Advance booking of Om Shanti Om is breaking records

At present Om Shanti Om is releasing in single screen theatres only, and except for Inox, all the other multiplexes have decided not to budge on the demand of Eros demand for more moolah.

The advance bookings of Om Shanti Om open up at a few multiplexes in Delhi like Satyam Cineplexes, MMX Galaxy, Silver City, Movie World, Movie Palace, SM World and M4U.
While bookings at the ticket windows opened only this morning, there have already been bulk bookings for the film prior to this. “Across three properties of Satyam Cineplexes there has already been a booking of 18,000 tickets till Saturday. As of today, the bookings have amounted to Rs 27.30 lakhs,” According to Eros International regional head North India Rajneesh Budhraja.

In Delhi’s single screens like Golcha, Sheila and Vishal, the advance bookings have amounted to Rs 1.64 lakh, Rs 1.52 lakhs and Rs 1.35 respectively. According to Budhraja,It is the highest ever in Delhi.

Sources : http://www.businessofcinema.com/ | http://www.omshantiom.org/

Kareena and Saif fight in Public!

Yesterday we heard Saif saying, "To have a crush on someone is a quick thing, but love takes time." Apparantly the juniour Nawab was talking about Kareena. And now we hear that just a few weeks into the relationship and the couple have already had their first spat.

The duo had a heated argument at a party and Kareena was even seeing crying. It all happened at a nightclub in Mumbai where they were attending a party thrown by filmmaker and wannabe actor Farhan Akhtar.

Saif who has acted in Dil Chatha Hai which was directed by Farhan also turned up for the party with his new found love Kareena in tow. However a source claims that Saif and Kareena were seen arguing at the party in full view of all the guests.

However when Saif told Kareena to ‘Shut up’, she burst into tears. Kareena was extremely upset as she felt that Saif shouldn’t have treated her like that especially since she had dumped Shahid for him.

Eventually the two made up and were seen in good cheer again and later left the party together.

The turnaround was understandable. Saif has been indulging the Kareena of late having gifted her solitaire diamonds "worth a few lakhs very recently," according to a leading tabloid.

He has also been looking for a specific-sized diamond ring.

"He told us that it's for a very special lady and he gave us the ring size also," says a salesman at a jewelry store.

Kareena and Saif will soon be seen together in Yash Raj film Tashan.

- Santabanta.Com

Saawariya Vs Om Shanti Om

Two big ambitious projects are ready to hit box-office this festive season. SRK and Farah Khan’s ‘Om Shanti Om’ and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Saawariya’. Taking a close look at them, one realizes that both are following the same marketing target via different routes.




For ‘Om Shanti Om’, everyone is quite aware of SRK’s shirtless ‘Dard-e-disco’ and flaunting six-pack abs. And For ‘Saawariya’, there is a rumour going round that RK Banner’s next big hope, Ranbir Kapoor, will be seen prancing around in a see-through white towel (how RK-ish, remember all those RK heroines wet and white?).




Both the movies have a new female face and where Sonam Kapoor was forbidden to show her face before SLB gave the green signal, Shah Rukh’s co-star Deepika Padukone’s celebrity face was too well-known to be kept in ‘Purdah’.




both the directors have kept mum about their basic storyline. Only producer SRK and director Farah Khan are so friendly and fun-loving and Bhansali is so brusque and bristly that one tends to put them both in different categories.




Hmmm.. whatever marketing strategies maye be, with Ranbir Kapoor’s butt versus SRK’s shirtless abs, Bollywood Box Office is all ready this festive season for some good fireworks

- BollywoodGossips.Net

Sanjay Dutt signs Rs. 20 crore deal!

Multi-crore deals are ‘in’ these days and almost every notable production house is into signing actors/directors for multi-film assignments.


The latest khabar is, Sanjay Dutt has inked a 3-film deal with producer-friend Bunty Walia. The films are 'Lamhaa', to be directed by Rahul Dholakia, 'Just Punjabi', to be directed by producer turned director Jaspreet Singh Walia and 'Gangs of London', to be directed by ad film maker Shamin Desai. The three films will go on floors between 2008 – 2010. Reportedly, Dutt will be paid Rs. 20 crores + for this 3-film deal.

“The amount is undisclosable,” Bunty Walia informs me. Meanwhile, the balance star cast is under finalization.

Celebrity couples - will they tie the knot?

Will these celeb couple tie the knot?
Kareena and Shahid:


Kareena Kapoor is number 3 and Shahid Kapur is number 7. This relationship is an extremely volatile one. But the attractions are extremely strong. In the relationship of 3 and 7, the bondings are very strong but a small spark of misunderstanding can ruin it totally. Kareena Kapoor may take an abrupt desicion to get married. The problem is not marriage, but what will happen after marriage, because Shahid Kapoor may be a different person from what he is now and there are chances of problems to creep up.

- Bollywood Gossips

Celebrity couples - will they tie the knot?

John Abraham and Bipasha Basu:



Bipasha Basu is number 7 and John Abraham is number 8. 7 and 8 make it as very good friends. But this year, 2007, is a tough year for both of them. The possibilities of the relationship getting over are extremely strong. It may have a bad impact on John’s career. Whatever has happened to John’s career may have happened due to Bipasha’s luck and once the lady luck will be gone, John may also start losing all his stardom.


- Bollywood Gossips

Celebrity couples - will they tie the knot?

Preity Zinta and Ness Wadia:



Preity Zinta is number 4 and Ness Wadia is number 3. This relationship is not a strong one. This is because both of them will have different views. They will get along as friends but their thoughts will not match. The biggest problem is that Ness Wadia’s name comes to number 29 which means that you can be ditched by your closest friends or associates or lover at any moment. Therefore chances of Preity Zinta calling off the realationship without any reason are very strong.

- Bollywood Gossips

Celebrity couples - will they tie the knot?

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif:



Salman Khan is number 9 and Katrina Kaif is number 7. This is a good combination. But Salman Khan is presently going through a bad phase in life. After the flop of 'Salaam-E-Ishq,' there may be one more huge flop this year. If he continues his relationship with Katrina Kaif till the end of the year then he will decide to get married to her next year and he will have many super hit films next year.

- Bollywood Gossips

I don't think I'll look older than Shahid: Vidya

One cannot even imagine seeing Shahrukh khan sitting idle. Believe it or not, King Khan is jobless recent times. After the grand success of his movie Chak De India where he played the Hockey Coach of Indian Women's Hockey team, the actor is waiting for the release of Om Shakti Om which is set to release this year.

Though he is working on some other movies too but he is not very sure about their release dates. It happens sometimes Shahrukh..

Good Luck !!


- Bollywood Gossips

Whats up ? Ramu !!

Before the release of his much awaited and talked about film Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag , Mr. Varma definitely must have had ‘Butter- flies’ in his stomach. Moreover, since it was not just any usual copy or remake heard of but was a remake of the legendary film, Sholay . Well the film did release and as expected ( especially by Ramesh Sippy) Varma did get his share of flaks pelted at him, but what was really unexpected was that people who usually butter him up too melted away. So when we have the famous and popular ‘Butter ad’ take a dig at him saying, “Ab tera Kya hoga Ramu” one cannot help but be the mean Gabbar Singh to him.

- indiafm.com

Sunny, Irrfan, Konkona in 'Right or Wrong'

Mukta Arts’ next venture in association with Ikkon Films P. Ltd.’s RIGHT OR WRONG, starring Sunny Deol, Irrfan Khan, Konkana Sen Sharma, Isha Koppikar, Kirron Kher, Aryan Vaid and Anjan Srivastava, started shooting from 5th September. The film is being written-directed by Neeraj Pathak.

Other credits include music by Monty Sharma, cinematography by Ravi Walia and costumes designed by Simple Kapadia. The film is slated for an early next year release.

Salman to Surrender, Leaves for Jodhpur

Actor Salman Khan will surrender on Saturday before a Jodhpur court after a non-bailable warrant was issued against him following the dismissal of his appeal against a five-year jail term given to him for poaching the endangered chinkara.

"He will be flying to Jodhpur and surrender before a court there," his lawyer Dipesh Mehta told PTI in Mumbai. Salman left for Jodhpur on a flight from Mumbai at 11.30 am.

Speaking to reporters before getting into his SUV outside his residence, Salman said, "A warrant has been apparently issued and as per advice from my lawyers, I am going to Jodhpur to surrender."

"Nobody has told me to get there but I am going there as a responsible citizen who abides by the law," he added. A sessions court in Jodhpur yesterday upheld a lower court's judgement of April 2006 sentencing Salman to prison in the 1998 poaching case.

The court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, which had convicted Salman last year, issued the non-bailable warrant against him yesterday afternoon and sent it to police for execution. The actor evaded immediate arrest as he did not appear in the sessions court, with his lawyer saying there was no directive for his appearance.

A team from the Jodhpur police will be reportedly leaving for executing the warrant today. "We have informed authorities in Jodhpur about the surrender," Mehta said.

The Jet Airways flight on which Salman Khan is travelling, is expected to reach Jodhpur at around 1.30 pm. Clad in a white T-shirt, cargo pants and sporting sunglasses, Salman was seen hugging his close relatives before leaving his home.

His brothers Sohail and Arbaaz were seen at the residence in Bandra's Galaxy Apartments and so was sister-in-law Malaika Arora [Images] Khan, an ex-video jockey. It was not immediately clear as to who would be accompanying Salman to Jodhpur.

Following the verdict, Salman's lawyers had said that they would be filing a revision petition in the Rajasthan High Court seeking suspension of the five year sentence and hearing of his case on priority.

"Though the high court is shut, I would make efforts for the revision petition to be filed at the court registrar's office on Saturday itself so that relief is granted to Salman as soon as possible," Mehta said.

The star was convicted for poaching a chinkara in 1998 during the shooting of the film Hum Saath Saath Hain.

He was also given a one-year jail term in a separate poaching case in Jodhpur and has appealed against that sentence. In his judgement yesterday, District and Sessions Judge V R Singhvi said no court could avoid the circumstantial evidence available on record against Salman.

I'm not here to please Pakistani audiences: Sunny Deol

Despite a series of flops at the box-office in the recent past, Sunny Deol has reason to rejoice following the critics' verdict on family drama "Apne" and for his role of a Pakistani freelancer in the forthcoming "Kafila". Now, the actor wants to try his hand at direction. He talks about "Kafila" bridging the gap between India and Pakistan, his experience of working in it and his aspirations in the field of direction. Q: What did you like the most in Amtouz Mann's film "Kafila"? A: I liked the story which is based on the problem of illegal immigration. These days, people move to foreign lands with the help of visas. This results in intellectual immigration. At the same time, there are others who migrate illegally in search for a better life. But they end up residing in the foreign country like thieves. Q: Have you ever met a person who had migrated illegally? A: No, but then, playing a character doesn't require meeting the persons on whom the characters are based. As an actor, it's my duty to make the job of the director easy. Q: Tell us about your character in the film. A: I play a Pakistani in the film, who, like a freelancer, roams through Afganistan, Rajasthan, Bulgeria, Russia and other places, with a group of nomads. Q: What's the reason behind playing a Pakistani character in the film? A: (Laughs) Yeah… it's quite an interesting question but you have to ask it to my director. Q: It's said that by playing a Pakistani character you want to please the Pakistani audiences? A: I don't want to please anyone. I'm an actor and it's my job to portray every kind of character. I don't know who is spreading such rumours about me. Maybe the people who are doing this want to give me some message. Q: There were one Bulgarian and two Pakistani actors in the film. How was your experience of working with them? A: I enjoyed working with them. I would like to mention that all of them were newcomers. So, they had the liveliness and enthusiasm, and an intention to learn new things. Q: Is the film going to be released in Pakistan too? A: So far, whenever we have interacted with Pakistan it has been either for banduk or for business. It's a pleasure for me to state that nowadays it is more for business. And it is a part of our movie business to get our films released in Pakistan. It's better to forget the past and move ahead. Q: It is said that the completion of "Kafila" took a long time? A: Who says so? There's nothing like that. And even if there was any delay, it was not due to me. If people still believe otherwise, it's fine by me. Q: Your last film "Apne" couldn't leave a mark at the box-office? A: "Apne" couldn't prove itself at the box-office, but film critics, as well as the audience, liked it very much. My dream came true. Q: Why are you doing very few films these days? A: Yeah, I have reduced my working hours because of my health. Nevertheless, I have played small roles in several films in the last two or three years. I had undergone three operations for my backache and in that situation, my first priority had to be my health. Q: We heard that you are going to direct films? A: Yeah, we are going to shoot four films in the coming year. The first one is titled "Man", in which I am assisted by Neeraj Pathak. I'm also playing the lead role in it, but the leading lady has not been decided yet. The second film is "Chamku" named after the lead character of the film, played by Bobby. It will hit the floor within a month and a half. Kabir Sadanand, the director of "Sahar", will assist me in that film. Q: Will the three of you Deols come together again after "Apne"? A: Absolutely. It'll be in the film "Masters", directed by "Apne" director Anil Sharma. People actually complained to us that we have made them cry in "Apne". So, keeping that in mind, we have decided to make them laugh in "Masters". Q: Your father, Dharmendra, was supposed to publish his poetry (shayaree). Please tell us about that. A: It's true that he has penned his experiences, both on and off screen, in his shayaree. He's going to publish them very soon. Q: Do you enjoy writing too? A: It's difficult giving my experiences a written form. Maybe after reaching his (Dharmendra's) age, I shall also start writing. As of now, it's tough to comment on it. Q: What would you like to do besides acting in the near future? A: I want to be an outstanding director. I have a dream project that I wish to accomplish. But it's better to keep mum about it right now as it's too early to speak on the subject. -Rajnee Gupta

Shah Rukh and Sushmita at war?

Sushmita is a monsoon miss. "I love the feel of rain. I loved doing the Laga laga re in Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya. And I loved getting wet for Farah Khan in Main Hoon Na".

However playing props who just dance in the rain is not her scene. "My fans feel let down when I've nothing to do in my film. So at this stage in my career I've to do the films that do me justice.

At the same time I'm aware they didn't like me in Chingari. But I don't regret doing it. I don't regret anything in my life. Every role is about creating something you believe in. I'm working very hard in both Sholay and Dulha Mil Gaya although Sholay isn't quite my film alone."

Sushmita Sen is tickled pink, red and purple by stories that she and Shah Rukh Khan are at war.

"So that's what the tattlers have been talking about while I was out of the country? Shah Rukh and I at war? Interesting copy. But totally untrue. I've never had a problem with Shah Rukh.

We had great fun shooting Main Hoon Na with Farah Khan. Although it was his home production he didn't once let me feel unwanted. It was great fun playing SRK's m'aam in that film."

If Sushmita had a kind of extended cameo in Main Hoon Na, SRK returns the compliment now. He has an extended guest appearance in Ms Sen's new film Dulha Mil Gaya. "Shah Rukh doing Dulha Mil Gaya has nothing to do with me. He likes his role, the producer Viveick Vaswani and the director Mudassar Aziz.

When I signed Dulha Mil Gaya I didn't even know Shah Rukh was part of it. And let me tell you Dulha Mil Gaya is not a heroine-centric film."

She warms up to the SRK topic. "When we met for this film it was just like old times. Not a moment's awkwardness between us. So sorry guys, whoever is spreading the crude word about us, needs to take a reality check.

SRK and I are both Scorpios. But we don't sting each other. We take on the world instead."

Reverting to the kind of films she does Sushmita says, "I don't do films just because they're women-centric.

I like roles that are powerful. Watching ten guys fight the hero while I bite my lips in the background…I'm not very good at 'Bachao bachao.'

And yet, ironically, I was this object of adoration in Main Hoon Na. That role was all about the right presentation."


- SantaBanta.Com

I can write this in blood, She rocks: Akshaye Khanna

Akshaye Khanna speaks on his role as Gandhi...

Gandhi My Father was made under an oath of secrecy among the cast and crew?
It wasn't secrecy, just a low profile until we were ready to release. A film like Gandhi My Father isn't easy to make. There was a huge amount of production and post-production work. And we haven't made a a small art film. Gandhi My Father is a big commercial film.

It's important to plan a film's promotion properly, specially when it comes to Mahatma Gandhi who's so much part of our lives even today. Now when we're finally allowed to talk, we feel we've been let out of jail.

You play Gandhi's son. Not much is known about him.
You're right.Gandhi is an integral part of every Indian's life. With his son Harilal whom I play it's just the opposite. Before I read the script I didn't even know he existed! Of course I was aware Gandhiji had a family. But I knew nothing about Harilal. A very minuscule number of people know about him. So it was relatively easy for me to play Harilal. I disn't have to copy someone people knew about.

So how did you get a grip on the character?
Very tough. I asked my director Feroz Khan how to play him. He's almost an authority on the man. He gave me Harilal's biography by Chandulal Dalal For me the research was in capturing the spirit of the man. Then I read the letters that Harilal had exchanged with Bapu and Kasturba. That was pretty much it.

Do you see Gandhi's son as a dark character?
Not dark at all. I see him as the most courageous character I've ever played. For any person, even the son, to stand up to Gandhi required a tremendous amount of courage. The entire British empire couldn't stand up to Gandhiji. Harilal could!

Did you delve into your own relationship with your father to play Gandhiji's son?
Let me say one thing very clearly. I've never used my personal life to play any character. I read about actors digging into their experiences. To date I've never done that. I look for the emotions in the moment, and then I let it go. I don't carry my roles home. Yes, scenes in Gandhi have eaten into my soul. I may have been tired after a scene. But I never carried my roles home.

Did you get a lot of support from your co-stars?
Darshan Jariwala who plays Gandhi, Shefali Shah who plays Kasturba and Bhoomika Chawla who plays my wife were extremely relevant to my performance. Let me tell you Darshan Jariwala had a thankless task. It's terrifying to play Gandhi, especially after Ben Kingsley.

It was an act of great courage for Darshan. I wouldn't have been able to do it. In spite of the enormity of his burden Mr Jariwala has carried Gandhi off with ease. As a fellow-actor I know the full measure of his achievement.

And Shefali Shah as Kasturba?
Please do not take my words lightly when I say is the single greatest performance given by an Indian actress. I can write this in blood.

Have you told her this?
Yes I have. She's one of those rare actors with an inborn talent. Highly underused and underrated.She just needed to be given the right opportunity. I can't put words to her performance.

How do you rate your own performance?
I don't want to compare any performance. But yes, this is one film I'm immensely satisfied with my work. I feel happy about my work. Not that I've ever left any stone unturned. But there's a quality to the film that benefited my performance. Every actor has excelled.

Feroz Abbas Khan as a director?
He's such an intellectual. In one sentence I'd say he's aesthetic intellectual.. Anil Kapoor said he had yet to meet a director as deep as Feroz. This is a director with immense integrity and honesty. Even as a simple father-son story Gandhi My Father has great sensitivity. This his screen debut.

But it looks he has done twenty films before. Coming from theatre and being an actor himself Feroz has a tremendous sense of performance. It'd extremely interesting to see where Feroz goes after Gandhi.

You did two comedies Shaadi Se Pehle and Salaam-e-Ishq. Now you've done a very dramatic film in Gandhi
I don't want to suffocate myself by playing the slotting game. I see myself as an actor who does his job. And look at the variety of roles this year Salaam-e-Ishq, Naqaab and now Gandhi My Father. What a spectrum! The very fact that I'm offered such a variety of roles proves writers-directors have faith in me.

Were you disappointed when Salaam-e-Ishq and Naqaab didn't work?
Hugely. I feel there was a lot of negative attitude towards Salaam-e-Ishq. It was virtually targeted. These things happen. But I feel Salaam-e-Ishq pushed the envelope. I adored the script and the film.

Salaam-e-Ishq is a work I'm proud of. I can work with Nikhil Advani any time of the day.In Gandhi the director has gone further than his other scripts. Now I'm in full Gandhi mode. I'm in the best place I've ever been.

- SantaBanta.Com