Latest News from BollywoodHungama.com http://www.bollywoodhungama.com Hungama Feed Creator http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/templates/default/images/bollywoodhungamalogo.gif http://www.bollywoodhungama.com http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/11/07/13443/index.html Saif Ali Khan is going through a great phase, both personally and professionally. Earlier this year, his first home production Love Aaj Kal went on to create magic at the B.O. and now Saif is eagerly awaiting the release of yet another biggie Kurbaan. However it's not just film offers that are raining in Chhote Nawab's courtyard. Saif is also bagging the best of endorsement deals, the latest being the one with OCM Suitings. Yes... Saif Ali Khan has been appointed as the brand ambassador of OCM Suitings and has even shot a commercial for them. So after endorsing a wide variety of products, right from chips (Lays) to shampoos (Head and Shoulders) it would be interesting to see Saif endorse a suiting range. Considering the fact that he is considered as a style icon, it is rather apt that the brand managers of OCM Suitings decided to sign Saif as the brand ambassador for their product.]]> Bollywood Hungama News Network Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:22:04 EDT http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/11/07/13442/index.html Abhishek Bachchan walked in with Amar Singh, instead of his Paa or his wife, at Ajay Devgn's first-ever bash for his friends in the industry on Thursday evening. Bashful and cynical about glam-gatherings, Ajay Devgn has always shunned attending parties and has never before thrown one. But the new power-packed Devgn newly energized by the success of All The Best has resolved to let the world know he's ready to conquer showbiz. Devgn's buddies Sanjay Dutt and Maanyata were the first to arrive and also among the first to leave, since Sanjay had an early-morning flight to catch to South Africa. And then there was Fardeen and his wife Natasha. After his successful back surgery in New York, Fardeen Khan was back in Mumbai for his first public appearance to celebrate his first successful film in ages at Ajay Devgn's first-ever party for his colleagues held at the Sahara Star hotel on Thursday night, a day after Devgn wrapped up Prakash Jha's Rajneeti in Bhopal. All the arrangements were taken care of by Ajay Devgn and his wife Kajol who were very prominently a part of the celebrations. The party went on till late. John Abraham and Bipasha showed up much later. But as one of the guests later said, "This party was a show of strength for Ajay Devgn. For too long he has smirked and silently watched the Khans rule as the glamourous elements in Bollywood. With wife Kajol at his side, Ajay wants to build Brand Devgn in a par with Saif-Kareena and Abhishek-Aishwarya. The party on Thursday night was the first step in that direction."]]> Subhash K. Jha Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:17:45 EDT http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/11/06/13441/index.html Sunil Shetty is a happy man these days. For his performance in the upcoming Red Alert, he has bagged the Best Actor award at the South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF), New York. An ecstatic Sunil says, "It is a fabulous feeling. In all the reviews of my films till date, a majority have called me 'wooden' or said 'gives a routine performance'. To win an award at a recognized film festival like the SAIFF in New York is a big high as an actor and makes me want to work harder and better." Sunil goes on to add, "The film is on a Naxal setting and right now, is the right time for the film to come out." His performance was appreciated by the Jury and the audiences' too. The theme of the movie has a universal appeal. As everybody on planet earth is affected by Terrorism, External or Internal... The film's director Ananth Mahadevan says, "I am happy especially for Sunil because his performance is being appreciated at a global level. When I took this film to him, he had told me in his humble way, not to make the film with him in a solo lead. But I was sure he could pull off the character of Narasimha and he did." T.P. Agarwal, Chairman of Producers Association IMPPA and Owner of Star Entertainment Pvt Ltd was present at the SAIFF function to receive the award and addressed to the media, "I am overwhelmed with the response I have received for the film and Sunil's performance. Finally we have received an international platform to bring light to the burning issue of increasing intrastate conflicts."]]> Bollywood Hungama News Network Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:14:06 EDT http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/11/06/13440/index.html Money Sharma & Mrigank Dhaniwala Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:10:12 EDT http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/11/06/13439/index.html Instead of the traditional ghoda bringing the dulha to Shilpa Shetty's doorsteps, Raj Kundra has decided to ride into his beghum's baraat on an elaborate chariot. That just about sets the tone for the elaborate yet exclusive Shilpa-Raj Kundra marriage on November 22 where, according to Shilpa's close buddy, "Tarun Tahiliani has designed a wedding outfit that no bride in Bollywood or outside has ever worn before." The guest list for the November 22 wedding is restricted to Shilpa and Raj's family only. Raj's parents and sister are expected any moment from London. His relatives from Ludhiana and Amritsar are expected to arrive closer to the wedding. The wedding will be conducted fully in the Bunt tradition, according the Mangalorean community that the Shettys belong to. Says Shilpa's close friend, "Shilpa's mom consulted the astrological documents and found that the next auspicious date was not before April 2010. Shilpa's first response was, 'Not without my sister.' But now that Shamita is well on the way out of 'Bigg Boss', Shilpa doesn't mind the rush, though she would be shooting until the very last moment for the Indo-Chinese production Desire in Hyderabad," says a very close friend of the Shettys. The last thing Shilpa wants to do at the moment is to work. "But a commitment is a commitment," says Shilpa's friend.]]> Subhash K. Jha Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:05:58 EDT http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/11/06/13438/index.html Click above for event stills The curtain closed on the 11th edition of Mumbai Film Festival organized by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) at Mumbai amidst the who's who of the of Indian and World cinema gracing the closure of the event with their presence. A glittering closing ceremony herald the closure of the 7 day Festival that laid out some real sumptuous fare for film-buffs in Mumbai. MFF is a Reliance Big Entertainment initiative and has the distinction of being the only international film festival in India to be organized by an independent body of practicing film professionals. MAMI committee led by Chairman Mr. Shyam Benegal and trustees Mr. Yash Chopra, Mrs. Jaya Bachchan, Mr. Amit Khanna, Mr. Amol Palekar along with the festival jury Members including: renowned Hollywood screenwriter and director Mr. Paul Schrader, Sri Lankan filmmaker Mr. Vimukthi Jayasundara, Philippine filmmaker Mr. Brillante Mendoza, Indian filmmaker Mr. Shaji N. Karun and former Director of Locarno Film Festival Ms. Irene Bignardi graced the occasion. Also present were Mr. Anil and Tina Ambani, Mr Amitabh Bachchan, Mr & Mrs Theo Angelopoulos. The evening was hosted by Kunal Kohli & Shefali Shah adding colour to the exciting evening were performances by singers Anushka Manchanda Kunal Ganjawala. "This Festival brought together some of the best cinematic talent from across the globe," says Mr. Shyam Benegal, chairperson of MAMI. "We watched some very well-crafted films covering a range of thematics and issues." Mr. Amitabh Bachchan was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award for completing 40 years in the film industry. His oeuvre comprises from rib-tickling comedies to tear-jerkers to subtle, nuanced performances in art-house films. It can be said without doubt that there is nothing in acting that Mr. Bachchan hasn't tried his hand at and succeeded. Mr. Theo Angelopoulos, the maestro from Greece received the International Lifetime Achievement award for giving us thought-provoking and visually appealing cinema. His distinctive style and work has influenced a number of your filmmakers. Mr. Dev Anand's production house Navketan Films was facilitated for completing 60 golden years in the film industry. As a modest first step towards setting up a full-fledged "Film Market," MFF introduced the Film Business Centre to provide a networking platform for Indian distributors, producers, television channels, foreign sales agents, and festival directors to enhance the international sales of Indian films. The festival was buzzing with International buyers/ sales agent, international film festival delegates from across the globe attended the festival as part of the Film Business Centre during the 11th Mumbai Film Festival. Sales agents from companies such as UniFrance, UK Film Council, Pioniwa Film Co. - Japan, Channel Asia - Japan, Hanway Films - France amongst many others were also present. International film festival delegates include Rada Sesic, Rotterdam Film Festival, TOM LUDDY & Gary Meyer, Co-Director Telluride FF, Marit Capla, director Goteborg International Film Festival. Film institute's includes the UniFrance, UK Film Council & Danish Film Institute.]]> Bollywood Hungama News Network Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:43:55 EDT http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/11/05/13436/index.html Well it's finally confirmed. Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra will tie the knot this November. The wedding which is scheduled for the 22nd of this month will surprisingly be devoid of the usual Bollywood friends and glitter. This comes as Shilpa and Raj arrived at a joint decision to keep the affair short and sweet. However, two days after the actual wedding reception, Shilpa will be hosting another party for her colleagues from the industry, while the marriage itself is to be conducted at her business partner Kiran Bawa's farmhouse in Khandala. The venue of her wedding reception however, is still being kept under wraps. Shilpa's sister who missed the engagement ceremony while being locked away in the Bigg Boss house apparently might also miss the wedding as the show isn't scheduled to end till the date. The only option left is that she be evicted from the Bigg Boss house in time to make it for her sister's wedding.]]> Bollywood Hungama News Network Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:04:11 EDT http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/11/05/13437/index.html Even as the fate of Ketan Mehta's Rang Rasiya, featuring Randeep Hooda as the father of mythological calendar-art Raja Ravi Varma and Nandana Sen as his muse, remains uncertain, cinematographer-director Santosh Sivan has very quietly gone and ahead and signed a Malayalam film (to be dubbed into Hindi and English) featuring himself as Raja Ravi Varma in the lead. The Malayalam film entitled Magara Manju (winter mist) starts shooting next week Cochin. It's to be directed by the arthouse director Lenin Rajandran. Santosh was at first hesitant to enter into a new arena at a time when his hands are full with cinematography and direction. "But the director Rajendra Lenin convinced me I was right for the part. I've grown up on the art of Raja Ravi Varma. When I was a kid my grandmother illustrated her stories with Raja Ravi Varma's paintings. I think I've acquired my visual aesthetics from this man," says Santosh as he prepares to face the camera with the new Southern sensation Karthika. Says Santosh, "Karthika is the daughter of the veteran Tamil actress Radha. I sort of liked the way we look together. But the main attraction for turning to acting is Raja Ravi Varma himself. I empathize very closely with his art. I also paint a bit. And I've photographed the film by M.F Husain and his son Owais. " The film will be shot in Trivandrum, Goa and Cochin. Incidentally, the only other occasion when Santosh Sivan has acted for the camera was in Aditya Bhattacharya's Raakh. "And after my shot, Pankaj Kapoor couldn't stop laughing," laughs Santosh.]]> Subhash K. Jha Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:59:03 EDT http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/11/04/13435/index.html The prestigious Cairo International Film Festival, to be held between the 10th to 20th November 2009, has officially invited an Indian feature film, Saluun, for screening at their 33rd edition. Saluun is a film by Pritish Nandy Communications' (PNC) and is produced under PNC's recently launched Guerrilla Flicks banner. "This year CIFF will welcome the new generation of brilliant filmmakers from India by honoring Indian Cinema. PNC's ,Saluun represents the fresh breed of Indian filmmakers and it's a great pleasure for us to screen the movie at the festival," said Ezzat Abou Ouf, Festival President. He further added, "Saluun is funny, clever, heart warming and it introduces a new director, Nikhil Nagesh Bhat who brings fresh insight into where popular Bollywood cinema can go." Producers Pritish Nandy and Rangita Pritish Nandy along with director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat will attend the festival as special invitees. Joining them will be members of the film's ensemble cast including Gaurav Kapur, Razak Khan, Sakshi Tanwar, Brijendra Kala, Murli Sharma, Gayatri Choudhuri as well as Arindam Mitra who is the Series Producer for PNC Guerrilla Flicks. "It has been a very enriching journey. It's an honor for me to showcase my debut film on an international platform as prestigious as the Cairo International Film Festival." said director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat. Speaking about his film, producer Pritish Nandy said, "Saluun is a delightful film that captures the magic, the excitement and the sheer genius of small town, middle class India where people are constantly coping with the weird complexities of politics, bureaucracy and corruption. It is based on a true life incident that happened in a small town in Maharashtra where the local people were so fed up with corrupt Government officials that they devised a cunning plan to teach them a lesson. It is a funny, touching, deeply evocative film about the India we rarely see in our Bollywood movies and the story is told with amazing power and simplicity. It is a first time film maker's tribute to ordinary, middle class India and how it copes with everyday adversity and comes up a winner every time. It's an ace of hearts."]]> Bollywood Hungama News Network Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:07:36 EDT http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/2009/11/04/13434/index.html Pritish Nandy Communications' (PNC) forthcoming film 'Raat Gayi Baat Gayi' recently won the Best Film Award at HBO's New York South Asian International Film Festival, 2009. The film premiered at the festival and was screened in the Competition category. Director Saurabh Shukla and actor Rajat Kapoor were present to receive the award. The South Asian International Film Festival is one of the most exciting events on New York's cultural calendar and film makers from all over the world; compete to be a part of it. "It is a wonderful moment for the film, PNC and me", said Saurabh Shukla, "This award is a fabulous recognition of Raat Gayi Baat Gayi and it shows the growing reach and acceptance of Indian feature films worldwide". Producer Pritish Nandy adds, "This affirms our faith in the fact that some of the best films currently being made in India are by directors and actors who are bucking the trend. We, as producers, love to back such films. We know where true excellence lies. Raat Gayi Baat Gayi, which releases in theatres, next month, is comedy at its sharpest and finest.' Raat Gayi Baat Gayi is an outrageous comedy that starts with a night of heavy drinking and partying amongst 3 married couples. The morning after dawns with zero memory, the possibility of a one night stand, a missing mobile number and one gorgeous woman. The film stars Rajat Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Neha Dhupia, Dalip Tahil, Iravati Harshe Mayadev, Anu Menon, Navnit Nishaan and Ranvir Shorey in lead roles. The film has music by Ankur Tewari, is written by Rajat Kapoor and directed by Saurabh Shukla.]]> Bollywood Hungama News Network Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:02:29 EDT