Anjana Sukhani doesn't mind a bikini
Anjana Sukhani says she is game for bikinis if her role really demands it. Though she has adopted a glamorous persona in films like " Golmaal Returns " and " Salaam-E-Ishq ", the actress is yet to join the bikini brigade.
"It's not in my wish list either. However, there comes a point in your career where you get a film that requires you to shed your inhibitions. Of course, the role that I play has to be of utmost importance - if it is justified for the character to wear a bikini, then I won't fret about it," said Anjana.
Skin show has taken a different dimension in the last few months with actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Minissha Lamba and Amisha Patel getting into the swim wear for their roles. Also with dozens of film and fashion magazines hitting the stands, actresses are making a bee line to be seen on the cover.
"I'm very sure about the fact that posing seductively for the camera doesn't really pay. It can't help you grab work. What eventually matters is how talented you are and whether you can deliver goods on the screen," said the actress who had grabbed attention in the Cadbury ad with superstar Amitabh Bachchan.
But being in the glamour world where beauty sells, isn't that a dicey statement to make?
"Of course, looking pretty is a valuable thing, but then talent matters as well", said Anjana. "At the end of the day, it is about coming up with a balancing act. Being 'just pretty' or 'just talented' doesn't help because one of them working just in isolation can't take you anywhere. You have to have a good mix of both."
"My dad has always said that you should do things that reflect the goal that you want to ultimately meet. If a small step taken by me helps me get closer to that goal, I won't mind doing that as long as I don't cross any limits," she added.
In that case, how does she look back at her first few steps when she had just started her career with films like "Humdum" (2005) and "Sun Zarra" (2006)?
With "Jashn", "Tum Milo toh Sahi" and "Allah Ke Banday" in the pipeline, life is certainly looking up for Anjana.
 Trailers & Clips: Watch trailers and clips for Battle for Terra (2009)
|
Are You Proud to Be an American Idol Viewer?
Did your fellow countrymen and women do you proud tonight?
American Idol played host to a double elimination that, if not entirely shocking, really hammered home the fact that we're in the home stretch—only four weeks to go until the May 20 finale!
So, to quote T-Mobile, who's in your fave five? And are they the same ones who will perform next week?
Once you know which two contestants were cast aside tonight, do weigh in on the pair of boots by taking our poll.
null
··· THEY SAID WHAT? Get today's most commented stories now at www.eonline.com
"Conquests" a brilliantly staged comic trilogy (Reuters)
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Alan Ayckbourn 's early-1970s trilogy " The Norman Conquests " has been acclaimed for the genius of its elaborately conceived structure, with the plays fitting into one another like the pieces of a Swiss watch. But the revelation of this Broadway revival, imported after an acclaimed run at London's Old Vic Theater, is how deeply moving -- as well as uproariously funny -- these comedies of manners are.
England's most commercially successful living playwright, the prolific Ayckbourn has long been known for his innovative dramatic structures . He first showcased this proclivity with "Norman," which consists of three separate works ("Table Manners," " Living Together " and "Round and Round the Garden") featuring the same characters and taking place during one weekend at a home in the English countryside.
Set in three different areas of the house -- you can guess the locations from the titles -- the action of the plays overlaps. Scenes that take place offstage in one are fully seen in another, with the result an elaborately constructed theatrical mosaic. What's particularly ingenious is that each work stands on its own and that they can be seen in any order.
The plays all depict the less than honorable activities of Norman ( Stephen Mangan ), a licentious assistant librarian who during the course of the weekend attempts to seduce his two sisters-in-law even while his long-suffering wife, Ruth ( Amelia Bullmore ), is within shouting distance.
At first, his main target is Annie ( Jessica Hynes ), who is more than ready to join him for an illicit getaway because her current relationship with Tom (Ben Miles), a nebbishy veterinarian and confirmed bachelor, seems to be going nowhere. But when that plan doesn't work out, Norman sets his sights on the abrasive Sarah (Amanda Root), whose marriage to Reg ( Paul Ritter ) clearly has lost its spark.
Shifting effortlessly from broad farce to Chekhovian poignancy, the plays feature not only an endless series of hilarious one-liners but also some of the most brilliant physical clowning to be seen on Broadway. But despite all the hilarity, we're constantly reminded of the humanity of the characters -- even Norman, who remains wonderfully endearing despite his utterly amoral behavior.
Credit for this must go not only to the writing but also to the brilliance of the entire ensemble and the superb direction by Matthew Warchus , who, on the evidence of not only this production but also "Boeing-Boeing" and " God of Carnage ," has established himself as the pre-eminent director of theatrical farce.
Woody Allen's New York return feels familiar (Reuters)
NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Marking Woody Allen 's first New York City -shot film in five years, "Whatever Works," falls somewhere between his lesser London efforts "Scoop" and " Cassandra's Dream " and his return to form with " Vicky Cristina Barcelona ."
This comedy starring Larry David doesn't break any new ground for its creator in either style or content, but it features enough genuine laughs to give it decent commercial traction, at least in the big cities. Due for a June release by Sony Pictures Classics , it served as the gala opening-night attraction of the Tribeca Film Festival .
David plays Boris Yellnikov, an aging curmudgeon who several years back would undoubtedly have been played by Allen himself. This is evident not only from the character's all too familiar predilections -- he loves Fred Astaire and classical music and disdains rock 'n' roll, and his view of the universe is not exactly cheerful -- but also by the romantic entanglement that fuels the story.
Yes, we are once again treated in an Allen film to the creepy sight of a balding, middle-aged man proving irresistible to a gorgeous young woman. Here it is the colorfully named Melody St. Ann Celestine ( Evan Rachel Wood ), a naive young Southerner, newly arrived in the city, who shows up on Boris' doorstep begging for a place to stay. Despite his misanthropic nature and apparent lack of sexual interest, Boris almost immediately agrees.
Despite his slovenly appearance, insulting nature and generally loutish behavior, Melody is quickly smitten with her host, and they eventually wind up married. Things change with the arrival of Melody's mother, Marietta ( Patricia Clarkson ), who takes an immediate dislike to her less-than-gracious new son-in-law. She sets out to sabotage the relationship by introducing Melody to a hunky young actor ( Henry Cavill ). He's fallen in love with Melody at first sight and is prone to such announcements as "I live on a boat and I read and I think and I play my flute."
Much of the film's humor revolves around outrageous character transformations. For instance, Marietta quickly abandons her repressed religious ways to become a free-spirited artist who specializes in photographing nudes and who enters into a menage a trois with Boris' college professor friend ( Conleth Hill ) and a gallery owner (Olek Krupa). And Melody's gun-loving father (Ed Begley Jr.) has a life-changing encounter with a recently heartbroken gay man ( Christopher Evan Welch ).
While Allen's screenplay features plenty of amusing one-liners (many expertly delivered by David, seemingly fusing Allen's persona with his own from " Curb Your Enthusiasm "), its tired handling of so many overly familiar themes eventually proves enervating. As does the utter artificiality not only of the stereotypical characterizations, but also of such devices as the repeated breaking of the fourth wall, with Boris addressing the "audience" while the other characters look on in bafflement.
The film does, however, serve as an excellent vehicle for Wood, utterly charming here, and Clarkson, displaying her considerable comic talents. Both actresses, like so many others from Allen's previous films, may well wind up garnering significant attention come awards season.
Needless to say, "Whatever Works" also serves as a picturesque travelogue of Manhattan, although many of the locales, ranging from Chinatown to Grant's Tomb, are decidedly less elegant than Allen's usual cinematic haunts.
Terrence Howard: Iron Man Execs Made "Very, Very Bad Choice"
Marvel "didn't honor my contract," says the actor, who was replaced in the sequel by Don Cheadle
Terrence Howard is not pleased he was replaced in the "Iron Man" sequel over a reported salary dispute.
"Marvel made a choice, and it was a very, very bad choice," the actor -- whose role was given to Don Cheadle -- tells Parade.com. "They didn't keep their word. They didn't honor my contract."
Howard says producers didn't share the profits of the flick -- which earned over $318 million -- with most of the actors.
"They produced a great bounty with the first one, but they put it all in the storehouse and you were not allowed in," he says. "They did the same thing with Gwyneth Paltrow , from what I've been told.
See Gwyneth Paltrow's crazy fashion choices over the years.
The only person who got a raise?
"They did it with everyone but Robert Downey [Jr]," fumes Howard. "One of the things that actors need to do is always stick together: one for all, and all for one."
Even though he's upset, he's not spilling any details from the anticipated sequel.
"I've seen the script, I know what's going to happen -- but I'm not revealing anything. I believe in karma," he says. "When someone does something wrong, you don't have to get them back. Everything right will return the favor for you."
He'll still watch the follow up -- which also stars Scarlett Johansson and Mickey Rourke -- in theaters.
See Scarlett's red carpet photos over the years.
"I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the movie. I want to see Don Cheadle become me. No, I want him to do better than me," Howard says. "That's what I really want to see. Don Cheadle was the reason I got 'Crash,' so I have a lot of love for him."
Brad Pitt’s Benjamin Button Makeup Artiste Does Sonu Sood’s Mutilated-Face Look In International Project
Brad PittThe bonds between Bollywood and Hollywood just got a bit of a boost.
Sonu Sood has just finished shooting an international project Ali Mustafa’s City Of Life in Dubai with Alexandra Maria Lara the leading lady of Francis Ford Coppola’s latest film Youth For Youth .
A major part of the film requires Sood to be badly disfigured after a road accident.
Says the actor, “Actually half of my chraacter’s face gets mutilated. I couldn’t believe it when I saw what miracle had been worked by the makeup artiste. I was horrified to see my own face in the mirror.”
The makeup artiste chosen to bring about Sonu Sood’s half-mutilated face was none other than Jean Ann Black the makeup artiste for Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Franklin.
Just back after completing the film in Dubai Sonu Sood says, “What she did to my face was stunning and shocking. My makeup used to take 3-4 hours every morning. I had to sit patiently as 50 percent of my face disappeared under makeup—literally. And then there were these special lenses not just for the cornea but the entire eye which gave it a scary clotted eye.”
Sonu Sood is glad his little son wasn’t with him to see his dad transform so shockingly. “He’d have got really frightened. I did when I saw myself. People who’ve seen what she has done can’t believe the transformation. They say the makeup artiste has done as good a job on my face as she did with Brad Pitt.”
And to further complete the Brad-Benjamin Button picture Sonu even has the actor who played Brad’s father in the film as his costar.
Says Sood, “Jason Fleming who played Brad Pitt’s father in Benjamin Button plays the villain in City Of Life."
JLo calls her daughter Emme ‘Emme-tude’!
Latino popstar Jennifer Lopez says her 14-month-old daughter has her attitude.
The 39-year-old singer/actress for the first time opened up about her twins in an interview on Rachael Ray's show.
Lopez said that her daughter Emme has divalike tendencies.
"We call her Emme-tude because we''re like, ''She''s giving us Emme-tude right now,'' " People magazine quoted her as saying.
"She gets that from her dad. I''m kidding - she gets it from me," she added.
Talking about twin son Max, `Love Don''t Cost a Thing' hitmaker said he's her mouth.
"Me and Marc are always claiming he''s got my head and he''s got my mouth," she added.
Amrita Rao launches Titan Raga 'Chocolat' watches
Amrita Rao on Thursday April 23rd evening launched Titan Raga's 'Chocolat' range of watches Titan's Design Studio in CST, Mumbai. While unveiling the collection, Amrita Rao, said, “I am truly impressed with the inspiration and refined styling of these watches.
I love any form of chocolates and these watches truly pay a tribute to the sensuality of chocolate. I think every watch in this new collection from Titan Raga is beautiful.”
The award winning Titan Design Studio has designed this stunning collection of 7 unique designs that remind you of all forms of chocolates - right from the drops of glistening brown chocolate to rich dark temptation to blocks of wholesome richness of butter and milk.
With names like Choco Lure, Sinful Bliss, Chocolate Fondue, Passion Soufflé, Wicked Brownie, Choco-whirls and Choco-Block.
Salman gifts a laptop to handicapped lady
He may be called a bad boy by the media but the truth is Salman Khan has a heart of gold. Salman has been time and again proving it without making much ado about it unlike few other stars who make it a point to have the media around when doing charity work.
A source revealed, "Very recently a handicapped lady sent a letter to Salman Khan's address wanting help. She didn't want money but a laptop so that she could use it for doing her work and earn a livelihood. So touched was Salman by her genuine plea that he personally picked up the best quality laptop from the market for her got it delivered to her.
The lady since then can't stop saying thanks to Salman. Salman meanwhile choses to stay quiet about his good Samaritan act."
EXCLUSIVE: Ambulance Driver Looking to Sue Jackson
The medical technician struck yesterday by Michael Jackson’s Cadillac Escalade is contemplating suing the singer.
“I have contacted a lawyer and me and my partner will now report to a doctor to record our injuries,” Jamin Mauro tells us.
While Mauro has been advised by his lawyer to remain silent, he says “I’m still mad that they just drove away without trying to exchange any details. If they had just swapped a business card or something I would have understood, but they acted totally irresponsibly.”
The collision is said to have occurred yesterday at Los Angeles’ Cedars Sinai hospital, where Mauro claims Jackson’s car took off a sideview mirror on his ambulance. He claims to have “whiplash” and is taking a stand, as he finds Jackson’s behavior “unacceptable.”
Beverly Hills police are still investigating the matter, a rep for the department telling Radar, “The traffic investigators are now trying to locate the driver of the Escalade and interview all parties involve to ascertain if it was in fact a hit and run.”
(Photo: Splash News)
Interesting Facts and Figures: Om Puri
Om Puri OBE (born October 18, 1950) is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian Cinema films as well as art films.
His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has also received an honorary OBE.
Puri was born in Ambala, and spent early part of his life in Sanaur, Punjab, India.
He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India.
He is also an alumnus of the 1973 batch of National School of Drama where Naseeruddin Shah was a co-student.
Puri has worked in numerous Indian films and also in many films produced in the United Kingdom and the United States.
He made his film debut in the 1976 film Ghashiram Kotwal, a film based on a Marathi play of the same name.
He has recently claimed that he is paid "peanuts" for his best work.
He has collaborated in many films with Amrish Puri as well as Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil in art films such as Bhavani Bhavai (1980), Sadgati (1981), Ardh Satya (1982), Mirch Masala (1986) and Dharavi (1992).
In the 1980s Puri also made two highly successful Punjabi films called Chan Pardesi (1980) and Long Da Lishkara (1986). After nineteen years, Puri returned to Punjabi cinema the film Baghi (2005). He recently starred in another Punjabi film, Gurdas Mann's Yaariyan (2008).
He was critically acclaimed for his performances in many unconventional roles such as a victimized tribal in Aakrosh (1980) (a film in which he spoke not a single line of dialogue, save for during flash-back sequences), Jimmy's manager in Disco Dancer (1982), a police inspector in Ardh Satya (1982), where he revolts against life-long social, cultural and political persecution and for which he got the National Film Award for Best Actor and as the leader of a cell of Sikh militants in Maachis (1996).
Puri also had a cameo in the highly acclaimed film Gandhi (1982, directed by Richard Attenborough).
In the mid 1990s, Puri diversified to play character roles in mainstream Hindi cinema, where his roles are more tuned to mass audiences than film critics.
He also became known internationally for starring in many British films such as My Son the Fanatic (1997), East is East (1999) and The Parole Officer (2001). As well as these he appeared in Hollywood films including City of Joy (1992), opposite Patrick Swayze; Wolf (1994) alongside Jack Nicholson and The Ghost and the Darkness
(1996) opposite Val Kilmer.
In 2005 he starred in the film, The Hangman. In 2007, he appeared as General Zia-Ul-Haq in Charlie Wilson's War, which stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.
He has also worked in Hindi TV serials like Kakkaji Kaheen (1988) (roughly meaning "Uncle says") as a pan-chewing 'Kakkaji', which was a parody on politicians and Mr. Yogi (1989) as a suave 'Sutradhaar' who enjoys pulling the protagonist's leg. These two serials underlined Om Puri's versatility as a comedian. He has also competently essayed comic roles with equal brilliance in Hindi films like Chachi 420 (1997), Hera Pheri (2000), Chor Machaye Shor (2002) and Malamaal Weekly (2006).
His more recent Hindi film roles include Singh Is Kinng, Mere Baap Pehle Aap and Billu Barber..
Puri has been honoured with the two most prestigious awards in the Indian film industry, which are the National Film Awards and the Filmfare Awards.
He also received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
He won the National Film Award for Best Actor twice, in 1984 for his performances in Ardh Satya and in 1982 for Arohan.
He also won the 1981 Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Aakrosh.
He was also nominated for the BAFTA award for his performance in East is East, and was awarded an honorary OBE in July 2004 for his performances in English movies
“Wonder Why He’s Doing It…Ben Kingsley Has A Small Cameo”
Why is Sir Ben Kingsley who not so long ago swept the world, critics and the Oscars by playing Gandhi, ready and willing to do a 5-day cameo in an out-and-out Amitabh Bachchan film?
The announcement that Ben Kingsley would be working with the Big B in Leena Yadav’s Teen Patti comes as a shock. According to insiders the film was complete many months ago…but for five days of work with a Caucasian actor .
Says a leading member of the unit, “It was a bit tricky and complicated. Getting a white-skinned actor at the last stage of the film wasn’t easy. Everyone knew the film was almost complete. So approaching a big name appeared absurd. Websites and newspapers weren’t making it easier for us by telling the world that we've cast Pierce Brosnon or Richard Gere in the role. Where did they come in? We didn’t even start casting until our producer returned from her honeymoon a few months ago.”
Ben Kingsley it seems was keen for a long time to be part of an Indian project. While shooting in Tunisia with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for The Last Legion he had offered to do Taj Mahal with her featuring them as Shah Jehan and Mumtaz Mahal.
But recession killed that project. And Kingsley’s keenness to be associated with a completely Indian project remained unfulfilled.
Until now…. And never mind if in the words of a crew member, “It’s a role that any actor can do.”
If the mighty Sylvester Stallone can be seen lending support to Akshay Kumar, why not Ben Kingsley in a cameo for an Amitabh Bachchan starrer?
Lindsay, Samantha back together?
It seems Lindsay Lohan and DJ Samantha Ronson are trying to work things out between them, for the actress was spotted entering her ex-girlfriend''s home.
The former duo is probably looking at the brighter side of their relationship, as Lohan left Ronson's house after a long five and half hours.
X17 online published pictures of the starlet entering Samantha''s house.
It is believed that the former duo watched the Ellen DeGeneres show, where Lindsay candidly talked about the split and expressed her shock over the unexpected.
"I had no idea what was going on. I just hadn''t seen her in, like, a week. She, like, disappeared," The Daily Telegraph quoted Lindsay, as saying on the DeGeneres show.
While on the show, Ellen gave advice Lindsay, and told her how a very public breakup of her own forced her to retreat from the public eye for three years
I WANT TO WORK WITH SALMAN KHAN AGAIN
Bhagyashree tells JYOTHI VENKATESH that she is blessed that she is still remembered as the Maine Pyar Kiya girl, twenty years after the film was released
Do you think your image as the virgin girl of Maine Pyar Kiya has worked as a handicap for your career Why should I feel that my image as the Maine Pyar Kiya girl is a handicap to my career, because of the expectations that the film had created about me? On the contrary, I feel that it is a blessing that I am still being remembered for my performance in Maine Pyar Kiya even after twenty years.
Like people referred to Amjad as the Gabbar Singh of Sholay all his life, you are still remembered for your performance in Maine Pyar Kiya! I do not introduce myself as I am the same Bhagyashree who had acted in Maine Pyar Kiya. I cannot help it if people refer to me as the Maine Pyar Kiya girl. If you go through history, you will realize that any one is remembered for a particular thing that he or she had done all through his or her life, like Einstein, Adolf Hitler etc.
Do you think you lost out on plum roles because you insisted that you would act only with your husband after your marriage? I was a newly married girl when Maine Pyar Kiya was released. When offers started pouring in for me, I was determined not to do any intimate scenes with any leading man of that time and hence suggested to my producers that I was ready to do intimate scenes in films only if I am paired opposite my own real life husband. I did not say that I would not act in any film if my husband is not cast in the film opposite me. I realize that I was too naïve at that point of time to bother to clear it up with either the media or the film industry people.
Did your films flop because the audience rejected your pairing with your husband? The reason the films Himalay and I did not click at the box office is that the audience was not in a frame of mind to accept a real life pair as a reel life pair. Except for Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai, the audience has not accepted any other real life star pair as reel life husband and wife till date. Himalay and I were too young then and people could not understand the idea of a husband romancing his wife in public on screen though we took it up as an opportunity to be close to one another.
Is it true that you are keen to work with every star of today? Today I feel I am blessed when people walk up to me and tell me that I look the same like I did twenty years ago in Maine Pyar Kiya Today I want to work with Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and of course Shah Rukh Khan. I find Ranbir cute and would love to be paired even opposite him. I also want to work with Amitabh Bachchan. I would be happy to work with the new crop of young directors who know their craft at the back of their hands. I want to be a part of a mad film like Dostana and a hard core realistic film like A Wednesday.
Is it true that you are acting in a Marathi film? Though I received a lot of offers to act in Marathi films, I used to turn down the offers because either the dates were a problem or the location where I was required to shoot. Sometimes the script was not to my liking. Every thing fell in place this time and I am playing the lead opposite Baharat Jadhav in the Marathi film Jhak Maarli Baayko Keli directed by Bhaskar Jadhav. I play an innocent wife who has to deal with a situation which is beyond her control when her husband is embroiled with an extra marital affair and she does not wish to lose him to the other woman because she is in love with him. It is a woman oriented family film.
How would you evaluate your growth as an actress? When I compare myself with the heroines today, I feel that I have done only work for two years though I have been in the industry for the last 20 years, because I have worked in a few films after Maine Pyar Kiya. I feel that I have grown as a person because I have met a lot of people and gone to different places and been in different situations and hence am more fine tuned, because your depth f understanding and also receptive power changes when you grow. -Sampurn Media
