STRONG ROLES FOR STRONG WOMEN

Kangana Ranaut, who will soon be seen as 'Jaanbaaz (fearless) Julia', an actress who travels, performs and entertains soldiers of the British Indian Army in Vishal Bhardwaj's period drama Rangoon, says the film is a perfect Women's Day watch as it's about a strong woman.

The petite 29-year-old hasbuilt up a reputation for herself as a strong woman, not holding back about broken relationships, or other actors who were born with the proverbialsilver spoon, and evolving an enviable style quotient.

But hang on, Fearless Julia, does that name ring a bell? Oh yes, the character's based on Fearless Nadia, aka Hunterwali, aka Mary Ann Evans, the Australian actor who moved to India in the 1930s and found fame as a stuntwoman.

Hmmm, how we wish a real l fe Aussie actress could have taken on that role Kangana may be a strong woman, but she is not exactly known for a Hunterwali vibe. Nakharewali, now that's something else. Lately, Kangana has taken to driving around Mumbai in an exquisite vintage car. Clever promotional gimmickusing a vehicle that features in the film.

Kangana drove to the airport recently in the magnificent car, en route to Jammu and Kashmir. The film's promotions willbe launched at an army base there, given the film, set in 1940s India, is centred around troops that were entertained by Julia.

Co-starring Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor, the film is due for release on 24 February, ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March.

Kabir Khan And Salman Khan All Set To Deliver Again

It'llbe theirthirdfilm together as director and actor. Come this Eid, everyone will be going gaga over Tubelight, the Salman Khan-starrer directed by Kabir Khan.

The duo have worked together in the 2015 hit film Bajrangi Bhaijaan and the 2012 blockbuster Ek Tha Tiger. But this time round, it's going to be very different.

"If you thought Salman was special in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, then his performance in Tubelightis fve times better," Kabir said recently.

Worth waiting for?You decide!

Varun Dhawan In Salman Mode

Varun Dhawan is all excited about Judwaa2, his next film in which he reprises the double role of Salman Khan in the 1997 filmJudwaa.

It's a readymade role for him to move to the next level, and boy does he know it... have you seen him on Koffee With Karan lately, all so cocky and confident? Nah, just kidding, we think he's a cutie, can't wait to see him in Badrinath ki Dulhaniya with that other cutie Aalia Bhatt. Gosh, the sheer energy of the two on KFK nazar ne lag jaye.

Anyway,Judwaa 2, directed by Varun's father David Dhawan, also stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Taapsee Pannu, and is scheduledfor release on 29 Sept.

RANA DAGGUBATl'S TRIBUTE TO THE NAVY

Rana Daggubati's new film The Ghazi Attack is set in the Indian Navy, based on a true event in the 1971 war with Pakistan. Pakistanisubmarine Ghazi had attempted to destroy theIndian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

At a recent promotional event, Rana said, "I think this is a veryimportant story to tell. Also, we've seen many films that glorify the army and the police. This is somewhere a tribute to our navy."

Rana is one of the few lucky owners of a Bajaj V motorbike, made from the recycled metal of the much-loved aircraft carrier INS Vikrant when ii was decommissioned.

The film will see him playing naval officer Lt. Commander Arjun Varma, who was said to have remained underwater for 18 days during the war.

"Besides my love for the bike, I am also a keen deep sea diver," Rana revealed."There are a lot of underwater stunts in the film."

He claimed he missed sunlight while shooting 18 days non-stop underwater the Telugu-Hindi war-at-sea drama.

"When you haven't felt the sun on your face and you've been breathing recycled air for months, getting on the surface of water and on land is like freedom at last!"

Recollecting the experience of shooting underwater in a submarine setting, he said, "The sailors possess tremendous grit as they live life without surfacing from underwater for days altogether, breathing the same air virtually everyday."

Directedby debutant Sankalp, the f lm is partially based on the book Blue Fish, penned by the director himself.

"For the last one year of my life, I've been researching the incident and what Indiawent through during that war. INS Vikrant was one of themost celebrated warships in the Indian naval feet. I know the importance of it at that time. It's lovely to be part of the entire thing," he said.

Also starring Taapsee Pannu, Kay Kay Menon and Atul Kulkarni,The Ghazi Attack releases on 17 Feb.The f lm also stars Nassar and late actor Om Puri in a pivotal role.

Rana also awaitsthe 28 Aprilrelease of Baahubali: The Conclusion starring Prabhas,Tamannaah, Anushka Shetty and Sathyaraj.

BANATE RAHO, MUNNABHAI

Talking of reprisals, Arshad Warsi will reprise the much-loved character of Circuit in the third film in the Munnabhai franchise.

He revealed that the script for the third instalment is ready.

"Rajkumar Hirani the director spoke to me to give an idea about the story. It is simplysuperb, very relevant to the times. He was peaking at a press conference for his upcoming film lrada. Thefilm will go on the f oors as soon as Sanjay Dutt's biopic is complete next year.

Talking about the film, the 48-yearold actor said, "You will soon see the same innocent idiots coming up with a social issue once again.They will make you see the world we want to see. It's a feelgood story."

Meanwhile, let's wait for lrada, directed by Aparnaa Singh and featuring Naseeruddin Shah and Divya Dutta. It hits the screens on 17 Feb.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT: ANUSHKA SHARMA

Herfirst production was the gritty thrillerNH10, and now she is coming up with hersecond outing Phillauri, which is a quirky tale featuring Anushka as a ghost named Shashi.

While asked about choosing an outof-the-box subject, Anushka said, "I think the idea came out because my brother Karnesh and I wanted to tell a different story and present a new idea as well.That is why NH10 was made, which was well-received by people.

"Similarly, the Phillauri traileris getting a good response in all aspects. The vision is to create good content and introduce new talent. It's a very relatable character.I have tried to be honest playing the role. Finally, it depends on the audience how they react to the film."

Thefilm isscheduled for release on 24 March.

CLICHES, OR QUIRKY CONCEPTS?

There's much going on in the trailerof Phillauri- but it has little to go foritself.

It is a beehive of activity with a beautiful ghost played by Anushka Sharma hounding a nerdy NRI (played by Suraj Sharma of Life Of Pi fame) while a gaggle of relatives and freeloaders add to the progressively increasing volume of intended vitality.

Suraj Sharma is clearly the poor man's Dev Patel.Throughout the trailer, he is a screechy, whiny mass of bewilderment - something like Omi Vaidya in 3 Idiots.

Suraj clearly can't come to terms with being accosted by a ghost. Hopefully, we can, when the film releases.

This is ruralPunjab. We all know what that means.There will be noisy revellers, a whole lot of head-banging Bhangra, wide-open spaces filled with colour the works. And if it is Punjab, there is bound to be that mandatory shot of the Golden Temple. And guess what?

Female fans of Diljit Dosanjh get a bonus because they get the Punjab's superstar to emerge from the holy waters of the GoldenTemple. Dosanjh clearly wants to slot himself as India's first turbaned stud. Our best wishes to him.

If Dosanjh is a stud on demand, he is also a singer by choice. As the roving ghost's past love, we see him wandering across spaces in Phillaur with a song on his lips and an ektara in

WHO WORE IT BETTER?

NATASHA POONAVALA or KIM KARDASHIAN in BALMAIN?

+ Share your views with us on our Facebookpage

/lndianLinkAustra/ia his hands.

Just how all of thisfits into the comic cosmos of a film that is eagerto show us its quirky side, only time will tell.

In the meanwhile, the trailer leaves us with a sense of infuriating incompleteness.There are seeds of novelty in the plot. But the intended humour is way too predictable. The intended novelty of a nerd accidentally married to a ghost in a tree somehow gets frittered in a free-for-all of frisky romantic yearnings.

Going by the trailer, it seems doubtful that first-time director Anshai Lal has been able to hold together the slippery satirical strands of the whimsical rural fable. But miracles do happen. We have one in the film.

A ghost released from a tree that the nerdy NRI is persuaded to marry because he is maanglik.

Notsurethough whethermocking superstition actually helps us to understand why it exists, let alone eradicate it.

Twostars forthis trailer.

Whattweety Bird Told Us This Week

Can you match the following tweets to the stars that tweeted them?

Deepika Padukone, Twinkle Khanna, KaranJohar, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan

Boys and girls new song from Raees coming up in a bit.Didn't make it to the film but will make it to urheart I hope.

App download kiya? #BeinglnTouch

It's 37 years of 'Do aur Do Panch' a happy ride filled with some delightful moments!

When plays can be banned for using the word 'Bra' here's a bit from my book read wonderfully by @ AzmiShabana about the best bras in the world

As PadmavatiI can assure you that there is absolutely no distortion of history.#Padmavati

This Holi, jam with @varun_dvn and @ aliaa08 http://bit.ly/BadriKiDulhania

What is KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN thinking here?

Send inyourresponsesto win@indianlink.com.au and win a movie pass

What'sthe chitchat between DEEPIKA PADUKONE and ELLEN here?

Ellen: Ok, challenge accepted - it's going to be a badminton match between Deepika and me.

SANJANA PUROHIT WESTMEAD, NSW

Sanjana wins a ticket to see Raees