UK-Indian actress lands role in Bollywood film 'Veer'

Agencies
Posted: Apr 28, 2009

Parveen Bhairon, an Indian-origin actress from Coventry is thrilled to land a role in Salman Khan starrer Bollywood film 'Veer'. 

She is the latest British Indian actor to feature in an Indian film after Katrina Kaif and Upen Patel. Bhairon, 26, plays a supporting role in the film, which is said to be an epic love story about an Indian warrior fighting under the British Raj. The film has been written by Salman Khan who also plays the lead role. Other actors in the movie include Jackie Shroff, who plays the villain, and Sohail Khan.

Bhairon, who has shot scenes in Bristol and Bath, told the local media: "It's been fantastic so far. I met Salman Khan a few times. He is very focused on his work - it's quite inspiring to see. 

"We haven't been told what the film is all about - it's a bit of a secret - but the costumes are quite elaborate and there are a few fighting scenes. I'm looking forward to getting into the dialogue, which will come later. It's been interesting and exciting but a lot of hard work." 

Bhairon, who will soon leave for Mumbai to shoot more scenes of the film, said, "I really want to launch my career in Mumbai. It'll be the perfect stepping stone. It's a difficult thing to do but I'm not ready to give up yet. These last few months have been surreal and I'm really excited about my future".

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Tom Hanks Honored By Julia Roberts, Charlize Theron, More

Steven Spielberg and others show support at Film Society of Lincoln Center gala.

By Eric Ditzian

Apr 28 2009

NEW YORK — On Monday night, two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks was honored for a lifetime of career accomplishments at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's annual gala tribute. 

When MTV News caught up with the 52-year-old actor on the red carpet, Hanks was at a loss for words. "I don't know what to say," he confessed. "It's the capital of the world and we blocked enough of the streets. I'm at a loss for understanding how it happened." 

He may not have known exactly how to express his appreciation, but Hanks was still in a great mood, at one point busting into a quick rendition of Jackson Browne's "Linda Paloma," before escorting his wife, the actress Rita Wilson, inside the closed-door event. The A-listers out in force to support Hanks were effusive in their praise of the Hollywood powerhouse. 

"My favorite Tom Hanks anything was always 'Bosom Buddies,' " Julia Roberts told MTV News, referring to the early '80s sitcom in which Hanks made his name. "I texted my best friend this morning who I've been best friends with since I was a girl and said, 'I'm doing this thing with Tom Hanks tonight. What do you think I should say?' And she goes, 'You should talk about our utter devotion to 'Bosom Buddies.' " 

"Look, I'm being paid a lot of money to be here tonight," Charlize Theron said, smiling, before going on to recall working with Hanks on her first major film. "I opened my script the other day of 'That Thing You Do!,' which I was honored to be in, and he wrote in it, 'No matter what, I will always claim to have discovered you.' " 

Other stars in attendance included Steven Spielberg, Sally Field, Ron Howard, Christopher Walken and Adrien Brody. In past years, the Film Society has honored Alfred Hitchcock, Elizabeth Taylor, Martin Scorsese, Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep.

Source: http://www.mtv.com

Fox Prefers Lie to President Obama

By Joal Ryan

Mon, April 27, 2009

One hundred days, schmunhundred days.

Fox is opting out of airing a President Obama prime-time press conference timed to mark the leader's 100th day in office Wednesday, in favor of its regularly scheduled program about a man who can read liars. No political comment presumably intended. 

In a statement today, Fox said it would alert Lie to Me viewers to the press conference with an "onscreen graphic" pointing interested parties to its sister outlets, Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, both of which will carry the planned Q&A.

Fox's free-TV competitors, ABC, CBS and NBC, which don't have a really important American Idol results show to worry about later in the night, have all blocked out the 8 p.m. Wednesday hour for Obama. The CW, which doesn't do news, will use to time slot to commemorate the latest new episode of America's Next Top Model.

Obama, as a rule, has been a big prime-time draw, although not so much for Fox, which lagged behind its competitors for its coverage of the president's March 24 press conference.

Source: http://www.eonline.com

Pussycat Dolls feud in public

Agencies
Posted: Apr 27, 2009

Popular girl band "Pussycat Dolls" may be on the verge of breaking up as two of the band members, Melody Thormton and Nicole Scherzinger, had a public showdown on stage during a show in Arizona. 

Thornton made a sarcastic remark about Scherzinger while on stage, which resulted in the latter storming off, reported ‘Sun online’. Sherzinger had created "massive tension" within the band when she insisted that their last two singles be released under the name 'Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger'. The name change reportedly infuriated other group members, prompting Thornton to shout to fans while on stage, "Thank you for supporting me, even though I'm not featured. Don’t let anyone stomp on your dreams!" while giving Nicole a dirty look. The entire episode happened as other group members Ashley Roberts, Kimberly Wyatt and Jessica Sutta looked on. 

Though the show continued, the rest of their performance was "majorly awkward" and as soon as the last song was over, the girls ran off stage looking furious, a concert goer told the newspaper.The 30-year-old Scherzinger is reportedly set to quit the girl group in a bid to become a solo star.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Eminem to return to big screen

Agencies
Posted: Apr 27, 2009

Rapper Eminem is all set to return to the big screen, seven years after his bio-pic ‘8 Mile’ earned him rave reviews. 

The Grammy winning artiste, who proved that he possesses the emotional range most musicians-turned-actors lack in his successful debut, said that he has done a cameo in a big film this year but refrained to tell which one. 

"Can't tell you what movie it is, or what I did in it, but last year (I filmed) a cameo," he said during an appearance on Sirius' Shade 45 radio show. When prompted by his manager Paul Rosenberg, that the film is "kind of a big deal," Eminem jokingly said, "It's a murder-mystery, comedy, epic, drama, Disney movie." 

Eminem's onscreen comeback coincides with the rapper's return to the music scene with 'Relapse', his first album since his 2004 hit 'Encore' which will hit stores this May.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Brangelina to battle ex bodyguard

ANI
Posted: Apr 27, 2009

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are drawing plans to combat their former bodyguard, who is planning to pen his experiences while working with the couple. 

The pair is said to be furious that Mickey Brett, with whom they once entrusted their lives and those of their kids, was planning to bring their private lives into the public domain with a tell all book. The two have roped in top lawyers in the US and the UK to keep Brett from spilling the beans. Their American litigator Marty Singer dubbed Brett as a “pathological liar” who held a history of legal troubles. 

According to Singer, Brett was banned from entering the US after lying to Immigration officials, and had even fooled his former celebrity employers into believing that he was a British SAS commando while in fact he had never served in the military. 

He said Brett was also interrogated in the murder of British tycoon Donald Urquhart in 1993 though he was later cleared, and had been taken into custody for attacking a restaurant owner in Namibia in 2006. Singer continued that Brett, who had been convicted 11 times for several crimes, was bound by a confidentiality agreement over his book and TV proposals. He added that Brett had said that he never inked the pitches and that his ghost writer, Robin McGibbon, embellished many of the stories, a claim denied by McGibbon. 

"Our client disputes what has apparently been said by Mr. Singer, but is not in a position to comment further at this stage," the New York Daily News quoted Brett's attorneys as saying.

Source: http://www.news.google.com

Madonna begs Kabbalah leader to pray for Mercy

Agencies
Posted: Apr 27, 2009

Pop superstar Madonna has reportedly begged Kabbalah leader Eitan Yardeni to pray for her success in adopting four-year-old Malawian girl Mercy James. 

Madonna, whose plea to adopt the girl was turned down by a Malawian court last month, has filed a fresh appeal in the country's Supreme Court. The hearing has been fixed for May 4. 

"They have been praying at every waking hour. The adoption process has been stressful for Madonna. She's been telling pals it felt as painful as childbirth," a source told 'News of the World' newspaper. The spiritual leader of the the Kabbalah centre in Toronto has reportedly flown in to New York at Madonna's request to pray for superstar's success on May 4. 

The 50-year-old star who already has a three-year-old adopted Malawian son, David, as well as her daughter Lourdes, 12, and eight-year-old son Rocco was devastated by the ruling last month.

Source: http://www.news.google.com

Feroz Khan wanted to remake 'Qurbani' with Fardeen

Agencies
Posted: Apr 27, 2009

Feroz Khan wanted to complete his dream project, the remake of his most successful film 'Qurbani' and the legendary filmmaker was still working on the film during his last days. 

Khan's son, actor Fardeen Khan, was to reprise his father's iconic role in the new version. The 69-year-old filmmaker had already recorded three songs for the film with music composer Anand Raj Anand but with his death, his last wish remains unfulfilled. 

The 1980 blockbuster is one of the most successful films of Feroz Khan. The film, a love triangle between Vinod Khanna, Zeenat Aman and Khan, is still remembered for its stylish treatment and hit songs like 'Aap jaisa koi...', 'Laila Mein Laila' and the title track 'Qurbani qurbani'. 

"Ferozji wanted to remake Qurbani with Fardeen in lead and he was in the process of rewriting the script. It is one of his most successful films and he wanted to recreate the same magic in a bigger way," Feroz Khan's manager Rajkumar Tiwari told a reporter over phone from Bangalore. 

"He had already recorded two songs for the film with music composer Anand Raj Anand. This project was very close to his heart and he was putting all his energy into it before falling ill," Tiwari added. 

Khan had announced the remake of 'Qurbani' as 'Kurbani' at the 2006 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event in Dubai. The actor-filmmaker died at 1:30 am at his farmhouse in Bangalore. He was diagnosed with cancer a year ago and was being treated at a Mumbai hospital. His son and actor Fardeen Khan besides some other family members were at his bedside when the end came. Khan last acted in comedy film 'Welcome' with Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor and Katrina Kaif. Anees Bazmee, who directed the iconic actor in his last film, said, "I will always be grateful to him for giving me the oppurtunity to work with him in 'Welcome'. 

"He was initially reluctant to work in the film but I convinced him because the role was written with him in mind," said Bazmee. 

"He enjoyed acting after a long time and became friends with Katrina Kaif, Akshay Kumar. I remember how he had become very emotional during the last day of the shoot and threw a party for the entire cast and crew," Bazmee added.

Source: http://www.screenindia.com

Knightley's anti-domestic violence ad banned in UK

Agencies
Posted: Apr 27, 2009

The anti-domestic violence advertisement starring British actress Keira Knightley has been banned by British censors. The advertisement has been barred from British television after it was branded too violent by advertising censors, reported ‘Contactmusic.com’. 

The advertisement depicts 'The Pirates of the Caribbean' star as an actress returning home from a film set who is confronted by a violent boyfriend accusing her of having an affair with a co-star. Knightley is then shown getting knocked down and kicked multiple times. Advertising censor body Clearcast rejected the promo on the ground of the violent scene in the end where Knightley is being repeatedly kicked on the floor. The advertisement 'The Cut' was made for UK charity Women's Aid and was launched in British cinemas this month and has been an instant success on YouTube with one million hits. 

"The reason we are still in conversation with Clearcast about it is because it is too violent. Part of the campaign is to raise awareness about domestic violence, and spark debate, which the advert has done, even if it doesn't make it on television," said Chris Hirst, MD of Grey London Advertising Agency which created 'The Cut'.

Source: http://www.news.google.com

Sharmila and Soha to star together in an English film

BollywoodHungamaNewsNetwork
Posted: Apr 27, 2009

It's always a pleasure to see Bollywood's current generation of star kids share screen space with their real life parents on screen. So, after the Deols who created some frenzy courtesy Apne, it's now the turn of mother-daughter duo of Sharmila Tagore and Soha Ali Khan to be seen on the big screen together for the first time. 

Sharmila and Soha will be seen in an English film directed by Sangeeta Datta (erstwhile assistant to Rituparno Ghosh). We got in touch with Soha who confirmed the news. "Yes Mom and I are doing a film together. It's an English film by a British production company and directed by Sangeeta Datta. It's an absolutely lovely script and shooting starts in May in London." 

The as yet untitled film is not your typical boy-meets-girl love story and is in fact a family drama revolving around a father and his three daughters. Besides Sharmila and Soha, the film also stars Girish Karnad, Om Puri and a bunch of British actors. 

It may be recalled that Sharmila and her son Saif Ali Khan starred together in Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Parineeta. Now it will be interesting to see Sharmila along with her daughter Soha in this flick. We simply can't wait to see the mother-daughter jodi on the silver screen!

Source: http://www.screenindia.com