Blessing in Disguise for Tanu

She has made headlines more for the many controversies she has been mired in – from the man slapping episode at an event in Bangalore, the Nana Patekar sexual harassment issue or the alleged spat with Shona Urvashi, producer-director of Saas Bahu Aur Sensex – than her films. But looks like these untoward incidents have proved a blessing in disguise for Tanushree Dutta. Especially the Nana incident on the sets of Horn Ok Please, after which the actress has been inundated with film offers, despite the 'unprofessional' image it got her.

"Incidentally, after that episode I have been getting a lot of offers. In fact, after that the number of offers has actually doubled up for some strange reason," says Tanushree gleefully. But as they say, once bitten twice shy, the actress has been taking it real slow this time around. "I have turned down many an offer that has come my way. That's because I have suddenly caught a phobia for all these new people. If today I have to sign a movie I would definitely do it with an acclaimed director, producer or an actor. Because, when even after working so hard such things happen, I just feel I'd rather be a glorified wall flower in a big movie and work peacefully than work with small-time directors," says she. But the actress agrees that the offers do signal something positive. "The industry did support me in that way. I thought that people might take calls based on other people's decisions but the truth is that there are people who have worked me before and, thankfully, they did not pay heed to these rumours. I signed an offer right after a week after that incident!" she reveals.

Surely Tanu has moved on to better things and says that she has become stronger thanks to the negative phase. "I am looking at better things now. I have stopped thinking what people say about me. You care till a time you are worried, when you are not doing anything…and for the first time someone calls you a villain, you feel bad. You try hard too hard to prove that you are not like that. But it happens again and again and at a point you get immune. Now it does not matter to me," she says, matter-of-factly.

Though she does admit that she had veered away from films a bit due to personal reasons. "I may have become lax in between but I had my reasons for it. There were a lot of things happening in my personal life and I decided to give those the priority. Now my focus is back on my career," signs off the Bong actress.

Nana Patekar in The Pool directed by Chris Smith

Without doubt Nana Patekar is one of the finest actors of our country. Nana, who has won over countless fans and appreaciation through his performances in Hindi and Marathi cinema, will now be seen in an English film called The Pool. The movie is to be directed by Hollywood director Chris Smith, the director who earned accolades with American Movie and The Yes Men.
The Pool is a charming, elegantly shot in the neighborhoods of poverty and privilege in Goa, India. It tells the story of an 18-year-old Venkatesh, who ekes out a living working in a hotel and pounding the pavement selling plastic bags. It's a far cry from his fantasy - to dive into the glimmering swimming pool of an upper-class family that never actually swims in it. After he befriends the head of the household (Nana Patekar), and begins to pal around with his upstart, cosmopolitan teenage daughter Ayesha, Venkatesh subtly, but assertively sets his sights on a more comfortable way of life for himself and his friend. His friend is the 12-year old self-sufficient and charismatic Jhangir who manages a restaurant pretty much by himself. The three youngsters are resilient as they navigate an adult world, in between enjoying simple pleasures like picking mangos or traveling to the ocean.

The Pool, which has already received some rave reviews from international critics, is expected to release across theatres in US this September in English and in Hindi.

Nana Patekar and Dimple Kapadia together again for third time

Actor-director Kabir Sadanand is ready to strike back! His directorial debut, POPCORN KHAO MAST HO JAO, went unnoticed at the box-office, but Kabir didn't lose hope. “I didn't want to repeat the same mistakes. I wanted to be doubly sure of my new script before I announced my next film,” Kabir states.

The actor/director has teamed Nana Patekar and Dimple Kapadia for his next project. “It's a slice of life film,” he states, “It's a love story essentially. We plan to begin shooting by the end of this month.” Nikhil Panchamiya, who had produced DIL MAANGE MORE and ANTHONY KAUN HAI, will produce this project. The makers have also signed Rehan Khan and Shifaali Shah for pivotal roles.

This is the third time Nana and Dimple have been teamed in a film, after PRAHAAR and KRANTIVEER.

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