Sanjay Dutt creates new record

Mumbai: Amidst the din surrounding Sanjay Dutt’s impending jail term in connection with possession of illegal ammunition during the 1993 Mumbai blasts, what has come to the fore is that the actor is working round the clock to keep up his commitments.

Dutt, who had recently stated that many in the film industry have been spreading false news about him, has created a new record by dubbing for ‘Policegiri’ in just three hours.

Talking to a leading daily, producer Rahul Agarwal said, “It is humanly impossible for someone to be as good as Sanju. He completed dubbing for the entire film in just three hours. I was really touched to see that he still came the next day to ensure that everything is good to go. Hats off to Sanju.”

Dutt had to surrender to the police last month around, April 18, but had appealed to the Supreme Court to grant him some more time to complete his impending work.

The actor will also be seen playing the role of Sher Khan in ‘Zanjeer’ remake, a character essayed by veteran actor Pran in the original version. The film in question will mark the debut of Ram Charan Teja, the son of Telugu superstar and Congress MP Chiranjeevi.

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Sanjay Dutt is working with Shilpa Shetty’s project

According to source, Sanjay had to give bulk dates for Raju Hirani’s next. The source added, “Shilpa had been waiting for a long time for Sanjay’s dates but he has an extremely packed schedule. The actress-turned-producer was not ready to wait any longer and signed Sunny Deol for her film.”
Further the source said, “Shilpa wants to complete the film as soon as possible and move on to make her next project. Sanjay and she are very close and Sanjay has joined hands with her husband Raj Kundra for their business venture.”
If believe source, Sunny has charged a whopping Rs 3 crore for the project. A spokesperson from the actor’s office states, “Yes, Sanju sir is not doing the film as he had given bulk dates to Hirani and his film with TP Agarwal. He didn’t want Shilpa’s production to be delayed due to his dates. He told them to go ahead and finish the film.”
Well, the two good friends said to be okay with the discomfort. There is no dispute and they parted ways amicably.

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Pakistani Actress Humaima Has A Glamorous Look in ‘Sher’

Pakistani actress Humaima Malick, who garnered rave reviews for her performance in “Bol”, will be seen in a glamorous avatar in Soham Shah’s “Sher”. Based on the Gujarat underworld, the period film also features Sanjay Dutt, Vivek Oberoi and Suniel Shetty.

“Humaima is playing a prominent role in the film. She is playing a Bollywood actress. It’s a period film and she has got a glamorous look in the film unlike ‘Bol’,” Shah said.

A Pakistani television actress and model, Humaima debuted on big screen with Shoaib Mansoor’s “Bol” in 2011.

Shah has finished shooting for the film, except for the two songs. “We have finished the entire shooting of the film and just two songs are left. They have to be shot with Humaima. This is not an item number, but the audience will see Humaima’s dance number in one of the songs,” said Shah.

“We shot the entire film in July and August in Jaipur. It was a 50-day schedule,” added the director who earlier wielded megaphone for “Kaal” and “Luck”.

Humaima Malick, Humaima Malick In Sher, Sanjay Dutt, Soham Shah, Vivek Oberoi, News and Gossip, Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Pakistani Actress, Media,

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Humaima Malik taking acting classes from Sanjay Baba to join Bollywood

Considering the importance of godfathers in the industry, it seems Humaima Malik of Pakistan has found hers in Sanjay Dutt.

The actress who is making her Bollywood debut with Sher, is said to being mentored by Dutt. Not only has he taken her under his wing and is guiding her about work in the Soham Shah directed film, but he’s also advising her on how to go about her career in showbiz.

It is also learnt that the actress is mighty impressed with how well Dutt looks after people around him. And considering the way she’s going about her part in the movie, it seems the mentor is no less impressed with his new protegee.

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Sanjay Dutt to sing extra song for 'Department'

The trailers of Department are already in theatres and the promotional clippings are ready to be aired on the small screen. But the film's producers have decided to shoot an additional song, to be sung by actor Sanjay Dutt. 

Sanjay Dutt will also feature in the song, to be choreographed by his friend and protege, Ahmed Khan, according to a source from Viacom18 Motion Pictures, producers of "Department". 

"The peppy edgy number has been composed by Sandeep Chowta and Mr.Dutt would be recording the song in his own voice. There's no doubt that Sanjay Dutt is a major attraction after Agneepath. We want to make sure he is projected as the film's USP," said the source. 

Sanjay will himself take charge of the song, which besides being aired on all the channels, would also be appended on to the Ram Gopal Varma-directorial for the end credits. 

Choreographer Khan confirmed the shooting of the additional song for the movie, which also features Rana Daggubati and megastar Amitabh Bachchan. 

"Yes, we are shooting a song for 'Department'. It's a music video to be sung by Baba (Sanjay). He and I are getting together once again after 'Aye Shivani' in Sanjay Chhel's 'Khoobsurat' (he sang it and I shot it)," said Khan. 

"This time it's an edgy song with no dancing," he added. 

Apart from "Aye Shivani", Sanjay had also sung a part of the title track of Rajkumar Hirani's "Munnabhai M.B.B.S." and also gave his voice to a song in "Kaante".

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Sanju to produce film for Salman!

Actor Sanjay Dutt is planning to produce a film starring buddy and Bigg Boss 5 co-host, actor Salman Khan.

"Me and Salman have been buddies for most of our lives, but have had few opportunities to work together. So I think its about time I produce a film with my bhai in the lead. I'm looking for a subject and script that goes with his personality. It could be a comedy or a romantic film or even a commercial potboiler," says Sanjay.

"I don't know if I'd work on that project as an actor. Once I finalise a project and he approves of it, I'll let him take a call on the music, leading lady and the director." adds the 52-year old actor. Meanwhile, Dutt who has bought the rights of Telegu film Badri, is waiting to hear from another friend, actor Ajay Devgn.

"I was extremely disappointed that Rascals didn't work. I found the concept of Badri interesting and something that went well with Ajay's body of work. So, I've sent him the film's DVD," says Sanjay.

He goes on to add that he hopes Ajay likes the idea. "If he does, he can take a call on who should direct the movie and the other details," he says.

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Agneepath - Review

Director: Karan Malhotra
Actors: Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif

The ageless, eccentric baldie Kancha Cheena (Sanjay Dutt), modeled loosely on the lines of Marlon Brando (Col. Kurtz) in Apocalypse Now, has a thing for the Bhagwad Gita. The line, "Kya lekar aaye the, aur kya lekar jaoge," referring to the perishable human body that's merely a cloth or uniform for the eternal soul, is Kancha's favourite catch-phrase.

The land he lords over looks equally mythical. The absence of the nation-state is worrying. It's clearly Kancha's Lanka, his private North West Frontier that the police find hard to penetrate, fearing for the lives of the locals and their own. The village is Mandwa, not very far from Mumbai, where lynch mobs rule, and Kancha's writ runs.

We're in the early '90s. There are no cell-phones, though more than a few microphones at press conferences. Growing up within the ranks of Mumbai's notorious underbelly is young Vijay (Hrithik Roshan), son of 'siddhantwadi' (principled) Master Dinanath Chauhan, waiting to avenge his father's humiliation and death. Rauf Lala (Rishi Kapoor; intelligent anti-casting) is his mentor; Priyanka Chopra (in an extended cameo) plays his girlfriend.

The philanthropic father was a Gandhian, and would advice his son, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." "Mahatma Gandhi wasn't born in Mandwa," the son would tell him. Little Vijay and his pregnant mother were driven out of their village. Kancha's the Ravan. Vijay must be Ram.

This is the Ramayan in ways that several huge blockbusters have vaguely reinterpreted in the past (Anil Sharma's Gadar, or Prakash Jha's Apaharan, for instance; even the producer of this film Karan Johar's Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham, for that matter). It's simple enough to spot Hindu mythology in so many Hindi film stories. Making it too explicit (Mani Ratnam's Raavan) is unnecessary. The popular philosophy - karm, dharm - easily follows.

Vijay has an unusual sympathiser in the city's police commissioner (Om Puri), since they share a common enemy. In return, Vijay saves the commissioner's life. They're probably even now; if not, Vijay tells the cop, he can clear the debt in his next birth. It's not surprising the makers of this film profess to believe in reincarnation. This picture is an unabashed film buff's product of the same thought. It's a 1990 Mob opera, modified, reborn.

The debutant director (Karan Malhotra) is an equally unapologetic devotee of Bollywood's old-world scale and melodrama that few get right. He does, to a great extent, though almost every scene's an announcement, the jarring background score is always in jaagran (or concert) mode, and the camera is constantly at close-up or mid-shot, which can get exhausting to the eye.

The original Agneepath, inspired by Scarface, was directed by the late Mukul Anand, a filmmaker highly influenced by Hollywood's visual detailing and slickness. He was widely regarded in the '90s as a "tech-wizard" of sorts. Which was fair, given he made films like Khuda Gawah in 1992, set in the rugged terrains of Afghanistan, when the biggest hit pictures playing at theatres near you were Beta and Tehelka (the latter gets a nod here)!

Would this movie have the same impact on the young as did Anand's incredible Hum (1991) for the generation before? No. Would this Agneepath suffice still? Yes. Despite its commercial failure, the original had rightly earned the gravel-voiced Amitabh Bachchan his first National Award since his debut in 1969.

The external logic of a star driven, fantasy fed film such as this may not be easy to gulp for many. The internal logic, or the reason you believe it all, depends a lot on the credibility of the headlining performance. Bachchan's irreplaceable, of course. So is Hrithik, India's hardest working, most intense super-star, ever.

In a career spanning 12 years, there's something to be said about an actor for the number of times he's likely to have heard, from masses or critics, that "this is his best performance yet": Koi Mil Gaya, Lakshya, Krishh, Dhoom 2, Jodha Akbar, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Guzaarish. One can safely add this film to the list.

An earnest Vijay Dinanath Chauhan delivers poetic justice before a nearly packed hall on the proverbial 'first day first show'. Audiences at my cinema respond to the cues and lines. The comments passed sometimes distract you from the screen. Everyone guffaws at the same time. This is the kind of genuine theatre experience, now getting rare, which remains most precious in the life of a film-goer. Reason can take over later. I had a ball!

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Agneepath becomes biggest first day opener!

Karan Johar's modern version of Agneepath has broken all records to become the biggest opener ever. According to the latest trade reports, the film has garnered Rs 25 crore, beating the opening collections of Salman Khan's Bodyguard (Rs 21.6 cr).

Unlike the 1990 film, which only got critical acclaim and not box-office return, the remake is veering towards the road of success, if trade pundits are to be believed.

"The film, which stars Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Priyanka Chopra and Rishi Kapoor, made Rs. 25 crore (all-India net collection) on its first day at the box-office, January 26, 2012. This is an all-time record," writes trade guru Komal Nahta in his blog koimoi.com.

"As figures are still flowing in, it remains to be seen if Agneepath will break the record for the highest collections in a day, held by Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra.One (Rs. 25.10 crore; for all three versions). In fact, if you consider only the collections of the Hindi version of Ra.One, the record for the highest collections in a day has already been broken by Agneepath," adds Nahta.

The film has also been getting good collections from abroad. "Agneepath opened in parts of Overseas on Thursday. Australia Thu A$ 75,403 on 14 screens. Excellent!" tweeted trade expert Taran Adarsh.

Hrithik, who stepped into the shoes of megastar Amitabh Bachchan as Vijay, is excited that his hard work has paid off.

"WOW!!!! THANK u THANK u THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! Agneepath 1st day - 25cr!!!! My damaged bodyparts suddenly feel ALIVE, I feel like I can FLY now!!! Thank u people, I have the fuel now to make KRRISH EXPLODE!!!!" Hrithik wrote on his Twitter page.

Sanjay Dutt and the film's lead actress Priyanka Chopra, are equally delighted with the positive response, and have thanked fans for the amazing response to the film.

"'Agneepath has redefined the power of Indian box office for all of us. It's heartening to see the strength of the Indian cinema audiences growing like this. We all were very confident of the film but for this kind of success and unprecedented number that it has posted on day one we must thank our audience," said Priyanka.

Sanjay took to Twitter after a year, to share his sentiments about the appreciation towards the movie, and his role as the villain, Kancha Cheena.

"I am overwhelmed with the response and support of everyone. Thank you for loving me so much," he wrote.

"The film has had an excellent opening. The occupancy was around 95 percent. It was the most eagerly awaited and would be one of the biggest blockbuster," said Anant Verma, director and business head, DT Cinemas.

However, he says it would be unfair to compare the new "Agneepath" with the original as they have been given a completely different treatment.

"You can't compare the two films as they are shot differently and have different characters also. There is no connection between the two other than just the name," he added.

Yogesh Raizada of Waves Cinema adds that all the characters have done complete justice to their characters.

"The response to the film has been rocking on first day. We have had 90 percent occupancy. All the actors have done complete justice to their characters whether it is Rishi Kapoor as Rauf Lala, Hrithik as Vijay or Sanjay as Kancha Cheena," said Raizada.

The film, directed by debutant Karan Malhotra, and produced by Karan Johar, is expected to have a successful run at the box office in the coming days.

"Since there is no big movie releasing in the coming weeks, the film will work well," he added.

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Star-spangled reality!

Like all of India’s people, television also loves her movie stars. Or else, why would it persist with drawing Bollywood celebrities in on its programmes in increasing numbers? Because people will watch them anywhere — at theatres and on the small screen.

Bollywood celebrities too are making a beeline for television in increasing numbers. Why? Because people will watch them anywhere — at theatres and on the small screen. Also, celeb-led programmes — mostly reality shows — enjoy prime time slots on channels.

But there’s more for the celebrities there. When India’s resurgent Bollywood darling, Salman Khan, could charge something like a Rs 4-5 crore fee (industry estimate) for each episode of Bigg Boss 5 last year, and Priyanka Chopra could charge Rs 1.2 crore per episode for Khatron Ke Khiladi 3 in 2010 — both shows on Colors — that’s not small money we’re looking at.

Last year saw Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan, Hritik Roshan, Karan Johar, Farah Khan, Preity Zinta and Dharmendra hosted reality shows.

This year, we are already seeing Arjun Rampal hosting Love to Hate You on Star Plus. Coming up very soon is also Aamir Khan with his talk show based on social issues, again on Star Plus. A number of the successful reality shows that have run more than one season will also return in 2012, with the same celebs or others.

“A reality show is itself a celebrity-maker. Reality shows see the dreams of millions of Indians come true. It makes audiences relate to the characters that appear on the screen, and this makes the shows more meaningful than any tearjerker,” said Prasoon Joshi, president, McCann Worldgroup, South Asia.

Some in the TV industry point out that channels may not make money from reality shows with Bollywood hosts because the costs are too high, adding up to higher budgets than what is spent on TV soaps. According to the FICCI- KPMG Indian Media and Entertainment Industry 2011 report, one celeb-hosted reality episode could cost up to Rs 1-2 crore, as compared with Rs 8-10 lakh for a normal soap’s episode.

“Also, reality shows have a shorter life of three to four seasons, which makes achieving breakeven difficult. However, they are considered important by broadcasters since they generate good media coverage, thereby helping build GRPs (gross rating points) and channel branding. However, with costs rising, managing production costs is likely to be critical for broadcasters,” said Rajesh Jain, executive director (entertainment), KPMG.

What all channels also acknowledge is that reality shows help them draw new eyeballs to the channels. After that, it is the channel’s challenge to retain as much of the new viewership as it can with its other programme formats.

“Masterchef India boosted the somewhat flagging TRPs of Star Plus. The show notched up a robust viewership,” said film trade analyst Amod Mehra. The first season of Masterchef India was hosted by Akshay Kumar. The actor charged Rs 1.5 crore per episode.

Not all celeb-hosted shows are unprofitable for channels. Successful international-format shows in their Indian avatars can draw in more money. “Ad-slot rates of celebrity pushed reality shows is at least 40% higher than the non-celeb show. Star power attracts enormous advertiser traction,” said Rajani Menon, associate VP, Carat Media, a media buying house.

But not all seasons of a show may deliver profits. “Channels have never made money out of reality formats. For instance, Kaun Banega Crorepati is not repeated every year because of the overall production cost. But these formats dramatically help in driving audience and adding on to the overall valuation of the rest of the programmes,” Menon said.

“With competition rising in the business due to channel clutter, broadcasters are ready to spend huge amounts on celebrities in the hope of wooing a more fragmented audience,” said Sneha Rajani, senior EVP and business head, Sony Entertainment Television.

“Most of the top Bollywood actors can ensure the initial success of a show and boost viewership ratings tremendously. After that, if a show has intrinsic strength, its chances of shoring up big advertising revenues automatically multiply,” said Mehra.

“It is all about business in reality. Stars and producers are doing simple business. The price tags may be big but the fact remains that TV producers are paying up because it sells,” said Joshi.

“These shows are all about formats and programme producers see a huge opportunity. Other soaps and dramas are like staple diet — necessary but routine,” said Niret Alva, co- founder, Miditech, a production house, and executive producer of Survivor India, an ongoing reality show on Star Plus in its first Indian-avatar season.

In spite of it being expensive, film celeb-pushed ‘reality’ has become an important content category. “The fiction vs. ‘reality’ divide is far more balanced today,” said Jain.

That soaps on television are staple diet is possibly the biggest reason why Bollywood stars don’t really act in them, even though soaps deliver the highest viewership. And TV soap actors who break into Bollywood are quick to drop out of the TV soaps circuit too. Film stars have no objections to hosting reality shows on TV, however, because that doesn’t overlap with what they do on the silver screen.

This may change soon with Anil Kapoor essaying Keifer Southerland’s role in the cult American TV series, 24, of which he bought the rights and has sold it to Star Plus for the production and broadcast of its Indian version this year. As with reality shows, it is possible that international fiction shows in their Indian avatars may attract more Bollywood actors to the small screen, reckon industry people, though they are not ready to put their signatures on it yet.

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SONG REVIEW: Katrina's Chikni Chameli!

Agneepath's latest song featuring Katrina Kaif has just hit YouTube. Katrina Kaif has come of age as an item girl. Her quick dance moves, eye movements and facial expressions take her one step closer to all-time item queen Helen.

The peppy tune, the fast pace and of course Katrina's performance make for a perfect recipe of a chartbuster.

Is it better than Sheila Ki Jawani?
Those who thought it's an extension of Sheila Ki Jawani would be in for a pleasant surprise. The song carves out its own identity, with Katrina re-defining her item girl image. She has broken out of her mould and has dared to do something different.

Apart from Katrina Kaif, the song also features Sanjay Dutt and Hrithik Roshan.

What we liked
The fast pace of the song, Hot Katrina Kaif, Sanjay Dutt ogling Katrina (don't get us wrong)

What we did not like
Hrithik Roshan's blank expression

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Aayi Chikni Chameli (Lyrics)- Agneepath 2011

Song: Aayi Chikni Chameli

Movie: Agneepath

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Dutt & Rishi Kapoor
PRODUCER: Karan Johar
DIRECTOR: Karan Malhotra
Year: 2011.
Music: Ajay-Atul
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Singer: Shreya Ghoshal

Lyrics

aankh maare
Kamsin kamariya saali ik thumke se lakh maare, 
note hazaaron ke, khulle chhutta karaane aayi
husn ki teeli se beedi chillam jalane aayi
aayi chikni chameli chhup ke akeli pawwa chadha ke aayi..
aayi chikni chameli chhup ke akeli pawwa chadha ke aayi..

..winks at me,
this damned slender waist kills lacs with a jerk,
it has come to get change for notes of thousands, 
a small cigarette has come to light smoking pipe with the matchstick of beauty..
the beautiful Chameli has come all alone in the hiding and drunk on a quarter..
the beautiful Chameli has come all alone in the hiding and drunk on a quarter

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WATCH: Katrina sizzles as Chikni Chameli!

f you thought Katrina Kaif is all about sophistication, she breaks the stereotype with Chikini Chameli. The actor gets raw and rustic in Agneepath's hot item song. With a bottle of pahua hanging from her waist, Katrina says it all with her eyes. The song is choreographed by Ganesh Acharya.

“I hope and pray it becomes bigger than any of the previous item songs. As actors, we love doing better than what’s been done in the past. I don’t think there’s anything wrong in expecting that,” said Katrina in an interview with Hindustan Times.

She adds, “Now, I’m waiting to see the audience’s reaction. It’s a desi-rustic number. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

Karan Johar had revealed the first look of Katrina's Chikni Chameli item song on Twitter.

The filmmaker had tweeted, "Katrina Kaif is doing a full on item song in AGNEEPATH....its a total swinging number called CHIKNI CHAMELI....we shoot it in a week!!" (sic)

Agneepath, directed by Karan Malhotra, stars Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra and Sanjay Dutt. While Hrithik Roshan would be reprising the role of Vijay Deenanath Chauhan, Sanjay Dutt will play Kaancha Cheena from the original Agneepath.

Song: Aayi Chikni Chameli
Movie: Agneepath
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Dutt & Rishi Kapoor
PRODUCER: Karan Johar
DIRECTOR: Karan Malhotra
Year: 2011.
Music: Ajay-Atul
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Singer: Shreya Ghoshal

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Next Munnabhai to take off in 2012!

If all goes well, Munnabhai will return from his 6-year exile, after his latest outing in Lage Raho Munnabhai, reports TOI.

Rajkumar Hirani's superhit series will hit the floors in 2012, according to the daily. Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi will reprise their roles of Munna and Circuit respectively and the movie will be titled Munnabhai Ki Aatma Katha, says the paper.

"Sanjay and Arshad are returning to play Munna and Circuit. We are developing the script right now, and the film should start in 2012," Vidhu Vinod Chopra confirmed to the daily.

Rumour mills were earlier abuzz that Aamir Khan will replace Sanjay Dutt as Munnabhai. But the reports were dismissed.

Munnabhai's first installment Munnabhai MBBS released in 2003.

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