Magadheera is technically brilliant

C 1600 Aravalli, the kingdom of Udaygarh. Two lovers die; one a warrior and the other a princess, confessing their love for each other. Their love remains unfulfilled. And the person who cremates them -- Sher Khan (Srihari) says aloud that they will be reborn again to unite. Fast forward 400 years, and lo, they are.

A reincarnation story is not often seen in Telugu cinema and SS Rajamouli uses this theme for Ram Charan Teja's second film Magadheera.

Well, Rajamouli's Magadheera, a fantasy tale should be seen on many grounds- it's a magnum opus production with great technical work. It's a high-budget extravaganza which shows in almost every frame. It's directed by SS Rajamouli, one of the top directors in the Telugu industry. It's got fine music by MM Keeravani, brilliant camera work by Senthil, good art direction by Ravinder, good styling and costumes by Rama Rajamouli and is edited well by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. The graphics are excellent for a Telugu movie. Overall, the movie is a mainstream one with good packaging.

The tale goes back and forth into the past and the present. The period, the contemporary look and styling of the film is in sync with the depiction. The accomplished and skilled warrior Bhairava (Ram Charan Teja) wants to marry the princess of Udaygarh Mitra (Kajal Agarwal) ) and even wins her in the race against competitor Randev (who is the senapati and the villain, the traitor who allows the enemy Sher Khan into the kingdom) but bows down to the wishes of her father and does not. Bhairava is so consummate a warrior that he even killed 100 warriors of Sher Khan (who has been over riding kingdoms before he eyed Udaygarh) before dying like a true warrior. Bhairava's valour impressed Sher Khan so much that he even cremated him.

Cut to modern times where Harsha (Charan) rubs his fingers against a girl in a white churidar and feels a vibration, and realises it's the princess. He remembers his past birth and goes in search of this girl who after a chase reveals her name as Indu (Kajal).

Randev is reborn as Raghuvir, Indu's cousin. Raghuvir sees Indu and is smitten by her. Will the lovers reunite in this birth?

As far as story is concerned, there's nothing great or new about Magadheera. It's the production and direction which makes up for this. Rajamouli's deft direction plugs the loopholes and knowing the pulse of the audience crafts a mainstream film.

In reincarnation stories it's best to forget reason and logic and see the story for one can never question and find answers to them. What's strange is that only the boy remembers and feels the vibrations, and not the girl. There is some kind of similarity to Arundhati in terms of the reincarnation element of the story and the presence of the Aghora.

Keeravani's music sounds good on screen. The Bangaru Kodipetta song with Chiru doing a cameo with Mumaith Khan is sure to draw audiences. Keeravani and Kalyani Malik's background score is also in tune and does not overshadow the image. Kim Sharma's [ Images ] item number seemed unwarranted though.

Senthil's camera pans a landscape which is 'period' and 'present' in a beautiful way. The sepia tones and the white stark landscapes against a blue sky are stunningly captured. The difference in colour tones mark the periods well.

The magnificent sets created by Ravinder especially of Udaygarh are a treat to watch on screen, plus his art direction. Rama's Rajamouli's ensemble's and the styling is rich and elegant and worth a watch. Her effort shows off on screen.

Ram Charan seems to be a chip of the old block when it comes to dancing. For, he is very flexible and dances well like his dad. He's got a lot to do in this film from horse riding to sword fighting to singing and dancing. He's done them all pretty well though one felt that he needs to hone his skills of acting further particularly in expressing emotions. Also, one feels he need to have more josh to be a warrior -- at times one felt he was rather subdued.

Kajal Agarwal was quite a surprise package. She was sweet and charming and looked like an 'ethereal' princess. She carries off both the roles fairly well. Srihari was at his usual best performing both roles (later he's born as Solomon-the fisherman).

The song with all the technicians making their appearance at the end is innovative and Rajamouli should be appreciated for this.

Rajamouli has packaged Magadheera well as a mainstream film. Have a look at it for its technical brilliance.

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* EpaperEpaper * NewsletterNewsletter * StocksStocks * WeatherWeather * HoroscopeHoroscope Sach ka Saamna offends? Turn off you

Delhi High Court today threw out two petitions against the game show Sach ka Saamna, saying “moral policing” was not its job, and advised those offended by the show to turn off their TVs.

The judges slammed the petition as an example of the “misuse” of public interest litigation and, going a step ahead, also ridiculed the “hypocrisy of various ministers and parliamentarians” over deciding broadcasting law and television content.

“In this land of Gandhi, it appears that nobody follows Gandhi... Follow the Gandhian principle of ‘see no evil’. Why do you not simply switch off the TV?” a division bench of Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice Manmohan told the petitioners.

“We have very good advice for you. You have got two judges sitting here who do not watch TV at all. It will certainly help.”

Individual ideas of morality were not the business of the court, the judges said. “We are not sitting here for moral policing... You approach the Parliament and get the remedy. The courts cannot be expected to deal with issues that involve different individual perceptions.”

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Billy, go back! says Bips

Monica Bellucci was supposed to join Sanjay Suri for Jagmohan Mundhra’s now aborted bio-pic on Sonia Gandhi. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan couldn’t find dates to co-star with Will Smith and Michael Douglas in 9 Pounds and Racing With The Moon, respectively.

John Abraham’s wish to pair with Rachel Weisz in Deepa Mehta’s Luna never went beyond a wish. Now it’s Bipasha Basu and Billy Zane’s togetherness that seems star-crossed.

Bipasha’s much-publicised psychological thriller Chimera with the Titanic and Phantom actor threatens to become a sinking disaster of another kind. The film, to be jointly directed by Daniel Silverman and Tapan Saha, was to start last week. The first long schedule was supposed to begin in Kodaikanal on July 23. However, there was no sign of either Bipasha or Billy on location. And the schedule had to be cancelled although both actors were booked to shoot from the appointed day.

If reports are to be believed, Billy was on the way to India for his schedule when he was stopped short in his tracks because Baipsha had certain reservations about the project. The actress remains unavailable for comment. It seems she raised some questions about the film for which she got unconvincing answers.

So, Bips put her foot down. Nobody knows as yet what these reservations are but this is not her first aborted Bollywood-Hollywood merger. Remember, she was supposed to star with Ben Kingsley in a film on the Taj Mahal. What happened to that?

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Shilpa does the honours!

Well, well, well ... there was wellness in the air as the swish set sauntered into this new space on Sunday evening with happy hosts Shilpa Shetty and Kiran Bawa at the entrance meeting and greeting each and every guest.
And they were more than overjoyed when Rekha stepped in – yes, the enigmatic lady was there to do the inaugural honours of Iosis Medispa’s flagship outlet in Khar that was far from the madding crowd.

Actually, there was a madding crowd out there what with the presence of Bollywood, corporate bigwigs, television personalities, fashion designers and assorted others. Making heads turn was Sushmita Sen, looking slim and trim.

The champagne was flowing and so, too, the hors d’oeuvres. In fact, the party continued there as guests ate and drank to their heart’s content. And who was there at this stylish and healthy do?

Koel Purie with her firangi hubby, Devita Saraf, Leena Mogre with hubby Nikhil, Queenie and daughter Tiara, Vikram Bawa, Ashmit Patel, Gayatri Patel, Farah Khan, Ameet Gaurr, Ekta Kapoor, Rohit Roy in his famous black jacket, Arjun Punjj, Manasi Scott, Kaushika and Kamlesh Hemdev, Kishwer Merchant and Poonam Sinha... you get the drift. And the talk was on the new India that is awakening to health and wellness.

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I’m not marrying, now: Rakhi Sawant

A local court in Jaipur has asked the cops to register an FIR against six people, including you, for alleged breach of copyright for lifting the concept of Rakhi Ka Swayamwar from the portal of a Pink City-based These are all false allegations. The show, Rakhi Ka Swayamwar on NDTV Imagine, is immensely popular and that’s why people want to use its popularity to their own advantage. Tell me one thing: Was this Gaurav guy sleeping all this while? Rakhi Sawant is a brand name and it is my Swayamwar, my concept. If it was Shah Rukh Khan’s swayamwar or Kareena Kapoor’s swayamwar, then too the shows would have had nothing to do with Gaurav Tiwari’s concept.

Is your lawyer looking into the issues?
I wouldn’t like to comment on it. Such petty things do not bother me.

Could it be just another publicity gimmick?
It is definitely not the case.

Coming back to the show, you have taken marriage to the levels of reality TV. How does it feel?
It was a very hard decision. I’ve tried to create history. But the concept of swayamwar traces its roots to Indian mythology. Didn’t Sita have a swayamwar? I don’t think I’ve done any wrong. There should be more such swayamwars.

So, you are getting hitched on August 2?
Let me clarify, I’m not getting married, now. I’m selecting someone from the show to be my life partner. It’s more of an engagement. So far, I’ve dated the contestants on camera. Now, I’ll date the man I select off camera. I need to know the person well and I can’t gamble with my life for the sake of entertainment. There will be no saat pheres, maang mein sindoor or wearing a mangalsutra just yet. If after knowing the person well, I feel that he’s my Prince Charming, I’ll tie the knot.

It’s news that you are going to select Gujarati NRI, Elesh Parujanwala...
You never know what’s going on in my mind. Elesh is a very nice boy, so are the other two finalists. But my hero is Jesus and it’s He who’ll decide who I’m going to select.

Many feel that the show is rigged...
Media’s circulating wrong information. Main ek Hindustani nari hoon aur yeh mere zindagi ka sawaal hai. Can I rig my destiny?

So, Abhishek Awasthi is a closed chapter now?
You bet, it is. I wouldn’t like to talk about my past at a time when my future is going to get decided.

Is your caller tune, Ab hum ho gaye pardesi, meant to suit your current mental frame?
Absolutely. I got a lot of Bollywood actors to perform to the number for my sangeet. I need all your prayers, now that my Swayamwar’s coming to a close.

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Akshay takes good care of Deepika!

He not only made sure Deepika was looked after, but also persuaded her to stay away from shooting.

While Deepika was resting, alternative scenes that didn't require her were shot.

"I'm recovering. I was bedridden for three days. And yes, I did return to the set on Saturday. I had to shoot. But I'm not sure whether it was the wisest of decisions, considering it was malaria," Deepika told IANS from London.

Akshay and Deepika earlier teamed up for "Chandni Chowk To China", which turned out to be a box office dud. But the film's failure hasn't affected their friendship.

"I'm lucky to be surrounded by gallant men. Whether it's my dad, Ranbir (Kapoor), Akshay, Shah Rukh Khan or any of my co-stars, I haven't so far encountered any ill-behaved men," said Deepika whose next release is "Love Aaj Kal".

Directed by Imtiaz Ali, "Love Aaj Kal" hits the screens Friday. And Saif Ali Khan, who plays Deepika's cynical love interest in the romantic saga, also gets high marks from Deepika, though she admits they aren't close friends.

In the movie, Saif plays a guy who doesn't believe in romantic love whereas Deepika is a die-hard romantic both in the film and in real life.

"He (Saif) also believes in love and realises it when he can't do without the girl. So I guess there's a romantic in all of us. It just needs to be tapped. But you need to experience that journey

from disbelief to love, like I have in real life.

"So many times I advice people on their love life. I can always tell the difference between those who understand and don't understand the value of true love," she said.

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Did Nikhil Chinappa ask for sexual favours?

The show ended almost a month ago, but the allegations are surfacing now. First, eliminated contestants Varun Jhamb and Nalini Negi alleged that “some of the top crew members, including the director, had slept in the same room as top contender Joanna Magee; and others engaged in sexual favours, especially towards the end.” Now, Swagata G Shah is screaming herself hoarse about an alleged sex scandal. In a tell-all interview to a tabloid, this ex-contestant alleged that the contestants had to give sexual favours to the crew members that included, to the surprise of many, Nikhil Chinappa as well. DT got talking to some of the people embroiled in the controversy.

Siddhartha, winner: We all knew that there’d be only two winners and loads of losers. What was expected of them was that they’d take their defeat graciously. But that that’s where they’ve all f***** up. All these allegations are just publicity hungry losers teaming up. This ultimately reflects badly on them. Swagata was the first contestant to be eliminated. This is when she’s chosen to speak the ‘truth’ – almost after four months? Dragging Nikhila Chinappa’s name into it all is ridiculous – he’s had 10-12 years of a spotless career in the industry.

Probably, when she was eliminated, she didn’t expect the show to be such a hit. And when she realised that she hadn’t gotten much out of it, this is what she’s resorted to.

As for Nalini and Varun, they’d started using the show’s name to their advantage. They’d go to pubs in Delhi and ask for a free entry, saying they were Splitsvilla contestants. As for the pool party that Swagata has spun her version around, let me clarify that there was a pool only for the crew members and there was a separate party area for the contestants. During the show’s shoot, contestant-crew member interaction was barred and the same applied to the pool party as well. Although there were a few minutes of interaction, none of the girls were left alone with the crew members in the pool.

Nikhil Chinappa: I don’t want to comment on it. The channel will come out with an official statement soon. After all, it’s about the channel’s image and mine.

Rajiv Laxman (Creative director of the show): I categorically deny these allegations. We have strict rules that prevent the mingling of the crew with the cast. Swagata was the first contestant to be eliminated and didn’t even spend a night at the villa. She doesn’t have any inkling of the way things work there. The channel is seen as a soft target. With every season of our reality show such things have come to the fore.

There’s been a lot of learning from this incident. In our forthcoming season, we’ll make sure that a thorough background check is done on the cast.

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A division bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah suggested the petitioners to approach the central government over it. "It is for the government to decide whether the programme should be banned or not. It is not the function of the court ... There are far more serious problems in this country which we have to settle," the bench said. Two petitioners, Deepak Maini and Prabhat Kumar, had approached the court seeking a stay on the show being telecast on Star Plus channel alleging that the programme was against the values of the Indian society. Rejecting it, the court said, "Our culture is not so fragile that it would be affected by one TV programme."

More Stories from this section

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John mingles with a new girl

There seems to be a new girl in John Abraham's life. Well he hasn't dumped Bipasha Basu and hooked up with some one for sure but these days he often mingles with jewellery designer Paulomi Sanghavi. Although there is no romance brewing up between the two, John constantly keeps in touch with Paulomi whom he met through a common friend.

Paulomi's elite clientele stretches across Bollywood so she is a pretty well known figure in the tinsel town. People close to them swear by their chemistry together. Although John has been in a steady relationship with Bipasha has been linked to Vidya Balan and more recently Katrina Kaif. Well hope this doesn't make the Bong babe feel insecure

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Priyanka got diamond ring for her b'day

Rumour-mongers were having hay day speculating why Priyanka Chopra looked so happy on her birthday in spite of the absence of her boyfriend (just good friend) Shahid Kapoor. Priyanka did have a reason to smile.She received a surprise special gift from her parents. Believe it or not, she was gifted a diamond belly button.“Hey tweeple got some rocking news… My parents got me a diamond belly button ring for my b’day. Guess what? Just got my piercing done! Yay!” posted Priyanka, a regular on Twitter.

It is said that Priyanka couldn’t believe her eyes when her parents gifted her a butterfly- shaped diamond belly button on her birthday, on 18th July, because she never expected such a gift. Priyanka had pierced her belly earlier and used to wear belly button until she was forced to part with it following the demand of her film roles.Well, Priyanka must be looking forward to show off her diamond- studded-belly the next time she appears in public. She also has a lot to look forward to this year with many promising projects in her kitty. Her film Kaminey, where she acts with Shahid Kapoor, is releasing this August and What’s Your Raashee with Hurman Baweja is scheduled for release in September.She also has another film titled Pyaar Impossible with Uday Chopra.

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Star Plus replies to show cause notice

Star Plus, the general entertainment channel that telecasts the controversial show Sach Ka Samna sent its reply to the Information & Broadcasting ministry to the show cause notice issued to it last week. In its reply the channels has denied having violated any programming guidelines prescribed under the Cable TV (Regulation) Act, 1995.

Star Plus has said that that Sach Ka Saamna is based on an international game show and it does not, in any manner, depict obscenity or vulgarity. The channel also argued that it issues parental guidance warning during the telecast of each of the episodes. It also added that the show was being aired at a late night timing of 10.30 pm and thus it was not violating any provisions of the programming code.

The ministry had sent the producers a show cause notice to the channel after there was a furore in Rajya Sabha over the programme. The MPs claimed the content to be obscene which offending good taste and decency. The contestants are asked 21 questions in the show ranging from their professional to personal life. Some of the questions asked in the show so far have been very intimate.

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TV’s moment of truth

And caught in the storm this time is the game show Sach Ka Saamna, the Indian version of the popular foreign show Moment of Truth.
The show created a furore in parliament, which led to the Government issuing a show cause notice to the channel and a PIL has also been filed in the Delhi High Court. Samajwadi Party MP Kamal Akhtar asked for a ban on the show and has called for strict censorship on
TV content, which brings us back to the question; is censorship necessary for Indian television?

The nature of shows today has become bolder, in-your-face and full of expletives. Roadies, Spiltsvilla, Bigg Boss are the best examples. The makers of Roadies had to telecast an apology continuously for three days after the government found offensive material in the show. “A certain level of censorship is important,” believes VJ Cyrus Sahukar.” But as far as the show Sach Ka Saama is concerned, I think the participants know exactly what they are getting into before sitting on that chair,” says Sahukar.

Producer/director Rajan Shahi too agrees on the need for censorship. “On prime time we should not be showing content that’s not fit for family viewing,” quips Shahi.

Prabhu, senior journalist and member AP State Censor Board feels that the time has indeed come for
TV censorship. “Censorship has become necessary as channels air shows that have explicit content and some portray women in bad light,” opines Prabhu.

Recently, politicians and women and child welfare groups slammed Baalika Vadhu for glorifying child marriage and a few other shows for regressive portrayal of the fairer sex. But Shahi begs to differ. “I don’t think women are misrepresented. At the end of the day TV serials are fiction. I do agree that shows go to extremes in characterisations for drama.” Prabhu though counters this view saying, “Satellite channels have penetrated even villages in India and many a time the audience isn’t that discerning.”
But TV censorship is a formidable task as the board has discovered. “It’s an impractical proposal. Serials are streamed on the tube 24x7 and going through every bit before telecast is a Herculean task what with so many channels present. Channels and producers need to be a responsible lot,” says Prabhu.

Critics, however, argue that shows like Sach ka Saamna thrive because the Indian society is turning into a voyeuristic one. “Everyone loves to watch what’s happening in someone else’s life. How else can you explain the success of a show like Bigg Boss?” asks singer Debojit Saha, a contestant of the show.”I think the Indian audience is indeed ready for shows like Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachaao, Bigg Boss and the kind. Of course, a certain kind of regulation is a must,” opines Saha. However there are those who think otherwise. Roadies contestant Nauman Sait is one of them. “The Indian audience is mature and knows what it wants. Why should there be someone to tell them what to watch?” he asks.

Thought the call for censorship is loud and clear, the TRPs tell a different story. The controversial shows rate high on the charts. As the debate rages on, it’s left to see who has the last laugh.

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Priyanka Kothari lived with eight lizards during 'Agyaat' shoot

Actress Priyanka Kothari is petrified of lizards, but she had to share her room with the reptiles for a month while shooting in the Sri Lankan jungles for her forthcoming film 'Agyaat'.

'I had to live with eight creepy lizards who used to roam around in my room. I can say that I'm braver now. Earlier, I used to be petrified if I used to see even one lizard in my room... but I had so many in close proximity in the same room in the jungle,' Priyanka told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, 'Agyaat' was extensively shot in the Sigiriya jungles in Sri Lanka. Priyanka has teamed up with Telugu star Nitin in the thriller that revolves around a film unit that goes for a jungle-shoot. Soon the crew members get killed one by one, leaving the rest running for their lives.

Priyanka, who suffered several injuries while shooting the film, reveals that the cast and crew faced many problems during their stay in the dense forest.

'A lot of things happened with me during the shooting - like my ankle injury, elbow injury, then so many scratches, insect bites, et al. It's a part and parcel of a film like this,' said the 25-year-old who plays an actress in the film.

'Apart from the injuries, there were other problems as well. The hotel we were staying in was surrounded by wild animals. You wouldn't even come to know when a snake might enter your room. Then the biggest threat was from wild elephants. A lot of times we had to change our route to avoid them,' she said.

But the actress has no regrets signing on the film, which is set to release Aug 7.

'On the whole, I have no complaints. It's all worth it because I got to work in a wonderful film. I will get a romantic (film) or a comedy to work in future, but adventurous films like 'Agyaat' are not made every day,' she said.

Priyanka, who kick-started her Bollywood career with Varma's 'Sarkar', went on to act in other films with the director like 'James', 'Go' and 'Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag'.

'It's always an honour to work with Ram Gopal Varma. He is a mastermind. I love working with him and I really respect him. He gives liberty and freedom to his actors which is the best part,' said the actress, known for doing glamorous and sensual roles.

Asked if she was comfortable with skin show, the actress said she wouldn't hesitate from doing something if the role demanded.

'Actors are like props on the sets. You do what your director says. And I'm the kind of actor who listens to her director. If the role demands and if the director asks, then I don't have problems in doing sensual scenes. That's my profession and there is nothing wrong with glamour. I trust my director - that's the reason why I accept a film,' Priyanka said.

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Salman impressed by ace choreographer and director Prabhu Deva

Mumbai: Bollywood’s favourite bad boy Salman Khan is really impressed with actor-turned-director Prabhu Deva these days. According to latest B-town gossip, news has it that Salman is so happy with Prabhu Deva that he looking forward to work with the ace choreographer and director in another flick!

Prabhu Deva, popularly known for his choreography and acting has directed Bollywood hunk Salman Khan in his upcoming venture ‘Wanted’. With this film, Prabhu Deva starts his tinsel town directorial innings.

News has it that Salman is elated with the kind of response ‘Wanted’ has achieved so far and has decided to rope Prabhu Deva for another flick.

Prabhu Deva is a big name in down South and enjoys a huge fan base both as an actor and choreographer. Yet, when it comes to Bollywood, it will be a tightrope walk for the dancing ace. Nevertheless, with Salman is his first movie, Prabhu Deva has a bright prospect in Bollywood. Well, here’s hoping Prabhu strikes jackpot with ‘Wanted’!

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Diamond belly button for Priyanka Chopra

Rumourmongers were having hay day speculating on why Priyanka Chopra looked so happy on her birthday in spite of the absence of her boyfriend (just good friend) Shahid Kapoor. Priyanka did have a reason to smile. She received a surprise special gift from her parents. Believe it or not, she was gifted a diamond belly button.

“Hey tweeple got some rocking news.. My parents got me a diamond belly button ring for my b’day.. Guess what? just got my piercing done! Yay!” posted Priyanka, a regular on Twitter.

It is said that Priyanka couldn't believe her eyes when her parents gifted her a butterfly-shaped diamond belly button on her birthday, on 18th July, because she never expected such a gift. Sources said that Priyanka had pierced her belly earlier and used to wear belly button until she was forced to part with it following the demand of her film roles.

Well, Priyanka must be looking forward to show off her diamond-studded-belly the next time she appears in public. She also has a lot to look forward to this year with many promising projects in her kitty. Her film Kaminey, where she acts with Shahid Kapoor, is releasing this August and What's Your Raashee with Hurman Baweja is scheduled for release in September. She also has another film titled Pyaar Impossible with Uday Chopra.

Expect the unexpected from Priyanka!

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Katrina is Queen on web too; but King Khan languishes at bottom

Moreover, it’s all women on top, when it comes to the top searched celebrities in the Indian cyberspace. On the web charts, its Katrina followed by Aishwarya

Rai in the second spot. Sania Mirza and Priyanka Chopra rank in the third and fourth positions, respectively.

Among the top 10 celebrities on the web, master blaster Sachin Tendulkar comes in a distant fifth followed by Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan

. Shah Rukh Khan ranks at the bottom of the chart, in this case.

The popularity of women on top of charts also indicates the power of glamour factor which attracts the young online population to search for them. About 85% of them being below 26 years of age.

Amongst Bollywood actresses, Katrina rules the hearts of internet users across the country except in two states. Goans seems to be searching more for Aishwarya than Katrina. In Rajasthan, the popularity of both Katrina and Aishwarya is on par. The Google ranking is done according to the hits and searches an Indian celebrity attracts.

Till December 2007, Katrina Kaif was behind Aishwarya Rai, in terms of internet popularity. Interestingly, since the time Aishwarya finally hooked up with Abhishek, she has never been able to beat Kaif on the internet charts. On the other hand, Katrina was once beaten only by Deepika Padukone, during the release of her debut film Om Shanti Om in 2007.

The web results for most popular male actors shows a sharp contrast to Synovate rankings. A two year graph showing the web popularity of Bollywood heores is a zig zag one, with none at the top for more than two months, in contrast to Bollywood actresses where Katrina has been a clear number one.

But Indian web users are most keen on searching for Hrithik Roshan. While Aamir Khan was leading as the number one since the releasse of his film Ghajini. Amitabh Bachchan, John Abraham and Hrithik were fighting neck and neck for the second spot. But since mid 2009, Hrithik’s Luck By Chance, has clearly got him to the number one spot.

Currently, John Abraham rules the hearts of Indian netizens at the second spot followed by Big B and then Aamir Khan. Experts, however, add that Aamir might rule again around December when hs film 3 Idiots - around IITians, will be released. But the release of Kites pegged around September might prop up Hrithik’s position.

Interestingly, Bollywood’s King Khan languishes at the bottom of the top 10 actors on internet with his Billu Barber bombing at the box office. Ranbir Kapur, Imraan Khan, Saif Ali Khan score much above Shahrukh Khan when it comes netizens searching for their favourite Bollywood actor online.

Obviously, King Khan needs to do much more to become attractive to the young netizen population. From actors not on the Synovate list, Akshay Kumar beats King Khan, considering the large number of releases he is churning out.

Amongst sportspersons, tennis ace Sania Mirza beats out all others hands down. Sania leads in cyberspace followed by Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in terms of popularity. Other sportsmen could not even boast enough searches to make them rank on Google charts.

The web rankings are important as most netizens are young, a prime target for most brands. Web advertisers in future also take into account a celebrity’s web popularity when considering her / him for an ad campaign.

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Ash is an old woman!

Now for "Action Replay" she will don the look of an old woman and director Vipul Shah says he hired a Hollywood make-up artist to get the right make up on her face.

If certain media reports are to be believed, Aishwarya

threw tantrums about getting her make-up done by someone other than her own make-up man, but Shah says otherwise.

"Ash did her old age make up with Paul, a Hollywood make-up artist. When we did it the first time, it didn't work out well. When you are doing age make-up, you can't correct it so it had to be removed fully and done again," said Shah in a statement.

The filmmaker, who has made movies like "Waqt - The Race Against Time" and "Singh Is Kinng", says the actress shot the scenes patiently.

"It took us six hours to get her look right. We started shooting at three in the morning and the shooting went on till 7 a.m.," he said.

"Action Replay" also stars Akshay Kumar. The story progresses backwards in time

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Shilpa puts Rekha on beauty duty

"I had to think of who was going to do the grand launch and couldn't come up with a better name than the diva herself - someone who is synonymous with timeless beauty and wellness. So I approached (the one and only) Rekhaji," Shilpa posted on her blog shilpashettylive.com

"I've always looked up to her as an actor, role model for constant reinvention. We share a very special bond and have always been in touch with each other. I think it's the South Indian connection. When I asked her to grace the occasion, she agreed and I was ecstatic," she further added.

The 34-year-old will be opening her flagship store in partnership with entrepreneur Kiran Bawa, well-known in beauty and wellness industry. The first of these stores will open in Mumbai's Khar area.

Explaining about the spa, Shilpa said: "Being part of an industry where beauty is a pre-requisite, I learnt from my own mistakes and this experience gave me the opportunity to reinvent myself. When people ask me how I did it, their questions will be answered through Iosis."

"I hope that Iosis medispa works as a catalyst in bettering people's lives at an affordable cost. Kiran and I share one common vision - Wellness India. We are both on the threshold of a new beginning and hope people enjoy the services that are provided here because they've been put together with a lot of love and thought," she added.

The medispa will be a fusion of four - styling, spa, salon and skin treatments. Every treatment will be under the supervision of trained professionals.

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Neha in US flick

Neha Dhupia is ready to leave for the US on August 1 for the premiere of the movie Bollywood Hero in which she plays the role of an Indian actress called Lalima. “It’s a nice and funny movie. And mine’s a very funny role. I play a typical Bollywood actress and it’s a spoof on Indian cinema the way it is known. Chris Kattan plays the lead in the movie,” says Neha, who is very excited about this project.

“My friends called me a couple of days ago and said that they’ve seen billboards of my pictures all over New York. I didn’t have to go out of my way for this movie and it was a very interesting script,” she adds.

Apart from movies, Neha hasn’t had time to do anything for herself lately. “There’s just so much work that trust me, I’m trying to catch up on sleep on board flights as well.” However, she’s happy that she’s in a relationship with someone who understands all this . “We have known each other for as long as I can remember and have been in a relationship for a while now. We have a very mature relationship and thankfully I have someone in my life who understands my space, my time and my profession. If not an actress I would have loved to be a sportsperson. However, I don’t really think Ritwik would like to exchange his profession with me!” she smiles.
So marriage anytime soon? “Look, I don’t understand the concept of marriage. We both are together and I think that should be it!”

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Fiza exits 'Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao'

The latest participant to have got eliminated from Sony’s reality show 'Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao' is the controversial and ever complaining Fiza Chand. Fiza was never too popular amongst her co-contestants except for having a confidante in Palak.

Informs a source, "Fiza has been eliminated from the show. Apparently, the final face- off was between pop-singer Anaida and Fiza Chand. And Anaida emerged victorious after beating Fiza Chand."

It is to be remembered that the last time too Anaida was one of the two participants in the final face- off.

Fiza has been the least favourite amongst other contestants. The lady often created a ruckus over trivial issues and did not participate in the daily chores. She also had an altercation with contestant Akashdeep Saigal in earlier episodes.

Fiza will now have time to address more pressing matters back home as her turbulent love story with politician Chand is still in a limbo. We hope she wins that one atleast!

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Ban 'Sach Ka Saamna'

Mahendra H Singhi, president of All-India Jain Youth Federation (Hubli chapter), has urged Union information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni to ban the telecast of controversial serial ‘Sach Ka Saamna'.

In a letter to the minister, Singhi has stated that the serial, adapted from the western show ‘The Moment of Truth', will upset the Indian family set-up, leading to large number of divorces, heartbreaks and feuds.

"India is known for traditions, culture and human values. By telecasting the serial, there will be negative impact on the people," he said.

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Ash wrapping up work quickly for motherhood

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s pregnancy hits the headlines very frequently but off late she is busy in assignments, endorsements and other affairs. 2008 had been a busy year for Ash and so is the running year. She has loads of projects in the discussion stage, production and post-production stage. But the actress has kept her projects very limited so that by the end of 2010, she might become free from any professional commitments and move towards motherhood. Ash-Abhi is planning parenthood by next year.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wants to keep her schedule diary totally empty next year so that she could devote her full time to the new born which is on the way. Helping her to wrap up work quickly and supporting her in this period of heavy work load is her loving and caring husband Abhishek Bachchan. He has been a great pillar of support for Ash.

According to source, "This no doubt is the busiest phase of Aishwarya's career. Such a flurry of assignments has never been seen before in any married actress' life and she'd be foolish to let such opportunities slip by. Luckily, Abhishek is thoroughly supportive of her career. She wants to complete as many of these assignments as she can to before she becomes a mother. Because once she gets into that role she wouldn't want any other distractions. That, Aishwarya is sure of."

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Sach Ka Saamna facing government scrutiny

STAR Plus is maintaining a no-comment stance over its controversial reshow Sach Ka Saamna that got high viewership ratings but is now under the government scanner after being hotly debated in parliament for its content.

"We would not like to comment on the issue as of now," an official from STAR Plus said on Thursday, a day after the issue figured prominently in the upper house of parliament.

Sex, lies, TV show: Urvashi Dholakia's 'Yes' or 'No' battle

Samajwadi Party MP Kamal Akhtar raised questions regarding the show's content in the Rajya Sabha and said the show that featured "unreasonable questions about a person's bedroom life" was against Indian culture.

Later, the ministry of information and broadcasting also issued a showcause notice to the channel for violating the programming code of the Cable TV Network Act of 1995.

Horror: Vinod Kambli faces the lie detector

STAR Plus has to respond to the notice latest by Monday.

Siddharth Basu, head of BIG Synergy Adlabs that is producing the show, said in response:

"I would not like to comment on the issue raised in parliament."

"I have the highest regard for the institution and its members and I am sure things will be well considered and due process will be followed," Basu said in an SMS message.

Based on the American show The Moment of Truth, Sach Ka Saamna features contestants who have to answer 21 questions about their lives after undergoing a polygraph test that determines if an answer is true. A contestant with the perfect score gets to walk away with a prize money of Rs.10 million.

Celebrities like former cricketer Vinod Kambli and actress Urvashi Dholakia have already featured on the show and made some brave revelations.

For instance, Urvashi was asked if she was thrown out of college for teenage pregnancy. Though she said no, the question itself raised many eyebrows.

The first episode of the show, aired on July 15, had received a stupendous response in terms of its Television Rating Points (TRPs) that stood at 3.4 percent as against 1.6 percent registered by the first episode of Iss Jungle Se... on Sony TV, according to data provided by television viewership tracker Audience Measurement and Analytics (aMap).

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni has called a meeting with the broadcaster's bodies Indian Broadcasting Federation and News Broadcasters Association on Thursday to discuss the issue

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Movies Scoops & News Asin's word power!!

When it comes to word power Asin's an ace at it! No wonder Scrabble is her favourite game. ''Scrabble is Asin's favourite indoor game. If she has time on hand and is at home you see Asin busy playing Scrabble. She loves to dabble with words,'' said a source.

Scrabble has enhanced Asin's word power.

CHECK OUT: Sonam and Asin are great pals

''The game has made her master new words. Asin is already very good with the English language; Scrabble has only improved it further. She loves playing all sorts of word games and is a pro at them!'' said the source.

Infact not many know that Asin is a master at seven languages. The actress is well-versed with not only the South Indian languages but also French, English, Hindi and Sanskrit. ''Asin was good at languages right since her school days. She used to pick up foreign languages very quickly. It was a talent that she was born with. Infact, she dubs for all her movies herself and does not depend on a dubbing artist,'' said a source.

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Shilpa Shetty: Raj is meant to be in my life

Bollywood actress and Big Brother star Shilpa Shetty shed some light on her love life when she told BBC Asian Network breakfast host Adil Ray that she believed in marriage in a recent lighthearted interview.

Presenter Adil Ray left the Bollywood star speechless as he tried his luck wooing her using ex Big Brother contestant Sree's infamous words of wisdom.

The unsuspecting Bollywood actress set the marriage rumour mill working as she answered all of Adil's questions and gave a rare insight into her love life. Shetty explained how she believed in the institution of marriage and how her finance Raj was 'meant to be in her life'.

Adil continued his jibe using classic Sree lines such as 'you do come in my dreams...your inner beauty is platinum...you can slap me if I'm saying something wrong...even your laugh makes me sunshine'. Shilpa, unaware of the wind up, was taken aback replying 'Are you flirting me with on radio!'

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The 'tussle' between Kareena and Deepika

So when we asked her if there is any truth behind the rumour, pat came the reply, "No, never, Kareena Kapoor was never the first choice for Love Aaj Kal. Since beginning I was the first choice and director Imtiaz was very clear about that. There has never been any confusion regarding the casting."

Says Deepika further, "In fact Kareena has just said once the she wished to be the lead actress in the film, but she never herself said that she was the first choice. It's only the rumors which suggest so."

Deepika, who is eagerly awaiting the release of the film, feels that she is lucky enough to get big banners and big stars to work with. "I think it's all luck which has been by my side that I am getting good offers."

According to her, Love Aaj Kal was a wonderful experience and more importantly, she says that in real life she is very similar to the character she is playing in the film.

Says she, "It was a good fun. I enjoyed shooting and portraying the character because in real life I am similar to what I have portrayed in the LAK."

When asked to comment on her experience of working with Saif Ali Khan, she says, "I think while shooting for the film he was lot more real than many other actors who I have worked with. And also I feel that he has brought in the most modern version of performance. His approach and attitude towards a character is different than many other. I had good fun working with him."

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Bebo Main Bebo!

1. 

Critics may have lambasted Kareena Kapoor's 'bitchy' role in Kambakkht Ishq, but Bebo is least perturbed. "Kambakkht?isn't an Omkara or even a Jab We Met.

It wasn't meant for the critics. It was targetting the masses," says the actress frankly.

She adds, "Forget the Oscars, we aren't even thinking of the Indian awards, but simple box-office collections because ultimately, that's the parameter for success." What about the sexist jokes, abuses and MCP comments in the movie that have raised many an eyebrow? "We hear such comments everyday in real life.

People are laughing hysterically at the jokes. And Omkara had far more abusive lingo," she says and adds, "Come on, it was just a movie to watch while munching popcorn.

And I'm a star actress who has been constantly trying to strike a balance between critically-acclaimed films and commercially successful entertainers. I'm the only actress who can slip into any kind of shoes - Kolhapuri chappals or Jimmy Choo stilettos - because all sizes fit me.

But jealous tongues will wag." However, there's one person who is far from being jealous and has tagged her the most glamourous woman of today.

"Saif was most excited since the first promos of Kambakkht? were aired. His mother (Sharmila Tagore) was one of the most glamourous actresses in her time and now Saif says it's me.

He loves the way I'm able to balance my career with an Omkara and a Kambakkht?" On Saif referring to her as chhoti begum, Kareena says, "It's a huge compliment and a responsibility, too. I don't react to it because for me the Begum of Pataudi is still Saif's mum.

" There's another role the actress has decided to take up - that of a designer. She plans to launch her own design label soon.

"Yeah, I've taken fashion a step forward. Post-September, when I'm a little free from my endorsements and have wrapped up the month-long shoot of 3 Idiots, I'll be working on my own designer line.

I'm talking with Indian designers and international brands." The conversation veers towards Saif's upcoming film Love Aaj Kal.

Ask her if the intense love scenes between her beau and Deepika Padukone make her uncomfortable and she says, "So what? We're both actors first and complete professionals. We do what the script demands without it spilling into our personal lives.

"Lastly, ask the actress if she sings Bebo main Bebo, the song from Kambakkht Ishq to her love, and she says with a chortle, "No, we don't sing songs to each other. But if Love Aaj Kal is a hit too, we might just throw a party and play each other's chartbusters.

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Deepika, too hot to handle

Now, Ranbir’s girlfriend Deepika Padukone is following his footsteps. Recently, Deepika shot for a soap ad in Chennai. She had to get up close and very personal with model Rakesh Bapat in the sizzling ad. As both the actors hardly knew each other they took at least 45 retakes before they got the right moves. To make things easy for Deepika, director Pradeep Sarkar played the title track of Bachna Ae Haseeno instead of the ad jingle so that Deepika could shed her inhibitions.

A source, who was present on the sets, said, “Yes, we took almost 50 retakes. The ad was shot under a shower and had to be filmed keeping certain technicalities in mind because the product (soap) had to be the focal point. After several retakes, director Pradeep Sarkar and cameraman Anil Mehta suddenly came up with the idea of playing Deepika’s favourite song. They played the title song of Bachna Ae Haseeno so that Deepika could feel comfortable enough to shoot. Deepika obviously loves the song

and it made matters much easier for everybody present on the sets.”

Pradeep Sarkar said, “Yes, I played the song to make Deepika feel good. It helped in getting all the right moves.”

When asked about the number of retakes, Sarkar said, “I only finalise a take when it’s right. There are many retakes and different shots when one is shooting an ad film. My edit process if still on so I won’t know the exact number of takes.”

Deepika remained unavailable for comment.

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Mallika Sherawat to visit Twitter Headquarters in San Francisco

Mallika Sherawat is the first Indian star to be invited to visit Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, California.

The sexy siren has a popular Bollywood presence on Twitter via her page '@MallikaLA'. Apparently she is one of the most 'followed' Bollywood celebrities on Twitter with more than 2500 fans keen on knowing what the sexy actress is up to.

Mallika will be visiting the Twitter headquarters on July 14 where she'll greet her fans, tour the Twitter office and give talk to Twitter employees during their lunch break. Mallika has been using Twitter to keep in touch with fans and document her experiences in Hollywood.

Sherawat, who since arriving in Hollywood has been in the spotlight regularly. First H'wood celebrity friends and then a Hollywood milkshake named after her. "One of the hard things about spending time in the US was being so far away from my fans in India," she said. By tweeting her experiences in the States, Mallika says she "hopes to also further the connection between Hollywood and Bollywood."

The actress has been regularly posting messages on her experiences in Hollywood, along with tips to men on how to impress women! "It can be fun, and can connect people. And when people are connected, amazing things can happen," she quips.

Sherawat's upcoming film Hissss directed by renowned Hollywood director Jennifer Lynch and co-starring Irrfan Khan is currently in post-production stage and is the first Bollywood film to be represented by a major Hollywood agency (William Morris Endeavor).

In October, Sherawat will begin production on a new film in which she will be playing a character inspired by San Francisco Attorney General - Kamala Harris.

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Preity seeing Yuvraj Singh?

Being a celebrity is not as rosy as you look from the outset. You have to pay a huge prize for name and fame. Bollywood actress Preity Zinta is one of the victims. She has been in the news for all the wrong reasons ever since crack appeared on her long-time relationship with Ness Wadia. Now, she has been linked with her captain Yuvraj Singh.

It looks like the hugs after every match did the trick. Yuvraj used to be the first person to receive warm hugs from Preity, every time Kings XI Punjab won a match in the last leg of the Indian Premiere League (IPL). Yuvraj deserved them first being the captain of the team but their chemistry off the field has caught the eyes of the rumourmongers. It may be recalled that Preity and Ness, who co-own the Kings XI, never appeared together in the last IPL.

Adding more fuel to the fire, Yuvraj has bought a rooftop apartment in Mumbai, which is just a hug away from Preity Zinta's home. They are said to have grown closer after Preity announced her split with her long-time boyfriend Ness Wadia. Yuvraj too has experienced his share of heartbreaks with his relationships not working out the way he wanted. He was earlier linked to Kim Sharma and Deepika Padukone.

Preity and Yuvraj look good together. As both of them are single now, nobody can stop them from mingling. Give them space!

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How Dr Shah Rukh Khan keeps his awards

London: On Friday, Shah Rukh Khan was presented an honorary doctorate in arts and culture by the University of Bedfordshire.

Dressed in ceremonial robes, King Khan was his usual charming self. “My wife is here too. She thinks being a doctor is really serious stuff. Of all my achievements as an actor, this one is a special achievement,” he quipped.

And just like his acting roles, SRK wants to take his scholarly duties seriously.

“I will entertain like Walt Disney where he says I will entertain and help people learn. But if you are asking if I will make films to teach people ABC, then I doubt it. You wont see them but I will make films that people can go and see for three hours and then come back and study hard for their exams,” he said.

Apart from film awards, SRK was honoured with the Padmashri in 2005. Internationally he was conferred the Order of The Arts and Literature Award by the French government in 2007 and last year Malaysia's Datuk honour, similar to British Knighthood.

So where do these awards go? The actor, who has 13 Filmfare awards, amongst other honours, says that this doctorate is 'right up there'.

“On one wall, where I have my personal desk, where I keep my scripts, I have the Padmashri, the French honour the Malaysian honour. This one will go there. The Filmfare awards are in front of me. So I am like a megalomaniac, self-centered person who likes to be surrounded by his awards,” he said

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Gay community turns assertive in workplace

Last Thursday, gay men and women across the country were going around their offices with a spring in their step and a grin on their faces. They were constantly on the Net and on the phone,typing endless messages and talking excitedly about parties. Some even parked themselves in front of the office TV, unabashedly switching from business channels covering the Economic Survey to channels reporting on the Delhi High Court judgement de-criminalising homosexuality.

All this surely posed a bit of a dilemma for their colleagues. Were congratulations in order or should one just let the whole thing pass? Did one have to be a close friend to congratulate someone on matters of sexuality? What exactly does one say under such circumstances anyway?

In some offices, however, there was no dilemma. When Parmesh Shahani, Editorial Director of Verve magazine, entered his office late in the morning, he was greeted with a big hurrah. “It was like India had won the World Cup,” he says. “My straight colleagues were as excited by the judgement as my gay colleagues. It became a way for them to show their support.”

Never has it been harder to stay in the closet in India . After Facebook, Dostana, pride parades and television talk shows, the Delhi High Court judgement is the latest in a recent series of opportunities for gay men and women to declare themselves. “This is such a morale booster,” says Shahani , who authored the book Gay Bombay: Globalisation , Love and (Be)longing in Contemporary India last year. “It quite often happens that everyone around you knows you’re gay but they’re just waiting for you to come out and tell them. Now the process has become easier.”

One might say these things are always easier if you’re lucky enough to be working at a fashion magazine, but Shahani actually began his corporate career at staid old Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M ) before Anuradha Mahindra whisked him away to Verve. He still holds the post of head, vision & opportunities, at the parent company and says, “I’ve been out at M&M since I joined. It’s a very warm, accepting group.”

While those in the closet ponder the possible process through which they could come out — start with the boss? Tell colleagues in the immediate team? Spill the beans to the office gossip and wait for him or her to spread the news? — others are making things simpler for themselves by declaring their sexuality during the recruitment process itself.

When Harish Iyer, 30, joined Shobiz five years ago, he made it a point to scratch out the marital status options in the event management company’s standard recruitment form and write ‘gay.’ “It’s a very important part of who I am and I wanted my boss to know right from the beginning ,” he says.

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Hrithik turning global super hero with Krrish 2

With Kites all set to go global, Rakesh Roshan has also revived the idea of a Krrish sequel. This time, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra will not be directing the Krrish sequel for Rakesh Roshan.

Rakesh has decided to take over the responsibility from Rakeysh, and with good reason. After Kites, Rakesh Roshan wants to take Hrithik Roshan's career to the next international level. The next instalment of Krrish will therefore be a super-hero film to compete with the Hollywood films of the genre like Batman, Superman and Spiderman.

Confirming these developments, Rakesh Roshan, who has won the ‘director of the decade’ award in Macau says, “The destiny of the next Krrish movie depends entirely on the way Kites goes. Kites director Anurag Basu and I are preparing two different versions of Kites in Hindi and English. The English version will be viewed by our potential buyers in the US. Only then will we move forward with plans on how to release Kites and how to make the next Krrish movie. We should release by December.”

Rakesh Roshan hasn’t directed a film since Krrish in 2006. But now he plans to go fully international with the Krrish sequel. “It all depends on the fate of Kites in the international market,” says Rakesh Roshan..

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