Interview : Rimi Sen

Rimi Sen has been trying to make a mark and finally did manage to leave a mark with 'Johnny Gaddaar'. She is gearing up for another remarkable film of her career where she would be seen playing her first double role. She has bagged a double role in Rakesh Sarang's 'Horn Ok Pleassss'. More about it lets find it from her.

Excerpts from an Interview:

Would you please tell us about your character in Horn Ok Pleassss?

For the first time in my career I'll be seen playing a double role in the film. There are two actors in the film Nana Patekar and Muzammil and I'm paired opposite both of them. More or less the characters are quite similar.

Doing double role is not easy. How was your experience?

The only problem I faced in doing the role was different bodylanguage of both the characters. Other than that there was not much difficulty involved as both the characters are very much alike.

What was it that made you accept the film?

I would say it is the story as it is very interesting and different. There was no question of saying no to Rakeshji as I loved the script.

How did you accept your roles in the initial stage of your career?

Earlier I did not give much importance to roles. I only used to see the banner, who is the hero and the director. Because at that time I thought I won't get recognized if I do experimental films. So I looked for big banners with good star cast. But now I'm tired of doing guest appearance roles. I'm interested to work in thriller kinds of films as they have stories.But I have not got such offers yet.

Interview : Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra was out of scene in 2007 and we definitely missed her a lot. Though one expected to see more of her after Krrish and Don, she was missing from the limelight.But she is going to make up for that and more with releases flooding in 2008. Her futuristic 'Love Story 2050' is what holds our attention at the moment with 'good friend' Harman Baweja followed by more half a dozen films lined up.

Excerpts from an Interview:

You've out of scene for quite sometime. What were you doing all this while?

I was very busy shooting for films. I was shooting back to back and finished two mega films. I have completed Love Story 2050 and Drona which will release shortly.

Love Story 2050 looks like something different from what we've encountered so far. Tell us about it.

You are correct in judging that it is a different kind of film. It's first of its kind. This is the first Indian sci-fi film. The effect is one to see from the quality of production, the visual effects and everything.

How was the experience doing the film?

I'm playing double character in the film but was comfortable with the storyline and knew what I had to do well. It was challenging and fun filled as well. It was no trouble switching from one chracter to the other but I hated dyeing my hair red. (laughs) But it was rewarding. There were things involved like you're flying or looking at the sky though you are not and so conceptualising it was not easy. The technology in Love Story 2050 is amazing and I'm floored by the outcome.

What are your other releases?

There's Dostana, Chamku, God Tussi Great Ho, Drona. After Love Story 2050 the next release will be Vijeyata Films' home production Chamku with Bobby Deol. It's a sweet film. There is also Drona which is a fantasy film based of today's time. Then there arrives Fashion, which again has lots of expectations. It is the story of a model, her rise, her fall, her victory, her failures.

Interview: Soha getting bold and beautiful

You’ve seen cutesy lass Soha Ali Khan in conservative and innocent avatars till now. But with her new oomph pose for a fashion magazine she has truly become the talk of the town. Soha has created quite a stir with her take. We take a look as what is in Soha’s mind about the whole take.

What is your family’s reaction?

We haven’t spoken about it. I would never have any in-depth discussion with him about the matter. He has already seen the photographs. Thanks to the media, everyone has seen the photographs by now.

Excerts from an Interview:

Is your take of this avatar change motivated towards your image makeover?

There is no conscious intention of any image makeover. I’m not trying to get a readymade route to success. The photographer was very nice and made me comfortable during the shooting process. I didn’t feel awkward wearing the outfits I’d spent hours choosing.

My mother is a sensible and progressive lady. I got compliments from her and she said I looked good.

Would you like to say what Saif Ali Khan had to say about it?

I’ve not discussed the subject with him either.

There is rumor that you’re going to tie the knot with southern superstar Siddharth by the end of this year. Comment.

I would not like to say anything about it. For me, the only important relationship is marriage and since I am not married yet there is nothing to talk about.

Turning to films, what are you doing nowadays?

My work is keeping me busy. I’m doing Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge opposite Kunal Kemmu and Mumbai Meri Jaan where I’ll be seen as a news reporter.

Hrithik Roshan

One hasn’t seen much of Hrithik Roshan after Ashutosh Gowariker’s ‘Jodhaa-Akbar’. However his fans needn’t disappoint, as the actor is now all set to bounce back to the big screens with his next home production attempt ‘Kites’, to be directed by Anurag Basu. As Hrithik Roshan gears up for the shooting of his new film, to commence on this July, we catch up with him and find out more about his life and newly blessed papa-hood.

Excerpts from the Interview:

We haven’t seen much of you lately. Where have you been?

Well, I was a bit engaged with my personal commitments, as my second child was due in May. So I chose to spend some time with my family rather than making public appearances.

So how does it feel being a dad all over again for one new time?

Oh, it’s just amazing. Today I can’t just imagine my life without my family and two sons. They are absolutely dear to me.

What do you have to say about this on going blogging rage that has stirred up quite a many heated controversies of late?

Well, I wouldn’t like to comment much on this. But as for me, I speak only when I feel the need to communicate something. But I simply can’t go around talking just for the heck of it.

How do you deal with your brand name now that you are the ambassador of the Mumbai IPL team?

That’s pure hogwash. I have just no clue from where does this kind of news stem up. If the script warrants any such scene, why would I or anybody else have any issue, for that matter.

Aadesh Shrivastava’s Large Responsibility!

The rocking winner of ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ has its musician, Aadesh Shrivastava on moon. And now, this smart musician is all set to collaborate with none other Amitabh Bachchan himself, for his most ambitious musical getaway, apparently a musical rendition of ‘Bhagavad Gita’ penned down by Amitabh Bachchan’s father, the late poet Shri Harivanshrai Bachchan.

Discussing this musical venture, Amitabh Bachchan said, “Aadesh Shrivastava and I will now be collaborating over a new interpretation of the ‘Bhagavat Geeta’. It’s one of my father’s unknown and unacknowledged masterpieces, of immense literary and religious value. We’ll be doing a musical version of my father’s ‘Bhagavat Gita’, which he had translated into the language and meter of the ‘Ramayan’. In this, the centenary year of my father’s existence I can think of no better tribute.”

Aadesh who on the other hand is excited as well as nervous says, “It’s one thing for me to collaborate with Bachchan Saab who’s like an elder brother. We’ve done every kind of song from love ballads to hip-hop to bhangra to Bhajans. But now we’re talking about his distinguished father. And that makes my responsibility increase several times.”

Movie: 'Shaurya'

Producer: Moser Baer India

Director: Samar Khan

Cast: Rahul Bose, Minissha Lamba, Kay Kay Menon, Rozza Catalano, Javed Jaffrey, Seema Biswas, Deepak Dobriyal,

Amrita Rao

Music: Surendra Sodhi, Adnan Sami

Singers: Adnan Sami, Sunidhi Chauhan, Udit Narayan, Abhijeet, Shah Rukh Khan, Kunal Ganjawala

Adnan Sami, who would rather be referred to as a singer than a composer, is back to making music for 'Shaurya' and presents six tracks for the film. While the track is nowhere close to being a sensation, the efforts put into the album are noticeable.

Another thing that stands out is that lyricists Javed Akhtar and Jaydeep Sarkar have done a much better job than the composer.

'Dheere dheere' is a slow, serene and romantic number. Adnan Sami croons this sentimental love track with Sunidhi Chauhan and both have done a pretty good job. The track is well thought out, but lacks retaining quality.

'Dosti kya hai' comes next with a slight resemblance to the previous number. But the renditions turn out to be definitely different as Udit Narayan and Abhijeet tune in next. At a time when new talents are thronging the music industry, Udit and Abhijeet fail to sound fresh. The lyricist sticks to the theme though and comes out with some good lines.

The title track, 'Shaurya', comes next. The track is a theme number that talks about bravery of all sorts. Although it comes as a relief after the previous two tracks, yet this number is likely to fade out as well and it won't be able to hold the audience's interest for too long.

A lyrical beauty is what 'Shaurya' could be called. The lyricist has done a superb job and his innovativeness is worth mentioning. What comes as a surprise is Shah Rukh Khan who delivers the lines in an inspiring way. 'Shaurya kya hai' could be adjudged the winner of the lot.

Sami has been unable to cut an out and out chartbuster album in the recent past and this trend continues with 'Shaurya'. The album will be remembered for noteworthy songs like 'Shaurya Kya Hai' and 'Dheere Dheere', giving the composer some relief.

Movie: ‘Cycle’

Producer: Sunny Kuruvila, T N Thilakan, Viswanathan

Director: Johny Antony

Cast: Vineeth Sreenivasan, Vinu Mohan, Sandhya, Bhama

Music: Mejo Joseph

“Cycle” is scriptwriter James Albert’s second film. He shot to fame with his first film “Classmates”. The film is directed by Johny Antony, who has made slapstick comedies “CID Moosa”, “Thuruppu Gulan” and “Inspector Garud”.

The film is distinct as far as the oeuvre of Antony is concerned. “Cycle” is an intriguing and suspenseful film laced with humour and youthful energy.

“Cycle” is also important for its casting as it marks the debut of Vineeth Sreenivasan, son of veteran actor Sreenivasan. Vineeth has already established himself as a playback singer.

The film’s story may appear very old, but it is told in such a way that it connects with Gen Next. Credit should go to Albert, who has taken a tale from the duo Siddique-Lal era of mimicry and placed it in the current scenario.

This is a rarity considering that filmmakers still seek to emulate the 1980s, as if the key to success is just a replication of the decade-old formulas.

The tale is about two friends, Roy (Vineeth) and Sanju, played by Vinu Mohan of “Naivedhyam” fame, struggling to make both ends meet with their low salaries, working respectively as a cashier in a private finance company and as a salesman in an electronics goods shop.

Vineeth does his best to be like his father. His mannerism and dialogue delivery are the same as his father’s. Vinu Mohan handles a sober role deftly.

The music by Mejo Joseph, who was first noticed in “Notebook”, is entertaining if not enchanting.

It is surprising that Antony can handle such stuff after being tagged as a slapstick comedy maker, but credit should go to scriptwriter Albert who delivered a sound script.