'Zayed taking on Nikiten Dheer is highlight of MISSION ISTANBUL'

For the climactic battle in Apoorva Lakhia's Mission Istaanbul, 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 Nikitin Dheer, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 86 kg. This scene is supposed to be the climax sequence. Zayed was excited when he was told about the climactic situation and requirement of this role. 'I suddenly had to weigh beyond what I ever usually did. I had to match Nikitin Dheer because there was a lot at stake for me. 'Mission Istanbul' sapped me. This project meant a lot to me,' Zayed said. ‘Mission Istaanbul ’Gallery Mission Istaanbul targets the youth audiences across the globe and is all set to invade the Indian Box Office from 25th July, 2008. The film casts actors Suniel Shetty, Viveik Oberoi, Zayed Khan, Shabbir Ahluwalia, Shriya Saran, Nikitin Dheer and debutante Shweta Bharadwaj. Mission Istaanbul is an action flick directed by one of the most innovative action directors, Apoorva Lakhia and produced by a joint venture of Balaji Motion Pictures Ltd and Suniel Shetty’s Popcorn Motion Pictures Pvt Ltd. The pace of the film is relentless and the actions are mind boggling. The film moves in a rock solid direction and has a strong theme. The Mission Istaanbul script saw 22 drafts before it was finalized. All the star-cast in the film has been made to perform out of ordinary stunts to give it a brush of reality. Zayed and Viveik were made to jump from a four storey building. Buildings and helicopters were blown up, cars were smashed and many such things were done to make it a bigger project in the leagues of action flicks. The music of the film is outstanding and perfectly matches the film’s plot. Turkish Singer Ege sung an awesome romantic song “Jo Gumshuda” in the movie. It has been scored by Bollywood’s renowned music Directors, Anu Malik, Shamir Tandon, Chirantan Bhatt and Mika. The overwhelming lyrics have been penned by India’s ace lyricist Sameer. The action Director for Mission Istaanbul are Javed and Ejaz Shaikh and the Dialogues are written by Raj Vasant. The film is an outrageous approach toward the new era action films in India and probably might turn out to be the Indian MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. BALAJI MOTION PICTURES LTD march towards presenting a top of the line entertainment software to Indian feature film audiences after Balaji Telefilms Limited, whose serials rank among India’s most watched television programming. With MISSION ISTAANBUL awaiting release and big films like Bhool Bhulayia, Sarkar Raj already making success stories at the box offices, and C Kkompany and EMI just awaiting release, this group will also actively produce and distribute both Indian and Foreign motion pictures all over the world.

Rajeev Khandelwal is going places!

He's arrived without the backing of a godfather, but is being considered for some prized projects. AAMIR hero Rajeev Khandelwal is here to stay in Bollywood. “Life has become even more beautiful, post AAMIR. The feedback has been great, the response is tremendous. I've had people like Pritish Nandy, Apoorva Lakhia, Paresh Rawal, so many bigwigs from within the industry complimenting me. I've dabbled in a different medium before [TV] and I wasn't sure how people from filmdom would react, but they've been so warm and generous in their praises. I've realized that eventually kaam bolta hain,” the soft-spoken Rajeev Khandelwal is all smiles.

What next? Has he signed any film, post AAMIR? “Just one -- PETER GAYA KAAM SE. The offers haven't stopped since AAMIR released. In fact, I'm off to Ladakh tomorrow [Wednesday] for a vacation and am taking along 7-8 scripts to read. There're times when you're tempted to sign a film when you're offered big money. But my fundas are clear -- first script, then money. I'm in no hurry to grab any and every film that comes my way,” he reveals his game plan.

Rajeev, that's the right way to go about it, if you're looking at playing a long innings here!

Upen Patel to play Mr. Romeo

Bollywood hunk Upen Patel will finally be seen in a solo hero film titled Mr. Romeo. The film is a romantic comedy, directed by National award nominee Vishal Bhandari. Upen plays a guy, who is searching for his true love and in the process ends up finding four lovely ladies. He now has to decide on who will be his true love. The four leading ladies are yet to be finalized. Shyam Bajaj is producing the film while Nadeem Shravan composes the music. Mr. Romeo would be made at a budget of Rs.15 crores and be filmed at locations like Italy, France, Austria, and India. Upen's next release is Ganesh Acharya's directorial venture, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai where he shares screen space with Govinda, Aftab Shivdasani, Manoj Bajpai, Celina Jaitley and Hansika Motwani. Upen will also be seen in Suneel Darshan's next and Abbas-Mustan's next.

Vidya Balan answers questions on Shahid

Joi de vivre, vivacious and bubbly, just a few small words to describe Vidya balan’s Tete a Tete with VJ Salil on Star Stop on B4U Music. The lovely actress is at her wittiest best as she answers Salil’s questions candidly. B4U STAR STOP is a programme with film related interviews. On B4u Music Actors/directors talk about their forthcoming movie, their likes, dislikes and other things and chat with B4U VJS. Stars talk about their personal review of the film and share their anecdotes of their experiences during the making of the film Vidya talks about her forthcoming film Kismet Connection and the ease with which she has essayed her role. A firm believer in destiny she completely identifies with the film. Forthright and clear she answers all questions regarding her relationship with Shahid and their chemistry with absolute comfort. Salil fires a rapid round of questions and Vidya Balan reciprocates with the most amazing amusing and witty answers. Cool and level headed she talks about the paparazzi hounding her with questions on her relationship with Shahid, her disbelief in numerology astrology and palmistry. To watch and enjoy this lively and energetic interview and much more, tune in to Star Stop on B4u music on 13th July at 19.10 hrs.

Mugdha Godse signs 3 film contract with Percept

Download image as wallpaper She is yet to make her big screen debut (in Madhur Bhandarkar directed Fashion) but popular ramp-walker and model, Mugdha Godse, already has quite a few biggies in hand. She has been signed by Percept Pictures Company under a three film contract and is now all set to be working with some of the bigwigs of the film industry. Over to the soft spoken Mugdha who continues to maintain her poise even on the face of such a huge leap in her just-started Bollywood career. "Don't be surprised because that's the way I function", replies Mugdha on being quizzed around how, unlike her contemporaries, she isn't quite heard or spoken about before her debut release Fashion, "That's not my style. For some it may be a way to keep making headlines but I would rather have everything firmly in place before I let people know about it." The Percept offer appears to be quite an event in her professional career that is kicking off, isn't it? "True, I am happy that the buzz and hype about Fashion has been making quite a few people sit up and notice the project. PPC were aware about the progress that Fashion was making and were seemingly cued in about my performance too", reveals Mugdha who is said to be playing an integral part of Fashion even with Priyanka Chopra and Kangna Ranaut being relatively senior actors in the film. Since she has been offered three films, would she be playing a lead role in each of these films? "Absolutely", Mugdha is quick to react, "The films that I am doing with PPC would have me in a lead-lead kind of a role. Also, since the production house has 10-15 films in the pipeline, the role that I would eventually end up doing would be by mutual consent between me and the director. I should like the film and the director should also find me suitable enough for the part." How about working in films outside PPC? Informs Mugdha, "The good part is that this is a non-exclusive contract. In plain and simple terms, this means that I don't have to do their three films in a row and in the interim can work in a film outside PPC as well." PPC has directors like Priyadarshan, David Dhawan, Shimit Amin, Nagesh Kukunoor and Madhur Bhandarkar amongst others on board. Any favorites when it comes to choosing the filmmakers with whom she would want to work with? "These are the best in the business so you can't really choose one over another", says Mugdha diplomatically, "And I said earlier, it just can't be me choosing a project or the director. It has to be mutual."

Print this E-mail this 'CONTRACT is in the genre of a Rambo kind of film' - Ram Gopal Varma

Trust Ramu to keep people entertained. While his films have entertained audience for more than a decade, his interviews too have always carried the required spice. Now he is having a great time reacting to dozens of comments that he is receiving in response to his blogs.

View RGV Video Interview

We produce some real gems below where Ramu has reacted to quite a few reactions in his own characteristic wit and sarcasm. Read on and have fun!

1. Is failure not being able to achieve your goal?

Ans: I think there’s no such thing as achievement for the simple reason that as soon as you achieve it its boring. It’s the run towards it is what is exciting.

2. Instead of answering yes or no why do you subject us to your gyan?

Ans: Sorry sir.

3. Make good movies and let your work speak for you.

Ans: Ok sir.

4. From your actress Amrutha am expecting good performance apart from cleavage show.

Ans: You mean you want both?

5. Why did the people in Sarkar Raj celebrate if they were supposed to be ambiguous?

Ans: That was a mistake. I hoped that you would not catch it.

6. Was it a conscious decision to not have dark antagonists in Sarkar Raj?

Ans: My intent was to create a new set of characters. To like them or not is your prerogative.

7. Please write about the making of Company.

Ans: Will do as soon as I get time.

8. How is it that Hollywood recognizes talent better?

Ans: Because they have better brains and for a change I am not being sarcastic. I mean it.

9. You say that Satya released in 97, the promo says 98.

Ans: Does it matter that much to you?

10. What role did you play in Dil Se?

Ans: None. Both mine and Shekhar Kapoor’s names were there just in a friendly level.

11. What do you think of Chiranjeevi’s political entry?

Ans: Nothing.

12. Get rid of those 4-5 people around you.

Ans: Thanks for the brilliant suggestion.

13. Did you ever cry on a girl?

Ans: Yes. I pretended. I believe that nobody genuinely cries. We all pretend to draw attention to our cause.

14. I didn’t expect a back flip of that guy with the use of wires from Contract a quasi-trilogy of Satya and Company.

Ans: To start with Contract is not a realistic dark moody film like the earlier films. Also the protagonist is not from the underworld. It’s more in the genre of a Rambo kind of film but packaged in a very rustic and realistic setting. The scenes and characters are designed to create a slightly tongue-in-cheek entertainment. If Satya is a mix of Goodfellas and the Scarface in its treatment, Company is from Godfather, then Contract is derived from the tone of Luc Besson films.

View RGV Video Interview

15. Sorry to say I will not watch Contract.

Ans: Thank you sir.

16. I am trying to get hold of a copy of Drohi.

Ans: Now why the hell would you want to do that?

17. Contract will be a warning to those who thought Ramu is out and dead.

Ans: Or it might put him out and dead.

18. I think all the time you are just having fun.

Ans: Yes.

19. How were you in your childhood?

Ans: Like an adult.

20. What kind of horror movies do you like to watch?

Ans: The kind which lets your imagination scare you.

21. Is Phoonk copied from Exorcist?

Ans: Exorcist was about demonic possession. Phoonk is not.

22. Why don’t Gods or their prophets just make an appearance and put a lock on every atheist’s mouth?

Ans: Superb observation. Let’s just hope that the Gods read this blog and take a cue.

23. My mum comforted me saying people have hit you for making Raat and scaring children.

Ans: Ha Ha.

24. You are the prestidigitator of movie making.

Ans: Whatever that means, it sounds obscene.

Akshay is paid Rs. 75 crores?

Here's the hottest rumour doing the rounds of the industry. UTV, which has a slew of projects on floors and is still planning a few more projects, has signed Akshay Kumar for a whopping Rs. 75 crores. If true, it would be the highest ever price paid to any actor in Bollywood.

However, a trustworthy source at UTV laughed aloud when I called to verify the development. "That's not true! We have signed Akki for one of our forthcoming projects, but the price is nowhere close to what you've heard. And we wouldn't like to go on record to confirm the actual price," he said.

But the fact remains that Akki is the most sought-after actor in Bollywood today, in the same league as SRK.