Some factors in KURBAAN that made shoot difficult-Saif Ali Khan

Time and again, actors are heard stating that working on a particular film was akin to having a picnic. However, Saif Ali Khan denies that KURBAAN shoot was anywhere close to being a picnic. Instead, he and Kareena Kapoor went through some depressing times due to weather in America as well as the period of turmoil that India was going through during the shoot of Rensil D’Souza directed KURBAAN.

"KURBAAN was hard work. Period. In fact Philadelphia schedule was plain hell. It wasn’t anything like a picnic shooting for the film", shudders Saif who is glad that the film is completed and is now ready for release.

Explaining the factors that made KURBAAN shoot difficult, Saif says, "It gets dark there at 4 PM itself. Moreover, it’s so cold and at -10 degrees, it can actually get really depressing. Since we were shooting in synch sound, it was extremely difficult to get the pitch and tone right while delivering our dialogues."

It was during the shoot of the film that Saif and Kareena got the news around the terror attack which naturally upset them further. "Due to this reason, it was so difficult to concentrate on the film’s shoot. Thankfully Bebo (Kareena Kapoor) was there with me at that time but still, both of us were very depressed", says Saif.

Since it was quite cold in Philadelphia, Saif and Kareena were required to wear layers of clothing. Later, for continuity purpose, they had to wear the same clothes in the summer of Mumbai. Other than the mental and environmental constraints, Saif and others also had a hard time adjusting to the locations that were chosen for the film’s shoot.

"We were shooting in a tube and that’s anything but fun", he remembers, "We had to shoot a subway sequences but being in a tube for hours at stretch is like being in an underground prison. Really, it is very disorienting. Who says shooting for a film is like being in a picnic? KURBAAN certainly wasn’t one."

When asked to name one film which he considers as a picnic, Saif is quick to name Abbas-Mustan directed RACE.

"Now that’s what I call as a real picnic", he says with a glee on his face, "Doing the film was quite easy since working hours were quite comfortable while locations were nice, easy and comfortable It was really simple work and I enjoyed a lot. It was really entertaining to drive fast cars, saying cool lines, be a hero and stuff alike. On the other hand, KURBAAN has me playing this complicated character which only makes it further difficult for an actor."

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Ajay Devgn required to showcase his intense side

Doing just intense roles can get quite boring, believes Ajay Devgn who is happy to have worn a different hat in the out and out comedy All The Best even as he is on home ground in London Dreams.

"It’s a great feeling that at this stage of my career I am being seen in movies as diverse as London Dreams and All The Best. At one point of time, I was doing only intense roles," said Ajay, 40, who won a National Award for Zakhm (1998).

"But, believe me, if I had continued doing that till date with every film, I would have been really bored and fed up by now."

Ajay has been seen in quite a few films that required him to showcase his intense side, among them Halla Bol, Omkara, Apaharan, Gangaajal, Deewangee, Company and Takshak.

His London Dreams co-star Asin has said it is Ajay’s "intensity quotient" that strikes one most as an actor. She also said when it comes to dramatic scenes, he just "eats up the screen".

But Ajay says humbly, "I don’t really know if I eat up the screen or do anything like that in my dramatic scenes. Yes, intensity has been my forte and I take her views as a compliment. But, as I said, I am loving this phase of my career where I am able to work on diverse films."

In the pipeline are films like Rajneeti, Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, Priyadarshan’s next film, Atithi Tum Kab Jaaoge, Toonpur Ka Superhero and a sequel to Golmaal or All The Best. Clearly, the man is enjoying his status as an actor who can work in diverse genres.

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Hrithik Roshan taking a leaf out Spiderman episode

Our very own superhero Krrish is making a comeback and taking a leaf out Spiderman’s latest episode, papa Roshan is giving grey shades to Hrithik’s alter ego.

And this is not the sole exciting fact leaked about the film. As per reports, the villain in the much-anticipated SFX flick will be a part robot-part human.

Technicians from Hollywood will fly down to work with Rakesh on this one.

As for who will play Hrithik’s love interest?

Allegedly Deepika Padukone or Katrina Kaif will play the lead, but of course since everything is premature, and official sources keep dismissing the whole premise as a figment of the media’s imagination.

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Hema Malini really hatke for her children to make it extra special

Birthdays are always special for everyone. But trust a mother to do something really hatke for her children to make it extra special. Well, Esha Deol, who shares her birthday with Shah Rukh Khan, probably got one of her best birthday presents ever from her mother, the Dream Girl, Hema Malini .

It’s common knowledge that Esha’s career as a Bollywood heroine was hardly going anywhere. And then she disappeared for a while, sending the rumour mills working overtime on why and where she had gone to. In all this, Hema has stood by her daughter and even decided to produce a film to relaunch her daughter.

On Esha’s birthday, the shooting for ’Tell Me Oh Khuda’ commenced. The film stars Esha, of course, and she is cast opposite Arjan Bajwa. The cast includes Hema herself, Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna. The film is being directed by Mayur Puri, the dialogue writer of Om Shanti Om. The film is about a girl’s search for her father.

It sounds familiar to Hema’s earlier production venture, ’Dil Aashna Hai’, which had the heroine searching for her mother. Shah Rukh Khan and the late Divya Bharti were a part of that movie.

Anyway, with ’Tell Me Oh Khuda’, Hema is sure that the public will fall in love with Esha’s performance and it will help resurrect her career. It seems that even younger daughter Ahana has been roped in to take care of the production. Well, here’s wishing this gutsy mother all the best in her endaevour.

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Shatrughan Sinha has shaved off his moustache first time in movie

For the first time in his career of 40 years as an actor, Shatrughan Sinha has shaved off his moustache. The critical decision to do away with the moustache was taken only after daughter Sonakshi approved.

The tragic relinquishment of the trademark Shotgun mouche came after weeks of persuasion.

"Initially I was taken aback by Ramu’s request. I’ve never taken my moustache off in my entire life except once, and that was when I was still a student at the Film & Television Institute Of India.

I wanted to experiment with my looks. My father had gone livid. ’How could you shave off your moustache when both your parents are still alive?’ he had shouted at me. I had vowed never to touch my moustache, and I never did. Now of course both Baba and Maa are gone..."

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Meghalaya Chief Minister has agreed to shooting For Bollywood

Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang has agreed to come on board the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image (MAMI) so that his state becomes the next Bollywood destination for shooting films.

Manoj Rastogi, managing director and chief executive officer of Television Media and Communications and event associate of the 11th Mumbai Film Festival, had taken the initiative to approach Lapang.

"This initiative was taken during the ongoing 11th Mumbai Film Festival (MFF) to promote the underutilised location of Meghalaya as worldwide film tourism," Rastogi told IANS.

Rastogi explained that Meghalaya was not exploited by the film industry as there wasn’t proper infrastructure in the state.

"This place remained untouched by the industry as there wasn’t proper infrastructure or communication system. Now the infrastructure has improved manifold so instead of shooting in foreign destinations, they can use the virgin beauty of India as their shooting destination," said Rastogi.

Lapang is planning to build a committee or task force, keeping some renowned names from the industry as its members. He mentioned that this task force is essential as it is not easy to get into Meghalaya and shoot films.

The chief minister also aims to open an office in Mumbai so that any production house interested in shooting a film in Meghalaya can approach them.

"I am looking forward to make Meghalaya the next Bollywood destination. I am not directly involved though, Manoj and Anish Gandhi (advisors to chief minister) are in talking terms with renowned celebrities of Bollywood," said Lapang.

When asked to name whom he thinks fits best as the committee member, he said: "I have Yash Chopra and Shabana Azmi in my mind, but I couldn’t speak to them in my last visit to Mumbai. Once the committee is formed I will sit with them in Meghalaya."

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Aishwarya Rai celebrates her birthday with family

Bollywood Queen, Aishwarya Rai, who is 36 years old today,1st Nov 2009.celebrates her third birthday after marriage to actor Abhishek Bachchan. As the most beautiful Miss World ever, Aishwarya Rai has a string of awards to her credit.

She also coveted Padma Shri and the Order of France.In Holland, their most beautiful tulip is also named after Aishwarya Rai.

Amitabh Bachchan megastar father-in-law has wished Aishwarya Rai a "long prosperous life" on her 36th birthday on Sunday.

Aishwarya Rai has a number of exciting projects in the pipeline, including Endhiran and Raavana, the time travel movie Action Replay with Akshay Kumar and Guzaarish with Hrithik Roshan.

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