Bollywood Instyle

Hrithik and Ash are to pair for the first time in Ashutosh Gowarikar’s Bollywood flick Jodha Akbar. The film will be produced by Ronnie Screwvala at an estimated cost of Rs.37 crore. Gowarikar had been working on the film since 2001, while he was making Swades. Jodha Akbar had to be planned on a larger scale with huge sets, and a well-researched story. Besides historical facts, this movie will depict the hitherto hidden romantic aspect of the Jodha Bai-Akbar relationship. This love story goes a generation back in relation to the famous Jehangir-Anarkali romance in Mughal-e-Azam. With the lyrics penned down by Javed Akhtar, and the music by maestro AR Rehman, the songs are expected to take us back to a period where art, and song and dance thrived. 

Farah Khan is one lucky choreographer turned director, who choreographed the current hit Rock n Roll, Soniye from Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. After all, how many choreographers have had the chance to make the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukherjee, and Abhishekh Bachchan dance to their steps on a single number. The musical score from Shanker-Ehsan-Loy and the lively steps of Farah Khan performed on screen by the b-i-g-g-i-e-s from Bollywood has proved to be a deadly combination. The entire nation seems to be dancing to this number. If you’d like to know what she is doing these days, then let it be known that her mornings are spent in Kolkata judging a dance competition; her afternoons well spent with AR Rehman for her movie Om Shanti Om in Chennai; and evenings back home in amchi Mumbai. Way to go, gal!

Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna is opening today, and what a grand opening it is expected to be across India. Over 900 prints have been distributed, and the advance booking it has received overwhelmingly suggests that it is going to be one of the biggest all time openings. Multiplexes normally begin advance booking from Wednesdays, but looking at the manner in which this Bollywood flick is expected to pull in the crowds, advance bookings opened three days earlier on Sunday. Karan Johar’s KANK has been a much talked about movie in Bollywood and outside. Fans just rushed to grab tickets first-day-first-show. Let’s wait and watch for the cine goers’ verdict.

The forest department in Gujarat woke up from a rather 8-year long slumber to suddenly realize that Aamir Khan had violated the Wildlife Protection Act during the shooting of Bollywood super-duper hit Lagaan. They slapped him with a show cause notice for filming the endangered chinkaras (Indian gazelles). Aamir, you did rub certain people the wrong way when you spoke your mind out on the Narmada issue! According to the notice, Aamir has been asked to explain why the mandatory permission wasn’t sought prior to filming the chinkaras. He is required to reply to the show cause notice within a week. Notices were also sent to other members of the Lagaan production team for filming the animals without permission.

SRK is set to prove that he is one up on the original “Don” Big B. He has given it all he has to prove that point. Now, King Khan is awaiting public response to his powerhouse-performance. Farhan Akhtar may have wanted to remake “Don” as a tribute to his father Javed Akhtar and Big B, but SRK had a one-point agenda – to show the world that he is the best. He could not digest the fact that Big B was instrumental in having him removed from the Ram Gopal Verma Production, and getting son Abhishek Aditya Chopra’s next project. That makes the whole scenario interesting. Well Mr. Khan, we are waiting for you to deliver.

The stage is set for the Bollywood extravaganza in Mauritius slated for August 19, 2006. The entire Mauritius is waiting with baited breath for the arrival of King Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Zayed Khan, Celina Jaitley, and Malaika Arora. Shah Rukh Khan was earlier in Mauritius to attend the Zee Cine Awards in March 2006. Although SRK has been here on many occasions for the shoots of his hit movies Baazigar, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Duplicate, and Zamana Deewana, this will be his maiden stage appearance and face-to-face interaction with his fans. They are eagerly waiting to see their favorite Bollywood stars dance to the steps of choreographer Ganesh Hegde. Around 25,000 lucky fans are likely to be there at the Anjalay Stadium, Belle Vue.  

Is Paresh Rawal the king of comedy already? With a few comic roles under his belt, all attracting rave reviews from the critics and Bollywood movie buffs alike, Paresh Rawal seems to have snatched the title from the likes of Johnny Lever. Playing comic roles with such consummate ease appears to be Rawal’s forte. His acting is not loud a la Johnny Bhai. Paresh Rawal creates comic characters that remain etched in the minds of viewers forever. Who can forget Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in Hera Pheri? Awara Pagal Deewana, Hungama and the sequel Phir Hera Pheri proved yet again that his comic sense of timing is perfect. His growing legion of fans the world over is waiting for more.

The war between the two titans is on, but a third guy seems to be their punching bag. Yes, Karan Johar the mediator between the warlords King Khan and Big B is at the receiving end. The audio of Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (KANK) was scheduled to release during the IIFA event, but SRK refused to attend. So, Karan Johar had to plan two audio releases  - one in London to please SRK, and the other at Dubai. The Dubai event was attended by Big B and the entire cast. SRK was conspicuous by his absence. The diplomat in Karan has so far failed to get both the titans to call truce.

All you Akshay Kumar fans will soon see your favorite Bollywood star in a new role. Akshay has turned devotional and will appear in a music video tiltled: ”Nirgun Raakh Liya”. Directed by Ajay Kumar, this devotional video features shabads from the Sikh holy scriptures. Ajay has used powerful visuals to spread the message of divine love, peace, and harmony, which forms the basis of Sikhism.  According to Ajay Kumar, this video is an attempt to understand the value of devotion to God. Akshay was pleasantly surprised to see the outcome of this beautiful video while he was shooting in Manali.

Bollywood movie, Omkara is doing good business all around, and everyone is once again talking about Saif Ali Khan’s acting prowess. He has, as usual, given another astounding performance. Besides, his fans are talking about his new crew-cut hairstyle. Before shooting for Omkara began, the suave Saif Ali Khan was reluctant to cut his hair short. The director and other unitwallas that mattered tried to persuade Saif to go crew cut, but the star was not sure how he would look. On the day of the shooting, Saif surprised everyone with his short hair. The character, Langda Tyagi that Saif played, looked awesome in the short hair. And the rest, as they say, is history.