‘Be positive'
Salman Khan and Aamir Khan have expressed their friendship in an Amar Akbar Anthony style. When Salman Khan went to the Go India Foundation to donate blood with his Dabangg team, Arbaaz and Sonakshi, he spontaneously sent a text to Aamir asking him to join his team. Aamir acceded to Salman's request because they are friends and “blood donation is a noble cause.” An amused Aamir chuckles and says, “When we were giving blood together, I felt I was witnessing a scene straight out of Manmohan Desai superhit Amar Akbar Anthony in which Amitabh, Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor jointly gave blood (to Nirupa Roy).”
On a serious note, Salman says, “Blood in packets is better than blood splashed on the roads. I identify with my blood group, B+ (be positive).”
Not moving to Mumbai
Southern star Suriya is making his debut in Hindi cinema with Ram Gopal Verma's Raktacharitra but he is not keen on shifting base to Mumbai.
“I won't shift base to Mumbai though I will take up a good role if I am offered one in Bollywood,” states Suriya.
Ask Suriya what prompted him to take up a Bollywood film, and he says, “After 13 years down South and 25 films, I still feel fresh. I never pushed myself in Hindi and, in fact, ran away from Hindi films. However, after reading the script and taking into consideration I was getting an opportunity to work with Ram Gopal Verma, I went ahead with this project. I am happy the film will also be released in Tamil and Telugu.”
A retro film
Vipul Shah has decided on a Diwali release for his Akshay Kumar-Aishwarya Rai starrer, Action Replayy , and seems extremely confident about his movie. Vipul divulges that the film is based on his 1994 play, “Action Replay”, and is “a romantic comedy in the world of fantasy.” He elaborates: “I have been associated with retro since 1994 through the play. We are recreating an era.”
But retro has already made a comeback with Once Upon A Time . Ask Vipul if that will affect his film positively or negatively, and he asserts: “This is going to be more authentic than any retro film you have seen. We have not skimmed the surface; we have gone full throttle into retro. I am sure youngsters would connect with it.”
Unstopabble Cyrus
Cyrus Broacha, one of the 13 contenders of ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 3', is going bananas.
Asked to give his comment on Priyanka Chopra as the show host, he jokes, “Priyanka and I were going around, but after my marriage (to Ayesha) it was all over.” Poker-faced, he continues, “I am just looking forward to working with her professionally.”
When I ask him about his fitness, he has me in splits. He says, “I'm the fittest contender of all but I can't show my body.”
And the reason Cyrus cited is hilarious: “In the contract, it's written that KKK3 is not a comedy show.”
Back in the race
The reclusive Akshaye Khanna always kindles curiosity in the audience. But this talented actor's last hit was Race which was over two years back. Since then, Akshaye has had just two releases — Short Kut and Mere Baap Pehle Aap — both of which didn't do well at the box office. But it looks like the actor has not just been lying low but has also been busy accumulating films.
In the four short months before 2010 ends, Akshaye Khanna will have three big banner films which will release in quick succession. Akshaye will be seen in Farah Khan's Tees Maar Khan , Priyadarshan's Aakrosh and Anees Bazmee's No Problem .
Tees Maar is the first time Akshaye is working with Akshay Kumar and Farah Khan. But his other releases are with his old pals. Aakrosh is his fifth film with Priyan after Doli Sajake Rakhna , Hungama, Hulchul and Mere Baap Pehle Aap . He is also a favourite with director Aneez Bazmee ( Deewangee ), and producer Anil Kapoor ( Gandhi My Father, Short Kut ). Wonder if all these biggies will be able to put Akshaye back in the race.
A comeback to screen?
In a string of films ( Rajnigandha, Golmaal ) in the 1970s, Amol Palekar capitalised on his image as the quintessential common man. But he veered towards direction ( Paheli, And Once Again ) and it has been a long time since this talented actor was seen on screen. His last appearance was 10 years ago in a cameo in Aks .
Ask Amol if he plans a comeback to acting, and he says: “I get at least 20-30 films every month. Every director comes to me and says, ‘Sir, only you can do this role'. When I ask them about the role, they say, ‘You have to play the hero's father'.”
But the problem, according to Amol, doesn't lie in playing the hero's father.
“When I ask them to elaborate on my character, I find there is no characterisation. Why should I act in that case?”
bollywood news service
