Movie: Money HaiTo Honey Hai

Producer: Kumar Mangat
Director: Ganesh Acharya
Cast: Manoj Bajpai, Celina Jaitley, Aftab Shivdasani, Ravi Kishan, Upen Patel, Kim Sharma, Govinda, Hansika Motwani, Isha Koppikar
Music: Vishal Bharadwaj

Give this film a chance. 'Money Hai To Honey Hai' has a certain sincerity of purpose and a rather sturdy narrative that serves the comic purpose until interval.

But that's when the pace slackens, the interest-level droops and the chuckles drop drastically to make way for a touching and simple climax that tells us it's okay to be ordinary and that living is about letting your dreams run free.

Choreographer Ganesh Acharya's earlier directorial effort 'Swami' was a well-intended narrative gone awry due to a story-telling inertia. But this time Acharya is on surer ground. And it's got little to with the Mauritian outdoors and the sun-kissed beaches the film boasts of.

'Money Hai...' soaks you in its warmth, but it's finally a failed comedy - albeit an honourable failure.

Seldom have you seen a less noisy comedy in recent times. The background sounds are kept at a minimum and for once the characters don't scream inanities and double meanings at one another.

Hansika's hammy acting is so purposely pitched at an extravagant decibel you can't but laugh.

Upen Patel's toy-boy act with Archana Puransingh is also hilarious. The rest of the comic act swings from rib-tickling to drab.

A remarkable aspect of 'Money Hai To Honey Hai' is the choreography - a field where Ganesh Acharya excels. The music and dances in this film have a frisky and flighty flavour - very outdoors, very sexy and different.

And it's not just Govinda who gets to shake a leg to an original beat. Every actor swings in to a freewheeling groove.

Upen and Hansika pull out all stops. And Celina Jaitley, who plays a fashion designer who dreams of making clothes for the working class, tugs at the heart.

The story is basically of dreamers coming together to assert their yearnings in ways that are sometimes interesting and sometimes listless.

Interview :Vivek Oberoi

Vivek Oberoi is out on a mission! After ‘Shootout at Lokhandwala’ he is now set for another action packed thriller’ in which he will don the role of Turkish commander. His new film will be arriving at the theatres this Friday. There are lots more happening in his life.

Excerpts from an Interview:

Shootout at Lokhandwala has bagged you laurels. You must be having high expectations from Mission Istanbul?

That is sure. I am definitely looking forward to the film to succeed. For one year I have been working really hard on the film. I just expect that people like my character like my former film. I hope my fans would go out to watch the film and like the action in the film. It is a whole machismo and attitude loaded stuff.

You’ve been doing lots of action stuff from Shootout at Lokhandwala to Mission Istanbul.

In one year I have just done two films. I am going the slow way as I wanted to do different kinds of scripts. I would prefer doing films that I like. Probably those kinds of offers have started pouring now. Now I’m doing another huge solo film South Africa with Tips. It is also a very different kind of film for me. The film I am doing with Karan Johar is with Saif and Kareena. For the film I have cut my hair. I've been learning a martial arts called Parkour from Dean Alexandrou from London. I'll be doing a lot of stunts, flying through the air without cables for the film. I'm also working with a Thai trainer in Muay Thai, a mix of Thai kickboxing and Akido.

You’ve also signed a romantic film 7G Rainbow Colony, which is a Hindi remake of a Tamil hit.

Mani Ratnam wanted me to see the film.His assistant Selvaraghavan directed the original and will be doing the Hindi remake too for UTV.

Will you ever work with Aishwarya Rai again?

As a professional I have no problems working with anyone. But I work with directors, not with actors and actresses.

You were spotted on the sets of Aladdin. Did you go there to meet Mr. Bachchan?

Director Sujoy Ghosh is a close friend of mine and we have done Home Delivery together. He invited me to the sets. Jackie Shroff and Riteish Deshmukh were there too and we got chatting. Then I heard that Amitji was there as well and I went to his van to say hello.

Interview : Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa Shetty is enjoying a good time traversing into varied things at the moment. While Bollywood films remain her priority, she is also getting into production and has launched her own production house under which she will be making films. Not only her professional life is going great guns, but also her personal life is rocking. In this candid interview she lets out many things that you didn’t know before.

Excerpts from an Interview:

There are talks doing the rounds that you are in a relationship with Raj Kundra. Is it true?

I have never come out in the open about it. How can you assume that I would do that now?

We are optimistic to hear something from you?

You want to hear it from the horse’s mouth? (laughs) Well, Raj is very much a part of my life. And yes, I am in a relationship with him.

That means your personal life is rocking.

Well to say, at this moment I am satisfied and in a peaceful state of mind. There is someone special in my life who also keeps me happy. So yes, I’m happy! Also in the professional front things are going right.

Are you planning marriage with Raj?

The day I decide to get married, I will make an official announcement.

What are the films on floors?

Right now, I am doing only one film, The Man. in the film I have to play the violin. And to make it look real, I have appointed a professional teacher to learn this instrument. It’s a difficult task to play a violin. My hands are totally numb and my neck aches too.

What will you be doing after the film?

I will start my home production with a multi-starrer. There will be two heroes and two heroines. I will play one of the female leads. The rest of the cast is yet to be finalised. Right now, I don’t have much time. I will also need time for the two shows in the UK, a part of The Unforgettables, Bachchan’s upcoming world tour.

Interview:Vidya Balan

It’s hard to believe actress Vidya Balan has been around for three years only since her debut with ‘Parineeta’. Flying high on success, she is today esteemed as one of the talented and most sought after actress in Bollywood. In the meantime she has wooed the audience with her variety and range and can anybody miss that charm on her face. Here she answers question on her upcoming film ‘Kismat Konnection’ making to the theatres this Friday.

Excerpts from an Interview:

What genre does Kismat Konnection belong to?

I would say Kismat Konnection is a love story and not a proper comedy. It’s a very light-hearted film and not emotionally high on content. The romance is very breezy, young and vibrant, and this is a love story that is very different from what I've done so far.

How would you sum up the three years you’ve spent here?

I still feel I am a newcomer. I’m lucky to work with established and experienced people. But there are so many things that still make me feel like a novice.

You started your film career with Vidhu Vinod Chopra doing three films with him. Anything more on the cards?

Vinod Chopra Productions is like a home ground for me. If he finds something suitable he would certainly call me. However it is no so that I’ve to be a part of his every project.

What different are you doing in Kismat Konnection?

Shahid Kapur is a brilliant dancer and I made up my mind while signing the film that I woun’t get nervous thinking about it. It’s not possible to match steps with Shahid and Hrithik ever. The kind of dancing that I do in the film is something I’ve never done before. I enjoyed dancing and hope the audience will like it. When I started with Kismat Konnection, it was a new unit for me and generally we do a short schedule in India before heading abroad for the shoot. But here we directly went to Toronto for two month outdoor. I was wondering how I would get along with everybody. I would listen to my iPod to keep myself busy and by second or third day, everyone had their iPods out and we started exchanging our iPods and sharing the music we were listening to. That helped all of us bond on the sets.

What made you sign a film with Shahid Kapur?

I choose a film by the story, my role, and the director. I had always wanted to work with Aziz Mirza and that’s the reason I signed the film. I believe in his kind of films. Shahid Kapur is such a good actor. Shahid is on his way to become a star. Post Jab We Met, he has become a rock star of sorts. As my co-star in the film was Shahid I didn't think twice. In the future I'd love to work with him again.

The media is agog about some special connection between Shahid and you, is it true?

The story is just figment of someone’s imagination. After listening to it so many times I'm quite used to it. We share a great onscreen rapport and offscreen we get along with each other really well. But still if people are interested in such stuff what can I do. I'm here to build a career and not some relationship.

Love Story 2050

Producer: Pammi Baweja
Director: Harry Baweja
Cast: Archana Puran Singh, Boman Irani, Harman Baweja, Harsh Vasisht, Priyanka Chopra
Music: Anu Malik

A star has most certainly been born. There are no two ways about it. After watching Harman Baweja sing, dance, emote and entertain in this Adlab presentation for a full three hours, one wonders if there is anything that this Baweja boy from Bollywood can't do.

Yes, maybe there is something Harman can't do. He can't make us forget for even a minute that he knows every component of the camera although he has never acted before. The confidence level stops just short of being cocky and overdone. He is never short of a positive and productive attitude.

It is clear that producer-director Harry Baweja has made 'Love Story 2050' as a showcase for his son's aptitudes. To that extent, the film works wonderfully, creating repeated opportunities for the debutant to shine.

The script - sprawling across two time phases and three hours of playing time - is a simple love story of two very good looking people coming together in the svelte, sweltering, simmering climes of Sydney, moving apart and then going into a futuristic mode without alienating themselves from the romantic genre that this uniquely-designed film inhabits.

Harry Baweja happily avoids the pitfalls of pedestrianism even when the boy-meets-girl plot gets into a trite and repeatedly-tested mode.

The protagonists share a precious, fragile and tender chemistry. A butterfly perches itself on the girl's trembling hands and manoeuvres her heart into places where there're no tell-tale signs. The butterfly becomes a likeable leitmotif in the plot. The courtship and romance is done in shades and words that leave us smiling. The initial scenes are actually far more interesting than they appear.

The boy tells the girl to do something that she has never done before. How about shop-lifting? He suggests. She suggests he recite some poetry for her. Javed Akhtar does the rest.

By the time Harman and Priyanka sing their first two duets (Anu Malik at his soft and tender best) we're convinced that they care deeply for each other. It's in their eyes. No kisses and cuddles needed. Only cuddly robots. For the first time in a Hindi film, two robots serving as the protagonists' companions are given prominent places in the plot. And they aren't just props. They are entities with a mind and personality of their own.

The entire courtship game stretching into two time zones is played out with an endearing innocence, and a focus and finesse that re-define the boy-girl formula in a language that's sassy and trendy without ever lumbering into the lurid.

Towards the second half, when Harman flies into a futuristic Mumbai to retrieve lost love, the flying cars, the humane robots and the psychedelic dance numbers tend to overpower the basic romantic structure of the plot.

Harry Baweja could have avoided the extravagant excesses in the sky. How long can you watch flying cars and talking robots? After a while you restlessly begin to search for that romantic core which, blessedly, is never too far away from the narrative's range of interests.

The second half, when a zany scientist (Boman Irani in a weird wig and silly smirk) transports the lovers and the audience into the future, has been done with an elan and flamboyance that leave us enthralled.

Vijay Arora's camera work is extraordinarily rich in colours and style. The same goes for Priyanka's sartorial grace. Her two roles are brilliantly defined by the clothes. Fortunately, Priyanka goes deeper in search of her characters' core. The repressed poetic persona in the first half and the brassy red-haired rock star in the second-half are two different entities.

But make no mistake. 'Love Story 2050' belongs to debutant Harman from first frame to the last. And all his co-stars know it. They all sort of move back to let the Baweja boy take centrestage.

Harman demonstrates an endearing all-purpose showmanship. He dances like a dream and gets gooey-eyed and sentimental in love scenes as though Romeo had just fallen off the balcony while serenading Juliet, bruising more than just his heart. This newcomer is to the camera born.

Wisely, the narrative restricts itself to the 'love' part of the love story, creating pockets of asexual passion (not even a peck between the actors) without making cuteness a fetish and a fad.

A whole lot of visible and intangible effort has gone into building this colour-consumed atmospheric world of sights sounds and melodies that represent the harmony of the spheres in optical splendour.

Finally though, the effort doesn't overpower the heart content and intent of the plot. This is actually a far better film than its genre and lavish budget would suggest.

Avoiding the vulgarity of overstatement but focusing on Harman and Priyanka to the point of making other characters appear largely redundant, 'Love Story 2050' offers a world where dreams and fantasies have a properly-designated place. We aren't in it just for the pleasure-ride.

Interview : Abhishek Bachchan

Abhishek Bachchan has just got back to Mumbai. He has been away for a long spell of schedule in Miami of Tarun Mansukhani's ‘Dostana’. Hereon he goes to resume shooting for Rakeysh Mehra's ‘Dilli 6’. Abhishek winds up telling what’s more happening in his life – there’s lot, with movies and music holding his concentration at present!

Excerpts from an Interview:

How is the shooting of Dostana going?

It is a young and energetic romantic comedy. It is new kind of genre that I’m trying my hands in. Priyanka, John and I had fun filled time. We were off to Miami for work purpose and it held our concentration most of the time. We balanced fun and also did many hours of hard work.

How did the Cannes schedule go along with Aishwarya?

Like always it was very engaging. Last year Aishwarya and I had gone to Cannes for the first time together. This year the whole family was there. It was a delight to be there with the whole family. Most of the time I’m away from home and to be in some other part of the world with your family is a delight. Also we tried to catch as many films as possible.

Wyclef Jean in Miami did a full hip-hop album with you.

I had a great time recording a song with the super-hip hopper Wyclef Jean in Miami. I had already done a hip-hop song before. Aadesh called me one day and requested me to be a part of the song. Aadesh is a close friend and it was wonderful to finally sing with him. Wyclef is a musician I have admired for a long time and have great respect for him. It was a treat to record with the two of them. And loads of fun. When I was recording with Vishal-Shekhar for Bluff Master I was equally petrified. I love to sing. But I'm not a singer and I have only done this track as a personal favour to Aadesh.

Tell us about your non-film album with Vishal-Shekhar.

It is also a hip-hop album. Dad will also be around as a guest vocalist. The album has been delayed. The album with Vishal -Shekar has been in the making for the last two years and isn't released. I'd have loved to have premiered it during our World Tour in July. But it's not ready. When it is ready we'll release it. Dad has a great singing voice. Mine is nowhere near his. I don't think I have the ability or talent to do what all he has done.

Interview : Celina Jaitley

Actress Celina Jaitley is spending most of her time in work. She is shooting for her upcoming film Money Hai To Honey Hai and will also be doing an item track for Ekta Kapoor’s forthcoming film C Kkompany. All the time she has also been busy rubbishing rumours that keep her on her toes all the time.

Excerpts from an Interview:

You’ve not been seen around for sometime now.

I’m not a party animal and don’t get into every parties. I just prefer the music release and premieres of my films. Other than that I prefer to keep myself away from events. Since past few weeks I’ve been working a lot. I have just come from Bangkok and then I’m away for another outdoor shoot. The last couple of months have been very stressful as my brother had an accident. It was shocking for us.

Coming to films, one hears that there has been problem between you and Hanssika Motwani on the sets of Money Hai To Honey Hai because she was trying to copy your costume designs?

There was never an argument about the issue. I got to hear from people that Hanssika's mother was always interested to know what I was going to wear. I had no problems with that and rather it is a compliment that others want to copy what I wear. You know, even if they copy my outfits, they won't be able to carry them off. For that you need a personality, body and height. I had no problems with Hanssika. But I feel that her parents were always nosey about others on the sets. I'm not complaining about such things as I prefer to do my work and leave.

Were you friends with Kareena Kapoor and Amrita Arora on the sets of Golmaal Returns?

I don't have too many scenes with them. My track is different. We did work out together once. Kareena and Amrita are friends anyway. I get to hear that I don’t get along with my female colleagues. But that’s not true. During No Entry, Lara, Bipasha (Basu), Esha (Deol) and I became the best of friends. We're in touch over the phone. Riya (Sen) and Neha (Dhupia) are two of my other friends. In general, I can't deal with the insecurities of women. I'm into gizmos, play stations, the works but not into gossip. I've always been more comfortable with boys maybe because I'm from a family where there were more boys than girls. I've had more male cousins than female. I do get along with girls but when I sense bad vibes I back out. Also I can't handle the mummies and aunties-pressure at work.

Interview : Imran Khan

Imran Khan, 25-year-old debutant is arriving this Friday with his first film ‘Jaane Tu... Ya Jane Na’. He comes from the legacy of films, bring the grand child of Nasir Husain, uncle Mansoor Khan and Aamir Khan. Being Aamir Khan’s nephew it’s a tough task to prove himself in the shoes of his mamu. But this new entrant is confident about his take and has already created a stir even before the film’s release. The film is directed by Abbas Tyrewala.

Excerpts from an Interview:

Your first film is about to release. How are you feeling?

People have set high standards, but I’m not thinking about it because if I do, I’ll get paralysed. The best part is I’m not stressed at all. AK (that’s Aamir) was telling me that during his QSQT days, he too wasn’t stressed.

You are on your way to stardom. Comments.

When I see my promos or read about myself, it seems like I’m seeing someone else. My girlfriend Avantika keeps clippings of my articles but gets upset if anyone writes negative stuff about me. I have to keep telling her, ‘Chill baby, it’s ok’.

Have you made any friends?

I don’t like partying as I’m a very reserved person, but I like to go to friends’ homes and chill with them. My friends are mostly assistant directors and actors like Minisha Lamba and Kunal Kapoor, and there’s Shruti Hasan who is more like my sister. I’m doing Soham’s Luck with her. There is also Sanjay Ghadvi’s Kidnap lined up.

Jaane Tu has been in the making for three years. Did that make you impatient?

It was frustrating but I also learnt in the film industry hardly anything happens on time. From the scripting stage to direction there are always delays.

How much did you enjoy working with co-star Genelia?

Both of us gotalong from day one as we understood our styles of working together.

What about working with Abbas Tyrewala?

He is very cool and doesn’t push his opinions on others. We have become like brothers and have become very close in the process of making the film. Abbas and I went to Aamir Khan Productions to ask them to produce the film. I always thought of myself as Abbas' partner. I would hang around with Abbas, and also learn from him.

How much do you resemble the character of Jai Rathore, your character on screen?

Jai is flamboyant up to a certain amount which I am not. Being a reserved person it was quite a task to appear flamboyant on screen. Abbas suggested me to play Jai as though I was one drink down. He also convinced me to wear a sari and that was really funny.