Kangana Ranaut on Verve Magazine (HAPPY NEW YEAR KANGANA)

Verve starts the year with Kangna Ranaut who graces the cover for the January 2010 issue of Verve looking very beautiful. Her upcoming films are Kites, No Problem, Once Upon A Time In Mumbai and others. I wish Kangana Ranaut a new year. She had fantastic 2009 with a big hit "Raaz - The Mystery Continues" and a flop movie "Vaada Raha" and an average "Ek Niranjan". She has done lots of performances today and has grown as an actress and 2010 will be wonderful for her as she will have lots of releases. Her heart got broken this year by Adhyayan Suman, but she has regained that by winning most awards for her act in "Fashion". She gained lot of fans and I hope that in 2010, she becomes an established actress.

Kangna done with dating

Everyone knows Kangna Ranaut, the accomplished actress of today. Here, she talks of her past and how it has made her the person she is.

What sort of a child were you?
I was very quiet. I used to suck my thumb. Other kids would never play with me and I would be sitting in one corner. There was something very strange about me. I didn’t live in the present. I was always in a dream world. I would be dreaming about the shows that I watched like Aladdin or Snow White and I would want to go to their world. My father would hate that I sucked my thumb, he would slap me and put my finger down and then I would cry.

Were your parents strict with you?
I was never a naughty child, never troubled my mother. If you ask my parents they will say that I was very quiet, very peaceful and very scared of them. If they asked me to sit somewhere after five hours I would still be there.
(laughs)

Did you lead a very restricted life?
Yeah, I did. I wasn’t allowed to leave home after 6 o’clock so I would always make sure that I would go out late in the night. Then when my parents would say something like, ‘Andhera ho gaya hai, tum late aayi,’ I would just say ‘yes’. Slowly I became a person who wouldn’t listen to anyone. My father would be very upset with the clothes that I would wear. I don’t know what I wanted to prove. Now when I go home, I usually wear a salwaar kameez and wonder, why was I torturing them? (laughs)

A lot of the restriction came from living in a joint family. I remember having the biggest fights with my grandfather and every one’s jaw would just drop. Nobody had the guts to answer back to him and I was only 12 when I started doing so. He is an IAS officer and had lived all his life in Mumbai and for some strange reason he would always say that first all the males of the family would eat and then the females. I didn’t approve of rules like that and would insist on joining the men at the table. He would leave the table. My parents were quite embarrassed because of me.

When was the first time you fell in love?
I was quite young. He was my English teacher, a very good looking guy and I was just a 13-year-old. That was the time I became aware of my sexuality. We were very comfortable with each other because he had been my teacher since I was eight or nine. But when I was thirteen and he would say, ‘Beta come here..’ or something like that, I would think what’s wrong with him, he doesn’t have to talk this way (laughs aloud). That was a beautiful romance because in my mind I used to romance him and he would be teaching me.

How does living in a small town (Manali) compare to living in Mumbai?
These are two completely different worlds. This one is completely fake and that one is the real world. In Manali people live with animals. They feed them fodder and clean them too. So much of nature is involved there that you stay balanced. Here you deal with cars, roads, buildings and if you see a beggar, you treat him like a building and you treat a building like a human being. There is no reality here. I see so much of balance there, I see no balance here.

What were you studying in Delhi?
Basically I went there for my vacations and then I decided to take admission in some college. Then I met a few people there and got into theatre. If you ask me honestly, I cannot recollect that time. I was like an animal, just wandering around. If someone was going to a modelling agency, I too would go with that person. I wasn’t aware of my actions at all which is a very pathetic and shameful way to live but I was living a life like that.

So coming to Mumbai was also a part of that life?
Yes, my agency Elite sent me to Mumbai. I didn’t ask why I am going to Mumbai or what I will do in Mumbai. I came to Mumbai because I thought everybody came to Mumbai after Delhi. Then one fine day I stopped taking calls from the agency. I stopped going to the auditions. I used to go to town taking trains to give auditions and then within seven days of it all I was fed up. Then I said, ‘Forget it! I am not going to any audition as I don’t get any work.’

Isn’t it all difficult for a young girl to manage?
It is and that’s what gets you into trouble. How do people get into problems? Actually they are the biggest problems for themselves. I got carried away with the life here, the nightlife, discos and the whole city life.

You didn’t have any aspirations?
From childhood I would tell my parents and I would become somebody very famous. They used to be very rude to me when I would say this but for me it was always a matter of fact. I knew I was going to be what I wanted to be even if I had no idea what that was.

And when you were rejected at the auditions, did it dent in your confidence?
It did. I went through a lot of insecurities. I was leading a very random life for a year before I got Gangster. Before that too, I was supposed to do a few films. I didn’t have any concept of A grade or B grade cinema. I had hardly seen 10 films in my life. So if someone said, come to this audition, we want to sign a film with you, I would sign it. Fortunately for me, those films never took off. My parents would tell me that I would never be anyone and they would say all sort of negative things and I would think maybe they were right. I would think of myself as a loser in every sense, not only professionally but also in my personal life. That would scare me but also it wouldn’t last.

Is there anything that you hated about yourself and wanted to change?
I hated everything about myself, my life, everything. When I came here, I was very uncomfortable about the clothes that I wore. I used to wear those really cheap clothes, buy them from streets and wear them and I would look so funny. I used to feel funny, not that I looked funny. Those dresses were not appropriate and no one should go out on the streets in them. They were fine for parties but I had no concept of what to wear and when. And I looked like a 16-year-old coming from some village trying to be modern. Not that I was dumb, I was intelligent but it was just so weird that people kept looking at me not very respectfully and I hated being so uncomfortable. If I had been wearing just jeans and a T-shirt, nobody would have noticed me. That was worse because if you are looking for assignments and modelling work and if nobody notices you then it’s terrible. So I was uncomfortable in every way. I never became friendly with anyone. Life was strange without parents, proper food, proper house, nothing at all in place. I hated everything around me and the way I was. I would go on for weeks and weeks without thinking where I was heading. That was a phase I remember and someday I will definitely make a movie on that.

Was there peer pressure to do things?
I would do whatever others did. It didn’t matter if I liked it or not. It wasn’t peer pressure definitely but because I wanted to be one of them or maybe I wanted to prove that I belonged to this world, I went on like that for years and years. I didn’t hate it at that point of time. If I would have hated it, I would have changed it. But I had no clue what was wrong with my life. It took me two years to realise who I really am. Not that I hated it but I wasn’t happy either.

Were you lonely?
Loneliness was never a problem because whenever I was lonely I would do something that would make me happy. My problem was that I had too many people around me and they never let me be alone. Before I became an actress, I would go for auditions with people, have coffee and come back, normal life, not very different from Delhi. Then after I became an actress, there were designers, ADs, people who roam around the whole day on the sets. They kind of open those doors for you. You get shocked with what is happening around you but you don’t show it. This is how your new life starts and it just takes over.

You also got into some wrong relationships...
Well, when you get into a relationship it’s not wrong at that point of time and I won’t consider anything wrong with them. For me, I have been in two relationships till now, and both have been beautiful in their own way. It was I who was a random soul, and I still am. I still have so many things to learn in life. I am not a perfect person, nobody is perfect. So whatever experience one goes through is because of oneself.

Did you at anytime realise that you were in relationship that you shouldn’t be in?
See, relationships are not that important in my life. I don’t feel any pressure to say that love means everything and blah blah! For me, I don’t think love is something which will make me complete. It’s who I am. I have something to prove and I have a strong urge to do certain things in life. And if I don’t do that, I will be a very unhappy person. I never gave that kind of priority to any relationship. If I would have done that I would have been in a happy relationship and an unhappy career. I am clear about my priorities now. People at times judge me. They say that she says her priority is her career and her ambitions... but that’s ok. I am not ashamed of the fact that it actually is.

Today I am done with dating. Now if I get into a relationship, it will be with a proper plan. Now I would want to be with a man with whom I can see a future and give it more time and energy. If I see a man turning into my husband in the near future then only will I go ahead with a relationship. This is what life or age does to you. You can preserve your innocence but at the same time you cannot deny the fact that you cannot sometimes take another chance with life.

So that means you are not going to fall wildly in love now because you are first going to look into the husband aspect of it.
Yeah. That’s true actually; otherwise I have always fallen in love first and then seen the right and wrong of it.

You are too young to reach this decision. At this age people are still having flings.
Yes, if you start little late. But I started too early. (laughs) I started at 16. (laughs loudly)

Are you still edgy?
That's a very difficult question because to explain who I was is very difficult even for me. I mean nobody knows who they really are. Right now, I am definitely not the person who I want to be. There is still a lot to achieve but I am also definitely not the person I hated to be. I am okay now, peaceful, but I want to be a better person in future. I am sure the better part of me is still to come.

Who do you want to be?
I just want to be a person whose very presence makes people smile. I want to have positivity and grace as a woman. When I came here, I was a tomboy. Not even a tomboy, I was something between a guy and a girl. I want to be a nicer human being so that when I look at myself I should feel proud of myself. Right now I don’t feel proud of myself. Earlier I used to feel shit about me. Whatever I said, I did, everything was wrong. I would always say the wrong thing at the right time. Now I don’t do those things which make me hate myself. I don’t beat myself up everyday when I go home. I am peaceful. But I am not even the person who would be so proud of herself.

Are you ever fake?
Yes, I sometimes say things for the sake of saying things. Like the most common thing that I would say, “How are you?” makes me feel so fake. I prefer to say, "Kaise hain aap?" that makes me realise what I am saying. When I say it, I do really mean, kaise hain aap? So I am watching myself.

When you were in trouble at any point in your life, have you taken any favours from your friends?
I have never ever taken any favour from anyone in my life. I have never called up any friend to discuss my problems or ask them for solutions. I have really great friends who claim to stand by my side when I am in trouble. I have been in trouble but never had the courage to test them because if my time was already bad, I wouldn’t want one more shock. So I never really tested my friends.

When you say you never had the courage, you mean you were scared that they would not be by your side?
I don’t know. I never had the courage to discuss my problems with people around. I have always shown the happier side of me and I will continue to do that. It’s not my friend’s duty or concern to help me out with my troubles. I think it’s unfair to do so.

The presence of friends makes me uncomfortable. It distracts me from the situation. It’s the same with my parents. Even in childhood when I was in trouble, I would lock myself up in my room and would not leave my room until I had solved the problem. I have a lot of faith in my strength but parents and friends get so weak and I just think handling them is much more difficult than handling the situation.

How do you manage to look so different in every film? Is it deliberate?
Honestly, it is. It bores me to death to be the same because for me it’s a character that I have to get into. So I change everything that I can. So I kind of do the fun things so people are shocked but I don’t like myself looking the same all the time.

Sometimes it can be embarrassing. Recently, at the Paa premiere, one of my costars was treating me like a fan. It was only when I said, ‘I am Kangna,’ that he realised that it was me. It’s so embarrassing, we work together for 60 days and they don’t recognise me. It has happened with me a lot. When I was in theatre, my guru used to tell me that it is a blessing in disguise. At times he would give me a guy’s role. He said that you have a face which can be moulded into anything. But another thing that really matters is whether my hair is curly or straight. It changes me so much that sometimes I too wonder about the look. It’s very good for a double role though.

Once Upon A Time in Mumbai is not delayed

It was way back in 2008 when the seeds of Once Upon A Time In Mumbai were sown first. With Ekta Kapoor as the producer, the film was announced with director Milan Luthria at the driving seat. Though Suniel Shetty was supposed to co-produce the film with Ekta Kapoor first with murmurs of Sanjay Dutt being roped in for the role of the central protagonist, that didn't quite happen. Ultimately Ajay Devgn was finalised for the role of a dreaded Mumbai based don (rumoured to be based on Haji Mastan) from the 70s with Emraan Hashmi, Kangna Ranaut and Prachi Desai were roped in as the other principal protagonists.

With such developments taking place in quick succession and the film's shooting also beginning in July 2009, it was expected that Once Upon A Time In Mumbai would be wrapped up in a jiffy and released before the end of year. However, that was not the case to be as the film was taking its own sweet time to reach the finishing mark. With any delay comes speculation, more so since Ekta Kapoor was sitting on the hat trick of box office disasters (EMI, C Kkompany, Mission Istanbul - all released in 2008). Naturally, obituaries were already being written for this Milan Luthria directed film.

It was all around the industry circles that the film was jinxed and would not quite reach the finishing mark. Even though the makers had announced an increase in budget of the film with reports of Ekta being happy with the rushes of what had been shot so far, observers passed this off as a last minute face saving tactic. It was also rumoured that Emraan Hashmi, who has traditionally never been happy in multi star-cast affairs (Good Boy Bad Boy, Chocolate) had started loosing interest in the film while Ajay Devgn, being the senior-most of the lot, was demanding a change in script.

It wasn't a happy situation for Milan either since he was desperate to get back into the groove after having waited for two years since the release of Hat Trick (2007). His Bihaad with Sanjay Dutt and Vidya Balan hadn't quite got on the floors and the filmmaker's frustration was palpable. With recession and a general slowdown in the making of the films turning out to be a final nail in the coffin, it pretty much seemed like a declaration that Once Upon A Time In Mumbai was stalled.

Joginder Tuteja gets into a conversation with Milan who not just confirms that the film is very much on but also hits back at all the accusations around schedules going haywire.

Is Once Upon A Time In Mumbai stalled?
I don't know why there have been so much of speculations around the completion of Once Upon A Time In Mumbai (OUATIM) . We are almost 60% through with the film. In fact as we talk, I am already finalising logistics for another schedule which begins soon. It would go on till early January.

If things are pretty much on track, why have there been so many speculations?
Milan Lithria I guess speculations like these happen because today, most films are made at stretch. The start to finish trend has become so very common that any film that takes longer than 40-50 days to complete is questioned. My own Deewar - Let's Bring Our Heroes Home and Kachche Dhaage were pretty spread out.

Still, wasn't OUATIM planned for an earlier release?
There haven't been any major changes in the plan and the film was always meant to be completed over a period of 6 months. Yes, we could have possibly finished shooting a little earlier but then Ajay was shooting abroad for some time. Post that he had the release of All The Best lined up. Since he was also the producer, he was a little aggressive in promotion. We were fine with this slight wait but no, there wasn't any slowdown internally.

One also hears that there were also quite a few logistics hassles due to the period setting of the film.
More than hassles, I would say these were expected challenges. Unlike the scenario where a film crew either assembles on studio sets at Mumbai or jets away for a start to finish overseas shoot, OUATIM had its own challenges to meet. Due to its period setting, my team had to make sure that at the least, the film looked authentic. This is not one of those films where you can go to London, shoot for two months and come back.

So when do we see the film eventually releasing?
We started shooting in the month of July and we should be wrapping up the film in January. In fact most of Emraan's portions are already shot. Things are shaping up well for the film and even though some industry friends out there are a little worried about the film, we aren't. Once Upon A Time In Mumbai was always planned for a summer release and we are pretty much on target for that.

Kangna Is Unrecognizable in No Problem

Kangna Ranaut stands alone among her contemporaries as the only girl who doesn’t need to drastically change her body type or make-up to look different.

There is just something intrinsically in her features that changes all the time. According to her it is because all her features are small and no one part of her face dominates the others.

Be that as it may in this still from No Problem she looks almost unrecognisable from the girl we are used to seeing. Tell her that and she replies that even her mother tells her that she is constantly changing. “This will continue to happen for the next few years,” she promises, “till my features finally settle down to what they will be for the rest of my life.” She recounts how, when attending red carpet functions, she often passes the bank of photographers who realise who she is only because of her publicist accompanying her.

Sushmita and Kangana shakira impresses all

Spotted Sushmita Sen in her sexy new shape and Kangna Ranaut dancing their troubles away on the sets of Rajat Rawail’s No Problem at a local studio.

Both women dressed in designer saris (costing the producer a few lakhs) were in perfect tandem. What is notable is that Kangna who seems petite could actually measure up quite well to the tall Sushmita. Both women wore flat slippers, exposed their flat bellies and shook their hips so seductively that the men who were watching — Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and Akshaye Khanna had their tongues hanging loose.

Akshaye Khanna the youngest guy of the lot also got rewarded by a nice bear hug from sexy Sush... and after she finished, the actor was strutting around looking very pleased. Well, not everyone gets such benevolence from the ex Miss Universe after all.

Sushmita Sen and Kangana Ranaut shake like Shakira

The actresses are presently shooting for a song sequence for Anees Bazmee's No Problem (it's not a sequel to No Entry!). Music composer Pritam has composed a trademark Punjabi hip track that goes Shakira Jaisi Hile Lakhni.

Sush and Kangs, who play sisters in the flick, have been matching steps to Chinni Prakash's choreography.
The two actresses will be making their moves in six yards. While Sushmita has draped herself in an Abu Jani sari worth Rs 4 lakh, Kangna settled for a Suneet Varma creation which costs Rs 3.5 lakh.

The song is being shot at the Filmistan Studios. Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Paresh Rawal and Shakti Kapoor who feature in the film are also in the song that has been penned by lyricist Kumar (of Maa Ka Ladla fame).

Produced by Anil Kapoor, Rajat Rawail and Spice International, No Problem is slated to release in the third quarter of 2010.

Says Rawail, "We have been shooting for this track from Tuesday. Pritam has scored an extremely peppy song that tells them to shake like Shakira! It is a celebration song as Kangna is getting engaged to Akshaye in the film. The dance unfolds in their father Shakti Kapoor's home -- he plays the police commissioner."

After a long schedule in South Africa, Bazmee has started the Mumbai leg of the film's shoot. From next week, they will be shooting at various parts of south Mumbai.

Emraan Gets 6 Packs For Once Upon A Time in Mumbai

Mumbai: After Shah Rukh, Aamir and Shahid, serial-kisser Emraan Hashmi will display six-pack abs in a new film. Developing six-pack abs has become a fad in the film industry and every other actor is hitting the gym to develop it.

According to industry sources, Emraan, who plays a toughie in the film called ‘Once Upon A Time in Mumbai’, enters into a ferocious battle with an underworld don, reportedly played by Ajay Devgn.

Insiders say that to get the perfect look, the actor followed three months of rigorous exercises and strict diet regime.

The film stars two heroines – Kangana Ranaut and Prachi Desai and will be out in May or June.

"Once Upon A Time in Mumbai" shooting on

There is no truth to rumours that the shooting of Once Upon A Time In Mumbai has been stalled because of creative differences between producer Ekta Kapoor and the film’s director Milan Luthria. The shooting of the film is currently going on in different locations in Mumbai. Confirmed Luthria. “We are in the middle of the shooting and will break off only at the end of December for New Year and resume again in January. The climax and some songs are left to be filmed, he said. The film stars Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Kangna Ranaut and Prachi Desai is based on the lives of 70s gangsters who operated in Mumbai.

Acting Is Not MMBS

Kangna Ranaut believes single women shouldn’t be allowed to marry, unless they earn enough to sustain a family. “Such is the norm,” she reasons, “only for the men, which is why they are independent, and the bulk of women are not.” That’s not all, she also stresses that “Women — teens, single, married, mothers — should fight ill-treatment by the opposite sex then and there, to avoid a similar experience again.” Serious talk from someone who insists she’s too young.

Kangna joined Bollywood when she was quite young... “Well, I’m still too young, you see,” she insists. “I’ve never said I didn’t want to be an actor. I wanted to, but knew it’s not a cakewalk. So whenever people used to ask me if I’d step into B’wood, I’d simply reply, ‘Dude, get me there if you can,’ for I knew it’s not easy. Acting is not MBBS — there are no textbooks, no written tests that you can sit for, excel in and get a degree. In the film industry, there’s no rulebook. In fact, before an exam, one knows what one has missed reading, and should have known, to get the right marks. Here, you don’t even know if you’re going wrong!”

When she became a known face, there were discussions on how ‘small town girls’ have made it big in B-town, probing her background, her home town in Himachal... “Let people say whatever they wish to. It’s a beautiful place,” she explains.

She does a touch up of gloss on her lips while talking, and one can’t help but ask about her rumoured ‘lip surgery.’ “Yeah, you will hear that I’ve got my lips, my b**bs, my a**, all plumped up. But all those people who say that, don’t realise what it is to get such a drastic thing done, especially when you are that young, and don’t even have the time for it.” And after a
pause, she adds, “Though, right now, I don’t know how many tucks and surgeries I will need when I’m old.”

And will she marry a man if he doesn’t earn as much money as she does? “I would not demand such a thing from my partner. All I would want is, that I can be myself with him,” she signs off.

CONGRATULATIONS KANGNA!

Congratulations to Kangna Ranaut! She won the best supporting actress for fashion at Apsara Awards 2009 which was held at Grand Hyatt Hotel. Priyanka Chopra won best actress for Fashion and Hrithik Roshan won best actor for Jodhaa Akbar.
There are the list of winners of 4th Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards.
Best Actor in a Leading Role

Hrithik Roshan – Jodhaa Akbar

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Priyanka Chopra – Fashion

Best Movie

Aamir Khan – Taare Zameen Par

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Jimmy Shergill – A Wednesday

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Kangana Ranaut – Fashion

Best Actor in a Comic Role

Anil Kapoor – Welcome

Best Actor in a Negative Role

Akshaye Khanna – Race

Best Debut (Male)

Imran Khan – Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na

Best Debut (Female)

Mugdha Godse – Fashion

Best Choreography

Chinni Prakash, Rekha Prakash – Jodhaa Akbar

Best Lyrics

Prasoon Joshi – Taare Zameen Par – Maa

Best Female Playback Singer

Shreya Ghosal – Singh Is Kinng – Tere Ore

Best Male Playback Singer

Shankar Mahadaven – Taare Zameen Par – Maa

Best Music

A.R. Rahman – Jodhaa Akbar

Best Screenplay

Amol Gupte, Neeraj Pandey – Taare Zameen Par, A Wednesday

Best Dialogue

Neeraj Pandey - A Wednesday

Best Story

Amole Gupte – Taare Zameen Par

Best Cinematography

Kiran Deohans – Jodhaa Akbar

Best Costume Design

Neeta Lulla – Jodhaa Akbar

Best Editing

Shree Narayan Singh – A Wednesday

Best Special Effects

Vaibhay Kumaresh, Dhimant Vyas – Taare Zameen Par

Best Sound Recording

Baylon Fonseca – Rock On!!

Best Re-Recording

Hitendra Ghosh – Jodha Akbar

Best Art Director

Nitin Chandrakant Desai – Jodhaa Akbar

Kangana Ranaut At The Launch of Pratigya

Kangana Ranaut was in Delhi to unveil a new serial for Star Plus called "Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya".

Priyanka Chopra won Aspara Awards

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra bagged the best actress award for Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Fashion” at the Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards here Friday evening.
Priyanka’s father Ashok Chopra received the award on her behalf.

“Oh, I am so happy for her. She has done it again. And getting an award from the patriarch and creators of the film industry is a great thing,” Ashok Chopra told IANS.

Hrithik Roshan was presented the best actor award for Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Jodhaa Akbar”.

The fourth edition of the Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards, which honour excellence in cinema and television was held at a five-star hotel here.

Aamir Khan won two awards - best film and best director - for his directorial debut “Taare Zameen Par”.

Actor Imran Khan, Anil Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut, director Yash Chopra, screenwriter Amole Gupte and Prasoon Joshi attended the event. Oscar-award wining actor Sir Ben Kingsley was also present.

The fourth edition was postponed last year as a mark of respect to the victims of the 26/11 tragedy. The awards for 2009 will be distributed by the Producers’ Guild of India Dec 20.

The Guild jury, including Ravi Chopra, Ketan Desai, and Vashu Bhagnani, had chosen the winners.

Amitabh Big Paa Day

The preparations for the grand premiere of Paa last night had started much earlier with Amitabh Bachchan visiting the venue at Wadala Imax at 1 am yesterday to check out all the arrangements.

Though the main event was scheduled to begin at 8.30 pm, a casually dressed Amitabh arrived at the venue much earlier at 6 pm and the first thing he did was to double check the arrangements.

He changed into natty formals shortly before the guests started arriving.

The Bachchans had divided their responsibilities to ensure that their guests are well-looked after. While Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai were standing at the entrance, Jaya Bachchan was looking after all the guests near the screens on the first floor.

Anil Ambani, his wife Tina and their son were among the first guests to arrive. Some of the power couples who attended the premiere were Shah Rukh Khan and wife Gauri, Ajay Devgan and wife Kajol, Hrithik and wife Sussanne, and Akshay Kumar and wife Twinkle. SRK sent Gauri and the kids upstairs while he stayed back to chat with the Bachchans for a while. SRK was seen hugging Akshay Kumar. Arshad Warsi and wife Maria were there too.

Ritesh Deshmukh, Dino Morea and Rakeysh Mehra and his wife followed shortly and the director seemed happy to catch up with his Rang De Basanti team Atul Kulkarni and Kunal Kapoor. Sharman Joshi made a late entry.

Ranbir Kapoor and Ritesh were engrossed in a conversation outside screen 3. Aishwarya came upstairs and was seen talking to Ashutosh Gowariker, his wife Sunita and Srishti Behl. Aamir Khan came with his 3 Idiots director Rajkumar Hirani and producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Aamir left half-an-hour after the screening began.

Abhishek was seen chatting with Govinda, who came in quite late. Filmmakers David Dhawan, Satish Kaushik and Madhur Bhandarkar were there. Filmmakers Abbas Mustan came all the way from Lonavla.

The screening was held in all the four screens at Imax but it was screen 3, which had the maximum number of stars. The screening of the film started around 10 pm. Kangna Ranaut hung around outside for a while, posing for pictures even though the film had started. She soon went inside the theatre.

Kangana Ranaut at the Paa Premiere

Kangna Ranaut attended the Paa premiere at Imax Wadala and she looked amazing and beautiful. The stars that attended were Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Yash Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Karan Johar, Vishal Bharadwaj, David Dhawan, Ramesh Sippy, Subhash Ghai, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

Kangna Ranaut Supports Woman Violence

Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut is all set to play the role model for countless women who are subjected to endless harassment and are victims of domestic violence.

“Every girl at some time or the other has been subjected to eve-teasing while studying in school or college. Some girls are even chased by boys in bikes and it becomes risky for them to go to college alone. Even I faced similar problems during my school days. I was just 13 years old when boys used to hum songs behind me and it was irritating. But I never retaliated. Now I feel I should have done something about it,” said Kangana at a press conference here on Thursday.

Kangana has now extended her support to an upcoming TV serial, Mann Ki Awaaz: Pratigya, on Star Plus that deals with the same issue.

“I have been in the Hindi film industry for three years. However, I never got a chance to support any serial that takes up a social cause. Therefore, when Star Plus asked me to support this serial, I agreed. I want women to get entertained as well as understand that they must not allow themselves to get disrespected,” she said.

Kangana, who comes from a small town in Himachal Pradesh, said young women living in small cities are often bullied by men. “In metros, women are able to counter such behaviour but in the interiors they are quite vulnerable. Whether in college or at some other place, women should never allow themselves to be exploited,” she asserted.

Expressing concern over the rise in crime against women, Kangana said the country’s policy-makers must frame stringent laws to fight violence against women.

Kangana Launched Star Plus New Show "Mann Ki Awaaz-Pratigya"

Bollwyood actress Kangana Ranaut has stressed on the need to fight against disrespect towards women by lending support to a television serial that portrays an ordinary girl’s resolve to reclaim her respect.
Titled “Mann Ki Awaaz-Pratigya”, the show was given a head start here Thursday by Kangana, who pledged to do away with mediocrity and stand for her respect and dignity.

“With ‘Pratigya’, we aim to bring alive an icon whose journey is one that women can relate to, identify with and be inspired by. Breaking stereotypes, we have created a protagonist who is not a victim but a reformer,” Sanjay Gupta, COO, Star India, said in a statement here Thursday.

Co-produced by Walkwater Media Limited and Spell Bound Production, “Pratigya” stars Pooja Gaur in the lead.

To be telecast from Dec 7, the show will be aired five days a week on Star Plus.

Kangana gears up for four releases

Kangna Ranaut is enjoying her current phase in Bollywood. Good films backed by good banners, working alongside some of the biggest heroes, has given the actress from Manali a big fillip to her career and Ranaut is glad of the choices that she has made. At present the actress has four films in her kitty.

With her wild tangle of hair covering a heart shaped face, Ranaut dressed in black dungarees exudes vulnerability as well as confidence. But talk about her movies and one cannot miss the bright glint in her eye. The actress disclosed, "I have four movies in the kitty. I have finished shooting for Knockout, while I am currently working on Once Upon A Time in Mumbai, No Problem and Tanu weds Manu. All these films are different and I can really work a lot on my characters. My directors often give me the freedom to express my character the way I have interpreted it. If only does it go against the broader vision of the film, that they give their inputs."

Ranaut has a big release scheduled for next year, Rakesh Roshan's Kites, which stars Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori.

Ranaut is today not bound to sign films that she does not like doing. After garnering respect for her histrionics, the actress is at a position to decline films, she deems not fit to act in. Kangna expressed, "When you are new in the industry, you are so keen to have a foothold and you do whatever films that come your way. Luckily for me, I got good films and they have all worked for me. I got a lot of brickbats too, but that has made me tougher. I actually laugh at all those people who thought I was not good enough. It’s good to meet them now, look at them in the eye and feel, I am a winner."

"Knockout" 95% complete

Aap Entertainment Ltd and Sohail Maklai's upcoming untitled film, directed by Mani Shankar has completed 95% of its shooting.

The film stars Sanjay Dutt, Irrfan Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Gulshan Grover, Sushant Singh. There is a special appearance by Rukhsar and the film introduces Apoorva Lakhia. The film is being shot across select locations in India & Switzerland.

The Story/Screenplay is by Mani Shankar, Dialogues by Shiraz Ahmed, Music by Vishal Shekhar. The D.O.P. is N. Natarajan Subramaniam, Action Director is Alan Amin, Editor is Bunti Nagi, and Executive Producer is Hussain Shaikh & Co-producer is S Naga Raja Rao.

The film is a Sohail Maklai Production.

Irfan Khan Can't Let Kangna See Him Dance

As much as Kangna Ranaut might have wanted to see Irrfan Khan shake a leg in Mani Shankar's forthcoming film Knockout, the actor, known for his serious roles, had other ideas. Irrfan refused to dance in front of Kangna and she was forced to cool her heels outside the sets. The incident happened in Pune when Irrfan was doing a take-off on Katrina Kaif's song Touch me touch me from Race. Mani was shooting a song picturised on Kangna and Irrfan, which has them in separate frames. When Kangna was done with her portions, she sat aside and started watching Irrfan's dance moves.

A source said, "When Irrfan started dancing, he kept fumbling and was feeling very uncomfortable. He saw many people around and asked Mani to ask some crew members to leave the sets. However, Kangna being the heroine of the film remained on the sets. That's when Irrfan and producer Sohail Maklai requested Kangna to leave too."

How did Kangna react? "Kangna took it very sportingly. She is a through professional and understood that Irrfan, who is not habituated to dancing, was feeling rather awkward in her presence," said our source.

Confirming the story, Maklai said, "Yeah. We requested Kangna to wait outside the sets. Irrfan was very shy but in the end, he did a mind-blowing job."

Kangana Attended Shilpa's wedding ceremony

Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty got married last Saturday and Tuesday, they had a wedding reception for Bollywood where lots of Bollywood stars attended. Kangana Ranaut were some of the big names that came to support the couple and she looked so beautiful in a pink sari. She has worked with Shilpa in Life In A Metro. Other celebrities that attended are Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and his wife Gauri. Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Roshan, Rani Mukherjee, Fardeen Khan, Vivek Oberoi, Sameera Reddy, Amisha Patel, Neil Nitin Mukesh, Manish Malhotra, Karan Johar, Vivek Oberoi, Govinda, Rekha and Jaya Pradha

Kangana Arrives in Mumbai After Accusations

Bollywood actress Kangna Ranaut, whose father strongly denied that she had any link with 26/11 terror suspect David Coleman Headley, headed back to Mumbai Friday morning after a few days at her ancestral home in Himachal Pradesh.

Pakistani-origin US citizen Headley was recently arrested by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and charged with plotting terror attacks in Denmark. After his arrest, FBI officials have also alleged that he was involved in last year's 26/11 attacks in Mumbai, and was planning more attacks in India at the behest of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba.

'Kangna returned to Mumbai this (Friday) morning after spending a few days with us to mourn the death of her great grandfather. She is again back to her hectic shooting schedules,' Kangna's father Amardeep Ranaut told IANS over phone from their family home in Bhambla village near Hamirpur, some 200 km from Himachal capital Shimla.

Kangna has eight films in hand and would focus on completing them soon, he said.

'Kangna is busy in completing some of her films. The shooting of 'Tannu Weds Mannu' is also going on. For this film, she will shortly travel across various locations in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi,' he said.

Amardeep has strongly denied Kangna ever had any link with Headley.

'My daughter (Kangna) has no links with Lashkar aide David Headley. She never met nor spoke to Headley. We are really disturbed after such allegations were levelled against her,' he said.

'It (the controversy) is just a media (news channels) creation. No security agency has so far contacted or summoned Kangna in this connection.'

Asked about Kangna's acquaintance with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's son Rahul, Amardeep said: 'She has worked in some of Mahesh Bhatt's films, but she has never met Rahul. Of course, Bhatt sahib helped her a lot during her initial days in film industry.'

Rahul has been questioned as a witness in the Headley investigation, as Headley used Rahul's south Mumbai gym during his stay in the city a few days before the 26/11 attack.

Headley had befriended Rahul and there have been rumours -- denied by the Bhatts -- that Rahul introduced Headley to Bollywood stars Emraan Hashmi, Aarti Chhabria and Kangna Ranaut.

Kangna's films 'Raaz The Mystery Continues' and 'Fashion' did fairly well at the box office.

She has recently signed up for Milan Luthria's 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbai'. The film explores the growth of underworld in Mumbai in 70s and 80s. Ajay Devgn will play the lead.

Emraan Hashmi does a Bachchan in "Once Upon A Time in Mumbai"

Moving away from his serial kisser image, actor Emraan Hashmi will seen playing an underworld don in period flick `Once Upon A Time in Mumbai` where his look is inspired by none-other-than Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan.


Hashmi will be embracing Bachchan`s dressing style of 70`s in the film which details the emergence of underworld in India.

"The film show how the underworld slowly trickled in the country in late 60s. I played a gangster in my first film `Footpath` which was more contemporary and dealt with drug issues in Mumbai, however, Once Upon... is a completely different take," Hashmi told reporters.

"It takes a rewind back to those times when Bachchan did `Deewar` in 70`s. Those are the kinds of clothes that I will be wearing in the film. Even the whole look of the city has been designed to depict that era. We will be seen driving old cars," Hashmi said while describing his look in the film.

`Once upon a Time in Mumbai` Chronicles the Mumbai Mafia world which started with gambling, bootlegging and smuggling in 60`s and later spread its wings in 70`s and 80`s. The shooting of the film will finish by January next year.

National-award-winner Actor Ajay Devgn will reportedly play a character designed on the lines of former underworld don Haji Mastan while Kangana Ranaut is set to play his love interest. Directed by Milan Luthria, the movie also stars Prachi Desai in a key role.

Hashmi, who was last seen in disaster romance `Tum Mile` extensive research before portraying a character onscreen.

"Eventually it is the director`s depiction. But I believe working for the character sets. I am more of a studied actor than a improviser. I need to know the entire journey of the character before playing it with conviction," Hashmi said.

The 30-year-old star, known as Bhatt camp`s blue eyed boy, has delivered hits like `Murder`, `Gangster`, `Jannat`, from the Bhatt banner. However, Hashmi reckons that an actor can get "stunted" working with "a particular camp".

"I have done seven films outside Bhatt camp but if you compare the ratio of the hits I have delivered, the ones with the camp is more weighted. But then whenever I get an interesting script from the Bhatts I make it a point to do it," Hashmi said.

"But I am not bound by a production house. I know that ifyou get complacent and work with only one camp you kind of get stunted as an actor," he added.

The actor who broke the mould of Hindi cinema and became the undisputed "serial kisser" of Bollywood believes that the image will fade away as he is doing different kind of films.

"I think eventually it will fade away. People don`t forget very easily I understand. But when I move on to different things, people will see me for the roles I am doing and it has started happening," Hashmi said.

"Moreover, everybody is doing it (kissing) on screen these days. I have earned this image but it does not matter anymore. I don`t embrace it and at the same time I don`t reject it. I do not sign a film with an intention of making or breaking an image," the actor added.

Amardeep Ranaut states that Kangana is innocent

After Bollywood actress Kangna Ranaut's name surfaced in connection with the probe into David Coleman Headley -- a man suspected of involvement in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai -- Kangna's father Thursday strongly denied any link.
Pakistani-origin US citizen Headley was recently arrested by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and charged with plotting terror attacks in Denmark. After his arrest, FBI officials have also alleged that he was involved in last year's 26/11 attack, and was planning more attacks in India at the behest of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Toiba.

"My daughter (Kangna) has no links with Lashkar aide David Headley. She never met nor spoke to Headley. We are really disturbed after such allegations were levelled against her," her father Amardeep Ranaut told IANS over phone.

The family of Kangna is settled at Bhambla village near Hamirpur town of Himachal Pradesh, some 200 km from state capital Shimla. "We are consulting lawyers in this regard. We will take legal action against those who are spreading rumours (about her link with Headley)," he said. Asked about Kangna's acquaintance with filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's son Rahul, Amardeep said: "She has worked in some of Mahesh Bhatt's films, but she has never met Rahul."

Rahul has been questioned as a witness in the Headley investigation, as Headley used Rahul's south Mumbai gym during his stay in the city a few days before the 26/11 attack. Headley had befriended Rahul and there have been rumours -- denied by the Bhats -- that Rahul introduced Headley to Bollywood stars Emraan Hashmi, Aarti Chhabria and Kangna Ranaut.

"She will meet reporters at the appropriate time," Kangna's father said. Kangna these days is in Himachal Pradesh to mourn the death of her great grandfather.

"Kites" Will Release Summer 2010

Rakesh Roshan speaks about "Kites":
Why has Kites been delayed?

Well there are two versions — the Hindi version that is two hours and six minutes, and the international version (English). The Indian version was ready on Sept 30, 2009. However, the English version is being supervised by the Hollywood director Brett Ratner. Ratner is a friend of mine, and he is formatting the English version according to the Western sensibilities.

Is this the first time that a mainstream Hollywood director will be ‘editing’ a Bollywood film?

Yes. Ratner has films like Rush Hour 1, 2 and 3 to his credit. He has directed A Family Man, and has done episodes of the TV series Prison Break. To get someone who is so sought after in Hollywood to step and personally supervise Kites is something very prestigious.

Have you set a release date yet?

We’ve not set a release date. It should come in the summer of 2010. I’m flying to Los Angeles on November 29 for a meeting with Ratner. The mixing and the background score for the English version is also being done there. I will announce a date only after I know what progress has been made. Kites is my most ambitious release. I’m looking at releasing almost 2,500 prints globally.

The buzz is that Hrithik is keen on a Hollywood career ?

Hrithik is very happy with the work he is doing here. He is currently shooting with makers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali (Guzaarish), and he is also committed to make movies with Karan Johar, me and perhaps Vishal Bhardwaj. After watching Kites, Ratner felt that Hrithik has the potential to make it big in the West. So there is a definite possibility of his doing films there. But all that’s for a later date. Right now, Hrithik and I are both obsessed with Kites

Rumors about Kangana interaction with terrorist

Rumors have done it again and say that Kangana had some connection with David Headley who is a terrorist or something like that. Read this:
Bollywood actress Kangna Ranaut has threatened to take legal action against those who are spreading malicious rumors of her link with Lashkar terrorist David Headley. Raising serious objection to the news report being circulated in the media, Kangna says that she has never met nor spoken to David Headley in her life.

She has also objected to the reports of her alleged acquaintance with Mahesh Bhatt's son Rahul Bhatt, who is in the eye of a storm for being known to David Headley.

Talking to NDTV India over the phone, Kangna says, "All these reports, which are running in Indian news channels, are totally baseless. I have never ever met Rahul Bhatt in my life. All those who are dragging my name into the whole episode will have to face legal consequences. Those people who are trying to malign my name don't have any proof at all."

Kangna says that no investigating agency has informed any news channel about her role or link with David Headley or Rahul Bhatt.

Says she, "My publicist has spoken to all the news channels running this news. But they couldn't provide any base for the news. All these are mere speculations."

Denying any link with Headley, she says, "I have never ever met this person or anybody except Bhatt Sahab and Pooja Bhatt from his family.

"Being a responsible citizen, I guarantee that what I say is true. I am going to take legal action against all those who are spreading rumors about me," says she further.

Lara Dutta in The Actor With Amitabh Bachchan

The film was penned keeping Amitabh Bachchan in mind. Written by Pritish Nandy’s son Kushan Nandy, Kiran Shyam Shroff, and Ghalib Asad, the film will have glimpses of Big B’s real life instances; however, the story of The Actor trails the life of a fallen actor. Bachchan, who last worked with Nandy in Kaante, did have some issues with the makers of the film earlier, but things began to fall in place later on. Pritish had spoken of the film to StarBoxOffice earlier saying, “The protagonist had to be an icon who’s about 55-60 years old, portraying what’s, according to the script, the greatest actor playing the biggest role of his life, and who better than Mr. Bachchan to portray the larger-than-life character?”

Kangana Ranaut has been zeroed in to play a journalist in the film, who would trail the life of Big B in the movie. And the search was on for an actress to play Bachchan’s wife in the movie. A source close to the production added, “After Kangana was roped into play the journalist, the hunt for Big B’s wife began. They needed an actress who would play The Actor’s young, beautiful, intelligent wife, who would be his pillar of strength and the only woman who could understand, bear and live with his capricious nature. Lara was perfect as the mature, understanding wife, who wasn’t too young or old to star opposite him. Big B hasn't had a problem with being cast with women much younger than his age. Whether it was Cheeni Kum with Tabu or Nishabd with Jiah Khan, the chemistry captured between them was as good as any actor or actress of the same age.”

The film which is still in its stages of pre-production will go on floors next year once Bachchan is done with promoting his upcoming projects Paa and Teen Patti this year.

Ek Niranjan trailers

Kangana Won't Be Able To Celebrate New Years

With five movies on the floors for which she has to shoot, Kangna Ranaut barely has time to breathe and won't be able to be with her family during New Year's after many years because of her work commitments. A source close to the actor informs: "Kangna is busy with back-to-back shoots and she is finding it incredibly taxing to shoot for one project and then suddenly move over to the next film which is also on the floors. Kangna likes to get into the character and stay in it till the time she does not end the project. But with lots of work on hand, she has no choice but to push herself to the hilt to get into one character shoot and then take her out of that space and get herself in the shoes of another character."

"Once Upon a Time in Mumbai with Sanjay Dutt and Ajay Devgn, No Problem with Sushmita Sen and Akshaye Khanna, Actor with Amitabh Bachchan, Kites with Hrithik Roshan -- all these are very challenging films as each demands her to be completely different. Kangna took a break, refreshed herself completely and went into these projects as she knew once in, she won't be able to find time for herself.

That's what exactly has happened to her. She was shooting in Diwali and will also be shooting out of India during New Year's. It won't be possible for her to meet her family this year end. Kangna always makes it a point to be with her family and plan something specially during year end but tis year it's not happening."

Kangana Ready for Jhatkas

Kangna Ranaut — though several films old — surprisingly hasn’t performed a single dance number on screen, no mean feat in an industry where several actresses only get to do that in our hero-dominated films. But the actress, who’s known for her intense roles, is now all set to join the dancing league of actresses, as she readies to put on her dancing shoes for Anand Rai’s Tanu Weds Manu. This romantic comedy will also see Kangna give a break to her dark roles as she plays a light-hearted character opposite R Madhavan. According to a source, the song is a proper dance number to be choreographed by Saroj Khan and will be shot in Punjab. “It’s on the lines of the proper latka jhatka dances a la Madhuri Dixit style. And Kangna’s very excited. In fact, she’s being working really hard to get her steps right. They will be leaving for Punjab very soon,” said the source. Director Anand Rai confirms this. “Kangna’s been really looking forward to this dance sequence with Saroj Khan, as it’s for the first time that she’ll be dancing in a very traditional way for a film,” said Rai.

"Ek Niranjan" grossed 20 crores in 1st week

Despite all the piracy and negative reviews, "Ek Niranjan" has grossed 20 crores in its first week and is a hit. The family audience and masses are loving the film.

Ek Niranjan affected by piracy again?

The film Ek Niranjan which got released recently has been hit by the video piracy. The pirated film CDs are effecting the revenues of the films. The fans of hero Prabhas got furious when they got information about pirated CDs in the Paramita Heritage Residential school.

Piracy on "Ek Niranjan"

Every movie released nowadays is falling prey to video piracy. Adithyaram Movies chief Aditya Ram has formed a Clues Team to curb video piracy. Adithyaram's movie with Prabhas and Kangana Ranaut "Ek Niranjan" has been released recently. On getting information, the clues team headed by Sambashiva Rao approached the Sanathnagar police and with the help of S.I. Sambaiah raided on two mobile shops and arrested two persons selling pirated CDs. The clues team is working effectively. The producers are really upset as it effects the collections the movie is getting.

Kangana Ranaut and Sanjay Dutt on the sets of "Knockout"

Some fan took some pictures of Sanjay Dutt and Kangana Ranaut as they were shooting for their film "Knockout". The fan blogged that they also got to watch the shooting and the fan said the movie is looking good.

Aditya Ram appeals for ending piracy

Producer Aditya Ram is serious about curbing piracy. Especially because his costly movie Ek Niranjan, released on a big scale on the 29th of this month, is currently showing in Andhra Pradesh.

Reportedly, he is planning to use technology to nab piracy thugs with the help of a secret code. So beware! Meanwhile, the film's 350 prints are raking in good collections over the weekend.

Puri deleted Brahmanandam comedy track

Though we may be disappointed with the cheap comedy of Ek Niranjan, one needs to appreciate Puri for readily making a decision to delete the track (involving ace comedians Brahmanandam and Ali) from the third day of its release.

Directors like K Vijayabhaskar in the past have responsed to audience's demands when their sensitivities were hurt (one needs to cite the instance of the deletion of a scene involving a blind woman and Brahmanandam in Nuvvu Naku Nacchav).

In the case of Ek Niranjan, the film can only benefit with the decision because the comedy track stunts the narration rather than evoke some relieving laughter. A wise decision of the makers, infact.

Title Song Amma ledhu naana ledhu

"Ek Niranjan" has started well

Adithyaram Movies flick "Ek Niranjan" with Prabhas and Kangana Ranaut in the lead is released in theaters through out the State yesterday. A mishap occured at Tirupathi in Sandhya theater where the movie is being screened. The screen got burnt suddenly and caused lot of pandemonium. Terrified audience rushed out of theater. The movie is getting good response from all areas and attracting particularly mass audience. The film has also done pretty well everywhere.

Sanjay Diet for Kangna?

Fifty-year-old Sanjay Dutt has been shooting with 20-something Kangna Ranaut. And if they were looking super-compatible in spite of Dutt being half of Kangna’s age, it’s all because of a special ketosis-based diet.

Says a source close to Dutt, “Sanjay went on this special diet in June. It required him to take lots and lots of fatty foods and no carbohydrates at all. In fact, carbs would’ve been potentially lethal for this diet. In no time Sanjay started losing weight. And that too without Sanju having to give up his favourite food.” Today Dutt is looking trimmer than he did 10 years ago. And when he shot with Kangna last week the camera couldn’t tell their age difference.

Dutt plays an assassin out to get his victim with a sniper rifle in Knock Out. Kangna Ranaut has always had a fascination for assassin heroes. She began her career with Gangster where her assassin-hero was the 30-plus Shiney Ahuja. Now in Mani Shankar’s Knock Out she’s again attracted to the killer-hero, this time played by the 50-year-old Sanjay Dutt. The two became professionally fond of one another while shooting for the comedy No Problem in Cape Town. When Mani Shankar was looking for a bright, intense young actress to play a television journalist it was Dutt who recommened Kangna.

Kangana's interview about Ek Niranjan

"Ek Niranjan" releases today

"Ek Niranjan" has released globally today and the critics has given the film mixed reviews (mostly negative) with everybody agreeing that the film is nothing different from what has been seen before. Kangana, who is making her debut in Tollywood with this film, was rejected by the critics saying that she didn't look like a typical South Indian heroine and she didn't have the bubbly attitude that South Indian actress suppose to have. Kangana did good in some parts and most agreed that she did look pretty while some insulted her looks. Here are some of the reviews:
Rediif - Expectations were high for the Puri Jagannadh-Prabhas Telugu film Ek Niranjan. This is Puri's first release of this year. Unfortunately, the film does not live up to the expectations.

Puri scripts a story around a lost-and-found son -- a common theme many decades ago. And even if it has been shown with plenty of songs and stylish action, it is still the same old wine!

As a child, Chotu (Prabhas) is separated from his family and picked up by Chidambaram (Makarand Deshpande). Chidambaram makes him beg. But one day, Chotu helps the police catch Chidambaram, and is given a rupee for the act. This makes Chotu realise that he can earn money by catching criminals for the police. And that's what he does.

He runs into Sameera (Kangna Ranaut [ Images ]), who is a guitar teacher but hardly plays the guitar. She just has a bunch of kids vouching for her. Her brother -- whom Chotu is after -- works with Johnnybhai (Sonu Sood [ Images ]).

Chotu and Sameera fall in love. But there is Johnnybhai to contend with, as well as an aspiring minister (Posani).

Puri tries to earnestly build up a deft screenplay with a wafer-thin story (which is increasingly becoming his trademark). But the clichéd plot falls flat despite all the technical gimmicks (fights and all) and attempts to prop it up. The less said of the comedy, the better. It's so inane and makes one wonder if it was necessary to insert the mindless scenes at all. Even Johnnybhai's character was rather queer in depiction.

Prabhas is effortless as Chotu -- beating up people and romancing Sameera in Switzerland [ Images ]. He acts well and the movie is watchable for him although he has developed a similar style in all his films. An image change may do him good.

Kangna's Telugu debut can't be really raved about. She looks pretty but as far as performance goes, there's nothing much to write about as the script doesn't have anything for her to showcase her acting skills.

Sonu Sood, a constant in Puri's films, plays the villain with panache. Makarand Deshpande can perhaps be asked why he did the role as it didn't demand someone of his calibre to play it. One feels sorry for the comedians Brahmanandam, Venu Madhav, Ali and Sunil who are good actors but given some absurd parts to play.

Technically, Puri ensures that the film is in place. Shyam K Naidu's camerawork was in sync. Mani Sharma's music can be heard and 'seen' on screen. Stun Siva's orchestration of fights in some parts is stylish.

Making a slick film is easy but filling it with content is important; the latter is where Puri seems to have lost out. It is high time he takes stock of the situation and comes out of the Pokiri mould.

India glitz - The second film in the combination of director Puri Jagannadh and hero Prabhas finally released this Friday to great expectations. Coming with a storyline that is simple, it is packed with action and some already-seen moments.

Ek Niranjan is the story of an orphan who earns his livelihood by catching hold of the criminals and lawless individuals in the town and handing them over to the police. The dangerous profession Chotu (Prabhas) has chosen often puts his life in jeopardy but this does not worry him for he knows he is 'ek niranjan', with neither a family of his own nor a girl with whom he can have miffts and huffs (Kasubusulade missu ledu). While the search for his mother and father goes on, the Miss enters his life one fine day. Sameera (Kangna Ranaut), a guitar teacher, is the sister of Madhav, a henchman who works in the gang of Johnny bhai (Sonu Sood). Chotu is asked by the police to nab Madhav who is wanted by them for many crimes. When Sameera is feeding her brother, Chotu enters and forcefully arrests him after causing much havoc (breaking her guitar, you know) in the house.

There develops a predictable chemistry between Chotu and Sameera. As her brother reels behind the bars, Sameera reciprocates her love to Chotu. Parallely, another story is taking place in the hero's life. Though he does not have a care in the world for anyone in the world, when it comes to the one who knows the truth of who his parents are and where they live, he becomes soft with him. The peddler who abducts children and makes them beggars had kidnapped Prabhas when he was still a toddler and he is in jail for the crimes. For fifteen years, Chotu pleads with him to tell him about his parents, but to no avail. There is another villain in Jhonny's gang called Kailash who is arrested for allegedly murgdering a minister on the behest of Posani, who now wants Kailash to die so the world does not know the truth that the he was behind the minister's assassination. He is the son of Tanikella Bharani whom Prabhas befriends through Sameera. The hero takes it upon himself to stop Jhonny from killing Kailash. How Chotu elimates Johnnybhai and meets his parents forms the rest of the film.

Ek Niranjan sounds too routine and ordinary. If Prabhas's self-forgetful dancing in a crowdy area (title track) and his ramrod valour are entertaining, the writer could have mad his character look more brilliant. In a film that has a character speaking philosophically about how the Almighty concocts games with men, there could have been some depth. Given the kind of storytelling we see in Puri's films, one feels there is no Midas Touch here. Everything is so bland and pale. Be it the characterisation or action or comedy, nothing seems new or different. It is Prabhas's energy and verve that help the audience cling to seats. Not just him, the film is watchable for Sonu Sood, who delivers a superb performance. With Brahmaji, he makes the proceedings peppy. Watching the conversations he strikes with his assistant or the adulation he expresses after every scene with Prabhas is entertaining.

The scene in which the heroine expresses her love for Prabhas is heart-touching. However, one is forced to confess that this is not the kind of character an able actress like Kangna should have got. Playing a glamorous role, she is milk-and-water. The bloody look in the climax is churning and peevish.

Surprisingly, the comedy track is hopeless. Puri, who is bright at creating comedy situations, does not show intelligence here. Like a B-grade director, he makes the show with Brahmanandam and his girlfriend worse and more worse. Ali and Sunil, both do not make you laugh even for a moment.

Ek Niranjan is saved by Prabhas, Sonu Sood and Mani Sharma's fine tune.

Those are the reviews.

"Ek Niranjan" to open with a lot of screens

The much-awaited movie Ek Niranjan, which is finally releasing on October 29th the Thursday, is set to open to huge collections.

Yes, the Prasadz IMAX in Hyderabad will show 15 shows and INOX will show 14 shows on the day of the film's release, and more surprisingly, all the shows are house-full!! This is something unheard of in case of a Prabhas film.

Puri Jagannadh, the director, must be feeling elated over the response his next release has already generated. With openings and initial bookings becoming crucial for any film these days, it is advantage Ek Niranjan.
Aditya Ram says, “This is the first film in Prabhas career, which is being produced with a heavy budget, released with highest prints and in highest theatres. The story has several kinds of elements and the director Puri Jagannath has moulded the film excellently on the celluloid. The film is an out and out entertainer. Prabhas’ performance would be a highlight and the film would earn him lots of name and fame. The audiences can find a novel Prabhas in performance, dances and fights. He has been personally involved in several risky shots in the climax scenes that were shot in Thailand.”

More making of "Ek Niranjan"

"Ek Niranjan" coming in 2 days!

"Ek Niranjan" is coming in two days, in fact, it is even tomorrow when advance booking will open. The media and everybody is very excite about the release. The audio has even became a smash hit. Some people who have seen the film says it is fantastic!

"Ek Niranjan" got A certificate

"Ek Niranjan" has gotten an A certificate by the censor board because of its violence. The movie releases on Thursady Oct 29 and it has Kangana Ranaut and Prabhas.
Gundello:

Ek Niranjan:

Mahamari:

Kangana Talks About Shooting Tanu Weds Manu

Kangana explained about the shooting of tanu weds manu on her blog:

"As you may know I’ve been busy shooting for my film Tanu Weds Manu in Lucknow for the last few days. It’s been a really fun time, in a really fun city, with a really fun cast and crew! On our very first day here, the Director Anand Rai, discovered a delicious “Chaat” place and since then, there’s been no stopping us, it’s a chaat party on the sets and we often step out into the city to the restraunts to have a bite of the famous Lucknow cuisine!

My sister Rangoli has been with me through this schedule, and we’ve had a lot of fun shopping for beautiful chikankari cloth and more. Infact I’m quite excited about my look in this film, as its the first time I have an all Indian look, with shararas and short kurtis, morjaris etc. The script is fun and the cast and crew are really nice as well. Maddy is an all time jokster with great stories up his sleeves and has us in splits all the time with his anecdotes. The team led by Shailesh Singh and Anand Rai is one of the most caring I’ve worked with.

There were a lot of rumours about my getting eve-teased by the crowds in Lucknow recently, and I want to let you know there’s no truth to these at all. A couple of days ago there was some mild trouble with crowds on the sets, however neither Maddy nor I were on the set at the time. The people in Lucknow have been most kind and very hospitable and we’ve really enjoyed our visit.

I will be sorry to leave, but am now looking forward to joining the crew on the sets of “Knockout” next. with so many films on my plate simultaneously, it is a challenge shifting so quicky from one character to another, but then life’s not fun without a challenge I guess!"

Kangana rejected Tum Mile

Today, Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan are being seen opposite each other in Kunal Deshmukh directed Tum Mile which belongs to 'disaster movie' genre. However, not many are aware that years back, the film had first been offered to Imran Khan and Kangana Ranaut, both of whom promptly rejected this Mukesh Bhatt production. Not just that, even Kunal Kapoor, who had yet to prove his standing as a commercially viable leading man, wasn't too enticed by the film and politely declined the offer.

Buzz up!
"That's what destiny is all about and one can't do much about it. Perhaps Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan were always meant to be a part of Tum Mile. I am glad that happened because today, I am getting such a wonderful feedback for this unique pairing", says Kunal Deshmukh who saw a change in fortune after his Jannat turned out to be super hit at the box office last year.


As per sources, all the aforementioned actors didn't quite want to work with a newcomer like Kunal Deshmukh in a film which was unconventional and broke Bollywood stereotypes. For Kunal, it was a period of turmoil since he had written the first draft of the script in 2006 itself, way before Jannat was even conceptualised.

"I was an Assistant Director at that time and Mumbai floods, which took place on 26th July, 2005, really shook me. I wanted to make a movie about two characters who reunite in this situation and what happens to their life soon after. This was a subject close to my heart but unfortunately for me, none of the actors were inclined to work with me at that time", Kunal makes an honest confession.

Imran Khan was shooting for Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Naa at that time and was extremely confident of his debut film. This is why he didn't want to work with a novice director at that time.

"And I don't blame him for that", Kunal replied promptly, "He is justified in his place. He was just starting out and perhaps it was good for him to be safe. He is a great guy and I would wish to work with him in future."

Meanwhile both Kunal Kapoor as well as Kangana excused themselves from the film as well.

"May be it was all my fault. May be I couldn't sell my concept to them in a convincing manner. After all a movie like this hasn't been attempted before and it was difficult for me to narrate a movie which is so visually driven", says Kunal.

It was an increasingly difficult period for him and this is when Mukesh Bhatt suggested that they begin work on a different subject.

"Mr. Bhatt told me that every movie has its own time and destiny and may be Tum Mile was meant to be made at a later stage. He advised me to work on something different and this is how Jannat was born. It too was a radically different subject for Bollywood due to it's theme of match fixing. But perhaps it was still a safer project", he reveals.

Not many know that even Emraan Hashmi had refused Tum Mile stating the same reason as his other colleagues.

"Thankfully, he didn't say no to me once I proved myself with Jannat", adds Kunal in a humorous tone, "After the success of Jannat, Mr. Bhatt reminded me of Tum Mile and gave me a go ahead. This time around Emraan was game for the film. He didn't even discuss the economics with me and just asked me when we could start."

Confirms Emraan Hashmi, "Kunal is a very sensible director; something that I realised with the way he made Jannat. As far as Kunal would want to work with me, I am sure that I would want to work with him. We make a great team and after Jannat, we were set out to make Tum Mile with as much passion and sincerity as well."

Kunal didn't revert to Kangana though and instead roped in Soha Ali Khan who was game for Tum Mile.

"Kangana was already working with Mohit (Suri) on Raaz - The Mystery Continues with Vishesh Films. She was paired with Emraan in the film and it would have been too much too soon for audience to see the same pair twice in a year. It made sense to rope in some other actress as that would have added freshness to the project. I was happy to sign on Soha since her pairing with Emraan is bound to surprise the audience. Time and again, it has been proven that something unconventional does work for the audiences. Same should hold goof for Tum Mile too", reasons Kunal.

The rest, as they say, is history and work soon began on the film. There was quite some emphasis placed on the film's pre and post production which is releasing all over on 13th November. Tum Mile has music by Pritam and lyrics by Sayeed Quadri & Kumar.

Kangana's working on Sohail Maklai production

After having a roll while shooting for Anees Bazmee’s comedy No Problem in South Africa, Kangna Ranaut is back to serious business. The actress, who is part of the Sohail Maklai production also featuring Sanjay Dutt and Irrfan Khan, is apparently playing a reporter in the film. In fact, during the two to three days of her shoot, she was attired in Indian skirts and tops, a la Preity Zinta style in Lakshya, according to a source present on the sets. However, currently, it is Sanjay Dutt who has been shooting major scenes at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai as part of the first schedule. Unlike Kangna, the actor is shooting in regular outfits such as T-shirts and jeans, with most of his scenes being ‘dialogue-oriented’ with character actors and junior artistes, revealed the source. As for the set itself, it depicts a contemporary house, short of a bungalow. Being directed by Mani Shankar, the film’s first schedule will be wrapped-up by October 25.

Aditya Ram speaking about Ek Niranjan

Kangna Ranaut poses for filmfare magazine

After a giving a flop movie to Bollywood, where exactly has Kangana Ranaut disappeared to these days? Well, the young lass had been quite busy with her Telugu film, 'Ek Niranjan'. The shooting of the film is over and now Kangana has quite a few things on her list. A couple of days ago, the flair Kangana posed infront of the camera for the Filmfare Magazine. Kangana took on a classic retro look during the photoshoot and absolutely enjoyed every bit of it.

Furthermore, Kangana will also starting shooting for her new venture, , 'Once Upon a Mumbai'. Staring Ajay Devgan and Kangana in the lead , the venture also stars Emran Hashmi and the television bahu, Prachi Desai. Moreover director Milan Luthria stated that more than half of the movie has been shot and portions with Emran, Prachi and Kangana are left which will commence sometime next week.

Kangana will also be seen in 'Kites' playing the role of Gia which is set to hit the floor sometime this year!

Aditya Ram thanks audiences for Ek Niranjan audio success

The noted producer Adithya Ram is all set to arrive with his new venture ‘Ek Niranjan’ on the 29th of this month and before that, he released the audio on 25th of September.

Speaking about it, he said that he was really thankful to all the audience for making it a big success. He also added that all six tracks composed by Mani Sharma have gone well with audience all across the state and the highlight among them was the title song.

He also revealed how the listeners had explained about each song in detail and what they liked about it, this made him feel on top of the world.

Photography – Syam K Naidu, art – Chinna, editing – M R Varma, fights – Stun Siva, story, screenplay, dialogues, director- Puri Jagannadh.

Ek Niranjan New Song Promos

Evaru Lerani


Ek Niranjan