Bollywood Instyle

You saw him do those mighty leaps across the screen in Krrish, but all does not end there for Hrithik Roshan. The heartthrob of millions continues the leapfrog act having just overtaken the super Khans by miles. Hrithik’s been reported to have signed a whopping Rs.35 crores ($7.5 million) deal with Adlabs for three movies. That makes the handsome star the highest paid actor in Bollywood. According to the grapevine, Amir Khan gets between Rs. 7 – 9 crores ($1.5 - $1.7 million) per film, while Shahrukh Khan earns between Rs. 6 – 7 crores ($1.2 - $1.5 million), and Salman Khan anywhere between Rs. 4 – 5 crores ($1 - $1.2 million) per movie. The icing on the cake is that the debonair Hrithik gets to pick the script, directors and co-stars of his choice. Well, that is one mighty deal.

All the denials of a relationship between the two top Bollywood stars seem to be a matter of the past. There appear to be indications coming from the Bachchan household that Papa Bachchan has finally approved of his bahu Aishwarya. Looking for a non-filmi bahu, Big B finally thinks that Ash is homely enough for his son Aybee-baby. Abhishek’s grandma Teji Bachchan, who is ill, wants to see her grandson happily married. Amitabh was apparently not happy about the relationship between his son and Ash, who has been linked to two other Bollywood stars in the past, but her current conduct and nearness to the family apparently tilted the balance in Ash’s favor. We are sure that their fans will be truly happy about the development.

What would Umrao Jaan be without Aishwarya’s mujra? Certainly meaningless! If we were to believe choreographer Vaibhavi, Ash’s movement were restricted because of her heavy costumes. Vaibhavi is on a high since choreographing Bollywood’s signature dance Kajra Re, and that was the reason she was picked for Umrao Jaan. Vaibhavi has been unhappy with the way Aishwarya was made to wear those heavy traditional costumes, making her feel awkward in her dance movements. Bindiya’s (JP Dutta’s wife) insistence on Ash wearing heavy stone jewelry only complicated matters. The choreographer had no choice but to compromise on the quality of choreography. What surprised Vaibhavi more was the focus on Ash looking beautiful rather than on her dancing capabilities. Some delicately choreographed dances are what people expect from a movie with a nautch girl as its protagonist. Ash’s fans are certainly going to feel short-changed on that account. 

The much awaited and much maligned (?) Don opened to a terrific response from the overseas Bollywood movie fans. The box office did not rock – it shook and it staggered. Unlike other Shah Rukh Khan hits, it did not belong to the overseas genre, but it had enough masala to collect £288,000 on its previews and opening weekend. Jaan-e-Mann that released the same weekend could amass only £106,000, according to global box office authority, Neilson EDI. The first six days have seen Don gross nearly £536,000 (over $1,000,000), and the collections are expected to touch the $2,000,000 mark by the end of the second week. The opening weekend for Don in the US, as reported by Variety online, was a whopping $805,000, while Jaan-e-Mann, trailing behind, managed a poor collection of sorts - $210,000.

Were you wondering, if you were, where Fardeen Khan was all this while? He was reported to be hiding behind those extra kilos of flab that he had accumulated over one year. Now, you can call that a sign of a happy marriage. Fardeen, plus his blubber, was avoiding the cameras like the plague. Sensing his career being crushed under that excessive weight, the handsome Khan has sprung back using weights to his advantage. His stint at the gym has seen the dapper guy back at his best. FK was recently spotted at a party with his wife looking nice and sleek; enough to have many pretty eyes feasting on him. An overweight Fardeen Khan would certainly have had his fans seeing red.

The much-awaited remake of Bollywood hit Don has finally been released in movie theaters across the country. Prior to that, a special screening of Don II was organized for a few of the choicest people including Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchcan, Sachin Tendulkar and many other glittering stars. Big B expressed his displeasure, feeling the movie lacked soul. However, Abhishek was impressed with Don II and King Khan’s performance. Farhan Akhtar’s Don II has London abuzz with excitement with some people feeling that the film is being over-hyped. It is rumored that a multinational bank had flown in its topnotch customers to London for a special preview. The verdict, however, rests with the cinegoers. 

Rishi and Neetu Kapoor’s son Ranbir Kapoor is a real hot Bollywood entrant. The lad is already cornering accolades and glory while still shooting for his debut film Saawariya. The guy has impressed no less than giant moviemaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Ranbir ought to have inherited the acting genes of his star parents in no small measure to have signed not one but three movies with Yash Chopra. And, the newcomer with brooding looks is yet to have a release to his name. Ranbir will be shooting for Dhoom III with Shahrukh Khan playing the role of a baddie. The Bollywood industry is waiting with baited breath to see whether this scion of the Kapoor Khandaan blazes the screen like his cousins Karisma and Kareena Kapoor have.

Bollywood’s top music composer AR Rehman has taken up cudgels for the right of composers to have rights over their own music. In the event, he has even had to part ways with Shah Rukh Khan over Om Shanti Om. Producer King Khan has decided to stick with the age-old Bollywood practice of producers retaining the rights of a movie’s music score. AR Rehman has taken up the cause of composers and lyricists insisting on their having a share in the copyright. Shah Rukh Khan has replaced Rehman with the music director duo Vishal-Shekhar. However, Aaamir Khan has supported AR Rehman over the music rights issue, signing him up for his next venture. Well, time will only tell whether the music maestro’s crusade brings about the desired result.

Shah Rukh Khan is one of a kind – a loving, caring, and considerate person. He showered the crew and cast with presents and personal notes on the last day of the Don shoot. It made everybody’s day, as the King went about expressing his appreciation for the hard work they all had put in. Producer Ritesh Sidhwani, praising the superstar, recalled how he would hug the crew and thank them after pack-up each day. The personalized notes on the last day were a recollection of individual experiences. Each gift was handpicked keeping in view the personal tastes of each individual. This is how close a rapport King Khan had with each crewmember. Apart from the professionalism that Shah Rukh Khan is known for, it’s his personal touches that mean to convey “Main Hoon Na”.

What appeared to be a breakup between the Bollywood star couple John and Bips is now history, if going by what we get to see these days. They are back together smiling and holding hands in public. Earlier, John Abrahim had been linked with the red-hot star Mallika Sherawat, and then Vidya Balan. But these affairs seemed to be short-lived. The hot couple was spotted together scorching the ramp at designer Rocky’s show, and later at Twinkle Khanna’s store show. John wasn’t very communicative when asked whether the breakup was an act to extract some media mileage. But, Bipasha reacted rather strongly denying that they did not need such publicity to be in the news. Not really, Honey! You need some masala going to keep your fans interested in you.