अक्षय बॉक्‍स आफिस के नए ‘किंग’

फिल्‍म ‘सिंह इज किंग’ के बाद अक्षय कुमार को एक फिल्‍म के लिए 70 करोड़ रुपए देने की पेशकश की गई है।
पिछले दो दशक से बॉक्‍स आफिस पर ‘खान तिकड़ी’ का राज रहा। शाहरुख, सलमान और आमिर खान ने मेहनताने के रूप में फिल्‍म निर्माताओं से करोड़ रुपए वसूलने का सिलसिला शुरू किया।‘खान तिकड़ी’ को थोड़ी बहुत टक्‍कर ह्रितिक रोशन से ही मिली। वह भी वर्ष 2000 में जब उनकी पहली फिल्‍म रिलीज हुई थी। अब पिछले कुछ समय से अक्षय कुमार बॉक्‍स आफिस के ‘किंग’ बन गए हैं। सूत्रों के अनुसार यूटीवी मोशन पिक्‍चर्स ने अक्षय कुमार को अपनी एक नई फिल्‍म के लिए 70 करोड़ रुपए की पेशकश की है।
यूटीवी के राम मीरचंदानी ने कहा, ‘मैं अंकों में नहीं जाना चाहता, लेकिन हां हमने अक्षय कुमार को साइन किया है, यह फिल्‍म वर्ष 2009 के मध्‍य में शुरू होगी।’ अक्षय कुमार की हालिया रिलीज फिल्‍म ‘सिंह इज किंग’ पहले ही सप्‍ताह में 90 करोड़ रुपए का कारोबार कर चुकी है। दर्शकों ने ‘सिंह इज किंग’ को इस कदर पसंद किया कि यह कमाई के मामले में भारत की अब तक की बड़ी फिल्म बनने जा रही है।
अब तक विदेश में शाहरुख खान का ही सिक्का चलता था। लेकिन ‘सिंह इज़ किंग’ ने विदेश में भी कमाई के सारे रिकॉर्ड्स तोड़ दिए हैं। फिल्म को उत्तरी अमेरिका ब्रिटेन और मध्य पूर्व में अब तक की सबसे जबरदस्त ओपनिंग मिली है। और इसने शाहरुख के ‘ओम शांति ओम’ का रिकॉर्ड तोड़ दिया।

Akshay to romance Katrina amidst pyramids

Akshay Kumar is hell bent on covering the seven wonders of the world. Currently, he is preparing to shoot action scenes on the Great Wall of China and next month he plans a stint in Egypt amid the pyramids.
This time, it’s for a song with Katrina Kaif in “Singh Is King”.

Zayed Khan puts on 11 kg in new movie

Gone are the days when a diminutive Salman Khan was shown beating a baddie twice his size. The fights now are among equals.
For the climactic battle in Apoorva Lakhia’s “Mission Istanbul”, the reed-thin Zayed Khan put on 11 kg and weighed 75 kg for the first time in his life.
All because he had to take on the movie’s bad man Niketan Dheer, who was 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 86 kg.
Zayed was excited when he was told about the climactic situation and requirement.
“I suddenly had to weigh way beyond what I ever usually did. I had to match this guy because there was a lot at stake for me. ‘Mission Istanbul’ sapped me. This project meant a lot to me,” Zayed said.

Shah Rukh to play ‘Spiderman’ for son

After getting six-pack abs to please his son, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has another dream for the boy. He wants to do an Indian version of the “Spiderman” as a gift to Aryan who is a big FX and SRK fan.
And the director chosen to put together what is arguably the most expensive movie ever made in Bollywood is Anubhav Sinha. The superstar is gung ho about the project. The two are writing the script.
Though Sinha is not willing to reveal more details about SRK’s “superhero” project, the film will require a 12-year-old boy to co-star with the actor. At the moment, the hunt is on for the boy, who will get the opportunity to join Shah Rukh’s fantasy of donning a cape and flying across the sky at supersonic speed.

Urmila Matondkar to play 50-plus diva

Actress Urmila Matondkar will play a super-glamorous 50-plus woman who lives in isolated splendour in a castle, wears the most stunning clothes and plays out life queen-size in a remake of the 1980 blockbuster “Karz”.
She will be riding horses, flying planes and gambling the night away in casinos.
Says Urmila: “The character will be an ageless diva. A very stylish and super-exclusive heiress and her clothes and demeanour will reflect a kind of inherent glamour.”
Urmila’s favourite costume designer Manish Malhotra is working on her clothes that will reflect the character’s diva-like splendour. A budget of several crores of rupees has been set aside for the wardrobe.

Karan Johar to make movie on terror Called “Khan”

Filmmaker Karan Johar is breaking away from larger-than-life family soaps and fairytale romances. For a change, he will make a reality movie about terrorism called “Khan” without songs. The movie will star Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
Terrorism is too grim a subject to be associated with a Karan Johar movie. But, this time around, the filmmaker has opted for the real world.
Though Johar refused to divulge the details of the script, the buzz doing the rounds in Bollywood says that the movie will be essentially about “Islamic terrorism” post-9/11.

Mob goes on rampage protesting ‘Jodhaa Akbar’

A group of men went on rampage in Maharashtra Wednesday, protesting against the screening of Hindi film “Jodhaa Akbar” claiming that the movie distorts history.
Police in Sangli town in western Maharashtra had to resort to baton charge as nearly 300 members of the Shiv Pratishthan gathered near a multiplex, which is screening the movie.
Superintendent of Police Krishna Prakash Yadav told IANS by phone: “Near Shivaji Chowk, they (protestors) started stone throwing. One stone hit my vehicle and I am also hurt. A few of our men have also been hit. The mob attacked several state transport buses.”

Aishwarya’s world tour with Abhishek, Amitabh begins in July

The “unforgettable” Bachchan concert tour featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek, Aishwarya and with Jaya probably being coaxed for a friendly appearance, will begin this July.

Speaking about her first family tour, Aishwarya told IANS: “Yes, it’s on in July and August. It’s wonderful to be on stage with Abhishek and Pa (the Big B). I remember how wonderful it was when we did ‘Kajra re’ at the IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) awards two years ago,” she said.

“That one act featuring the three of us was a rock concert by itself. It was fantastic! Now going on stage as Amitji’s daughter-in-law and Abhishek’s wife would make it doubly fantastic.”

The announcement puts an end to speculation regarding the financial and creative feasibility of this celebration of family bonhomie.

Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar were supposed to join the Bachchans on the tour. They opted out citing lack of time. Now the final list of actors joining the Bachchans includes Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta and Riteish Deshmukh.

Curiosity about ‘Fashion’ scares Bhandarkar

Bhandarkar has roped in Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut for female leads and Samir Soni and Harsh Chhaya will be seen as gay designers in it. All members of the cast and crew who regularly attend the shooting have signed a written contract swearing secrecy.
So protective and apprehensive are they about a breach of confidentiality that the primary members of the cast have gone almost underground.