CINETALK

a good kickstart. But the entire flashback angle with Rishi narrating his own story, something which sounds quite exciting on paper, doesn’t really carry the same punch as the SaifDeepika story.

In fact, whenever the film goes into past mode, it dips and only Deepika’s re-emergence on the scene lights up things. Watch out for the scene where she finally decides to move on and brings on a fake smile in front of the mirror.

The interim love story of Saif and his Swiss girlfriend brings the pace down again, hence making for an uneven ride till interval.

Post interval portions don’t quite help things much as the Dilli bhraman of Saif and Deepika looks fake.

Just when it seemed that the film had come to an abrupt end, there is this twist in the story that makes one wonder if Love Aaj Kal is the same movie that started so impressively and ended in such an ordinary manner!

If not for the performances and the music, the film would have dipped even further.

Deepika is excellent as she brings in a certain casual feel to the entire ‘getting in love and then breaking up’ part. Watch out for Saif in those excellent monologues once every 30 minutes or in the brilliantly narrated sequence that goes along with main kya hoon

Rishi hardly gets scope but is nice in his earlier scenes; one wonders though what made Rahul sign a film that doesn’t fetch him a single decent scene!

Yes, one understands where Ali was coming from when he decided to convey that the emotion of love was just the same across different generations. In the end, however, Love Aaj Kal turns out to be just another love story.

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Akshay’s chivalrous act

Akshay Kumar’s gallant nature was revealed in London when his Housefull co-star Deepika Paudkone was laid up with a bout of malaria. He not only made sure Deepika was looked after, but also persuaded her to stay away from shooting. And while Deepika rested, alternative scenes that didn’t require her were shot.

“I’m recovering. I was bedridden for three days. And yes, I did return to the set, because I had to shoot. But I’m not sure whether it was the wisest of decisions, considering it was malaria,” said Deepika in an interview from London.

Akshay and Deepika earlier teamed up for Chandni Chowk To China, which turned out to be a box office dud. But the film’s failure hasn’t affected their friendship.

“I’m lucky to be surrounded by gallant men. Whether it’s my dad, Ranbir (Kapoor), Akshay, Shah Rukh Khan or any of my costars, so far I haven’t encountered any illbehaved men,” said Deepika whose next release is Love Aaj Kal.

Directed by Imtiaz Ali, Love Aaj Kal is set for release and Saif Ali Khan, who plays Deepika’s cynical love interest in the romantic saga, also gets high marks from the actress, though she admits they aren’t close friends.

In the movie, Saif plays a guy who doesn’t believe in romantic love, while Deepika is a die-hard romantic both in the film and in real life.

“He (Saif) also believes in love and realises it when he can’t do without the girl. So I guess there’s a romantic in all of us. It just needs to be tapped. But you need to experience that journey from disbelief to love, like I have in real life,” confided Deepika.

“I often advise people on their love life. I can always tell the difference between those who understand and don’t understand the value of true love,” she added.

Well, let’s hope you experience the romance first-hand, Deepika.

ORekha is Shilpa’s diva

Sultry Shilpa Shetty and her beau Raj Kundra are supposed to be business partners, so his absence at the opening of their first spa was quite conspicuous.

“He couldn’t be here because of other business commitments,” explained Shilpa after the event.

But she didn’t seem to miss him much, as the actress spent time bonding with yesteryears actress Rekha. The ageless diva is no longer that unapproachable, as Shilpa discovered when she invited the actress to inaugurate her spa. Rekha not only agreed immediately and without a fuss, she showed up for the event on the dot.

Shilpa says Rekha has always been a source of inspiration. “She, according to me, is the perfect Bollywood diva. There’s such a mystique surrounding her. We’ve been constantly in touch to discuss many things,” she said.

But now the friendship has gone beyond sharing beauty tips to another level of sharing confidences and philosophies of life. Apparently, after the spa was officially declared open, Rekha sent Shilpa a letter saying Shilpa is doing everything that she (Rekha) always wanted to do. “It is one of the most heart-warming moments of my life. The two of us are now very close,” said Shilpa.

A diva in the making, is our Shilpa.

Lisa is princess for

OSalman

Lisa Lazarus is raving about none other than our Sallu. The Miss Universe UK in 2008 makes her Bollywood debut opposite the hefty hunk in Veer, playing an English princess who falls for his charms. And take a toll on her personal life, as her boyfriend and she broke up, unable to sustain a long-distance relationship. But Lisa is still upbeat, and looking to a promising career in Bollywood. Of course, with Katrina Kaif in her current onoff relationship status with Salman, perhaps anything’s possible.

So will Lisa replace Katrina in Salman’s personal production? Let’s wait and see.

OSonu Sood’s MJ tribute

Tributes to the king of pop are still pouring in, a month after Michael Jackson passed away. And recently, apna Punjabi munda Sonu Sood shot for a song in Bangkok for Puri Jagannath’s movie, which will be a huge tribute to Michael Jackson. It was an extensive shoot over 5 days in different locations of Bangkok. Said Sonu, “It was a great feeling to shoot for this song, which is a tribute to Michael Jackson. It reminded me of my childhood days when we used to buy his albums to learn the dance steps and even practice his moonwalk moves. This song will be very special to me always....a little thank you to Michael Jackson from me.”

Sonu plays a mafia don in the movie and isn’t the audience going to be thrilled watching a bad don dance? You bet!

Actress Leela Naidu is dead

Known as much for her roles in classics like Anuradha and The Householder as for her ageless elegance, actress Leela Naidu died in Mumbai on July 28, after a prolonged illness. She was 69. Born to an Irish mother and an Indian father, Leela Naidu was crowned Miss played by Balraj Sahni. The film didn’t do well at the box office, but got the National Award for Best Film.

In 1962, Leela Naidu was seen in Ummeed. But it was her role in Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke (1963) that got her fame and popularity. Directed by R.K. Nayyar, the movie was based on the K.M. Nanavati vs State of Maharashtra court case. She teamed up with Sunil Dutt in the movie.

In the same year, she was offered a role in the first Merchant Ivory Production The Householder, directed by James Ivory. After a guest appearance in The Guru in 1969, she bid adieu to films to marry, and later divorce, businessman Tikki Oberoi. She later tied the knot with poet Dom Moraes, her childhood sweetheart.

In 1985, she made a comeback on the silver screen as a Goan matriarch in Shyam Benegal’s Trikaal and later featured in director Pradip Krishen’s 1992 movie Electric Moon

The film industry will revere Leela Naidu’s small but significant contribution to its annals. Rest in peace.

OHollywood’s coming to Bollywood

Bollywoodactor Akshay Kumar, who recently shared screen space with international stars Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards and Brandon Routh in Kambakkht Ishq, says he has no plans of heading to Hollywood.

“Why go to Hollywood when Hollywood is coming to Bollywood? I’m happy doing my work here as of now,” said a contented Akshay recently.

ONow that Kambakkht Ishq has registered good profits at the box office, Akshay is looking forward to his other films that include Blue, De Dana Dan and Action Replay. The versatile actor has given the industry a bit of a boost, with reasonably good takings, proving yet again that he’s still kinnng.

ORiteish’s reservations about journalists

ActorRiteish Deshmukh says he was perplexed when filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma narrated his role of an honest and sincere journalist in his media-based film Rann.

“Ramu (Varma) narrated the role to me. He said you have to play an honest, sincere and fair journalist in my film. And my first reaction was, ‘I hope this is not a fictitious the release of the film. The sexy actress is floored by Salman’s aura and personality, and considers him one of Bollywood’s most talented actors. Salman plays the role of a nineteenth century Indian warrior, fighting against British rule in Veer, directed by Anil Sharma. Lisa is smitten by Bollywood and when the offer to act came her way, she grabbed it as the chance to star with Salman was irresistible. The mega-budget flick did

India in 1954. Vogue had also named her as one of the 10 most beautiful women in the world, along with Maharani Gayatri Devi.

She forayed into films with Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s 1960 Anuradha as the bored housewife married to an idealistic doctor character’,” said Riteish. “I agree there are loads of people in the media today who take up issues and use the medium to bring justice, as also bring in a certain from Saif and Deepika, Love Aaj Kal stars Rishi Kapoor and Rahul Khanna, with Neetu Singh in a guest appearance. For Kareena’s sake, fingers crossed that Love Aaj Kal is here to stay.

OThe family stayed away. But his wife Manyata was there, as well as some of his close friends from around the world. society, but a lot of them don’t. Facts are blown out of proportion and a lot of them survive on rumours. So I had my doubts about how real my character would be. But the experience of shooting for the film was great,” he added.

Rann also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Paresh Rawal, Rajat Kapoor, Manisha Koirala, Purab Kohli as well as Gul Panag. Now all we have to do is see if Riteish can convince us!

OSaif’s a star, says Kareena

Her recent release Kambakkht Ishq has seen the best opening of 2009 so far, but for Kareena Kapoor, its boyfriend Saif Ali Khan’s Love Aaj Kal that should break the box office. She wants the film to surpass her film’s record, and enjoy phenomenal success at the box office. “I really want Love Aaj Ka’ to break all box-office records. Yes, Kambakkht Ishq is my film but then so is Love Aaj Kal. For both Saif and me, Love Aaj Kal is a not just a prestigious project, but also something which is very close to our hearts,” said Kareena in an interview.

Love Aaj Kal

Saif’s first production venture, and the expectations are huge. “Yes, I’m aware about the huge expectations and I also know that Love Aaj Kal has turned out to be a lovely film. The good part is that the film has generated all around positive vibes and everyone expects good things from the film,” said Kareena.

With Saif playing two characters - Jai Vardhan Singh and Veer Singh (the younger version of Rishi Kapoor) - Love Aaj Kal touches upon the universal essence of love. However, there was no love lost between leading lady Deepika Padukone and Kareena, as Saif desperately lobbied to get his girlfriend Deepika’s role. Fortunately, Deepika stood her ground and Saif finally had to back off, after director Imtiaz Ali intervened. Apart

Bhatt’s

back Raj Kumar Santoshi may have moved Lahore to Hyderabad in his adaptation of the play Jis Lahore Nahin Dekhya Woh Jamiya Nahin, but filmmaker Mahesh

Bhatt is all set to shoot an entire Bollywood film - a Hindu-Muslim love story - in Pakistan’s cultural capital. The romance saga will star Pakistani singing sensation Noumad opposite an Indian girl who’s still to be finalised. The untitled film will be directed by Mohit Suri who had earlier made Awaarapan - a small portion of which was shot in Lahore.

“It is a pre-partition Titanic. It’s a story of intense love between two culturallycrossed individuals during times of abject hatred. It’s the story of a Muslim boy who saves the Hindu girl from his own people and gives up his life in protecting her,” said Bhatt in an interview. “We’re introducing a new star from Pakistan and a completely new girl from Bharat. The Pakistani boy is Noumad, a singing sensation in his country,” said the filmmaker who has worked with quite a few Pakistani artists, including actress Meera in Zeher. This would be the first Bollywood film to be shot entirely in Pakistan.

“We’ll, of course, shoot the entire film in Lahore since that’s where the film is located. We’ll be using their infrastructure and work force. The cultural secretary and the governor of Punjab have extended whole-hearted support to our film,” said Bhatt. The director feels Pakistan can become a leading location for Bollywood.

“But first we must shed this Pakphobia. It took me five years to create friendship across the border before we at Vishesh Films began to collaborate with Pakistan to make films. Such things cannot happen overnight,” said the director.

“I feel other filmmakers who shoot Pakistanlocated films in India aren’t trying hard enough. They must be more open in their interaction across the border. To touch your dreams, you need to stretch more than just your hands,” he added.

The shooting of Bhatt’s ambitious IndiaPakistan venture is set to start early next year. Let’s hope Bollywood succeeds in burying the Pak hatchet once and for all.

Sanjay Dutt: The best birthday gift

Sanjay Dutt celebrated his 50th birthday recently with an impassioned plea for his freedom. The troubled star says his only wish is to leave his chequered past behind and move ahead as a free man. At work in South Africa on his film No Problem, the unit organised a “small gettogether” for him, from which his estranged

Politician friend Amar Singh, who Sanjay describes as “my brother”, could not be make it either –he is recovering from a serious illness at Singapore. It’s very difficult to imagine Sanju Baba

O“At heart I’m still Baba. But when I look into the mirror, it’s a reality. And I do feel 50, but not old. I’ve been in the film industry for so long. Yes, it’s been a long innings. In the last 18 years, I’ve been fighting for my freedom and I feel the burden of the struggle now. I want to be free. I want to be able to walk into any consulate and get my visa. I want my passport to be with me. I want to be able to visit any country I want. Most important of all, I want the court cases to end.”