Breaking down on sets

Filmi Fundas

The film is a ray of hope for the actor. Reason being he was going through a difficult patch in his personal life. Incidentally, director Nagesh Kukunoor was shooting the film at Pondicherry, where the actor shot his debut film, Jism with girlfriend Bipasha Basu, who then, was just a co-star.

As the shooting of Aashayein progressed, Abraham realised that the shoot helped him understand his personal troubles better and put them in a better perspective.

That’s when John understood the preciousness and importance of love and care. Sources say that right after his take of the climax was okayed, he rushed to his room and broke down. Everyone on the sets was stumped.

Aashayein also stars Sonal Sehgal, Anaitha Nair and Farida Jalal in pivotal roles.

Apparently, John broke down when he first heard the script of Aashayein as well.
Nagesh Kukunoor had planned to release Aashayein in 2008.

The film’s music was launched in the same year. Unfortunately, for some reason or the other, the film kept getting delayed

In the film, John plays the role of Rahul Sharma, an angry, drop dead gorgeous yet confused gambler who wishes to live life as per his wishes, until one day he realises that he only has few days of life left with him.

Years of romance

The immensely popular Shah Rukh Khan-Kajol love story, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), will complete 800 weeks at the Maratha Mandir theatre in Mumbai in February 2011. Yes, it is a spectacle indeed. Manoj Desai, the owner of the theatre, has no plans of discontinuing the screening of the film. And why would he, especially after DDLJ producer Yash Chopra has decided to organise a mega celebration in February 2011.

Keen ear for music

Music mogul Bhushan Kumar manages to run his T-Series empire with elan thanks to his keen music sense which works like a charm every single time. This time around he used it to help telly queen Ekta Kapoor. Balaji’s Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai has taken a monstrous opening at the box office not only due to its controversial subject, but also its music created by hit composer Pritam.

A certain song from the film is catching on with the listeners like a wild fire. Pee Lu featured on Emraan Hashmi and Prachi Desai was the first song of the film to be released. The credit of this goes to Bhushan Kumar, who was the first to recommend the song to Ekta Kapoor after hearing it.

Says a source, “The movie, based on mafia, would have been passed on without a romantic track. However, after listening to the song, Bhushan Kumar immediately got in touch with Ekta and told her to release it as it would be good for the film. He has a sixth sense when it comes to music and can predict the popularity of songs. He told Ekta that the song would get more attention to the movie.” Confirms Bhushan Kumar, “I am glad that Ekta Kapoor went along with my suggestion. Pee Lu is one of my personal favourites. We are both extremely happy with the response the music has been receiving.” Well, Bhushan’s prediction surely worked like a charm as the popular song from the film continues to race up the charts and draw the audiences to the theatres.

A cut apart

Bollywood is seeing the release of more and more films based on social issues. Besides Peepli Live, National Award winning film, Antardwand, will be releasing on August 27. The film is a peep into the feudal India that is refusing to die. It’s a story where everybody involved pays a heavy price for the ugly patriarchal power play and the helplessness of girls.

Antardwand is a film that touches the concern and empathy of the viewers.

Says director Sushil Rajpal, “This is just one side of the larger story — what propelled the director in me was the other and more moving part of the story.”

“Forced marriages wreak huge emotional damage on both the girl and the boy. More for the voiceless girl, who is deeply entrenched in a male dominated feudalistic society, where she has nothing else to fall back on. Whether deserted or divorced — the life of a hapless girl in such a claustrophobic society becomes a hellish and endless journey. She bears the stigma of ‘being married but not married’.”

Duggu, a complete professional

It’s a known fact that Hrithik Roshan is a thorough professional. Directors also swear by the actor’s loyalty towards their films.

The professional actor refused to dance at a live show as the performance contradicts his role in the upcoming film Guzaarish.

Apparently, Roshan Junior was in a quandary about an offer to perform at an awards’ function that was to be held close to the release date of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish, that has him paired with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

And Hrithik plays a paraplegic confined to a wheel chair in the film. He felt that it would not be right to dance live on stage during the peak of the film’s publicity as that would go against the concept of the film.

Raking moolah

Appointed as the new host of Bigg Boss 4 on Colors, Salman Khan is reportedly being paid between Rs 3.5 crore to 5 crore per episode.

Taking over from pop philosopher Amitabh Bachchan, Khan’s fee per episode is said to be thrice the amount that he was being paid for Dus Ka Dum 3 (DKD), on Sony Entertainment Television.

According to reports, the actor was to be paid between Rs 1.25 crore to 1.5 crore per episode  for DKD 3, which would have run into 20 to 26 episodes for the season, fetching him about 40 crores.

He will now approximately make Rs 60 to 70 crore for Bigg Boss 4.  There were speculations that the host for this season would be Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar or Sanjay Dutt. Some even went to the extreme of suggesting that Sachin Tendulkar could be hosting the reality show.

Sallu has admitted that every shot of the show will be on the spot (sic). He also said that he would forget all the suggestions and speeches the moment he would land on the sets.

Thus, this season of the Bigg Boss, is really going to be one big breezy affair! Salman, who is quite an emotional person at heart, has also admitted that he would support the true spirited and the people who do not play vicious games on the show.

The hunk has watched the earlier seasons of this reality show and is aware of the kind of games the inmates tend to play in the house. The show is scheduled to air by the end of this year.