Hrithik Roshan, who is recuperating from a knee surgery, is all set to appear in the comedy "Krazzy 4", his father's first production without him as a hero. Hrithik, who has just returned from two weeks in Singapore, now leaves for Australia for further recuperation. He will return to perform an intricate item number for "Krazzy 4". To be directed by Raja Sen, the film is a comedy and stars Arshad Warsi, Irrfan Khan, Suresh Menon and Rajpal Yadav.
"Well, people always wondered how I could make a film without Hrithik. So here he is, all set to do his career's first item song," Rakesh Roshan said. "My brother Rajesh Roshan has already recorded the song and I'm putting up an elaborate set for the song to be shot in March 2008. However, let me warn Hrithik's fans, if I feel his knee is not up to it, I won't shoot the song," added the concerned father.
In fact, senior Roshan too has decided to take a long sabbatical from direction. But hold on. He is producing a film that is to start in July 2008 and will feature Hrithik in a never-before avatar.
"It's an action thriller with a strong love story at its heart. Anurag Basu, whom both me and Hrithik think very highly of, is directing the film for us," revealed Rakesh. It's been a time of turmoil for Hrithik. A troublesome knee injury finally decided to act up seriously.
"The doctors told him he needed to rest the knee completely, and I mean completely; otherwise it would give way. The injury got aggravated from all the stunts in his recent films, including 'Krrish'. "It got to a point where his knee gave way completely. The doctors said he had to take complete rest for two months or face the consequences," said Rakesh explaining the problem.
The year 2007 has been a quiet year for Rakesh as a director. "And so it will remain in 2008. I'm not directing any film. As I said Anurag Basu will direct my son in our next production. I've spent 40 years in the movie business and enjoyed every second of it, but now I need to devote time to my family, and to myself.
"I want to watch my grandson grow up. My hands are as full with production work as I want it to be." He promises "Krazzy 4" will be unlike the avalanche of comedies that have hit us in recent times.
"It's a funny film. But it's neither slapstick nor vulgar. Very frankly, I am very confused by the kind of films that are doing well. Audiences don't want us to make anything that pushes the envelope. I'd rather not direct films than make the kind of films that click these days."
Source:- http://www.headlinesindia.com/entertainment/index.jsp?news_code=66906

Ace cameraman-filmmaker Santosh Sivan is all set for his next directorial venture 'Daastan', starring Rahul Bose, Victor Banerjee, Sarika and Anupam Kher. The shooting of the movie has already started and is said to be based on a burning issue. However, every unit member is reluctant to disclose that issue.
'Daastan' is expected to be like Sivan's most celebrated movie 'The Terrorist' (1999). Interestingly, Sivan has directed Bollywood top star Shahrukh Khan in 'Ashoka' which ufortunately failed badly at box office. On asking about the theme of the movie none of the actor gave any clue except Victor Banerjee, who just disclosed that movie is being shot in the most volatile part of the country. Victor expressed his excitement on being featured in Daastan saying, that he has never done a film like this which has a powerful theme.
Source:- http://www.headlinesindia.com/archive_html/05December2007_65034.html

The American company, Film Independent, which honours independent films and filmmakers across the world has announced nominations for its 2008 Spirit Awards. And one of the contenders is Indian actor Irrfan Khan. He is rubbing shoulders in the best supporting actor category with the stalwarts of world cinema like Steve Zahn, Marcus Carl Franklin and Kene Holliday for his performance as Tabu's silently progressive husband in "The Namesake".
The Spirit Awards, held a few days prior to the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles, are usually seen as a precursor to the Oscars.
The unconventional looking Indian actor Irrfan can barely contain his surprise. "Mira Nair got the hugely prestigious Gotham award, and I was there to watch this historic moment," he said. "Barely 24 hours later comes this announcement about me. The Spirit award is to me every bit as prestigious as the Oscars. Unlike the Oscars, it's a totally independent award based entirely on merit rather than lobbying. So whoever gets nominated, gets in there solely by merit. I'm honoured to be rubbing shoulders with the likes of Don Cheadle, Frank Langella and Philip Seymour Hoffman (all nominated in the best-actor category). Philip is my favourite actor in the world."
In fact, Irrfan met his favourite actor after the Gotham awards at a party. "His versatility has always taken my breath away. He started with just two scenes in 'Scent Of A Woman'. Somewhere I identify with him. When I met him it was a dream come true."
Source:- http://www.headlinesindia.com/archive_html/05December2007_65010.html

Bollywood actor Rani Mukherji may have to pay Rs 2.1 million to local authorities for the controversial plot of land she has bought near Shirdi in Maharashtra, officials said on Tuesday. "An inquiry over the illegal transaction and cancellation of the previous revenue records were made on tuesday," said Ahmed Nagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nandkumar Suryavanshi over telephone.
The star's private secretary and her lawyer on Tuesday attended the first hearing of the case related to the land deal in the Sub-Divisional Magistrate's office at Ahmed Nagar.
Suryavanshi further stated that, according to Section 29 of the Land Ceiling Act, Mukherji will have to pay 75 per cent of the market value of the land to the government. Thus, she will have to pay Rs.2.1 million.
Mukherji had bought 11 guntas of land in 2005 from an agent, Sampat More. The property comes under the category of a new tenure land, which can be bought only with the permission from a competent authority of the district. More had not registered the property in his name when he bought it in the 1980s and sold it to the actor who purchased it without verifying the documents, landing in trouble. The district authority has not chosen not to transfer the land in her name till the inquiry is completed.
Mukherji has been summoned on December 31 for the second hearing. The final hearing and the judgement will be given by the divisional commissioner later.
Source:- http://www.headlinesindia.com/archive_html/05December2007_64980.html

Madhuri Dixit's comeback film 'Aaja Nachle' has failed to kindle fire at box office even after being involved in controversy which generally act as a catalyst for a film's business. The Box Office gives a poor report of the Madhuri starer. The movie opened with a poor response of 25 to 30 per cent across the country and is still struggling in pulling crowd to the theater. This is a severe blow to the Yash Raj Films as there last venture ?Laga Chunri Me Daag? too fell off at the box office.
According to the vice president of operation at Fun Cinema, Deepak Taluja, 'Aaja Nachle' hasn't got a great opening as compared to other Yash Raj movies. "The film registered 50 to 55 per cent occupancy in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. With up to 60 per cent in Rajasthan and Mumbai it was a little better over the weekend. Only in Bangalore we recorded 90 to 95 per cent occupancy," he said. However, seeing the curiosity among the masses following the ban, the business of the movie is expected to rise in the coming days.
The movie was earlier banned in UP, Punjab and other states following the protest by the Dalit community over the objectionable line of the title song in the movie- 'Mohhale me kaisi maara maar hai, bole mochi bhi khud ko sunar hai.' However, after the apology from Yash Chopra and the removal of the offensive lyrics, the ban was lifted.
The weak response of the movie after the failure of 'Laaga Chunri Me Daag' is also an evidence of the fact that women oriented movie are still not on the priority list of the audience in India.
Source:- http://www.headlinesindia.com/archive_html/05December2007_64933.html

Australian speedster Brett Lee, will be seen soon in a Bollywood film based on cricket. The film titled 'Victory,' featuring Brett Lee is to be directed by Ajit Pal and will also feature former Australian cricket legend Allan Border and Lee's fellow cricketer Mike Hussey and Jason Gillespie and some other international cricketers. Speaking about his debut in Bollywood, Lee whose album with Asha Bhonsle, 'You're The One for Me' released in 2007 said, "I am excited for making my Bollywood debut in 'Victory' and I'm hopeful that the role of a cricketer will come naturally to me."
The shooting of the film will commence in Australia in January 2008 during the India-Australia cricket series and will feature more than 20 current and recent cricket stars from around the globe. This is a huge boost of Indo-Australian film trade that most of the recent Indian movie are being shot in Australia. Earlier, the biggest hit of 2007 'Chak De' and 'Hey Baby' were also shot in Australia.
Apart from the Australian cricketers the movie has Harman Baweja, who recently shot his debut futuristic film "Love Story 2050" set in South Australia, in main lead and Anupam Kher, Amrita Rao and Gulshan Grover in other important roles. The movie 'Victory' is the directorial debut of Ajit Pal and will be produced by India's leading production house 'AdLab.'
Source:- http://www.headlinesindia.com/archive_html/04December2007_64883.html

The marketing strategies of big retail companies does not seem to think beyond associating Bollywood glitterati with the brand in their wild chase for recognition and publicity. While the brand effortlessly gets a recognition as soon as a celeb is tuned in, the celebs do not return empty handed either. It is a give-and-take relationship that the brands share with the illustrious cream of the crop. No! We are not talking about money that the celebrities make with this association. Rather, they get a favourable opportunity to promote their upcoming ventures. One such hot topic which was in the news was Shah Rukh Khan being accused of using cricket as a platform to promote his new venture 'Om Shanti Om'. Another instance that can be cited is Deepika Padukone's recent visit to the capital to inaugurate a store where she couldn't stop gushing about her debut venture 'Om Shanti Om'. These are just two from a pool of innumerable examples. The nation's Capital - an impregnable target of all the incoming brands - recently saw another such afternoon of mushy brand-celeb relationship.
Pushing up the tempo of its retail foray, the 'Gitanjali Group' has initiated a flurry of activities to boost consumer interest in its sparkling silverware collection at their exclusive Gruppo Greggio store. Following its credo of raising shopping experience to a higher plane, Bollywood landed at the store on Sunday afternoon. Jimmy Shergill, Dia Mirza, Mausumi Udeshi along with producer/director Sanjay Gupta visited the Greggio showroom located in Gurgaon - satellite town of Delhi, undoubtedly for a lucrative reason.
The Bollywood stars came to the city, probably unfamiliar with the intricacies of the silverware at the Greggio store. But they sure were acquainted with their soon to be released film 'Dus Kahaniyan'. It cant be a co - incidence that all three are a part of the film and were present at the same time at the same do. They came. Delhiites witnessed. And they left with a mark of their upcoming film. But just how much leverage are they going to get out if this visit, only time and the audience can tell.
"It is always a special occasion and a pleasure for us when celebrities lend their aura to our products and stores," said Mehul Choksi, Chairman, Gitanjali Gems. Tell us something we do not know!
Source:- http://www.headlinesindia.com/archive_html/04December2007_64882.html