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Searching for something out ofthe ordinary INDIAN LINK

Mira's back with a big one!

Internationally acclaimed director Mira

Nair recently claimed that her latest film The Reluctant Fundamentalist, is her most ambitious project yet. The film was the closing movie at the 43rd International Film Festival of India in Goa, and was very wel I received. It is based on a 2007 bestseller of the same name by Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid.

A brilliant exploration of bias and the phenomenon of globalization, the fi l m is about a Pakistani Princeton graduate who is torn between his American dream and the call of his homeland.

Its sense of nothing being completely what it seems comes across in an unsettling manner from the characters' d ivided selves, or through the locations, which see Atlanta standing in for New York, and Delhi substituting for Lahore and Istanbul.

"It is how we - the east and west, see each other," said Nair about the film.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist has an international cast and crew of Hollywood, Indian and Pakistani actors, and depicts two very different worlds coming together through dialogue. It took three years to adapt the novel into a screenplay and was shot across four continents

The movie is a comment on t he situation in the world today. "We d iscuss two very important forms of fundamenta lism- that of the capitalists and that ofterrorists;'Nair said.

Nair's debut film Salaam Bombay was nominated at the US Academy Awards for best foreign languag e film in 1988. Her other acclaimed films are Mississipi Mas ala, Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake, New York, I Love You, among others.

Nair is the founder of Maisha, a centre in Kampala, Uganda, that provides film labs and workshops for aspiring screen - writers, directors, actors, technic ians, and documentary makers from Africa. And like most of her other offerings, let's hope this one's fascinating too!

Vidya

Ba Ian, Yash Chopra tribute at Melb Indian Film Fest 2013

Vidya Balan will return to Melbourne as the ambassador for the 2013 Indian Fi lm Festiva l of Melbourne, Victoria's Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business and Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Louise Asher announced in Mumbai recentl y.

Vidya is one of Indian cinema's most respected actors and a genuine box-office drawcard.

"Securing such a high profile actor as our brand ambassador adds to the prestige of the festival andVidya's attendance at next year's festival will be sure to delight our local Indian film fans," Ms Asher said.

To be held in April 2013, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne showcases the diversity and breadth of Indian film culture to Victorian audiences and will once again be deli vered by Mind Blowing Films.

The Minister also announced that the Festival will pay a rich tribute to legendary fi lm makerYUash Chopra next year.

"Mr Chopra had a deep relationship with Victoria given he was a Patron of the Festival and that he shot two major blockbusters in Victoria, Salaam Namaste and Chak De India;• Ms Asher said

Speaking at the event, Vidya Balan sa id she was delighted to be the ambassador for such a vibrant and exciting festiva l showcasing the best of Indian cinema. "Melbourne is like a second home to me and I look forward to being back," she said.

Minister Asher was in Mumbai as part of Victoria Week, a program of activities to showcase Victoria's cultural, creative and business strengths in India. Her government is delivering on an election pledge to develop an Indian film festival and bring the best of Indian cinema to Victorian audiences, she said.

Saif the shweet hubby

Kareena Kapoor is over the moon, and it's not just because critics have been giving her rave reviews for her performance in Reema Kagti's Talaash. It's also because husband Saif Ali Khan seems equally thrilled at her role and plans to throw a small party to celebrate the actress' success.

"Saifis still in Lucknow, but he's been very excited as he has been receiving messages from our family and friends about my performance in Talaash;' said an elated Kareena.

"He was happy about the fact that th is is my first big fi Im after our we dding and we have broken the norm to prove that even married women can get the box office going," she ad ded.

A decade after Chameli, Kareena once again plays the rol e of a prost itute in Talaash, and is delighted that the audience has accepted her in this role

"It's quite ironic that I did Chameli when I was 22 and I did Talaash when I am 32;' Kareena sai d "It is easy to do song and dance, as though it is a part of me and my USP, but I feel really b lessed to play something like this on scr een''.

As the happy couple are thrilled, Saif plans to make the occasion special with a small party for friends and family Not a bad start for a month-old marriage and wonderful to see that supportive filmi husbands still exist

Inspiring Akshay

His is a strong presence in Bollywood's teeming industry, and he's also one of its most bankab le actors After the success of Akshay Kumar's films Houseful/ 2 and Rowdy Rathore, the actor has catapulted into the Rs 100 crore club But despite all the hype, the actor remains disarmingly modest about his success and performance And although Akshayfeels the pressure of success, he says once a film releases, he doesn't dwell too much upon its box-office performance

" I feel p ressure when the film nears its release, but after that ifit doesn't work, I am on to the next film. I also don't take a big hit too serious ly, because the next Friday you have to go into the same circle you never know what will happen. I just take it as it comes I just work and entertain;' said Akshay

The actor made his Bollywood debut with 1991 film Saugandh and went on to acquire the tag of'Khiladi Kumar'for his inclination towards action But since then, Akshay has veered his focus to comedies

"After Khiladi 420, I stopped doing action movies because I got married I just wanted to work on comedy, romance and everything Being a father and a husband, a man has to settle down a little bit. Now my son has grown up, I want to go back to action;• said the actor, who is married to actress Twinkle Khanna and has two kids - Aarav, 10 and daughter Nitara, who was born in September

Rowdy Rathore signified Akshay's return to action, his first love, and his new film Khiladi 786 will see him in a similar avatar. "It is a great thing to return to action. It is my love I have been in this industry because of action. I have tournaments of action

I have my own personal gyms Action is what I am It's because of action that I am here;' said the 45-year-old martial arts expert

Over the years, the genre of action has been mixed with comedy and successfully presented to the audience through hit films like Dabangg, Ready and Rowdy Rathore.

And there's a good reason for this, reveals the talented actor "The audience wants th is from me They want overthe-top action (movies) These are their demands and we have to try and give it to them. The films are made for everybody. Not only masses, but classes also love this," said Akshay.

He added that now the overseas

INDIAN LINK audience wants to see one actor as a master of all -whether it is action or comedy The past formula of having a separate comedian alongside an actor in a film is long gone.

"People want their actors to do comedy too They want one so lo hero and want to see everything in him;' he said

Well, looks like the perfect description of what Akshay does best. So will the action hero-cum-comedian lives up to his reputation in Khiladi 786? Let's wait and see

Talaash is a true thriller

We've come to expect nothi ng less from Aamir Khan, and once again, we are not disappointed. Taalash released recently and has been l auded not just by critics and the industry, but also by the aamjunta. The thrill er is expected to have raked in Rs 15 crore on its opening night Aam ir 's wife, filmmaker Ki ran Rao is very happy w ith the movie as she says it offers something for everyone "It is my kind of film and I real l y liked it;' the 39-year-old said.

"We just hope that peopl e also like it. The story is such that everyone wil l get something in it. It is emotional also, so it should touch the audience and wil l lead them to think as well;' she said.

Directed by Reema Kagti, Ta/aash is a thrill er and al so stars Kareena Kapoor, Ran i Mukerji and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

Asked to describe her husband in a few words, Kiran's response was to the point: "A good human being and very talented at the sametime:'Nuff said and well sa id!

Paris gets Goa grooving

She may be miles away from the dazzle of Hollywood, but socialite--cum-actress-cum -singercum-entrepreneur- cum-heiress Paris Hilton got into yet another avatar on her recent trip to Goa And she did a good job of it too As deejay at the Sandkastle Music Festival of India Resort Fashion

Week (IRFW), Paris knew what was needed to get the aowd swinging and swaying She began wit h the popu lar Korean song Gangnam Style, peppering the hit number with the words, 'We will rock this night Goa!"The crowd went wild as Paris kept them grooving, dressed for the occasion in a metallic knee-l ength dress It was her second venture as DJ, but she certa inly kept the party goi ng!

"So Goa how are you feel i ng today, all set to rock the night and get grooved?" she asked before starting the performance and continued by adding, "I love you peopl e. You guys are just so amazing, I love India and the country rocks!"

The 31-year-old also played

Last issue Caption Contest winning entry

What are Big Band Anil Am bani saying to each other at Bal Thackeray 's funeral?

We each may own Mumbai in our own way, but ultimately we go like everyone else

, India

Monisha Lahiri Kolkata

Monisha wins a CD of new Hindi film Jab Tak HaiJaan tracks that she had remixed herself

People from as far as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai, and from countries like Ireland, New York and London attended the show, enjoyi ng it in their own ways Paris finally ended the show, p romising to return and tweeted : "Wow! What a fun show! Had the best time performing ton i ght! So happy that you all loved my set! Loved seeing you al l dance! Yes (sic):'

The heiress also wa lked the ramp for fina le designer Shane and Fal guni Peacock on the trip She admits to being fascinated by Indian fash i on "Whenever I visit, I ma ke sure to buy something for myself. Last time I tried a sari;' she said

"I l ove everything that is beautiful and this is the reason why I l ove India for its vivacious and bright colours and designs''.

And naturally, Paris took ti me out to indul ge in her favourite occupati onsh opping. "I bought some spi ces I love In dian food. I also bought trinkets from the local market here for my family and they are just beautiful''.

I'm sure Paris'trip has boosted the country's retail economy ue4)! !Iv' eqes

WHM SS 3n9 oi JaMSU'v'

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