ and ‘Kai Po Che!’ together, you will not feel that one is lower than the other. Both are equal. I would say ‘Kai Po Che!’ has been made as well as ’3 Idiots’,” Chetan Bhagat said here Thursday in an interview.

The plot of Kai Po Che! is inspired from Bhagat’s ‘The 3 Mistakes of my Life’ while Aamir Khan-starrer 3 Idiots was is the big screen adaptation of his bestseller Five Point Someone.

Kai Po Che!, recently premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film was welcomed warmly and that audiences had responded very well to it.

“I am more than satisfied, I am very happy. Forget Indians, you can show it to anyone, it is of such high standards. It really touches you, very emotional and there would be hardly anyone who would not be touched by the film,” Bhagat said.

“Even European audiences, who don’t know about Gujarat or India, Hindu religion or Muslims, they were so moved by it and that too watching it with subtitles. I think it is going to be something else here,” he added.

Kai Po Che!, releasing Feb 22, features Rajkumar Yadav, Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh and Amrita Puri.

Full article at: Celebrity Gossip

Why was Salman Khan nervous?

Why was Salman Khan nervous?

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, known for his bindaas nature and witty one-liners, was a bit tense before taking to stage to host an award show. However, once on stage, the Dabangg star pulled through with elan.

Salman Khan hosted the Star Guild Awards 2013. This is his first award function as an host.
“Everybody gets nervous when you do something for the first time, even I am nervous,” he told reporters.

“I just thought… let’s try how does it feel to host (such functions). It is a very difficult thing, you have to remember many things, listen properly to others and not get carried away,” he said.

Despite all the nervousness, the 47-years-old looked dashing in his black suit and was the highlight of the grand night. He won the hearts of the audience and contemporaries with his signature style and charming looks.

The Renault Star Guild Awards function was held Saturday night at Yash Raj Studios.

Praising the superstar, actor Arshad Warsi took to Twitter and wrote, “I had a fabulous time with Salman at the Star Guild Awards. It is always a pleasure interacting with him.”

Meanwhile, the super talented Vidya Balan for the second time in a row won the Best Actress Award for her performance in ‘Kahaani’ while Ranbir Kapoor won Best Actor Male for ‘Barfi’.

Full article at: Celebrity Gossip

Saif Ali Khan got Bullet Raja because of his sister Soha!

Saif Ali Khan got Bullet Raja because of his sister Soha!

For the first time Saif Ali Khan and Sonakshi Sinha will be seen together in director Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Bullet Raja! The two actors are in Kolkata to shoot for few important parts of the film.

However, what many do not know is that Saif’s sister, Soha Ali Khan was pivotal in him being chosen for the film. While Soha was working with Tigmanshu in Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns, the filmmaker told her about a script in which he wants to cast Saif in it. He asked her if she could arrange a meeting. Soha then spoke to Saif and told him about her conversation with Tigmanshu and asked him to meet the director once!

“Soha and Dhulia had become friends while doing the film. Dhulia asked her if she could talk to Saif about his script. Saif, too, had asked Soha to tell him about some good directors, because he wants to work with talented directors in his production company,” says a source.

“The filmmaker narrated the script to Saif and the actor agreed to do the film,” adds the source.

Full article at: Celebrity Gossip

Ranbir Kapoor is the most ‘ideal husband’ says survey

Ranbir Kapoor is the most ‘ideal husband’ says survey

Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor makes the most ideal husband according to a recent survey conducted. The reason being his endearing relation with his mother – Neetu Kapoor!

72% of the women who participated in the survey conducted by an online matrimony site felt that Ranbir Kapoor was the “ideal husband” due to the close bond he shared with his mother.

The poll was taken by over 24,000 Indians and around 63.84% of them felt that Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone were a very good match. While Katrina Kaif received 22.30% of the votes, Priyanka Chopra got 13.86% of the votes.

62% of the participants also felt that ‘Mama’s boys’ would make great nurturing and patient husbands.

“There was a time when people thought ‘Mama’s Boys’ wouldn’t make good husbands, but the trend seems to have changed now as per the poll. The poll indicates that when a woman has brought up her son well and he is kind to her, he makes better relationships,” Gourav Rakshit, Chief Operating Officer, Shaadi.com, said in a statement.

He added, “For women, marrying a Mama’s Boy, as it is often referred to, may lead to a patient and understanding husband.”

Well, whatever the poll says, one thing is loud and clear; Ranbir is a rage among girls!

Full article at: Celebrity Gossip