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Starlet Sherlyn impresses Yash Chopra
 
Mumbai, Jan 24   Noted filmmaker Yash Chopra was reportedly very impressed with the screen presence of Sherlyn Chopra while watching a preview of Vinod Pande's "Red Swastik".

Yash Chopra, who had earlier released Pande's "Sins", found the suspense-thriller emotionally compelling.

According to a source, the movie mogul complimented Sherlyn for her performance and remarked that she had a gift of sustaining the viewer's interest.

Such appreciation coming from a veteran like Yash Chopra is no less than a trophy! Put on your dancing shoes Sherlyn!

   

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Vikaas Kalantri in Abbas Mastaan's next

Actor Vikaas Kalantri of "Nayee Padosan" has been roped in by director duo Abbas-Mastaan for their next venture.

He recently completed filming his scenes with co-stars Bobby Deol and Akshaye Khanna in Dubai. The as-yet-untitled film is a suspense thriller and Vikaas is paired with Urvashi Sharma in it.

"I play a character called Siddharth in this thriller. I portray a happy-go-lucky guy, the most effervescent among a group of four, that comprises Bobby, Akshaye, Urvashi and me," said Vikaas.

Vikaas says he can't reveal more because it would spoil the suspense for the audience.

The film, being produced by Tips, is likely to be released in May.

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Shilpa is truly Indian, says Yukta Mookhey

Former beauty queen Yukta Mookhey has come out in support of Shilpa Shetty, whose appearance on Britain's reality TV Show "Celebrity Big brother" has put the spotlight on racism.

"Shilpa truly represents the ideals of an Indian woman and she has rightly attracted the world's attention towards the racial divide," said Yukta.

Yukta also appreciated Shilpa's tolerance and serenity.

She said: "Like an ideal Indian woman Shilpa has remained a picture of composure and self respect, refusing to be cowed down or get involved in frivolous exchanges. That was precisely the reason why people from all over the world have reacted to her plight."
 

Daya Nayak trained Randeep for cop's role in 'Risk'
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, Jan 24   Daya Nayak, the controversial cop dubbed encounter specialist by the media, spent a lot of time preparing Randeep Hooda for his role in the recently released "Risk".

"Randeep and his director Vishram Sawant came to me after they had finished their first film 'D'. They wanted to make a cop film called 'Risk'. My first request to them was not to make the cop look like a fool. I won't name him, but one major leading man wore the cop's cap front-to-back and was seen dancing in the garden with a girl.

"One of the more authentic films on a cop was Ramu's 'Shool'. But that showed the cop losing everything to remain true to his duty. Whether it was Ram Varma in 'Ab Tak Chhappan' or Vishram Sawant in 'Risk', they had to put in commercial elements. I instructed him on the length of the hair, the clothes, walk, etc," Nayak told IANS.

When approached by Randeep, Nayak made it clear he won't give confidential information about the working of the police force.

There have been other occasions when Nayak has been approached to provide tips for cop's films.

"When Varma was making 'Ab Tak Chhappan', which was based on my life, I requested him to make a decent film. They wanted to know physical details like how I hold the gun, etc. They've also made films like 'Kagaar' and a Kannada film called 'Encounter'. There're 75,000 articles on me on Google."

Nayak's life is a source of constant curiosity for filmmakers.

"My life resembles a movie. I come from a very poor family. I ran away from my village to Mumbai. I worked for several years in a hotel and attended a night school. I know my biography will be a sell-out."

Nayak is proud of his association with the film industry.

"I helped sort out extortion and underworld problems. When I began to fraternise with film folks, I had to maintain a certain lifestyle. I think some of my colleagues got jealous. I was accused of being too speedy in my working style. In my opinion, speed is important for optimum efficiency. Fortunately, all my friends from Bollywood still continue to be in touch with me."

Nayak hates being called an 'encounter specialist'.

"I hate it. I'm a Brahmin and to kill anyone deliberately is unthinkable. I don't eat meat. I don't drink. Not even tea or coffee. No police officer is interested in killing anyone deliberately. I've worked sincerely and I'll do so again as soon as my suspension is revoked.

"For now, I spend a lot of time with my family. Since all the security has been taken away, there's a security threat to my family. I keep getting threatening calls. But I don't let these setbacks bother me."

Nayak went to watch his alter ego in "Risk".

"With a live audience. I wanted to hear the roar of the audience. I hate it when an underworld don is shown living a glamorous and affluent life. No gangster can afford to come down from a helicopter. Varma has done a lot to improve the police's image."
 

'Raaz' sequel to be directed by Mohit Suri
By Subhash K. Jha, 

Mumbai, Jan 24   Filmmakers Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt haven't yet equalled the success of their "Raaz" in any other subsequent production. So, in this season of sequels, what better move than to follow up their most successful production till date?

Though not too many people associated with the 1992 mega hit starring Bipasha Basu and Dino Morea seem interested in doing a sequel, Mahesh is optimistic about "Raaz 2" and has zeroed in on Mohit Suri as director.

He says he needs neither the old director nor the cast.

"It's Mohit, who directed my productions 'Zehar', 'Kalyug' and 'Woh Lamhe', who thought of the idea for the sequel. He'll be directing 'Raaz 2'. Once he finishes with our current project 'Awaarapan' in Jodhpur, he'll sink his teeth into the 'Raaz' sequel.

"As for the original star cast, why are you presuming that Mohit would want the same players? He has a very strong concept in mind for the sequel. It doesn't require the earlier cast."

"Raaz 2" will be made with a new cast.

Said Mahesh: "We're committed to make movies with newcomers."

The Bhatts have given the film industry talented technicians and actors like Anuarg Basu, Mohit Suri, Emraan Hashmi and Kangana Ranaut.

"We cannot take any credit for their performance," said Mahesh with uncharacteristic modesty.

"We're privileged to give these youngsters a platform. We're not in this business only to provide a cast for our films. We want to introduce as much talent to the industry as we can. 'Raaz 2' will continue that tradition."

Director of the original "Raaz" Vikram Bhatt sings another tune: "I really don't know... Right now I'm readying 'Red' for release and editing my other film 'Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi'."

What Vikram leaves unstated is that some years ago he decided to part ways with the Bhatts, and is unlikely to return to the fold.

Bipasha, who played the disgruntled wife who rescues her husband from the ghost of his psychotic mistress, is also unexcited about a sequel.

"This is the first time I'm hearing about it," she told IANS.

That leaves the film with the film's leading man Dino Morea who's all for another "Raaz".

"Bhatt saab has been talking about a sequel to 'Raaz'. I don't mind doing it, as long as the story is carried forward logically and interestingly. After all sequels are doing stupendously well. And it was one of the biggest hits in recent times."
 

'Salaam-e-Ishq' - an ode to love, six times over
New Delhi, Jan 24   Love stories are a staple in Bollywood. After "Kal Ho Naa Ho", Nikhil Advani comes up with not one but six romances in his mega multistarrer "Salaam-E-Ishq: A Tribute To Love" that releases Friday.

The film's ensemble cast comprises Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Akshaye Khanna, Ayesha Takia, Govinda, John Abraham, Vidya Balan, Sohail Khan, Isha Koppikar and Shannon Esra in lead roles.

The movie weaves six love stories together.

Kamini (Priyanka Chopra), a sought after item girl in Bollywood, is desperately looking for a big break. But nothing seems to be happening so she hatches a plan to change her image. The only thing she does not anticipate is the arrival of Rahul (Salman Khan) in her life.

Vinay Malhotra (Anil Kapoor) leads a picture perfect life with his picture perfect wife Seema (Juhi Chawla) and daughters in the suburbs of London. He works with a PR firm and returns home to his wife and daughters. But things change after he bumps into the not so perfect Anjali (Anjana Sukhani). Unconventional and over-confident Anjali comes from a world where single modern girls get what they want. And Anjali wants Vinay.

Shiven (Akshaye Khanna), a consummate bachelor who lives in New Delhi, is engaged to Gia (Ayesha Takia) and is going to get married very soon. But he gets cold feet days before the wedding and breaks off the engagement. It is only later that he realises that he is incomplete without her.

Tehzeeb's (Vidya) and Ashutosh (John) eloped and got married two years ago. Struggling like all young married couples in Mumbai, both of them work at a news channel. Tehzeeb is a reporter and Ashutosh a film editor. Completely crazy about each other, they find it quite difficult to keep their hands off each other. But things change when Tehzeeb meets with an accident.

Raju (Govinda) is a taxi driver in Delhi. He drives from his home in Chandni Chowk to the New Delhi International Airport like he has for the last 15 years. He enjoys watching the doors of the New Delhi International Airport opening and closing because he hopes to meet his dream girl there.

And Stephanie (Shannon Esra) does come from those very doors-the only problem is that she has come looking for her boyfriend Rohit Chaddha (Kushaal Punjabi) and not Raju.

Ramdayal (Sohail) and Phoolwati (Isha) are newly-weds in Haryana. Ramdayal wants to consummate their marriage but whenever he tries to fulfil his desire, something goes wrong. Both of them land up in a series of events that become tragically and comically fatal.

"Salaam-e-Ishq" will be released with 1,100 prints worldwide. The film's music is doing well, but so far not a single episodic film has done well.

Advani's ode to love should hopefully break the jinx.
 

Deepa Mehta to wear sari on Oscar night
New York, Jan 24   Canada-based Indian filmmaker Deepa Mehta, whose Hindi film "Water" is in the running for best foreign film at the Oscars, says she will wear a sari for the big night.

Mehta is considering wearing an old tissue sari, that was part of her mother's trousseau, for the 79th Annual Academy Awards, says Sheeraz Hassan, the founder of www.Hollywood.tv.

"It (the sari) is plain gold and very elegant. I think it's right to wear mom's sari," said Mehta, who is looking forward to walking Hollywood's red carpet when the gold statuettes are handed out Feb 25.

The filmmaker said there were tears, champagne and joyful jumps when she learnt of the Oscar nomination.

Mehta said she was a "bundle of nerves" while watching the TV announcement along with daughter Devyani Saltzman, publicist Bonne Smith, producer David Hamilton and distributor Hussain Amarshi.

"My daughter was jumping up and down and Hamilton started crying and Amarshi opened a bottle of champagne and we were just jumping. We were like kids," she added.

"Water" competes with "After the Wedding" (Denmark), "Days of Glory" (Algeria), "The Lives of Other" (Germany) and "Pany's Labyrinth" (Mexico) for the best foreign film.

A graduate in philosophy from the University of Delhi, Mehta started her film career as a screenwriter for children's films. She directed her first full-length feature film "Sam & Me" in 1991, starring Om Puri in a pivotal role.

The film, which revolved around a relationship between a young Muslim boy and an elderly Jewish gentleman living in Parkdale, Toronto, won her a 'honourable mention' in the Camera d'Or category in Cannes Film Festival in 1991.

"Camilla" followed in 1994, for which she teamed up with Bridget Fonda and Jessica Tandy.

In India, Mehta is best known for her elements' trilogy, which evoked controversies because of their taboo subjects.

The Nandita Das and Shabana Azmi-starrer "Fire" in 1996 courted controversy by taking on lesbianism. Than came "1947: Earth" in 1998 - the story of India's partition 1947 through the eyes of a young Parsi girl.

However, it was "Water" that earned her maximum flak in India. Mehta launched the film in 2000 with Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das and Akshay Kumar but violent protests forced her to stall it temporarily.

Protestors burnt down the film's sets in Varanasi and Shiv Sena activists threatened immolation if she went ahead with the film. Mehta then shot the film in Sri Lanka with a new star cast that included Lisa Ray and John Abraham.

A heart-wrenching tale of Indian widows in the 1930s, the film was completed in 2003 and had its first screening at the Toronto Film Festival in 2005.

Mehta is currently preparing for her next venture titled "Exclusion", which may star Amitabh Bachchan and John again, based on Canada's 1914 Komagata Maru incident.

Komagata Maru was a Japanese steam-liner that sailed to Canada in 1914, carrying 376 passengers from Punjab, India. The Asian immigrants were not allowed to land and the ship was forced to return to India.

For now Mehta is overjoyed with her Oscar nomination. Canada last bagged the coveted award in 2004 for Denys Arcand's "The Barbarian Invasions".
 

Meet Radio Mirchi's new RJ Cyrus Broacha
New Delhi, Jan 24   Popular MTV host Cyrus Broacha is joining Radio Mirchi, a private FM radio station, to co-host "Bumper2Bumper" with radio jockey (RJ) Tarun every Saturday evening.

Talking about his new role as an RJ, Cyrus said: It is going to be a fun ride and I'm sure people will like it."

"Cyrus is an icon in himself and his brand of fun and is loved by one and all. He fits in perfectly with what the brand stands for, 'Mirchi Sunnewale Always Khush'," said Tapas Sen, senior vice-president, programming (national), in a statement.

It is certainly good news for Radio Mirchi listeners who will get a dose of his world famous wittiness with their favourite songs.

Listeners will also get to hear Cyrus' views on the hot topics of the week on "Being Cyrus".

So, for an extra dope of fun and laughter, tune in to Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM and catch Cyrus.
 

IANS