Salman, Katrina haunted by Fake MMS Video

Bad days are going for Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. Just after the split rumors between both of them there is something much uglier.

The internet is flooded with a fake MMS video featuring look-alike of Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif. The video is made on a cell-phone in Canada and very rapidly searching on web world.

Salman and Katrina Kaif have maintained a silence over this fake MMS issue and have decided to let it die its own death.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/online-bollywood-news-stories-gossips

Abhay Deol returns to India for 'Ayesha'

He’s not bothered that it is an out-and-out Sonam Kapoor film

He has been missing from the scene ever since his revisionist interpretation of "Devdas" in "Dev D" had his fans in a thrall. But Abhay Deol is now returning to Mumbai from New York for his new film "Ayesha" and to float his own production house.

"I'm coming back in (late) June so there will be at least two weeks to prepare. I'm also starting my own production company and have written the next treatment for my script. So my hands are full," Abhay told IANS on the telephone from New York.

"I don't feel like a New Yorker. But I'm definitely enjoying my stay," he added.

Abhay has so far played only central characters in Imtiaz Ali's "Socha Na Tha" and Anurag Kashyap's "Dev D", but in "Ayesha" Sonam Kapoor is getting all the attention.

Abhay has been signed on to play the male lead, but the complete focus of the pre-production activities has been on Sonam. Doting father that he is, Anil Kapoor is sparing no expenses to make sure Sonam gets the most lavish home production possible.

According to a source close to the project, Sonam has selected everything from the theme - Jane Austen's "Emma" - to all the clothes, which are being done by Hollywood's chic designer Mona May.

"The three male protagonists, Abhay, Cyrus Shahukar and newcomer Arunoday Singh, are incidental. In fact, their collective remuneration for the film would be less than what Sonam's elaborate gowns and dresses would cost," said the source.

So where does that leave Abhay?

"Every film does not have to be from the viewpoint of my character. In fact, I'm excited about this film. I'll have a less hectic schedule than Sonam and it will be refreshing to see someone else on the set more often than me," said Abhay.

Doesn't it bother Abhay that "Ayesha" is an out-and-out Sonam vehicle?

"If you say it's a Sonam vehicle, it's natural considering the story's a romantic comedy from the point of view of a girl and I'm playing the male lead. My role is the Mr. Knightley character from the novel 'Emma'. All those who have read the book will know exactly what kind of role it is and how well-defined it is," he said.

Abhay's look, he says, "will be on the peppy side. Rich, well-groomed and urban."

http://www.masala.com/12859-abhay-deol-returns-to-india-for-ayesha

John Abraham studied Quran for 'New York' role

Mumbai, June 18 (IANS) Not knowing a single word of the Quran, Bollywood hero John Abraham, a Parsi, studied the holy book in a translation to prepare himself to play an NRI Muslim in Kabir Khan's "New York".

"It's part of my larger determination to prepare myself completely for a part. Whether it was 'New York' or now Abbas Tyrewala's film, I'm taking time off to prepare for the film and the character. The audience today understands an honest film. That's what I want to give," Abraham told IANS.

Earlier John learnt to play the flute, the Sanskrit language and how to wear a dhoti to give his character, Narayan, conviction in Oscar-nominated "Water", a film about the plight of widows in pre-Independence India.

"I only want to do roles that take me out of my comfort zone. Through my characters and performances, I want to make people comfortable with what makes me uncomfortable as a human being and an Indian," said Abraham, who believes that an actor has to break through his own stereotypes.

He tried to break his image by doing films like "Water", "No Smoking" and "Kabul Express".

Says one of Abraham's close friends of "New York": "He went very deep into the film's theme of Islamic isolation. When he shot 'Kabul Express' with Kabir Khan in Afghanistan, John spoke to people....and began to understand the concept of jehad. He understood how dangerous it is to fight for a cause without knowing the history of that cause.

"He went on the net, found legitimate and proper translations of the Quran. He learnt the proper pronunciations of words in the Quran", the friend said.

In "New York", Abraham plays a character who is wrongly detained in the US for terrorism.

"John researched rigorously on Islam and its various aspects. His character in 'New York' is wrongly detained for terrorism. John based his character on three such real-life Muslims taken into custody in the US for wrongs they hadn't committed.

"John and Kabir Khan amalgamated the cases of three such unfortunate people to create John's character. He actually lived, breathed, slept and wept like someone who had been wrongly ostracised," said the friend.

So traumatised was the actor by the experience that he went into a complete shell in Philadelphia, where "New York" was shot.

"He wouldn't talk to people. He was completely in his own shell. It was a life-changing experience. Today, John knows what it feels to be a Muslim and a target of ceaseless suspicion and hostility in the US.

"He also empathises closely with the issue of Indian students being racially abused in Australia after playing an Indian abused in 'New York'. He understands the isolation of the minority. To a large extent, John has been a part of a minority from his birth," said the friend.

Releasing June 26, the film also stars Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irrfan Khan.

By Subhash K. Jha

http://www.bollywood.com/john-abraham-studied-quran-new-york-role

Reasons why this year's IIFA Awards at Macau were a roaring success

It's the mother of all events and this year's IIFA at Macau, China lived up to its reputation of being the best in the business.

Come to think of it, handling so many stars and celebrities [and their elephantine egos] is next to impossible. But I'd salute Andre Timmins, Sabbas Joseph and Viraf Sarkari along with the Wizcraft team for pulling off a spectacular event without a glitch.

Let me begin with what made IIFA 2009 a success. The showcasing of three films [JAIL, DO KNOT DISTURB and SHORTKUT] gave one ample opportunity to learn about these films. The star attendance was excellent, with the names associated with the movies being present on the dais for a tête-à-tête.

The fashion show was equally spectacular, but long drawn. The designers who stole the limelight were Manav Gangwani and Anamika Khanna, with their dazzling creations.

The ZAIA show was a visual treat. For a change, the Bollywood brigade didn't talk about themselves [most of them have this I-me-myself habit], but the aerial acrobats. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is sure to stay in your memory for a long, long time.

But the big night - the awards event - was truly the jewel in the crown. At first, the goings-in seemed predictable. But it gathered momentum gradually.

The antakshari by the stars was a brilliant idea. Shabana Azmi rendered 'Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan', Sonam sang 'Na Na Karte Pyaar Tumhi Se Kar Baithe', Hrithik Roshan crooned 'Tere Jaisa Yaar Kahan', Zayed Khan hummed the title track of MAIN HOON NA, Bipasha Basu sang 'Thande Thande Paani Se Nahana Chahiye' and last but not the least, Big B rendered a line of 'Mere Paas Aao Mere Dosto Ek Kissa Suno' and also a couplet from KABHI KABHIE. This antakshari deserved brownie points.

Among star acts, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's act was superb, but the one who stole the show was Abhishek Bachchan, who danced on a medley of hits. He danced like never before and had the crowd screaming for more. 10 on 10, Abhishek.

Boman's take off on Anil Kapoor and Boman and Ritesh's spoof on the Best Films of the Year brought the house down. It had everyone in splits.

As someone who has attended almost all IIFA events, I'd say that this year's event was amongst the best the decade has witnessed. In terms of hospitality, The Venetian was spectacular, while the arrangements and co-ordination were impeccable.

By Taran Adarsh Bollywood Hungama News Network

http://www.bollywood.com/reasons-why-years-iifa-awards-macau-were-roaring-success

David, Govinda reunite for another laugh riot!

Mumbai, June 17 (IANS) "Do Knot Disturb" by David Dhawan has a lot going for it as far as reunions go. Not only does it carry forward his partnership with favourite actor Govinda, but it also marks the director's coming together with producer Vashu Bhagnani after four years.

"Vashu, Govinda and I have been a team for years now. Our motive has always been to entertain people. And what better way to do that than to make them laugh. Our track record over the years pretty much demonstrates that," Dhawan, who is collaborating with Bhagnani four years after the release of "Shaadi No. 1", told IANS.

"'Do Knot Disturb' follows the same objective -- to make people laugh and let them forget their worries. With actors like Govinda, Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta and Sushmita Sen - all of whom have a natural flair for comedy - I am sure audiences worldwide would be seen smiling once the film arrives on screen," he added.

Said Bhagnani: "Add to this the very fact that 'Do Knot Disturb' would be my sixth film with David. In fact, my first four films as a producer were all with David - 'Coolie No. 1', 'Hero No. 1', 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' and 'Biwi No. 1'. All four were massive hits and incidentally the first three were with Govinda."

Apparently, "Do Knot Disturb" marks Dhawan and Govinda's 17th film together. Apart from that, Govinda reunites with Bhagnani 11 years after "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan" (1998).

Subsequently, Bhagnani and Dhawan took a break from each other and worked with other filmmakers. They joined hands once again for "Shaadi No. 1", but the film just about managed to sail through.

"We have been like brothers and it has been a great journey since 1995, the year when 'Coolie No. 1' released. It was about time that the three of us came together again and this is what resulted in 'Do Knot Disturb'," sais Bhagnani.

"Do Knot Disturb" is being touted as an out and out fun entertainer that also stars Sohail Khan, Ranvir Shorey and Rajpal Yadav. With music by Nadeem-Shravan, the film would be released later this year.

By Joginder Tuteja

http://www.bollywood.com/david-govinda-reunite-another-laugh-riot