Big-screen tidbits - Abhishek, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Katrina, Aishwarya, Hritik,...

Big-screen tidbits compiled by F20BIZ TEAM

• THE men in white, Abbas-Mastan, are planning to remake the Hollywood flick The Italian Job. For the Bollywood version, the ace directors have signed the brilliant cast of Neil Nitin Mukesh, Katrina Kaif and Abhishek Bachchan. The remainder of the cast has yet to be finalised.
• SAIF Ali Khan is upset with an Indian news channel that zoomed into Kareena Kapoor's personal space as she was sending Khan an SMS that read "You were rude Saif, I am upset." The camera was also quick to catch Khan's response, which read "Sorry baby ...was talking about your role only." Seems like the lovebirds were having a tiff.
• TO CATER for an international audience, the Hrithik Roshan-Barbara Mori movie Kites will now be made in English. While the Bollywood version has been directed by Anurag Basu of Gangster fame, the English version will be made by Brett Ratner, the director of Rush Hour and X-Men - The Last Stand. Produced by Hrithik's dad Rakesh Roshan, the delayed project also has Kangana Ranaut in a leading role.
• AISHWARYA Rai Bachchan has opted out of Crooked, a thriller in which she was meant to be paired opposite Abhi- shek Bachchan, as her dates were clashing with Vipul Shah's movie about time travel, Action Replay. A search is on to replace to the actress for this movie that also stars Farhan Akthar and will be directed by Abhinay Deol, the new director in Bollywood who is also making Aamir Khan's next home production, Delhi Belly.
• AFTER the success of her directorial debut earlier this year with Luck by Chance, Zoya Akthar has finalised the leading men in her next venture titled Running With The Bulls. Once again, brother Farhan Akthar will be part of the cast, together with Hrithik Roshan and Abhay Deol. Incidentally, Farhan Akthar confirmed that he intended to shoot his sequel to Don in September 2010.
• THE success of Quick Gun Murugan has encouraged the production of a full-length spoof of Tamil cinema titled Thamizh Padam, which will be released on December 18 along with Vijay's Vettaikaaran. The spoof is going to be made along the lines of Hollywood spoofs, and sources reveal that the main character is a spoof of Illaiya Thallabadhi Vijay. Others who will come under the spotlight in the film are Rajni- kanth, Kamalhassan, Vikram , Ajithkumar and Surya.
• KAMALHASSAN'S lady friend, Gouthami, is to make her return to acting albeit through the small screen. Rama- nathan, the owner of Purusavakkam's Abirami Mega Mall, has already entered film production through Panjaamirtham and has also produced an earlier TV series called Devathai. Now he plans a memorable return with big-budget productions, the first of which will see Gouthami in the lead role. The series creative head will be Kutty Padmini, wife of South African Prabhu Nepaul. The series will be aired on Kalainyar TV.
• PAANDIRAJ, the director of the critically acclaimed Pasanga, has bagged the Golden Elephant award at the 16th International Film Festival in Hyderabad. Produced by actor Sasi-kumar, Pasanga has won many accolades and plans are afoot to submit the film to international film festivals.
• KARTHIK Kumar has finally bagged a lead role after playing supporting roles in numerous films. His last screen appearance in Ninai- thale Inikkum has earn- ed him many accolades and was directly responsible for landing him his first lead role. Titled Yedhuvum Nadakkum, the film is directed by debutante K Maheshwaran, a former assistant to Vasanthabalan. According to Maheshwaran, Yedhuvum Nadakkum is "an Alfred Hitchcock-style suspense thriller with supernatural elements". The movie is scheduled to be released this Friday.
• THE greatly anticipated sequel to Naan Avanillai, titled Naan Avanillai 2, has been given an Adults Only tag by the censor board. The board was unhappy about the glamour quotient by the film's five lead ladies, Sangeetha, Lakshmi Rai, Swetha Menon, Hema Malini and Rachna Maurya. The film, which released this weekend, has music by Vijay Anthony.

Bollywood remembers 26/11 Part 2

Bollywood remembers 26/11 Part 2

B-Town folk on where they were last year on this date, and what they will do today

Bipasha Basu

I was shooting for Aa Dekhen Zara at Goregaon on 26/11. While I was on the way back I saw the Vile Parle blast and was stranded in the crazy chaos. We somehow drove through the melee to reach home that night. This year, on 26/11, I'd be rehearsing for a show. I want terrorism to be wiped off the face of the earth. Is that asking for too much?

Hema Malini

I was in Mumbai. Some-one told me to watch television. I couldn't believe what I saw. November 26 used to be associated with so many wonderful things. It is a meat-less day and a friend's wedding anniversary. Now the joy of that day is gone forever. Now 26/11 is a day of terror forever. I'll be in Turkey shooting this year. I will remember the day with a heavy heart. My love to all those who lost dear ones on that day.

Neil Nitin Mukesh

I remember I was shooting in at Film City on 26/11 last year. I wish we could change that day in Mumbai. I wish people who lost their loved ones would get back their happiness. This 26/11 I'll pray for the soul of the dead and hope that their families' wounds would heal.

Tusshar Kapoor

I was in Cape Town shooting when 26/11 happened. Ideally I'd never want such a horror to revisit Mumbai. But life is not about ideal situations.

Imtiaz Ali

I remember I came home from a late-night film. I got messages to switch on the TV. What I was watching, horrified me for the next 70 hours. When we relive that horror this year we have to be sensitive and not remind the families of 26/11 victims just to create media content. On the other hand, this year, media should ascertain from the authorities and tell the common man what he must do if a similar situation were to arise again.

Farhan Akhtar

It was my first episode of Oye! It's Friday and I had just finished shooting it with Hrithik. When we came out, it was all over TV and we had heard about Cafe Leopold. We were asked to rush home immediately as chaos was expected on the roads. For a few days, we remained glued to our TV sets as we couldn't venture out for safety reasons.

Arshad Warsi

I was shooting in Wai. I drove into Mumbai and out on 26/11 last year. I'm going to a charity dinner hosted by Prince Michael in memory of people who lost their lives on 26/11.

Neha Dhupia

On 26/11 last year, I was at a movie premiere. Everyone started to leave. That was very unusual. Little did we know what was happening outside. Wish it had never happened."

Rahul Khanna

Last year on 26/11, I was travelling out of the country and was glued to the live TV coverage feeling helpless watching home hometown under attack. I hope all the brave innocent souls we lost are at peace and in a better place.

Abbas Tyrewala

I was in Chennai working on my music on this day last year. There was a cyclone that day, almost as if the elements were reflecting the darkness and turmoil in Mumbai. This 26th I am tempted to be at the Taj for dinner. But maybe that's just being stubbornly sentimental. Maybe I'll just say a prayer for those who were murdered by pathetic, desperate imbeciles, misled by enemies of God and humanity.

Pooja Bedi

I was at home on 26/11 watching the horror unfold on TV. This  year I'm hosting a 26/11 memorial function by the DVK Foundation in London at the Kensington Palace. It is to support victims of terror attacks and to provide financial assistance to families.



Related Post : Bollywood remembers 26/11 part 1