Quality movie from Midas-touch Aamir and wife Kiran Rao

It was during the making of the Oscar-nominated Lagaan that Aamir Khan's personal life went through some challenges as the married superstar fell in love with Kiran Rao. His sudden decision to divorce his first wife, Reena, and marry Rao in 2003 sent shockwaves through the industry. Despite these setbacks, Khan continued to mesmerise audiences as an actor and producer. His reputation at the box office is flawless with blockbusters such as Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Peepli Live, Taare Zameen Par and 3 Idiots to his credit. Often dubbed the man with the Midas touch, Khan returns as an actor and doubles up as a producer to launch Rao's directorial debut. The movie, which received rave reviews at the Toronto Film Festival, has also had an excellent start in India.

STORY: Set in bustling Mumbai, Dhobi Ghat deals with relationships. First there's Munna (Pratiek Babbar), the dhobi (clothes washer) who starts a friendship with a banker named Shai (Monica Dogra), a smart young wo-man with a passion for photography and art. When Shai has an encounter with an introverted painter named Arun (Aamir Khan), it ends bitterly leaving her with more questions than answers. And, finally, there is Yasmin (Kriti Malhotra), whose life is revealed when Arun moves into a new apartment. Though the interactions between the lead characters are limited, there is a common thread of mystery, ambition and subtle love that draws them together.

DIRECTION: One must salute Rao for making a delicate piece of cinema as she takes a risky path of purposely leaving out the entertainment factor. Obviously being married to a genius like Khan has inspired her to make a creative movie that further showcases the talents of emerging filmmakers in the industry. She cleverly adds the daily experiences of Mumbai life to take the story forward and that works majestically as you are sucked into the city life.

PERFORMANCES: The four lead characters are easy to relate to as they convincingly make you part of their world. While Khan, who had to audition for the part, breezes through his role effortlessly, he plays second fiddle to the charming and simple Babbar, who has to rank as one of the most talented youngsters in the industry. Babbar, son of the late actress Smita Patil, is a revelation from his debut in Jaane Tu Ya Jaana Na. Dogra and Malhotra both make convincing debuts.

WHAT I LIKED: The realistic background of Mumbai, the manner in which the characters are presented and the running time of just under two hours, which works in its favour.

OVERALL: The Aamir Khan brand is associated with quality cinema. If you are expecting typical Bollywood fare, then best you avoid this creative piece of art which, like a beautiful painting, portrays a variety of emotions and is treasured only by those seeking quality cinema.

Bombay High Court Dismisses Case Against SRK’s Bungalow

Bollywood superstar   Shahrukh Khan breathed a huge sigh of relief, as the Bombay High Court has announced the decision in his favor in case linked to his ' dream home ' Mannat. The Bombay High Court not only rejected the PIL lodged by activist Simpreet Singh against SRK, but also imposed Rs 20 ,000 on the petitioner for wasting its time. The activist registered a PIL against the The activist registered a PIL against the actor, alleging that he breached Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and other regulations by constructing a building , an addition to his bungalow . But, the BHC terminated the case filed by Simpreet, ruling that the requester took this step only for media hype. The court interrogated why the activist objected only to SRK's residence though there are lots of buildings in the identical line. A division bench of Justice P B Majmudar and A Sayed asked, "There are so many buildings in the same line as Shah Rukh's building . Why have you (petitioner) taken an objection against only this building ? Simply because he is a film star?" As per the case filed, the place where the building stands was reserved for an art gallery. But, the state administration updated the BHC that the reservation was called off in the year 2000. The actor bought the land in the year 2003 and started construction in the year 2006. "Prima facie it seems to be a publicity petition . If the court entertains such PILs then it would send a wrong signal . We have so many other PILs pertaining to poor people's causes to hear," Justice Majmudar remarked.

Chitrangada wants to work with Aamir Khan

Kolkata, Jan 29 ( IANS) Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh Saturday made a candid confession about wanting to share screen space with superstar Aamir Khan. 'If you ask me to name one actor with whom I want to work, then its Aamir Khan. If Sudhir (Mishra) makes a film with him then I would stand in line with a hope that I will get a chance,' she giggled. Chitrangada, along with director Sudhir Mishra and actor Arunoday Singh, was in the city to promote their upcoming film 'Yeh Saali Zindagi'. ''Yeh Saali Zindagi' is a romantic thriller. It is about relationship, love, danger and all these. It is a romantic film in guise of a thriller. It has a plot of thriller but has emotions of a romantic film,' Mishra told reporters. 'Life is unpredictable. If you watch the film, you will get to know that the name of the film reflects the personality of the film,' he added. 'Yeh Saali Zindagi' deals with primarily three characters -- Arun, played by Irrfan Khan, Priti, played by Chitrangadha, and Kuldeep, played by Arunoday Singh. Arun is in love with Priti but she loves somebody else and Arun has to save his life. On the other hand, Kuldeep is a young gangster who is trying hard to save his marriage.

Shahrukh will stop Salman’s dream run?

Shahrukh Khan may avoid Salman’s hatrick…. The ‘Dabangg’ Khan dream run might end today and the dream to hold the elusive black lady will still remain a dream for the lady killer and B-town macho Khan Salman Khan. The battle royal begins today at night when all eyes will be on the black lady – the Film Fare Awards, Bollywood supreme yardstick of excellence. Salman who had a dream year with the blockbuster ‘ Dabangg’ which has fetched him Star Screen and Apsara till now is eyeing a hartrick with FilmFare….. but it’s going to be tough for the ‘Dabangg’ Khan to conquer King Khan Shahrukh Khan’s territory- the Film Fare where the Badshah has ruled for 13 times in together, 7 of them in the capacity of the best actor. This time the two mighty Khans of Bollywood are battling against each other for the coveted trophy in order to make themselves and their fans proud, folks it’s going to be the battle of the decade cause this time many things are at stake. If Salman’s ‘Dabangg’ became the top grosser in India and gave a serious face lift to Salman as the messiah at Bollywood box office, then arch rival Shahrukh Khan’ s ‘My Name Is Khan’ became the highest overseas grosser of Bollywood cementing Shahrukh Khan’s status as the global Indian superstar. Film Fare trophy has proudly escorted King Khan to his home many times since 1993 when he kissed the black lady for the first time when as the best newcomer in 1993 for ‘Deewana’. Surprisingly, Salman is now making his presence felt in the award winners galore after 23 years of illustrious career. As the evening draws nearer, the excitement rises as we all are expecting a nail biting finish.. Let’s see how the new kid on the award block Salman bowls over the mighty defense of the veteran in the award field Shahrukh Khan. Post your winner as we keep our fingers crossed.

Priyanka mimics SRK, he turns red hot

Usually, Shahrukh Khan mimics others and pokes fun on actors and filmmakers at award functions but this time the table has turned upside down and Priyanka Chopra done a mimicry of various actors and films nominated for the best movies. She has enacted Salman Khan from Dabangg ’ and owned applause but she had to face the ‘ Dabangg ’ and owned applause but she had to face the rage of King Khan when she copied him. The actress enacted SRK from the film, ‘ My Name Is Khan ’. The act did not go well with Shahrukh and he shouted from the audience at Priyanka saying, ‘Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai’, Hamari Film Ka Mazak Uraya Ja Raha Hai’. The audience turned pin dropped silence with the entire drama. The entire episode of mimicry turned into a great laugher show when King Khan told Piggy Chops, “Tum pehli baar itni khoobsurat lag rahi ho” after she played him in MNIK. The actress earned compliment from SRK.   Priyanka mimicked characters from Dabangg, My Name is Khan, Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, Peepli Live , Rajneeti and Golmaal 3. The award show will be aired on January 30 on Zee TV.

Berlin hosts Khan after Khan

Indian cinema fans in Europe are basking in the company of Khan after Khan and they can't believe their luck. First, it was Bollywood heartthrob Shah Rukh Khan who spent three months in Berlin and now Aamir Khan arrives here early next month . Aamir will be here as a member of the international jury of the 61 st Berlinale that opens Feb 10. "It's not that we are in the habit of collecting Khans. But we greatly admire the work of both Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan and are totally excited that Aamir will be with us this year," Dorothee Wenner, Berlinale's special representative for Indian cinema, told IANS. Wenner says the festival has admired Aamir as a producer and actor for many years and has been trying to get him to participate in the Berlinale for a long time. "Of course, it is not enough to want Aamir in our midst. It is about schedules and whether he is free from work to be part of the Berlinale. The logistics were always a problem. Aamir's work schedule did not allow him to be part of the Berlinale earlier. We are very happy that he is with us this year," Wenner said. Festival director Dieter Kosslick saw Aamir's " Peepli Live" at the last Berlinale and liked the film so much that Wenner was asked to work overtime to make sure that Aamir participated in the event this year. "I think it is great that such a versatile filmmaker is on the Berlinale jury. He knows every aspect of filmmaking, from acting, to directing and, of course, producing. I hope he will stay in that last role in the coming years because it means we can look forward to more unusual and surprising Hindi films. Also, if you look at the way he promotes his projects, I would want him as a producer if I were to make a film," Gerlinde Seitner from the Austrian Film Institute told IANS. It is Wenner who first introduced Shah Rukh to audiences here and now she is very happy to host Aamir. Shah Rukh first participated in the Berlinale with "Om Shanti Om" in 2008. Berliners still recall how Shah Rukh had stopped traffic in the German capital with his charming ways. He was again at the Berlinale in 2010 for the world premiere of his last film "My Name Is Khan" and spent the last three months of the last year filming for Farhan Akhtar's "Don 2 ", which is partly shot in Berlin. Berliners are thrilled that one Khan has barely left the city when Aamir will soon be with them. The Bollywood participation at this year's Berlinale includes the world premiere of "7 Khoon Maaf". It has been selected for screening in the Panorama special section that picks cinema on the basis of innovative narrative styles and unusually critical images of society. Audiences will watch the film in the company of director Vishal Bharadwaj, producer Ronnie Srewvalla and leading lady Priyanka Chopra. Priyanka fans look forward to her return to Berlin after having feasted on her presence just a few months ago when she was in the city shooting for "Don 2 ". Another Indian film is "Gandu" by Kaushik Mukherjee and Om Puri's "West is West" will also be screened. Award winning Shekhar Kapur will bring no film to the festival but he will join a panel for discussions with production designer Alex Mcdowell and others on "Play as Process: World building and New Ways to Imagine". Berlinale is one of the most prestigious film festivals and the international jury led this year by Italian actress Isabella Rossellini is the last word on which lucky film director gets to take home the Golden and Silver Bears at the end of the 11- day gala which concludes Feb 20. The other members on the international jury along with Aamir are producer Jan Chapman, actress Nina Hoss, director Guy Maddin , costume designer Sandy Powell and Iranian director Jafar Panahi.

Aamir picks Ranbir over Imran

Aamir Khan is infamous for his straightforward answers, and this time it was no different. Not one to be diplomatic, Aamir Khan didn't spare even his own nephew. If you thought maamu Aamir's love for nephew Imran has blinded his judgement, think again. At a recent interview, Aamir was asked who was a better actor - Ranbir or Imran. Without hesitation, Amir retorted, "I love Imran, but Ranbir is a better actor." Even though Imran has raked in the moolah with Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa and I Hate Luv Storys , his maamu was not much impressed. Talking about I Hate... Aamir tweeted, "Imran, guess you got lucky," to which Imran responded by saying, "It ain't luck mamujaan." Maybe Imran's much-talented maamu wants his bhaanja to get into competitive mode with Ranbir and outperform him in the long run. In the meanwhile, we wonder what Imran will say about his maamu's latest jibe. Keep watching this space.

Shahrukh Khan: King Khan to shake legs with the smiling assassin

Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan shall soon be seen shaking legs with the smiling assassin. Smiling assassin who? Come on, take a guess! That’s right, Madhuri Dixit it is. After all, the diva has a killer smile that has flummoxed thousands of men over the years and Shahrukh is no different. Though we have seen SRK and Madhuri on screen numerous times in films like ‘Devdas’, ‘Dil to Pagal Hai’, ‘Anjaam’, ‘Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam’ and ‘Koyla’, we are greedy enough to wish to see them yet again. .to wish to see them yet again. And the good news is that we would soon be seeing that transpire. All you need to do is switch on your TV and tune in to the Filmfare Awards where the two shall dance together. They will be performing together on some of their popular foot-tapping numbers in the upcoming Filmfare award. Tweeting about it an enthusiastic Madhuri states, “Best of luck to everyone who have tests/ exams!Busy rehearsing for my performance with Shahrukh in Filmfare. Great JDJ episodes too…” Madhuri is, currently, in India as she is sitting on the judge’s chair for the dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhla Jaa’ which is one of those addictive shows that makes you skip your other domestic works. And now with the King Khan and the smiling assassin ready to scorch the stage, there is reason enough to give the kitchen work a miss and watch the Filmfare awards .

I still find all roles hard to do: Aamir

Aamir Khan looks effortlessly comfortable in every character he plays onscreen whether it is the police officer of " Sarfarosh " or the painter in his latest " Dhobi Ghat ". But the actor says he still finds it difficult to get into the skin of a character even after two decades in Bollywood. "I'm yet to find a role (that is) easy, all roles are hard and it's hard to get into the skin of another person. It's hard to understand the mind of another person because you are very much what you are and when you have to become someone else, it's very important to understand what you are becoming and have an ability to slip into that," Aamir told. "So I don't find it that easy, no matter which character I'm playing," Aamir said.

Shahrukh as a professors in KJo's Student Of The Year?

Karan Johar for the first time will not be working with his best friend Bollywood baadshah Shahrukh Khan. Surprised? Well, that is what the rumours suggested after Karan Johar launched the first look of his next film Student Of The Year . But, KJo shuts up the gossip mongers, by declaring that Shahrukh Khan apart from being a co-producer in the film will also be an integral part of the script. The film Student Of The Year , which will mark as the debut film for three news young actors Varun Dhawan, Siddarth Malhotra and Aliya Bhatt ( daughter to Mahesh Bhatt's), will have Shahrukh Khan in a significant role for the plot of the film. Karan Johar is presently working on Shahrukh Khan's character in the film. It is also reported that Shahrukh will play one if the professors in the film. So, will it be like the next Mohabbatein, where in Shahrukh being an integral part of the film acted as a mentor to the three young couple? Or will it be the next Kuch Kuch Hota Hai wherein Shahrukh will play the cool mentor to the new-generation kids. Who Knows what KJO is planning for his friend SRK. We are happy that Shahrukh ones again will be an eye-treat to his fans with his romantic Kuch Kuch Hota or Mohabbatein attitude.

BOMBAY VELVET, AAMIR’S NEXT BIGGIE WILL BE BASED IN ’60S

Recall the Anurag Kashyap and Danny Boyle film Bombay Velvet? The project, which stars Aamir Khan, had created a lot of buzz when the first rumours started floating about and is being touted as one of the biggest East-West collaborations. Sources said, “Bombay Velvet is a grand project. The cost of the sets alone of Bombay Velvet is going to cost Rs. 15 to 17 crores because it’s a period film.” On further probing, the source said, “Bombay Velvet is set in the era of 1960 ′s and Danny Boyle wants to make sure that the era re- created should be for real, just like all Hollywood films showcase it and it will take almost a year’s worth of preparations. At the moment, Danny is busy with his success of 127 Hours and will look into the film once he is over with the Oscars.” We also hear that the Twilight Players are also a part of Bombay Velvet. Yes, the trio who gave us an unforgettable performance with their popping and locking dance steps in Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D will be seen together once again. “Yes, the Twilight Players who danced to ‘ Pardesi’ in Dev D are confirmed as a part of Bombay Velvet as of now. Whether they will be acting this time, only Anurag Kashyap will be able to tell,” says the source. Bombay Velvet will surely be the biggest collaboration of Hollywood and Bollywood. But whether Aamir Khan’s banner will back the project is a question that remains unanswered.

Shahrukh bonds with Salman’s brother By: Bollywood Mantra Staff on 25 th January

Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan are strong rivals but King Khan shares a great rapport with Salman’s brother Arbaaz Khan . At the recently held Filmfare nominations bash, Arbaaz Khan and Shahrukh Khan were seen hugging and greeting Arbaaz Khan. Arbaaz hugged SRK back. Moreover, Arbaaz is in upbeat mood these days for 'Dabnagg' success. After SRK, Arbaaz moved to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and greeted her and both exchanged pleasantries. Salman might be rivals with some in the industry but his family maintains friendship and good relationship with those he shares cold vibes. Salman is not in good terms with Shahrukh, Ash, Vivek, Hrithik and many others but his family parties with them and share a strong bond.

I CAN’T LIKE SWITCH OFF LIKE KIRAN: AAMIR KHAN

After spending several sleepless nights over the past few months — awaiting the release of her directorial debut that also stars hubby and Bollywood star Aamir Khan, apart from a host of newcomers — one would expect Kiran Rao and Aamir to finally take it easy.And basking in the sweet appreciation coming her way, Kiran does admit that she’ll be “ switching off completely” for a few days now. But not Aamir. “I don’t know why, but I can never do that. I’m very restless! I really can’t sit without my mind working on the next thing already. The urge to catch the train of thoughts keeps me racing,” says the actor. But he does reveal that wife Kiran’s presence in his life has helped him reign them better. Restless he may be, but the couple’s glad that they can finally catch up on their sleep! “ Forget sleeping together, we hadn’t been able to sleep at all the past few months,” Aamir jokes. “Yes, it’s finally good to catch up on that,” adds Kiran. Apart from the film, what was keeping the couple busy were the preparations for the wedding in the family — Imran Khan’s with Avantika. “It was very hectic, but also fun!” they say in unison. The chemistry between the two is undeniable. Point that out and Aamir says, “If she would have agreed to play the role (that eventually was done by Kriti Malhotra), I would have added the clause that there will be a romantic angle between the two,” jokes Aamir, even as Kiran reaches out to pinch his cheeks in a rare display of affection, making him blush, but not out of embarrassment. On a serious note he adds, “I don’t think there could’ve been a better director for this film. She’s got a strong grip on her story- telling skills, that’s a rarity here.” Aamir’s now already on to his next project and Kiran says that she will start working on her next very soon. “I’m not yet sure what it will be as of now,” she says. However what she’s very clear is the fact that she will not work for any other banner, but her own. “I don’t see the need to go anywhere else or direct for some other production house,” she says. “Aamir — as a producer — has pampered me silly. He’s a dream on screen and off it. I don’t think I’d want to settle for anything else but this,” she smiles at him.

Gauri angry with Shahrukh

These days Gauri Khan is not talking nicely to her superstar husband, Shahrukh Khan . She complains that Shahrukh is taking too much stress these days and not at all taking care of his health. He neglects his health and not having proper sleep. He has been traveling a lot these days and hardly takes rest. “I know that I am traveling too much these days, I am shuttling between time zones and continents. I do lose track of time once in a while, but I don’t ever get sick because of jet- lag. Everybody complains of sleep issues due to excessive travel, but I’ve yet to experience that,” says SRK. Believe it or not, King Khan sleeps three to fours hours a days and he thinks it is sufficient for him. “Yes, three-four hours of sleep is just enough for me. Besides, it’s me who has chosen this kind of life. So like everything, it will have its share of good and bad things that it brings along. And I couldn’t thank God enough for the kind of life he has given me,” quips Shahrukh But SRK has got a loving and caring family. Whenever, he gets time and sleeps, Gauri switch off the alarm and nobody disturbs or wakes him up until he wakes up himself. Well, Shahrukh take care of your health as we want to see more of you in days to come.

AAMIR’S FILM TO BE SHOT IN RED-LIGHT AREA

Posted by Admin on January 7 th, 2011 | Category: movies The rather unnecessary curiosity over Reema Kagti’s new project comes entirely from Aamir Khan’s presence in the film. And the latest dope on this curiosity-arousing project is that a prominent part of the plot is located in a red-light area. Says a source, “It is a thriller about a cop played by Aamir Khan in search of the truth in the red-light area. Reema Kagti’s film goes into the seedy world of sex workers, pimps, middlemen and madams.” From the two leading ladies Rani Mukherjee and Kareena Kapoor,one has apprently been cast as a sex worker. Both Kareena and Rani have played sex workers in the past Kareena in Sudhir Mishra’s Chameli and Rani in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya. Apparently the perfectionist that he is, Aamir wants to shoot at an actual red-light area. However the director Reema Kagti and co- producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani are in the process of convincing Aamir that shooting on location in a red-light area could be potentially dangerous for Aamir and his two leading ladies. Known to go all-out in pursuit of authenticity chances are, Aamir’s will would triumph in the matter. The brothels of Kamathipura will never be the same again.

I did not ghost direct RA.1: Shahrukh Khan

In an exclusive interview, the star talks science fiction films, his new blue eyes, the Oscars and Salman.


Shah Rukh Khan wants to clear rumours about just how far he threw his weight around on the sets of his much- vaunted home production, "Ra.One". But quiz him on Salman Khan and he clams up.  In an interview for Emirates247. com , he talks about the Oscars, 'Ra.One' and select other subjects. It's being said that you have ghost directed 'Ra. One'? You keep reading news that I am directing the films in which I am working in. No it is not true. I have worked in 70 films till date and I haven't directed any one of them. No one else has directed them too. The director has only directed them. Even ' Ra.One' has been directed by Anubhav Sinha only. I haven't directed it. Anubhav is a very humble man. He does not say anything. He is media shy too and he does no talk about his work. He does not talk much. He is a fantastic director. Insh'allah when this film comes out, people will understand his style of working, his talent and his passion towards his work. 'Ra.One' is billed as the first action thriller from India which is also a science fiction. Why such a subject? Actually we haven't made films like this at all. No one has made science fiction as an action thriller in India at all.  It is important that our regular filmmakers should come out with some good films. I have been in films for over 20 years, but we haven't used technology well. Else we will keep making the same kind of films again and again. 'Krrish' and 'Drona' were tow marvellous attempts at making different kind of cinema using technology. Your character has blue eyes in the film. Did you think about your fans who love your eyes? Some of the girls like the blue eyes. Some like hazel and some like blue. This look is for the ones who love the blue eyes. Which directors do you like working with? I feel very fortunate to have some great directors to work with me they have made some marvellous films and I am happy to have gotten to work with them and I am indebted to them. People like Yash Chopra to Adi [Chopra] , Farhan [Akhtar], Karan [Johar], Shimit Amin and even Anubhav Sinha have done a great job and I hope I keep on getting to work with them. After you extended an olive branch, Salman has told us that he does not want to have any kind of a friendship with you? Can we talk about something else, please? 'My Name is Khan' did not make it at the Oscars. How do you feel? Well, we believed a lot in the film. Karan and Shibani Bhatija wrote the film with a lot of passion and that has paid off. You think 'Ra.One' also stands a chance? 'My Name is Khan' was clearly designed as an international film and it has an international appeal. That is why Fox Star was interested in it. 'Ra. One' is more of an Indian subject. I think will be happy if we like it in India and celebrate the film.

Lovers do not sleep: Shahrukh Khan

Back in Mumbai after a hectic travel schedule, actor Shah Rukh Khan says that he has never experienced jet-lag in his life. The only effect that the months of incessant travelling has on him is that he, sometimes, loses track of time. “I know that I am traveling too much these days, I am shuttling between time zones and continents. I do lose track of time once in a while, but I don’t ever get sick because of jet- lag. Everybody complains of sleep issues due to excessive travel, but I’ve yet to experience that,” says Shah Rukh. However, there’s one person who constantly worries about the superstar not catching enough sleep and that’s his wife, Gauri. “I sleep for three hours a day generally. I can see everybody in deep sleep around me even when I am on flight. When I was travelling to Singapore, everybody would catch up with a litle nap but I just couldn’t. I was wide awake. Gauri is sometimes concerned about this and keeps telling me that I should slow down a bit, and catch up on my sleep. But like all husbands, I have only one answer for her — ‘Lovers, too, don’t sleep’,” he laughs adding, “I love my work and what I am doing! ” But then like all wives, Gauri has come up with a way to ensure that her husband does manage to get some sleep when he’s at home. “When I’m at home, nobody wakes me up. They switch off the alarms and don’t wake me up till I am up myself. So once in a while I do get to catch up on sleep, thanks to her,” says Shah Rukh. But is three hours of sleep enough for him? The actor replies in the affirmative. “Yes, three -four hours of sleep is just enough for me. Besides, it’s me who has chosen this kind of life. So like everything, it will have its share of good and bad things that it brings along. And I couldn’t thank God enough for the kind of life he has given me,” he adds. Gallery What are these Bollywood stars whispering? Video John Abraham, Chitrangada Singh to share screen space

Dhobi Ghat's movie Review

A still from Dhobi Ghat Film : Dhobi Ghat Director : Kiran Rao Cast : Prateik, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra and Aamir Khan Rating : **** Dhobi Ghat , like all Aamir Khan films, comes with a certain amount of marketing baggage attached to it. This time, Khan wants us to believe the film isn’t for ‘everyone’, but for those who enjoy world cinema, or arthouse cinema. To an extent, Khan may have a point. Dhobi Ghat isn’t your typical Hindi film. But then, lately we have been watching supposedly ‘ different’ films being churned out by our filmmakers, every now and then. Think LSD, or Udaan . I don’t know if Dhobi Ghat is ‘arthouse’ or ‘ non-mainstream’ or ‘world’ cinema. What I can tell you is this – it’s a damn good movie. Kiran Rao makes an assured debut as filmmaker and narrates a sensitive story bereft of hyperbole and drama. The plot isn’t of prime importance, the characters are. And Rao fleshes each of them out with astute understanding and makes them come alive in a way that you’re drawn to them, slowly but surely. Long after you’ve watched Dhobi Ghat, you’ll remember little traits of each character – Arun’s complete lack of ability to fit in a world he doesn’t understand, or doesn’t care to understand; Yasmin’s contagious enthusiasm at wanting to communicate with a loved one, and her loneliness; Shai’s meaningless obsession with a man who may never reciprocate her love, and her eagerness to explore a new city; and Munna’s aspirations, coupled with an innocence that’s endearing. Rao uses her actors – they are puppets in her show – to draw you in and experience all their myriad emotions. So you can’t but laugh at Munna’s insistence to get his photoshoot – he’s a dhobi aspiring to be a filmstar, and idolises Salman Khan – done in a studio, instead of getting an outdoor shoot done. Or feel sorry for Arun when he finds out the truth about Yasmin, the only person he’s emotionally involved with, even though their mode of communication isn’t exactly normal. These are flawed people, but they are real too. And the drama in the plot arises from their interactions with each other. But it’s subtle, like everyday life. Yet, in the 95 minutes that it plays – uninterrupted – Dhobi Ghat makes an impact. In the end, the film leaves you slightly moved, mildly entertained, and surely satiated as an audience who wants to be told an interesting story. Every member of Rao’s team deserves credit – art, cinematography, editing etc. You can’t imagine the film without the lilting background score by Gustavo Santolalla and be assured that the tune’s going to be stuck in your head for a long time after. Prateik, in his second film since Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and first in a prominent role, fits the bill perfectly. It remains to be seen how the actor will perform in more complex roles in future, but for someone so new, he manages to impress with another seemingly natural performance. The question, though, is – was Aamir Khan, with that little bit of grey in his hair, really required to be cast in the role of Arun? Aamir puts in a great performance, no doubt, and brings in years of experience to play a complex role with aplomb, but in a film where everything else seems so raw – and therein lies its beauty – you wonder how things would have been without the star’s presence. Dhobi Ghat , though, belongs to the women. Both the female actors – Monica Dogra as Shai, the investment banker with a heart of a hippie, and Kriti Malhotra as Yasmin, are refreshingly real and blend in their screen personas effortlessly. The casting director truly deserves a pat on the back for bringing them on board. Then there’s your ‘fifth character’ – Mumbai ( another marketing pitch?). And it’s beautiful through the eyes of the migrants – the film’s characters, and the director herself – with the melancholy intact. Watch Dhobi Ghat without expectations, or preconceived notions. Let the film take over for an hour and a half of your life. Debutant director Kiran Rao’s done a pretty good job of it. Gallery Video

Aamir Khan act as jury at Berlin International Film Festival.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan is, currently, on the receiving end of accolades for his latest release ‘Dhobi Ghat’. But amidst the release of his wife’s directorial venture comes another news that Aamir has been included on the jury of the 61 st Berlin International Film Festival. Aamir, 45 , would thus accompany other jury members including Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, Australian producer Jan Chapman, German actress Nina Hoss, Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin and British costume designer Sandy Powell. Aamir thus brings a tinge of Bollywood flavour in the jury which is to be headed by the Italian actress Isabella Rossellini. Aamir, along with his fellow judges, would be deciding the distribution of the main prizes- the Golden and Silver Bear awards. The film festival is to take place between 10 th and 20 th February. Meanwhile, Aamir’s film ‘Dhobi Ghat’ has been accepted by the metro masses. It has also received some rave reviews from the critics. In the film, Aamir plays Arun, a painter and gets entangled in his emotional journey of desire, desolation and loss. Aamir is also slated to begin shooting for a suspense thriller by Reema Kagti which stars Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukherjee. It is yet untitled and would see Aamir in the garbs of a cop.

Aamir's Dhobi Ghat casts

Dhobi Ghat Hindi (A) Cast: Aamir Khan, Monica Dogra, Prateik and others Director: Kiran Rao Usually, Aamir Khan comes up with innovative ideas to promote his films — be it giving a  ‘Ghajini’-like haircut to his fans before Ghajini’s release, or the hiding game he had played before “3 Idiots” hit the screens. But this time, for his wife Kiran Rao’ s directorial debut film “Dhobi Ghat” , Aamir decided to be different. The movie has no interval. This probably has grabbed more publicity than the film itself. Arun (Aamir Khan) is a painter. He meets Shai (Monica Dogra), an investment banker from the US, during one of his exhibitions, and after a one- night stand with Shai, Arun blames it on his drink and keeps apologising to her for his “act”. Shai meets Munna (Prateik), a good- looking dhobi who does a cleansing job, too – washing clothes during the day and turning a rat killer at night. A wannabe actor, Munna helps Shai with her documentary and gets his portfolio done. Meanwhile, Arun relocates to a new house and finds some videotapes left behind by the previous tenant Yasmin ( Kriti Malhotra). He gets lost in those tapes and does some painting, which only he can explain. Unlike a typical Bollywood entertainer, “Dhobi Ghat” is like a documentary. Though the film runs for 95 minutes, it gives a feeling it’s much longer. Aamir and Prateik have given their best. Malhotra’s video diaries fail to impress. Monica Dogra’s role confuses the audience. At times, she is shown as being attracted to Prateik and goes on clicking away his shirt-less pictures. The end is too abrupt and leaves the audience guessing.

Aamir*s PEEPLI LIVE fails the Oscars trial.

  2010 ’s much appreciated film ‘Peepli Live’ has gone out of the race to Oscars. Directed by Anusha Rivzi and produced by actor Aamir Khan, ‘Peepli Live' was India’s entry to the Academy Awards for the Best Film in Foreign Language but unfortunately the film has failed to make it to the shortlisted few. 9 foreign films have been shortlisted, out of which 4 shall be knocked off before the unveiling of the final 5 nominations on the 25 th of January. This marks yet another disappointment to the country vying for an Oscar for years. There is no dearth of good films in the current Bollywood scene. However, the drought of Oscar continues yet again. Aamir Khan himself has been pivotal in promoting his films for the coveted Academy Awards. A slew of his films have been sent for the Oscars in the past few years but they haven’t made it to the final 5 , with the exception of 'Lagaan'. 'Lagaan' was a cult film spun around a historic cricket match in the backdrop of British rule. It made it to the final five in 2002 but didn’t win the golden statue, losing out to the Bosnian film ‘No Man’s Land.’ Other films of Aamir Khan that have been sent as India’s official entry include ‘Taare Zameen Par’ and ‘ Rang De Basanti.’ However, although the Indian films are struggling to make it to the Oscar finale, the famed Indian music composer AR Rahman bagged two Oscars in 2009 for his work in Danny Boyle’s ‘Slumdog
Millionaire.’

Shahrukh Khan to star with Kareena in" Angoor" remake

    You may soon see Shahrukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor together again if all works as planned. It is said Rohit Shetty, the man behind Golmaal series, is planning to remake the funniest Hindi films of all times Angoor with Shahrukh and Kareena in the lead roles. The news has it that Rohit Shetty is roping in Shahrukh for the role played by Sanjeev Kumar and Kareena for the role played by Moushumi Chatterjee in the original. It is also said that Tusshar Kapoor would play Deven Varma’s role in this comedy film. “After he made Golmaal 3 , everyone was wondering what Rohit Shetty’s next plans were. People were guessing if he would make a fourth sequel but the director surprised everyone by choosing to work on an Angoor remake. That he decided to work with Shahrukh Khan on this came as a real shocker. It seems that Rohit is now wanting to work only with A-listers,” Mumbai Mirror quoted a Well, it will be a treat to see Shahrukh and Kareena together again!

Aamir hinders Prateik's launch in Dhobi Ghat

AAMIR KHAN APOLOGIES FOR "DHOBI GHAT".

MUMBAI: With his latest home production 'Dhobi Ghat' releasing worldwide tomorrow, actor-filmmaker Aamir Khan today apologised to Rajak ( washermen) community if he had unintentionally hurt their sentiments with the title. Addressing a press conference, Aamir said people living in large cities do not understand the negative aspect of caste system in the hinterland. "I believe in valuing other people's emotions, but not at the cost of compromising my creativity," he added. Aamir said members of the Akhil Bharatiya Dhobi Mahasangh met him recently and voiced their resentment over the title. "Initially, I thought they wanted to trouble me on the eve of my film's release. But, later I realised that their views were genuine. I told them that I would not have chosen the title if they had approached me a year earlier," he said. Amit Khatri, General secretary of the Mahasangh's youth cell who was also present at the press conference said ' Dhobi' was a casteist reference. "In many places, people of certain castes are looked down upon. We wondered how our community has been portrayed in the film. When we saw it, we realised that the film was not about the community but the famous Dhobi Ghat place in Mumbai," Khatri said. However, the Mahasangh officials first insisted that the title should be changed. Aamir had agreed saying that he would do it even though he would suffer financially. "We did not want him to suffer loss because of us. He understood our feelings and that was important. So we decided not to pursue the demand for title change," Khatri said.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan Thursday said he is disappointed at "Peepli Live" failing to get selected at the Oscars but is happy that his film represented India. "I came to know that 'Peepli Live' is out of Oscars. I am of course sad about it. But, I am happy that we represented India and we were one among the world's best 60 films which were sent to Oscars. We are disappointed and sad," Aamir told reporters at a press conference at the Sun and Sand hotel here. The actor maintained that he doesn't The actor maintained that he doesn't make films for the Oscars. "I don't make them for Oscars, neither for any other awards. I make films for the audience. I value whatever response I get from the audience, critics and media. Oscars, Cannes, Berlin Festival - they are like platforms where international audience come to know about our films. If you win there, more people watch them," said Aamir. "Peepli Live", the directorial debut of Anusha Rizvi, explores the disparity between rural and urban India. The film failed to make it in the list of nine movies selected for the next next round of voting in the Foreign Language Film category for the 83 rd Academy Awards .

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SRK MYSTORIOUS "D".

Has Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan decided to express his love for a certain someone with the letter ' D' engraved on his right arm? Or maybe his act of getting inked is just a promotion stunt for his upcoming biggie Don 2. The mystery surrounding his ' D' tattoo is still unsolved. However, it's not news that tattoos have been a rage with B- town celebrities for quite some time now. Whether it is actors like Deepika Padukone or Saif Ali Khan, who have sketched their bodies with their lovers' initials or name, or be it Akshay Kumar and Arjun Rampal, who have their kid's names stamped on themselves, the tattoo fever has now got on to King Khan. Though the actor has not confirmed if the tattoo is a permanent one or not, he was spotted at several events, flaunting his new tattoo. However, we know that it's not a Shah Rukh Khan thing to adorn tattoos and prove something to the world. The actor, in the past, has uploaded photos of his fully- tattooed body, but they turned out to be temporary tattoos to please his kids. However, the ongoing speculation about his ' D' tattoo hasn't got a clear confirmation and we're still guessing what led to the superstar getting inked. Well, the reasons may be many. It can be his new stunt for promoting Don 2 or simply, a pure obsession with his favourite city Dubai. Whatever the reason, we all can only hope that the Baadshah of Bollywood is not promoting the home furnishing brand D'Decor, which is endorsed by him and wife, Gauri Khan.

Prateik plays Salman's die-hard fan in Dhobi Ghat

The industry is filled with strange friendships and they, the industrywallas, have their own well meaning way to pay tribute to their friends. Where Farah Khan always has one number in her films where all her friends would come together and dance on, other directors make their friends do a guest appearance; Aamir Khan on the other hand has his own unique way.

Buzz up!

His friendship with Salman Khan is well known and he has made teasing references to Salman in Jaane Tu... Ya Jane Na and Peepli [LIVE]. Aamir has now made a third one in Dhobi Ghat. And it is in Prateik Babbar's character in the film.

Aamir Khan hit headlines with the song 'Pappu Can't Dance Saala' in his film Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na while in Peepli [LIVE], one of the important characters wears Salman Khan's trademark bracelet. This time, in his wife Kiran Rao's film Dhobi Ghat, Aamir has made Prateik's character in the film a devout Salman Khan fan. Aamir Khan loves Salman as a friend and his films are a proof of that.

Prateik is seen wearing the famous Salman Khan bracelet. In the film, he loves working out to build a body like Salman's and he wants to become an actor like him as well. Prateik's character hails from a different city and is a part-time dhobi and a wannabe actor who thinks Salman is a cool dude.

First look: 'Ra.One'

Ra.One is an upcoming superhero film directed by Anubhav Sinha. The film features Shahrukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal, will be produced under Khan's production company, Red Chillies Entertainment. Shah Rukh said in an interview that Ra.One stands for Random Access - Version 1.0. The film was scheduled to be released on 3 June 2011, but was later pushed back due to extensive post production work.

This film will reportedly have good stunts from Shah Rukh Khan. The special effects team is being hired from Hollywood.

It is said that the shooting of the film was originally supposed to begin in Miami, USA, but due to budget concerns this was scrapped.The first phase of filming began in India in March 2010 and took place till May 2010 in Mumbai's Film City and Goa.The crew then moved to London in June 2010 where the filming with the entire cast took place during July–August and has been completed. In an interview, Shah Rukh stated that the remaining portions would be completed in India and would require further 6 months of post production.

Shah Rukh requested Karan Johar to be present during the shoot in London. While they were in London. In September 2010, Khan signed Hans Zimmer to compose the background score for the film.

Kareena Kapoor plays the female lead alongside Shah Rukh in the film whilst Arjun Rampal will be seen as the villain. During an appearance on the chat show Frid

DON vs RA.1

There's tremendous speculation about the release date of Don 2. Of course, producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar and Reliance Big Pictures had locked 23 December [Christmas weekend] as the release date of the film, since Shahrukh Khan's home-production Ra.One was slated to hit the screens in June, giving a six-month gap between the two releases. But with Ra.One now arriving during Diwali [that's the buzz in the industry, although SRK hasn't officially announced the release date yet], one wonders whether Don 2 will stick to the date of 23 December.

Buzz up!

However, Ritesh Sidhwani denies any postponement of Don 2. "It's a great period [Christmas weekend], so why should we postpone the film? In fact, we will be through with the filming part in February/March itself. We have ample time to devote to the post-production work and marketing of our film," Ritesh tells me.

But Diwali and Christmas fall in the same quarter, so won't the promos of the two films create confusion in the minds of the viewer? "I don't think so. Both belong to different genres, so there's no question of overlapping," he clarifies.

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