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Chopra, Hirani disagree on Munnabhai sequel title
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service 

Mumbai, Feb 23 (IANS) A battle is on between producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra and director Raj Kumar Hirani for the title of the sequel to "Munnabhai M.B.B.S."
     

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The sequel features the good old Munnabhai pair Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi with the banner's favourite Vidya Balan. Though a large chunk of the film is ready, the makers are still undecided about what to call this eagerly awaited sequel. 

While producer Vinod Chopra is adamant on the working title "Mahatma Versus Gandhi", director Hirani would prefer the more breezy "Lage Raho". 

"Hopefully," says a member of the cast, "Vinod Chopra will see the logic of using 'Lage Raho' instead of his chosen title. Until then we can only keep our fingers crossed."
   
US, Indian cinema should get married: Will Smith
Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Feb 23 (IANS) The "beauty and depth" of Indian cinema and the three-act structure of American cinema can be "married" to produce good results, Hollywood megastar Will Smith said here Thursday.

Smith, 37, who is currently visiting India, said he had great regard for Indian cinema and suggested there needed to be more give and take between the film industries of India and the US.

The star of "Men In Black" and "Hitch" said: "I really feel like there is a marriage to be made between the three-act structure of American cinema and the beauty of the colour and depth of story and characters in Indian cinema. 

"The most important thing is for myself to make an artistic connection with producers, directors and actors." 

Smith, whose next film "Pursuit of Happiness" will be released later this year, was talking to reporters at the launch of Pix, Sony TV's new movie channel. 

However, Smith ruled out any immediate joint projects with Bollywood even as he called for closer ties between Hollywood and Bollywood. 

He said the US audiences would turn away from highly produced blockbuster movies in favour of the "depth of story" that, he felt, featured in Indian films. 

Smith said the first Indian movie he watched was Ram Gopal Varma's "Sarkar" that starred Amitabh Bachchan - a film based on the Francis Ford Coppola classic "Godfather".

"I was really just blown away by 'Big B'. From today forward I am going to be known as the 'Big W'," Smith quipped. 

He also gushed that he was a fan of Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai, a former miss world. 

"She has a powerful energy. She doesn't have to say anything, she doesn't have to do anything. Whatever she wants to make, I'm there." 

India is the world's biggest producer of movies in numbers but accounts for only one percent of global film revenues. 
   
Will Smith wins many hearts in Mumbai
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Feb 24 (IANS) One woman journalist from Doordarshan will never forget the day she met Hollywood actor Will Smith at a meet-the-press programme here.

When this lady got up to ask Smith a question at the conference in Mumbai's Taj Ballroom Thursday afternoon, he pretended to be apprehensive, came down from the dais and hugged the stunned lady. 

Thereafter a lot of female and male media persons who had gathered there to announce Pix - Sony's new Hollywood entertainment channel in India - got a warm hug from Smith. It turned out to be hugely entertaining.

Where there is a Will, there's a weight. The Hollywood mega star's charm was evident all over Mumbai. 

At the press conference, Smith paid Amitabh Bachchan a huge compliment when he said he wants to be called 'Big W' after he was told about the 'Big B'.

Throughout the press event the Hollywood actor was at his casual yet informed best. Asked why he supported Sony's Pix channel, Smith said he liked the quality of films like "Kramer Vs Kramer" and "Lawrence Of Arabia" to be screened on the channel.

Smith is making himself popular everywhere in Mumbai.

Though he is yet to meet Amitabh Bachchan, at Fardeen Khan's party he met Abhishek Bachchan who incidentally is very fond of Smith and likes to be called Indian Will Smith.

On Saturday, Smith will attend the Filmfare awards. He is expected to give away one of the major awards.