Anil Kapoor ropes in award winning writer for Ayesha

When it comes to his daughter, Bollywood actor-producer Anil Kapoor wants the best. He has roped in award-winning writer Manu Rishi to pen dialogues for Sonam Kapoor’s next film ‘Ayesha’.

Based on Jane Austen’s “Emma”, “Ayesha” is a romantic comedy about an ultra modern girl who is wooed by three men. While Sonam is playing the female lead, Abhay Deol, Arunoday Singh and VJ Cyrus Sahukar will woo her in the movie. The film is being produced by Sonam’s sister Rhea under their father’s banner.

For the movie, Delhi boy Rishi had to pen "sophisticated" lines - a complete change from what he wrote for the earlier film “Oye Lucky Lucky Oye”

In ‘Oye Lucky...’, the language was very, very West Delhi sorts and the protagonists were not very well read. But in ‘Ayesha’, the characters are from the up market Defence Colony; they are from English medium schools, etc.

The film has been written by Devika Bhagat with Ritu Bhatia.

Sonam Kapoor punished by Anil Kapoor

Even though Sonam Kapoor is one of the hottest newcomers in Bollywood not much has changed on the home front. Recently her dad Anil Kapoor got very upset with Sonam because she returned home at about 4 a.m., after an outing with her friends.

This did not go down too well with her dad Anil Kapoor and he has imposed a penalty on Sonam - that she be grounded at home for the next one month apart from her professional commitments. And the child has taken the punishment without any protest.

Sonam neither confirmed nor denied the story saying, “I am always on time.” Anil Kapoor was unavailable for comment.

Anil Kapoor to produce Sanjay Dutt

The rivalry between arch-enemies Sanjay Dutt and Anil Kapoor just came to an end. The rivalry ended as Anil decided to produce and star Sanjay in his next Film. And it isn't just Anees Bazmee's comedy No Problem but an international project that Anil is producing.

It is a huge project that AK plans to produce featuring the two actors. Sanjay Dutt spent a good hour at the Kapoors' residence. He was impressed by the proposal and finally agreed to the fact that an international project featuring the two actors was just what the global market demanded.
It was not just a single international project that Anil wanted Sanjay to sign but also formally wanted Sanjay for his home production No Problem. He gave Sanjay a signing amount of Rs. 1 crore which Sanjay refused to take as Anil was his dear friend. But Anil insisted.

“I let you get away with working free for me when you did the item song in my production Short Cut. But now you're a full-fledged actor in No Problem. Let's be professional about money matters at least,” said Anil.

Sanjay declined at least 5-6 times and then relented.

The Kapoor-Dutt international project could happen by the end of this year.

Anil Kapoor on cover of Andpersand

Anil Kapoor, the man is now on the 'hot seat' after the stupendous success of the mega hit Slumdog Millionaire. Needless to say, that each and every channel, magazine is vying for a piece of Anil. After all he is an “Oscar material actor”.

The latest magazine to feature Anil Kappor is “Andpersand”. The issue features an in-depth interview of the actor. There are lots of trivia facts revealed about Anil Kapoor in this issue. The actor reveals a fact that how he was paid Rs. 19 (yes, you read it right... Rs. Nineteen) for Parinda. Anil also speaks about his take on shortcuts, his moustache etc.

No doubt, Anil has made this issue of Andpersand a colletors one.

Shahrukh Khan plays Mogambo in Mr India 2

While making a re-make of Mr India , director Shekhar Kapoor has approached none other than Shah Rukh Khan for the character of famous villain Mogambo. The role of Mogambo had been played by Amrish Puri in the original Mr India.

Mr India 2 is the sequel of the 1987 hit, Mr India starring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi. It will feature Anil Kapoor and Sridevi but a younger couple will play the lead.

Mr India 2 is said to be Villain Centric, so it will be a plum role for Shah Rukh Khan. Audiences will also be curious to see how Shah Rukh Khan essays the role. Shah Rukh is not new to negative roles. He had delivered super hits playing negative roles in Darr, Baazigar and Anjaam.

Movie Review of Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire – One of the most talked about movie of today is simply an out an out entertainer with the golden touch of reality. It is a story about a teenager Jamal, who has been taught by life answers to just the questions that are hurled at him at the game show. He answers all 14 questions right,” but is been arrested on suspicion of cheating.
In his attempt to explain how he knew all of the answers, Jamal is forced to recall the sometimes painful memories from his childhood. And through a series of flashbacks the secrets of Jamal’s life unfolds, filled with hardships, a tough relationship with his brother Salim and his unwavering love for his childhood friend Latika. Apart from the hardship shown one can also take a note of Slumdog being one of the sweetest love stories with all the thrills possible.
The film is told through a series of flashbacks linking the jailed Jamal in the present with the hardships of his past. While Jamal’s love for Latika remains the center of the story throughout, the film never strays away from giving big helpings of reality and gut-wrentching drama. It is fluffy, somewhat implausible love story in one moment and real world tragedy in the next, keeping its audience engaged at every turn.

The film sees some spellbinding performances. It's not just Dev Patel, who plays the oldest avatar of Jamal, but also the other kids who play the younger versions of Jamal and Salim have done an excellent job. Anil Kapoor is just perfect as the crooked superstar and host of the show. Irrfan Khan radiates excellence too. Freida Pinto and Madhur Mittal – the oldest versions of Latika and Salim respectively, hardly have much screen space. But they are good in the small roles.

Danny Boyle the director has the perfect vision for how to deliver this story unto the screen. He displays an amazing feel for environment as character, Boyle delivers what his fans have come to expect which is throbbing music, jaunty editing, showy cinematography and when necessary, a delicate touch for the intimate moments. Technically, Slumdog Millionaire has got some of the most innovative camera work in recent times. The film's editor too deserves praises. And of course, the music by AR Rahman deserves all the praise that he has garnered.

Overall, it is really hard to find a fault in Slumdog Millionaire. This is definitely Danny Boyle's most competent job till this date. It definitely deserves every Oscar nomination it has bagged and stands to win some too.

Slumdog Millionaire to be released in India in Jan 2009

Very few of the films achieve the pinnacle of being touted as the Best Film of the year. However, for director Danny Boyle this isn't something new. Close on the heels of his film The Beach, comes yet another critically acclaimed film Slumdog Millionaire.

Well for starters, the film managed to garner rave reviews across the US in the opening week itself, while in Toronto it was awarded the People's Choice Award and in the UK it was the closing extravaganza for the London Film festival this year. The film has already been slated to be nominated for the Oscars. And the film will soon be releasing in India.

Says Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios India, "In keeping with Fox STAR studio's commitment to produce and distribute world-class local-language films, we are proud to announce the release of Slumdog Millionaire in January. It's an extraordinary film which tells a classic Indian story in a refreshingly clever, stylish and engaging manner."

However, though the long wait for the film has ended, it still entails a bit of an anticipation builder with it strategically being released in January 2009. Slumdog Millionaire starring Anil Kapoor, Dev Patel, Irrfan Khan and Freida Pinto tells the story of an immensely resilient and loving boy from the slum of Mumbai whose adventures take him from the desolate poverty of begging on the streets to the wildly popular game show stage of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”, where he surprises everyone with his knowledge.

The film will be releasing in Hindi with the title of Slumdog Millionaire- Kaun Banega Karorepati.

Mumbai based Freida Pinto is one of the few Indian models to start her film career with a Hollywood film. The find of well-known Hollywood director Danny Boyle, Freida will be seen in Boyle's new film, Slumdog Millionaire.

Slumdog Millionaire chosen for Toronto International Film Festival

It is indeed a gala time for Bollywood films and its actors. First it was Anees Bazmee and his gang who have been invited to woo Toronto in the prestigious forthcoming Toronto International Film Festival (from September 4 - 11) with their blockbuster offering Singh Is Kinng. And now, it's the turn of Bollywood's very own Jhakaas darling boy Anil Kapoor's turn to continue the magic. The news is that Anil Kapoor's eagerly awaited film Slumdog Millionaire that stars him alongwith Irrfan Khan will be premiered at the festival. Anil Kapoor and the entire cast and crew of the film are expected to be attending this gala event.

Readers may also be aware of the fact that Anil Kapoor (who plays a quizmaster in the film) was chosen after the Big B and SRK refused the role of the quizmaster. What remains to be seen is that will Big B's and SRK's loss turn to be AK's gain?

Anil Kapoor starrer Slumdog Millionaire goes to Toronto International Film Festival

First it was Anees Bazmee and his gang who have been invited to woo Toronto in the prestigious forthcoming Toronto International Film Festival (from September 4 - 11, 2008) with their blockbuster offering Singh Is Kinng. After them, it's the turn of Bollywood's very own 'Jhakaas' darling boy Anil Kapoor's turn to continue the magic. The news is that Anil Kapoor's much eagerly awaited film Slumdog Millionaire that stars him alongwith Irrfan Khan will be premiered at the festival. Anil Kapoor and the entire cast and crew of the film are expected to be attending this gala event.

Anil Kapoor (who plays a quizmaster in the film) was chosen after the Big B and SRK refused the role of the quizmaster. Big B's and SRK's loss turned to be AK's gain.

Sequel of Mr India sees Return of Sri Devi

Hawa-hawai girl Srivedi is all set to make a grand comeback in the film industry. The actress will soon be seen in a sequel to the 1987 hit, Mr. India. Sridevi's husband Boney Kapoor and his brother Anil Kapoor, who played the lead in Mr. India, will once again team up for this ambitious project. Manmohan Shetty too has joined hands with Boney to make the film. The characters of Seema (played by Sridevi) and Arun (played by Anil Kapoor) in Mr. India will be carried forward in the sequel.

Our source said, “Sridevi will be back with the film and the script is being finalised. The film will be a sequel and not a remake of Mr. India. Anil Kapoor is very excited about the film while Boney is leaving no stone unturned to make the film bigger and better than the first part.

This time, the audience will be in for a visual treat as there will be a whole lot of special effects in the film. Boney is also planning to tie up with a major SFX company. This film is the key reason why Sridevi turned down so many film offers recently. She was waiting for Mr. India's sequel to make her comeback.”

“Mr. India was a superhit film. People still remember all the characters of the film and the very prospect of a sequel is gathering a lot of interest. Sridevi has lost oodles of weight and is looking fabulous these days. She is very excited about her comeback,” added the source.

We contacted Boney Kapoor to give us some more details about the film. “We are making Mr. India 2 and things have been moving forward gradually. But I would like to announce the film only after everything is finalised,” said Boney.

WELCOME all set to be welcomed

WELCOME, featuring Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Feroz Khan, Paresh Rawal and Mallika Sherawat is all set to hit the silver screen on December 21.

It’s a comedy movie produced by Firoz Nadiadwala under the banner of Base Industries Group through Studio 18. Anees Bazmee is the director and story writer of the film who has proved his comic skills in the movies like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) and No Entry. The melodious music of the film has been composed by Himesh Reshammiya and Anand Raj Anand.

One of the most remarkable point about this movie is that Anil Kapoor has designed his own look in this multi-starrer comedy.

He is essaying Katrina Kaif's serio-comic don brother in the first half after which he falls for Mallika Sherawat's character in the second half of the film.

"As there is a complete change in my life once the girl walks in, my clothes change colour from black to bright red as well," laughs Anil. He adds, "It's true that I've chosen my own clothes. It was a pain to have to shop so much though.”

Anil has planned and selected his entire look himself.

• Movie Stills of Katrina Kaif from WELCOME