Parineeti Chopra: When I get ready, I expect people to see what I am wearing and comment on it!

This B-town beauty has been in the industry for around four years but she has already carved her niche. And now she is set to charm the audience with her gastronomical rom-com Daawat-e-Ishq

Parineeti Chopra will be seen romancing Aditya Roy Kapur on the big screen for the first time. The two talented actors play the lead in Habib Faisal’s directorial venture Dawaat-e-Ishq which releases tomorrow. So we recently caught up with Pari to talk about her latest offering and though she was unwell, she was more than willing to answer each and every question of ours. And she did. The Hasee Toh Phasee babe spoke about everything – from her film to co-star Aditya to competition and friendship in Bollywood. Read on to know what she said….
Daawat-e-Ishq is your first gastronomical film. Tell us about that…
Very few films have come with this kind of theme and I was excited because in a country where people love food, not many films have been made on it. So I am happy that I am a part of film where food is there, love story is there and its sweet, nice clean film.
How was it working with Aditya Roy Kapur?
Aditya, I absolutely love and adore. He is just an amazing person. I get along with him very easily coz he is also very non-filmy actor. Apart from our professional lives, the way we lead our personal lives is very similar – normal and without filmy parties and stuff. So that’s very cool about him and he is very real as well. So i loved working with him.
Did you guys try any special Lucknowi, Hyderabadi delicacies?
Yeah yeah…loads of them. In fact, we came back putting on lot of weight because both Lucknow and Hyderabad are famous for their food. It was brilliant coz every day we would look for a new place. Even if we had biryani, we would want to eat it again from a different place. So it was a lovely experience. We ate shahi tukda, firni, gosht and what not…
So did you workout on the sets since you were gorging on food most of the time?
I actually don’t workout in life. So all of it was going in and nothing was being done about it (smiles). I am quite a fit person. I am healthy coz because I like to eat healthy things but I am the kind of actress who eats in moderation…you know like I have to have a vegetable or a juice. I don’t do all those things. I balance it out. So if I have many days of bad eating then I balance it with 10 to 15 days of good eating.
Most films that released in the first of the 2014 starred the next-gen actors like you, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra and they all got cash registers jingling. So what do you have to say about the new lot leading from the front…
Its feels good, it’s nice. I think every actor is doing certain kind of films which are doing well. And I am glad for myself that there is an acceptance for us. We all love acting and we would love to do films but if we are not accepted by the audience then there is no point. So I am just happy that they have.
Also, you’ll share a great bonding. So how do you balance friendship and competition?
You know, it must be surprising for all of you but we genuinely like each other and we enjoy each other’s company. As for competition, it’s very healthy coz if I don’t like something that any other actress has done then I have the friendship to call up and tell ‘Listen, I don’t think this is cool’ or ‘l loved you in this’. And it’s vice verse. So I think somewhere friendship has taken a little more importance which is a great thing.
You have reached a stage where there is no roam for mistake, you’ll be judged for every role and film that you do. So now are you more cautious?
Even if I was the only actress in the industry, every film that I would do, you would go and judge it. Every time I would come out in public, you would review what I am wearing or how I am looking. Now there are other people. So if they do it better than you automatically there comes competition. So I don’t think you guys are doing anything wrong, we have to be prepared for that. In fact, we are doing it for that in a strange way. When we make films, we expect you to buy a ticket, go and watch and tell us what you think. So when I get ready, it’s the same thing for me. I expect you to see what I am wearing and comment on it. So I just have to do it well every time. The way I want to do good films all the time, I want to look good too.
What made you do Daawat-e-Ishq?
It is such a different film from what I have done so far in life. It’s just a sweet, happy film. There is no big mudda that we are trying to solve or no big drama in the film. There is no one USP that we are trying to sell. It’s a feel good film that’s it.
Do you cook in real life?
No, I can’t cook to save my life, I hate cooking.
Street food that you love to binge on…
Gol gappe. In Ambala and Delhi we get amazing gol gappe and chaat.
Maa ke haath ka dish that you love
My mom’s biscuit pudding. It’s amazing…she got the recipe from my nani.

Deepika Padukone gives her last word on the ‘cleavage controversy’; doesn’t want it to get more ‘undeserved headlines’

 

The Finding Fanny actor was recently outraged at being ‘objectifies’ by a leading English Daily

Ever since the controversy, a lot has been written to defend DP’s stand and also to question it. Personalities like Shobhaa De and Pooja Bedi have written columns asking what’s wrong with ‘admiring’ the actress. Now Deepika Padukone has written a strongly-worded last word to put an end to the controversy from her side. Read on what Dippy wrote in her open letter…
“There is only ONE sign that a woman wants to have sex and that is that she says “YES”.
The reason I write the above line is because we all know that in India we are so desperately trying to make a change in the way sections of our society think in order to move towards a happier world devoid of inequality, rape, fear and pain.
I am not naive about my own profession; it is one that requires lots of demanding things of me. A character may demand that I be clothed from head to toe or be completely naked, and it will be my choice as an actor whether or not I take either. Understand that this is a ROLE and not REAL, and it is my job to portray whatever character I choose to play convincingly. What my concern is and I am stating it clearly so it is not misconstrued or confused with Shah Rukh’s 8-pack or any other woman’s or man’s anatomy. I have spoken out against an ideology that such regressive tactics are still being employed to draw a reader’s attention at a time when we are striving for women’s equality and empowerment. In a time where women should be applauded for making headway in a male-dominated society,we blur the lines between REEL and REAL life and dilute all our efforts by making a one-year old back sliding piece of news a headline. Digging out an old article and headlining it “OMG: Deepika’s Cleavage Show!” to attract readers is using the power of influence to proliferate recessive thought. When an actress’ inner wear decides to do a “peek-a-boo”, she most definitely did not step out with the intention to do so. So instead of zooming in, circling it and pointing arrows at it, why don’t we give her some ‘respect’ and let it go instead of making it ‘headlines’!? Are we not human? Yes we marvel, envy and drool over a male actors 8pack abs in a film,but do we zoom in on the mans ‘crotch’ when he makes a public appearance and make that ‘cheap headlines’??!!
I have no issue celebrating my body and I have never shied away from anything on-screen to portray a character. In fact my next character portrayed is a bar dancer (sorry Farah for the spoiler!) who titillates men as a means to support her livelihood. My issue is you propagating the objectification of a REAL person,and not a character being played. Sure, dissect my characters if you wish-if it is of so much interest then discuss the character’s cup size and leg length if it is relevant to making the role convincing. All I am asking for is respect as a woman off-screen.
It is not about breasts,penises, or any other body part being reported.It is a matter of context and how out-of-context the reportage is just to sell a headline. And more so during a time in dire need of an attitude shift towards women.
For me this topic ends here. Everyone is entitled to an opinion. I have little interest to take this further as it might get more attention than it deserves and might be further misconstrued and twisted to sell more undeserved headlines.
Having said that,please may we show love,dignity and respect to each other.
Live well, laugh often and love much

5 signs that indicated Ranbir Kapoor-Katrina Kaif love story is for real!

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While a lot has been said about RK-Kat’s on and off relationship, we decided to list down five signs that told us this ajab prem ki ghazab kahaani is for real and that these two are going strong together…

Ibiza vacation
Though their Spanish escapade got busted, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif looked super comfortable with each other in the pictures which where splashed all over the media after they were leaked. While there was lot of hoopla around the whole bikini episode, it surely proved one thing – this couple wasn’t just fooling around!
Kareena Kapoor declaring Kat her sister-in-law
On Karan Johar’s chit chat show Koffee with Karan Bebo took everyone by surprise when she called Ms Kaif her sister-in-law. While the statement apparently irked RK’s father Rishi Kapoor, Kareena’s candid confession made it clear that her bhai and his ladylove were going steady in their relationship. In fact, Katrina had even bonded big time with Saif Ali Khan’s wifey at one of KJo’s parties. No wonder, Saifu’s begum knew what is brewing exactly between the lovebirds.
Moving in together
The Jagga Jasoos co-stars brought in New Year together but they returned to India separately and soon reports about them parting ways started floating around. Apparently, Jr Kapoor even told his close pals that his relationship was over since Katrina wanted commitment and he wasn’t ready. However, the duo sorted things out and were back together in no time. And then the big news about them living-in together came out. Whether they are staying under one roof, we duuno, but this piece of information confirmed that RK and Kat weren’t going to give up on their relationship so easily.
Katrina not shying away from getting clicked with her beau!
Till recently the Bang Bang actress avoided getting snapped with her boyfriend. But not too long ago, the leggy beauty was spotted seated next to RK in his car and she didn’t even shy away from the paparazzi. That certainly shows KK no longer wants to play the hide-and-seek game with the media and is super confident about her rishta.
Ranbir staying mum on Deepika Padukone’s cleavage controversy
While whole of Bollywood thinks Dippy did the right thing by lashing out at an leading daily which recently carried a story about her cleavage show, her ex-boyfriend hasn’t uttered a word on this issue despite being friends with her. But why? We all remember how Ms Padukone had given a statement during Kat’s bikini episode, no? Well, that obviously didn’t do down well with the Jab Tak Hain Jaan gal. And by staying silent on Deepika’s matter, the Barfi! actor is sending out a clear message- He is with Katrina and won’t do anything which could create trouble in his paradise.

Khoobsurat movie review: Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan’s fairytale is insanely cute!

 

Sonam Kapoor and Pakistani actor Fawad Khan come together for a remake of Rekha and Rakesh Roshan starrer Khubsoorat. Set against a royal background, is this story of a misfit meeting Price Charming worth a watch? Read on to find out…

What’s it about?
I have always felt that when a team of filmmakers and actors join forces to work on a remake they work under severe pressure of outshining or at least living up to the original film. I am certain that the makers of Khoobsurat also came together with the same baggage. After all, recreating a Hrishikesh Mukherjee classic is no child’s play. So the makers decided to keep the essence of the original film intact, by narrating the story of a misfit who is injected into a royal household and how she manages to infect the Rajasthan Royals (pun not intended) with her free-spiritedness. Sonam plays this misfit and Fawad is the hottest royal in the house. Though called upon to treat the king, the quirky physiotherapist annoys everyone in the house at first, but slowly teaches everyone to live ’khulke’. Prince Vikram Singh Rathod (Fawad) proceeds to be smitten by Dr Mili Chakravarty’s (Sonam) antics and though he is betrothed to another, he manages to find his happily ever after with the former.
What’s hot?
Sonam Kapoor has been skewered by critics film after film for ‘just being a pretty face and not so much of an actress”. But with Khoobsurat she has salvaged her reputation although to put it in her words (she says this in the film) “improvement ka bahut scope hai”. Coming to Fawad, the debutante we all were looking out for; I certainly see him walking back home all smiles not just with praise but also promising movie offers. The actor knows his craft and given the space he is allowed in a women-centric film, he has shone brightly. The chemistry between the lead pair is so adorable that you will find yourself going ‘aww’ at their romance (or even feel your heart turn gooey.) I have to add that apart from the lead actors Khoobsurat wouldn’t have been half as entertaining had it not been for Ratna Pathak Shah and Kirron Kher. As the two polar opposite mommies, these veterans have not so surprisingly given solid performances. The additional elements like background score and music in the film are bang on, adding value to the overall fairy-tale quality of the film.
What’s not?
I could sense that director Shashank Ghosh was caving under the pressure of matching up to Hrishikesh Mukherjee. While the effort was commendable, the direction could have been better. There is a funny kidnapping sequence in the film which could have been the highlight of the film but it fell flat due to poor direction. What else bothered me about the film were the “almost-kisses” shared by Sonam and Fawad. In today’s day and age where actors are comfortable with onscreen lip-locks, the no real kissing policy followed in Khoobsurat came across as a little juvenile. But then again it worked in keeping with the fairytale-esque treatment of the film. My biggest qualm with Khoobsurat was how Sonam held back from giving an unrestrained performance. Though on the whole she is endearing, an uninhibited and wacky portrayal of a misfit would have left a lasting impression on the viewers…
Verdict
Khoobsurat is entertaining, fun and paisa-vasool. If you have been wondering “what’s all the fuss about Fawad Khan?”, don’t miss this one!

Hema Malini becomes the most hated person on social media – Find out why!

Read to find out more….

Hema Malini, who is also a Lok Sabha BJP MP, has landed in a major controversy. She has been accused of making insensitive remarks about widows. Reportedly, the actress said that widows from Bengal and Bihar should not crowd Vrindavan, which is a holy city in Uttar Pradesh and home to thousands of destitute women.
“If they (widows) are not from here then there is no need for them to come here from other states. There are many famous temples in Bengal and Bihar too, where they can stay,” Bollywood’s dream girl was quoted saying.
That’s not all. She further added, “There are 40,000 widows in Vrindavan. I think there is no more place in the city. A large population is coming from Bengal… that’s not right. Why don’t they stay in Bengal? There are nice temples there. The same is true for those from Bihar.”
Naturally, Hema received a lot of flak on social media post this statement. The actress became the most hated person after her quote came out. However, Hema soon took to Twitter to clarify her stand. Here is what she said…
She further stated that she would be on Times Now tonight to talk about her statement. Well, we are really looking forward to what she has to say about her controversial statement.
What are your thoughts BollywoodLifers

Yeh Hai Mohabbatein: Has Sanjana’s lie damaged Raman and Ishita’s relationship?

  Ishita is upset upon learning that Raman and Sanjana used to be in a relationship. Will Sanjana’s lie be the cause of a rift between Raman and Ishita forever? Read on to know more…

In the last episode, we saw Sanjana(Arshima Thapar) telling Ishita(Divyanka Tripathi) that she and Raman(Karan Patel) used to be in a relationship and he is the reason for her rift with brother Mihir. She informed her that after their breakup, Raman blamed her for the failed relationship and asked Mihir to stay away from her as well. Ishita was upset upon learning the same and was seen picking up a fight with Raman. The episode ended with her having a quarrel with Raman, saying that he did not do the right thing by hiding things from her.
In the upcoming episode, we will see Raman asking Ishita to spill the beans on why she is upset. Ishita will tell him to speak up first and only then will she reveal the reason. Raman will be seen getting fed up of her tantrums and leaving the room. Further, Ishita will be seen inviting Sanjana for Mihir’s Tilak function. When questioned by Sanjana, on what basis will she have the right to attend the function, Ishita will inform her that she is Raman’s wife and hence Mihir is her devar. Sanjana will be shocked.
Will Sanjana’s lie put her in big trouble now that she is aware of the fact that Raman and Ishita are married? Stay tuned to find out!

Is Shahid Kapoor expecting Haider to get picked for the Oscars ?

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The actor was recently quoted giving his two bits on Indian film selections at Academy Awards

Shahid Kapoor is busy promoting Haider. While he has full faith in the film doing well at the box office, he also knows that it is not a typical masala Bollywood film. Haider is being promoted commercially but by the looks of its promos we can tell that it falls in the parallel cinema category.
About his film not being mainstream Shahid was quoted saying, “Sometimes you see a lot of films that are not considered mainstream and tend to get picked up [for the Oscars] because those film-makers don’t have worries like, ‘How will I make the people of this country like it?’ They make cheaper, smaller and tighter films, and want to experiment with the kind of audience that might like it.”
Now it may be a long shot but we think that Sasha is mildly hoping that his film Haider, also starring, Shraddha Kapoor, reaches the Oscars race! What do you think

Another MJ tribute? Varun Dhawan gets Michael Jackson tattoo

Not just Bollywood actors but a million of people are 'die hard fan of MJ' around the world. But suddenly this new trend of paying tribute to Michael Jackson has gripped our industry. After Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff, Varun Dhawan is the latest to join the league.

The ABCD 2 actor was recently spotted with a Michael Jackson tattoo on his right arm. 

Few months back Tiger Shroff had released a sensational tribute video for the late king of pop and proved his dancing capabilities. And recently the title track of Bang Bang features Hrithik pulling off some signature style MJ moves with his own twist.

Varun was spotted getting out of his car, when suddenly the cameras caught the tattoo on his right arm.

Though we are not sure whether the tattoo is temporary gimmick for the film publicity or permanent.

Salman Khan's punctuality bowls over Sooraj Barjatya

Director Sooraj Barjatya who directed Salman Khan about 15 years ago must not have expected this, thanks to stories about the superstar turning up late for shoots.

To his surprise, Salman is reportedly punctual for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo shoots.

According to reports, usually calm and chilled out Salman is taking his role in this family drama seriously. He is not only dedicated but also turns up on time for the shoots.

Salman will be seen in double role after a long gap of about 14 years. He was last seen in double role in Judwaa (2007).

The film is scheduled for a Diwali 2015 release and will also star Sonam Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh in pivotal roles.

Sunny Leone to do One Night Stand with Rana Daggubati

The Jism 2 star will now be seen with the Dum Maaro Dum actor. Read on to find out what the two are upto…
Sunny Leone seems to be on a signing spree. After her Ragini MMS 2 did great business at the box office, Sunny signed two more films – Tina and Lolo and Mastizaade. And now she has been roped in for One Night Stand as well.

The actress is now busy shooting for Mastizaade along with co-stars Vir Das and Tusshar Kapoor and she is playing the role of twin sisters in the film. She also has Tina and Lolo with Karishma Tanna already in the pipeline. And now, she has signed One Night Stand opposite South star Rana Daggubati.

The film will yet again be an erotica fantasy directed by Jasmine D’Souza and will go on floors soon.

Ek Hasina Thi: Will Sakshi succeed in convincing Shaurya to break off his marriage with Durga?

Sakshi seeks Karan’s help to manipulate Shaurya in ending his union with Durga. Will her attempt be fruitful? Read on to know more…
In the last episode, we saw Sakshi (Simone Singh) entering Shaurya’s (Vatsal Sheth) room and asking him to get rid of the escort. Shaurya was shocked upon seeing his mother and asked her to give him some privacy. Sakshi was seen taking Shaurya home and greeting the Thakurs at the dinner which was being hosted by Rajnath (Ayub Khan) and her. Further, Sakshi was seen asking Karan to help her in convincing Shaurya to break his marriage with Durga (Sanjeeda Sheikh). Karan took up the challenge and said he would carry out the same without fail. The episode ended with Dev (Bhuvnesh Mann)wondering on how he could stop Durga and Shaurya’s wedding.

In the upcoming episode, we will see Durga being caught up in a tricky situation. Kangana and Suchitra will be seen having a secret conversation. Durga will enter the room at the same time, which will infuriate the two. Suchitra will take a dig at Durga, asking her how she had the nerve to come and visit them. Durga will be confused and will ask them what the issue is all about.

Have Kangana and Suchitra come to know of Durga’s secret? Why are they upset with her? Will Sakshi’s move to stop Durga and

Bang Bang song teaser: Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif’s sizzling chemistry to set the screens on fire!

The makers of Bang Bang have released the teaser of Bang Bang title track and they just know how to define the teaser, we have to admit. After watching this 15 second video, one would definitely crave for more.

And going by the teaser, we are sure Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif will get everyone talking with their sizzling chemistry in this sensuous dance number, which is their tribute of sorts to the Late King Of Pop – Michael Jackson.

Talking about the song and him doing Michael’s moves, Hrithik says, “I have idolised Michael Jackson since the time I first moved to a dance beat, I remember learning the moves through play pause mode for hours. I love his style and energy so when Bosco and Sid (Siddharth Anand) said Micheal Jackson, at first I thought there’s no way I could match up, but then I reframed that and did it for my love for him in my own style, my own way and where there is love, there is no fear. That made it fun. The Bang Bang title track itself is outstanding which empowered me further. It’s my ode to the inspiration he has been. This is an out-an-out dance/party track. It’s high on glamour, scale and Katrina and I have danced our hearts out.”

Well well, we just can’t wait to watch the full song, which is set to come out tonight. Meanwhile watch the teaser here and tell us if you are excited, just like us.

Shahid Kapoor looks better with Shraddha Kapoor than Alia Bhatt!

Sasha will soon be seen with Ms Bhatt in Vikas Bahl’s next
In a poll recently conducted by BollywoodLife, he found out that fans like Shahid Kapoor paired with Shraddha Kapoor better than his jodi with Alia Bhatt. Shraddha and Shahid will soon be seen together in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider and their camaraderie has become quite popular with their fans. As Haider and Arshia, their romance and chemistry in the film especially in the song Khul Kabhi Toh has been loved by the audiences…

Recently, Alia posted a picture of herself with Shahid from the sets of Shandaar and the couple looked insanely good together! However in the poll, the fans voted more for the Haider jodi (they received 56 percent of the total votes) than the Shandaar couple. Perhaps, the opinion will change once viewers get to see more of Shahid and Alia in Shandaar, agree?

Yeh Hai Mohabbatein: Was Raman having an affair with Sanjana before marrying Ishita?

Sanjana informs Ishita about her past relationship with Raman and holds him responsible for the tiff between her and Mihir. Is Sanjana speaking the truth? Read on to know more…

In the last episode, we saw Shagun(Anita Hassanandani) narrating her mushy moments with Raman(Karan Patel), claiming that he was the most romantic man he had ever been with. Ishita(Divyanka Tripathi) upon hearing Shagun’s tales, was jealous and upset. But things took a turn as she and Raman were seen sharing a a special moment of their own. Raman was seen encouraging Ishita to step out of the car and have a romantic dance with him in the rain. The couple was seen doing the same and catching a bad cold the next day!

In the upcoming episode, we will see Sanjana(Arshima Thapar) making a sly move in order to create a wedge between Raman and Ishita. She will tell Ishita that she holds Raman responsible for her tiff with Raman. When being questioned upon why she thinks the same, she will lie to Ishita, saying that Raman was in a relationship with her before he married Ishita and the two were deeply in love. This in turn will shock Ishita.

Will Ishita choose to believe Sanjana blindly or would she confront Raman first?

Jackyy replaces Irrfan

Vashu Bhagnani is heaving a sigh of relief, having found a replacement for Irrfan Khan in his own son. Now, Jackky Bhagnani will essay the role in Welcome To Karachi.
Vashu says that Rohit Shetty and his assistant in the Golmaal series, Ashiesh Mohan (who is directing his film), decided on Thursday that Jackyy would be apt.

"I'm sure that my son will do a good job," said a confident Vashu from London on Friday. Earlier, he had groused that he has lost a lot of money because of Irrfan's decision (Mirror, September 10).

Buzz is, Irrfan walked out of the project as he didn't want to work the British actress Vashu has cast in the film. Says Irrfan, "Not just the actress, even the other actors who were supposed to be working with me on the project, are not there in the final cast.Co-actors are very crucial for this film to work."

Vashu's rejoinder is, "It's the director's prerogative whom to cast.Ashiesh wanted a British girl in the lead. She goes by the name KK in London and can emote well. Ashiesh and I are fully aware of what we are doing."He added that Irrfan has returned only a part of the money so far. "He has given me one cheque, a certain amount is still pending."

Meanwhile, Jackyy's co-star, Arshad Warsi wants to complete the film in one schedule, and Vashu is all prase for him: "Arshad has stood by me through this crisis. He's worked with Jackky in F.A.L.T.U. and is kicked about working with him again."

Mirror also has it that, after a decade, Anand-Milind will make a comeback as composers in Welcome to Karachi

The BEST PK poster yet? VOTE!

 

The latest one, unveiled by Rajkumar Hirani on Twitter on September 15, has Aamir in a cop's uniform looking endearingly harmless.

Quite a curious picture, isn't it?

 

The one unveiled before the one above had Aamir dressed in a wedding bandwallah outfit, another amusing sight to say the least.

 

The first one, and by far the most sensationalist of all, saw AK bare all.

Needless to say, quite a few people even took an offence to it.

Anupam and Kirron Kher battle it out at the box office!

This Friday, the Khers seem to be competing against each other.
Kirron Kher plays Sonam Kapoor's mother in Khoobsurat, as the latter takes on Ratna Pathak Shah's character.
The other release of the week is Daawat-e-Ishq, where Anupam Kher plays one of the three leads with Aditya Roy Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra.
Remind him of the domestic war brewing at the box office and Anupam shrugs, “I’ve seen too many years in this industry to think of competition with anyone, least of all my own wife. Having said that, I must say there is a place for everyone under the sun. I am in August company in September.”
Kirron Kher, on the other hand, claims she is too busy with her parliamentarian duties to think about the competition with her husband.
"I am not even thinking about it. I am on the way to my constituency Chandigarh after attending the Standing Committee’s meeting on Home Affairs. So I am in a different mindset. But since you are asking about it, I want both movies to do well," she says.

Naseeruddin Shah: Not sure if I'll pen second half of autobiography

Naseeruddin Shah

Seasoned actor Naseeruddin Shah, who quietly released his autobiography, says he hasn't chronicled his entire life in the book and is unsure if he would pen the second half or not!

One can read about his first marriage, daughter Sheeba, professional ups and downs and how he wooed and wed his present wife Ratna in his autobiography titled "And Then One Day", which took him four years to complete.

"I didn't keep it as a secret. I just thought I will never complete it," Naseer told IANS in an interview.

"And Then One Day", which hit the stands in the first week of September, didn't happened just like that.

His journey has been vast, experiences have been varied and accolades and appreciations have been aplenty, but the book is the result of his boredom.

"I began to write it because I was bored. I have written some articles in the past for few magazines and I enjoyed writing. But I didn't think I will complete a book," said the 64-year-old who has done about 200 films in a career spanning over four decades.

He wrote it as long as he could stand it.

"Then I gave it up. Then I thought what the hell is the point of writing this. Later after a gap of a year or two, I wrote my experiences with people who influenced me, so Ratna said why don't you put this all together in sequence. So I did that," said the actor.

From theatre to parallel cinema to mainstream movies, from crossover cinema to international film, Naseer's oeuvre boast of variety and quality. Thanks to that, he was honoured with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, India's third and fourth highest civilian awards, for his contribution to Indian cinema.

However, the autobiography doesn't chronicle every stage of his life.

"I have completed the story up to my second wedding. But I don't know whether I will write the second half or not...it will take another 12 years at least, but I am not sure about that," said Naseer won prestigious National Awards of "Sparsh", "Paar" and "Iqbal".

Was your wife Ratna the driving force behind the autobiography?

"No, it was not Ratna. Ratna was curious about it, but the driving force was Ramchandra Guha, who read one of my articles on (former Indian cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan) Pataudi and said he liked it and I was very kicked about that.

"He asked me have you written anything else, so I gave him these (first) 100 pages (of the book). He liked it and said you have to finish this because don't wait too long life is uncertain and don't wait to write about your entire life. He was my unofficial editor before I found a publisher," said Naseer.

Neha Dhupia refuses 'Julie 2'

Neha Dhupia

Former Miss India Neha Dhupia, who created a stir in Bollywood with the bold film "Julie" in 2004, has refused to star in its sequel.

Neha played a prostitute in the film.

"Yes, I was offered 'Julie 2'. But I refused it because that's not something I want to do right now," the 34-year-old said here Tuesday in an interview.



Neha, who will soon be seen in the comedy-drama "Ikkis Topon Ki Salami", wants to experiment with differents kind of cinema.

"I'm very interested in doing different kind of cinema. When I did 'Julie', I wanted to do it, but right now I am not interested (in it)," she said.

Neha also tried her hand at Punjabi films in 2013, making her debut with Jimmy Shergill-starrer "Rangeelay".

In Hindi filmdom, she is awaiting the release of Karan Johar's production "Ungli."

Priyanka Chopra’s Mary Kom, Kangana Ranaut’s Queen or Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani: Which women centric film impressed you the most?

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Though the Khans and Kapoors are known to rule the box office, the first half of 2014 truly belonged to the leading ladies of B-town courtesy women centric films. So BL readers vote and tell which one is your favoruite?

Dedh Ishqiya: Abhishek Chaubey’s dark comedy thriller was the first women centric film which released this year. Starring Madhuri Dixit-Nene and Huma Qureshi in the lead alongside Naseerudin Shah and Arshad Warsi, Dedh Ishqiya managed to impress the critics’ big time but failed to rake in moolah at the ticket windows. Initially the film couldn’t pull in crowd to the theatres but later it did to an extent courtesy positive word-of-mouth.
Queen: After Dedh Ishqiya came Kangana Ranut starrer Queen. Vikas Bahl’s directorial venture turned out to be a surprise package as the chick flick impressed the critics and audience alike. That’s not all! The quirky comedy also charmed many Bollywood bigwigs like Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan who praised the curly-haired babe on Twitter. With this film, Ms Ranaut once again proved her mettle as an actor and also the fact that you don’t need a Khan or a Kapoor to deliver a hit.
Gulaab Gang: Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla’s highly anticipated film released alongside Kangana’s Queen. Though the film did not witness an earth shattering opening at the box office, the dhak dhak gal and her co-star’s performance was widely appreciated.
Revolver Rani: Apart from Queen, Kangana had one more release in the first half of 2014 – Revolver Rani co-starring Vir Das. After Queen turned out to be a crowd puller, expectations were sky high from the actress and her second women-centric film. While the crime drama failed to get cash registers jingling, the leading lady of the film did manage to shine.
Bobby Jasoos: Dia Mirza’s production venture starring the very talented Vidya Balan was touted as one of most-awaited films of this year. While Sidharth Roy Kapur’s wifey charmed everyone with her acting prowess, the detective drama did just about okay business at the box office.
Mardaani: Then came Rani Mukerji’s comeback film and Yash Raj Films boldest project ever – Mardaani. The B-town’s beauty’s cop act was mighty impressive and she also proved a heroine’s career isn’t over after marriage.
Mary Kom: Omung Kumar’s directorial venture based on the life of Indian boxing champion MC Mary Kom released recently. Starring Priyanka Chopra in the lead, this biopic has been appreciated by one and all across the country. In fact, at many places the film has been announced tax free. While Ms Chopra has one more hit under her credit, what’s gratifying is the fact that audiences are now more accepting of women centric films.
Bollywoodlifers we have done our job, now it’s your turn to vote and tell us whose film impressed you the most? So get started right away….

Aditya Roy Kapur: Parineeti and I share a silly sense of humour that most people don’t find funny!

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His last two films – Aashiqui 2 and Yeh Jawaani Hai Dewaani – were blockbusters. Ironically, he played an alcoholic in both of them but in his latest film Aditya Roy Kapur will be seen in a completely different avatar and he says it’s good for him and the audience as well…

For the first time, Aditya Roy Kapur will be seen sharing screen space with Parineeti Chopra in Habib Faisal’s upcoming gastronomical rom-com Dawaat-e-Ishq. The B-town hunk is also playing a chef onscreen. That’s not all! His look in the film is very different too. So there is a lot that the audience would get to see of Aditya in his latest offering. And while wethinks it’s great, the talented actor shares the same sentiment. We recently caught up with the handsome lad to talk about Dawaat-e-Ishq which releases this Friday and the first thing we noticed was how much weight he had lost. And that’s how we started our conversation….
You look quite slim for somebody who has been gorging on food in the film?
This is my punishment after doing Dawaat-e-Ishq to have no food in my life anymore. It was really tough to just resist eating food while shooting coz we were in Lucknow and Hyderabad and food over there is just so amazing. In fact, we gradually put on weight as we kept shooting so the continuity had gone for a toss coz suddenly I had a stomach n all (laughs). Now I am preparing for my next film Fitoor so I have to lose weight.
You are apparently not a very good cook. So how difficult was it for you to play a chef in the film?
I am not a cook only. But it was not much about knowing the recipes. It was more about looking like you’re comfortable in the kitchen, with the kadhai and all the hand actions that you do while cooking. So if you can do that then it doesn’t look like you’re faking….
But even that’s not easy….
Yes, it’s not easy so I spent some time with my dad. My dad and mom both are wonderful cooks. And my dad looks like as if he has been in the kitchen his whole life. So I helped him around the kitchen, just simple things to get me well versed with the basics. Also, he chops very fast so I learnt how to chop from him and I practiced that for few days coz that was going to be in the film. As an actor you have to be smart about what’s going to be on camera and learn that much. There is no use of suddenly going to a culinary school and all that.

In the film, you’re from Lucknow. So how much did you work on your language?
Luckily, I didn’t have to work as much as Pari had to on language coz she had to speak Dakhni. This guy, he is not very thick with his accent. He is dealing with whole bunch of people from all over the world coz he has this famous place in Lucknow so just the pronunciations had to be good.
Coz of your previous two films you had this image of drunkard hero. So at some level one of the reasons why you did this film was to break that image?
I definitely wanted to do something different and something challenging. But it wasn’t like I was looking for something different. It had to come to me normally. So luckily when I read the script and I got the call for this film, I was really interested in experimenting and getting challenged like this. You know doing something and going to a world you’re not a part of. And the biggest thing was that Habib Faisal was the writer director and he has made such wonderful films. Also, he knew that world. So if you’re going somewhere you don’t know, you should go with someone who knows to guide you. As for breaking the image, I think doing this film was a good opportunity for me and it will be good for the audience as well.
How was it working with Parineeti Chopra? Because she told us that you guys are pretty much same in real life…
You know, we share a similar sense of humour. I don’t know as people how similar we are but we laugh at the same kind of things and have this silly sense of humour that most people don’t find funny. I think filmmaking is sometimes a boring process so it’s a blessing if you have someone you get along with and that’s what we found on this film. We really crack each other up and one of the great things to come out of this film is to have met Anupam Kher. He is so amazing and such a great influence on us. So the three of us were together a lot.
Did you learn to cook something during the film for your future wife?
Nothing… I would love to cook for my future me also but unfortunately I did not learn to cook anything. But I learned how to make those rumali roti’s and that too just how to flip it and make it big.
Street food that you love gorging on…
I love dahi batata puri, sev puri, bhel puri and shikh roll