Sunny Leone goes gangsta for Dubsmash debut
New Delhi:MMNN:17 Aug. 2015
Weeks after Bollywood stars like Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Shah Rukh Khan had their share of fun with Dubsmash, Sunny Leone has finally made her debut on the platform.
Dubsmash is a video-selfie app which allows users to lip sync with film songs and dialogues.
In her signature style, Sunny shared the Dubsmash video on Twitter and Instagram, posting, "Having so much fun finding my inner dub smash ;) haha." The Jism actor went all gangster as she lip synced to Tupac’s Hit Em Up.
"I'm so happy about finally getting on dub smash. Cool way to make fun of myself lol and do silly stuff," she further tweeted.
However, Sunny Leone's first dubsmash was far more fun where she voiced cartoon characters with husband Daniel Weber and consultant Yusuf Ibrahim.
The porn star-turned-Bollywood actor wrote, "Haha this dub smash was meant for @DanielWeber99 hahahahahaahaha why everyone loves to do business with him! Lol."
Several Bollywood stars, including Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Shruti Haasan, Richa Chadda, Priyanka Chopra, Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha, have charmed their fans with their Dubsmash videos.
Sunny Leone might be a little late to join the bandwagon but has an ace up her sleeve nonetheless.

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Hero Remake: Complaint against Salman Khan, Subhash Ghai
MMNN:17 Aug. 2015
A complaint has been filed against Salman Khan Productions and Subhash Ghai’s Mukta Arts by the family members of late Ram Kelkar, who wrote the script of original Hero, which released in 1983.
The family members claim that the makers promised to pay the royalty when they planned for the remake of Jackie Shroff starrer film but hasn’t paid the amount as yet.
Now that the trailer of the film, starring Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty, is out and the film is all set to release, they have registered a complaint with Film writers' association and Indian motion pictures producers association.
A source told Mid Day, “Kelkar's family was assured a royalty payment when Salman and Ghai announced Hero's remake.
The upcoming film's promo has long been released, but the promised dues have not reached them yet”.
One of the friends of Kelkar said, “We have also asked them (the two film associations) to give credit to Ram Kelkar as the original screenplay writer”.
The Nikhil Advani directorial is co-written by Umesh Bist. The remake of Subhash Ghai’s directorial is produced by Salman Khan and Subhash Ghai.
The flick is scheduled to hit the theatres on September 11.

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Brothers review: Akshay Kumar is hot but with Jackie Shroff and Sidharth Malhotra, this film is a hot mess
MMNN:14 Aug. 2015
There was a time when Bollywood didn't bat an eyelid at copying a foreign film and passing the copy off as an original. With the arrival of Hollywood studios on Indian shores, those days are gone. Now there are legal teams that will take producers to court if there's a whiff of plagiarism and studio executives go around peddling the rights to existing films. Brothers is a product of this new era. Directed by Karan Malhotra, the film is the official remake of the critically-acclaimed Warrior, starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton.
As the title suggests, Brothers is about sibling rivalry. David is the son of Maria and Garson Fernandes. Garson is an alcoholic who makes a living as a "street fighter", an imaginary and unofficial sport that's staple fare in Malhotra's fictitious Mumbai. Borrowing a page from Masoom, Malhotra gives Garson an illegitimate son named Monty, whom Garson brings home when Monty's mother dies. David isn't unsettled by this new sibling. He embraces Monty comfortably and is the ideal, loving elder brother.
Then tragedy strikes the Fernandes household, thanks to Garson's alcoholism. Garson goes to jail and by the time he's served his sentence, everything has changed. His hair has turned white and he no longer drinks. David has turned his back on Monty while Monty has developed a hatred for David and a taste for unflattering earrings. Both of them appeared to have spent a fortune on plastic surgery since that's the only explanation for how the young men from Garson's pre-jail days could turn into Sidharth Malhotra and Akshay Kumar respectively.
Kumar's David is a physics teacher, married and a father. His daughter needs expensive medical treatments, which he can't afford with his salary. So David turns to street fighting, which is actually an insane version of mixed martial arts, or "R2F" ("Right to Fight"). Fortunately for David, a gent named Peter Briganza (a fabulously bombastic Kiran Kumar) has decided to hold a massive R2F championship in Mumbai. In it, Indian fighters will compete against international champions for a prize money of Rs 9 crores. Unfortunately for David, Monty — Sidharth Malhotra with a beard and an earring — is one of the fighters David is up against.
R2F is a mystifying tournament. For some reason, India is the only country with four contestants: Gama from "North India", Hooda from Haryana, David the Teacher and Monty, whose moniker could perhaps be The Half Monty since he is mostly shirtless. If you're taken aback by how Haryana is distinct from North India, the world of Brothers has more geopolitical wonders for you. Representing China is a "Shaolin Tooth Fairy" named Tenzing. Only in Bollywood's vision of the world will a Tibetan fight for China and begin a fight by doing what looks like interpretive dance.
That's not all. In R2F, there are no rules. A fight with a man who has a broken shoulder is a fair one. We're told technique and strategy are important even though all we're shown in the ring is brute force. Fighters are expected to break their opponent's bones, spill blood liberally and cause potentially fatal injuries. Clearly, R2F hasn't grasped the basic requirement for a sport to grow both as a discipline and in popularity — a player who is alive and not in hospital.
Imagine how big cricket or football would be if at the end of each match, there was just one surviving player in each team. No track record, no continuity, no long-term prospects. Just crazy buggers, which is how the R2F commentary team — led by Raj Zutshi at his most ridiculous — describes its favourite contestants.
There's so much going wrong in Brothers, it's difficult to pinpoint the worst aspect of the film. Is it the unrelenting background score that bamboozles us with its attempts at operatic flourish? At one point, we're warned that a fighter will be introduced with "dangerous music" and what do we hear? A shehnai. Then there's Siddharth-Garima's terrible dialogue, which is repetitive and trite. "You gotta fight, man" is what passes for a pep talk in this film.

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Gour Hari Dastaan review: Vinay Pathak, Konkona Sen Sharma tell a moving story about freedom struggles
MMNN:14 Aug. 2015
In a scene towards the end of Gour Hari Dastaan: The Freedom File, there is a silent exchange between a chief minister (Vikram Gokhale) and our hero, Gour Hari Das (Vinay Pathak). It’s awkward — for the CM, who is squirming in discomfort — and painful for Das, who has waited 32 years for this moment. This scene with its quietude is perhaps the most significant achievement for writer-director, Ananth Mahadevan, and his co-writer, CP Surendran.
Gour Hari Dastaan grows on you slowly, much like Das, the man whose lifetime accessory and lifeboat is a fat file of documents that prove he participated in India’s freedom struggle. Based on a true story, this is not an easy subject to realise into cinema. It’s a monotonous, painstaking journey of a man who knocked on bureaucrat’s doors and wrote letters for 32 years.
The film moves back and forth from 1975-76 to Mumbai in 2002-2006, with occasional black and white flashbacks showing Orissa in 1946. At the age of 14, Das had joined Mahatma Gandhi and become part of the “Vanar Sena”, which helped deliver important messages between revolutionaries. He was jailed for this by the British, for 90 days.
In independent India, Das’ struggle begins all over again when in 1975, he is denied the certificate that officially accords him the title of “freedom fighter”. The certificate is called “tamrapatra” since it’s made of copper and at one point, Mahadevan and Surendran can’t resist inserting a reference to the copper in order to deliver a deserving jibe to the callousness of the government.
Das develops a Gandhi-like stubbornness and quietly persists with his fight while his wife Lakshmi (Konkona Sen Sharma) watches every defeat-filled moment with weary frustration. Time rolls along to 2002, when we see Das in his 70s, at a local newspaper office. It’s from this point that the final stage of his struggle begins.
The only hitch is that Pathak, who is good in his depiction of the Zen-like demeanour of a resolute Gandhian, does not look above a second over 50 years when he’s supposed to be 70. Instead of an Oriya accent, he talks like an educated Bihari.
Glitches aside, Pathak, last seen in an impressive performance in Badlapur, slips well into the ahimsa skin. Alongside him, Sen Sharma is quite convincing as his aged wife, making the most of her silent presence, emotive face and a slow gait that doesn’t seem contrived.
Das’s story catches the eye of Rajiv Singhal (Ranvir Shorey), a 40-something journalist who decides to try and help Das. There is an attempt to add some drama through Singhal’s failed marriage and inter-office romance with a colleague(Tannishtha Chaterjee), as well as his clashes with his boss.
While this does not add much to the main story, it does provide an interesting facet to Rajiv, who is revealed as a misogynist loser on one hand and an idealist on the other. What is more effective than this angle is Rajiv’s personal interaction with Das. Like when he tells the teetotalling Gandhian that alcohol should be made free.
We see Das’s innumerable visits to government offices, full of dusty files, and the evasive lines that bureaucrats feed him over “chai paani”. And indeed, tea is given the prominence it always gets in such circumstances. A particular one has a greedy officer grab the extra cup left untouched by Das. Scenes like these, performed by minor but good actors in cameos, and powered by dialogues infused with wry humour, inject much-needed life to an otherwise slow screenplay.
When Das visits a clerk (Saurabh Shukla), Orissa seems to be missing from the map of India. Shukla’s ignorance, his well-timed banter and the explanation of why there’s no Orissa in the map that’s hanging in that office is telling. All the actors who appear just once or twice — like Shukla, Murli Sharma, Achint Kaur, Gokhale, Mohan Kapur, Vipin Sharma and Siddharth Jhadav — shine in their brief roles.
Mahadevan takes every opportunity to drive home the point that a corrupt system seems to be a bigger enemy than the British. There are a few faux pas, like the silhouette of Das in an uncharacteristic filmy effort to show him replicating the forgotten Gandhi at his spinning wheel.
But mostly, most obvious details in the film do strike a chord. Like how lifts don’t work 27 years after Independence; how long queues snake outside Parliament offices; how the common man’s voice goes unheard and politicians prove to be only beneficiaries of India’s freedom. A pleasant background score by violin maestro, Dr L. Subramanium, completes the authentic tone of the film.
In it’s honest storytelling, the deep significance and relevance of Gour Hari Dastaan stays with you. Especially since it’s an Independence Day release. Just look at how today, the flag for which Das fought is sold at traffic signals. “Paanch ka teen” anyone?

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Worked hard for the bikini scene in Shaandaar, says Alia Bhatt
Mumbai:MMNN:12 Aug. 2015
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, who launched the first trailer of Shaandaar on Tuesday, said that she worked very hard for her bikini scene in the movie that is directed by Vikas Bahl and stars Shahid Kapoor in the lead role.
Speaking at the trailer launch of Shaandaar, where she is paired with her childhood crush Shahid Kapoor, Alia said, "We (Shahid and I) both were training...he was training just for his usual self, as he likes to stay fit.
I was training hard for that bikini shot. I was on diet...was focused about getting it right. It was not an elaborate shot, but I worked so hard."
Directed by Vikas Bahl, Shaandaar is a romantic-comedy featuring Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles and at the end of the film's trailer, Alia is seen donning a pink bikini.
Director Vikas Bahl said the bikini scene was shot on the "coldest day" and Alia was ready with a pair of pants to slip into soon after the shot. Alia reveals it is because of Shahid that she got to do two of her upcoming films -- Shaandaar and Udta Punjab with him. The Student of the Year actor was also thankful to her mentor Karan Johan, who launched her into filmdom and is also producing Shaandaar.
"Karan started this journey...he has an important role in it. I chose to do different kind of roles. I believe variety is the spice of life. I am grateful to everyone for giving me an opportunity to choose and do different characters on screen. It is a conscious decision," Alia said.
In Shaandaar, Alia plays a free spirited girl named after herself-- Alia. "Alia and Alia both are mad. With this film I got to explore funny, quirky side of me. Alia in Shaandaar is intelligent," she added.
Shaandaar that also stars Pankaj Kapur and Sushma Seth in pivotal roles, is set to release on October 22.

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Abhishek Bachchan has 'great understanding' with dad
MMNN:12 Aug. 2015
Bollywood actor Abhishek Bchchan says he does not have any differences of opinion with his father Amitabh Bachchan, as they share a great understanding.
Abhishek, who stars in the upcoming comedy-drama All is Well with Rishi Kapoor and Supriya Pathak as his parents, said his father gives him enough space to voice his opinion.
“There is not much I disagree with my dad on. If there is a difference of opinion, we reason it out so at the end we are all fine. We, thankfully, never had any issue where we had a disagreement about something.
“If there’s something which he says which I don’t agree with, he give me the opportunity to explain my point of view and if it makes sense to him then he’s okay with it,” Abhishek said in an interview.
All is Well, directed by Umesh Shukla of OMG- Oh My God fame, chronicles the clash between two generations and how they understand each other when they take a road trip.
Even though the actor will be seen playing a son who has issues with his father in the film, he credited his parents for encouraging him to have a say in family matters.
“The most important thing is to have a dialogue. When I was growing up my parents always encouraged us to sit down and chat things out. If there was any big family decision to be taken, even though we were children, we were consulted.”
Abhishek, 39, said he shares a unique bond with his mother Jaya Bachchan.
“The mother-son relationship in this film is very real. I am very close to my mother. My dad is like my buddy, we have always had a friendly relationship. But mother-son don’t have the buddy relationship. My mother for me is like maa and that is sacred. A mother and a son have a unique bond.
Where they can say a lot without communicating anything. That’s my relationship with Supriya Pathak in the film, where there’s so much that is communicated just by gesture or understanding that goes to show the bond between the two.”

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Jackie Shroff: Thankful For 'Strong and Solid' Role in Brothers
Mumbai:MMNN:10 Aug. 2015
Veteran actor Jackie Shroff has thanked director Karan Malhotra for giving him a "solid" role in the movie Brothers, and says essaying the character was emotionally challenging.
"I'd like to say that it is a film made with a lot of heart. Throughout the 30 years of my career in the industry, I've done several emotional roles, but this is the first in which he (Karan Malhotra) has extracted a lot of emotions from my heart," Mr Shroff said.
When asked about the Agneepath (2012) director's style of working, Jackie said: "As a director, he's an old school, but still in touch with current generation. I'm thankful to him for giving me such a strong and solid role."
Brothers stars Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra in the lead roles roles.
He said that both of them have done "outstanding work" and that he had a "great time" working with both of them.
In the movie, the 58-year-old actor will play father to Akshay and Sidharth's characters. The movie also stars Jacqueline Fernandez as Akshay's wife.
Brothers which is a remake of the 2011 Hollywood film Warrior and tells the story of estranged brothers who face-off in the ring, is slated to release on August 14.

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Hafiz Saeed wants Kabir Khan's 'Phantom' to be banned in Pakistan
Lahore:MMNN:10 Aug. 2015
JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has filed a plea in a court in Lahore, seeking ban on the release of Bollywood movie Phantom in Pakistan, alleging that the film, set on post-26/11 attacks and global terrorism, contains "filthy propaganda" against the country.
In the petition filed in the Lahore High Court, Saeed, through his advocate A K Dogar, pleaded that the Saif Ali Khan-starrer film, which is scheduled to release on 28 August, has "venom against Pakistan and Jamaat-ud-Dawa".
"The film is about the 2008 Mumbai attack and global terrorism implicating the JuD. Filthy propaganda has been done in the film against Pakistan under subject of the world terrorism," he alleged.
The founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed that the courts in Pakistan had already rejected the accusation of the Indian government about involvement of the JuD or any of its leaders in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people.
"I pray to the court to ban the exhibition of Phantom in Pakistan for its anti-Pakistan content," said Saeed on whom the US has placed a bounty of USD 10 million.
Lahore High Court's Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan fixed 10 August as the date for hearing the petition.
Based on crime author Hussain Zaidi's novel "Mumbai Avengers", Phantom is set in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and deals with global terrorism.
So far the Pakistan censor board has not cleared the film for screening in the country.
Since the government allowed exhibition of Indian films in Pakistan, the Censor Board has been careful about not allowing screening of Indian films which deal with the subject of Pakistan, terrorism and ISI.
In the past, Saif Ali Khan's Agent Vinod and Salman Khan's Ek Tha Tiger were also banned from being screened in cinema halls in the country although they are freely available on CDs and DVDs in Pakistan.

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Salman Khan convinced Jacqueline Fernandez to embrace motherhood onscreen!
Mumbai:MMNN:7 Aug. 2015
Jacqueline Fernandez was initially apprehensive about her role in ‘Borthers’ starring Akshay Kumar and Sidharth Malhotra. Reason- the Sri Lankan hottie had reservations playing a mother in the Karan Johar film!
According to report, Jackie, who had reservations essaying the intense character, was convinced by Salman Khan to say ‘yes’ to the role that was being offered by Johar and filmmaker Karan Malhotra.
“I discussed it with Salman and he convinced me to say yes. He told me it would benefit me and that here was a chance for me to prove myself through performance and I
should not worry about the glamour and styling taking it away. I thought if I could pull this off, it would be fantastic for me and my credentials as an actor.
I pretty much owe it to Karan and Salman for believing that I could carry off the role,” DNA quoted Jacqueline as saying.
Jackie essays the role of Jenny Fernandes, wife of David Fernandes (played by Akshay Kumar).
Slated to release on 14 August, ‘Brothers’, a film based on Mixed Martial arts, is an official remake of Hollywood movie ‘Warrior’.

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Rahat Fateh Ali Khan grilled by ED for 10 hours
MMNN:7 Aug. 2015
Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was on Thursday questioned for close to 10 hours by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here in connection with an alleged forex violations case against him.
Officials said the Sufi singer presented himself before the authorities in the Delhi zonal office of the agency a little after 10 AM and he left before 9 PM. Dressed in grey-coloured coat and dark pant, the popular singer arrived in a black Mercedes and was accompanied by a team of his lawyers, who kept waiting outside the ED office during the entire questioning period. Investigators said that he "satisfactorily" replied to all the questions and helped them with detailed replies about the transactions under scanner.
Apart from providing investigators the documents of the case, Khan also recorded his version about the incident under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The singer had been summoned for a "personal appearance" and questioning by the agency since last year and he deposed before them finally today. The case pertains to the probe agency initiating a FEMA investigation against him and his associates in 2014 after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), in 2011, intercepted Khan and his manager, Marrouf Ali Khan, at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here for allegedly carrying an undeclared amount of USD 1.24 lakh and some other instruments in foreign currency.
The ED, which is the central agency to probe such forex contraventions under the FEMA, took over the case after this episode. The ED had initiated the step after working on the case for over-an-year and after obtaining records of the said cash from RBI. The Pakistani singer had deputed a team of lawyers to interact with the agency here but the investigation, sources said, required Khan's personal appearance.
Khan, during his earlier statements on the subject, had said he had done nothing wrong and they were carrying the large amount of cash because they were travelling in a group and the act was inadvertent. The singer's lawyers had earlier submitted the details, to the ED, of the shows and events to show the said amount was accumulated by him in 2011.
The Sufi singer had won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 2011 for the song 'Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji' from the movie 'Ishqiya' and many of his renditions are popular chartbusters in Hindi movies and also in Pakistan. His songs recently featured in Hindi movie 'Hamari Adhuri Kahani'.

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'Shaandaar's' teaser poster unveiled
MMNN:5 Aug. 2015
The sneak peek of upcoming film Shaandaar, which will see Shahid Kapoor teaming up with Alia Bhatt for the first time, was unveiled on Tuesday.
In the poster, Bhatt, 22, is seen dozing off with the 34-year-old actor on a bench with rags surrounding them.
Shandaar, a film that will have a destination wedding as its premise,
is directed by Vikas Bahl of Queen fame and it marks Kapoor's first movie after his wedding to Mira Rajput.
"Falling off to sleep, wake me up tomorrow #ShaandaarFirstLookTomorrow," Kapoor posted on Twitter.
Bhatt wrote, "Sleeping DND till tomorrow!!! #ShaandaarFirstLookTomorrow."
The teaser poster does not reveal much about the film but it indicates that the pair are romantically linked as there are two heart-shaped clouds above them.
Shaandar is co-produced by Dharma Productions along with Phantom Films
The film's first trailer is expected to be attached to Karan Malhotra's Brothers, which stars Akshay Kumar, Sidharth Malhotra and Jacqueline Fernandez.

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Sonam Kapoor lashes out at government's Porn Ki Baat
MMNN:5 Aug. 2015
It appears that several porn sites are currently inaccessible in India through various internet service providers (ISPs). Some users, those who used MTNL, BSNL and ACT ISPs reported that were getting either blank pages or messages which said: "The site has been blocked as per the instructions of Competent Authority." Meanwhile, others who were using services like Airtel and Tata Photon reported no such problem.
The observation that several porn sites were unavailable started a conversation on Twitter and a thread on Reddit. The sites seem to be opening fine for ISPs like Airtel and Tata Photon.
One user reported that: “The site has been blocked as per the instruction of the Competent Authority.” According to a piece in Legally India, which used a Delhi broadband connection provided by Spectranet, 11 out of the 13 most popular porn sites were not accessible. On the other hand, most websites seem to be working fine when they are being accessed form mobile phones.
While the youth started a protest against the ban, Bollywood isn't far behind. While Ram Gopal Verma, Vishal Dadlani and Shirish Kunder also tweeted about the same, it was Sonam Kapoor who openly lashed out at the government for initiating such a ban.
An angry Sonam tweeted, "Ban idiots who think banning things is going to make a difference to Indian mentality.." Now you need to have guts to do that and Sonam who's always been this bold and ballsy actress didn't shy away from openly expressing her disregard about the whole issue. And we're sure most of Youngistan will echo her opinions too.

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Kangana Ranaut: People Who Refused to Work With Me Were Dumb
New Delhi:MMNN:3 Aug. 2015
She defines her sense of fashion as being 'moody.' One day it could be 'lazy', the other day 'fabulous.'
"It depends on how I feel," said Kangana Ranaut, the current Queen of Bollywood, whose reign is not restricted to the box office but extends to the ramp as well.
Wearing Manav Gangwani, the actress was the showstopper for the designer's collection at India Couture Week. The collection was titled 'L'Amoureuse,' translated as 'my beloved.'
So, who is Kangana's beloved? "You think I am telling you that?" the actress laughed and added that she was 'nervous' about tripping on stage.
Carrying herself with confidence, Kangana was smiling as she has been praised by none other than actor Amitabh Bachchan, with whom she will be seen soon in a Rajkumar Hirani-directed ad film. The actress said that having worked and interacted with some of the 'biggest names in the industry,' there is no one who compared to Big B. The Tanu Weds Manu Returns actress said he was an 'institution by himself,' because of his 'commitment towards his craft, his understanding and his intelligence.'
The actress said, "I wish I was working with Mr Bachchan in a film. I have worked with big stars, but when I saw myself with him on the big screen, I couldn't believe it. He's so approachable, intelligent, driven and childlike. He has the energy of a child. We spent a lot of time discussing films, acting, and ideas."
But strangely enough, Kangana's roster of films doesn't boast of big leading men. Were they wary of the empress stealing their thunder?
Kangana said, "Nothing of that sort really. It doesn't matter to me. The industry is like a wave, you need to ride it. I know there are people for who big names matter, but I am not of that thinking, it doesn't matter to me. When I was at rock-bottom, people refused to work with me. And I thought they are so dumb. I am evolved when it comes to these things, but some girls and guys do get carried away by these things. I'm not a conventional person."
But yes, the industry's attitude toward her has changed. They are taking her 'far too seriously' now. So, is there a dream role?
Kangana said, "Yes, I would like to do something like The Theory of Everything - The hero's role. I don't know if they will make one here, but yes, I would love too."
We didn't want to remind her we had a Guzaarish, which unfortunately not many people saw. Is there a song she likes to hum when low? "Yes, yes. Jaane Woh Kaise Log They (from Pyaasa)," she laughed, singing the song for us.
Kangana is practicing martial arts for her upcoming film Rangoon. But it's Katti Batti, her next film with Imran Khan, that she is most looking forward too. And she has another wish - to dance like a ballerina.
Do Rani, Tanu and Datto - her characters from Queen and Tanu Weds Manu Returns - still live on in her heart?
"Yes, of course they have left a part of them with me and me with them," said Kangana.

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Aishwarya on Jazbaa: I never felt I had left Bollywood
New Delhi:MMNN:3 Aug. 2015
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is all set to make her high-voltage comeback in Bollywood with Sanjay Gupta's Jazbaa but the Bollywood diva says she does not understand the hue and cry about it. In fact, despite her five-year absence from films, the actor says she never felt she was absent from Bollywood.
The actor was the showstopper at a fashion event in Delhi on Sunday where she walked the ramp after a long time.
The 41-year-old actor's last movie outing was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Guzaarish in 2010. Aishwarya says she is enjoying being in front of the camera again and looking forward to the release of Jazbaa, which also stars Shabana Azmi, Irrfan, Chandan Roy Sanyal and Jackie Shroff.
"So far the experience has been great. Sanjay has been so nice. The whole cast -- Irrfan, Shabana ji, Chandan, Jaggu Dada (Jackie) -- everyone has been great. I am glad to be working with them. I do not feel like there has been any gap. I am really enjoying," Aishwarya said. The actor also said that she never felt she had left Bollywood ever.
The film, which is set to release on October 9, is a remake of the 2007 South Korean movie, Seven Days. The star was in Delhi on Sunday to walk the ramp for ace designer Manish Malhotra's show, The Empress Story, at the just concluded Amazon India Couture Week.
Despite being unwell, the former model looked resplendent in a chocolate brown floor length gown. The show was also attended by her mother-in-law Jaya Bachchan and other B-Town stars like Azmi, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kriti Sanon, among others.
"It is great to be in Delhi and be cheered on by so many industry friends, colleagues and my mother-in-law," she said.

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Bajrangi Bhaijaan: Hit formula behind the Salman Khan-film
Mumbai:MMNN:29 July 2015
After hit films like Dabangg (2010), Dabangg 2 (2012), Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and Kick (2014), now Salman Khan's new release, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, is also witnessing a great run at the box office.
As a matter of fact, the performance of Bajrangi Bhaijaan has apparently surpassed that of all his previous successes. According to trade experts, the film has broken all the records held by his movies so far, with a box-office collection of Rs 250.02 crore in just 11 days.
Trade analyst Komal Nahta feels it was the catchy name of the film that worked for the audience. "Just the title was worth Rs 100 crore. The word Bajrangi appealed to the Hindus, and Bhaijaan appealed to the Muslims.
Even if it was a bad film, it would have made Rs 100 crore only on the basis of its name," says Nahta, adding, "How the story was built was great too. The way a micro level story of an Indian man and a Pakistani girl was turned into a macro level story about India and Pakistan's issue has been dealt with very well."
Bajrangi Bhaijaan revolves around the journey of a Pakistani girl named Munni (Harshaali Malhotra), who gets stranded in India. She goes on to meet Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi (Salman), who swears to take her back home.
Directed by Kabir Khan, the film also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Kareena Kapoor Khan in pivotal roles. Director-producer Sajid Nadiadwala, who helmed Kick, which is known to be Salman's biggest hit till date, feels the audience connected with the lead character. "I had watched the film over a month before it released.
It was an emotional experience," says Nadiadwala, adding, "Also, Salman's character is close to how he lives his own life in principle. When you portray on the big screen what you do off screen, then it is bound to affect and connect with the audience. As for Kabir, given his background as a documentary film-maker, he has made the film from his heart, and stayed away from the commercial ingredients."
Akshaye Rathi, a Bollywood exhibitor, says that it was the universal appeal of the movie that helped it cut across all barriers. "The film is being watched not only by Salman's fans, but also by families. It is being enjoyed in single screen theatres as well as multiplexes. People across religions like it.
There are very few films that appeal to every strata of society, and Bajrangi Bhaijaan is one such film," says the exhibitor, adding that this movie has also managed to break the stereotypical image of Salman, and has taken him back to the audience that loved him in films like Saajan (1991) and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), among others.

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Masaan is truly a work of art, highly recommended: Farhan Akhtar
New Delhi:MMNN:29 July 2015
Ever since Neeraj Ghaywan's directorial debut hit the screens last week, it's not just the audiences that have thronged the theatres but even B-Town stars can't stop raving about Masaan. And, the latest to join the bandwagon is none other than Farhan Akhtar. The actor, who recently watched the film along with the star cast, is all praises and calls it a "work of art".
"It's an amazing film. Truly, it is a work of art. My congratulations to the director Neeraj (Ghaywan), to the entire cast, to everybody who has worked on this film from the bottom of my heart. Being a part of the fraternity of filmmakers, you feel really proud of a film like this. And whoever hasn't watched the film till now, I recommend them to please go and watch the film," Farhan told
"Welcoming a new breed of talent now with this wonderful person called Neeraj Ghaywan who is joining the ranks of some very talented filmmakers. I feel very proud to be a part of such a time of making movies," he added.
The story of Masaan revolves around four lives which intersect along the Ganga ghats in Benares: a low-caste boy falling hopelessly in love, a daughter ridden with guilt of a sexual encounter ending in a tragedy, a hapless father with fading morality, and a spirited child yearning for a family, long to escape the moral constructs of a small town.
With Masaan being appreciated and lauded by many, it can be said that dark and offbeat independent cinema is gradually getting accepted in the Hindi film industry. But for actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, cinema is not "light or dark", but is predominantly about a good story, fresh characters and new cultures.
"I don't think of cinema as dark or light. For me, the story should be good and that we should get something new to see, a new culture and fresh characters. Being based on reality as far as possible is always appreciated," Farhan said.

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Anushka Sharma decides to go tough online
Mumbai:MMNN:27 July 2015
Actress Anushka Sharma says she will be blocking people who jot any fluff on the micro-blogging website Twitter.
A number of the celebrities, including actor Rishi Kapoor and flimmaker Karan Johar have fallen preys to cyber bullying.
Anushka, who uses the digital platform for voicing out her opinion on different issues,
has now warned the masses to watch their words or they will end up getting blocked.
"I'm trying to keep my Twitter as positive as I possibly can and so will block people who keep blabbering nonsense with almost no sense of responsibility." Anushka tweeted on Sunday.
Trying to keep my Twitter positive ( well as positive as possible ) so will BLOCK people who rant nonsense with no sense of responsibility.

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What role is Kareena Kapoor Khan playing in film opposite Arjun Kapoor?
Mumbai:MMNN:27 July 2015
Many would believe that Hindi cinema has evolved tremendously in the last year years- primarily because we have had films which have broken stereotypes.
R Balki's next starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Arjun Kapoor will reportedly be one such film.
Kareena will be playing the head honcho of a corporate firm, while Arjun, who plays her better-half, will be a ‘house husband'!
This certainly sounds interesting as we seldom have films that show the female characters stronger than men.
Kareena will soon be done with ‘Udta Punjab', a film that will see her as a rustic damsel.
But the R.Balki project will give her a look that will stand in stark contrast to her desi look in ‘Udta Punjab', reports suggest.

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Phantom first look: Katrina Kaif, Saif Ali Khan are bruised, battered and blindfolded
Mumbai:MMNN:24 July 2015
The first look of Kabir Khan's next, ‘Phantom' has been unveiled featuring Katrina Kaif and Saif Ali Khan in lead roles.
The first poster has both Saif and Katrina blindfolded in the tricolour, while they look grim, sporting bruises and bloodied lips.
In the backdrop is Mumbai's famous Taj Mahal hotel, up in flames.
The film, which wrapped up last September, is based on the series of shootings and bombings in Mumbai that shook the city on November 26, 2008.
‘Phantom' involves characters that have been named after David Headley, Sajid Mir, Haifiz Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.
While this is Saif's first film with ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan' director Kabir Khan, Katrina has worked with him twice before in ‘New York' and ‘Ek Tha Tiger'.
The first trailer of ‘Phantom' will release on July 25.

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Salman Khan's Dance Inspiration, Remo D'Souza
Mumbai:MMNN:24 July 2015
Last week, Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein were resurrected in a Mumbai studio for a music video. Riteish Deshmukh slipped into the shoes of Osama, once the world's most wanted terrorist, while Pulkit took on the avatar of the Iraqi Hitler. The actors then turned rappers.
The video is the brainchild of Anand Doshi and his Shudh Desi Raps team, who had been toying with the idea of a battle royal between the deadly (no pun intended) duo but didn't know how to pull it off and with whom. When the 'Bangistan' team approached them, the brainstorming translated into Al Lights, Al Camera, Al Action! "Riteish has Osama's eyes and smile.
When I saw him on the set in the get-up and sporting a beard, for a minute I believed Osama had returned to life. He even tied the pagdi himself, giving us five hours of his undivided time," marvels Anand, whose research included going through all content available and watching every video to pinpoint mannerisms, walk, talk and other distinctive facets to make the character look believable.
There was plenty of material and footage on Osama but not many videos on Saddam which made Pulkit's job difficult. "He surprised us by strolling onto the set with a face that looked much fuller than usual because he had stuffed cotton balls in his mouth," laughs Anand.
He portrayed the modern-day Dictator as a playboy terrorist chilling out with girls and provoking Osama, "I'm Admiral General, Mr. Supreme Leader, I get every girl even if I don't need her, I lived in a palace...you lived like slave, when I was with your wife...you were rotting in a cave.Mere plans sunega toh teri daadi jhad jaayegi...Meri Dictatorship se Hitler ki mooch badh jaayegi..." Pulkit rapped Yash Thakur's lines in one hour flat.
Riteish was equally quick in underlining the fact in Kabul ki Hindi that boom and kaboom is music for Osama who claims, "Wright Brothers ke plane ki funding main hi kiya karti, jab bhi koi zyaada ooncha tower banaayegi, log kahegi ruk jaa varna Osama aa jaayegi." In an ironic twist however, the plane he is riding doesn't blow up the tall tower this time, but is blasted out of space by a Machiavellian Saddam before he dangles from the noose.
The End for the two? No, because as Osama points out, "Humpe Oscar winning movie bhi banaati, story fake hoti phir bhi award jeet jaati...Hum mari nahi hum to sumdi mein satak gayi, tum to ek sissy ki tarah phaansi pe latak gayi."
Saddam reacts to the taunt saying, "My death was as fake as your movie story...When they said I was hanged, I was chilling with a gori. I was a superstar ever since I was born, you got caught coz you were busy watching porn. You like big beards but shaving is my style, this weapon of mass destruction will kill you in just a while."
Saddam farts, Osama's beard is on fire and the two actors make an appeal for shanti not kranti, pointing out that a bigger danger than terrorism are fights in the name of region and religion. "That's the message of 'Bangistan'," says Anand who has spent four sleepless nights in the office bringing the green CG screen to life with an array of visual effects.

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Amitabh Bachchan to play Pakistani lawyer in Aishwarya's Sarbjit?
New Delhi:MMNN:22 July 2015
After signing Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Dalbir Kaur, Omung Kumar is now mulling over casting Amitabh Bachchan for an important role in his film in his upcoming film Sarbjit, the biopic of Sarabjit Singh.
Reportedly, the Mary Kom director is looking forward to cast Big B in the role of the Pakistani lawyer who fights Sarabjit Singh's case. Sr Bachchan and Aishwarya have already shared screen space in films like Sarkaar Raj and Mohabbatein.
Aishwarya also featured in a special song Kajra Re in Bunty Aur Babli with Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan.
Sarbjit deals with the true story of the struggles of Dalbir Kaur, whose sole aim in life was to get her brother Sarabjit out of the Pakistani jail the latter was imprisoned in.
Sarabjit was convicted of terrorism by a Pakistani court. Dalbir fought for her brother's release from the Lahore Jail, but her quest ended when he died in 2013 following a brutal attack by fellow prisoners.
The film also stars Randeep Hooda, who will play Sarabjit Singh. The shooting for the film will begin in Punjab this October. It is slated for a May 2016 release as of now.

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Riteish Deshmukh and Pulkit Samrat rap it up like Osama and Saddam Hussein
Mumbai:MMNN:22 July 2015
Last week, Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein were resurrected in a Mumbai studio for a music video. Riteish Deshmukh slipped into the shoes of Osama, once the world's most wanted terrorist, while Pulkit took on the avatar of the Iraqi Hitler. The actors then turned rappers.
The video is the brainchild of Anand Doshi and his Shudh Desi Raps team, who had been toying with the idea of a battle royal between the deadly (no pun intended) duo but didn't know how to pull it off and with whom. When the 'Bangistan' team approached them, the brainstorming translated into Al Lights, Al Camera, Al Action! "Riteish has Osama's eyes and smile.
When I saw him on the set in the get-up and sporting a beard, for a minute I believed Osama had returned to life. He even tied the pagdi himself, giving us five hours of his undivided time," marvels Anand, whose research included going through all content available and watching every video to pinpoint mannerisms, walk, talk and other distinctive facets to make the character look believable.
There was plenty of material and footage on Osama but not many videos on Saddam which made Pulkit's job difficult. "He surprised us by strolling onto the set with a face that looked much fuller than usual because he had stuffed cotton balls in his mouth," laughs Anand.
He portrayed the modern-day Dictator as a playboy terrorist chilling out with girls and provoking Osama, "I'm Admiral General, Mr. Supreme Leader, I get every girl even if I don't need her, I lived in a palace...you lived like slave, when I was with your wife...you were rotting in a cave.Mere plans sunega toh teri daadi jhad jaayegi...Meri Dictatorship se Hitler ki mooch badh jaayegi..." Pulkit rapped Yash Thakur's lines in one hour flat.
Riteish was equally quick in underlining the fact in Kabul ki Hindi that boom and kaboom is music for Osama who claims, "Wright Brothers ke plane ki funding main hi kiya karti, jab bhi koi zyaada ooncha tower banaayegi, log kahegi ruk jaa varna Osama aa jaayegi." In an ironic twist however, the plane he is riding doesn't blow up the tall tower this time, but is blasted out of space by a Machiavellian Saddam before he dangles from the noose.
The End for the two? No, because as Osama points out, "Humpe Oscar winning movie bhi banaati, story fake hoti phir bhi award jeet jaati...Hum mari nahi hum to sumdi mein satak gayi, tum to ek sissy ki tarah phaansi pe latak gayi."
Saddam reacts to the taunt saying, "My death was as fake as your movie story...When they said I was hanged, I was chilling with a gori. I was a superstar ever since I was born, you got caught coz you were busy watching porn. You like big beards but shaving is my style, this weapon of mass destruction will kill you in just a while."
Saddam farts, Osama's beard is on fire and the two actors make an appeal for shanti not kranti, pointing out that a bigger danger than terrorism are fights in the name of region and religion. "That's the message of 'Bangistan'," says Anand who has spent four sleepless nights in the office bringing the green CG screen to life with an array of visual effects.

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No competition for Baahubali: Salman's Bajrangi Bhaijaan mints only Rs 27 crore on Day 1
Mumbai:MMNN:20 July 2015
The journey of Salman Khan's character from India to Pakistan in "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" is treading towards a successful run at the box office but in no way does it trump SS Rajamouli's Baahubali which had earned Rs 50 crore on its first day.
The Kabir Khan directorial, which is the actor's Eid treat to his fans, amassed over Rs 27 crore since its release on Friday. The real litmus test of the film will be on 18 July, when Ramzan is finally over.
However, we should note here that the Hindi version of Baahubali made only Rs 5-5.5 crore on the opening day and the film released in four languages. Compared to that, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which released only in Hindi, did great business.
Co-produced by Salman Khan Films (SKF) with Rockline Venkatesh, the movie brings forward an extraordinary story of how an Indian and a dumb and mute girl from Pakistan find affection for each other during a simple road trip.
"Salman Khan Films breaks all Salman Khan records. His biggest opening day collection of Rs 27.25 crore (net box office collection) 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'. It's a non holiday, working Friday collection," shared a source from Salman Khan Films.
The film, which also features Kareena Kapoor Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, runs high on action, drama, simplicity and innocence. Trade analyst Komal Nahta says the film's box office collection will silence critics, who pass off Salman's films with incoherent scripts.
"So, the first day's figure of #BajrangiBhaijaan has silenced all those who thought, the film had no merits? Rs. 27.25 crore on Ramzan day," Nahta tweeted.
Another trade guru Taran Adarsh shared: "#BajrangiBhaijaan Fri ? 27.25 cr [pre-Eid]. SUPERB... Today onwards [Eid], biz should only zoom upwards... #Kick ? 26.40 cr [pre-Eid]."
"The FANTASTIC pre-Eid biz of #BajrangiBhaijaan clearly indicates Salman's star power. Sat, Sun, Mon biz will be ROCKING. WOM is super," he added, referring to the film's word-of-mouth publicity.
"Bajrangi Bhaijaan", which was released on more than 5,000 screens across 50 countries, including the US, Britain, Pakistan and Australia, is making a mark overseas as well.
"#BajrangiBhaijaan UK on day !: 1,80,000 pounds!! Fiji: day 1 $15,000; day 2 $19,000. #BajrangiBhaijaan Friday Australia A$1,25,000. One of the highest. Or is it the highest?
"#BajrangiBhaijaan New Zealand Friday: NZ$55,000. Suuuperb! #BajrangiBhaijaan first day US: $7,00,000. No. 10 on box-office chart of North America," Nahta added.

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Shraddha Kapoor Getting Voice Modulation Training For ‘Rock On 2′
Mumbai:MMNN:20 July 2015
Actress Shraddha Kapoor is excited about her upcoming film ‘Rock On 2' as she will also lend her voice in the film.
"I am very excited about "Rock On 2″ as I would get to sing my own songs. Not just one but I will have few songs to sing," Shraddha said.
Shraddha Kapoor is currently being trained by Samantha Edwards, a renowned jazz singer and vocal coach, who has earlier also trained Priyanka Chopra.
"So I am very excited about that. I hope everybody likes me singing my own songs in the film.
I am training now, I hope I can sing better," added Shraddha.
‘Rock On 2' is a sequel to the 2008 hit musical ‘Rock On!!'.
The upcoming film will also star Prachi Desai, Farhan Akhtar and Arjun Rampal, who were seen in the prequel.

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Bajrangi Bhaijaan Movie Review
Mumbai:MMNN:17 July 2015
In the snowy hills of Sultanpur village in Pakistan, some villagers are watching a cricket match and an expectant mother's baby kicks when Shahid Afridi makes runs. The family jokes that a son will now be named Shahid. A few years later, the baby has grown up to be a little girl called Shahida (Harshaali), wandering on the hills, playing with sheep. Her father tells her to go home and she sets off but has an accident and rolls down a hill onto a cliff.
Her desperate parents find her - but she's lost the power of speech. Her parents want to take her to Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya's dargah in Delhi to pray for her speech being returned. Her father knows he won't get a visa, having been a soldier, so her mother decides to take Shahida on her own.
They travel on the Samjhauta Express and visit the blessed dargah in Delhi. On the way back, the train halts and everyone's asleep when Shahida sees a lamb outside and leaves the train to play with it. The train suddenly starts and leaves, Shahida left horror-struck but unable to speak out to her mother. Miserable, Shahida climbs onto another train which reaches Kurukshetra where she gets off, even as her mother discovers she's missing and begs the officials at Pakistan's junction to let her go back to find her.
In Kurukshetra, devout Shri Hanuman bhakt Pawan aka Bajrangi (Salman) is dancing merrily with other worshippers. Shahida spots and follows the simple and honest Bajrangi. He goes for lassi and lunch to a dhaba where he sees Shahida staring at him. He orders food for the child and discovers she can't speak. He assumes she's Hindu and separated from her parents. He buys her a Bajrang Bali pendant to protect her from harm and takes her to the local police station where he files a 'missing child' complaint. However, the policeman refuses to keep the child there, saying he can't guarantee her safety and tells Bajrangi to take her home until her family arrives.
On the way to Delhi by bus, Bajrangi quizzes the little girl he calls Munni to find out which city she's from, but she doesn't respond to any Indian town names. The people on the bus are intrigued and Bajrangi tells them he himself is from Pratapgarh, where, constantly failing at school and wrestling, he was a total disappointment to his father, the local postmaster and shakha head. When Bajrangi manages to pass class 10 after failing 10 times, his father is so shocked, he passes on, but only after telling Bajrangi to go to his friend Dayanand (Sharat) in Delhi for a job.
Bajrangi meets the pretty Rasika (Kareena) on a bus in Delhi where he insists they split change over a ticket. She tries to shake him off but finds him in her own haveli, advising her father on how to wrestle. Rasika thinks Bajrangi has come there to harass her but it turns out her father is Dayanand and so, Bajrangi is invited to stay with them. Slowly, over Delhi's sights and sounds, Rasika and Bajrangi fall in love and Rasika rejects an arranged marriage proposal, choosing Bajrangi. Her father tells Bajrangi he has six months to prove himself worthy and put down money for a house deposit. Bajrangi tells the bus he's nearly got the money together and there are just two months left. But first, he'd like to find Munni's family.
Bajrangi takes Munni back to Rasika's home where the child can't speak and finds the vegetarian food unappealing. One day, Munni smells chicken being cooked in the Muslim home next door and Bajrangi is shocked to find her there, eating non-veg! But Rasika calms him down and they take Munni for a chicken meal to a dhaba. Munni picks up some bangles without paying from a stall and to apologise for this, Bajrangi takes her to a temple - but Munni walks into a nearby mosque and starts to pray, shocking Bajrangi. Rasika again tells him her religion doesn't matter and he need not tell her conservative father that Munni is Muslim.
But during an India-Pakistan match, Munni cheers for Pakistan and Shahid Afridi and the family discovers she's Pakistani. Dayanand insists Bajrangi take Munni to the Pakistan Embassy to return her home but the Embassy, facing a riot over returning an Indian captive, shuts down for a month. Bajrangi takes Munni to a travel agent who promises to have her sent to Pakistan illegally and takes the money Bajrangi has saved as his fees. Both Bajrangi and Munni weep bitterly at being separated but Bajrangi thinks this is essential for the child's welfare.
On the way home, seeing the bangles the little girl liked, Bajrangi follows the travel agent with these to give them to Munni - and is horrified to find the agent has taken the child to a brothel. Bajrangi beats up the touts and the travel agent and rescues Munni. He's determined to take her to Pakistan safely himself now. Rasika supports his decision.
Bajrangi and Munni reach Rajasthan where a tout in the desert says he will take them across for 50,000 rupees. He takes them under the sands and border wires through tunnels - but emerging in Pakistan, Bajrangi insists he'll now proceed with the Pak guards' permission. The Pakistani guards can't understand this man and beat him up but finally, they're convinced by his honesty and let him proceed. Bajrangi and Munni are at a dhaba where Munni steals a local cop's handcuffs, thinking they're bangles. The cops search the two and Bajrangi says honestly he's Indian and has come without a visa across the sands to help Munni reach her home.
They're instantly arrested on charge of being spies and a local TV news journalist Chand Nawab (Nawazuddin) starts filing a report right outside the police station. In the police station, Munni sees a calendar with a picture of mountains and indicates to Bajrangi that's her home. The irritated cops want to know why Munni can't speak but when they scare her, Bajrangi loses control and beats them up, escaping with Munni. Chand climbs onto a bus with them and tells the cops about this on his phone - but hearing Bajrangi's story, he changes his mind completely and decides to help the two. The whole bus is very moved and hides them when the police check the bus for the man now being called an Indian spy.
Chand helps Bajrangi shelter in a mosque where the Maulvi (Om Puri) gives them burqas to proceed. They manage to hitch a ride with an off-duty cop and say they're locals going to see their aged relative. They move towards the mountains where Munni's village is. Chand tries to get TV channels to show Bajrangi's story but they refuse, saying such emotional stories don't make news.
Bajrangi hears of Hazrat Amin Shah's dargah where separated people get united. He tells Chand they must take Munni there. Meanwhile, the cops have caught Kamil, Chand's cameraman, and beat him up. They make him ring Chand who tells Kamil they're going to the dargah - the cops follow. At the dargah, a beautiful qawalli is being sung and Bajrangi prays for Munni to meet her mother - who is praying at the same dargah to meet her child. Chand shoots a video in front of the local bus stop as buses pull in and tells Bajrangi's story, putting it online.
When Munni sees this video, she recognises her mother stepping out of a bus. The men ask the bus driver where he's coming from and Munni recognises the name of Sultanpur village. Bajrangi and Chand take Munni to Sultanpur - but on the way, police stop them. Bajrangi tells Chand he must take Munni on while he himself runs through the forest and is beaten and shot at by the guards.
Chand manages to get Munni back to her overjoyed mother but discovers Bajrangi has been put in jail and is being tortured to confess being an Indian spy. Chand rallies Indians and Pakistanis online and tells them to come to Narowal border to demand Bajrangi's release. In India, evidence is gathered to prove that Bajrangi is not a spy but has been working to get Munni back to her home. The cry for Bajrangi's release grows across both countries.
Rasika and her anxious family, her father now very appreciative of heroic Bajrangi, reach the Narowal border, as do Munni and her parents. Bajrangi is brought there by the cops who don't want to force a false confession from him as this will tarnish Pakistan. The cop tells the border guard to open the locks and let Bajrangi cross to India. The border guard hints that if the public takes over, this can happen. The Pakistanis storm the check-post and open the gate and Bajrangi moves over the border - Munni is trying desperately to call out to him and her voice is miraculously restored when she shouts to him. Bajrangi is delighted to see her and embraces her with great love before he returns to his people in India.

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Raees teaser: Shah Rukh as you have never seen him before
New Delhi:MMNN:17 July 2015
Shah Rukh Khan is the quintessential Rahul or, if you push it, Raj -- the eternal lover boy who seduces the woman with his eyes. His signature pose has launched more films than we care to count.
And then the Raees teaser lands up which reminds you of Shah Rukh of his Baazigar and Darr days, the actor who was not scared to take risks with his image and first tasted success as an anti-hero. In this forthcoming film, SRK is back to being edgy and ruthless, a man who will stop at nothing till he gets his heart's desire. In this case, it is not a woman he is obsessed with but success at any cost.
Sporting kajal in his eyes and a taabiz, he plays Miyanbhai - a Gujarat-based bootlegger whose voiceover is punctuated with clink of empty liquor bottles. A far cry from his essentially urbane image, he sports pathani kurtas as he gets about doing an image makeover.
He transforms from a bootlegger to a don to a neta and finally emerges as a godfather figure in the teaser. Don't miss those '70s-style glasses or the intriguing tagline: 'Baniye ka dimaag aur Miyanbhai ki daring'.
Directed by Rahul Dholakia, the film also co-stars Pakistani actress Mahira Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui and will tentatively hit screens in Eid 2016. The film will go head-to-head with Salman Khan's Sultan. The two foes-turned-friends have been at pains to say that the clash doesn't mean that they are rivals.
Earlier in the day, SRK tweeted a poster of the film with this interesting line: 'The man in black travels with your soul in his pocket" Stephen King. V hav both White & Black in us, choose wisely.'
We just have one thing to say to Shah Rukh who teased us with the posters and teaser while on a day off in Bulgaria where he is shooting for Rohit Shetty's Dilwale: We simply cannot wait to see more of your daring!

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Nawazuddin Siddiqui: Did many C-grade films initially
Mumbai:MMNN:15 July 2015
He is one of the most acclaimed actors in Bollywood today but Nawazuddin Siddiqui says he never expected to be famous as he spent the initial period of his career doing C-grade films.
Nawazuddin, who got noticed in Bollywood with Vidya Balan-starrer "Kahaani", said becoming a film actor was not on his mind when he came to Mumbai. "I did not come here (in Mumbai) thinking of becoming a Bollywood actor. I wanted to do TV. But no one gave me a chance in TV.
"So I started doing C-grade films for 5-6 years... I did one and two scenes roles. I did not dream much as it would have led to disappointment," Nawazuddin said.
The 41-year-old actor, who received rave reviews for his performances in films like "Gangs of Wasseypur", "Talaash" and "Badlapur", said he is happy that he is being accepted by the audience.
"I am happy that people are appreciating my work now. I want to discover life through characters," said the actor.
Even though Nawazuddin has not played lead roles in most of his films, the actor has managed to grab attention with his performances. "In commercial films, the characters have layers which makes it easy for an actor to do his job," Nawazuddin said.
He will be next seen in "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" and "Manjhi - The Mountain Man".

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Yet to shoot with Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol: Kriti Sanon
Mumbai:MMNN:15 July 2015
‘Heropanti' fame actress Kriti Sanon, who is acting opposite Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan and Kajol in Rohit Shetty's ‘Dilwale', said she is yet to shoot with them together.
‘I'm actually yet to shoot with them together. I've only shot with Varun till now and of course Rohit sir and the experience has been wonderful.
The first schedule you're warming up to people and gelling together, and the second schedule,
I was dying to go back and work because it all felt like a family,' she told reporters after launching the home textile firm Trident Group's bath and linen collection.
‘Rohit sir, on the outside, appears very strict and quiet, which he is, but on the inside, he is a very warm-hearted person and really takes care of you.
Varun is very chilled out, bindaas (carefree)and nautanki (dramatic) and is fun to work with,' said Kriti at the press conference.

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Richa Chadda: Producers' cheques also bounce
Mumbai:MMNN:13 July 2015
Actress Richa Chadda says cheques handed out by film producers also bounce, but it doesn't matter to her as she "doesn't do films for money".
"Very few people do films for money, and I'm definitely one who doesn't do it for money. I think everyone who...has interactions with producers, has experienced cheque bouncing at least once," Richa said at the opening of a wildlife resort.
An actress acclaimed for her work in movies like "Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!" and "Gangs Of Wasseypur", Richa is happy with her journey in Bollywood so far. "The industry has given me a lot.
My journey as an actress started in 2012 and in these three years, (I've won) one Filmfare Award for Best Actress, Critics' (award for 'Gangs Of Wasseypur), one comic role award (Screen Award for 'Fukrey'), and 'Masaan' has won two awards at the Cannes International Film Festival."
"Along with this, (I've got) huge amount of money, numerous friends and tremendous fame...I'm hoping you'll see a lot more of me.
I'm not waiting for the industry to do something for me, I'll take whatever I want on my own," she said.
One to always choose unique storylines and themes, Richa said: "I'll continue working like how I'm been working since the beginning of my career. I want to do good films and that's what I do usually."
"Masaan" will hit Indian screens on July 24.

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Arshad, Sajid, Riteish and Arjun to fill in for Kapil Sharma
MMNN:13 July 2015
There were reports that director Karan Johar would be stepping into the shoes of Kapil Sharma to host Comedy Nights With Kapil till the funnyman recovers from a back injury that he recently sustained.
However, it seems that though the news is true, Johar will not be one of the people filling in for Sharma.
According to the creative director of the show, Preeti Simoes, actors Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Arjun Kapoor and director Sajid Khan will host the show in Sharma's absence if he doesn't recover from the slip disc soon.
Simoes told PTI: "As Kapil is unwell, he could not shoot. He might take one or two weeks to recover. If he is still unwell and cannot shoot, then we will have Sajid Khan, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, Arjun Kapoor and others to be a part of the show."
"These people will act according to their personality on the show. It is sweet of them to have agreed to take this up. The other family members from the show will continue to be a part of it," added Simoes.
Sharma, who suffered the injury while working out, is most likely to remain out of action for a couple of weeks. His 'last' episode was aired last night featuring Salman Khan, who appeared on the show to promote his upcoming movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

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Kareena Kapoor sizzles in 'Mera naam Mary' song
Mumbai:MMNN:10 July 2015
In a teaser of " Mera naam Mary", a special song from the forthcoming film " Brothers", actress Kareena Kapoor Khan features in a sensuous avatar.
A 30-second teaser of the number was shared by the film's makers on video sharing site YouTube on Monday.
The teaser gives a sneak peek of Kareena's seductive dance moves to quirky lyrics which go like -- "Mera naam Mary hai, Mary sau taka teri hai."
The song is choreographed by Ganesh Acharya and will see Kareena wooing one of the leads of the film, Sidharth Malhotra.
Directed by Karan Malhotra, "Brothers" also features Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez and Jackie Shroff.
It is slated to hit theatres on August 14.

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Rishi Kapoor to FTII Chief: Get the Message, They Dont Want You
Chandigarh:MMNN:10 July 2015
The big guns are out as the chorus of protests against the appointment of little-known actor Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India or FTII gets louder.
This morning, top actor Rishi Kapoor, not known to mince his words on Twitter, offered Mr Chauhan some advice.
On Thursday, actor and former Censor Board chief Anupam Kher had lent the substantial weight of his voice to the protest. "I certainly do not think Gajendra ji is qualified as a producer, director or actor," the 60-year old actor said.
Mr Kher, whose wife Kirron Kher is a BJP lawmaker, said FTII needs a "much qualified" person at the helm of affairs and also supported the idea of turning India's top film institute into an autonomous body.
Gajendra Chauhan, best known for playing Pandava King Yudhisthira on a long-running TV version of the epic "Mahabharata", took over as chairman last of the Pune-based institute's governing council last month.
He has said will not resign amid criticism by current and former students of the institute, who say his body of work is too thin to qualify him as the head of the top institute. Rishi Kapoor and Anupam Kher are not FTII alumni.
There have also been angry allegations that his is a political appointment - Mr Chuahan is a member of the ruling BJP and had campaigned prominently for the party in last year's national elections.
FTII students have been boycotting classes, alleging Mr Chauhan lacks "stature and vision" to head the institution.

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"Ajay Devgn was absolutely willing to surrender to the common man's role" - Nishikant Kamat
MMNN:8 July 2015
Is it possible for a superstar with a larger-than-life image to play an ordinary man? Shah Rukh Khan did it in Ashutosh Gowariker's Pardes.
Now it's Ajay Devgn's turn.
Drishyam, the remake of the spectacularly successful film of the same title in Malayalam and Tamil, finds Ajay Devgn donning the mantel of the working class man whose only ambition in life is to keep his family protected from external violation.
The film's very astute director Nishikant kamat says it wasn't at all difficult to get Devgn to abandon his bare-torsoed super-hero's image. "This is Ajay's only film where he hasn't even planted a slap on anyone's cheek.
There is absolutely no larger-than-life antics here. Luckily Ajay and I were on the same page from the start. He completely surrendered to his character."
The director and his leading man together worked on Ajay's character's looks. "The clothes, the bicycle he rides on, the family values are all very different from what Ajay's image has been so far.
Not that Ajay has not played working-class heroes before. He has done so in films like Zakham. But in Drishyam it is a completely unexpected twist in his personality."

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I'm Not Insecure, I Can Do It: John Abraham
Mumbai:MMNN:8 July 2015
Actor John Abraham, who shares screen space with many established actors including Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar and Paresh Rawal in "Welcome Back", says he is "not insecure". He also credits director Anees Bazmi for his performance in the film.
"I am not insecure, I can do it," said John at the trailer launch of the film.
"Welcome Back" is John's first film after the critically acclaimed "Madras Cafe". His home production "Vicky Donor" was a success at box office as well.
When asked about his views on being a producer, the 42-year-old said: "I think every film is important, but I don't stress on one particular film, whether it will work or not. My job is to perform and that's what I mean to do. I make films, I enjoy doing that, one year, two year, three years, I don't really care. I am not insecure and I know I can do it".
John says that he had a "great chemistry" with all the actors in "Welcome Back", a sequel to 2007 laugh riot "Welcome" which starred Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif.
"I have worked with Anil Kapoor in 'Shootout in Wadala' and with Nana sir, I did 'Taxi 9211'. I acted with Paresh sir in 'Garam Masala', so whatever chemistry I have with them is really special," he said.
However, the actor said he wants to credit nobody but director Anees Bazmi for his performance in the film.
"I have learnt a lot from these guys but I want to credit only Anees bhai for my performance. The way he has guided me in this film, is really-really special," he said.
"I had wonderful experience working with Majnu Bhai, Uday Bhai and Ghungroo on sets. The bonding was fabulous and energy on set was very positive and fantastic," he added.
"Welcome Back" also features Shruti Hassan, Dimple Kapadia and Naseeruddin Shah and will hit the screen on September 4.

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Shahid Kapoor-Mira Rajput's wedding: Things to look forward to

MMNN:6 July 2015

Kareena says Bajrangi Bhaijaan will cross Rs 100 crore: Salman Khan

Mumbai:MMNN:6 July 2015

Guddu Rangeela Review: This colourless Arshad Warsi film fails to strike a chord

MMNN:3 July 2015

Abhishek Bachchan's 'All is well' trailer launched in Mumbai

MMNN:3 July 2015

Shahid Kapoor, Mira Rajput to tie the knot on July 7 in Gurgaon

New Delhi:MMNN:1 July 2015

Court stops release of Sunny Deol's 'Mohalla Assi', says it may hurt religious sentiments

New Delhi:MMNN:1 July 2015