December 2006

Sunday, December 31, 2006

Hollywood Movie and Bollywood Movie

A Hollywood movie named Babel starred by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett is based on a good mythological background where diversity is seen playing the leading role and some groups of people from different background is seen in the same plot.

‘I See You’ is going to be released very soon. The movie is based on a TV show star who seeks love from different sex and using his popularity take the advantages from opposite sex.

MUSEUM KE ANDAR PHANS GAYA SIKANDAR is another movie which is not originally made by Bollywood rather it is the Hindi version of Hollywood movie. The mail version is named ‘Night at the Museum’. In the movie a guard of a museum is seen to face some horrible but humorous incidents.

The Hindu

Mona Singh (Jassi) Joining Bollywood Movies

Mona Singh, a popular star in India, is going to host a reality show on television named `Extreme Makevover' where acid victims will get treatment by a panel of doctors. Recently, Mona Singh launched a super store in Delhi. In the ceremony Mona was seen with her smiling face.

Mona Singh first came to light through the popular TV serial `Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi' where she played the role of Jassi and later on she appeared in another TV serial named `Jhalak Dikhla Ja' which is based on dance. She has been successful in both the serial. I am quoting some of the lines of her speech regarding these two TV serials from a The Hindu report:

"Fortunately I got a dream role in `Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi'. And recently the dance show `Jhalak Dikhla Ja' broke all records and gave me a chance to hone my dancing skills. As I am looking for a break in Bollywood, my dancing skills will definitely help me to make an impact on the big screen. Since I have essayed the role of Jassi I will be more comfortable playing a character artiste in Hindi films. I have received some offers from Bollywood and am going through some of the scripts,"

"Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi" and "Jhalak Dikhla Ja", Mona says portraying the character of Jassi brought her not just fame but also love from the people. "And dancing to foot-tapping number in `Jhalak Dikhla Ja' gave me crucial votes that not only made me popular but also made me win the contest. The show was not just about dance but focused more on the personality of all the contestants. Besides me, there was a chef, a former Indian cricket player, a yesteryear's actress and a famous filmmaker. So it was votes by my countless fans that made me emerge as a winner.”

It seems that Mona Singh is going to join in Bollywood movie. She is successful in TV and now it is yet to see if she continues her success in Big Screen as well.

Bollywood Made a Substantial amount of Revenue in 2006

The year 2006 was very successful for Bollywood as many hit moves have released this year and some emerging new stars were appeared in various movies. Moreover, the year is also very successful in terms of earning revenue. Actually getting hit movies and earning good revenue are not same either. Now-a-days earning there are many sources of earning revenues. I am quoting some lines regarding the sources of earning revenues from a financial express report:

“The compound annual growth rate of the Hindi film industry is expected to be 25% in 2007,” says Mahesh Ramanathan, CEO, Percept Picture Company.

Films (big or small) no longer depend only on one avenue for revenues — film producers have found several ways to recoup their investment — from satellite rights, in-flight entertainment rights, music and overseas rights to home video and merchandising. Most filmmakers can actually make their money before the release.

Says Ramanathan: “Non-traditional sources of revenues will contribute to a significant amount: given that films have earned as much as Rs 1 crore from wireless rights. Airborne rights are also gaining in importance and there is a lot of revenue there. Overseas box-office will grow as more prints of films will be released globally, and might contribute to 40% of a film’s revenue. Internet-based rights (movie/music downloads) are big sources of revenue.”

As this year producers could make a good amount of money then the next year they can invest more and with feeling comfort. Seeing the financial success new producers may come to the industry which is also good news for Bollywood. In addition, the investment in the movie or film based business will definitely be increased in the next year. The report says:

“Music downloads/ mobile downloads have given the Hindi film music industry a much-needed boost in 2005-6. Production houses are venturing into the home video/movie downloads sector themselves for more revenue. Five years ago we had 40 million satellite homes, today we are hoping to touch 70 million, so satellite rights are crucial and going to fetch us big revenues. In the overseas sector about 20% growth could be expected by 2007. Another thing that will drive the growth of revenues is the growth of multiplexes,” says Ravi Gupta, CEO, Mukta Arts.

“There will be 40% more multiplexes in 2007. Most big production houses will have three/four releases that are expected to earn big money. Net downloads of films, video-on-demand, home video, satellite rights add to the numbers. It will be a big year, hopefully, for the Hindi film industry,” feels Aasish Saksena, COO, Film Cell, PVR Cinemas.

However, comparing with Hollywood this revenue is much less and Bolywood has to do a lot to be compared with Hollywood in terms of revenue. The report shows:

“But Bollywood still has miles to go. In 2005, Hollywood’s US box office collections alone were $8.99 billion. In comparison, the Indian box office took in $1.14 billion. Unlike India’s buoyant software industry or its booming real estate market, which has attracted an estimated $6.3 billion in foreign investment, the Hindi film industry has not made it easy for Hollywood studios to gain access or finance their films. It is another matter that a company like Infosys did almost as much in sales in 2005 as all of Bollywood.”

However, this year Bollywood got an extra pace and if this continues in the coming years then who knows, one day Bollywood can surpass Hollywood.

All About Priyanka Chopra: Bollywood’s Next Big Star

By: Biplob Kishore Deb

Priyanka Chopra is one of the most promising rising stars in Bollywood. She is gradually becoming a proper actress with her talent and acting ability. The former Miss World has already made some hit movies in Bollywood and showed her potential as an actress. This year she starred in two hit movies- ‘Don - The Chase Begins Again’ and Krrish in which one was blockbuster hit at the box office. In both the movies she has done her job successfully and was widely praised. So, it is worthless to say that this beauty queen is now in the way of being professional.

Priyanka’s Childhood and Study

Priyanka Chopra was born in 18 July, 1982 in Jamshedpur, a city of Jharkhand state of India. Her parents both are doctor. Her father Ashok Chopra and her mother Madhu Chopra is a Malayalee from South India. As her father was in Army by profession her family shifted from one place to another often. She spent some of her childhood in Uttar Pradesh. She started studying at La Martiniere Girls' College in Lucknow. She also studied in United States Newton North High School, in Newton, Massachusetts and John F. Kennedy High School (Cedar Rapids) in Iowa. However, she completed her high school degree at Army Public School (Bareilly). Besides her beauty, she was a good student too. Later she entered in Jai Hind College in Mumba but she did not continue her study after she won the Miss World 2000 title.

Miss India, Miss World and Coming into Lime Light

Priyanka first came into lime light after she won the Miss India 2000 title and was nominated for the contest of Miss World 2000. The surprise remain left for the then 18 years old beauty as she later won the Miss World 2000 title for the fifth time by an Indian. It may not create much appeal to you if I do not say some other information regarding that year Miss India competition. Miss India 2000 was one of the most successful competitions as three of its winners won three international beauty contests in a row. At first Miss India World Priyanka Chopra won Miss World 2000, then Miss India Universe Lara Dutta, a Bollywood actress now, won the Miss Universe 2000 and Miss India Asia-Pacific Diya Mirza, now an established actress in Bollywood, won the Miss Asia-Pacific 2000 title. SO, you can wel understand that how much hard the Miss India competition was in 2000.

Getting into Acting Career

After becoming the Miss World in 2000, there was a common rumor that Priyanka Chopra would come to the film industry and try her fate in acting. The rumor proved true later when she first acted in a Tamil film named ‘Thamizhan’ where she played the role of Priya in 2002. The movie got surprise hit at the box office and within a week producers could look for profit. The movie was directed by Ravichandran. It is said that it was Priyanka Chopra who was the biggest advertisement for the movie and played the significant role behind such a success of the movie. She came to Bollywood in 2003 through the movie ‘The Hero: Love Story of a Spy’ which could not make any big turn in her career and became a flop one.

Andazz and Aitrazz: Coming into Lime Light as an Actress

Priyanka first came into light as an actress when her second Hindi film named Andazz was released in 2003 which was her first hit movie in Bollywood. She played the role of Jiya in the movie for which she won her the Filmfare Best Debut Award in 2003. Most important thing is that in this movie Priyanka once again had to fight with her Miss India competitor Lara Dutta as Lara also played an important role in the movie. This time the contest was based on both beauty and acting. The movie Andazz was directed by Raj Kanwar. The movie is based on a love story and Akshay Kumar played the role of the hero in the movie. After that she acted in some flop movies till her another hit movie ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’ directed by David Dhawan was released in 2004. The movie got a huge hit in the box office and her acting talent was highly praised fro playing the role of Rani Singh in the movie fro which she was honored with the ‘Stardust: Superstar of Tomorrow- Female’ award in 2005. The movie was based on also a love story and full of humor. In the movie Priyanka acted with some famous and popular personalities of Bollywood such as Amrish Puri, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar.

Her next movie Aitrazz was another success story for the emerging actress. The movie was directed by Abbas-Mustan and released in 2004. The movie was a brilliant remake of Hollywood movie Disclosure starred by Demi Moore. Priyanka for the first time acted in a villainous role for which she was highly praised and many said that it proves her overall acting talent. In the movie her co-stars were Amrish Puri, Kareena Kapoor and Akshay Kumar. Priyanka played the character Sonia Roy in the movie who wants to make an illegal relationship with her ex-boy friend Raj, who is married to Priya. Being refused to Raj, she accused Raj of raping her. Playing this role she got the FIlmfare Best Villain Award in 2004 and this was the second time a female won the Filmfare Best Villain award. Having seen a huge hit at the box office for this movie, she did not get any hit movie in 2005.

The Year 2006: Full of Success Story

In 2006, Priyanka Chopra got her first Blockbuster hit movie in her career. The movie Krrish was something special for not only Priyanka Chopra rather for the Indian spectators as this movie was the first superhero type movie like Suprman in the history of Bollywood. Hrithik Roshan played the role of Krrish, the hero of the movie and Priyanka acted the character of Priya, the lover of Krrish. The movie was a sequel of ‘Koi… Mil Gya’ both directed by Hrithik’s father Rakesh Roshan.

After Krrish, Priyanka acted in super hit movie ‘Don - The Chase Begins Again’ where she acted against Shah Rukh Khan who played the role of Don in the movie. For playing the role of Rama in the movie, Priyanka had to learn martial art for one month and she took part in some risky stunts in the movie for which she was highly praised and this proves her professional mentality. The movie was directed by Farhan Akhtar. Acting in this two of the most successful movies, she can see the year 2006 as a turning point in her acting career.

With the time passes, Priyanka Chopra gradually is getting more skilled and her performance graph is increasing day by day which make me feel that Priyanka can be the next superstar in Bollywood if she can continue her rising performance in the following movies.

Savlon Sabsey Favourite Kaun International 2006

In the end of the year, several award ceremonies are held in India. ‘Sabsey Favourite Kaun Award’ is one of them, but this is different from others. Because this award has been given by fans vote; winners get awards through lots of votes. All voting lines were opened on 12^thNovember, 2006. Fans have used SMS, land phone. They also got chance to use internet for voting. Ayesha Takia was the ambassador in this show. She also hosted this event The Star Gold channel broadcasted this award function in TV on 30^th December at night.

This year, it has been done on international level. Not only Indian audience, but also international audience voted for their favourite actor, actress, film, etc. There were seven categories for each nominees- such as Sabsey Favourite Hero, Sabsey Favourite heroine, Sabsey Favourite Comic Hero, Sabsey Favourite Nayi (new) Heroine, Sabsey Favourite Naya (new) Hero, Sabsey Favourite Film, Sabsey Tez Sitara(star).

The organizers collected votes from 33 cities. They collected votes of fan from all over the world. This time international people are included. So they also collected votes from Middle East, South East Asia, the US, the UK, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, and New Zealand. 12.85 lakh fans voted for their Sabsey Favourite stars.

Now-a- days, Bollywood movies are released in other countries. There some movie has taken place in Top ten charts. As a result, Indian actor and actress are well known in other countries. ShahRukh Khan, who is known as King Khan or Badshah of Bollywood has gotten award ‘Sabsey Favourite Hero’ this year. He won this award against Amitabh, Abhishek, Aamir, Salman, Hrithik, Jhon, Sanjay Dutt, Akshay, and Ajay. They also offered a chance for the fans that who would send much votes, he or she would get chance to meet his or her favourite star in award ceremony. They have done it. A fan of Shahrukh Khan has gotten this chance. He was from Kolkata, and he sent lots of votes for Shahrukh. He got chance to meet Shahrukh in the event. Lot of viewers watched it on TV. Rani Mukherjee got ‘Sabsey Favourite Heroine’ award, Sabsey Favourite Film was ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’.

This function was held at Taj lands End in Mumbai. All people who are attached with Bollywood came to this bright ceremony. Some Bollywood actors and actresses performed this night – Akshay Kumar, Bipasha Basu, Shiney Ahuja (newcomer), Koena Mitra, and Shreyas Talpade.

Shah Rukh in Dulha Mil Geya

By: Sonia Yasmin

Producer Viveck Vaswani is looking forward to his next project with the mega star Shah Rukh Khan. Apart from the leading hero there are also stars like Susmita Sen, Fardin Khan and Ishitta Sharrma. This film will be directed by Mudassar Aziz. Indiafm wrote

What’s DULHA MIL GAYA – SAY YES TO A RELATIONSHIP all about? “The film is a warm, sometimes funny, often witty look at contemporary relationships through the eyes of four very separate and very sorted characters,” he divulges.

Back to the formidable cast! How did SRK react to the script? “He was completely chilled. He said ‘yes’ instantly. I was overwhelmed. I have no words to describe what I felt that day. His role has been sculpted only for him,” Viveck beams with joy.

This film will be shot in the Caribbean and so a visual delight to the film goers. Let’s see how the end product comes out and also how the viewers accept this film next year. These days viewers also are looking for something new and fresh. According to the producer not only the casting is good but also the script and director are outstanding.

Madhuri is Coming Back with an Anil Mehta Film

By: Sonia Yasmin

It’s great news for the film lovers, especially for her fans, that Madhury Dixit is coming back. She stopped acting movies after getting married. But her acting in Devdas really touched people’s heart. Despite that she was away from filmdom and was raising her two children in U.S.A. Her husband is a U.S. based Indian surgeon. Madhuri reigned Bollywood for such a long time. In 80’s decade and also in 90’s decade she was the number one heroine. It is said that she is made up of the best side of greatest actresses of golden era of Hindi film. For example Madhuri dances like Madhubala and has got the beautiful smile like Shuchitra Sen. To her fans it is a million dollar smile which they miss so much. But she is not a dumb beauty. She had to prove her acting ability to be on the top.

From the very beginning from her first film Abodh she had to struggle a lot to exist as her debut film was not hit and as she was not from a filmy background. After fighting against all odds she gets her hit film Tezab. Who can forget the dance with Ek Do Teen. With that dance and acting she wanted to say that she was here to stay and as the Queen. Even competing with the heartthrob Sridevi she took hold of her position.

It was really heartbreaking for the film lovers when she got married in 1999 and finally stopped acting.

Hindu reports :

What I missed was being in front of the camera and assuming various characters,'' Dixit told the Times of India newspaper in an interview published on Thursday. ``Yeah I missed that, I'm glad to have it back.''

``I don't miss the adulation or the glamour, though it is good to know people still miss me,'' said the actress who stopped working to raise her two children.

She is doing a film from January and it’s a YAsh Raj film and directed by Anil Mehta. Let’s see how it turns for her. It is always hard for a married heroine to come back and get to the top. The film viewers are not as welcoming with them as with the married heroes. But Madhury is tough too. She has every quality even hard work in her to fulfill her dreams.

We wish her all the best.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Guru (2007) and The Guru (2002)

Guru is coming and Mani Ratnam is expected to do well with this movie at the beginning of the year. Perhaps more is at stake for Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai as if this movie becomes successful in the box office then it can give a positive boost to careers of both of them. There is strong rumor about their marriage.

It is strange but Guru reminds me of the 2002 movie The Guru. Of course, it was an English movie and was based on America. Jimi Mistry did a great acting in that movie. The music was excellent too. I wonder if Abhishek Bachchan can do well like Jimi.

Goddess Asks Sculptor to Make Clay Figure of Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai may have troubled time with the priests these days about her body guard’s behavior but Gods are not unhappy with her. In fact, soon, Aishwarya Rai is going to have 25 clay figures based on her beauty from a sculpture named Arjun Prajapati of the Pink City. He has already begun his work and he intends to stop after making 25 idols based on Aishwarya. He saw a dream in which a goddess asked her to make idols on a very beautiful woman and who can be more beautiful in India than Aishwarya herself.

DNA India reported:

Inspired in his dreams and mesmerised by the beauty of Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai, a sculptor is at work to make 25 statues of the glamour icon.

"A divine lady appeared in my dreams and suggested me to make sculptures of a beautiful woman. She told me that it would give me recognition across the country," Arjun Prajapati said.

"So eventually I decided to portray Aishwarya Rai as she is one of the most beautiful women I could think of.

"Each week I conceived a new pose of Aishwarya in my dreams and I worked on each of them. I would soon complete 25 different poses of the actress," Prajapati told IANS.

I would not blame you for thinking the whole matter as a publicity stunt but there is just one problem. Arjun Prajapati is not going to sell the idols but is going to display only in an exhibition. However, he has already generated a lot of media hype and perhaps this is something which has already changed his fortune.

The Statesman wrote:

Far from speculation about her marriage and controversies surrounding her, Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai’s beauty has inspired a city-based sculptor to mould her clay figure.

A well-known sculptor of the Pink City, Mr Arjun Prajapati, has decided to cast, at least, 25 statues of the glamour icon. He has already moulded a clay figure of Aishwarya as Menaka and a dancing pose enacted in Umrao Jaan. “Other creations including a bust of Aishwarya will take about six months to complete,” Mr Prajapati said.

6 months of dedication. I really like this sculpture guy, Arjun Prajapati. He deserves to become famous. However, I would really love to see that his works get proper recognition.

By the way, I wonder if Arjun Prajapati would want to make an idol based on Aishwarya Rai’s performance in the upcoming movie Guru.

Salaam-e-Ishq at YouTube: First Look

You better look at YouTube.
The movie is going to hit the screen soon.

Fans Find Govinda Playing in a Less Important Character in Bhagam Bhag

Govinda’s newly released movie Bhagham Bhag is going well. However, his fans are not happy with his role in the movie. It is said that he appears in the movie few times which made his character less important. So, it is yet to see any success in this film. In the movie though his character was not less important rather both of their characters have the same position where the dressing is going on. I am quoting some lines from a santabanta report:

When asked about why he got such a rough deal he says, "I can't really blame anyone. I had to make a comeback and I had to do so in a big film. That opening, Bhaagam Bhag has provided for me.

If my role appears brief I've no one to blame. But yes, there was a lot more I could've done. Why I didn't do it? I've no answer to that."

According to insiders, Chi Chi had a big role that was edited out in the interest of the film. So much so, that a lot of scenes he had shot for were not retained.

Though Priyadarshan has brought him back from hibernation but Govinda’s fans are disappointed as he was barely there in the film. Even his children are disappointed with his role in the film.

However Govinda puts up a brave front and says, “The film had become too long, so a certain amount of editing was required.But at the end of the day, I am happy that there were at least three scenes in the film where viewers clapped for me. My aim was to return to Bollywood and I have done it.”

So though it is his comeback movie, fans look for that Govinda whom they know. I think, Govinda can give much more interesting thing s to his fans.

Mandolin Players to make the school out of the area

With the emerging of new technology, the old things are gone forever. As synthesizers came into being, then on directors use it in stead of old mandolin. That is why many mandolin and mouth organ speakers have lost their lives. Paramjeet Singh Sethi, a great artist who has also lost his job recently. Mr. Shethi has presented some good music in different types of movies. I am quoting some line on this regard from a Zeenews.com report,

"Our work in Mumbai became few and far between, since synthesisers replaced instruments like the mandolin. It was only the old music directors who used such instruments. Now, a majority of them prefer synthesisers. I am not alone. Some 300 to 400 musicians are jobless," claims Sethi.

Sethi's journey to Bollywood began in 1983, when noted qawwali singers Shankar and Shambhu heard him play the mandolin in Amritsar. Sethi was soon working with noted music directors Ravinder Jain, Laxmikant-Payrelal and Anu Malik in Mumbai.

A mandolin and mouth-organ master artist, Sethi also tried his hand in the Punjabi music industry, but lady luck failed to smile on him.

His passion for music made Sethi handle the setback of loosing a job. Keeping his mission alive, Sethi now teaches music to some 20 village students.”

Technology is needed for anything development but it has also to be assured that this development will not harm anybody else and if there is any possibility then the plan should be implemented in another way.

2006: Successful for Both Bollywood Movies and Couples

The year 2006 was a good one for Bollywood in terms of the successes of the movies released this year. Moreover, not only was Hrithik and his blockbusters Krrish or Dhoom 2 was in the lime light or made news rather some popular and famous couples also made news this year and were in the front desk whole the year. The most talked couple was Aishwarya Rai and Abhiskek Bachchan. There was a rumor that this couple is in deep love and going to marry soon. The rumor became strong when Ash was seen with the Bachchan family in a temple at Varanasi. I am quoting some lines regarding some other mostly-talked couples in Bollywood in 2006 from a RxPG news:

“At the beginning of the year she was the pillar of strength when Amitabh, Bollywood's living legend, spent agonising hours in the hospital. Jaya's face never gave away the turmoil she felt within. Only close friends know how much she suffered as she played the perfect hostess at the Lilavati. Whether it was trying times at the beginning of the year, or the 'pujas' performed at Varanasi during yearend, or looking after her ailing mother-in-law in a hospital, Jaya was the archetypal pillar of strength.

Shahid Kapur-Kareena Kapoor: Away most of the time from the limelight Shahid and Kareena took long holidays together in Europe and performed at concerts in every part of the world - from Bali to Baltimore. Contradicting all cynicism this peppery pair remained together and will make it to the altar. For sure!

John Abraham-Bipasha Basu: The Bengali actress and the pin-up boy from Bandra survived one more year of ongoing speculation about his roving eye. Don't kid me...these two are genuinely in love, and won't oblige the cynics by parting. Lately, they had stopped doing movies together. But now they'll be a team in Vivek Agnihotri's football film.”

It seems that couples have been in the full focused this year. However, it is good to hear that there was nothing negative among the news.

Friday, December 29, 2006

Kaun Banega Crorepati to be started from January 22, 2007

Kaun Banega Crorepati, a popular game show of Star tv, is going to started again with the new presenter Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khna. Previously this program was hosted by another powerful Bollwood figure Amitabh Bachchan. Its promo’s started yesterday. I am quotng some lines on this regard from a dnaindia report:

The launch communication showcases a young child from Delhi, who always keeps asking questions. He keeps asking questions till he reaches a point where he realizes that he is not getting answers for the questions which really matter to him.

He then packs his bags and leaves town with a bag full of unanswered questions and lands up in Mumbai. To his surprise it is the city of Mumbai, which is now asking him the questions.

The promo picks pace from here and goes on to show - how having answered some of these questions, the young lad's life now comes a full circle, where he is again in a place where he is doing all the asking.

The program will be started from January 22. This program could attract a huge attention and it is now yet to see if the program can continue it success with the new host.

Shekhor Kapoor Opened a Comic Book Company

Shekhor Kapoor has opened a book shop in Mumbai. The company will publish comic books. The books will not only for the Indian children rather these books will also be appropriate for the foreign people too. Regarding this new I have gone through an indiafm report and quoting some of the lines from that article:

The company is based in Bangalore and will publish comic books keeping the international audiences in mind. A team of 200 writers, visualisers and artists are currently working in the company. Incidentally, Shekhar is also one of the writers as he has great vision and the ability to express himself. The director said that he was always interested in creating characters that are out of this world, and he could come up with no better way to create as many fictional characters as he wanted. Adding to this, he asserted that conjuring fiction is a highly challenging job and he wants his company to be the best publishing firm for comic books in the world. As ambitious as this sounds, he said that this is his sole mission in the months to come.

It is a good initiative of publishing comic books which help children to flourish their potential. However, it is also needed to have a common quality among the publishers which is in the key concern.

Bollywood 2007

2007 is coming just after 20 hours or some more. Bollywood had a great year in 2006. Can it continue in 2007?

Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia to Compose Again in Bollywood

Bollywood’s one of the most successful composers Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia is going to compose song for a new movie named Magic Loom Girl. He has produced many successful and popular songs which are not still remembered among the people such as Silsila, Lamhe and Chandni. This movie will be his first movie of composing songs since 1993 when he last composed songs in Bollywood. I am quoting some of the lines from a dnsindia report:

“I’ve been in the industry for the past four decades and have always chosen only those projects that I’m completely convinced about. This film has a very interesting storyline,” he says.

“The film has been shot in a contemporary rural set up in Madhya Pradesh,” elaborates Smita Kudva, the director of the film, whose association with Chaurasia goes back several decades, when she was a child.

“I have travelled with him extensively and played the tanpura for his concerts. I’m also planning a film on him and have already finished the 30 minute promo,” she adds.

Balancing his multiple roles as teacher, composer and performer, he’s already in the middle of his next project. “I’m working on my next album which will have shlokas in Sanskrit and it should be out early next year,” he says.

The master flautist nostalgically recalls the hundreds of unbreakable relationships that blossomed in his Gurukul as well as unforgettable memories of working with people like Yash Chopra and Amitabh Bachchan — a couple of his favourite people.”

Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia is a powerful figure in Bollywood in composing songs. So, it is good news both for him and for his lovers and fans as well.

Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia to Compose Again in Bollywood

“I’ve been in the industry for the past four decades and have always chosen only those projects that I’m completely convinced about. This film has a very interesting storyline,” he says.

“The film has been shot in a contemporary rural set up in Madhya Pradesh,” elaborates Smita Kudva, the director of the film, whose association with Chaurasia goes back several decades, when she was a child.

“I have travelled with him extensively and played the tanpura for his concerts. I’m also planning a film on him and have already finished the 30 minute promo,” she adds.

Balancing his multiple roles as teacher, composer and performer, he’s already in the middle of his next project. “I’m working on my next album which will have shlokas in Sanskrit and it should be out early next year,” he says.

The master flautist nostalgically recalls the hundreds of unbreakable relationships that blossomed in his Gurukul as well as unforgettable memories of working with people like Yash Chopra and Amitabh Bachchan — a couple of his favourite people.”

Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia is a powerful figure in Bollywood in composing songs. So, it is good news both for him and for his lovers and fans as well.

Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia to Compose Again in Bollywood

“I’ve been in the industry for the past four decades and have always chosen only those projects that I’m completely convinced about. This film has a very interesting storyline,” he says.

“The film has been shot in a contemporary rural set up in Madhya Pradesh,” elaborates Smita Kudva, the director of the film, whose association with Chaurasia goes back several decades, when she was a child.

“I have travelled with him extensively and played the tanpura for his concerts. I’m also planning a film on him and have already finished the 30 minute promo,” she adds.

Balancing his multiple roles as teacher, composer and performer, he’s already in the middle of his next project. “I’m working on my next album which will have shlokas in Sanskrit and it should be out early next year,” he says.

The master flautist nostalgically recalls the hundreds of unbreakable relationships that blossomed in his Gurukul as well as unforgettable memories of working with people like Yash Chopra and Amitabh Bachchan — a couple of his favourite people.”

Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia is a powerful figure in Bollywood in composing songs. So, it is good news both for him and for his lovers and fans as well.

Preity Zinta Learning Skiing to Forget a Bad Year?

Preity Zinta is going to celebrate the arrival of 2007 by learning skiing and actually skiing in America. She is in USA now to relax after a busy but unsuccessful year at Bollywood. She acted very well in her movies and against actors like Salman Khan and Sha Rukh Khan but the movies did not click in the box office. So, may be she wants to forget the sad part by skiing. Indiafm wrote:

Moving to less grim topics, Preity reveals she's going skiing in Colorado for the New Year. "I've been in the snow a lot. But I never skied. And I do want to learn a new sport. It's never too late to learn. I'll be gone for two weeks."

When told Saif Ali Khan has also gone skiing for the New Year, Preity quips, "Saif and I could do a ski film together."

"Well in my films I managed to balance out my marital karma pretty well. If in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna I was divorced, in Jaan-E-Mann I made sure the family stayed together. Was I disappointed by the Indian box-office collections of my two releases in 2006? No way. Ten years from now I'll be extremely proud of both the films. At the end of the day I need to be happy and proud of what I do."

Well, I do not agree with her. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Jaan-E-Mann are not bad movies but I have strong doubt if many people would remember them after 10 years. Actually, I feel that Preity Zinta is just consoling herself. She should be more selective about movies if she really wants to be remember after 10 years. 19 years is a long time in Bollywood.

Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia to Compose Again in Bollywood

“I’ve been in the industry for the past four decades and have always chosen only those projects that I’m completely convinced about. This film has a very interesting storyline,” he says.

“The film has been shot in a contemporary rural set up in Madhya Pradesh,” elaborates Smita Kudva, the director of the film, whose association with Chaurasia goes back several decades, when she was a child.

“I have travelled with him extensively and played the tanpura for his concerts. I’m also planning a film on him and have already finished the 30 minute promo,” she adds.

Balancing his multiple roles as teacher, composer and performer, he’s already in the middle of his next project. “I’m working on my next album which will have shlokas in Sanskrit and it should be out early next year,” he says.

The master flautist nostalgically recalls the hundreds of unbreakable relationships that blossomed in his Gurukul as well as unforgettable memories of working with people like Yash Chopra and Amitabh Bachchan — a couple of his favourite people.”

Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia is a powerful figure in Bollywood in composing songs. So, it is good news both for him and for his lovers and fans as well.

Ajay Devgan, Kajol and Main Tum Aur Hum

It seems that Ajay Devgan and Kajol are going to do a lot of things in their new film Main Tum Aur Hum. Working with wife is always a nice thing to do and Kajol is a great wife and great actress. So, in this movie, Ajay Devgan is going to:

Be the hero (lead male character)

Direct

Story writer

Most probably produce

Indiafm wrote:

The film will star himself and opposite him will be his wife, Kajol. Ajay and Kajol have done a number of films together which include Dil Kya Kare, Ishq, Pyar Toh Hona Hi Tha and the relative fiasco Raju Chacha. Main Tum Aur Hum is based on a story written by Ajay Devgan himself. Ajay has roped in cinematographer Aseem Prakash Bajaj (who shot with him in Zameen and Golmaal) for his directorial debut. According to Aseem, the plot will is very touching and romantic. It talks about love, commitment, and the institution of marriage, something that Ajay-Kajol will easily be able to identify with.

We will have to wait another many months to see how Ajay handles so much pressure in one film. Well, I can say one thing for sure: Kajol will help him all the way. So, he just needs to work hard and get inspired from Kajol and not look at any other actress.

Sushmita Sen Acting With Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan in 2007

Sushmita Sen is moving ahead in career in a good way. She is an established actress now. She likes to work with Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan and has seen some success while working with them in a movie. 2007 is going to be the year in which Sushmita Sen is going to act with these two great actors. ApunKaChoice wrote:

First Sush will shoot with SRK for producer Viveck Vaswani’s movie Dulha Mil Gaya which also stars Fardeen Khan and Ishitta Sharma. The film is about complexities of relationships.

The movie will be shot in the Caribbean in the first quarter of 2007. It will be the directorial debut of Mudassar Aziz.

In the latter half of the year, Sush will shoot for David Dhawan’s next movie in which she pairs with Salman Khan again. The film will be a comedy with romantic angle.

Lucky Sushmita Sen! I guess that the project with David Dhawan may become extremely successful for this actress. It’s great to see that this Bengali actress is shining in Bollywood.

Review of Museum Ke Andar Phas Gaya Sikandar (Night at the Museum)

A Hollywood based movie named ‘Night at the Museum’ was released in US and now it has also released in Bollywood country India. However, the movie has been released being dubbed in Hindi which has not made the movie in the most talking points in Bollywood rather it is its title which has also been changed with the language. The name of the movie is the most interesting thing is that the movie has not gone through any change while dubbing but the language is now in Hindi. So, people can feel an English movie understandable to everyone which is based on the English culture and their context. Ben Stiller acted and Shawn Leavy directed this movie ‘Museum Ke Andar Phas Gaya Sikandar’ will be rare combinations of humor, adventure, thrill and wit.

In the movie, it is seen that a night guard of a museum Larry Daley faces many unnatural and unexpected things which made fun as well as thrill in the movie. In a situation, Larry was chased by Tyrannosaurus skeleton. He is to face many other things including Mayans, Roman Army, Octavius, Neanderthals, Attila and Hun, Ahkmenrah etc. In the museum Larry finds something supernatural and interesting activities. At the last moment, it becomes a responsibility of Larry to find out the Egyptian tablet which is the key factor of keeping the thing in order in the museum. Then with the help of Roosevelt’s horse Texas, Jedidiah and Octavius in a remote control hummer, Larry takes the tablet and keeps the situation and the creature of the museum peaceful.

I think the movie can be a solid equipment of getting fun and people can enjoy the movie very much. Besides, it is a good initiative to release a movie just being dubbed and changed the title. In the way, people can easily understand a foreign movie. To know whether the movie could get hit with a moderate average, you have to wait for a few days.

Agencyfaq

Review of Night at the Museum (Museum Ke Andar Phas Gaya Sikandar)

A Hollywood named “Night at the Museum” has been released recently. The movie is a combination of fun, humor, adventure and thrill which is a rare case for a movie to have all these character in a movie. Directed by Shawn Levy, the movie was starred by Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and some other popular stars of Hollywood. The story of the movie is based on a museum and its night guard Larry Daley. The character, Larry is starred by Ben Stiller.

In the movie, it is seen that Larry as a night guard faces some extraordinary figures and their thrilling, horror and funny activities. When he was appointed as a guard he was given a page indicating the rules of maintaining the things of the museum which he does not care initially but later on he understood the mistake and finds the things beyond the control. He finds that Tyrannosaurus skeleton is missing and at one stage the skeleton chase him and he escaped from it and then read the paper and got the solution to throw the bone. Thus he finds that there are some rules of managing the museum but before reading the paper a monkey named Dexter tears the paper and Larry could not know the rules of controlling the museum. Then he finds some astonishing figure named Mayans, Roman Army, Octavius, Neanderthals, Attila and Hun, Ahkmenrah and many other characters. In the movie Lary’s son Nick also goes with his father see the unbelievable things happening in the museum and one case both of them fell in a trap by Ahkmenrah. However, they always get help from an imaginary character Theodore Roosevelt starred by Robin Williams. There is a thing named Egyptian tablet on which the peace of the museum depends and at last Larry takes the tablet with the help of the characters including Roosevelt’s horse Texas, Jedidiah and Octavius in a remote control hummer.

The movie takes place in a “Museum of Natural History” in New York City. The movie has already been the highest grossing film in the opening weekend with $30.8 million of earning.

Urvashi Sharma: Modeling or Bollywood Movies?

Urvashi Sharma is now a familiar face in modeling in India. She has already achieved some good success in modeling and it is evident that she has good potential in this field. Well, in India, modeling is cool but not super cool like being a Bollywood actress. So, Urvashi Sharma is trying her luck in Bollywood movies. This is nothing new. A lot of models before her has tried their luck too and some succeeded while others failed.

IndiaGlitz.com wrote:

Stunning model Urvashi Sharma rocked when she appeared in the 'Something Something' music video with Mika. Shedding her inhibitions in front of camera, her no holds bar sensual acts made many a men go crazy about her.

Now she goes in a completely opposite direction in her latest music video for Atif Aslam's 'Doorie' where she is covered from head to toe. Recently premiered on music channels, the song is fast picking up momentum and audience is loving to see Urvashi in a new avtar.

By the way, Doorie is not the only Bollywood film Urvashi Sharma is going to star. She is in the process of acting in a number of movies. In fact, with 8-feature film contract with TIPS Films, Urvashi Sharma has perhaps got the explosive start to her Bollywood career. Now, the million dollar question is: Will she shine or wont she? If you ask for my opinion, I must tell that she has to do some major adjustments if she wants to become successful in acting. She must focus more on becoming a skilled actress rather than showing her body (which she has to do quite a bit in modeling).

Bollywood: Sexy Actresses like Mallika Sherawat Leaving Bikini Becoming Fully Dressed

In the last two decades or some more, many Bollywood actresses started an unholy competition of showing their body parts. They love to be called sex bombs and they often justify their short dresses in various ways. Some actresses have seen some good success by wearing short dresses and arousing the mind of male viewers. In fact, many people feel that displaying sexy figures of some hot actresses is the best formula for success in Bollywood.

It is really great to see that this ugly formula did not work out for the actresses. Nikhil Kumar has talked about this matter in his report: 2006 : Bollywood sex bombs not ticking anymore! Here, he has talked about a number of actresses who depend more on showing their so called sex appeal than acting talent. Here is an excerpt from this report:

Mallika Sherawat , who is still the undisputed sex bomb of Bollywood, did what she does best in just one movie, Shaadi Se Pehle , and that too in a very restrained way. Then she took a U-Turn and was seen fully dressed in Pyar Ke Side Effects . In one scene in the film, Mallika even looks at the skimpily dressed Sophie Choudhary (playing a singer) and says: “I can never wear a dress like that.” Who could have thought we would see such a day in Bollywood?
Neha Dhupia , who once set new standards of skin show with flicks like Julie and Sheesha , suddenly turned her back to sexy roles and was seen in an all-new non-glamourous avatar in Chup Chup Ke . The actress has apparently vowed never to go into the sleazy streak again and is doing only those films that can prove her acting mettle.
Payal Rohatgi did provide some hot stuff in two very aptly titled movies: Men Not Allowed and ‘Ek Se Mera Kya Hoga’. But then, she also had a change of mind and decided not to indulge in skin show. What followed were miniature roles in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Corporate and Sangeeth Sivan’s Apna Sapna Money Money . But Payal seems happier with small roles in big movies than meaty roles in sleazy films.

It is simply fantastic to see that all these meaty actresses are failing and are forcing to wear some decent clothes in the movies. Actually, I think that 2006 was the year that Bollywood became matured. If people really care to see the bodies of the actresses then there is plenty of pornography to enjoy. Main stream movie should be always neat and clean- as much as possible.

Bollywood movies are now earning more money in UK, USA and Canada more than ever before. Naturally, this matter is going to help to improve the standard of Bollywood movies too. So, in 2007, we can expect more so called sex bomb actresses to become fully dressed.

Aishwarya Rai’s Visit to Pushkar temple Brings Fury Instead of Peace

Aishwarya Rai may be the top Bollywood actress and a demi-Goddess to many of her fans but she can sometimes cause angry to some people too. Well, her visit to Pushkar temple has caused a lot of controversy in the last few hours. The priests of the temple are angry with her as one of her bodyguards entered the temple in an inebriated condition. I checked the meaning of the word inebriated and found the meaning- Stupefied, excited, or muddled with alcoholic liquor.

DNA India reported:

"Twenty-four hours have elapsed since the incident and she should immediately apologise or we will launch a protest," said S N Garg, secretary of the Teerth Purohit Sangh Trust, the organisation of priests of the temple.

"The priests of the temple were furious over the incident and have lodged a protest against it with the trust," he said.

"In view of the volatile situation and the resentment of the priests, the star and her mother left the temple," said the Trust's president Lado Ram Sharma, referring to Aishwarya's visit to the shrine on Thursday.

Reports said one of three bodyguards who accompanied Aishwarya to the temple was inebriated.

It is interesting to note that Aishwarya Rai has all of a sudden become religious. Well, it is clear that she does not care that much about religion as she did not bother to check the condition of her bodyguard before entering into a holly place. Aishwarya Rai may be like a demi-Goddess to many of her fans but she must be more careful to show proper respect to religious places.

Aishwarya Rai at Moinuddin Chisti's dargah in Ajmer

Moinuddin Chisti's dargah in Ajmer is perhaps the holiest shrine in India for the Muslims. Thousands of Muslims from India and many other countries visit this shrine to seek divine blessing. Thousands of people of other religions too visit this shrine. So, there is nothing wrong in the fact that Aishwarya Rai visited this shrine yesterday. She came here all of a sudden and caught the attention of many people.

India Target wrote:

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai on Thursday visited famous Moinuddin Chisti's dargah in Ajmer , where she offered a chadar at the saint's tomb. Dressed in black jeans, shirt and scarf, she was accompanied by her mother Brinda Rai. She spent almost 10 minutes there and then she left for the Brahma temple, situated at Pushkar, which is about 10 kilometers away from Ajmer.

I do not know what Aishwarya Rai prayed for in the Dargah but I can think of 3 things:

1. She wants to have a happy marriage.

2. She wants to have fame and fortune in Hollywood.

3. She wants to be away from the police and other law enforcing agencies.

What do you think?

Hollywood and Bollywood Going towards a Relation

Hollywood and Bollywood, two most popular film industries in the world, seem to be getting closer considering many of the things. One of the things is that this year many Hollywood actors and actress have visited India for their own purposes. I think most important visit was that of most popular couple of Bollywood, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. This couple came to India with their child and they worked for the movie named “A Mighty Heart”. In the movie, Angelina stared with Dan Futterman. The movie was produced by Brad Pitt’s company Plan B. Some other stars also visited India this year including Britney Spears, Will Smith and Adrien Brody. I am quoting some lines from a IBN Live report:

February on, Bollywood stars poured into the country, starting with Hollywood actor Will Smith, who came to India on a five-day trip.

He was here to launch Sony Television’s movie channel Sony Pix, but by the end of the trip, he told the media that he felt there was a marriage to be made between Hollywood and Bollywood.

He made it a point to sightsee around the country a little and met up with Bollywood stars like Fardeen Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.

If that was with the men, he caught up with the ladies as well. He presented the Best Actress award to Rani Mukherjee at an award function and also caught up with Aishwarya Rai and discussed the proposal of working together in a movie.

February was not without Britney’s Indian touch. Reports claimed Britney Spears was seen praying at a Hindu Temple in Malibu.

With her forehead smeared with vermillion, Britney and her then four-month-old son Sean Preston prayed and sat through elaborate rituals during the religious ceremony.

Towards the end of the year, reports stated that The Pianist-star Adrien Brody was visiting Rajasthan to shoot for director Wes Anderson’s movie The Darjeeling Limited. He was reportedly accompanied by Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman.

It seems good that in this way it is possible to get the way of exchanging culture. However, there are many things to do to really find an effective was to make Hollywood and Bollywood marriage.

Bollywood or Bolly wood?

Well, it is obviously Bollywood- I mean the right spelling. However, everyday, I see some people visiting this blog by searching the term “Bolly wood”. So, for them my advice is that remember to search next time the correct spelling. By typing “Bolly wood” instead of “Bollywood” you may end up to the wrong place.

As for coming the right place, this blog is a great place to read about Bollywood. You will more than 100 entries about Bollywood here.

2006: The Year for Bollywood?

In terms of earning money and producing hit movies, 2006 is perhaps the best year in Bollywood’s history. I cannot think of any other year in the recent past in which so many Bollywood movies became successful in the box office. It was a year of remake movies like Don.

Times of India wrote:

With the war against piracy hotting up and new multiplexes coming up, more people have visited cinema halls in 2006.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says: "People are going back to cinema halls to watch movies because they are getting value for money. The movie business has gone up by 40 per cent in the past five years. Money is pouring in from all directions. Also a lot of new subjects were touched upon for the first time in 2006."

It is cool to note that more people are now going to the cinema halls. The healthy growth in Indian economy means that millions of more people can now afford to go to cinema halls than the past. So, the number of movie goers will increase and Bollywood will get immensely benefited from it.

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Jean-Claude Van Damme or Abhishek Bachchan: Who is More Favorite to Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai is often considered to be the most beautiful woman in the world and she is supposed to get married with Abhishek Bachchan soon. Naturally, Abhishek Bachchan is the center of Aishwarya Rai’s world now. May be you are right- not quite. It seems that Abhishek Bachchan has another man to think about now and he is Hollywood’s favorite Jean-Claude Van Damme.

No doubt, Jean-Claude Van Damme is a very attractive man and millions of women around the world are crazy for Van Damme. Is Aishwarya Rai going to be crazy for him too? Most probably not. On the other hand, you never know human nature. May be, Van Damme is going to become very important for Aishwarya Rai or may be he has already become very important for her already. May be, for Aishwarya Rai, now Van Damme is as important as Abhishek Bachchan.

Aishwarya is a very ambitious person and there is nothing wrong in it. Don’t forget that she is an actress and she has her dreams. I am sure that her number one dream is to win Hollywood. She is eager to shine in Hollywood. To do so, she needs opportunities and Van Damme can be really the man for him in this regard.

The Hindu wrote:

Aishwarya Rai wants to be marooned in an isolated place with someone. Guess who? If you say Abhishek, then you lose the bet. For, it is not any Bollywood dude but Hollywood actor Jean-Claude Van Damme that makes the glam damsel's heart skip a beat!

As she put in her own words: "I like his company as he's extremely helpful. On top of it, he is very caring and that's one of the qualities I am quite impressed with. Given an opportunity, I would love to be marooned with him at an isolated place." Is Abhishesk Bachchan listening?

Abhishek Bachchan may not be listening but he is surely reading. I am sure that he wont mind about it. He knows that Aishwarya is a professional actress and she has her priorities. When she is in home she is his wife. But when she is out of home she is one of the leading Bollywood actresses. So, Abhishek Bachchan can just do one thing now. He can try to get a female friend in Hollywood. This way, he can keep a balance in his couple life.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

New York: Time Warner Brings Bollywood Movies in TV Channel

Time Warner is a famous company and it is related to Hollywood movies. Time Warner had nothing to do with Bollywood until now. However, this is going to change or this has already changed in New York. Now, Time Warner is distributing Bollywood movies in a TV channel in New York. Money Control wrote:

If you are in New York and tune into Channel 500 on Time Warner Cable, you could immediately start watching Rang De Basanti, India’s nominee for the 2007 Oscar awards. That’s courtesy BODVOD or Bollywood on Demand - a New York-based company, that launched BODVOD across 11 million cable homes in the area, in November. Each film costs $3.95 to view on Time Warner. And the carriers are impressed with the initial results.

Director, On Demand Services, Time Warner Cable, Betty Campbell-Adams told SAW, "Bollywood has been the second-most requested category, behind Spanish. It’s done successfully and we expect that success to continue."

I know that in New York a huge number of people of South Asian live and they would love to have Bollywood movies in their TV. This will ensure more revenue for Bollywood and I believe that Bollywood directors and producers will try to bring more variation in their movies.

Can Shriya Impress Bollywood fans?

Shriya is not an unknown face in South India. In fact, she played against that legendary Rajnikant. Now, she is going to try her luck in Bollywood. Apunkachoice.com wrote:

She hit the jackpot when she bagged the plum role opposite Tamil superstar Rajnikant in his magnum opus, Sivaji .

Now, the pretty actress, Shriya is all set to make her debut in Hindi films, too. That is the flash from Kollywood.

Shriya will play the heroine of Aamir Khan in the Hindi remake of Tamil blockbuster, Ghajini starring Asin and Surya .

Shriya has surely got the look and in the past, we have seen a number of south Indian actresses having decent amount of success in Bollywood. So, I am hopeful about the success of Shriya.

It’s time for Bollywood Memorabilia

If you search the Internet about Hollywood movies you can find a lot of advertisements about the sale of Hollywood memorabilia. I know that there are millions of crazy fans who would do everything to get something that is related to Hollywood. It is true that Bollywood cannot match Hollywood in this regard but it is also true that the number of Internet users is increasing in all corners of the world. So, naturally, the number of Bollywood fans with access to Internet is increasing rapidly. Thus, the time for Bollywood memorabilia has come and Internet is leading the way. Financial Express wrote:

From ebay to cafedreams.com and bollywoodfilmposters.com, a number of websites are selling old classic posters, film-inspired clothesline, photos, calenders, comic books, games, and even personalised items like Bipasha Basu’s bracelet, Boman Irani’s eyeglasses and Soha Ali Khan’s jeans, which these stars auction for charity causes.

“The film merchandise sector was till sometime back confined to producing cheap, pavement imitations of the ‘friend’ cap, posters of film actors or song books. However, online shopping stores have given a new lease to this dormant sector,” says Deepa Thomas of ebay India. The hype and hoopla generated by Lagaan’s Oscar nomination gave a major fillip to what was hitherto a fledgling market in the country-retail of movie memorabilia.

Movie memorabilia-from toys, comic books, games, note pads, colouring books to a film-inspired clothesline and most important of all film posters are being sold through online stores, says Thomas.

So, you see that Bollywood is becoming a big business. If you have anything that is somehow related to Bollywood or any of its stars of movies then from now start thinking how you can have a decent income from it.

All About Aishwarya Rai: The Most Beautiful Woman on Earth

By: Biplob Kishore Deb

Aishwarya Rai is one of the most influential actresses in the history of Bollywood. This beauty queen is now the torch bearer of Bollywood in all over the world. She first came into light after she became the Miss World 1994. She is now one of the few figures from Indian film industry who are widely known in the world. It is not only her being Miss World rather it is her acting talent, her skilled movement on screen, her passionate dialogue delivery, her appearance, dance and voice which helped her reach on the peak of the mountain.

Image Link: Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai: A Charismatic Miss World

Aishwarya Rai was born on 1 November 1973 in Mangalore, Karnataka in India. Her father Krishnaraj Rai is a marine engineer and her mother Vrindra Rai is a writer. Aishwarya Rai’s elder brother Aditya Rai is now in the merchant navy. Aishwarya Rai not only a queen of beausty rather she is a good student too. There is no doubt that this is a real combination of talent. She can speak in Hindi, Marathi, English and Tamil besides her native language Tulu and Kannada. She studied in Mumbai until her family shifted to Mumbai when she was in 7^th grade. She also attended in Arya Vidya Mandir at Santacruz. Then she studies Architecture in Ruparel College, Matunga in Bombay. As a student she was always in the top position. While studying in Architecture she strted modeling. Then in 1994 she attended in the Miss India competition but lost to another beauty queen come actress of Bollywood Sushmita Sen who later won the title of Miss Universe. Though she lost to Sushmita, she was well-confident to win the Miss World in 1994 which bring this Bollywood queen in to the lime light.

Aishwarya Rai in Bollywood: The Early Years

Being the Miss World, she was expected to join in the film industry. After three years of her winning the Miss World title, in 1997 she appeared in a Tamil language film named ‘Iruvar’ directed by Mani Ratnam, a famous south Indian director. Aishwarya Rai entered in Bollywood through her first Hindi language film named ‘Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya’ directed by Rahul Rawali but the movie could not turn much hit at the box office. However, she got success through her second Tamil language movie ‘Jeans’ directed by S. Shankar. The movie was released in 1998 for which she was given the Filmfare Best Actress South. Then in 1999 she presented her first blockbuster hit movie named ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ where she showed her acting skill and talent in this profession. Along with two other most influential figure of Bollywood – Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan, she appeared in the movie which was really a critical challenge for a new actress to carry on her natural acting.

However, this multi-talented Bollywood beauty did her job successfully. For this movie she got almost all of the major film related award. She was honored with Best Actress award in Film fare award, Screen Videocon award, Stardust Millennium award, IIFA award, Zee Gold Critics Award in the same year in 2000. So it is worthless to say that the movie was a special one in her career. Aishwarya’s another movie, which was also got hit at the box office, named ‘Taal’, I think, another spokesmen of her acting and dance skill. She appeared with Anil Kapoor and Akshaye Khanna in the movie. The movie was really something special where she played the role of a village girl ‘Mansi’ who late comes to town and becomes a star for her dancing performance on the stage.

Image Link: Aishwarya Rai

Aishwarya Rai in Bollywood: Mohabbatein and Devdas

In 2000, ‘Mohabbatein’ directed by Aditya Chopra was the next hit movie for this talented actress. She played a role of Megha, a daughter named of a Headmaster of a private school. She fells in love with a student (later teacher played by Shah Rukh Khan) of that school. However, her father (played by Amitabh Bachchan) rejected this relation and as a result Megha commits suicide. This was also a high profile movie as the director co-stars all are very much influential in the industry. After getting a huge success though this movie Aishwarya, in 2002, she presented the trademark movie of her career and most successful movie in her entire career- Devdas, based on a popular and legendary Novel of Bengali writer Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The novel was based on a Bengali culture and tradition of 19^th century. This love story came into as a film in Bengali language film many times. In the movie, Asiwarya played one of the most important roles of the movie named Parvati. Her co-actors of the movie were also some powerful figure of Bollywood such as Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit. The movie was directed by famous director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This blockbuster hit movie was not only praised in the county rather the movie was also recognized in international level. It got a special screening at the Cannes Film Festival. In the country the movie received 10 awards in the Filmfare festival. Aishwarya Rai was given all of the Best Actress Awards in major film festival in that year.

Aishwarya Rai in Bollywood: After Devdas

After ‘Devdas’, Aishwarya got a huge popularity beyond the sphere of Bollywood and she gradually started acting in some of English movies. Her first English movie was Bride and Prejudice released in 2004 where her co-stars were Martin Henderson, Namrata Shirodkar. The story of the movie is based on Jane Austen’s popular novel Pride and Prejudice. Although the movie could not turn much hit at the box office, the movie could turn much of the public attention just because of Aishwarya’s appearance in the movie. Her second English movie was released in 2006 which was also failed to produce much hit. The movie named Mistress of Spicess was directed by Berges and based on a novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.

In addition, she also appeared in a Bengali language movie named ‘Chokher Bali’; the movie is based on a popular and great novel written by Rabindranath Tagore, the first Benglai Nobel laureate. Here, she played the role of Binodini, a widow. Though her talent and skill she could be able to bring out the inner philosophy of the character. In 2002 she also starred in a classic movie named ‘Raincoat’ along with co-artist Ajay Devgan.

Aishwarya Rai in Bollywood: 2006 and Dhoom 2

This year Aishwarya Rai presented Dhoom 2 as sequel of Dhoom. This blockbuster movie has already made a huge hit at the box office. In the movie she acted against Hrithik Roshan and played a significant role behind such a huge success of the movie. Her dance performance also worked here in the movie which has again proved that Aishwarya Rai is not only a talented actress but also a high class dancer. If you want to see some of her dancing performance then you can watch another movie ‘Umrao Jaan’ which was also released this year just before the Dhoom 2. In the movie, she played the role of a village girl who is kidnapped and sold to a brothel and then in her later age she is seen to dance to entertain the rich persons. Though there was a biog expectation regarding this movie in the industry but the movie could not meet the expectance and could make average hit at the box office. It is also said that if there was not Aishwarya Rai in the movie then there was a possibility of getting a minimal hit for this movie.

In the first of the next year her most awaited movie Guru will be released where she played against Abhishek Bachchan. Five of her English language movies are expected to be released in 2007. These are Provoked, The Last Legion, Singularity, Chaos, The Rebel. Besides, some of her Hindi language movies will also be released in the coming year. These are The heart of India, Akbar-Jodha, Happy Borthday, Sarkar 2 and Raaste.

Aishwarya Rai: Awards and Recognitions

After getting a huge success both in home and abroad, she started getting popular in the European and North American countries which is a rare case for an actress of Bollywood. In 2003, she was made a jury of the Cannes Film Festival and in 2004, she was named as Asia’s “100 Most Influential People” by the famous Time Magazine. She was made the person for “The Most Beautiful Face in the World” of a 60 minutes profile in 2005. She also attended at the Late Show with David Letterman and in 2005 she appeared in Oprah’s “Women Across the Globe” show.

Aishwarya Rai: The Most Beautiful Woman in the Universe?

Before finishing this article, I like turn your attention about the question: Is she the most beautiful woman in the world? To answer this question let me quote from CBS News:

Who is the most beautiful woman in the world? Half a century ago, Hollywood would have presented her to us. Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman or perhaps Elizabeth Taylor.

But today? Correspondent Bob Simon reports the woman who currently holds the title, at least according to thousands of Web sites, Internet polls and even Julia Roberts, is someone you've probably never heard of.

Her name is Aishwarya Rai, and she is an actress living and working in Bombay, India. The reigning queen of Indian cinema, and also a classically trained dancer, Rai has starred in 24 films over the last seven years.

In her personal life she has been involved with Salman Khan and later on with Vivek Oberoi. Now-a-days there is rumor that she is going to marry another Bollywood star Abhushek Bachchan.

I previously said that she is rare combination of both acting talent and beauty and I think there is no doubt about it. Ash nicknamed this skilled actress has already made a distinct position in the industry and has the ability to bring a movie single handedly which proves her influence over the industry and her popularity among the people. Though she has done two English movies in her career, she could not make a significant success. So, I think if she just concentrates on Indian movies then it would make her career in Bollywood more successful. At last, I hope best of her film career.

Tags: Bollywood, Aishwarya Rai

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