Jackman bored of playing superhero

 

Actor Hugh Jackman has reportedly rejected superhero roles because he fears that he will get typecast.
According to an entertainment portal, Jackman, 44, was offered £ 65 million to star in five superhero action flicks. But the actor, best known as Wolverine in the superhero franchise X-Men, has refused the mega offer.
A spokesman for Jackman, who won his first Oscar nomination for the last year's Les Miserables, refused to discuss the star's reluctance to jump at the offer.

Heard this? Mental will beat Dabangg, Chennai at BO

Or so claimed Sohail Khan at a recent party. Mirror tells you what exactly transpired...

At a recently held bash at a plush Sobo club, Sohail Khan, who walked in with his usual swagger just before midnight, was heard bragging about his upcoming directorial, Mental, which he is producing under his own banner.Apparently he is quite confident that his magnum opus starring Salman Khan, will break quite a few records at the box office. 

Guests present at the party saw Sohail going up to his friends as well as rank strangers and telling them that Mental, which is slated for a Republic Day release, will be a bigger hit than Chennai Express - which is on a recordbreaking spree. According to him, the film will be Salman's biggest blockbuster and will even dwarf his Dabangg in terms of box office collections.
A source close to the film justified Sohail's unbridled enthusiasm: "Sohail is extremely happy with the way Mental has shaped up. He is particularly excited about the dance numbers. He believes the album will be a chartbuster."

Into thin air

Adnan Sami opens up about the decline in his health and career and why he is optimistic about launching himself as an actor.

Adnan Sami's cherubic corpulence was once as well known as his hit pop numbers. He has since shed the pounds but Adnan's blink-and-miss appearance at Sridevi's 50th birthday bash on Saturday set tongues wagging again.The singer looked gaunt and a lot thinner than his last public appearance six months ago. He has been inundated with messages enquiring about his health and we did the same. Mirror caught up with the singer at his Lokhandwala residence where he opened up about the recent decline in both his health and career.
We started with the hot topic, his drastic physical transformation. The musician did not bat an eyelid, perhaps because he has taken to the whispers sportingly. "Today, I weigh 74 kg. Not so long ago, I weighed 85 kg. Four years ago, I weighed 230 kg. The last four years have not been easy," said Adnan.
The decision to lose weight did not spring from vanity, he says. At 230 kilos, his doctor finally gave him an ultimatum, 'Lose weight or you will die in the next five months'.
Through diet and exercise he reduced some 150 kilos in 16 months but the rumours of ill health gained momentum again with his recent appearance.
"I did have a problem with my blood pressure. But now, everything is under control. I am fine. Look, I did not undergo a bariatric surgery, so where is the question of side effects?" he said rubbishing the reports. But the singer confessed that he cannot afford to lose any more weight. 

Adnan is still getting used to life as a non-obese person. Shopping at malls was a revelation after years of having clothes tailored and people do not recognise him anymore, including guests at Sri's party.And what about his career? Gone are the days when an Adnan Sami number was a sure shot hit with elaborate music videos which featured then stars like Rani Mukerji and Ameesha Patel."Of late, the music video scenario is different. While I am still getting offers to churn out new music videos, the music companies are not ready to invest good amount of money because Internet downloads have replaced cassettes and CDs."
And then comes the surprise announcement. "I am looking at acting now. It may sound cliched but I have a lot of creativity inside me. I am going to bowl a big googly very soon. And of course, I will get back to music videos in a big way. In fact, I am coming out with a new music video, Press Play, video by end of this month." 
Quickly Adnan admits that his personal crisis and his health issues had a toll on his work. "Else quantity-wise, I would have definitely done more work by now."Adnan's weight issues are intertwined with his personal life, he went through two very public divorces in the past decade. But at a healthy weight now, the singer is also enjoying domestic bliss with third wife, Roya.
"I come from a family which starts hogging when we are delighted and depressed. I have weathered storms in my personal life and the weight piled on. I think those days of personal crisis made me introspect and throw out a lot of garbage from inside and around me. I think Roya did the trick. Her optimism rubbed off on me," said Adnan who has a 19-year-old son with first wife Zeba Bakhtiar.Any good news in the offing, we ask before leaving? Adnan winked, "May your words reach God's ears. Roya and I are very keen to start a family."

Kaizad back to calling the shots

After a few years of looking for "moksha" in the mountains Kaizad Gustad is now aiming to achieve creative salvation by the sea. The filmmaker who had taken a nine-year-long sabbatical after a tragic incident which saw one of his assistant directors run over by a train, is on a Goa beach going over the day's schedule for Shotgun. Its 7 in the morning and the day's work has already begun on the sets of the thriller starring Naseeruddin Shah, Sunny Leone and Sachin Joshi.

"It's good to be back calling the shots," says the director who is excited about his second collaboration with Naseeruddin. "I worked with Naseer Bhai in my first film and within two days of me sending him the new script he said yes." But his choice of leading lady is a bit more contentious. Sunny is ready for her shot and the director is all praise. "I deliberately don't want to portray her in the image that she has. But Sunny will be sexy even as a cartoon in an animated movie. There are some pretty steamy scenes but there are none between Naseer and Sunny," says Gustad.

The conversation soon turns to the other pretty face he launched-Katrina Kaif. Though Boom is widely remembered as an overall dud, her sensous scenes in the film caught many an eye. But is Gustad in touch with his find anymore? "No, not that much. But I do watch her films. I don't think anyone including her knew that after ten years she would do so well," he says. But its Sachiin Joshi who truly impresses and the actorn has been rehearsing all morning "Gustad is shooting the film in a really stylish way and the monsoons in Goa are beautiful."

Rhea Kapoor’s new plans with boyfriend

The couple will start a business venture that will deal in internet content.

From fashion designing to film production, Rhea Kapoor already has multiple enterprises to her credit. And now the grapevine is abuzz with news about her latest venture - a collaboration with boyfriend Karan Boolani and close friend, actor-VJ Cyrus Sahukar.

Called 'Humble Pie' productions, the company plans to make exclusive content for the Internet. Initially, it will consist of short films and videos, which will be written by Cyrus and directed by Karan, who has previously assisted directors Rajshree Ojha and Ayan Mukerji on films like Aisha and Wake Up Sid.

The company is yet to decide on its longterm goals and other initiatives - which could take the form of straight-to-Internet films and TV shows. At present, there is no plan to charge viewers for any content.

When contacted, Rhea simply said "It is a bit early to talk about the project," but Cyrus confirmed the news to Mirror. "The idea is to launch something in India which hasn't been attempted before. Unlike the West, we don't make exclusive content for the Internet which is growing at a rapid pace," he said, adding, "We intend to offer something fun to the youngsters with the core theme being humour."

Real chore

Delhi. Again. This time a story about a group of professional thieves who work for a kind-hearted modern-day Fagin. They practice on mannequins and get on with their lives without ambition. One of them, Satbir (Deepak Dobriyal), decides to go legit and ends up moonlighting as a giant samosa that serves as advertising for a food stall in a mall.

Certainly putting Dobriyal in a madcap costume is a masterstroke idea but in the end, it is only a gimmick much like the rest of the film: where's the samosa's stuffing? There's no real meat - not even to last the modest runtime of under 100 minutes - to make CCSC memorable in any way.

The film sells itself as satire, but it is only for a brief period - in the initial bit of the second half - where it takes on television to make a point. This is also the most engaging part of the movie. Another good bit is when we see the thieves in action, but it lasts only one scene and there is not nearly enough of this. Soon enough, the chors display a remarkable set of skills in areas not directly related to their vocation such as acting and uh, VFX. Massive suspension of disbelief is required.

Regressive therapy

Rabba Main Kya Karoon is the kind of movie that renders the disclaimer at the beginning about the characters being fictitious entirely unnecessary. It is essentially a textbook on how (and I quote a dialogue from the film here) "to lead a happy life, you must cheat on your wife". Of course, it is not really a textbook. It's Arshad Warsi spewing advice to an about-to-be-married groom (debutante Akash Chopra) that is not to be tried at home. Well you could try it at home, but just don't think it'll end the way this film so conveniently chooses to.

Set in the days leading up to the wedding, RMKK has all the buzzwords that could describe quintessential Bollywood: meaningless songs, misogynist themes, homophobic sequences ('normal'=straight), lack of drama, predictable plot, contrived (and misguided) redemption ... it's all there.

As all the uncles, aunts, and cousins descend on a Delhi farmhouse for the wedding, you learn of the idiosyncrasies and idiocy of the characters. The men (Tinnu Anand, Paresh Rawal, and Shakti Kapoor who's looking like Bono but acting like Shakti Kapoor) have their sexual escapades, while the wives patter around like deluded props. Arshad Warsi is a particularly unlikable character whose comeuppance in the last minute sends a despicable message to the audience: cheat, apologize, end up in Riya Sen's arms. Perhaps the only track that is mildly funny is Tinnu Anand's who's been looking for a lost bra for many years and at one point in a flashback has his face super'd onto a bodybuilder's frame. Yes, we are clutching at straws here.

In between the madness, Akash Chopra struggles to emote, though one can hardly blame him given the claustrophobia-inducing writing. He can hardly be the poster boy for monogamy with this film.

Why would Amrit Sagar Chopra - who proved his mettle with his debut film 1971 and waited five years for his next - agree to make this film that is merely a showcase for his (one presumes) family member? Why would they venture into territory that is notorious for being but quicksand for newcomers these days? Either you go megabudget or you go off the beaten path. What is this?

Krrish returns

Hrithik will get back to work with the trailer launch of the third film of the franchise.

On Monday, Hrithik Roshan will make his first official public appearance after his brain surgery and the occasion is the trailer launch of Krrish 3. So far, the Roshans have fiercely guarded the look of the third film of the franchise.

"On August 5, everyone will get a glimpse of what we have made. We had a lot of VFX effects in Krrish as well. But, we went all the way to Chennai for that. This time we did it in the city and hence the extra security. We didn't want the look to be out before the trailer launch," Rakesh Roshan tells Mirror. Just two days away from the litmus test, Roshan senior sounds cautiously optimistic. "The first look often decides the fate of the film and I am curious to see the reaction of the people."

Talking about Hrithik, who was operated upon last month for subdural hematoma caused by a head injury he had suffered while shooting a stunt scene for Bang Bang, Rakesh expresses his joy that much like a superhero, his son is recovering fast. However, a father's mind is never free of concern and he tell us that he still shudders when he rewinds to the day his son was wheeled into the operation theatre: "That was a very, very tough time," his voice trails.

Coming back to Krrish 3 he says: "The film will see Hrithik in three avatars -Rohit (Krrish's father), Krishna (The alter ego of Krrish) and Krrish (the superhero)." He then confesses that it took him three drafts to finalise the story. "I wrote three drafts of the story before I firmly decided to make Krrish 3."

It is not only Hrithik who will be switching characters; Priyanka Chopra too has an interesting twist to her role. "You will see Priyanka in two avatars. She plays Krishna's wife but suddenly her character changes." The director is also equally enthusiastic about Kangna Ranaut's role as a mutant.

The USP of the film however, is the return of a true-blue villain, which Bollywood seem to be missing in recent times. Played by Vivek Oberoi, the baddie here is even stronger than the hero (who happens to be a superhero at that!) "That guy is such a fine actor. But he is yet to get his due,"he says about Vivek without divulging details about the character he plays.

So, after going through such an operation, will we see Hrithik indulging in more such spine-chilling stunt sequences or will Krrish lose some of his superpowers? "He will definitely take precautions. Today's actors want to do their own stunts, but they are also intelligent enough to draw the line," he makes it clear before signing off.

Passes with flying colors

It's raining quality indies in B-town. After the epoch-ushering Ship of Theseus comes BA Pass, a first film by Ajay Bahl adapted from Mohan Sikka's The Railway Aunty, a short story. Masterful craftsmanship couples with riveting storytelling to form a satiating noir feature on the themes of lust and treachery (with some coming of age thrown in for good measure) that is well worth your time.

When we first meet young Mukesh, it's at his parents' funeral. Straightaway Bahl has us sympathizing with the orphan who now has to shift base to his aunt's house in Paharganj, where the film is set. His sisters, whom he dearly loves and feels responsible for, are eventually sent to a home. An aunty - Sarika - borrows him for errands and, well, turns out to be a seductress who teaches him his first lessons of manhood.

Here on starts a gripping, whirlwind of a ride for Mukesh who is caught between his vicious adopted family, the immoral Sarika aunty, and a desperate need to free his sisters from the nefarious home and come stay with. He needs money and Sarika teaches him how to make it, by pimping him out as a gigolo. The vortex he enters is unrelenting. He finds the occasional friend; a cemetery keeper who he plays chess with, a client who's a well of pathos but in this city nothing is permanent.

Ah, the city. Coming at a time when the monsoons have brought upon us a deluge of small films based in Delhi with an intent of exploring and reflect on its fabric - BA Pass goes well beyond. You hear of Delhi and her merciless ways in dialog, and see it in the neon glow of Paharganj. Nothing more. And yet it weighs down on Mukesh like a gathering storm that that corners him from all sides.

The screenplay pushes the story to its limits, never hesitating to go the distance. Sometimes it's predictable, and other times it is simplistic but mostly it surprises with its moxie. There's plenty of unabashed sex and mercifully it's not always awkward given the cringe inducing standards of our cinema, though there is some repetition. Bahl has also shot the film beautifully with unhurried camera movements and remarkable lighting.

Shadab Kamal has the right balance of innocence and charm and Chak De's Shilpa Shukla balances his qualities with her bewitching act albeit in monotone.

BA Pass is dark, even for a noir. Scenes in the sunshine come as a relief from the murky depths of a landscape that's Mukesh's hell. There's almost no positivity in the film. Nothing to cling on to when you're done. This is a rare experience in a Hindi film.

Big or small, Ranbir offers no discount

After Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani set the cash registers ringing at the box office, Ranbir Kapoor has reached a new high and so has his remuneration.

According to sources, the actor who shot a 100-day schedule of Abhinav Kashyap's Besharam for Rs 15 crore has charged the same amount from his close friend and debutante director Vicky Singh for a just a 42-day schedule of Roy.

A source close to the film confirmed and said: "Roy is a two hero film. It has Arjun Rampal alongside Ranbir. But yes, Ranbir has charged his regular fee of Rs15 crore for the film."

Mirror had earlier reported (Nov 17, 2011) that after the success of Imtiaz Ali's Rockstar, the actor, who had signed Anurag Basu's Barfi! and Ayan Mukerji's Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani for Rs eight crore, was planning to up his price to a whopping Rs 15 crore per film. At present, Ranbir also commands a percentage share of the profits his films make.

Chennai Exp tickets costlier

A ride aboard the Chennai Express just got a lot more expensive. Tickets to the Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone starrer will now cost upto 40 per cent more, thanks to a decision taken by the multiplexes yesterday morning.

The raise, which will see an unprecedented 40 per cent increase in ticket prices during the weekday shows and up to a 20 per cent hike over the weekend, will not be uniform across all multiplexes.

Increasing ticket prices around festivals is not unusual but the Rohit Shetty film takes the cake with its unprecedented pricetag and a ticket in Juhu PVR will cost the patrons close to Rs 500.

While Fun Cinema will raise the weekday tickets prices by 40 per cent, PVR and Cinemax tickets will cost 25 per cent more throughout the week.

When contacted, Anand Vishal, Head of Operations, Fun Cinemas told Mirror, "The jump in weekday ticket prices is largely due to the fact that currently they are sold at a lower price. Eid has been traditionally good for business and during the Eid week, we expect to sell more tickets than we do in a full month otherwise. A Shah Rukh Khan film is coming after nine months and history shows that Rohit Shetty's films have not gone wrong at the box office."

Another major chain Inox had decided on a hike but had not fixed the price at the time of going to press.

The hike has drawn extreme reactions from the public. Aditya Sampat, 27, an interior designer from Mumbai, feels that the move is "uncalled for" and the development has put him off the film. But the rates have not deterred others, like Taranpreet Kaur, an audit firm consultant in her mid 20's from Delhi. "I will not miss the movie for anything," said Kaur and her enthusiasm was backed by Piyush Kumar, a young engineer from Chennai who believes that the audiences will not shy away because of the new rates.

But all is not bad news for SRK fans waiting for the film as most single screens, including popular theatres like Gaiety, Galaxy and Chandan, have decided to buck the pricey trend.