Neil the saviour!

Neil Nitin Mukesh was shooting in Pattaya for an ad film, the scene was such that he was on a jet ski with two models in the middle of the sea. One of the girls lost her balance and the Jet Ski toppled. Neil was trapped under the Jet Ski for a while and one of the models did not even know how to swim! Neil struggled his way out and started swimming towards the rescue boat. When he realised that both the models were struggling, he went back, held them both and swam out to the rescue boat and got both the girls out of trouble.

Manisha Koirala: Marriage is vastly overrated

Never one to race with the rats, actor Manisha Koirala chooses to maintain her own pace, and divides her time between movies, philanthropy, and, now, her marriage. Two of her films, one in Tamil and the other in Malayalam, are readying release. Despite being rushed off her feet, Manisha takes time out for an interview.

Excerpts:

On the go — Kathmandu, Bangladesh and Mumbai…

Yes, of late, life’s been quite frenetic. I am a public figure, and have various commitments to honour. Besides, I’m aligned to many social issues, and, whenever required, I pitch in to further these causes.

You come from a very politically-connected family. So, is politics on the cards for you?

I’m so not a political human being. But I do want to make a positive difference in the lives of the underprivileged. There’s a lot of political unrest and chaos in Nepal presently, and many pressing issues like human rights and education are getting sidelined. I want to address these problems.

You’d hinted about divorce on a social networking site…

On hindsight, that was an impulsive thing to do. But I do think marriage is vastly overrated. People should marry for the right reasons, and not because they fear being on the shelves forever. I’ve single friends who are extremely happy. To marry out of social pressure or because your biological clock is racing away, or you’re thinking of security in your old age are frivolous reasons to get hitched. I don’t understand this hoo-ha over marriage... maybe it works for some. As of now, Samrat and I are together, and we’re giving this relationship our best shot.

Source:TOI

Deepika dished for out world leaders at Davos: The actor has been specially invited to be the guest of honour at the World Economic Forum

Deepika Padukone, who is representing India at the World Economic Forum in Davos this weekend, has specially been invited to address world leaders there about the country’s richness, diversity and culture coupled with the growth that it has been witnessing lately.

Deepika will also be walking the red carpet and attending the gala dinner at the event where she will interact with world leaders. The focus of the World Economic Forum this year is India. When contacted, Deepika said that it was indeed a very proud moment for her. “It’s really a very big honour to be invited and represent India at such an important forum,” said Dips, who has also represented India at Cannes.

Source:TOI

Irrfan enters SRK territory: The internationally renowned actor plays an obsessed lover in his next film

Hi-Fi (Hindi Film Industry) Badshah Shah Rukh Khan has patented the character of the obsessed lover. Be it Darr, Anjaam, Hum Aapke Hai Sanam and not to forget the iconic Devdas, SRK has excelled in his roles of the man who will go to any lengths for love.

Now Irrfan Khan, who is ecstatic after a personal glory — he received the Padma Shri this Republic Day — is also professionally kicked about doing the kind of role that SRK has the copyright for. Not only has Irrfan bagged an important role in the coveted Spider-Man series, the curlyhaired Mooney-eyed actor has also entered SRK’s domain !

In Sudhir Mishra’s Yeh Saali Zindagi that is releasing worldwide on February 4, Irrfan plays a man obsessed with his love. “I may not be like that in real life but I can identify with my character in YSZ,’’ says the actor, flashing a shy smile. “Actually, the thought of following the woman you love to the end of the world is very exciting.’’

Irrfan admits that when he started YSZ he was automatically drawn to the role. “Any role that borders on extremes is always a challenge,’’ says the actor who has done his share of lover-boy roles in films like Life in a Metro and Dil Kabaddi. Of course, for him Arun from YSZ is especially thrilling because “the role has no borders, one had to just obsess’’.

The object of Irrfan’s obsession in Yeh Saali Zindagi is the gorgeous Chitrangada Singh, who he just falls for like a ton of bricks. In the film he describes her as

“maa ke haath ka banaya hua rajmachawal,’’ a metaphor for lip-licking delicious. And such is his obsession with her that he is happy to follow her without even knowing what is actually in store for him.

Chitrangada

knows that such love, as Irrfan feels for in YSZ, exists only in film scripts. “I wish someone would love me that way,’’ laughs the actress, admitting that the intensity of the emotion is both scary and exciting at the same time. Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra understands his hero and his unrelenting passion for his lady love.

Sudhir for one believes that such unrequited love does exist even in the real world. Somewhere deep within, Sudhir knows that there will be many in the audience who will identify with Irrfan’s lover-boy act. And the tall, dark, handsome Mills & Boon character, with a gun in one hand and a rose in the other will most definitely strike a chord.

Source: TOI

Dabangg sweeps Mirchi Awards:Munni Badnaam Hui drowns Sheila Ki Jawani in the awards race

After listening to the tracks of the Salman Khan starrer Dabangg, everyone believed that the songs would be clear favourites to win at awards. From Munni Badnaam Hui to Tere Mast Mast Do Nain, Dabangg emphatically walked away with the top honours at the Uninor Mirchi Music Awards 2010 powered by Karbonn Mobiles. The grand celebration of music that was held on Thursday evening at the Bandra Kurla Complex also saw Malaika ‘Munni’ Arora Khan win over Katrina ‘Sheila’ Kaif as Munni Badnaam Hui by Mamta Sharma and Aishwarya won the Best Song as well as Best Item Number and also a couple more, beating the Sunidhi Chauhan-sung Sheila Ki Jawani featuring Kat’s hot-bod and belly dancing.

From drama on stage to scintillating performances to courting controversy — Akshay Kumar’s streak of flops in 2010 was made fun of, Sharad Pawar and Suresh Kalmadi came under fire for onion prices and the Commonwealth Games sham respectively and a lot more — the musical awards night celebrated excellence in Indian music and felicitated music maestros of the Hindi film industry. The show was hosted by the confident hosts Sonu Nigam and Shaan who made the proceedings effortless and also showcased the comic side to their personality by pulling fast ones on themselves as well as their collegues from the industry.

Source: TOI

‘Dhobi Ghat’: Review – Patience needed to feel the film

Film: Dhobi Ghat

Cast: Prateik Babbar, Aamir Khan, Kirti Malhotra, Monica Dogra

Director: Kiran Rao

Rating: 3/5

Kiran Rao brings in the poetry of Mumbai, the trauma, the turbulence, the aloof yet friendly, harsh still beautiful Mumbai as the fifth protagonist of the film that talks about the lives of four people Munna (Prateik), Shai (Monica), Yasmin (Kirti) and Arun (Aamir). But as the audience one needs the patience to let the film grow into you.

‘Dhobi Ghat’ is a film that will either make the audience fall in love with it after it ends or make them sigh in relief that it’s over. The first half an hour of the film is too problematic and slow as Rao develops her characters. Moreover, Aamir Khan seems to be burdened with being part of an art-house film. The fine actor catches on a different pitch for performance which is not in semblance with the others.

Prateik on the other hand is the eye catcher of the film whose makes you ache for Munna and debutant Kirti is bright enough to outshine others. The music of the Gustavo Santaolalla, the Academy Award winner just adds that needed zing to the story if the film.

There are some rally awe-inspiring and breathtaking small moments in the film that gives one the idea to eye of detailing that the debutant director has. With cinematographer Tushar Kanti Ray, Kiran Rao just creates the collage of Mumbai where the city becomes the primary character overtaking the actors of the movie.

For those who have the eye and the patience to be part of a film that is different, it’s a worthwhile watch.