Look who is following SRK

During the launch of the first poster of his upcoming film, Happy New Year, SRK gave an opportunity to all his fans to get a poster of the film with a personalised message and digitial signatures of himself and the entire cast.

The online activity generated a lot of curiosity. Now interestingly, the same marketing move is being followed by Salman Khan for his just released film Jai Ho.

Though Salman and SRK have shared a turbulent relationship in the past few years, the recent intereactions suggests that the two stars have a lot in common. 

Salman digital campaign is similar to SRK's with him sending out personlized message to his fans which read, ''This Republic Day, remember you don't need to wear a uniform to serve the country' and ended with his digital autograph.

Red Carpet Report

 
Priyanka Chopra chose a black and gold Alexander McQueen for the big night and the crowd gave her pick a thumbs up, with loud cheers and whistles. The strapless number with an embellished peplum was paired with a tousled do and chandelier earrings for maximum glamour by the hostess of the night.
Vani Kapoor After Shuddh Desi Romance Vani Kapoor opted for some Pardesi glam in this purple Nikhil Thampi gown. The backless number with a thigh high split was one of the more daring ensembles of the night.

Neha Dhupia often makes off-kilter sartorial choices and did not disappoint in this Payal Singhal outfit which comprised of a black crop top and a highwaisted broacade skirt. Paired with a statement necklace by Amrapali, this one was a winner.
Kalki Koechlin who walked in with Gulshan Devaiah, promptly announced that she is not having an affair with her arm candy. But more interesting than that tidbit was her ensemble, an ornate Sabysachi affair with sequins, lace and printed silk. 

Deepika Padukone glittered in a golden gown with transparent panels adding sex appeal to the elegant outing. Paired with red lips and a vintage hairdo, this golden girl gave stiff competition to all in the style stakes. 

Reach for the stars

  
 Ranbir Kapoor started the show, as a reporter covering a award ceremony in 2051 when Aamir Khan finally makes an aapearance to see SOTY debutants accepting Lifetime Achievement Awards. He was then joined by his co-host Priyanka Chopra, who electrified with a robotic Ram Chahe Leela act, a terrific mix of mythology and sci-fi.The 59th Idea Filmfare Award was a star-studded nite to remember.

Dancing divas, larger than-life heroes, emotional speeches and plenty of laughs, the 59th Idea Filmfare Awards had all the ingredients of a Bollywood blockbuster. And the star-studded cast included the A-listers of B'Wood. And the gala proved that the evergreen black lady's magic has only grown with every passing decade.

In between were the winners who got lucky with the black lady. Sameer and Arsh Tanna kicked it off with the Best Choreographer Award for the number Lahu mooh lag gaya from Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela From dance to music.... Konkona Sen Sharma and Ayushmann Khurrana told newly married singerArijit Singh Tum Hi Ho Best Play back singer for Aashiqui 2.

Shankar Mahadevan's son Siddharth raced away with the RD Burman Award for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag's Zinda which also won Prasoon Joshi the Best Lyricist Award.The acts then came thick and fast. Salman Khan danced to a medley of his hits, from Dhinka Chika and Dagaabaaz Nain to Love Me Love Me. Katrina Kaif sizzled and Madhuri Dixit morphed from Devdas's Chandramukhi to Dedh Ishqiya's Begam Para with her Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Ghagra twirling in between.

Back to Ranbir, who told the evergreen Rekha that she was "tip top" and serenaded her with the famous Silsila lines, Main aur meri tanhai.

 
 The Best Supporting Actor trophy went to Nawazuddin Siddiqui for The Lunchbox and her vampisha act in Ram-Leela got Supriya Pathak the Best Supporting Actress award. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Tanuja who arrived wreathed in smiles with her daughters, Kajol and Tanisha. Calling her a warm breeze on a cold winter night Amitabh Bachchan hands the trophy to her.

At the time of going to press, as the clock struck midnight, Shahid Kapoor appeared on stage and the silsila continued.


Name Of The Event: 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013

Telecast details

January 26th from 8 pm onwards on Sony Entertainment Television

Title Sponsor: Idea | Associate Sponsors: PC Jeweller

Telecast Partner: Sony Entertainment Television
Fashion Partner: Reliance Trends | Lighting Partner: Philips | Fragrance Partner: Provogue | Outdoor Partner: Bright Outdoor Media | Beverage Partner: Black Dog Sparkling Water | Food Partner: Movable Feast | Multiplex Partner: Orienta Cine Advertising | Radio Partner: Radio Mirchi | English News Channel Partner: Times Now | Music Partner: T- Series | Show Director: Fountainhead Entertainment | Event Management: Percept | Event Consultants: Oxygen Entertainment & Media Solutions 

Script leak prompts Tarantino to dump film

A furious Quentin Tarantino has abandoned his upcoming project, after a draft of its script got leaked.

Tarantino told an online entertainment magazine: "I gave it to one of the producers on Django Unchained, Reggie Hudlin, and he let an agent come to his house and read it. That's betrayal, but not crippling because the agent didn't end up with the script. There is an ugly maliciousness to the rest of it. I gave it to three actors: Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, Tim Roth. The one I know didn't do this is Tim Roth. One of the others let their agent read it, and that agent has now passed it on to everyone in Hollywood. I don't know how these f***ing agents work, but I'm going to publish it, and that's it for now."

However, this is not the first time the director has sent a script to the cold storage.

Justin Bieber arrested

Police in Miami Beach say pop singer Justin Bieber has been arrested and is accused of drunken driving and drag racing.

The Miami Beach Police Department confirmed 19-year-old Bieber's arrest on Thursday morning in a tweet on its official page.

Police say the pop star was drag racing on Miami Beach early on Thursday.

Officials at the Miami Dade Department of Corrections say Bieber has not yet been booked into jail.

The arrest comes on the heels of another controversy for Bieber. Officials have said that detectives in California recently searched Bieber's home looking for surveillance footage that might serve as evidence the popstar was involved in an egg-tossing vandalism case that caused thousands of dollars in damage to a neighbor's home.

In that case, authorities arrested one member of Bieber's entourage on suspicion drug possession.

Charlize is a keeper: Penn

They haven't exactly been shy about their new relationship, putting on a very public show of affection at a charity auction last month.

And now it seems the romance between Sean Penn and Charlize Theron is hotting up. According to sources, the couple may even be planning to move in together.

'They stay with each other all the time,' the source told an entertainment daily. 'They may move in together.'

The Oscar-winning actor is also close to Charlize's two-year-old son Jackson.

Sean even confirmed the romance to CNN host, Piers Morgan, at his Help Haiti Home gala back in January.

Morgan recounted in his recent column: 'At 2 am Sean came over, and bear-hugged me. '"Congrats on a great night," I said. "And congrats on Charlize too." He laughed. "She's a keeper, that's for sure...well, I'll do my best to keep her anyway!"'
Piers recalled: 'I walked over to Sean's table, where he was sitting with new girlfriend Charlize Theron. "'I'm so glad you two have got together," I said, "Sean's a great guy.'"

'"I know," she smiled, putting her hand round his shoulder.'

Not out of Woods

Bombay High Court has finally admitted the Review Petition submitted by Whistling Woods International Institute on the 2011 directive to vacate the land it occupies in Film City, Mumbai.

The HC will deliberate on the petition in the next few weeks. Ghai says he has written around 30 letters to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, but is yet to get any response."Even Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi and Shekhar Kapur have spoken to the CM but every time he says 'Nantar bagha' (Will see later)," says Ghai.

But he insists that the number of students has not dwindled in what is arguably Asia's largest film school. "I have to stop my ex-students from protesting. Education is not a realestate business, honest people don't survive here, only those who spread negative energies do," he adds. 

In 2003, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had asked why land worth Rs 31.20 crore was valued at only Rs 3 crore. According to Ghai, Rs 3 crore was the value of the equity the government got, not of the land.

In 2004, the film school was asked not to develop the remaining 14.5 acres, of the 20 acres allotted, where the hostel and studio were to come up. In 2009, a Public Interest Litigation(PIL) challenged the land allocation.

In 2011 Bombay High Court ruled against Whistling Woods, based on the litigation and in 2012 it directed the institute to vacate 14.5 acre of land and said that government will take over the remaining 5.5 acres on July 31, 2014. As of now, Whistling Woods does not have a plan B and may take temporary refuge in Mukta House in Film City 

Sundance Kid makes his way to Varanasi

 After his win at the festival, Neeraj Ghaywan will now make his feature film debut.

Success is keeping Neeraj Ghaywan warm in the chilling climes of Utah. The aspiring filmmaker is among the four recipients of the Sundance Institute/Mahindra Global Filmmaking Award 2014, which was announced on Tuesday night.
 
The Mumbaikar, who began his journey in showbiz as an assistant on the sets of Gangs Of Wasseypur (GoW) , won the prize for a script titled Fly Away Solo, a story of four Varanasi residents trying to escape the small city grind.

Speaking to Mirror from Utah, Neeraj confirmed that the film will mark his feature debut."Phantom, the production house, may pick up the film, though we still need to figure out the logistics. Talks are on with Richa Chadda and Rajkummar Rao to play the central characters," says Neeraj. 
 He will be filming guerrilla style, something he learnt while working as a second unit director for Ugly. A high point was shooting a chase sequence through train stations and streets. "It was one of the most difficult experiences in my film career. But once you get used to the high, the controlled environment of a constructed set seems boring," he points out.  His directorial debut was the acclaimed short film Shor, whose protagonists were again Banarasis. Pure coincidence says Neeraj. "I spent three months there as an assistant on GoW. And after that, I was dying to helm a film to put everything I had learnt into practice. That's why I made Shor about two immigrants in Mumbai. While researching for the film I spoke to a lot of migrants, many of whom were from Varanasi and Allahabad," he explains the connect.

He returned to the temple town with Flying Away Solo. He says one of the stories was with him even before he started GoW. "I put that aside, then returned to it and felt that it was trash. But Sunil Grover, my co-writer, pushed me to pursue the idea. He is a Banaras Hindu University alumnus and knows the city well. So we ended up rooting the other three story lines there as well," says Neeraj, adding that he plans to shoot the film in Varanasi and Allahabad. "I plan to shoot extensively in the city, except for the cremation ghats. I feel extremely stifled on the sets," he admits.

Ugly is stuck because director Anurag Kashyap has filed a petition against the Censor Board's anti-smoking disclaimer. "I am fully behind Anurag in his decision to fight it out," says Neeraj. "Those scenes are integral to our film."

And till Ugly is ready to be revealed, he can always fly away solo!  

'I don’t need the money or the awards’

AR Rahman on why Grammys and Oscars don't matter, and his 'Indianish' movie in Hollywood.

He's seated in the midst of chaos and yet A. R. Rahman emits such a reassuring vibe of serenity that you feel apologetic even talking to him. It is as if your words will thwart a rhythm in the making. How does the Mozart of Madras shuttle between cities almost every other day and still strikes a chord every time he makes music? "I'm now relatively comfortable moving between Mumbai and Los Angeles, and Chennai. But I contemplate a lot before picking up a project," he says.

It took him three years to agree to do an Indian movie, Million Dollar Arm, in Hollywood. "I usually stay away from doing Indian-ish movies in the West because I can always do these projects here. If I'm working there, I need variety and scope to experiment beyond my comfort zone," he reasons.

Going beyond his comfort zone, he also learnt Punjabi for a song he has crooned in the Imtiaz Ali-directed, Highway. "Singing in Punjabi wasn't difficult as I'd composed the tune, and improvised a lot. All I had to do was work on the pronunciations" he says. 
Known to be super-selective, it is his zeal to take risks that draws him to Imtiaz. "I've seen several filmmakers and observed that once they become comfortable in a genre, they get apprehensive and stop experimenting. But, Imtiaz continues to surprise me," he says. "If Rockstar had a 'big-event' feeling to it, Highway has a beautiful indie vibe. So while composing, I focused only on a singular emotion, not an ensemble one and the result is very fulfilling."

For him, music is an activity of personal fulfilment. "I don't need the money or the awards. I don't need the world. Music, even after so many years, brings me such joy, matched only by the satisfaction of a chef who has just laid his signature dish on the table," he says. Criticism doesn't dent his enthusiasm either. Many of his loyalists felt that Jab Tak Hai Jaan's music was more Yash Chopra in vibe than Rahman. He says doing it was a conscious choice: "Many times, I have given music for a film and it has been used only in the background. I wanted my songs to be picturised in a manner that only Yashji was capable of"

Did the lukewarm response bother him? He says, "Maybe people were expecting another Rockstar because they expect you to give them the same thing. But, I've other things in my kitty too." 

Kat-RK back together

But marriage can wait for now.

Two years ago, they split because she wanted him to be in an 'exclusive' relationship with her. The separation did not last and lovebirds, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, were soon back in each other's arms and buzz of a 2014 wedding followed after the twosome walked into Amitabh Bachchan's Diwali party together last year and made another appearance at the special screening of The Wolf Of Wall Street last month.

Like their 'bikinigate' holiday to Ibiza, their trip to New York too grabbed headlines. But this time it was not loved-up beach shots but a squabble that attracted attention. The celebratory vacation to the Big Apple in the New Year ended with a major tiff after he asked for more time before putting a ring on her finger. 

But while everyone is talking about the end of Bollywood's 'It' couple, Mirror has it that Ranbir and Katrina have kissed and made up, once again.

Yes, the couple has sorted out their 'differences', including Katrina's grouse about Ranbir developing cold feet after promising her marriage. A source close to the couple revealed, "Katrina will wait until Ranbir is ready to tie the knot. The day he tells her he wants to get married, she will. Things are fine between them."

The source adds that Katrina was feeling very unwell in New York after she pulled a muscle. "She is undergoing physiotherapy sessions even now," he says.

And what led to the reconciliation? "Over the last two years, Ranbir has turned over a new leaf. He is loyal to Katrina and she is happy with him.

Sometimes when he is on a boy's night out, he switches off his phone and is untraceable. Every relationship has its share of ups and downs. Isn't it normal for lovers to have a difference in opinion about their future?" argued the source.

Friends insist that though the fight was serious, the reunion isn't surprising as the pair is madly in love. And what about whispers, that the two are taking a break from the relationship before taking a final decision? "Such things don't happen in real life. Either you are together or you aren't," said the source. And right now Ranbir and Katrina are very much together.

MEANWHILE...

Two weeks ago, when Mirror had asked Salman Khan about his status quo with Katrina, he retorted, "She used to be a friend, but today she is somebody else's friend. I respect that and I stay away because I don't want to give someone a reason to tell her, 'Oh you are still in touch with Salman.' The past should not intrude in the present."

Would he attend her wedding?

"If I am invited, I will," he had said.

Last evening, at Bandra's Mehboob Studio, Katrina who was there to shoot for a commercial, bumped into Salman who was promoting his upcoming film at the venue. The former "friends" met at around 7 pm and spent 15 minutes chatting amicably.

Said an eyewitness," He even gave her a warm hug before leaving for another event. She stayed back to shoot her commercial." 

SRK returns to work after freak accident

Shah Rukh Khan was shooting for his home production Happy New Year in a suburban hotel on Thursday noon, when bad luck struck. The 48-year-old actor, along with Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood and Boman Irani, was filming in the ground floor of the hotel. The sequence required them to walk out from the reception hall to the lobby. Director Farah Khan canned the shot in the first take but SRK insisted on a retake. Five minutes later, all hell broke loose.

An eyewitness told Mirror, "The actors returned back to their position and Farah called action. Abhishek, Sonu and Boman were walking ahead and Shah Rukh followed a few feet behind. Suddenly an unhinged door collapsed on him and he was on the floor." 

Farah, who was sitting behind the monitor, ran towards Shah Rukh without even calling 'cut'. Crew members also rushed to where he lay and picked up the door off him. "They saw blood oozing from his head, his shoulder was wounded as well," the source added. "So he was rushed to Nanavati hospital."

Gauri Khan was informed of the incident and she rushed from the couple's Bandra bungalow Mannat to the hospital. She reached the hospital before her injured husband and was by his side as he left around 4 pm. From the hospital, SRK headed straight to the set to complete the scene disturbed by the errant door.The crew were waiting anxiously for him and as soon as they spotted their hero, they all clapped and cheered.