Shotgun junior has beaten all her contemporaries to become the most bankable leading lady of B-Town
Akshay Kumar’s Holiday, the latest entrant to the Rs 100 crore club, has brought some great news for Sonakshi Sinha. She has conquered the tag of the reigning queen of Bollywood with five Rs 100 crore films under her belt. People may keep comparing Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vidya Balan and others for the best heroine spot, but for once Sona baby has left all her contemporaries behind in the race and emerged as the most bankable heroine of B-Town.
Before Holiday, Sonakshi helped movies like Rowdy Rathore, Son of Sardaar, Dabangg 2 andDabangg reach the Rs 100 crore mark. On the other hand Deepika Padukone achieved the feat four times with Chennai Express, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela andRace 2. Priyanka Chopra also reached the coveted landmark four times with Krrish 3, Agneepath, Don 2 and Barfi! Kareena Kapoor Khan may not have many movies to boast of, but she definitely reached the coveted Rs 100 crore mark four times with 3 Idiots, Ra. One, Bodyguard and Golmaal 3. Katrina Kaif’s three big tickets were her films with the three Khans. Dhoom:3, Jab Tak Hai Jaanand Ek Tha Tiger made Kats reach the coveted Rs 100 crore mark only thrice. However, there was also a dark horse among others. With movies like Ghajini, Housefull 2, Ready and Bol Bachchan reaching the Rs 100 crore mark, Asin too touched the Rs 100 crore feat four times.
Now audiences might keep comparing heroines based on their acting abilities, but producers definitely compare them on their bankable status. And with five Rs 100 crore films Sonakshi is definitely going to be the toast among the filmmakers. Industrywallas have also stopped complaining about Sonakshi’s weight issues, because her looks hardly matter when she rakes in the moolah
In an exclusive interview with dna, Bollywood’s most loved senior actress and parliamanetarian Kirron Kher talks about playing the sutradhar (narrator) of a Pakistani television show to be aired starting June 23 on Zee’s new channel ‘Zindagi’.
The show titled 'Kitni Girhain Baaki Hain' (meaning how many layers are yet to be unfolded) which shares the same title as one of Gulzar saab’s poem, revolves around women’s issues. The show is an anthology series with every episode revolving around the daily life issues every woman faces.
When asked about the reason on why she chose to do this show and was it the format of the show or the issue that compelled her, the actress said, “I think it was the entire package. The show is which very popular is Pakistan will surely be well received by our Indian audiences because it is not just the similarities in our cultures but to an extent I believe that the concept of women empowerment affects everyone on the subcontinent equally.”
Kirron Kher who is currently the only Indian on-board for this show and the channel says, “It feels wonderful and the fact that I would be presenting a set of stories relatable to every woman and they would connect to me is very flattering”.
When asked about how she plans to use this show to create awareness about the pressing needs of women safety and equality in India, a very concerned Kher said “Women’s safety has always been a major concern and now being an MP from Chandigarh I have been looking into the matter. I already have a lot of plans lined-up and I’m working towards it. And when it comes to equality, that would come with a change in the mindset. A change in the upbringing and thought processes of the people living in a patriarchal society like ours.” She recounts the memories of her Moral Science lessons in the convent school that she attended and said, "The little concepts like gender equality we learnt in there should be looked at as a subject of concern by everyone."
Kher who has previously worked in a Pakistani film called 'Khamosh Pani' had won the award for the best actress for the film at the Karachi International Film Festival for her outstanding performance. The channel Zindagi throws interesting equations with respect to improving India-Pakistan relationships. Talking about how she felt about that, Kher said, “The concept is great and people from both sides of the borders love each others' films and songs and very much appreciate it. In fact Bollywood songs are so popular among our Pakistani brethren. And here in India we are huge fans of Sufi music. That feeling of belonging will continue between people of the two nations.”
The Bollywood actress had hosted three television shows in the past starting with Zee TV’s show Purushkshetra. The show was well received by audiences and got the limelight for bringing out the discussion of alternative sexuality for the first time, while also highlighting women's issues and the impact on women living in a male dominant society. Her current show revolves around women empowerment and talks about women’s issues yet again. Kher said, “it feels great to be back with a show like this which is based on women yet again.”
Kitni Girhain Baaki hain will be aired every Monday to Sunday at 10:30pm starting June 23 onZindagi.
Peppy party numbers are ruling the music scene in Bollywood. The first musical release, Jumme Ki Raat, from Salman Khan's upcoming movie Kick has again confirmed that sprightly club music is much needed for any new film to make its presence felt in the market.
Jumme Ki Raat, shot in Mumbai's Mehboob Studios in a club-theme ambience, was supposed to be a treat for Salman's fans as it is being compared toAmitabh Bachchan's superhit Jumma Chumma from 1991 film Hum. Composer Himesh Reshammiya hopes Jumme Ki Raat will emerge "as the biggest youth anthem".
Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez sizzle in the song Jumme Ki Raat from Kick.
The popularity of party numbers can be gauged from the fact that Jumme Ki Raat, sung by Mika Singh, has received as many as 10 lakh hits within 24 hours of its official release on YouTube. Ever since it was released by Salman in Mumbai, the song is being repeatedly played in all the prominent music channels and radio shows.
Academy award-winning music composerA.R. Rahman's latest offering Khalifa from the upcoming film Lekar Hum Deewana Dil is another lively party number which has caught the fancy of the young audience. The song, which was released a month ago, has helped launch newcomer Armaan Jain, the grandson of late superstar Raj Kapoor. Khalifa has emerged as a rage in all the pubs and discos, much before the release of the film.
On World Music Day, Heena Grover Menon talks to Shankar Mahadevan and Ehsaan Noorani, of Bollywood's most sought after music composer trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy about how they changed the music scene of Hindi films by drawing western influences, their latest debut in Marathi films, and the musically-inclined new generation of musicians of our country
Music composer trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy.
The game-changers
The music of Dil Chahta Hai, directorial debut of Farhan Akhtar in 2001, was the turning point in the lives of this trio and also saw the advent of new-age music. The fresh sounds, youthful lyrics and beats which they introduced in this film made them stars in their own right and also got them immense fan-following from the young crowd across the country. "AR Rahman and us brought in a lot of changes to the Hindi film industry. From the time we did DCH, the industry has been forever evolving with different kind of music and varied influences. Bollywood has been a great platform for all the musicians, but at the same time, I always feel that the indie (independent) music culture still needs a great push in our country. And the only way to see them growing is with the help of record companies," said Ehsaan.
Catching influences Coming from varied music backgrounds, the trio has always reflected global influences in their creations. Speaking about their innovative ways, Shankar said that they have been experimenting with their music since a long time, but it's only recently that people have started to recognise the change. "In our initial films like Dil Chahta Hai, we used a musical instrument called didgeridoo in the beginning of the song Jaane Kyun which no one had heard of before. Then in the title song of the film had a lot of jazzy influence which Loy masters at. And now recently again, in the music of Zindagi NaMilegi Dobara, we brought in a lot of Scottish and Spanish influences. For example, Senorita had a lot of Flamenco kind of music, whereas in Ude we have used a lot of jazzy Bossa nova kind of approach. So basically, we have been making different kind of music which is getting more attention now, " Shankar explained. Addiing to this, Ehsaan said, "From the time we started out as a group, we have always tried to push the boundaries whenever it came to creating something new and fresh. All three of us come from different backgrounds, while both me and Loy bring the western influences in our compositions (Ehsaan has a deep inclination towards blues and has been influenced by popular bands of the 1970s such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, and Santana), Shankar brings the Indian side of music to the songs, which all put together is the secret of our magic," he gleefully explained, clearing the air that drawing influences here doesn't mean copying somebody's music.
Worldly music While the west has always been aware of Indian music, it still took them a lot of time to understand that Indian music is not just about Ravi Shankar and his kind of music which is absolutely classical. "With musicians like AR Rahman, who has gone beyond and has been composing music for Hollywood movies, is something that has helped a lot in changing the outlook of western people towards Indian music and our abilities to create the cult. We also have a whole new generation of young artists who are making contemporary music, and are really great at it, but it will still take some time for them to be recognised on a global platform. As of now everything is restricted to Bollywood, which is a good thing," Ehsaan said. Citing an example to this, Shankar said that more than Bollywood, it's the classical music which has reached out in the international circuit. "I have noticed that whenever a Bollywood music concert is held abroad, the audience are mostly from India or Pakistan . But on the contrary, if I perform with an international group, or even if I perform classical or semi classical music, more and more foreigners come to see that event. So I would say it's the classical music that has broken the barriers more than the contemporary music from India. Even in Hollywood movies like James Bond, you will find a lot of strains of tabla and flutes being used which clearly shows our music is reaching out in a big way."
Going Marathi After making a mark in Bollywood, the trio has now forayed into Marathi film industry with three films - Mitwa featuring superstar Swapnil Joshi and Sonali Kulkarni; Anvat, a romantic suspense thriller; and Katyar Kaljat Ghusli, an adaptation of the classic Marathi musical play. When asked how different it was creating music for Marathi films, Ehsaan said, "The music in Marathi films is definitely more open to classical influences because of their strong classical background, so we had a lot of fun playing around with classical melodies in these films. For example, Katyar Kaljat Ghusli is about a music competition between two gharanas, so we all had a great experience working on its music which was again all classic. In many ways, the Marathi music is similar to Tamil music." "In Katyar, which is a 70-year-old cult classic, we got the chance to work on different pallets and variations which was a refreshing break from what we usually do in Hindi films," adds Shankar.
The new breed The trio has not only given breaks to some of the most promising young breed of musicians in the country - latest is Divya Kumar whose song Maston Ka Jhund from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag became a superhit - but has also mentored them in shaping up their careers. Speaking about the new generation, Shankar said, "The singers in our industry are extremely talented and more musically-educated. They have immense knowledge of music and are extremely sorted. There is a distinct characteristic about their voice, which is not generic and is the high point for anyone to have a greater shelf life in this industry." When asked who he feels has the brightest future, he said that Arijit Singh tops the list of his favourite singers. "For about 8-9 years, I have always been praying for his success internally. I know him from the time he came as a contestant in one of the reality shows and I saw an instant spark in him, and I feel great that he is doing so wonderfully now. Similarly, I like Neeti Mohan, Sukriti and Prakriti, the twin sisters. They all are extremely focused and hard-working. Then, my son, Siddharth is doing his little bit. The most fascinating thing about these singers is that despite being so young, they are already musically inclined. Rather than wasting time in parties, clubs, alcohol and drugs, they are high on music. Frankly even in my younger days, I wasn't anywhere closer to these children," he proudly added.
When in Pune, don't miss...
Three European cultural organisations, Alliance Française Pune, British Library and Max Mueller Bhavan organised a two-day music festival 'La Fête de la Musique' which was held across the city on Saturday. This annual music fest was first launched in Paris in1982 with an aim to bring people out on the streets to make or enjoy music. Following the tradition, the British Library, is celebrating the occasion by inviting amateur musicians to perform at their premises today. If you missed the Saturday line-ups due to Palki procession across the city, you still have a chance to catch the students and teachers of Vidya Pratishthan’s English Medium School, who will be singing One Love and other songs at a concert which will be free for public.
If the latest grapevine is true then Ms Fakhri and the Dhoom:3actor are no longer together. But the question is – why? Read on to know full scoop…
Nargis Fakhri never admitted being in a relationship with Uday Chopra but their not-so-secret outings sadly gave away all the answers. While the Rockstar starlet preferred staying mum, Uday on the other hand often expressed his fondness for Nargis on Twitter. In fact, not too long ago rumours were rife that Aditya Chopra’s lil brother was even keen to settle down with his ladylove. However, the couple has now called it quits. Apparently, the Main Tera Hero actor was finding it difficult to tackle her long distance relationship. But that’s not the only reason behind Nargis-Uday break-up. While Uday was seeking commitment, the foreign import wanted to concentrate only on her career. This caused a lot trouble between the duo and they eventually decided to part ways.
While talking to a leading tabloid, a source said, “Uday and Nargis wanted different things, plus Nargis was not being able to cope with their long-distance relationship. The couple was on and off for quite some time now before they finally broke up. After their break up, Nargis was introduced toSalman Khan through a common friend and he is said to have immediately taken a liking to her. Now the actor is doing a special number in the star’s upcoming film, Kick.”
In that case, we dunno about the Chopra scion but the break-up seems to have worked for Nargis,hai na? After all, an item number with the Bhai of Bollywood could turn tables for the B-town’s beauty filmi career.
Akshay Kumar has a very special co-star in the upcoming film It's Entertainment. No, we are not talking about Tamannaah Bhatia, with whom he is teaming up for the first time, but a huge Golden Retriever. The dog, which will be seen with the Khiladi throughout has an important role in the film. This is not the first time, an animal has been given so much importance in film. Bollywood has had a unique relationship with the four-legged creatures. From playing cupid to saving the hero/heroine's life, animals have gone beyond just being pets in cinema. Here's taking a look some of the most memorable roles played by canines, pigeons, tigers and elephants.
Haathi Mere Saathi: This Rajesh Khanna-Tanuja film had an elephant Ramu taking centre stage. Not only did he regale kids with his antics, Ramu clinched the climax scene too! Tanu (Tanuja) leaves the animal-lover Raju (Rajesh) when he refuses to let go of Ramu which she fears will harm their child. Ramu then plays the peacemaker and in the process of bringing the estranged couple together sacrifices his life. Ramu tugged everybody's heartstrings with his unflinching devotion. A super duper hit, Ramu had a lion's share in the success of the film and the song Chal chal mere saathi, dedicated to the haathi remains evergreen.
Teri Meherbaniyan: This was one film that had a dog not only playing the lead role but taking over completely after the hero dies! Jackie Shroff and Poonam Dhillon starred in the film, but their characters get killed midway by the villain. Moti, Jackie's pet who witnesses the killing decides to avenge his master's death. The canine with his sharp jaws and intelligence kills the Thakur. The scene where he is shown yearning at his master's graveyard moved everyone to tears. Even the emotional title track that Jackie sings to the dog was a charbuster and the film a big hit.
Maine Pyaar Kiya: Kabutar jaa jaa... this song from Maine Pyaar Kiya has the heroine Bhagyashree pleading with the pigeon to deliver a love letter to Salman Khan. When the pigeon delivers it to him, he rushes back to meet Suman. That's the first time the duo realise they are in love with each other. That's not all, the pigeon is again seen in the climax of the film when it attacks the baddie Jeevan (Mohnish Behl) remembering how he had tried to kill the bird earlier. Here the pigeon not only played cupid to the lovers but was instrumental in bringing about a happy ending!
Hum Aapke Hai Koun: If not for Tuffy, the cute pomerian dog, Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan would never have got married in Hum Aapke Hai Koun! Yes, the dog plays a crucial role in bringing the lovers together. When Nisha (Madhuri) is on the verge of getting married to her brother-in-law Rajesh (Mohnish), she writes a letter to Prem (Salman) explaining why she cannot be his wife. She tells Tuffy to give the letter to Prem, but Tuffy decides to give it to Rajesh, who on reading it confronts Prem and Nisha. When he dsicovers the truth that they love each other, he steps aside to let his brother Prem marry Nisha. The film was a blockbuster and Tuffy with his designer goggles and outfits a big hit!
Nagina: The song Main teri dushman.. mein nagin tu saphera, which had Sridevi doing a snake dance in Nagina is the highlight of the film. Based on the theme of iccha nagin, where the snake is believed to shape-shift into a human, the film had Sridevi playing one! A blockbuster, it was hailed for Sridevi's performance and even had a sequel Nigaahen with her reprising the naagin role.
Himmatwala: Ajay Devgn was a real himmatwala in this film as he bare-handedly fought a tiger, no less! When the heroine Tamannaah Bhatia unleashes a tiger to teach him a lesson, Ajay not only fights him but ends up saving her from its claws. He then pets and jokes with the tiger before it disppears into jungle! When Ajay is being attacked by the goons in the climax, it's the tiger that comes and saves him. However, it couldn't save the film from being a disaster at the BO.
Life of Pi: Completely based on the relationship between a tiger Richard Parker and a young boy Pi who are stranded on a boat in the ocean, it was the highest grossing film of director Ang Lee. Though it was a fantasy drama, and the tiger was created by CGI it managed to make you angry and emotional. The tiger made the entire journey on the sea real!
Coolie: "Bachpan se hain sar par Allah ka haath, aur Allah Rakha hai mere saath..." is the famous Amitabh Bachchan dialogue from the film. Allah Rakha is an eagle that formed an integral part of the film. A faithful companion of Bachchan, it was always shown perched on Bachchan's wrist. The bird played an important role in the final fight sequence clawing the villains and saving Bachchan.
Maa: This Jaya Prada-Jeetendra starrer had a dog that could see ghosts! The paranormal film had Jaya Prada's character being killed mid-way. However, she comes back as a ghost and is distraught to see the condition of her child and husband. She wants to help them but is powerless despite being a ghost! The family's pet dog Dobby is the only one who can see her and so she uses him to avenge her death.
Gone are the days when Bollywood movies, even when shot in India, would suddenly travel across the world for song sequences. Those times have changed, and local is the new international for filmmakers now.
From breathtaking landscapes of Ladakh, snow capped mountains of Himachal Pradesh, the unxplored beauty of Sikkim to the marvel of love Taj Mahal, Bollywood songs are going beautifully local. Here are some of the most endearing chartbusters that made India look like the most beautiful place on Earth. Reel-y!
Akhiyan Tihari (jal) Rann of kutch, Gujarat The Rann of Kutch has captured the imagination of many a filmmaker, (including recent films like The Good Road and Ram-Leela) but it never ceases to brighten up the screen. So it does in Akhiyan Tihari, a romantic song that comes as a relief in an otherwise serious film. And as ever, the Rann is at its majestic best.
Tu (Bobby Jasoos) Hyderabad While Bobby (Vidya Balan) goes on her merry way to being a detective, romance blossoms in the streets of Hyderabad. A city that boasts its cultural heritage and delectable biryanis have come alive in the song Tu. And it's not just the city locales that come alive in the songs, but even the character of the city of Nawabs makes a strong statement.
Galiyan (Ek Villain) Goa One of the most endearing cities of India, Goa, never ceases to entice every time filmmakers head towards the party capital of India. And so Goa does in Galiyan where Shraddha Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra's romance takes shape. The serene streets of Goa lit up the screen with vibrant colours making a splash in the background.
Suno Na Sangemarmar (Youngistaan) Taj Mahal, Agra What better place to propose to your beloved than at the Taj Mahal itself? And Suno Na Sangemarmar does complete justice to the lyrics by placing the song beautifully right in front of the seventh wonder. And as expected, the song became the highlight of an otherwise average movie.
Jashn-E-Ishqa (Gunday) Kolkata It's a jashn of love and friendship that takes shape in the Kolkata of the 80's. And what defines this iconic city best is the iconic symbol of grandiose — the Howrah Bridge. While Ranveer Singh's and Arjun Kapoor's energy make an impact, the city's a scene stealer too.
Barsaat (Yaariyan) Sikkim Not many movies have traveled to this part of India, but Yaariyan beautifully captures this unexplored piece of beauty. Nothing evokes romance better than walking through snow capped mountains or dancing in the rains, and this song has both.
Banjarey (Fugly) Ladakh The vast nothingness, a lonely stretch of road and group of close friends taking their friendship to another level is what Banjarey from Fugly has to say. The masti and the fun that these four friends have while they embark on this breathtaking journey is the highlight of the song. Not to miss the remarkable backdrop of Ladakh.
Rabba (Heropanti) Gulmarg, Kashmir Kashmir makes a comeback with Rabba as debutants Tiger Shroff and Kirti Sanon (draped in a chiffon saree) take their romance to new highs. A favourite in the 70's when Kashmir became the epitome of romance, Gulmarg is all set to rule the silver screen and bring more romance to the songs, just as it did during the prime of its time.
Locha-e-Ulfat (2 States) IIM-A, Ahmedabad College is nothing less than a celebration of life in itself, and 2 States captures just that. Picturized in the IIM Ahmedabad campus, the songs and the energy reflect the romance of youth and freedom. And Locha-E-Ulfat brings out the dhamaal and masti of college life perfectly.
Patakha Guddi (Highway) Himachal Pradesh It's a journey of self discovery. And this journey takes us along the length and breadth of north India going through the barrens of the salt dessert to the greens of Punjab and into the valleys of Himachal Pradesh. Exploring the character of India through these captivating locales is a rich girl getting to know her own country like never before.
Music composer trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy.
