New Delhi: Abhishek Bachchan starrer Players is the remake of American film, The Italian Job. Heading for by Abbas-Mustan, the film also has Sonam Kapoor, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Bipasha Basu, Bobby Deol and Sikandar Kher in the star cast. Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra were approached for the film earlier, but the deal didn’t click. Expected to release on January 6, 2012, here’s the first look of Players.

Ash has been consulting Dr. Vinita Salvi during the course of her pregnancy. Apparently, to avoid media and public attention, the actress arrives early morning to meet with her gynecologist.By now its common knowledge that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is due for delivery in the second week of November. To ensure that their bahu gets the best medical facilities, the Bachchans have booked a deluxe VIP room at the state of the art Seven Hills Hospital in Marol, Andheri from the 10th to 15th of November.
The staff at the hospital too have been going the extra mile to make sure that Ash is well taken care of. Surely, no one is leaving any stone unturned to ensure that the former Miss World gets nothing but World Class facilities during her delivery.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Born in 1973, the architecture student never looked back after she won the coveted Miss World crown in 1994, stepping into the world of modelling and then films. Mani Ratnam launched Rai in his Tamil biopic, ‘Iruvar’ in 1997. Aishwarya followed this with her Bollywood launch in ‘Aur Pyar Ho Gaya‘.Once Miss World and soon a proud mama-to-be, Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan marks her birthday today. The pregnant actress, (more…)

The shoot of director Abbas-Mustan’s upcoming movie ‘Players’, which features Abhishek Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Bobby Deol, Sonam Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh  comes to an end. The movie is now on the editing table and the post production continues.

‘Players’ will release on January 6, 2012. It’s an official remake of the Hollywood crime thriller ‘The Italian Job’.

The film has been shot throughout India, New Zealand and Russia. It also stars Omi Vaidya and Sikander Kher in pivotal roles.

Aishwarya Rai’s performing profession has always been a subject for debate. When Aishwarya married Abhishek Bachchan in the year 2007, it was rumoured that Ash will stop acting. Now that she is heavy with child, rumours state that Aishwarya will give up her filmi career post delivery. However, this seems quite unlikely.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is always in the news. The latest speculation is about her impending pregnancy. The gossip mill is churning out stories stating that it is ‘the end’ as far as Aishwarya’s Bollywood career is concerned.
If sources are to be believed, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali recently paid a visit to Aishwarya Rai. The director apparently went to meet Ash to discuss about a film. Meanwhile, filmmaker Raj Kumar Santoshi is also patiently waiting for Aishwarya Rai to deliver since he wants to cast her and husband Abhishek Bachchan in his forthcoming film Ladies and Gentlemen. The filmmaker has reportedly kept his project on hold since he is waiting for Aishwarya Rai’s confirmation.

Abhishek said that Sachin is already a “Bharat Ratna”: Bollywood star, Abhishek Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, Bharat Ratna, country, going, achievements, cricket, legendary, cricketer, admiration, Indians, government, Bachchan regretted

Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan today said that Sachin Tendulkar is already a “Bharat Ratna” to the people of the country going by his achievements in the cricket.
When asked whether the government should confer the highest civilian honour on the legendary cricketer, Abhishek said, “Tendulkar is already a ‘Bharat Ratna’ going by the admiration he has got from all Indians for his achievements in the cricket field.”
Stating that that he does not know the criterion of the government for conferring the honour, junior Bachchan regretted that he was not the one who could decide whether his fellow Mumbaikar should receive it.
The 35-year-old actor was in the state capital to promote his upcoming release ‘Dum Maro Dum’.

Tarun Mansukhani‘s much awaited sequel Dostana 2 went through what most Bollywood relationships traverse. First it was confirmed.
Then, we heard it was shelved. Finally, the verdict is out. Mansukhani revealed, “Dostana 2 is very much on. The film stars Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham and Katrina Kaif.”
Though Tarun Mansukhani is once again a happy man to have got Dostana 2 back on track, Priyanka Chopra who catapulted into superstardom with the first, may not be smiling this time around. (more…)

New crop of Bollywood producers has a simple rule:New Delhi, reliable, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Ritesh Sidhwani, Bollywood, company, Entertainment, Farhan Akhtar, Dil Chahta Hai, Honeymoon Travels, Rock On, interview, Mr. Perfectionist, directorial, accolades, romantic drama, national award, Reema Kagti, Don-2, Released in 2006, mixed comments, Berlin, revealing

New Delhi, One of the most reliable names among the new crop of Bollywood producers has a simple rule – go for the script, not the actor. Never mind if Ritesh Sidhwani is working with Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.

Sidhwani runs production company Excel Entertainment with Farhan Akhtar and the duo are behind hit films like “Dil Chahta Hai”, “Don – The Chase Begins”, “Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd” and “Rock On“.

“I think we are very clear on one thing – when Farhan and I decide to green light a certain project – the one thing that matters is the script. We never go to an actor, we don’t write films for actors, we cast characters to actors,” Sidhwani told IANS in an interview when asked about his selection criteria for a film.

Sidhwani turned producer with the Aamir Khan starrer “Dil Chahta Hai“. He has teamed up with the star again after a decade and hopes Bollywood‘s Mr. Perfectionist will bring the same luck this time.

“Dil Chahta Hai” was also Farhan’s directorial debut and he earned accolades for making the coming of age romantic drama. The film received a national award. And now the banner is producing director Reema Kagti’s film, which has Aamir in a pivotal role.

“It’s been 10 years now and our 10th film is going to be ‘Don-2′. And coincidentally our 11th film to release will be Reema Kagti’s untitled project which stars Aamir Khan. So we will start our next 10 years again with Aamir, so it’s quite an interesting year and I hope Aamir brings good luck again.”

Right now they are busy with Zoya Akhtar’s “Zindagi Na Milegi Dubara” and Shah Rukh Khan starrer “Don-2″.

“‘Don 2‘ was always on the cards, but Shah Rukh Khan’s shoulder got injured. The film is releasing Dec 23. Then Zoya came up with this brilliant script, which is a road trip of three boys and travels through Spain. It’s really interesting and slated for June 24 release,” Sidhwani said.

Released in 2006, “Don – The Chase Begins”, a remake of Amitabh Bachchan-starrer “Don“, in 1978 was a slick, suave crime-action-thriller made at a budget of about Rs.35 crore.

Sidhwani, 40, claims “Don-2″ will be the biggest ever in the action genre.

“It is the biggest of all because you are going to Europe and shooting in Berlin. It is ‘Don-2′ and there are a lot of expectations, so you have to make it bigger and better.

“The inherent nature of the script, the excitement level have to be larger. In the first ‘Don’, we were restricted to Amitabh Bachchan’s version and had to play within the same plot. But in our version, evil triumphed over good for the first time. So we had scope to play with the script and in which direction we want to take it forward.”

But what about the budget?

“It is bigger. That was set in Malaysia, this is set in Berlin. The action is much bigger - we have a huge amount of action in this and it is on a big scale,” he said without revealing the money spent on the film.

He said the long locks of King Khan don’t make up his only look in the film.

“That is one of the looks in the film. It has received mixed comments, but I think it works because in the film it will take you five years down the line. So when you move the action to Berlin, you will see a new look. The cute Shah Rukh look.”

Sachin Tendulkar has been in party mode following India’s World Cup win. Says an invitee, “Sachin and wife Anjali have been hosting a series of parties.”One was held at a resort and spa in the city owned by Sanjay Narang on Monday night. Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh attended as did a few B-Town celebs. The party was exclusively for friends and people the Master Blaster is close to.The party was a grand affair with over 75 guests. It was held at the vast lush green landscaped gardens of the leisure spa with (more…)

What’s common to films —Ghajini, Raavan, and the upcoming Ra.One? These are films that have been named after the villains.
In a film industry dominated by star-system, it’s usual to have films centred around the characters played by the lead heroes. For instance, films like Karan Arjun, Baazigar and Mr. India in the past.
However, the recent trend has filmmakers experimenting with film titles who are now opting to flash the villains’ names on the billboards. Why this love for the bad guys?
Actor Shah Rukh Khan, whose upcoming superhero flick is named after the villain Ra.One (played by actor Arjun Rampal), insists it was important to have the film named after the antagonist. (more…)