While any other newcomer, whose debut movie proves to be a blockbuster, would have cared two hoots about academics, but Deepika Padukone is from a rare breed. The daughter of India's former All England Badminton Champion, Prakash Padukone, still has her feet firmly placed on the ground. And that despite becoming an overnight sensation with her first movie, OM SHANTI OM, netting an astonishing 81-crore in 4 weeks.

In fact, unmoved by the success, Deepika is very keen on acquiring her Graduation degree in Sociology, from Delhi University (distant education). She has already passed her first year, and has to clear two more exams to become a Graduate.

Though the general perception is that learning has nothing to do with earning (in Bollywood!), the sensational debutante thinks otherwise. She says that the degree will be for her self-enrichment and will help her develop a well-rounded personality.

Kareena Kapoor says she keeps her work and love life separate.

Kapoor said in an interview published that work was her focus right now and marriage to her boyfriend and well-known actor Saif Ali Khan was a long way off.

"They are two different compartments,'' she said.

She has dreamed of marriage and children like most women, but said: "At this point I am too young to think about it. We will take each year as it comes, not each day as it comes.''

Kareena recently ended a three-year romance with Shahid Kapur , with whom she starred in the hit love story Jab We Met.

Kapoor also won praise from critics last year for "Omkara,'' a Bollywood adaptation of Shakespeare's "Othello.''

Kapoor said Khan was very supportive since he too worked hard to succeed in India's movie industry.

"I am highly ambitious. My strength, my confidence and everything else stems from my ability to work hard in my career which is the pivotal point of my life,'' she said. "It's beyond everything.''

If you aren't doing to well in the Bollywood industry or are an aspiring Bollywood actress who wants to make it big, the solution is quite simple – its time to move to Tollywood and try your luck.

Well this has been the tried and tested formula for many a Bollywood actress for an instant success and fame to move to the thriving South film industry.

Many of Bollywood's top actresses have at least one south film to their credit.

NEW DELHI: Film director Anand Kumar is all set make a film on the incidents of sealing in Delhi last year. The film titled 'Jugaad' (temporary settlement), is a story about a successful ad-man based in Delhi whose city-based office is sealed during the drive.

"The film is about the struggles of the films protagonist, played by Manoj Bajpai, to resettle his life and his work. It is a humorous take on the ad-filmaker's life post-sealings. How he tries possible 'jugaad' to get his life back on the track," says Anand Kumar, who earlier directed 'Delhii Heights' starring Jimmy Shergill, Neha Dhupia and Rohit Roy.

The film is set in the backdrop of the drive to seal commercial establishments in the residential areas by the Delhi Government, which evoked huge protest by those affected.

"The film, however, is no political satire. Rather it is a fun-filled journey of the hero, who one fine day finds himself on the road and how he fights back," says Kumar, adding "The film is a fresh comedy and has the spirit of Chak De! India". The director says the sealing drive will be shot by recreating the scenes.

Actor Manoj Bajpai portrays the character of the ad-filmmaker who battles to resurrect his business in the anti-encroachment drive. A part-Delhiite, Bajpai who graduated from Delhi University's Ramjas College, is pretty excited about the film

MUMBAI: Out of the 236 movies released so far this year, only about 15 have made it to the hit mark. The alarming number of flops in the year 2007 came as a huge shock, especially because it rained hits in 2006.

By the end of first quarter of the year, Bollywood had already suffered losses to the extent of Rs600 to Rs700 million. Till March, only one film, Guru emerged as a universal hit, with all the other ones like Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq, Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Eklavya, Ram Gopal Varma's Nishabd, Vikram Bhatt's Red, Amrit Sagar's 1971, Milan Luthria's Hattrick, Anurag Kashyap's Black Friday, Deepa Mehta's Water, Meghna Gulzar's Just Married, Suneel Darshan's Shakalaka Boom Boom, hitting the dust. Nishabd and Eklavya turned out to be huge duds. Then Akshay Kumar's Namastey London was successful, bringing in the much-needed respite.

After July, films like Partner, Chak De India, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiya, Jab We Met and the super hit Om Shanti Om attracted audiences, providing a bit of a breather for the distributors.   

Amod Mehra, trade analyst, says even then the trend is alarming. He says, "If you notice, apart from Chak De all the other films that have done well are those typical commercial formula films. We seem to have digressed back to the same tried-and-tested formula. People can scream their lungs out saying that script is the king, but the fact remains that the viewer is no longer ready to risk his money for anything that seems unlikely to entertain him, especially since multiplex rates have hit the roof.

The coming Friday will see the release of Sahara One Motion Pictures' Kay Kay Menon, Jimmy Shergill, Nadana Sen and Sonali Kulkarni starrer, STRANGERS. Though the film looks interesting, it is not expected to cut much ice with the audience because of lack of star power.

Coming to last Friday's releases, Sanjay Gupta's DUS KAHANIYAAN was not expected to take a flying start, but the dull opening in Bombay and the weak start almost everywhere comes as a disappointment. On the whole DUS KAHANIYAAN may be a different experience for the audience but the experience for the distributors may not be a happy one. The movie has also underperformed in the Overseas, grossing $80,447 from the UK and $176,726 from the US.

The second release, KHOYA KHOYA CHAND, may have got the critics excited, but not the audience, who expectedly rejected the movie from the first show itself. The Sudhir Mishra directed film had a horrifyingly weak first day in Bombay and a frighteningly poor start elsewhere. It is obvious that KHOYA KHOYA CHAND has disaster written all over it. The Shiney Ahuja and Soha Ali Khan starrer is also a washout in the Overseas.

Yash Raj's Madhuri Dixit starrer manages to get decent collections despite a dull start. It goes without saying that the only 'star' of AAJA NACHLE (as per the director), the last 'superstarni' of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit, manages to show her star power to her detractors. During the week, the Anil Mehta starrer collected 1.92 crores from Bombay, 45 lakhs from Ahmedabad, 1.10 lakhs from Himmatnagar, 7.40 lakhs from Rajkot, 2.50 lakhs (gross) from Bhavnagar, 1.40 lakhs from Solapur, 5.35 lakhs from Nasik, 1.10 crores from Delhi city, 11.60 lakhs from Noida, 16 lakhs from Ghaziabad, 10.25 lakhs from Lucknow, 1.20 lakhs from Agra, 1.15 lakhs from Bareilly, 2.30 lakhs from Aligarh, 12.75 lakhs from Gurgaon, 5.50 lakhs from Faridabad, 11.80 lakhs from Nagpur, 1.20 lakhs from Akola, 13.50 lakhs from Indore, 1.20 lakhs from Sehore, 2.40 lakhs Bhopal, 14.60 lakhs from Jaipur, 1.40 lakhs from Bikaner, 1.45 lakhs from Guwahati, 42.25 lakhs from Calcutta, 1.30 lakhs from Vijaywada, 2.45 lakhs from Aurangabad and 33.75 lakhs from Hyderabad. In its first week AAJA NACHLE has netted a decent 11 crores, and given the cost, its a creditable effort. The real surprise comes from the Overseas, where AAJA NACHLE has held on quite well grossing $660,238 from the UK and $425,488 from the US, both up to the second weekend.

The other release of the same week, Myth Productions' GAURI THE UNBORN, was never expected to achieve anything and expectedly had poor collections to show. The movie collected 8 lakhs from Bombay, 1.15 lakhs from Ahmedabad and 2.25 lakhs from Delhi city. With barely 25 lakhs from India in its opening week, the Atul Kuulkarni, Rituparna Sengupta starrer, GAURI THE UNBORN is a disaster.

Meanwhile Vivek Agnihotri's John, Bipasha, Arshad and Boman starrer, DHAN DHANA DHAN GOAL, fell heavily in its second week. Looking at numbers, GOAL collected 42 lakhs from Bombay, 13.25 lakhs from Ahmedabad, 1.70 lakhs from Rajkot, 1.50 lakhs from Nasik, 35.50 lakhs from Delhi, 6 lakhs from Noida, 8.30 lakhs from Ghaziabad, 3.15 lakhs from Lucknow, 1 lakh from Agra, 8.20 lakhs from Gurgaon, 2.35 lakhs from Faridabad, 3.25 lakhs from Nagpur, 1 lakh each from Amravati and Jaipur, 4.45 lakhs from Indore, 1.20 lakhs from Aurangabad and 11.60 lakhs from Hyderabad. During the week DHAN DHANA DHAN GOAL collected another 3 crores for a two week all-India total of 14 crores. DHAN DHANA DHAN GOAL is a below average from India, based on its cost. GOAL has failed in the Overseas, grossing $117,101 from the US (up to 2nd December) and $216,941 from the UK.

Farah Khan's OM SHANTI OM continues its good weekend runs. During the week, OM SHANTI OM collected 73 lakhs from Bombay, 11.55 lakhs from Ahmedabad, 2.20 lakhs from Rajkot, 1.10 lakhs (gross) from Bhavnagar, 1.57 lakhs from Jamnagar, 1.05 lakhs from Solapar, 2.20 lakhs from Nasik, 39 lakhs from Delhi city, 6.10 lakhs from Noida, 8 lakhs from Ghaziabad, 8.25 lakhs from Lucknow, 1.30 lakhs from Agra, 1.50 lakhs from Bareilly, 6.40 lakhs from Gurgaon, 3 lakhs from Faridabad, 5 lakhs from Nagpur, 1.60 lakhs each from Jabalpur and Amravati, 1.20 lakhs from Akola, 1.45 lakhs from Raipur, 1 lakh from Chandrapur, 3.20 lakhs from Indore, 9.65 lakhs from Jaipur, 21 lakhs from Calcutta, 3.15 lakhs from Aurangabad, 1.70 lakhs (gross) from Vijaywada and 24.40 lakhs from Hyderabad. With another 5 crores, the Shah Rukh, Arjun, Shreyas and Deepika starrer has netted an unbelievable 81 crores in just four weeks from India. It is obvious that OM SHANTI OM is an ATBB (All Time Blockbuster). In the Overseas, OM SHANTI OM, already a blockbuster, continues its record breaking run. The film has so far grossed $2,612,385 from UK and a new record gross of $3,561,742 (up to 6th December) from the US.

Meanwhile the Shahid-Kareena starrer, JAB WE MET, continues its rock-steady reign at the ticket window. Looking at the numbers, JAB WE MET collected 20.50 lakhs from Bombay, 2.65 lakhs from Ahmedabad, 20 lakhs from Delhi city, 2.25 lakhs from Noida, 4 lakhs from Ghaziabad, 1.80 lakhs from Lucknow, 1 lakh from Agra, 3.30 lakhs from Gurgaon, 1.85 lakhs from Faridabad, 1.50 lakhs from Nagpur, 1 lakh from Indore, 1.40 lakhs from Jaipur and 4.75 lakhs from Hyderabad. With another 1.20 crores, the Imtiaz Ali directed film has netted 29.50 crores in six weeks from India. It is certain that next week, JAB WE MET will become the second superhit of Shahid Kapoor's career, the first being VIVAH. The movie is also a big success in the UK grossing $867,194, especially in view of the costs involved.

Levi Strauss (India) Pvt. Ltd. today announced that Deepika Padukone, the Bollywood beauty of the OM SHANTI OM fame will continue to be its national brand ambassador for their brand Levi Strauss Signature. The brand also announced their new "Dart-to-Win" contest that would provide an exciting once in a life time opportunity for fans of Deepika to meet and greet with her.

Youthfull, confident, and with a mind of her own Deepika has come a long way since her initial foray into modeling. Her entry into Bollywood with OM SHANTI OM has won her rave reviews and has been recognized as the most promising newcomer to take the numero uno position in the Indian film industry in the near future.

"Our association with Deepika is a perfect brand fit and we are delighted to partner with her. She signifies style, good looks, youth, fun and universal appeal - attributes that resonate with our brand values and positioning." said ATP Ramani, Business Head, Levi Strauss Signature.

Targeted at the young and trendy college-goer, brand Levi Strauss Signature depicts 'collective individuality' - a strong 'youth' phenomenon and highlights the "we are what we are" sentiment of the Indian youth.

Speaking at the occasion Deepika said, "It is my pleasure to be associated with a brand that provides such an extensive range of clothing for the urban youth. I look forward to working with Levi Strauss Signature and am happy to endorse the brand."

The Levi Strauss Signature "Dart to win" contest encourages customers and fans of Deepika to register their opinion on Deepika in the exclusive Levi Strauss Signature stores pan India. The most creative comment will be handpicked by Deepika herself. The winner will get their once in a life time opportunity to meet and greet with her and will avail an all expense paid trip & stay for one day. Open for all, the Dart to win contest starts on 11th December 2007 and will be open till 10th January 2008.

In addition to the contest is also a gaming activity scheduled at the Levis Strauss Signature exclusive brand outlets. Every purchase of Rs. 2500/- & above, will enable customers to partake of a dart game with three chances to aim at the dart board. The dart board depicts various freebies like one branded T-shirt, one pair of jeans, one watch & one travel bag. Customers could target any of the above by means of his/her darting skills and win any one of the valuable freebies irrespective of the number of right hits he/she accrues. This Dart-to-win consumer promotion is open from the 11th Dec'07 onwards and will remain till stocks last.

For all those who have watched and admired Dharavi, Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin, or the more recent Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi…, Sudhir Mishra's Khoya Khoya Chaand is bound to be a keenly awaited film. This is also his best-budgeted movie, and better-promoted than his earlier films.

Khoya Khoya Chaand is set in the Indian film-making world of the 1950s and 1960s. Nikhat (Soha Ali Khan) starts out as a junior artist and a dancer, and wants to be an actress. Prem Kumar (Rajat Kapoor), a top artiste of the time, notices her and gets her the lead role in one of his films, in exchange for a certain proximity. Nikhat is reconciled to her situation when she meets an Urdu writer Zafar (Shiney Ahuja) who is also trying to find a foothold in the industry, again under the patronage of Prem Kumar. Disillusioned with the exploitative relationship with Prem Kumar, Nikhat gets closer to Zafar only to be sucked back in the mire that surrounds her. Unsuccessful in his relationship with Nikhat, Zafar also fails in his debut film as the director. Frustrated by his failures, Zafar goes away abroad and Nikhat tries to lose herself in self-destructive alcoholism. A few years on, Zafar comes back and cracks a film deal with the same set of people he was involved with earlier. The film is biographical where Nikhat, who is dying of a heart condition, plays herself.

With a film-maker's knowledge, Sudhir Mishra has successfully created characters and situations that are at once typical of their age and also universal. He deftly creates a world where fourteen year old girls have to sleep with producers to get roles; where the producer bullies the director but sometimes only for effect; where the shrewd actress latches on to a superstar for roles but also lends a hand to a sensitive director and his vision; where a coterie of powerful people dictate terms but a charming old director makes his kind of film nevertheless; where a mother lives off on her actress daughter's hard earned money but another woman mothers the actress without any obvious rewards (these are also some of the best executed scenes in the film). These characters and scenes look authentic and gives a glimpse of Bollywood's past, and do so without turning the film into a retro fashion parade. Sudhir Mishra makes them all seem credible and earns brownie points. But while Mishra, the director does well Mishra, the writer fails. And on several counts.

Khoya Khoya Chaand seems undecided about its central characters and sequence of events – is it the story of Nikhat or, is it the story of Nikhat and Zafar (as a 'stray' voiceover suggests)? What is the importance of the background stories on Bollywood period characters, practices and ethics? Are they central or incidental to the unfolding human drama of Nikhat and Zafar? Strange at this may sound, a clear decision on these points would have solved most of the problems that the script has. As it is, the film cannot hold itself as the story of Nikhat, for Nikhat is as one dimensional as they come. She seems to be happy as a linnet being a junior artist and just equally happy when spotted by the star Prem Kumar. When it becomes obvious what he wants in return she doesn't seem to complain too much. She cries when Kumar's marriage is announced, but it's not clear why, for she is not in love with him. Her relationship with her family remains unexplored and so her refusal to get married so she can earn for them is baffling. She refuses to go away with Zafar despite her love for him, because, as she puts it, she wants to think only about herself. Then she actually destroys her career by excessive drinking and B-grade films. The most intriguing aspect of her character is that one never discovers her passion (or a lack of it) for acting. Nikhat's character is so flat one only wishes she was all that Zafar accuses her of being. She would have been a wonderful and attractive character if she was shown exploitative, if she got involved with this out of work writer just to taunt Prem Kumar, if she refused to marry Zafar because she did not want to put an early end to her career, if she had refused to go with him as a revenge for his not casting her, or, indeed, if her drinking had led to better performances! (But I say this in retrospect, and this solution, at best, is a speculative one.) Zafar's character, on the other hand, with his jealous frustrations and moral ambiguities, is better defined, if somewhat unlikeable (he often comes out as an attention seeking and a wronged writer assured of his genius). Zafar's background story is needlessly long and detailed, and there seems an unnecessary emphasis on his regret for not making peace with his father, so much so that this factor becomes and remains the central axis of his creative universe.

The screenplay lacks a clear narrative purpose and combined with a somewhat muddled editing, many (often, eminent) themes and scenes jostle with each other without finding specific and meaningful place in the film. There are way too many sequences establishing the ways of the film industry and yet Khoya Khoya Chaand carries an apologetic character. It never dives into the heart of the darkness of how Bollywood operates. The sadist power structure, difficult crass producers, opportunist collaborators and exploitative families are only referred to and talked about (not showing them is risking a plain assemblage of the hackneyed and cliché). The film suggests the rampant sexual exploitation but strictly avoids showing it (Mishra's obvious discomfiture with filming love-scenes doesn't help the matter either).

Khoya Khoya Chand affords Soha Ali Khan her meatiest role till date and she has worked hard to do justice to Nikhat. She looks good and delivers a performance that is strong; what she to some extent lacks though are the nuances. Shiney Ahuja holds himself well as the disgruntled writer but slips in the more emotive scenes. Rajat Kapoor gives a controlled performance but one misses the menace or meanness of Monsoon Wedding. The supporting cast of Vinay Pathak and Saurabh Shukla are noteworthy. Sonya Jehan performs with an effortless ease and a steely smile that seems also to be dancing in her head.

The Cinematography is admirable and produces a mixed palette using a wide variety of lighting and compositions. However, unfortunately, it has not aided in distinguishing the core story of the film and that of the films-within-the-film which was sorely needed. Music does well in holding the mood of the film without crying out loud to be noticed.

Sudhir Mishra has no doubt made a sincere effort in making this period piece on the workings of the Indian film industry, or, to put it the way he would like it, he has tried his best not to bullshit. But it has been my long-held view that a director who goes out with a weak screenplay is guilty of the sins committed. More so, if he has written the script himself.

Minissha Lamba

Minissha Lamba wooed everyone with her superwoman antics in HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT LTD and her very commendable tango dance became the talking point of the film. The petite YAHAAN actress is now looking forward to 2008 as four of her films are lined up for release. Minissha gets candid in a freewheeling chat.

Lately we haven't seen too much of you onscreen.
I was just shooting all this while which is why you haven't seen much of me. One of my films DUS KAHANIYAAN has just released. I have four releases lined up next year. Samar Khan's SHOURYA where I get to play an investigative journalist, Sanjay Gadhvi's KINDNAP where I'm playing a 19-year old girl, Ananth Mahadevan's ANAMIKA which has me as a simple girl who gets married in a rich household and Siddarth Anand's Untitled film which is a romantic comedy.

Tell us about DUS KAHANIYAAN?
My story is called POORANMASHI which is adapted from Kartar Singh Duggal's short story of the same name. It's about a mother-daughter relationship and how one full moon night changes their life completely. I play a rustic village belle where pride, honour and virtue are top most qualities people abide by. It's directed by Meghna Gulzar and I had a blast doing it. It was a fulfilling experience.

Is life looking up for you? Are you happy with the way things are shaping up?
I am extremely happy with the way my career is shaping up. I have chosen the films I have believed in and those I always wanted to be a part of. And if this means doing fewer films, so be it. I am proud of all the films I've done and God has been very kind and gracious. It has been a beautiful journey so far. I came from a non filmi background with no Godfather here in the industry. YAHAAN was my debut film and I've learnt a lot since then. But regardless of your lineage and stature, you have to go through the grind as no one has it easy here. I am eagerly awaiting 2008 and things are definitely looking up for me.

In hindsight, what do you think of ANTHONY KAUN HAI and ROCKY? ANTHONY KAUN HAI was a fantastic film but unfortunately because of its untimely release, it got sandwiched between two other films. That probably impacted its fate but I'm still glad I did it. ROCKY was an interesting experiment. It was going back to how films used to be made. I have absolutely no regrets doing both the films. I think both the films helped me evolve as an actor.

How do you zero in on a film?
I should enjoy reading the script and it has to be a story I believe in. My co-stars, banner and other issues are secondary. The script has to be invigorating enough to sustain my attention.



Is there a dream role on your wish list?
I want to do a full action film and a hardcore comedy film.

One actor you'd like to romance onscreen?
We have so many amazing actors. It's extremely difficult to single out one. I'd love to romance them all.

Lately there were reports about you getting cozy with Aftab Shivdasani at a Mumbai nightclub. Also, a lot was made out of your off-screen chemistry with HONEYMOON TRAVELS… co-star Abhay Deol.
I choose to be nonchalant. The fact is simple. If entertainment journalism thrives on gossip and hearsay, we don't have a way out. As an actor and a public figure, you are bound to be written and gossiped about. And if you can't handle it, you shouldn't be here.

What else is happening on the professional front?
I think it's just the right moment for me. Time is ripe for my filmi career. I am looking forward to a variety of roles.

Tata Young

What do you think viewers! Bollywood hottie actress Neha Dhupia deserves the glamorous image like seventy's fiery actress Zeenat Amaan. Now it may be clear because Neha Dhupia has been chosen for the lead actress in the remake of Feroz Khan's hit movie Qurbani. Bollywood most stylish director Feroz Khan has decided to make a fresh version of his own blockbuster movie.  Even many bollywood hot cakes beauties were in Feroz Khan's memory like Murder Queen Mallika Sherawat etc but finally Neha Dhupia resembled as Zeenat Amaan to Feroz Khan.

If you didn't forget the two piece scene of Neha Dhupia in her first movie 'Qayamat' you easily guess how she attracted this director. Heartthrob Fardeen Khan is the main hero in the film and Saif Ali Khan selected as supporting actor in the role of Vinod Khanna. Feroz Khan made the hit movies like Qubani and Zaabanz which proved big hits in the cinemas. So this wouldn't be easy for Feroz Khan to re-create his movie and Fardeen Khan could act like his Dad.

 

Filmmaker Vinta Nanda is all set to direct two new projects titled MAGIC and TINSEL TOWN. A year ago, her directorial debut WHITE NOISE starring Rahul Bose and Koel Purie received rave reviews and critical acclaim. However the commercial success quotient somehow eluded her.

Vinta, who is simultaneously writing the script of MAGIC and TINSEL TOWN, plans to roll both the films in the coming year.

MAGIC is on a slightly bigger scale with a mix of established actors and newcomers in the cast, TINSEL TOWN which revolves around dancers, will feature all newcomers in the ensemble.

While TINSEL TOWN will be produced by Asad Sharif along with a group of enterprising under-25s namely Marc D'Souza, Debo Kini and Aakash Thakkar, Vinta will co-produce MAGIC.

Earlier, Vinta has been the force behind some of Indian television's biggest serials and soaps including 'Tara', 'Raahat', 'Rahein', 'Shatranj', 'Umeed', 'Deewar', 'V3 Plus', 'Agnichakra', 'Sansar' , 'Aur Phir Ek Din', 'Papa', 'Kabhi Kabhi', 'Hero Uncle' , 'Caf� 18', 'La Bellas', 'Sheila', 'Kasbaa' , 'Deewane Toh Deewane Hai' and 'Miilee'.