"Well, it's not the men in your life that counts, it's the life in your men."

"Well, it's not the men in your life that counts, it's the life in your men."

Monday, July 27, 2015

Wait for 'Shaandaar' worth it: Alia

Wait for 'Shaandaar' worth it: Alia

Actress Alia Bhatt, who will be seen in "Shaandaar", has shared with the Twitterati that the wait for her forthcoming film will hopefully be worth it.

"Heheh woke up to #ShaandaarWaitIsKillingUs!! Coming up veryyyyyy soon guys..sorry for the wait but hopefully it'll be fully worth it!!!!," Alia tweeted on Sunday.

In response to her tweet, Karan Johar, one of the producers of the film, wrote "#ShaandaarWaitKillingUs is trending!!! Well not for long...coming up really soon!!! @aliaa08 @shahidkapoor".

"Shaandaar" is a romantic comedy film, directed by Vikas Bahl. It also features Shahid Kapoor, Pankaj Kapur and Sanjay Kapoor.

Is Sunny fed up of sultry roles

What Next: Is Sunny fed up of sultry roles

Actress Sunny Leone has expressed her desire to play a superhero in a movie.

The former Indo-Canadian adult film star was asked by one of her fans on Twitter about her dream role.

The user asked: "Sunny which is your dream role in your career? Playing a superwoman's character #EqualPartnerships."

To which Sunny replied: "Yes i want to play a superhero."

Sunny is known for her bold image in the industry thanks to movies like "Jism 2" and "Ragini MMS 2". She was also seen in "Ek Paheli Leela", a thriller drama film.

She will be soon seen in the upcoming sex comedy film "Mastizaade".

Friday, July 24, 2015

What made Parineeti Chopra cry?

What made Parineeti Chopra cry?

Actress Parineeti Chopra says she cried a lot while watching Neeraj Ghaywan directorial "Masaan".

"I cried a lot inside the theatre," Parineeti said at a special screening of the film here on Wednesday night.

Starring Richa Chadda, Vicky Kaushal, Sanjay Mishra, and Shweta Tripathi, the film won international accolades and awards at the Cannes Film Festival.

Though it is releasing on Friday, the film's screening is happening for the Bollywood fraternity here since last three days. From Rajkumar Hirani, Kabir Khan, Shabana Azmi to Dia Mirza, every one has been highly impressed by the film and now Parineeti joins the list of admirers.

"It is a very touching film. I cried a lot inside the theatre. Richa was amazing. I was so moved by Vicky's performance, so congratulation to the team. It will be a hit film" said Parineeti.

"It was an amazing film. I hope everybody goes and watch it!" added the actress who was last seen in "Kill Dil".

Saif and Katrina in 'Phantom' posters

First look: Saif and Katrina in 'Phantom' posters


Riding high on the success of his Salman Khan starrer 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', director Kabir Khan unveiled the first look posters of his next 'Phantom', a counter-terrorism drama, featuring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif.

As soon as Kabir Khan revealed the posters, #Phantom started trending on Twitter.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala's production house Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the film is said to be about the situation post 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and global terrorism. The film has received 'U/A' certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).


In the posters, Saif and Katrina are blindfolded with what looks like the Indian tricolour and the tagline reads 'A story you wish were true'.

It is the second time Katrina is teaming up with both Saif and Kabir as she worked with the actor in 2008 hit 'Race' and the director in 'New York'.


Based on crime author Hussain Zaidi's novel 'Mumbai Avengers', 'Phantom' is scheduled to release on August 28.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Anushka in dilemma over Ranbir and Ranveer

Anushka in dilemma over Ranbir and Ranveer

Actress Anushka Sharma is all praise for the style sense of actors Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh and says it's "difficult to choose between the two" when it comes to who beats the other in fashion.

Asked to compare and choose between the style quotient of Ranveer and Ranbir, Anushka said: "Ranveer, as I always say, is a huge risk taker. His sense of style is an act of bravery. Whereas Ranbir dresses little bit more relaxed. So both of them have a very very different kind of style and it's really difficult to choose between the two."

The "PK" actress also said that style is a "very personal" thing for her.


"It's an extension of who you are as a person or how you feel on a particular day. No point in changing anybody. It's like altering them as people. So why change anyone. Let the people dress the way they dress, after all it's just clothes," she said at an awards event here.

Ranveer and Anushka have worked together in several films and their film "Band Baaja Baaraat" was a big hit among the masses. Their on screen chemistry in Zoya Akhtar's "Dil Dhadakne Do" also came in for much praise.

Bollywood directors taking the online route

Bollywood directors taking the online route


With Sujoy Ghosh and Rohan Sippy releasing their latest projects on the Internet, we explore how Bollywood filmmakers are increasingly taking the virtual route to reach out to a larger audience...

Its reach is mind-boggling as everything is just a click away. We are talking about the Internet. Industry folk are now taking recourse to the online realm to release their projects. All this while, there were only two vistas open - the big screen or the television to showcase their creativity. Now there is a third option - the digital platform.

Retelling a legend Sujoy Ghosh released his short film 'Ahalya' online on Monday. The 14-minute thriller, which stars veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee besides Tota Roy Chowdhury and Radhika Apte, is a modern-day take of a legend from the Ramayana. Rohan Sippy is making a mini series, 'Client', starring Bipasha Basu for an online entertainment platform.

Says Sujoy, "The response to Ahalya has been encouraging. This (the Internet) is indeed the future."


Net frenzy

Social media has been extensively used by stars as well as filmmakers to promote their projects. They feel if they succeed in engaging the audience through some online promotions, they'd look forward to their film. Twitter and Facebook posts are considered word-of-mouth publicity.

The resultant buzz can help garner more eyeballs. But now the audience need not even step out of their homes to catch a flick, they can just watch it online. Sujoy's Bengali-English film, which has a heavy dose of the supernatural, has already received rave reviews. 'The Kahaani' (2012) director feels that releasing Ahalya on an online platform has given him a wider reach.

Radhika, who features in the film, says, "Filmmaking is a highly complex job involving lots of resources. However, the digital space opening up for film releases is an extremely positive sign. It has not just made making a film easier, but also widened the reach. You just need an internet connection."

Exciting option
While announcing 'Client', filmmaker Rohan Sippy had reportedly stated that he found "the online medium exciting." It will be a 12-part mini series with Bipasha playing the central character of a go-getter and is slated to go on the floors shortly.

Bipasha recently tweeted, "Going to announce something super fun today! Excited! (sic)" Later she posted an image of the launch saying, "Clients on @ErosNow."


Anurag Kashyap

Apart from 'Client', the online entertainment portal has also lined up two new shows -'Khel', a dark drama with cricket as its backdrop directed by debutant Karan Anshuman whose film 'Bangistan' releases shortly. Then there is 'Ponniyin Selvan,' an epic period drama based on a Tamil historical novel by Kalki Krishnamurthy. With more names from Bollywood associating with online platforms and making content exclusively for the digital world is a heartening step. As Sujoy says, "I hope more filmmakers explore this new vista. It is a whole new world."

This is seen as an encouraging move, especially for newcomers and small filmmakers who cannot afford a theatrical release.

Better understanding
Before his 2014 film 'Ugly' released, Kashyap released 'Kali-Katha', a five-minute prologue to it. This, the makers, claimed was a first in the history of Indian cinema. 'Kali-Katha' was aimed to introduce the backdrop of the thriller to the audience. Kashyap felt that the viewers could have a better understanding of the characters if they watched it before 'Ugly'.

As the links are shared on various social networking websites, more people get to know about the film and watch it. Meanwhile, filmmakers are also considering making a shift to online movie distribution as it has the potential to become a source of revenue for screening Hindi films and tap new markets. Producers believe the step might help put an end to piracy.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Are opening weekend collections a deciding factor for films?

Are opening weekend collections a deciding factor for films?


With 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' and 'Baahubali' touching all-India figures of Rs 100 crore within the first three days of release, we take a look at how the marketing strategy of films are being revised to capitalise on the opening weekend...

There was a time when a film was considered 'hit' if it ran for several weeks in theatres. However, over a period of time, the way a film is measured on the BO barometer has changed. In the present scenario, opening weekend collections are the deciding factor. What else would explain the brouhaha over the bumper success of Kabir Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', which hit the theatres last Friday? Or that of SS Rajamouli's 'Baahubali' that released the week before? Both films have proved to be game changers for the industry, which witnessed average business in the first half of 2015, by scoring all India figures of Rs 100 crore in their first weekend.

Given this competition for box-office dominance, the marketing strategy for films are also being consistently reviewed. Projects are promoted on a grand scale to ensure a big opening weekend; it doesn't matter if the momentum is lost post the first three days. Vajir Singh of Box Office India feels that making a film today is equivalent to selling a product. "With big-budget films, there is a lot of money at stake and no one wants to take chances. Several films release every week and it's important to create a good buzz around them. Also, in addition to making a good movie, it is important to aggressively promote it so that you reap the benefits of the investment. It's all about selling your movie. Whoever sells it better wins the battle," he says.


'Baahubali', which released a week before 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', has managed to rake in Rs 303 crore (worldwide) until now

Girish Wankhede, who has been distributing films for a long time now, says promotions are one of the most important aspects of filmmaking today. "You must have noticed how filmmakers announce the release date of their films well in advance to capitalise on the hype generated. The idea is that once the date is announced, the other filmmakers try to not release their films on the same date which helps the film's opening. In addition to the above, the film's content and word-of-mouth publicity help the film do well at the box-office," he adds.

For Nandu Ahuja, Senior VP (India Theatrical), Eros International, it's all about the first look of the film. "The first look/teaser or the trailer makes or breaks the film. It is at this stage that the audience decides if the film is watchable or not. Of course, the promotions on various platforms, word-of-mouth publicity and the content contribute to the business, but the first look or the promo is the deciding factor," he asserts.

Rakesh Upadhayay of White Hill Productions and Distribution echoes Ahuja's point of view and says that in the earlier days, films released in limited number of screens and had limited shows, but not anymore. "The audience today has become smarter and knows which film is worth their money. They do not want to watch every film that releases," states Upadhayay.

Trade pundits feel that both the look and the content matter, as proved in the recent cases of 'Baahubali' and 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'. "Those two films scored in both aspects and are, therefore, doing so well at the box-office. The viewers want to watch good cinema with elements of action, emotions and drama and if the film has all that, there is no stopping it," adds a trade source

But in addition to a good story and frenzied promotions, the importance of the art of story telling cannot be ignored. In fact, that often decides the fate of a film.

Manoj Desai, Executive Director of Gaiety Galaxy, says, "'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' had the backing of star power which 'Baahubali' didn't. But both the films are doing very well at the box-office. Why? The reason is that apart from the script and direction, the way the story is told makes all the difference," he concludes.

Will this strategy work? Launching film's first look much before release

Will this strategy work? Launching film's first look much before release



Of late, the teaser trailers of big-ticket Bollywood projects are being launched several months before the film hits the theatres. We find out the pros and cons of this marketing strategy...

In the West, it is not uncommon for teasers and trailers to come out a full year ahead of a film's theatrical release, more so in case of big-ticket movies. This practice seems to have seeped into the Hindi film industry lately. Ajay Devgn was the first to go the Hollywood way by providing a glimpse of his on-off-on project 'Shivaay' in mid-May. Ekta Kapoor's 'Azhar' biopic followed suit a week later.

The latest movie to be added to this fast-growing list is 'Raees'. On the eve of Eid, Shah Rukh Khan fans got a sneak peek into the crime thriller, which is slated to release on that festive occasion next year. Before that, the teaser of another SRK film, 'Fan', was publicised on various platforms. Producer Ritesh Sidhwani says, "Since 'Raees' is releasing on Eid 2016, the ideal time to showcase the first look of the film was this Eid. This is a special Eidi for all fans." Red Chillies Entertainment also released two posters and the teaser trailer for the film, which is slated to clash with Salman Khan's 'Sultan' - another not-yet-on-the-floors project whose introductory ad was presented by YRF last month.

A new trend
Ajay Devgn has booked 2017 Republic Day for his maiden directorial venture, 'Shivaay', whose first look came out in May - 20 months in advance - although the shoot will commence in Bulgaria only in January 2016. It will mark the debut of Sayesha Saigal, yesteryear actress Saira Banu's grand niece.


Ajay Devgn in the first look of 'Shivaay', which is scheduled to hit the theatres on January 26, 2017

Speaking about the strategy behind such early marketing, the spokesperson of Eros International says, "Movie audiences have become smart and are now looking forward to something new. As movie marketers, there is the demand to constantly innovate and market the movie differently to attract eyeballs and widen our reach to the viewers. By releasing the teaser much in advance, movie marketers want to engage with not just the Indian moviegoers, but also touch base with millions of international movie consumers as well."


Emraan Hashmi in and as 'Azhar', a biopic on former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin

Agrees Vivek Krishnani, senior vice president (Revenue and Marketing), MSM Motion Pictures, which is collaborating with Ekta's Balaji Motion Pictures for the 'Azhar' biopic starring Emraan Hashmi. "If you are dealing with a larger-than-life subject, you have to treat the film and its promotion in similar fashion. Azhar, the film based on one of India's most loved and yet most controversial cricketing captains, deserved the kind of buzz and build-up leading to the release of the film. So, we came out with a specially shot teaser announcement, which was perfectly timed and aired during the IPL finale," he states.

Even this film is yet to roll though an announcement of the release date has been made - May 13, 2016. "This scale of promotion places the film in the consciousness of the audience, as a movie to watch out for in 2016. Incidentally, after Azhar's announcement, a lot of other big films have taken the same route, be it Sultan or, more recently, Raees, since that helps in building perception and blocking the date as well," adds Krishnani.

Gaurav Verma, chief revenue officer, Red Chillies Entertainment, says the idea is to engage with the consumers at an early stage, to share with them what the film is all about and when are they likely to see it. And as the number of releases is increasing every year, there are no ways to differentiate them other than the cast involved. "For us, Eid was a wonderful window as 'it's this time next year' and the response was also phenomenal. Now, viewers know about the film, how it is and when it is expected. Also, in the movie business today, we are much more organised with regard to planning, prep work and the final product. Producers are spending more time on preparation, campaign planning and publicity. So, they are ready beforehand," he says.

Risks involved
Coming out with a teaser trailer much in advance arguably helps the film become a talking point. But a long gap between this event and the movie's actual release also has its set of disadvantages. With the teaser out, what are the other publicity materials to be explored when the film is just a few weeks away from hitting the marquee? What if it fades out of audience memory since it is bombarded with scores of film trailers every month? And what about the risk of overkill? Krishnani believes that there always lurks a danger of firing the shots in advance and then running out of ammunition, which has to be strategically handled. "Especially in case of the 'Azhar' biopic, we have contextualised the film and placed the premise before the audience and media, which clearly speaks about the exciting, engaging and entertaining content, thereby creating a lot of curiosity. There is also the risk of misfiring if the content fails to connect with the audience. You have to take a calculated risk and do it only if you are confident of the content," he suggests.

The Eros spokesperson says that before marketers start any movie promotion, a certain audience feedback/ research is taken into account before developing and building a strategy. "Each asset of the movie like teaser, trailer, songs and even dialogue promos needs to be backed by a different marketing strategy and spread out across a certain timeline. The objective is to keep the buzz alive among the audiences by constantly feeding them with interesting assets and ensure there is necessary anticipation before the release. Risk is involved in every business and the same goes with movie marketing. But it is important to take these risks - some may work in favour of the movie, while some wont. But ultimately, if your content is good, the results will reflect in your box office collections," he states.

Verma feels marketing campaigns today are long term and have become very specific to target audience. "A longer campaign actually helps us know what's expected and the eventual deliveries. This only has given us the flexibility to come out with a teaser so early. We don't think of it as overexposure. In fact, there is nothing such as overexposure today. Rather, you may ask if we will be able to maintain this excitement till the release next year. We think we can and are confident of maintaining it," he signs off.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Is Poonam Pandey dating Vinod Khanna's son?

Is Poonam Pandey dating Vinod Khanna's son?


Gossip mills are abuzz with rumours about Sakshi Khanna, son of veteran actor Vinod Khanna, dating model Poonam Pandey.

The youngster, who will reportedly assist Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Bajirao Mastani soon, has been promised a launch by the filmmaker himself.

A source says, "Of late, Sakshi has been pub-hopping a lot with Poonam in tow. On many occasions, the duo has been seen partying at a SoBo club till the wee hours and they were clasping each other's hands firmly. Their body language and comfort level suggested that it's not just plain friendship."

Baadshah Is Back: Watch first teaser of SRK's Raees

Baadshah Is Back: Watch first teaser of SRK's Raees


After seeing this latest offering of SRK don't know why we are feeling compelled to say that certainly there is something about SRK which makes him different from many of his contemporaries.

Be it about playing the character of a quintessential romantic hero, or being an endearing son or even an inspiring coach, SRK has done it all, and that too with élan.

But this time this King of Bollywood has returned to arena with an altogether different style and attitude.

Although so far we have seen SRK flaunting some of the most stylish avatars in his movies, but this time the story is other way round, where King Khan will be seen sporting 'surma' in his eyes, a 'taabiz' around his neck, a generous stubble and an abundance of attitude... Isn't that wow-some?


After seeing this avatar of SRK, there is no denying the fact no one can over-look this never seen before avatar of Shahrukh.

As far as plot of "Raees" is concerned then as per reports it is embedded in the Gujarat of 80s and is about a bootlegger (SRK) who lives and works on his own terms and conditions.

Besides SRK this directorial venture of Rahul Dholakia also features Farhan Akhtar, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pakistani actress Mahira Khan.

"Raees" is scheduled to release on Eid in 2016 where it will be colliding head on with Salman Khan's "Sultan".

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Bollywood celeb photos that took the internet by storm

Bollywood celeb photos that took the internet by storm


Shahid Kapoor's wedding selfie stormed the Internet last week with 17 lakh instant 'likes'. We turn our focus on Bollywood celeb pictures that went viral in no time Part of what makes the entertainment industry so exciting is the candidness with which celebrities exhibit their personal lives for their fans to see.


Shahid Kapoor with wife Mira

From uploading pictures of their fun endeavors and envy-inducing adventures on Instagram to keeping their fans up to date with their movies through Twitter, B-Town celebs just cannot seem to have enough of social media. Case in point: Shahid Kapoor's wedding selfie. All it took was the actor to upload a picture with his bride and, voila, within a day of the upload, the picture earned over 17 lakh likes on Facebook and more or less broke the Internet. hitlist takes a look at some other celeb pictures that took the online world by storm...

The Bachchan selfie

Big B, Jaya, Abhishek Aishwarya and Shweta. AB Jr

In between their hectic schedules and globetrotting, the world got to see a rare picture of all the Bachchans in one frame. The photograph featured Big B, Jaya, Abhishek Aishwarya and Shweta. AB Jr captioned the picture as 'The Birthday Boy' on the legend's 72nd birthday.

Filmy reunion

Shah Rukh Khan, Arpita Khan-Sharma and Salman Khan

All it took for this photo to go viral was a nano-second. The minute this picture became public property, it spread like wildfire considering that SRK and Salman Khan called a truce to their longstanding cold war days before Arpita Khan's wedding. To see both the Khans on the big screen is a rarity in itself, but such an aww-inducing picture of the two was bound to break the Internet.

The big one

Shah Rukh Khan with former One Direction singer Zayn Malik

What happens when one of the biggest pop stars in the world meets one of the biggest Bollywood stars? Hysteria, indeed. Shah Rukh Khan was honoured at a prestigious awards function and was seen partying with former One Direction singer Zayn Malik at the event. The duo's selfie tweet became the most re-tweeted picture in India soon after. SRK also tweeted saying 'this kid is so cool. May Allah bless him. Dinner time at the Asian awards.'

Candid and cute

Ranbir Kapoor with niece Samara

In this pic shared by Neetu Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor is seen with his niece, Samara, who looks like a spitting image of the actor. The veteran actress' Instagram game is on point and she shares several pictures of the Kapoor khandaan and personal rendezvous, but this adorable and candid picture of the superstar was instantly subject to the 'like and share' frenzy. No surprises here.

The birthday selfie

Arjun Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor and Karan Johar

If this doesn't break the Internet, what will? The combined star power of Arjun Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor and Karan Johar in one frame! The 2 States actor took to Instagram to share a picture of his birthday night and captioned it 'Epic boss!' And epic it was.

All the single ladies

Priyanka Chopra, Parineeti Chopra, Tabu and Alia Bhatt

Girls just want to have fun, don't they? And Priyanka's post testifies this fact. The actress shared a picture of herself with cousin Parineeti Chopra, Tabu and Alia Bhatt, and captioned it, 'wonderful evening with wonderful ladies.' The pic garnered 88,000 likes.

He likes to move it, move it


Varun Dhawan is a self-confessed Michael Jackson fan and as a personal tribute to the iconic King of Pop, the actor shared his picture doing a typical MJ-esque dance move. Needless to say, the picture was an instant hit.

Do You Know? Who is on Alia's speed-dial?

Do You Know? Who is on Alia's speed-dial?


One of Alia Bhatt's favorite American television shows is Better Call Saul - a dark comedy about a lawyer whom everyone calls to get them out of trouble.

The actress loves the show so much that she follows the mantra to the hilt and calls her real life Saul - mentor Karan Johar - whenever she feels things are not happening her way.

She has Karan on her speed-dial and in her phone book, his number is saved as 'Better Call Karan'.

Alia has even made sure that Better Call Saul is part of the line-up of an upcoming English entertainment channel that she is co-curating along with KJo.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

I never get trapped by people's perceptions: Arjun Kapoor

I never get trapped by people's perceptions: Arjun Kapoor

Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor, who has done films like "Gunday", "Aurangzeb" and "Tevar" doesn't like to be characterised as an action or a romantic hero, and says that he will "never get trapped by thinking about the perception" of other people.

"I think the audience likes to see films. They are not there to only see me being an action or a romantic hero. People believe in good work. So I will never ever get trapped by thinking about the perception. I will always go after the material, like I am doing with R.Balki's new film," Arjun told IANS.

Having stepped into characters with rugged looks and oodles of action in movies like "Ishaqzaade" and "Gunday", Arjun begs to differ when asked if he intends to do more romantic films, especially after the success of his "2 States".

"See, Balki's film is romantic, 'Ishaqzaade' is also an out-and-out romantic film. I've not done any action in it...i'ts set in a world that has a lot of violence and this perception is created by the media.

"We as actors never think about the perceptions that are being created or what people think," he added.

The 30-year-old actor, who was rumoured to be stepping into actor Shahid Kapoor's shoes for the film "Farzi", says that at the moment he is doing only Balki's film, which is as yet untitled.


Arjun will start shooting for Balki's project around July end, and says he is "very excited" to work with the "Paa" filmmaker and actress Kareena Kapoor Khan.

"I am pretty excited to work with two of the most talented people in our country Balki and Kareena," the "Finding Fanny" actor said, adding that it is a romantic film. But he didn't divulge any further details about the project.

On being prodded about his role in the movie, he said: "That I don't want to speak about... that should stem from the director and very soon we will give you enough material about the film.

"When the time is right we'll make sure everyone gets to know...It's something I'm very excited about because I think today's generation will really relate to the film... it deals with our generation and issues of this generation."

Why did Kat skip Neetu Kapoor's birthday bash?

Revealed: Why did Kat skip Neetu Kapoor's birthday bash?


There is this strange buzz doing the rounds about why Katrina Kaif was unable to attend Neetu Kapoor's birthday bash recently.

Some say since she was shooting for 'Jagga Jasoos', she was forced to miss it.

Strangely, however, her co-star and beau Ranbir Kapoor could make it, but not Katrina. Earlier, there were whispers about differences between Katrina and director Anurag Basu over date issues for the film's reshoot.

Truth can sometimes indeed be stranger than fiction.

Saturday, July 11, 2015

SRK's track record against me is 100 per cent

Salman Khan: SRK's track record against me is 100 per cent

Superstar Salman Khan says Shah Rukh Khan's film 'Raees' may be clashing with his 'Sultan' next Eid, but the latter has nothing to worry about as he has always had a 100 per cent record against the 'Dabangg' star.

"I have released two films with Shah Rukh -'Jaan-E-Mann' with 'Don' and 'Saawariya with 'Om Shaanti Om'.

And both the times Shah Rukh's track record was 100 per cent.

So, he has got nothing to worry about. If anyone should worry then it is me," Salman said in an interview.

Directed by Rahul Dholakia, 'Raees' is an action-thriller which will see Shah Rukh opposite Pakistani actress Mahira Khan along with Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Salman will feature in 'Sultan', whose leading lady is yet to be finalised. The movie will be produced by Aditya Chopra.

Recently SRK had said that since he and Salman have become friends now, he no longer considers their films releasing on the same day as a clash.

This Eid, Salman is looking forward to the release of 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', which also stars Kareena Kapoor.

The shooting of 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' was a tough time for Salman as the judgement on his 2002 hit-and-run case was pending.

When asked if he ever feels scared that there is so much money riding on him due to his pending projects, Salman said, "No it doesn't... why should it scare me. Does it ever scare you because that much money is not riding on you."


The 49-year-old star said 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', which releases on July 17, will bring back the innocence he had on screen in 1989 film 'Maine Pyar Kiya'.

"'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' will bring back the innocence that I had in 'Maine Pyar Kiya'. I am playing a realistic character, it is larger than life. The film is made on a grand scale. It is by far the biggest character that I have played. I have put on lot of hard work for it," he said.

'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' will reunite Salman with his 'Kick' co-star Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

"He (Nawazuddin) is a positive and hardworking man. The good part is that he hasn't allowed success to get into his head. He likes his work and is not bothered about the result," the "Bodyguard" protagonist said.

The film also has child actor Harshali Malhotra and Salman had a great experience of working with her.

"She is an amazing actor with an impeccable timing.

When and if she becomes big and becomes the lead actress she will give all the other actresses a run for the money. The first thing she told me when I met,'Aap mujhe aap ki tarah ek superstar bana do na please (Make me a superstar like you)'," Salman said.

"I thought her mother would have taught her to say it but that wasn't the case. She has set her goals at such a young age. I hope she doesn't lose her innocence with all the attention she is getting," he said.

Bollywood stars who took up crucial causes that didn't concern them

Bollywood stars who took up crucial causes that didn't concern them


With Ranbir Kapoor endorsing FTII students' demand for chairman Gajendra Chauhan's ouster, we profile a few Bollywood celebs who went out of their way to be associated with causes they were not directly linked to...

Bollywood stars are generally seen to be vocal about causes when they sign up as the face of a particular campaign. However, there are some who go the extra mile to be associated with issues that need to be discussed although they may not have a direct bearing on them. Ranbir Kapoor has added his name to the latter category by declaring his support to the ongoing students' agitation at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) centered on the controversial appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as institute chairman.

The star, who is not an FTII alumnus, says in a video released by the students' association, "It is only fair that students deserve a fair hearing of what they want. All they require is an aspirational figure to look up to... when it comes to an institute of art, I think there needs to be freedom of speech, a dialogue between the governing council and the students so everything is in harmony. I don't think what the students are asking for is illogical, all they are asking for is to give them a fair chance, a fair opportunity, correct faculty, correct syllabus. I really do pray that an institute that we all are so proud of and has seen such great personalities emerge from... shouldn't be a disappointment for student and future students."

Earlier, filmmaker Kiran Rao had also joined the students' protest in Bandra although she is not part of the FTII alumni. hitlist takes a look at B-Town celebs who lent support to a cause that didn't concern them directly...
Aamir Khan

This star is known to speak his mind on trending topics. Nearly a decade ago, Aamir found himself in the midst of a controversy for extending support to the Narmada Bachao Andolan with social activist Medha Patkar and writer Arundhati Roy. The actor had stated in many interviews that he was not exactly against a dam being constructed on the river but wanted the Gujarat government to ensure adequate rehabilitation and compensation to displaced farmers. In 2006, he had slammed the then Narendra Modi government for the 2006 Vadodara violence and hinted at the Gujarat riots without specific mention. Consequently, his film 'Fanaa' which released around the same time was banned in the state. However, Aamir refused to budge from his stand and did not apologise for his remarks. Four years ago, he once again came out in support of Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal Bill movement. He went to Delhi to show his support for Hazare's strike, although he admitted that he was not in favour of all clauses in the Bill.

Alia Bhatt

Unlike her sister Pooja and father Mahesh Bhatt, Alia doesn't count matters of the mind as her strength. But last year, she took us by surprise by shooting a video on women safety. The documentary directed by Vikas Bahl shows Alia's car breaking down in the dead of the night, leaving her stranded on the streets. It was an attempt to highlight the increasing number of rape cases across the country. Alia, in one of her interviews, said that she felt she didn't do much about social causes and this was her way of present the plight of girls.

Imran Khan

Like his uncle Aamir, Imran too likes to be expressive about causes that matter to the aam aadmi. In 2011, the actor had filed a petition against the Maharashtra government's proposal to raise the legal drinking age from 21 to 25. Imran said the proposal infringes on the fundamental rights of a citizen in a democratic country and if the government has not banned the sale of liquor, anyone above the age of 21 should be allowed to make the choice to consume it or not. While that matter is still pending in court, he shot for a video last year against the government's decision to criminalise homosexuality. Again, it was conceptualised by AIB and it had Imran talking about gay stereotypes. He also drew attention to social ills like dowry and caste system. The video received many hits and Imran earned appreciation for it.

Richa Chadda

Earlier this year, Richa took up an offer to be part of a video that focussed on Indian parents pressurising their daughters to get married early. The actress collaborated with stand-up comedian Aditi Mittal and played a bride to-be. She said humour is the best way to reach out to the youth and create awareness through social media and online videos since one can skirt censorship . As expected, Richa got an overwhelming response for her efforts from various quarters.

Kalki Koechlin

The actress has hardly, if ever, shied away from taking a stand on controversial issues. Two years ago when the nation was shaken by reports of sexual assaults on the rise, most celebrities criticised the system and the tedious legal process for justice, Kalki's YouTube video came as a whiff of fresh air. Instead of being preachy, the All India Bakchod (AIB), which conceptualised the short film, chose to expose the Indian mentality of blaming the survivor, and Kalki featured as one. It was well received by the youth and got more than four lakh views. The actress later confessed that she had taken a risk with this awareness video.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Team 'ABCD 2' creates a history again?

Team 'ABCD 2' creates a history again?

Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer dance film `ABCD 2` has crossed the Rs.100-crore-mark by minting Rs.101.91 crore in its third week, say trade experts.

With the success of the Remo D'Souza directorial, Varun has made his debut in the Rs.100-crore club

`ABCD 2`, which released on June 19, is the second Bollywood film in 2015 to enter the Rs.100 crore club after Kangana Ranaut's `Tanu Weds Manu Returns`.

`With #ABCD2, Varun Dhawan as well as director Remo D'Souza will march into Rs.100 crore club. Shraddha Kapoor's 2nd film to cross Rs.100 crore," trade analyst Taran Adarsh posted on Twitter.


The sequel of the 2013 film `ABCD: Any Body Can Dance", got the highest opening day and opening weekend collection in the year so far.

While the film's entry is Varun's first time ever in B-town's this much-hyped club, Shraddha has been there done that. Her film `Ek Villain` was her first ever Rs.100 crore-plus film.

When literally Sonakshi shocked Salman

When literally Sonakshi shocked Salman


Sonakshi Sinha (left) and Salman Khan on the sets of the music reality show 'Indian Idol Junior'.

Sallu, who was promoting his film 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', appears to be surprised by Sona's crooning abilities.

Few months ago, the actor was raving about her weight loss and now it seems like the 'Dabangg' Rajjo has sprung another shocker at my namesake.

Friday, July 3, 2015

When will Sushant return to work?

When will Sushant return to work?

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who is currently shooting for Neeraj Pandey's directorial "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story", says that he has fully recovered from the injury he had suffered few weeks ago.

The 29-year-old took to micro-blogging website Twitter to share the news of his recovery with his fans and well-wishers on Thursday.

"Thank you all for your wishes,the injury happened few weeks ago and I have completely recovered,and have also GOT The Shot perfectly, Love," Sushant tweeted.

The actor, who is being trained by former Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More for the role, reportedly injured his ribs while practicing cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni's signature 'helicopter' shot.

Bollywood stars and their fashion choices

Oomph Or Oops: Bollywood stars and their fashion choices


We give you a lowdown on Bollywood fashion that made us sit up and take notice, for good or bad reasons, in the first half of 2015...

Whether it's a red carpet appearance or a bold choice for a night out, Bollywood stars manage to grab just as much attention for their fashion choices as for their movies. While there are some who can rock a suit as well as a pair of sweatpants while getting their daily caffeine fix, at the other end of the spectrum is an exasperating bunch of actors, who despite having a personal stylist and access to the latest sartorial trends, end up making some cringeworthy fashion choices. Like every year, 2015 too has seen a mixed bag so far. hitlist tracks the stars' lookbook...

Trend Setters
Shahid Kapoor


He's proved his acting chops, but what he probably doesn't get as much credit for is his red-carpet appearances. It's safe to say that Shahid is well acquainted with what is in vogue in the men's world of style and is slowly mastering the art of sophisticated fashion.

Sidharth Malhotra

The young actor may soon master the art of casual yet sophisticated dressing. We like his mix, match, wear and flaunt dressing that exudes street fashion and almost yells out 'preppy, sporty but classy'.

Kangana Ranaut

We would like to take a bow to simply appreciate the amount of fashion risks this actress takes. From vintage hairdos to wild curls and denim rompers, she's worn them all, and worn them in style. From the actress' playful choices, it's easy to say that she is currently leading the brigade when it comes to flaunting fashion in all its outrageous glory.

Priyanka Chopra

What is praiseworthy about PeeCee's fashion sense is that it has progressed and gotten better with time. With her wavy, beach struck hair and lithe figure, she can carry off both sweats and a bohemian style dress with a quiet confidence.

Ranveer Singh

This young gun deserves a spot on this list based merely on the fact that he might be the only actor in Bollywood who experiments with his clothes and is, in all probability, not scared of making mistakes. Be it his spiffy tuxedos or Sylvester pajamas, the man can be quite a tease with all those fun clothes and yet ooze an almost debonair appeal.

Disappointments
Parineeti Chopra


Leading the gang of actors who need to hire a stylist ASAP is the "other PC". While her stylish cousin is a regular on the best-dressed lists, this actress' best efforts have often gone in vain, her look usually ending up in the trying-too-hard fashion archive.

Huma Qureshi

Fashion disaster and Huma have started to go hand in hand. We are not quite sure what's worse, the silhouette or the outfits gone terribly wrong. It's time that the actress got a new stylist.

Sonakshi Sinha

Commendable how she tries, but we have a piece of advice for the actress. With all those shoulder-accentuating, figure-hugging outfits that she's been donning, the collective body of fashion police is getting a fever. Try a loose blouse with a well fitting pair of pants, perhaps. Simple and minimal does the trick at times.

Could do better
Alia Bhatt


She's been on a roll since her debut in 2012. While her personal style is edgy, fun and chic, we do wish the young actress would dress her age a bit more and experiment with trends.

Deepika Padukone

Thanks to her svelte frame and red carpet-ready confidence, this actress rarely ever looks bad, but that right there might bethe problem. If she took a cue from her contemporaries and experimented with her clothes a bit instead of blindly aping trends from the West, she would be a fashionista in every sense of the word.

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