What is your role in Department?

I play a tough cop Mahadev Bhosle of ATS in Department, which is a hard-core action thriller that deals with the politics within the police force.

In what way is the role different from the roles of the cop that you have essayed earlier in various films?

An actor has got to play different roles. Even if he has to play a character that he has played earlier, what makes the character different from the ones that the actor has played earlier is the persona or for that matter the mannerisms that the character has got to portray.

Can you elucidate?

An actor will always be blessed with the ability to get in to the skin of his character with effortless ease every time he is presented with the challenge of coming to the fore with his best performance. Unless and until you are a super star, you will be able to show different shades of each character as and when you are cast in a role that you have played several times earlier. I feel happy when I am asked to portray a good character like I did in Agneepath, because a good performance always satisfied an actor, though I would confess that I did say No to a few offers which required me to repeat what I did in Agneepath as Kancha Cheena, because I did not want to become repetitive as an actor.

Action films have returned in a big way with Singham and Bodyguard. What do you think of the trend?

The genre of an action film is not at all new to Bollywood. Jackie Shroff, Sunny Deol and I had entered the industry as action heroes. I lived in that era for quite some time till I started experimenting with different roles. I used to wonder where the action era had disappeared when I started doing comedy films with successfully. However the South has not forgotten the action genre and hence the films which are being made down South are larger than life and action films are now making their come back in Bollywood, thanks to the remakes of the South films.

In what way has your fatherhood changed you drastically?

I am quite exuberant now. I am no longer restless like I used to be before I became the father of my two lovely kids. Even as I am giving this interview to you, I am only waiting to finish this and rush home to hold them in my arms. To tell you the truth, before the birth of my twins, I could never experience fatherhood and I missed being the father of Trishala when she was born.

Why?

My wife Richa was very sick when Trishala was born and both Richa and Trishala were in USA and I had to shuttle between Indian and USA and strike a balance between working in my films here in India and being with them. It was quite a stressful period for me then.

Is your daughter Trishala inclined to follow in your footsteps as an actress?

Why should Trishala also take to acting, just because she is the daughter of Richa and me? She is very critical about my performance. I told her to take up medicine and be a doctor so that I can retire and live comfortably in my old age.

Do you still dream of remaking Padosan with you playing the role that your father Duttsaab did in the original?

There were some plans to make the film sometime back, though as of now there is no plan. If at all, if some producer is ready to remake the film, I suggest that Ranbir Kapoor should be cast in Duttsaab’s role instead of me, because the role needs a young romantic hero. I would be only too happy playing the role that Kishore Kumar did in the film.

If you are a good friend of both Salman and Shah Rukh Khan, why don’t you try to make them forget their fight and patch up with each other?

Who am I to ask Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan to forget their fight and patch up? I believe that each one should have his own space and do not feel that I have the right to intrude in their personal space, since I would not like any of them to intrude in my personal space.

You have worked on quiet a few memorable films with your friend Raj N Sippy. Is there any plan to do a film now with him?

I have fond memories of the time when Daddu Sippy and I were working together in some memorable and not memorable films. I am now giving a break to Daddu’s young son Sameer Sippy, as a director. Sameer will direct me in his debut film Lallu Panju. While I will be playing the role of Panju, Ajay will be playing the role of Lallu. needless to mention, Lallu Panju will be an out and out comedy cum action film.

Is there any plan to take up direction, like your father did?

Frankly, till date, I have not at all thought of taking up direction, because I am not fascinated by the idea of direction, though I am open to producing films. I am also planning to make a film with Rohit Shetty after he completes Bol Bachchan with Ajay Devgn and Abhishek Bachchan.

Which film of your dad would you like to remake with yourself in his role?

I’d give my right arm to produce and act in a film like Mujhe Jeene Do, which I feel was my father’s all time best film.

Would you like to do Mother India too?

No. It would be blasphemy on my part to even try to make a film like Mother India. I just cannot at all measure up to my father’s sterling performance in the film as Birju.

Unlike your father Sunil Dutt, you did not pursue politics. Why?

I do not think my dad could succeed in politics because he was a good human being and politics is not meant for good human beings. If you have to succeed in politics, you have to fulfill all the promises that you make to your voters and it is an entirely different world altogether and I realized that I was just not cut out for that. I think I made a mistake by joining politics though I respect people like Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh, who I am sure will make a difference as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Do you think actors are not at all cut out for politics?

Yes. Actors are bhole bhaale and seedhe saadhe and any one can take undue advantage of them. Shatrughan Sinha has not reached where he should have reached now after being in politics. Shatrusaab should have been the chief Minister but he has not been made one. Dharamji also isn’t happy being part of politics. Hemaji also has not been able to what she had set out to do as a politician. Priya Dutt has succeeded because she is not an actor.

You are now all set to promote Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting league called SFL in India. Why?

Yes. I have joined hands with businessman Raj Kundra to launch a (MMA) fighting league called SFL. The first ‘Super Fight League’ (SFL) event, being promoted by  Raj Kundra’s  and my company  called Super Fight Promotions was held in Mumbai on March 11, followed by Chandigarh (April 7) and New Delhi (May 6).  The mixed martial arts industry is valued at $2 billion in America alone. It is the fastest growing sport. The unpredictability of the sport is what makes it attractive. MMA is a full combat sport comprising 36 different styles of fighting including karate, judo and kung-fu.

Can you elucidate more?

We have (over 50) fighters from all around the world training for the past six months (for the league). They will also train fighters in the country. Martial arts began in India and left the country. Raj and I are trying to bring them back. It is new in India but I am quite surprised that even thirteen year old kids are aware of it. We need a different sport in India, where we worship only cricket. It is high time that we started promoting other sports like boxing and hockey too.

To what would you attribute your transition as an actor from action roles to comedy roles to action once again?

In real life, as you know I have always been a funny guy. Comedy is in built within me. But I did not realize that I could carry off comedy roles comfortably till David Dhawan decided to cast me in a comedy role in his films. People appreciated my comic performance in his films like Haseena Maan Jayegi, Jodi No 1 and last but not the least Hum Kisise Kum Nahin earlier and recently in Rajkumar Hirani’s Munnabhai MBBS and Lage Raho Munnabhai.

You seem to be having a rather low-key strategy as an actor. Why?

I am happy as far as my career is concerned. I have achieved whatever I had wanted and at this stage of my career, I cannot go around asking for roles. I have not done it in all these years of my being in films. I cannot do it now. You have never seen me in a Yash Chopra film or a Rajshri film. I am quite happy doing films for my friends.

Did you analyze what went wrong with your production Rascals?

I would not blame David Dhawan for the failure of the film. I’d like to take the entire blame on myself as the producer.  If a film of mine fails to live up its expectations at the box office, I just do not believe in spending sleepless nights analyzing why it did not do well at the box office and just take it in my stride, though I do not deny that hits and flops do matter in this industry because it is after all the question of your own survival.

What according to you has been your growth as an actor from Rocky till Department?

As an actor I have definitely grown. To what extent I have grown is something only you can inform me because I just cannot evaluate myself as an actor. All that I can say is that I cannot stop learning as an actor because one matures with every new film as an actor.

What keeps you ticking as an actor?

It is my urge to experiment with different kinds of characters without trying to play safe like most of the other actors that keeps me on the go, as an actor. I feel that as an actor, one has got to do every kind of role. I did the role of Hrithik’s father in Mission Kashmir because I believed in the role.

Wasn’t it suicidal on your part to accept a role as Hrithik’s father?

What was wrong in playing Hrithik’s father? When I played the role of a cripple in Saajan, the whole world said that I was committing some sort of hara-kiri by playing a langda when I was having films as the romantic young hero but my gamble paid off and I was appreciated for my performance in Saajan, which also fetched me awards.

Which is your dream role?

I would love to do the role, which Al Pacino did in Scarface. It is my dream role till date. I hope some director decides to make the desi version of Scarface. It will be challenging for me to do that role as an actor.

How romantic are you at heart? Do you think love exists even today in this materialistic age?

Of course love exists even today in this jet age even though it has become a materialistic world. Basically I am a romantic at heart. I do not deny it. Even today I like to woo my girl in style with a bouquet of roses, a bottle of red wine and a romantic candle light dinner.

What did your stint in jail teach you?

My stint in jail has made me worldly wise. It has made me toughen up as a person. It has taught me to take life seriously and not be playful as I used to be.

What next?

I am in the process of planning my next production and hope to go on the floors in the next six months. I am keeping my fingers crossed for my films Zilla Ghazibad and Son Of Sardar. Comedy is a different genre to play and I am also quite excitedly looking forward to the launch of the next in the series of Munnabhai, by the end of this year, though Vidhu Vinod Chopra has given up the idea of making Munnabhai in Amrika.

- Jyothi Venkatesh

Jannat 2

After the super success of Jannat, the team of director Kunal Deshmukh and producer duo Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt have come back with the sequel. No prizes for guessing who stars in it. Emraan Hashmi, the staple diet of Bhatt camp stars in the lead role along with actors like Esha Gupta, Randeep Hooda and Imran Zahid. While Jannat explored the dark side of the cricketing world, the sequel is set against the explosive murky backdrop of the arms trade in North India. It revolves around Sonu Dilli (Emraan Hashmi), who buys and sells locally made guns and weapons and has been tagged as ‘KKC – Kutti Kameeni Cheez’ by his customers. The story is about him falling in love with a girl who is from completely different strata of society and what he is willing to do to get that girl. Emraan who has carved a niche for himself as the darling of the masses has all the capability to add another blockbuster to his growing resume of hits. The music by Pritam with chartbusters is another added factor.

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Fatso

Small films have been delivering big surprises at the ticket window for some time now. And Rajat Kapoor’s Fatso looks like a potential contender in this department. Nandini (Gul Panag) and Naveen (Purab Kohli) play an urban couple who are beyond the conventional wisdom of the society. When the duo is about to get married, a freaky road accident kills Navin. However, he wakes up and discovers to his horror that a clerical error on the part of the authorities between life and after-life have goofed up that has landed him here. It was not Naveen, but his best buddy, ‘fatso’ Sudeep (Ranvir Shorey) who was supposed to die in the crash. This film is about how Navin returns to earth via Sudeep’s body, so he can sort his love life. A charming take on love, life, romance and the occasional accident called death, it promises to delight the heart in us.

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Hugo

Hugo marks the granddaddy of cinema, Martin Scorsese’s foray into the exciting world of 3D and family drama. And it can’t get better than this. Based on Brian Selznick’s captivating and inventive New York Times bestseller The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, the film tells the story of a young boy named Hugo who lives behind the scenes in a Paris railway station where he tends the station’s clocks and also tries to solve the puzzle of a clockwork automaton that his father and he had been attempting to fix. He meets a young girl, gets caught up in a baffling adventure and his life changes altogether. Under Martin Scorsese’s direction, Hugo has freshness, a degree of mystery, and an exuberance that is very seldom managed in today’s film offerings. With an incredible blend of superb production design by Dante Ferretti/Francesca Lo Schiavo, judiciously utilized visual effects supervised by Rob Legato, and an entrancing music score by Howard Shore, the film draws uniformly fine work from all the members of a cast that includes Asa Butterfield as Hugo, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Chloe Grace Moretz, Ray Winstone, Christopher Lee, Richard Griffiths, and Jude Law.

Unlike most 3D movies, Hugo was shot using 3D not as a money-making gimmick but as a storytelling device, to add height, depth, humour and intensity. Widely acclaimed as the best 3D film of the decade, Scorsese’s love poem to cinema received overwhelmingly positive reviews along with 11 Academy Award nominations winning five coveted trophies. The film also marks an interesting turn since its release has become possible thanks to a nationwide viral campaign with the hash tag #WeWantHugo.  Earlier the studio was reluctant in releasing but later they gave in to demand of the cinema lovers. A film like Hugo is ample reward indeed for the many disappointing films that we sit through every week.

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Safe

Do not mess with Jason Statham. Statham in a whirlwind of violence and sheer bone-breaking stunts stars as Luke Wright, a former cop who went underground after ratting out some detectives. Then we have Catherine Chan’s Mei. She is a genius with numbers, a talent that gets her sent from her small village to a prestigious Beijing school. Before she can ever get there, she’s kidnapped by the Chinese mafia. The dirty cops, and Chinese triads, and the Russian mob — and all of them are after this tiny 10-year-old math genius, whom the Chinatown gangsters have been using to memorize codes, combinations and bank account numbers. And when they all start chasing after her — well, that’s when ex-cop, ex-cage fighter, and now-and-forever tough guy Statham decides he just has to get involved. Statham, of course, remains one of the few authentic action stars out there, at least outside of Asia. For fans of the action star, it could easily be the best popcorn fun, with the tough guy wielding his talents of bone-breaking exercise with priceless effort; it will surely add up to a pretty good time. Boaz Yakin who has films like Remember the Titans and Uptown Girls to his credit directs the film.

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Dangerous Ishhq

Karisma Kapoor, one of the mighty heroines of Hindi cinema is making her comeback with this film. And it’s in 3D. And the trailer tells us that it will be a taut thriller. Vikram Bhatt, the mind behind India’s first stereoscopic 3D movie Haunted is bringing this sumptuous film which tells the story of supermodel Sanjana (Karisma Kapoor) and Rohan (Rajneesh Duggal), who are one of the most popular couples in the social circuit. Rohan gets kidnapped which creates a turbulent chaos in Sanjana’s life. While the kidnappers demand a heavy ransom, the police seem hopeless about Rohan’s return. In intense trauma, Sanjana visions Rohan and her together sometime in the past- in different eras. The visions leave clues about Rohan’s return and Sanjana has to string them together to bring her love back that has been eluding her through the ages. A suspense thriller in the garb of time travel, fans will be expecting this film to be a strong comeback vehicle for Karishma Kapoor. The film also stars Divya Dutta, Jimmy Shergill, Ruslaan Mumtaz, Arya Babbar and Manish Malhotra. Not to forget the hit music maker Himesh Reshammiya’s association with the project.

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Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

The movie focuses on life in the town of Thneedville, where the environment has been ruined and replaced by an artificial, shiny place made of plastic with consumable air. Our 12 year old hero, Ted (Zac Efron) wants to win the affections of his teenage crush Audrey (Taylor Swift) by finding her a real, live tree. Leaving Thneedville on his quest, he finds the ageing Once-ler (Ed Helms), who confesses to having been the one who caused the felling of all the trees in his pursuit of profits from the Thneeds he could make of the orange leaves. But it’s Lorax (Danny DeVito) the fluffy orange guardian of trees who helps Ted understand the importance of trees – so when Once-ler remorsefully urges Ted to do something about it, Ted takes on Mr O’Hare’s empire to give people back the trees.

With the help of Dr Seuss’ imagery, the filmmakers have created an enchanting world rendering his whimsical 2-D illustrations in shiny, computer-generated 3D which looks like a marvel of cartoon engineering. And there are toe-tapping songs, memorable limericks, and a happy tale with a sound moral to ground the mayhem. Dr. Seuss would no doubt think it is even timelier today than it was forty years ago. The moral of the story, published more than 40 years ago, couldn’t be more topical: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot (about trees specifically or the environment generally), nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Do not miss the bus of unlimited shiny happy fun.

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Ishaqzaade

If the pre-release buzz of the film is anything to go by, Boney Kapoor’s son Arjun Kapoor is destined to be the next young star. Originally an assistant director, Arjun wanted to become a director but assisting a Salman Khan film changed the course of his career. Salman wanted him to pursue acting which he laughed off since he was obese (140 kgs). But Salman bhai insisted and he shed tons of weight to become this lean man armed with a Yash Raj film. The film has two young individuals (Parma and Zoya) unfolding the daunting political confines of rural India dominated by hooliganism and small town wars. They both are fiery blooded and born to hate each other. But destiny plays truant and the duo falls in love. Going by the promos, it looks like a new interpretation of the timeless romance of Romeo-Juliet. After her stunning debut in Ladies VS Ricky Bahl, Parineeti Chopra is looking spunky in her second film. With songs like ‘Aafaton ke Parinde’, ‘Main Pareshaan’ and ‘Chokra Jawan’ ruling the charts thanks to a superb score by Amit Trivedi, the film has a very strong opening potential at the box office. The film directed by Habib Faisal who won accolades and hearts with his debut feature Do Dooni Chaar starring Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor.

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Department

Department is a police drama which is said to be a story based on a group of encounter specialists of Mumbai Police, who have different perspectives towards separate underworld groups. The film is supposedly a follow up of 2002 film Company, which takes the audiences to a new period, where the underworld has organised again as a proper business unit. When the mafia is at its peak, some top officials including the home secretary, the home minister, and the director general of police hold a secret meeting in which they take a decision to create a new unit which is unofficially referred to as ‘The Department’. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Rana Daggubati in pivotal roles as senior politician Sarjerao Gaikwad, senior police officer Mahadev Bhosle and young police recruit Shivnarayan respectively. The film also stars Anjana Sukhani, Madhu Shalini, Vijay Raaz, Abhimanyu Shekhar Singh and Deepak Tijori. There is also one talked-about item number by Nathalia Kaur.  It’s not easy for any director to use all the actors to the optimum, but if done accurately Department can be an extraordinary film. Director Ram Gopal Varma might not have delivered a hit but he has the ability to take you by surprise. With film like Rangeela (1995), Satya (1998), Jungle (2000), Company (2002) and Bhoot (2003) to his credit, we can always hope for the best.

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The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Outsourcing as we know it gets a new twist in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Adapted by Ol Parker from Deborah Moggach‘s These Foolish Things, it tells the story of a group of British seniors who decide to ‘outsource’ their retirement to less costly and seemingly exotic India. Enticed by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and encouraged by the visions of a life of leisure, they arrive to find the palace a shell of its former self. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences, discovering that life and love can begin again when you let go of the past. Starring premium British talents Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Maggie Smith,Tom Wilkinson and Penelope Wilton as the seven veterans, the film also has Dev Patel, the star of Oscar blockbuster Slumdog Millionaire as the optimistic young hotel manager. Directed by John Madden who gave us the delicious Shakespeare in Love in the past, the film has garnered positive reviews and can easily lure the audiences here. After watching this, you might give up reading all self-help books. Try it.

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Men in Black 3

Director Barry Sonnenfeld is back with Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones to save the world from aliens and the summer box office. The first MIB was a sleeper hit in 1997, and the 2002 sequel made $441.8 million worldwide. Ten years later Smith and Jones return as Agents J and K, respectively; and there’s also a second, younger Agent K (played by Josh Brolin), and a new boss agent — Emma Thompson‘s “O,” taking over the old Rip Torn role — and then a younger version of her, too (played by Alice Eve). So the point is that the plot if about time travel. Here, veteran MIB field agent Agent J travels back in time to 1969 to stop an alien criminal named Boris from killing K, team up with the young version of Agent K and stop the criminal. But he faces a 24 time limit to come back to the present or he will be trapped in the past for ever. Both Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones have reprised their roles after ten years of the release of part two. The film has been shot in 3D with a reported budget of $215 million that has abundance of thrilling action scenes backed by high-tech gadgets with quirky humour thrown in. Smells like a blockbuster.

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A Separation

A Separation is a gripping drama about the dissolution of a marriage in contemporary Iran. Simin (Leila Hatami) wants to leave Iran to provide better opportunities for her daughter. When her husband Nader (Peyman Moadi) refuses to leave behind his Alzheimer-suffering father, Simin sues for divorce. But her request fails, so she returns to her parents’ home—without her daughter. Nader hires a young woman to assist with his father in his wife’s absence, hoping that his life will return to a normal state. However, when he discovers that the new maid has been lying to him, he realizes that there is more on the line than just his marriage.

A Separation created history when it won the 84th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2012, becoming the first Iranian film to win the award.  It also received the Golden Bear for Best Film and the Silver Bears for Best Actress and Best Actor at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the first Iranian film to win the Golden Bear. Additionally, it won the 69th Golden Globe Awards for the Best Foreign Language Film and a nomination for Best Original Screenplay Academy Award, a rare occurrence for a foreign language film. The film was also the best reviewed film of last year.

A Separation is a realistic, hardly flattering portrait of Iran, a society beset by intense contradictions and stands in the best, intensely humane tradition of Iranian cinema in recent decades. Do not miss it at any cost as famous critic Roger Ebert puts it: “A Separation will become one of those enduring masterpieces watched decades from now”.

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So which movie are you going to watch?

- Sanket Mazumder

Though cricket fever is slowly taking over, big movie releases are determined to keep the moviegoers throughout the month of April.

Titanic 3D (April 5^th, 2012)

One hundred years after its maiden voyage, Titanic sets sail again for theatres in 3D this Friday. The 1997 film was inspired by the most famous shipwreck of modern history, the RMS Titanic. The exorbitant budget, notoriously troubled production and young leads made it a risky Hollywood endeavour for James Cameron back in 1997. 15 years later, the film is the second highest grossing movie of all time (eclipsed only by Avatar), Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are megastars and winner of eleven Academy awards (equal only to Ben-Hur and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King) and Cameron is the self-confessed ‘king of the world’. Titanic’s mythical status as a movie phenomenon is pretty much unquestionable. After Avatar’s thundering response at the box office, Cameron has given his magnum opus a digital restoration and 3D makeover. The 3D may not be earth-shattering but with a 3D magician like Cameron at the helm of affairs, each frame is bound to look pristine and the outcome will be nothing less than jaw-dropping. The ballad of Jack and Rose is ready for a second run and mighty hearts will shed tears again. Don’t be cynical to dismiss Titanic as schmaltzy garbage as this is as epic as it gets. The DVD and TV repeats can hardly do justice to a grand film that is just too big to be contained in your household living room. Between the heart wrenching scenes between Jack and Rose and the sheer vastness of the shipwreck, the converted film has the potential to please new and old fans alike.

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Racha (April 5^th, 2012)

For the fans of Telugu cinema, the name Ram Charan Teja is enough to draw them towards the theatres. This Ram Charan Teja starrer film is revolves around the relationship between a father and a son. Mani Sharma’s music has become a hit and one song in particular Vana Vana Velluvaye, a remix of the original song from Gangleader, is already making waves. Directed by Sampath Nandi, it is being touted as a mass entertainer loaded with incredible action sequences, good music and lots of masala elements thrown in. Don’t miss this joyride.

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Housefull 2 (April 6^th, 2012)

After making the entire nation roll in laughter with Housefull, the team of Sajid Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala is back with the sequel to make our tummy ache again. The film has a huge star cast which consists of names like Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, John Abraham, Shreyas Talpade, Asin Thottumkal, Jacqueline Fernandez, Zarine Khan and Shazahn Padamsee. If these names are not enough, you have veteran yesteryear stars like the Kapoor brothers, Rishi and Randhir, dancing star Mithun Chakraborty and Boman Irani. The film tells the story of ‘the dirty dozen’ implying four fathers, four daughters and four prospective son-in-laws. Each father wants his daughter to marry the richest son-in-law, each daughter assumes she is marrying the richest son-in-law and each son-in-law is pretending to be the richest son-in-law. In reality, the son-in-laws are actually conmen. While they can’t stand each other, they are forced to live under one roof and hence kick off a journey of hilarious situations and circumstances filled with confusion. Shot abroad, this big budget film has peppy music by Sajid-Wajid; special mention for Malaika Arora Khan’s item number Anarkali Disco Chali that has already become a chartbuster. The fun is about to begin this Friday.

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Damarukam (April 6^th, 2012)

A socio-fantasy film, this Nagarjuna starrer is touted to be on the path taken by ‘Magadheera’ and ‘Arundathi,’ both of which were blockbusters at the box office. The buzz is that this mega budget film has 50 minutes of SFX, and a good dose of action sequences. Directed and written by Srinivasa Reddy, the film has Nagarjuna, Anushka Shetty and Ganesh Venkatraman playing three principal characters in the film. Cashing on the Good Friday weekend, this is destined to be a money spinner all the way.

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Battleship (April 11^th, 2012)

This an epic-scaled action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. Inspired by Hasbro’s classic naval combat game, Battleship stars Taylor Kitsch as Lt. Alex Hopper, a Naval officer assigned to the USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker as Sam Shane, a physical therapist and Hopper’s fiancée; Alexander Skarsgard as Hopper’s older brother, Stone, Commanding Officer of the USS Sampson; Rihanna as Petty Officer Raikes, Hopper’s crewmate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones; and international superstar Liam Neeson as Hopper and Stone’s superior (and Sam’s father), Admiral Shane. The film tells the story of an alien species known as iThe Regents’ invades planet Earth on a mission to build a power source in the ocean. Upon their visit, they come in contact with the naval fleet at Pearl Harbor. An USP of the film is that it is going to show both sides of the story, from the aliens’ perspective, as well as the humans’ so that the audience can come to know exactly where the opponent’s ships are. Peter Berg who made the hugely successful film, Hancock produces and directs this megs-budget action flick that promises to be even bigger and better than the enormously entertaining Transformers series.

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The Three Stooges (April 12^th, 2012)

Moe, Larry, and Curly are coming back! Yes, The Three Stooges who have made generations crack up with their physical farce and extreme slapstick are making a comeback this month in theatres. Here the three men will try to save their childhood orphanage, but accidentally become involved in a murder intrigue and in a modern-day twist will end up starring in a reality TV show. The comeback of nostalgia is in safe hands since the film has been directed by Farrelly brothers who have delighted audiences with numerous comedies in the past. Are you ready to revisit your childhood memories?

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Bittoo Boss (April 20^th, 2012)

Small films have surprised both the audience and the box office in the past few years. Bittoo Boss looks like another potential contender to the list of positive surprised. Directed by Supavitra Babul, the film tells the story of a young wedding cameraman who takes pride in calling himself a “Sesky Video Shooter” (Sexy video shooter). A born charmer, he becomes the toast of of all wedding celebrations of Anandpur Sahib, a small town in Punjab. In a typical Bollywood fashion, he falls in love with an educated and strong-headed girl who makes him rethink about love, respect, money and above all life. Smitten in love and bitten by the one he loves, the smart and upright cameraman is lured to take a shortcut in order to earn a quick buck and get his life back on track. What follows is a madcap ride. Debutant Pulkit Samrat and Amita Pathak stars in this small film with peppy music by Raghav Sachar.

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21 Jump Street (April 20^th, 2012)

In the action-comedy 21 Jump Street, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are more than ready to leave their adolescent problems behind. Joining the police force and the secret Jump Street unit, they use their youthful appearances to go undercover in a local high school to investigate a violent and dangerous drug ring. Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller who are best known for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, this film has garnered surprisingly positive reviews and already declared a box-office success in the US. Whether a faithful adaptation of the 1987 television series of the same name  or not, it’s definitely going to be a hit with audiences who have been craving a bit of outrageous tag-team comedy, the sort of throwaway entertainment that delivers the feel good without relying on the formula. It might not tickle your grey cells much, but as far as guilty pleasures go, this one scores high. So if you’re wondering if the film is worth the ticket, go and check what might turn out to be the funniest film of the year so far.

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Vicky Donor (April 20^th, 2012)

Another low-budget film that might turn the tables at the box office, Vicky Donor has already created a stir with its promo. Produced by actor John Abraham, the film is a romantic comedy about a Punjabi boy and a Bengali girl. What sets it apart from other rom-coms is that the story is set against the backdrop of sperm donation which is still a taboo in Indian society. Abraham’s Dostana dealt with a taboo subject like homosexuality in a light-hearted manner, Vicky Donor promises to do the same for sperm donation and infertility in India. After an acclaimed debut with Yahaan in 2005, Shoojit Sircar ‘Johnny Mastana’ (also known as Shoebite) starring Amitabh Bachchan never saw the light of the day. Keeping the agonising experience behind, Sircar’s research based witty tale is designed to win hearts. Popular television anchor Ayushmann Khurrana makes his debut along with Yami Gautam and Annu Kapoor in a hilarious supporting role. Don’t forget John as the item boy in the Rum Whisky song.

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The Lucky One (April 20^th, 2012)

Based on the bestselling American novelist Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, it revolves around a US Marine named Logan Thibault who finds a photograph of a smiling young woman half-buried in the sands of Iraq during his third tour of duty. It becomes a lucky charm for Thibault, who then finds the woman in the photo. His obsession with a photograph leads him on a lucky streak and unlikely romance. Directed by Scott Hicks who made the the Oscar-winning biopic of pianist David Helfgott, Shine, it stars Zac Efron, the teen sensation of High School Musical, and Taylor Schilling. Filled with tender moments and terrific suspense, The Lucky One is a story about the surprising paths our lives often take and the power of fate to guide us to true and everlasting love. It’s highly recommended for the romantic hearts.

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The Avengers (April 27^th, 2012)

The first film on the superhero ensemble, this comic book adaptation depicts the danger of an unexpected enemy who threatens to destroy earth’s security and safety and Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D. starts recruiting daring heroes spanning the globe to save the planet from impending doom.  And thus forms the powerful team called, The Avengers, featuring an ensemble cast, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. The film is written and directed by Joss Whedon who has some of the cult TV shows of modern era like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly and Dollhouse to his credit.  With an estimated budget like $220 million, the film promises to have thunderous special effects and spectacular action sequences since the makers have to justify the might of so many superheroes coming together. For fanboys of the comic book series, this makes for a must watch. And for the rest, you can’t escape this volley of spiralling entertainment.

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Tezz (April 27^th, 2012)

After the Golmaal franchise and Singham gaining the immediate blockbuster status, Ajay Devgan has become one of Bollywood’s most dependable leading men. Directed by Priyadarshan, the film also has big names like Anil Kapoor, Kangna Ranaut, Zayed Khan, Boman Irani, Mohanlal and Sameera Reddy. A slick modern day urban action thriller, the film tells the tale of one man`s fight to get back what was taken away from him unjustly while the other man will do whatever it takes to stop him from succeeding in his mission. Pitted against each other, both are also pitted against time. Many lives have already been destroyed and a few more could be at stake as a speeding train running between Glasgow and London holds the fate of Aakash Rana and Counter Terrorism Commandant Arjun Khanna, and only one of them will succeed in this operation. Shot extensively in the UK, the film has some fantastic stunts by stunt choreographer had been Gareth Milne, the stunt co-ordinator of Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer and National Treasure: Book of Secrets. The music is given by Sajid-Wajid and Mallika Sherawat returns with another sizzling item song, Laila. With high octane chase scenes and exploding trains, the film looks like a world class action thriller that is going to work big time at the box office.

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- Sanket Mazumder

Is Players the remake of Italian Job?

Basically, Players is about a gold heist. I’d say that though Players is actually the official remake of Italian Job, I prefer to call it an adaptation since the basic dacha is that of Italian Job, which was first made in 1969 with Michael Cain when I was not even born and once again in 2003 with Mark Wahlberg.

Why did you accept the offer?

Besides the fact that I have always wanted to work with Abbas and Mustaan, I love cars and enjoy doing stunts and wanted to do something like what Amin did in Dhoom. Abbas and Mustan are so simple and Indian but make films with style and modern cuttings. The best thing about Players is that the rights have been bought from Paramount Pictures who are also the co-producers of the film.

How was it working with your co-actors like Bobby, Bipasha, Sonam Kapoor, Omi Vaidya , Sikander Kher  and Neil Nitin Mukesh in Players?

With the exception of Omi Vaidya with whom I am doing a film for the first time, I know each and every one of my co-actors in Players. I have already worked with Bobby and Sikander is like the younger brother I have never had. Neil Nitin Mukesh’s father Nitin Mukesh was working with Hrishikaku and I had bumped into him on the sets whenever papa was shooting for Hrishikaku, when I was a child. I know Sonam since the time she was also a kid. As far as Bipasha Basu is concerned, not many know that she was the first actress with whom I had faced the camera for the first time, even before Refugee went on the floors.

What is your role in Players?

I play the role of Charlie Mascaranhas. I am the leader of the team, like the captain of the gang who makes the master plan. This character was there in the original version too. I am career thief but pretend to be a chartered accountant. Charlie is not greedy for money. If he is doing whatever he does, it is for emotional reasons for the sake of Vinod Khanna, who is like my Godfather in the film. It is by the way for the first time that I am working with Vinod uncle in a film. I told him on the sets that I had already acted with Anthony and Akbar but it was for the first time that I was working with Amar in a film and I am a huge fan of his.

Did you try to develop a 6 pack abs to get into the skin of your role in Players?

I do not think that having a 6 pack abs is a sign of health. My father Mr Amitabh Bachchan  never made his body because  though he did not flaunt his 6 pack abs, he has the face pack which is the most important believe that God has given you fat for some reason. I am possibly more athletic than any other actor but I have not seen the need to show my body. It is important to look your part as an actor because 50% of your work is over if you look the part. If I get to play a boxer, I’d definitely prepare with my body. Your physicality is very important as an actor. Jai Dixit cannot look like Gurukant. Today the audience has become a bit more demanding and hence actors submit to their looks unlike earlier when they used to work in twenty films at the same time.

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How do you feel when you look back at your career, with all its ups and downs?

When I look back at my early days as an actor, I realize that I was so bad and wonder how I was tolerated. In fact, I used to use my reviews to teach me how to improve myself as an actor, instead of getting angry with my critics, who I feel have made me a better actor over the years. Reviews matter a lot for an actor, though I am not too sure whether they matter at the box office. If an actor tends to live in an ivory tower, it is only because he is just protecting himself by building layers since he is petrified.

Besides talent, what do you think an actor needs to click?

One thing that an actor needs is confidence. If you have no confidence in yourself, you are finished as an actor. An actor wants only recognition and appreciation. Zero money and award are what an actor likes. I had worked with the biggest of filmmakers but nothing worked till Dhoom clicked. By then, I was so frustrated that I thought that Dhoom also would flop. When Dhoom succeeded, it was not like vindication but I heaved a sigh of relief. You see, an actor is insecure because sometimes even if he does well his job, if the editor or the cinematographer does not do his job well, the actor is blamed.

Would you blame yourself for the wrong choices of films as an actor?

How can you blame me if I agreed to work in Mani Ratnam’s Raavan, when I was offered the film after Guru, which was considered my best performance? If Raju Hirani approached Aamir after 3 Idiots with a film, do you think Aamir will say no to him? Name one actor in the entire world who has given only hit after hit in his career? You cannot take your hit or flop seriously as an actor. I had given eight hits in a row but no one spoke about it but when I gave eleven flops one after the other, people made it a point to rub it in. I was quite upset when people attributed the success of Dostana to John Abraham and ignored my contribution to the film. Though people said Paa was a hit, they refused to praise me for having produced the film. People said Laaga Chunari Mein Daag flopped because of me even though I just had done a guest appearance in it.

What advice did your dad give you when you were reeling under flops and been dubbed a failure?

What can be worse than a totally unknown woman who is a stranger slapping me outside Galaxy Theatre after watching my film Shararat? She told me that she felt like slapping me because she felt that my performance in the film was bad considering the fact that I am the son of a great actor like Amitabh Bachchan. It was difficult for me to go home and tell your dad that you have given one more flop when your own dad opens the door for you. You have to see it from the son’s perspective. Dad told me to sign  every film that came my way and learn by doing mistakes in film after film, because it was not possible for me to improve myself by sitting at home and twiddling my thumbs. You bare your soul on a daily basis to the entire world as an actor.

Does your dad shower his praises on you?

The only time he said well done to me was when he watched Guru. After Guru he has stopped telling me about my performance, because he is worried that people would feel he is promoting me. My dad has not produced a film till date for me though I have produced two films for him- Paa and Buddah Hoga Tera Baap. It is very convenient for people to say that I am here in this industry because of my father. Just name one star son who has not worked with his father?

Are you in favor of acting in sequels and remakes?

I am the king of sequels. I have already acted in Dhoom and Dhoom 2 and am all set to act in Dhoom 3 with Aamir Khan as the antagonist. i have already done Sarkar and Sarkar Raj, its sequel. I will be acting in the sequel of Dostana and if Players clicks in a big way, I will be game to act in its sequel too, though unless and until a film has its own franchise; it cannot be made as a sequel. I am acting in Players, the remake of Italian Job and Bol Bachchan, the remake of Golmaal.

Do you plan to take up direction too?

Ranbir Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan are trained in direction unlike me. I like to be told and do not like telling people to act. I do not think that I am inclined towards taking up acting.

How was it working with your dad in the Versa ad earlier and films like Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar?

It was like a screen test for me to work with my dad. It was the easiest shoot for me because I did not have to work at all. Dad makes his co artistes too act well. To tell the truth when we were shooting for the ad, I was dying with nervousness. Hence I was obviously nervous about working with my dad in Ramgopal Varma’s Sarkar but at the same time excited at the prospects of working with him in a film for the first time.

How do you react to the comparisons between you and your papa?

I think it is very inevitable and I won’t even crib. The day I took up acting, I’d decided that I shouldn’t at all think that I am Mr. Amitabh Bachchan’s son when I am in front of the camera. I cannot dare to compare myself or compete with him because I cannot afford to let him down as his son. I’d like to imbibe every quality of his though till date I think I’ve inherited only my papa’s height, not his sterling qualities. 

What has your father taught you?

I hope I don’t sound clichéd but the fact is that my ambition is to be a good human being and do whatever I can do to the better of my ability both personally as well as professionally, without hurting any one in the process. My father has taught me and my sister Shweta to believe that in life it doesn’t matter how many times you fall down but what matters is the number of times you manage to pick yourself up and carry on.

How do you react when people say you copy your dad’s mannerisms?

Why do people forget that I am my father’s son and I am bound to look and behave like him even if I don’t want to? As far the critics are concerned they have a job to do and they are doing it. They have an opinion and they have to express it, which is fair enough. I have to listen to what they have to say and then take into consideration how much of it is really mine and how much doesn’t belong to me. If they think that I am trying to act like my father then that’s what they think. I can’t go around clarifying myself to everybody. I will be wasting my time. I’d rather channelise my energies to do my work. I will look like him and behave more so than anybody else. From my side there has been no conscious effort to imitate him. You must understand that if I’ve been given a dance step, I am not going to argue with the choreographer. I will have to do what I am told to do.

Do the directors urge you to act like your father?

No one has ever told me to do so.

Has being a Bachchan worked to your disadvantage?

I haven’t faced any disadvantage so far. I do agree that there is a lot of pressure. But that is something I have not really thought about. I have realized that if I keep thinking about it I won’t be concentrating on my work. I am not going to think about living up to the lofty expectations people have of me. I can’t be dad. Nobody can.

What type of roles do you prefer?

I prefer all type of roles. I’m at ease in serious & roles with strong emotions & convictions.

- Jyothi Venkatesh

Wearing a leather jacket teamed with a funky tee and jeans, totally in character for Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl, his next outing with his BBB co-star, directed and produced by BBB makers, Maneesh Sharma and Yash Raj Films, Ranveer studiously answered all our questions, weighing every word lest he put his foot into the mouth.

Why should the girls beware of Ricky Bahl?

Because he is shrewd, sly, and cunning and will take your money away and you will never get to see him again. He’s not a petty thief, not a pickpocket, woh bade bade kaand karta hai, he’s a big player. So you can hide your property papers and your bank papers…

So is the film Bunty Aur Babli reloaded?

No, it’s not. It’s just the same production house, and it’s a con film like Bunty Aur Babli but then Yash Raj had made Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge, a love story and it made Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, again a love story but these films were clearly different. Bunty Aur Babli and Ladies V/S Ricky Bahl aren’t alike at all, the characters are very different.

Are you like Ricky Bahl? Have you ever used your charm, your looks to get your way?

Well, I have never used my looks because I don’t have them, I still don’t think I have them. But charm yes, I have used my charm to con people, especially my teachers and my mum. I would bunk school, not do my school work, give my teachers a goli for not doing stuff and they wouldn’t catch me, would let me go, have done that to my mum too, especially when I wanted to shirk my responsibilities.

Band Baaja Baraat didn’t come with any expectations while this comes with a lot of it…How different are the two situations and is it scary this time?

Well, I was a newcomer during BBB, Anushka had not many films, it was a new director, Yash Raj wasn’t having a good run at that point of time, so yes, BBB came with zero expectations because it was releasing alongside a big film. But slowly it picked up. This time, we are the same team and yes, people have loads of expectations from it which is both great and scary. And I think I will always feel scared before every release of mine and that’s the way it should be. It’s a solo release, I don’t think any other Indian film is releasing on that day (December 9) and there is no way I am going to be complacent about my films.

When I read your interviews or see you on talk shows or film events, you come across very strongly, something even some people in the industry have admitted to not being very comfortable with…Comment.

Well, I don’t know any other way to be. I have always spoken my mind and that’s how it has always been and will always be, because that’s the way I am wired. I wouldn’t be able to digest it if I were to behave diplomatic or put up behaviour that’s more politically correct. If I feel about something or someone, I am going to say that, I know I mean no malice to anyone. Yes, I am loud especially when I have too much of coffee, that’s why I didn’t have any before coming for this interview (laughs as his Man Friday brings him a bottle of water he keeps sipping on throughout our conversation).

How’s the equation changed with Anushka from BBB to now?

It hasn’t really. She was my senior then and she’s still more experienced than me. She’s taught me a few things about acting. During BBB, we were trying to explore each other, our acting styles and trying to understand each other’s pace. I remember I would never look into her eyes and say my lines because that would then alter my way of acting but she taught me to look into her eyes and do a scene. It was difficult initially par usne mujhe maar maar ke sikhaya. Today, even by the slightest intonation in her voice or the slightest twitch in her face, I can know how she’s going to react to a particular line or do a scene. She is very spontaneous too forcing me sometimes to change the way I am going to react to her. I am very comfortable with her, we are on the same page, we connect with each other and I am happy to have a co-star like her in my first and second film with who I share extraordinary chemistry with.

(Point noted, Mr. Singh)

- Kshama Rao

Phew, as we wipe the sweat off our brow, someone wants to know her exercise and diet regime. She then rattles off how she has a high protein diet, doesn’t do cardio but exercises regularly etc. After cooling a bit she tells us why she is upset with the anorexia reports. “Everyone writes about my relationships, my clothes, my make-up, my legs, my nose etc…can’t stop them, write anything that’s got to do with my films, criticize my performances but saying things like she has anorexia or she was making out with someone at a private party is stretching things a bit too far. It’s derogatory and demeaning. You are questioning my values, my parents’ upbringing and I am not taking that lying down. Do not cross your line. Just because we have chosen this profession it doesn’t mean we stop being human beings. Everyone has a bad day. Allow us ours.”

I ask her about this obsession with ‘looks’ these days, especially reports about directors asking heroines and even heroes to lose and gain weight. Like didn’t we have heroines of yesteryear with broad shoulders and broader hips and heroes looking like fathers of two playing characters of every hue and shade? But Anushka doesn’t let me complete the question and aims her machine gun again. “When directors ask you to put on weight or lose some, you have to see the context, you don’t know the film we are making, you haven’t seen the character, the demands of that character… for instance, if Vidya Balan has put on weight for The Dirty Picture then that’s her character. You got to realize that. Having said that, no one has asked me to lose weight, I was asked to gain a little weight for Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi but I have always been thin and lean. And in our country there are enough thin girls.”

She also gives us gyaan on how journalists in Hollywood report diligently about somebody’s professional life but never their personal lives (oh yeah!!) and how a certain section of the Indian media gets very “personal” about stars and celebrities, making derogatory comments.

Her frown is soon replaced by a smile as talk veers to Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, her next film with Ranveer Singh due to release on December 7. It’s about a young, smashing conman, Ricky Bahl who dupes a string of girls till he finds his match in Ishika Desai (Anushka). “I play the ‘Versus’ in the film. I am the point of conflict between Ricky and the three girls he has duped of money. My character is a separate entity otherwise I wouldn’t have done the film.”

Much water has flown under the bridge since their first runaway hit together. “During Band Baaja Baraat, we didn’t know each other. We had to slowly learn about each other’s style of working. This time, obviously it was more comfortable. We knew each other’s pace. I respect Ranveer as an actor, he’s driven, he’s passionate about his job. I have genuine fondness for Ranveer.” (Just a few minutes ago, we have heard Ranveer say almost the same things about Anushka, looks like they follow the same ‘press interview’ script).

Anushka is on a roll. Much as she is dying to go on a vacation, Vishal Bhardwaj’s next with Imran Khan (which earlier had Ajay Devgn) – “Imran suits the character very well. Predict the unpredictable from him in this film” she chirps — and Yash Chopra’s next starring Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif are going to tie her down to the studios for the next four months atleast. “He is the Yash Chopra, who’s made beautiful romantic films. I am lucky to be working with him so early in my career. As for Vishal, he’s very gentle and calm; it just rubs off on you.”

Meanwhile, the PR signals for the interview to be over and Anushka gets up stretching her never ending legs. As she glances at herself in the giant mirror lining the wall, I can’t help but wonder at her ‘painfully’ thin frame! Oops, thank god, she can’t read my thoughts.

- Kshama Rao

Is The Dirty Picture based on the life and times of Silk Smita?

At the very outset, let me make it very clear to you that my role in The Dirty Picture is not at all based on the real life story of starlet Silk Smita but inspired by her story. I’d say that it is the story of a dancing star, which was very popular in the 80’s. Though there were quite a few dancing stars like Silk Smita, Nylex Nalini, Disco Shanti and Polyester Padmini, it was only Silk Smita who was at the top of the heap at that point of time.

What is the relevance of the title The Dirty Picture?

The title is apt because the idea is to blast the prevailing myth about dancing stars in the industry and the way they are often looked down upon. It is about our perception of the dancing stars. It is about the double standards that we have. We like to see porn in private but in public we often choose to say that we all do not at all like to see such stuff.

Do you believe that women today can openly revel in their sexuality?

You should be able to live your life on your own terms and conditions, whether you are a sex symbol or not. Society is made up of you and me, whether a male or a female and rules and regulations change form time to time and it is we who decide what is good and what is bad at a point of time. I’d say that women had better status 40 years ago and we had actresses like Nutan and Meena Kumari playing substantial roles in films. Today the situation has definitely deteriorated, though I should confess that we are not isolated as stars and are not relegated to just a few friends since we have our own lives.

Okay, tell me what is your role in the film?

I play the role of a struggling dancing actress called Silk. Silk is a bindaas, bold, bejijhak and colorful but not a vulgar girl. Though many may feel that she is a besharam ladki, I feel that she is only colorful and not without scruples. Silk has a kind of bachpana in her and has absolutely no double standards and does what exactly she wants to do. What Silk is, besides her body is what the film The Dirty Picture will set out to tell.

What was your reaction when you were offered the role by Ekta Kapoor?

To tell you the truth, when Milan Luthria came to me with the offer and told me that I was to play a role inspired by the late Silk Smita, I was initially flabbergasted and wondered why was selected for the role. Milan told me that he would tell me why I was selected for the role only at the time of the release of the film. Milan also told me that he could not see any one else in my shows as far as the role as concerned.

If your character in the film is not based on her real life story, why has she been named Silk?

My character could have had any other name but Milan said that he chose the name Silk because it is a nationally known name since Smita made it famous. The original name of Smita was Vijayalakshmi but we did not keep the name as Vijayalakshmi or for that matter Smita.

Would you say that your character of Silk is vulgar?

Silk is not at all ashleel. You see, every woman is sensuous. Silk was used as a tool to seduce the audiences.

How tough was it for you to prepare for your part since Vidya is a far cry in real life from Silk Smita?

Believe it or not, but the fact is that there has been no preparation at all for the part of Silk in The Dirty Picture by me. Milan is a director who told me that I should psyche myself to, prepare for my part by being bindaas in my own style. When you compare it with the number of times that I generally read other scripts before I agree to work in a film, I should confess that I read the script of Dirty Pictures very less.

How embarrassed were you initially to take up the role?

First and foremost I am happy to be an actor. In the process, I am game to play either the role of a mother to a 14 year old Amitabh Bachchan, a bespectacled deglamorised Sabrina in a No One Killed Jessica or a temptress like Silk in The Dirty Picture. I do not want to be just a Vidya Balan in every film in which I am acting and want to play a variety of roles. If I had wanted to do only sexy roles like in Ishqiya, I would not have dared to take up a role like I did in No One Killed Jessica immediately after I had complete working in Ishqiya.

How was the experience of playing Silk?

I thoroughly enjoyed exploring that side of me. It helped me that I had seen Sadma. I also made it a point to watch a few moves of dancing actresses like Nylex Nalini, Polyester Padmini etc, though Silk Smita was definitely ahead of her times. Today’s girls are unapologetic and in total command of themselves. Silk took pride in doing what she did, like I am sure today a Raakhi Sawant takes pride in doing.

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And how was the experience of working with Naseeruddin Shah for the second time in The Dirty Picture after Ishqia?

Naseer Sir is one of the veteran living legends and I knew that I would be very comfortable with him because he would make me comfortable. Naseer Sir can even make you believe that he is a flower vase. Being part of the song Oolaalaala was a wonderful experience for both me and Naseer Sir. Naseer Sir told me that it was after a long time after Oye Oye in Tridev that he has been able to do a song and dance sequence like Ooolaalaala in The Dirty Picture. After rolling down the slopes on oranges, I now have great respect for actors who have done such songs, like Jeetendra and Sridevi. I have worn some 130 costumes for the film and what’s more have also gone through seven to eight changes every day.

Was it embarrassing for you to flaunt your panting neck deep cleavage in The Dirty Picture?

If you look like chess or for that matter a carom board, what is the big deal of being a woman? I have absolutely no limitations at all as an actress and can play a sexually aggressive girl like in The Dirty Picture or the mother to a 14 year old young man like in Paa, as I said earlier. In any case, I was flaunting my cleavage just as part of the character Silk and not as Vidya Balan. Isn’t it?

You have serenaded in a lot of saris in The Dirty Picture, especially red saris!

I simply love saris a lot, because it adapts to anybody, whether one is slim or fat and celebrates feminity and womanhood in a major way and makes a woman look 100% like a woman.

How was it working with Milan Luthria for the first time in The Dirty Picture?

With a director like Milan Luthria, it is always work in progress, since he gets so much into detailing as he is a very committed director. What I liked the best about Milan is that he let me interpret my character 70% the way I did and guided me only 30% to tweak me whenever I went overboard. I was on the ball constantly because I surrendered myself completely to him and I’d not hesitate to state that it was for the first time that I had depended on a director so much to interpret my character in a film, because he showed so much faith in me.

You had worked with Ekta Kapoor in her TV serial Hum Paanch in the beginning of your career and now have act din her film The Dirty Picture. How would you describe her?

Ekta’s conviction is quite strong. She is the actual driving force behind The Dirty Picture. Ekta started when she was very young and succeed in writing her own rules, because she had passion. What I like about Ekta is that despite all the success, she is still a girl and has not become a woman.

How did you break the ice with Emran Hashmi and Tusshar, considering both are known to be quite shy?

Emran would not talk much initially and we got along only after a few scenes were canned with us. I’d say that still he is a man of a few words. By the time the film was almost complete, Milan and I decided to pull a prank on Tusshar and I mouthed a few lines at tangent to what my character was supposed to mouth but Tusshar did not bother or cringe and unperturbedly went ahead and mouthed only those dialogues which he was supposed to deliver.

You have kissed both Emran Hashmi and Tusshar in The Dirty Picture. Who is a better kisser?

Instead of comparing Emran with Tusshar, I’d rather state that, if I ever get an opportunity, I’d love to kiss George Clooney.

Do you get disturbed after you complete a film, after getting into the skin of your complex characters?

I go through pangs at the end of each and every film that I do. I used to get very disturbed every time I used to play a complex character but now I have learnt to disconnect myself from work, because I get too involved when I get into the skin of my character and in the process even became sick. Now I am just the way I am because I realize that there are easier ways to act.

Who are your favorite actors?

I am tempted to state that both Amitabh Bachchan and Naseeruddin Shah are two of my favorite actors, because they are so humble and not at all complacent.

Why have you become very choosy as an actress?

It is true that I am choosy, because I choose to do what I believe in. It ahs been paying me so far and I hope that it will continue to pay me in the near future too. Last year, after Paa the year before, I had just one release- Ishqia. This year I had just a release-No One Killed Jessica. The Dirty Picture will be my second release this year on December 2, which incidentally happens to be the birthday of the late Silk Smita too. Kahani directed by Sujoy Ghosh will be released next year in January.

What is your role in Kahani?

I play a woman who is six months pregnant in the film. The body language came easy to me because I had observed my own sister at close quarters before she delivered twins – a baby daughter called Ira and a son called Ruhaan recently. It is a thriller about a pregnant woman who comes to Mumbai in search of her husband from London.

Does it mean that you are turning down films left right and centre?

I just cannot physically do every film that comes my way. I had even turned down a good offer to be part of Ghayal 2 because I was already committed to The Dirty Picture during the time when they wanted me to dole out my dates for the film.

But why did you turn down Vishal Bharadwaj’s offer to cast you in Dhed Ishqiya?

I did not turn down the offer to be part of the Ishqiya sequel titled Dhed Ishqiya. I would have loved to be part of it but Vishal and Abhishek Chaubey chose to dispense away with the character continue the story from where it ended and now Naseer Sir and Arshad will go to another city where they will come across another woman, played by Madhuri Dixit in the film.

What kind of a man do you get turned on? Is marriage with Sidharth Roy Kapoor on the cards?

I like clean shaved men. All that I can say at this point of time is that I am not ready for marriage now though I believe in the institution of marriage.

- Jyothi Venkatesh

The Dirty Picture (December 2^nd, 2011)

Vidya Balan’s movies in the past have been a hit or miss. She had a great debut with Parineeta but lately her string of movies has been uneven. She plans to break this trend with The Dirty Picture.

She plays the late South Indian actress Silk Smitha who fired up a storm in the late 80’s and 90’s with her sexual innuendos. Co-starring with her is the always reliable Naseeruddin Shah, serial-kisser Emraan Hashmi, and always-present Tusshar Kapoor. Let’s see if this movie revives Vidya Balan’s career or makes her choose an unneeded break.

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Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl (December 9^th, 2011)

The team of Band Baaja Baarat is back! Literally, every member of last year’s word-of-mouth hit is back. Starring Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma, the movie is about a con man that has conned 28 girls in 17 cities with his charm, but now has met his ultimate match.

The movie also is the launching point of Priyanka Chopra’s niece, Parineeti Chopra and the music provided by Salim-Sulaiman is already creating a dancing storm around the world.

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Hugo (December 9^th, 2011)

Based on Brian Selznick’s captivating and inventive New York Times bestseller The Invention of Hugo Cabret, it tells the 1930s story of a young orphan boy living a secret life in a Paris train station who meets a young girl that changes everything and he gets caught up in a baffling adventure. Martin Scorsese, the greatest living filmmaker on this planet is the director which is enough to make you excited. The book relies heavily on pictures and it is Martin Scorsese’s first brush with 3D and family film which makes the wait even more compelling. The star cast is great too with Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jude Law, Ray Winstone and Christopher Lee along with hugely talented child actors Asa Butterfield as Hugo Cabret (of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas fame) and Chloë Moretz (of Kick Ass fame) as Isabelle.

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Sherlock Holmes 2 (December 16^th, 2011)

Guy Ritchie surprised everybody with the first Sherlock Holmes by injecting a real dose of excitement in the legendary saga where the characters had great chemistry, although it was hardly based on anything Conan Doyle had written.  While the plot remains a mystery, what is known is that Holmes’ (played by Robert Downey Jr.) more intelligent, but unmotivated, older brother, Mycroft (Stephen Fry), will make an appearance, and that Holmes’ greatest literary villain, Professor James Moriarty, will figure prominently, possibly portrayed by  Jared Harris (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).  Noomi Rapace of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo fame joining the cast as yet-to-be-revealed character is just the icing on the cake. We hope the director doesn’t forget the elementary: mystery element.

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Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (December 16^th, 2011)

The return of Ethan Hunt. But more than Tom Cruise, we are interested in Anil Kapoor making his appearance in a mainstream Hollywood film. The fourth installment of the Mission Impossible series will see Kapoor playing an antagonist along with Michael Nyqvist (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) Léa Seydoux (Inglorious Basterds). With Cruise’s film hardly evoked any great interest thanks to his fading star power, the inclusion of Jeremy Renner, Josh Holloway, and Paula Patton in the cast made all the right noises. The film will also mark the introduction of Renner’s character, who’ll be Cruise’s successor to the franchise. MI: 4 will be the actor’s swan song and it deserves to be watched to see how it all ends. The globe-trotting adventure will be directed by Brad Bird, who’ll be taking a leap from the genre of animation with this project.

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The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (December 21^st, 2011)

This is the American film adaptation of the award-winning crime novel by Swedish author and journalist Stieg Larsson, the first in his Millennium Trilogy, which became a worldwide bestseller after his death in November 2004. Being directed by David Fincher (The Social Network), the project is in safe hands but interestingly the director was a little hesitant in picking up this project since it dealt with some of the same dark themes touched in his earlier films Zodiac and Seven.  The story has a chilly Swedish backdrop of moody psychodramas from Bergman films where we have Carl Mikael Blomkvist, a reporter filling the role of detective, and his sidekick, Lisbeth Salander, aka the girl with the dragon tattoo hired to get to the bottom of a case of disappearance thus uncovering astonishing secrets with unexpected twists and turns.  The success of the brilliant screen adaptations have made Noomi Rapace a hot property in Hollywood, it would be an acid test for Rooney Mara who’s been cast as the lead. And yes, Daniel Craig is a part of the cast too.

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Don 2 (December 23^rd, 2011)

The King is back! After a disappointing stint with Ra.One, Shah Rukh looks to have the last laugh of 2011 with Don 2. He’ll be back to his old ways in this action-thriller which is the first of its kind. It’s the first sequel to a remake and the way the promos are it looks like there is nothing to be missed.

Now, having conquered the Asian underworld, Don (Khan) now has his sights set on European domination. In his way are the bosses of the existing European underworld and all law enforcement agencies. The action shifts from Kuala Lumpur to Berlin as Don must avoid assassination or arrest, whichever comes first, in order for his plan to succeed.

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War Horse (December 28^th, 2011)

Based on the book of the same name by acclaimed children’s writer, Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War. It begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert. When they are forcefully parted in the frenzy of WWI, it follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets. Steven Spielberg has pulled together an overwhelmingly European cast which includes David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston, David Kross, and Stephen Graham shunning Hollywood A-list stars. Like all true stories of great friendship amidst high adventure, the second film by the maverick this year will bring him to the war film zone again. Needless to say, everyone is expecting it to be another epic in the making.

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So, which movie are you going to watch?

- Dipankar Roy, Aniket Thakkar

What is your role in Desi Boyz?

I play the role of a Gujarati boy called Jerry Patel in Desi Boyz. What is interesting to note is the fact that Jerry’s actual name is Jignesh Patel and he has made it a point to change his name to sound like an American as people who migrate from India to USA often do.

Is Desi Boyz an out and out comedy?

I’d say that Desi Boyz is the true story of two boys-one an Indian and another a Pakistani national who are good banker friends who were hit by the recession wave in 2008 and were affected like every one else and even lost their jobs. In order to earn their livelihood, eventually become male escorts. Desi Boyz has been inspired by the story of these two friends though both John and I play Indian desi boys in the film.

Since both of you play the role of male escorts, is it a sleazy film?

Desi Boyz is in no way a sleazy film. We are seen as male escorts in only 10 to 15 minutes in the entire film. It is an emotional film woven around friendship. It is a two hour and two minutes long happy go and feel good chilled out film right from the word go.

How easy or tough was it for you to get into the skin of the character of the male escort?

I’d not hesitate to state that there is not much difference between a male escort and an actor, because like the male escorts, we actors also fulfill people’s fantasies. In fact though we are known as actors in English, we call ourselves bhands in Hindi. All that I had to learn to get into the character of my skin as a male escort was to learn pole dancing in London for six days as part of the preparation for the role.

To what extent are you desi at heart?

I am Rajeev at home even though I am Akshay Kumar outside my house even today. I have not forgotten my roots. I am fully desi at heart. I am of the opinion that maa baap ke seedhe ladle ladke do not leave their roots. Even today I live with my mother and though it is considered to be cool quotient to talk in hi- fi English, I do not believe in it and like to talk in Hindi whenever and wherever it is possible.

Have you started talking in Hindi only because you want to promote Desi Boyz?

I really feel from my heart that we should talk in Hindi because Hindi is our national language and we are working in Hindi films. In fact, I’d not hesitate to salute Katrina Kaif for talking in Hindi even though it is not at all her mother tongue. As far as promotion of Desi Boyz is concerned, I write on Desi Boyz on tweeter every day.

In what way is Rohit Dhawan, son of David Dhawan different from David?

David Dhawan goes according to the rule and waits for the actors to tell them their scenes and asks them to enact the scenes and keeps the camera according their performances whereas Rohit Dhawan goes by the book and places the camera and then asks his actors to act. There is a world of difference between the working styles of both the father and the son.

Can you elucidate?

Rohit is only 27 years old but is very confident. It is not at all easy to direct stars like Sanjay Dutt on the first day. The difference between David and Rohit is that David is fun loving but Rohit is a little bit serious. If the film Desi Boyz runs in a big way, I’d give the entire credit to only Rohit. I know Rohit ever since he was a tiny boy when I used to work with David Dhawan. Rohit has made a breezy film and I’d say that each scene in the film will make you’d feel that Rohit had felt the same while in college. There is no slap stick kind of comedy in the film and there is no scene of any person falling down over kele ka chilka.

How did you have the confidence to come on board when Rohit decided to turn a director?

Rohit was actually slated to make a film called Come On Pappu with me and a chimpanzee but some how the script did not turn out to be as exciting as we thought that it would and eventually were ended up changing the original script and opted for the script of Desi Boyz and in the process, replaced the chimpanzee with John Abraham instead. (Laughs)

How would you rate John as a co-star?

It is my second film with John after Garam Masala which I had done with him six years ago.I found a lot of difference between the John Abraham of Garam Masala and the john Abraham of Desi Boyz. Like his muscles, his comedy sense of timing also has increased tremendously. Though he is one of the best looking boys in the film industry, what I like about him is that he dopes laid back comedy effortlessly, in the sense his way of delivering dialogues in comedy is effortless. He is like Bean who is subtle and not like Charlie Chapin who was loud and I always tell him that I have to learn his way of laid back comedy as an actor.

How was Chitrangda Singh as your co-actress?

Chitrangda is a dusky looking desi girl who reminds you instantly of the late Smita Patil. It is her first commercial film though she has to her credit quite a few offbeat art films like Hazaaron Khwahishein Aisi , Sorry Bhai, Kal and Yeh Saali Zindagi.I remember the first day when we were shooting, Chitrangda was quite petrified when there was a crowd of around 350 people thronging on the location and since she had never come across a situation like I had to make her comfortable by escorting her out of the crowds whereas Deepika Padukone  was quite confident of herself and managed to be at ease in front of the crowds .

What next after Desi Boyz?

I am now all set to act in action films like Prabhu Deva’s Rowdy Rathore produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Rohit Shetty’s assistant Ashish R Mohan’s film Khiladi 786 Made In Punjab produced jointly by my own banner Hari Om Pictures and Himesh Reshammiya’s H. R Muzik and presented by Eros International. It is twelve years since I did an action film. For a long time, I have really not acted in any action film. My son is now 10 years old. He likes to watch action films and is also learning karate. For the next five years at least, I’d love to do action films. I am now 45 years old and after I turn 50, I do not think I can continue to do action packed films.

Are you doing a 20 minute cameo in Khiladi 786 Made in Punjab?

Though I am the producer of the film, I have heard reports in the media that I have been paid a sum of Rs 20 cro0res for acting in the film. I have also heard that I am doing just a cameo in the film. Damn it Man, it is an action comedy and I am playing the title role in it. Why should I do a cameo role in my own film?

Why are you now veering towards negative roles after doing comedy roles?

With Rowdy Rathore, which is a remake of a South Indian hit and Once Upon A Time In Mumbai sequel for Ekta Kapoor, I want to try my hand after a long time at negative roles. I do not think my fan following will decrease if I do negative roles. Are you aware that the fan following of both John Abraham and Hrithik Roshan tripled after they did negative roles in Dhoom? We used to have a wrong perception about an actor who plays a negative role. Ranjeet has played the rapist in many films but do you know that he is a seedha saadha guy who is actually a vegetarian? I have always been a naughty person on the sets and like to play pranks on my unsuspecting co-actors, because I feel that if you do not do masti, you will end up getting bored on the sets and also make every one bored of you, though there are actors who like to maintain their distances and do not do masti at all on the sets while shooting.

How do you manage to get time to spend with your family amidst your hectic schedule?

I do not work at all on Sundays and on Saturdays I work from 7 am to 2 pm, because I  like to spend time with my family. We love going to swim. My son likes trekking and hence we go to Gorai or Bhayander, where there is a mountain called Mama Bhanja near Pokhran. We play volleyball too. I also cook on Sundays at home.

Shah Rukh Khan has said that he had set out to make Ra One for his son. Would you also make a film for your son?

I did the voice over for films like Transformers, Jumbo etc because my son wanted me to dub for them but I would not lie to make a film for him, because lets face facts film making is a business which involves crores of rupees. In any case, my son likes to watch only cartoons like Tom & jerry and does not like to watch even my own film.

What is your take on relationships?

I have always believed that you should be very honest as far as your relationships are concerned and give it a lot of time to nurture it, though it does not take time to break any relationship

Which has been your high point and low point this year?

I have seen so many low points as far as my career is concerned, that honestly my low points too have been my high points but I have not let any of my low point affect me at all.

How would you evaluate your growth over the years as an actor?

It is 21 years since I had made my debut with Pramod Chakraborty’s Deedar opposite Karisma Kapoor. I have grown by leaps and bounds not only age but also experience as well as bank accounts. My family also has grown and the number of films I have done also has grown by leaps and bounds but people know me right from the beginning like you do can vouchsafe for the fact that I am still the same old Rajiv Bhatia.

 Jyothi Venkatesh

]]> http://blog.bigcinemas.com/2011/11/23/desiboyz/feed/ 0 bigcinemas Desi Boyz http://blog.bigcinemas.com/2011/11/07/november-movie-preview/ http://blog.bigcinemas.com/2011/11/07/november-movie-preview/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:26:40 +0000 BIG Cinemas http://blog.bigcinemas.com/?p=2175 ]]> As the year comes to an end, the number of movies releasing are endless, so we have narrowed down the must-watch movies of the month. For November, we make some robberies, witness the rise and all of a star, turn into strippers (?), and you know, have-an-animated-cat-do-cool-moves-along-with-the return-of-legends’ stuff. Welcome to November Movie Previews.

Tower Heist (November 4^th, 2011)

Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead an all-star cast in Tower Heist, a comedy caper about working stiffs who seek revenge on the Wall Street swindler who stiffed them. After the workers at a luxury Central Park condominium discover the penthouse billionaire has stolen their retirement, they plot the ultimate revenge: a heist to reclaim what he took from them. The film also has actors like Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck, Zachary Levi, Tea Leoni, Gabourey Sidibe, Judd Hirsch, Alan Alda, Bobby Cannavale, Tim Blake Nelson, Jon Voight and Wallace Shawn in supporting roles and Brett Ratner of Rush Hour fame is the director of the film. Sounds like a lot of fun.

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Puss In Boots (November 4^th, 2011)

Puss In Boots, one of the most adored characters from the Shrek universe is the first spinoff of the franchise and will tell the uproarious tale of Puss’s (voiced by Antonio Banderas) early adventures as he teams with mastermind humpty dumpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis) and the street – smart kitty (voiced by Salma Hayek) to steal the famed goose that lays the golden eggs. Swords will cross and hearts will be broken in this swashbuckling adventure before the cat meets Shrek and his friends, while introducing new characters as well. Since the Shrek franchise has ballooned into a multibillion-dollar property, with three feature films grossing more than $2 billion worldwide in theatres, this one will be no less than a blockbuster. Is another animation franchise about to be born? We sure hope so.

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Rockstar (November 11^th, 2011)

Imtiaz Ali has a knack of making movies that are different yet successful. First it was Jab We Met, then Love Aaj Kal, and now he shows the story of a Rockstar.

Ranbir Kapoor stars as a simple Delhi boy who sets out to find the pain that will make his life and music go beyond the realm of the ordinary.  With every passing day, his relentless pursuit of love and pain translates into words and music, transcending the heart and the soul. But what might give him greatness might also destroy him.

The movie has all the bearings of a blockbuster, and with newcomer Nargis Fahkri in the female lead, it is all set for an epic love story. Now, just hopefully the critics agree with that statement.

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Immortals (November 11^th, 2011)

Another cinematic epic of on Greek gods is on its way, though the revival of Clash of The Titans hardly pleased the critics despite good box-office return. The saving grace is that it’s been helmed by Indian director Tarsem Singh who has been hailed as a revolutionary visualist thanks to his previous films (The Cell, The Fall). It will tell the story of warrior prince Theseus as he leads men into battle against imprisoned titans in order to save mankind. Originally titled War of the Gods, it stars Henry Cavill as Theseus, Indian actress Freida Pinto as Phaedra, Stephen Dorff as Stavros, Kellan Lutz as Poseidon, Luke Evans as Zeus, John Hurt as Old Zeus and Isabel Lucas as Athena and Mickey Rourke as villain King Hyperion. It’s a $100 million epic and will be converted to 3D in post-production and will witness Gods doing superhero stunts; time for some heroic action.

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The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (November 18^th, 2011)

Cynics might ridicule but followers are just waiting with bated breath to pounce on the next installment of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight saga featuring Bella Swan, Edward Cullen and Jacob Black. The longest book in the series and because of its complex structure and size, the tale of glittering vampires and buff werewolves has been split into two separate films. The first part will be arriving in theatres in November while the second part will be released next year, a tactic to milk the franchise vis-à-vis Harry Potter. Told from the perspectives of Bella and Jacob, the series is expected to make its way up at the ticket counter with the trademark below average acting from the cast members that include the wildly popular Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Taylor Lautner.  The only respite is that Oscar-winning screenwriter and Dreamgirls director Bill Condon has been hired to direct along with Melissa Rosenberg penning the screenplay.

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Happy Feet 2 (November 18^th, 2011)

Those crazy penguins are back! The most famous tap-dancing penguin, Mumble (Elijah Wood) returns along with the love of his life, Gloria and their old friends Ramon and Lovelace (Robin Williams) in the sequel of 2006 smash hit. Mumble and Gloria now have a son of their own, Erik, who is trying to find his own space while new dangers are looming large on the penguin nation. While Brittany Murphy, the original voice actress of Mumble’s love interest Gloria has passed away, singer Pink will be the replacement and she is composing an original song too for the soundtrack. The success of the first film, along with its eco-friendly message, has attracted Brad Pitt and Matt Damon to the sequel who will be giving voiceover for tiny krill. Hank Azaria and Sofia Vergara will also appear in the movie as new characters. Time to dance and save the world.

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Desi Boyz (November 23^rd, 2011)

David Dhawan has always released comedies that have made us laugh off our seats and now his son, Rohit, is all set to do the same with his debut directorial venture, Desi Boyz. The movie is carrying all the star power with Akshay Kumar, John Abraham and Deepika Padukone, but the actress stealing the spotlight is Chitrangada Singh. You might have not heard of her, but she’s turning all the heads by getting this lead and she will also be starring Race 2 so be on the lookout for this beauty as she is all set to set the screen on fire.

But, Desi Boyz is the story of two men who are forced to do something extremely bizarre which gives them instant gratification but the repercussions tear them apart and its aftermath which tests everything including their friendship.

So, ‘make some noise for the desi boyz. Un. Dos. Tres. Let’s go’

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The Muppets (November 23^rd, 2011)

Jason Segel’s puppet rendition of Dracula in Forgetting Sarah Marshall made many fans amongst us and he is the right person to revive the Muppet franchise. Being a self-described Muppet nerd, Segel wrote the script alongside Get Him to the Greek screenwriter Nicholas Stoller. The film will tell the story of an evil oil tycoon threatening to tear down the Muppets’ theatre in order to drill for oil underneath. The gang must band together to put on the greatest show the world’s ever seen in order to save the theatre. With actors like Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper, Rashida Jones on board and celebrity cameos from the likes of Alan Arkin, Jack Black, Billy Crystal, Lady Gaga, Ed Helms, and Jean-Claude Van Damme among other spread all over the film is sure to bring back nostalgic memories of everyone’s childhood.

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Arthur Christmas (November 23^rd, 2011)

Have you ever wondered how Santa manages to deliver all those wonderful presents in one single night? Well, if yes, then next Christmas, the answer will be revealed in front of your eyes, with a twist of course. A quirky take on the legend of Santa, the story will revolve around Santa and his one ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. The hitch is that Santa’s good-natured but clumsy younger son Arthur has a very urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns. The film features the voice talent of James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton and Ashley Jensen.

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So, which movie are you going to watch this November?

- Dipankar Roy, Aniket Thakkar