Hrithik Roshan, who has had a speech impediment in the past, recently got the best compliment he could ever receive. There was a scene in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzaarish that required him to give a five and a half minute long monologue which they were going to break into two minutes each. Hrithik, however, surprised the team by delivering the entire monologue at one go and finishing the scene in one take.
The scene was about Hrithik, before becoming paraplegic, remembering a woman from his past. Sanjay had decided to break it into three parts so as to not pressurize Hrithik much. However, before Bhansali could call out ‘Cut’, Hrithik kept continuing and delivered the full dialogue intensely. His performance showed that he had worked really hard on rehearsing it. Bhansali walked up to him after the shot and was speechless.
At first, Hrithik thought he hadn’t done it properly. But he was stunned to hear Bhansali tell him that he was in Bachchan’s league, referencing Hrithik’s speech to Amitabh Bachchan’s speech in Baghban. Hrithik was overwhelmed by the compliment as it shows that his hard work to overcome his stammer problem has paid off.
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Amitabh Bachchan remarks hat he has strong ties with the southern film industry too. “I am almost half Tamil,” says the veteran. “I may be from the city of Mumbai, but I am also a product of south India.” The actor was in the city recently for the special screening of his latest release Paa, in which he plays an intelligent, witty, happy-go-lucky, 13-year-old progeria afflicted child – a rare genetic disorder in which a person ages faster than normal. “I know that people here want me to act in a Tamil film.
But Paa is nothing short of a Tamil film. As you all know, the director of the film R Balki, music director Ilaiyaraaja, cinematographer PC Sreeram and actress Vidya Balan, all hail from the state. Working with them was a great honour,” he says.The Big B seems to have great admiration for the film industry here. “It’s always a pleasure to come to Chennai. I admire the culture and discipline here, which I am sorry to say, is not prevalent in Mumbai. The amount of creativity and freshness that the south Indian artistes and technicians bring to film making is commendable. People here are highly progressive. ”
The actor also heaps praise on music maestro Ilaiyaraaja and legendary cinematographer PC Sreeram. “I am a great admirer of Ilaiyaraaja. He is a genius and I am fortunate to have worked with him. And what can I say about PC Sreeram? There may be many south Indian cameramen and technicians working in Bollywood today, but I consider PC Sreeram as the Gangotri from which talented cinematographers emerge.”
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At one point of their career they were arch rivals. But, as time progressed, SRK and Big B have become thick friends. Thanks to their new chemistry, now SRK has no qualms picking up his phone and dialing his one time rival, that too on fast dial.The buzz doing rounds is that SRK called up Big B recently and requested to send him some extra film passes for PAA’s premiere, since his kids also want to watch Big B in his new role that has already caught the fancy of the kids.
The premiere of PAA is expected to be a big affair and both Shahrukh and Aamir Khan will be present at the event along with their families.The growing friendship between SRK-Aamir and Big B is seen as the beginning of a new camp in B-Town.
With Salman Khan out of this big alliance, we wonder what else the trio plans to do besides coming to pose together at the PAA’s premiere.
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In a time when actors are demanding that their dialogues be written in English, here’s an actor who stands tall and different. Yes, we are talking about Big B who recently demanded that his dialogues be drafted in Hindi instead of English.The incident happened during the shoot of his upcoming film RANN. According to reports when Big B demanded his dialogues to be written in Hindi, it first took everyone by surprise.
But, later considering the fact that the veteran actor comes from a literary background and is the son of the well known literary poet Dr Harivanshrai Bachchan, it must not be tough to fathom the actual reason for the actor’s preference of Hindi over English. Big B’s act has shown that the actor still believes in the richness of India’s national language despite everyone getting carried away by the lure of the western lingo.
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Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is in the news for all the wrong reasons. He has become the bone of contention between the two organisers of the International Film Festival of India (IIFI) 2009.The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) alleged that the Directorate of Film Festival (DIFF) did not want to invite Amitabh to the festival. Rajendra Talak, member of ESG’s Red Carpet Committee, claimed that ESG wanted to invite the Big B to the festival but DIFF was not interested.
Talak said that they felt Amitabh should grace the occasion but couldn’t do anything, as the final decision was taken DIFF. He added that ESG was not even allowed to recommend names to the Directorate.On the other hand, Director of DFF, S M Khan denied the allegation of the EGS. He said that they didn’t receive any formal or informal proposal from EGS to invite the superstar to the festival. He added that they didn’t receive any request even though he was in touch with the EGS.
Amitabh had earlier expressed his eagerness to attend the IIFI.When asked why he is not attending this year’s festival, he said that the question should be asked to the people who organises it.The IIFI 2009 will be held in Goa from November 23 to December 3.
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Bollywood’s leading beauty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan believes that when it comes to time management, there is no better example than her father-in-law, megastar Amitabh Bachchan. The 36-year-old actress who is currently shooting Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Guzarish with Hrithik Roshan, said that the Big B inspires her to be punctual.”His commitment and dedication is an example for everyone to follow,” Ash told reporters last night at the launch of a new product of the international watch brand she endorses.
The actress who is a globally known face thanks to her high-end endorsement deals and international films like The Pink Panther and Bride and Prejudice said that she likes to enjoy the present and live it to the fullest whether it is professional or family commitments.”We live such busy and hectic lives that we just sail through the moment. The pace of our lives is so hectic that we don’t get to feel what now is all about,” she said.
The former beauty queen who recently completed shooting for Mani Ratnam’s Raavan slated for a mid-2010 release, said that she does not have any regrets.”I have a positive approach. Times can be good or bad. I look at all experiences as a learning curve. Sanjay (Bhansali) reminded me that Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam has completed ten years. Subhash Ghai also recalled that Taal has also turned 10. Times flies fast and I consider myself blessed,” the actress said.
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Amitabh Bachchan has postponed his father poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s anniversary celebrations by a day, as the megastar will be busy shooting for reality show Bigg Boss on that day. The 67-year-old star, who is the host of Bigg Boss, has written in his blog that he will be celebrating his father’s birthday on November 28 instead of 27, which is a Friday, as he will be shooting that day.”There is the matter of my Father’s birth anniversary being celebrated on the 28th November.His birthday is on the 27th, but I record Bigg Boss on a Friday so that would be not possible, hence the next day,” Amitabh wrote.
The entire Bachchan family, including the family of Amitabh’s brother Ajitabh, are preparing for a special celebration.”Preparations for that are afoot. I shall be reciting and singing my Father’s works and hopefully the family shall be putting in their bit – Abhishek, Shweta and Aishwarya along with Ajitabh?s children,” he added. This year will be the late poet’s 101 birth anniversary and the star is anticipating a grand commemoration. “It shall be 101 years since his birth and it is apt to think of a commemoration.
It will probably be at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan since it is this institution that has organized the event,” he wrote.
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Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan seems to have run out of topics to post on his blog. In his latest post Big B said that he had wished Shahrukh Khan on his birthday (November 2) through an SMS but he is still waiting for an acknowledgement. He further wrote wrote that it was pretty strange for Shahrukh not to reply him back.
Amitabh wrote “Nov 2 was Shahrukh’s birthday and I may have been the very early wishers to him, but he still has not acknowledged. Mobile must have crashed with the number of wishes he had continued to receive throughout the day. Maybe I should send him a reminder. Most unlike him. I wished Gauri and him for their anniversary a few days back and they responded. But why not now!??”
The two giants of the Indian cinema who have starred together in movies like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Mohabbatein are always said to be in competition with each other. Both of them have publicly denied this and said that this is a creation of the media. Well we hope Shahrukh acknowledges Big B’s wish better late than never.
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Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who caught up with actors Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif on the sets of reality show Bigg Boss 3 recently, is all praises for the latter and says she is a “modern day marvel”.”Katrina is a modern day marvel. From a non-Hindi speaking young shy and uncertain lady of Boom, she has grown and grown to become one of the most desired actresses in our fraternity,” Amitabh posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com.
While Amitabh hosts the reality show, Ranbir and Katrina had appeared to promote their film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani, which released on Friday.”They (Ranbir and Katrina) were charming and involved and sweet. Ranbir as you all know is related to me. His cousin – Rishi Kapoor’s elder sister’s son is married to Shweta, my daughter.
“I wished them happiness and success,” he said.In the meanwhile, Amitabh is himself busy charting the marketing plans of his forthcoming movie Paa, being touted as his best work so far. He plays a 13-year-old suffering from progeria, a rare disease, which causes premature ageing.
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Big B is ready for the southern screens. Well, don’t get too excited. Amitabh Bachchan has not decided to work in southern films. Big B is a superhit Malayalam film of Mamootty. Big B is now being dubbed and released in Telugu. For those who tuned in late, Big B has received many accolades.
Often Tamil movies are dubbed and released in Telugu, but this rare instance has seen the Telugu audiences have a glimpse of the multinational award- winning actor.Incidentally, Amitabh Bachchan’s co-star from the film Major Saab – Nafisa Ali – is starring in Big B as Mammootty’s heroine.
The film has been directed by filmmaker Amal Neerad, who was initially with the Ram Gopal Varma camp.
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The controversy over Amitabh Bachchan buying agricultural land in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh ended when the Bollywood star ‘gifted’ the land to Daulatpur village council for building a girls college named after his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai.Raj Kumari Singh on Oct 27 complained to the district magistrate that though Bachchan in his 2007 letter to the Barabanki magistrate expressed his wish to gift the land to the village council, he had three years ago made the gift to an NGO to run the college.
Singh said Bachchan changed his mind and instead of the village council decided to gift the land to Nishtha Foundation headed by film actress-turned-Samajwadi Party MP Jayaprada. The foundation had taken the responsibility to build the girls’ college, and the construction has been pending for more than three years. As the district magistrate set up an inquiry into Raj Kumari Singh’s complaint, Bachchan promptly revoked his earlier ‘gift’ to Nishtha Foundation and decided to keep his earlier word of giving the land to the village council.
Bachchan’s land purchase has been dogged in controversy since he bought it. He was accused of using illegal means to acquire the land.
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Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has big plans for the 101st birth anniversary of his father, well-known poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, on Jan 18 next year. Among other things he plans to re-release his father's acclaimed book 'Madhushala' and hold a dance recital.
'There are discussions on now on how to celebrate 101 years of my father's birth anniversary. 'Madhushala' in its modern format shall be released, a journey of my father's creative works shall be conducted through the recitation of his various works, a dance recital on one of his works,' Amitabh posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com.
Big B says that he will also release of some of his father's most important works as a collection put together by Pushpa Bharati, wife of late writer Dharam Vir Bharati.
The 67-year-old has been planning the event for a long time and has been especially devoting time to writing the foreword for the new avatar of 'Madhushala', which was first published in 1935 and considered Harivansh Rai's greatest work.
The new edition of the book will be a large coffee table sized version - it will have the original verses of the late poet accompanied with English translations by Marjorie Boulton of Oxford University. The book will also have paintings by Amitab's niece Namrata Bachchan.
'The proof is looking very good. The paintings are unique and hopefully with the written foreword should form a fitting tribute to my father's 101st anniversary,' Amitabh wrote in a previous blog entry.
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Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has received threat calls from an unknown person on his mobile, the actor revealed it on his blog. Big B, who played a genie in his latest rlease Aladin, wrote: “I visit a Muslim dargah and a Hindu temple has been viciously criticised by an unknown element on my mobile. He says it is incorrect of me to do so and that I should never do it again.” Amitabh Bachchan has been paying a visit to the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai for the past few years.The actor in his reply said: “Well dear man, if you are reading this insignificant little blog of mine, here is what I have to say to you. I am going to do it again and shall continue to do it. And I want to see how you are going to stop me.
If you have the courage and guts com and get me.”Big B, who recently celebrated his 67th birthday earlier this month, said: “I do have his mobile number and I do have a name too. I believe that there is no law that can protect such atrocious uttering. We live in a temperate secular society where we learn to respect all religions. My belief is of my own making. If the temple or the mosque or a dargah has no objection to my visits ; if my Constitution and the laws of the country give me that freedom and if I do not offend them, then who is this man to stop me or correct me ? It is elements like this that penetrate the psyche of vulnerable and innocent people and subject them to unnecessary and unjustified bias. I strongly object to it and abhor the existence of such elements in society.
This gentleman even threatens me by getting personal. He says that my film Aladin shall not have success because of this deed of mine.”The legendary actor said he will never change his routine by a mere threaten call: “At the cost of every film of mine failing, I am not going to change my routine.If I wish to go to a temple I shall go there. If I wish to go to a mosque I shall go there as well and so also to a gurudwara or a church. And I want to see who is going to stop me from doing so.” Thr actor’s film Aladin has been praised by his followers.
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We bet you’ve never heard anything like this before. Literally. On Tuesday, Amitabh Bachchan recorded the title song for Balki’s Paa in the voice of a 12-year-old and that too without the help of technology.Music director Aadesh Shrivastava says, “I thought I would initially record the song in Amitji’s normal voice and later use technological enhancement and modify it to make it sound like a child’s.
However, Amitji was firm that I wouldn’t have to do anything of that sort and that he will sing in a child’s voice without any help. He went on to do just that.”Aadesh, who handled the daunting task of recording music maestro Ilaiyaraaja’s tune in Amitabh’s voice, adds, “It is originally a tune created by Raja sir (Ilaiyaraaja).Normally, I’d never even dream of touching his tunes but I have worked as a drummer for him on Sadma (1983) and he sent this song from Chennai for Amitji to sing it in Mumbai.”
Aadesh predicts that the song will be an instant hit with children. “Amitabh does not sound like a grown-up man imitating a child. Don’t ask me how he has managed to do it. I just sat there stunned.”
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