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Legendary ventriloquist Ramdas Padhye is the one actually operating the puppet in the ad. Padhye said, “When I met Aamir, his first reaction shocked me. He said, ‘It’s lovely meeting you again,’ even though I was meeting him for the first time. Then he told me about noting the time of my Doordarshan show Meri Bhi Suno, in his school notebook and watching it regularly. Though Aamir couldn’t recall the puppet’s name, Ardhavat Rao, he was very excited when I brought it along one day. He stared at it, like a fan would at his favourite actor. It was impossible for a novice to create a false voice, so soon. So, I asked Aamir to try and pick up my body language to add a kind of chemistry between the puppet and him.”

Check out the video below:

Times

This idea snowballed into rumours that they are working together, but Ranbir says he is yet to sign a film with Imtiaz, though he is keen to work with the director of Love Aaj Kal. Ranbir says, “Imtiaz is somebody I am really interested in working with. We have had couple of meetings in which he has also shown interest in working with me. Imtiaz is a director who will make a movie if he has a story and he will cast accordingly. I met him through the making of Love Aaj Kal. He has come home often. I have done an ad film with him. I have interacted with him at many filmy functions. I really like the guy. People may think that he is philosophical but I think his philosophy is really simple in life. He has lots and lots of stories to tell.”

Times

The chosen ones have been – lead actor Aamir Khan’s teenage son Junaid’s classmates, a group of middle-aged women, and some big trade names. But wait before you envy this lot of ‘privileged’ people… here’s the catch. Those who had seen 3 Idiots were given a Non Disclosure Agreement or an NDA to sign before they entered Vinod Chopra’s editing studio where the sneak previews were held. So what does this NDA say? It apparently is a proper legal document which prevents the people who have seen 3 Idiots from discussing it publicly or passing any opinion or judgment on it. “If they do, then they are liable for legal action,” says a trade insider. Anyway, the point is that this exercise was going great guns. Random people who were selected to watch 3 Idiots were actually thrilled. Many of them even partook in a film-discussion with the lead actor Aamir Khan after watching it, where Aamir encouraged them to speak their minds. “Junaid’s friends were surprised that Aamir wanted a no-holds barred critical view,” says an insider. And as said earlier, this exercise was paying dividends for the most part. Except when one leading exhibitor threw a fit and refused to sign the NDA. Other members of his family, who were present for the viewing exercise, signed the legal document thrust under their noses; but this gentleman categorically refused. He apparently even volunteered to walk out of the trial show, but said he would not sign the NDA simply because he felt the document was questioning his integrity.

Now it so happens that the practice of signing an NDA is commonplace in Hollywood Studios who hold ‘screenings for a discerning public across the board’ nearly six months before a movie makes it to the screens because they truly value the feedback.

However, as far as Bollywood goes, this is a first and hence, it is still considered offensive by a certain segment.

The official spokesperson from Vinod Chopra Productions confirmed the NDA story.

He said, “3 Idiots is an extremely guarded and prestigious project. So, yes, we got everyone to sign an NDA.”

Times

However, one hidden aspect of this light-eyed beauty came into fore the other day, when she did a perfect take off on her father-in-law, Amitabh Bachchan’s baritone. Ash aped her superstar dad-in-law’s deep voice and simultaneously paid him a huge compliment saying, “It is a voice that is unmistakable.”

Of course Big B’s baritone has also been the voice of Indian cinema for the last 40-years. But Ash is too modest to say that.

Times

The film produced by the inimitable Karan Johar has Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor in the lead. The music video was shot by Bosco-Caesar; and leading man Saif says, “The music video is really cool. I was wondering how it would work. Till the last minute, we are doing things. And still we managed to find magic.” The actor adds, “Rensil and Bosco-Ceasar had been prepping for a while and they came up with this great Gothic concept. The film is stark and real, so the music video had to be contrasting. It had to have it’s own story to tell. So, we have this Black Gothic bride with tears flowing down her cheeks, her veil on fire, the guy wearing a hood at the altar, roses bursting into flames, etc. It is really amazing. The theme had to convey what Kurbaan symbolises. The music video is rocking. The film is realistic and devoid of glamour. The characters of Kareena and I are like real people. But the music video is stylised. And I had an amazing time shooting it.”

Celebrity designer Aki Narula has done Saif ’s look for the video and the actor is very happy with the final look.

Times

A segment of the media went to town saying that the actor’s price for his dad’s film would be a staggering Rs.12 crore. It was also suggested that Pankaj had written this subject in 2007 — and at that point had contemplated asking Bollywood’s No.1 actress Kareena Kapoor to be the leading lady in this romantic caper. Shahid, who was dubbing for his film Chance Pe Dance — a January release, fails to understand where such talk is originating from. He says, “Dad has always wanted to make a film with me. Mausam is something he is working on currently. He didn’t have an inkling of it in 2007; and even if the germ of the idea had been sown then, he didn’t discuss it in detail with any of us. So the question of him thinking of casting anyone at that point is ludicrous.”

The 28-year-old says the only thing that is certain about Mausam is that it will be financed by a leading film corporation. It is expected to go on the floors in January and a major portion of the film will be shot abroad because the film needs picturesque locales. Reacting to rumours of his remuneration, the actor says, “Whether I will charge Rs 12 crores or less, is something even I don’t know because nothing is on paper.”

Market sources say that the actor got his last highest price (reportedly Rs 8 crore) for Vishal Bharadwaj’s Kaminey. However, Shahid refuses to talk money in print. He is also amused with rumours of his going on a statewise hunt looking for a fresh face to serenade on screen. “The film is still in the final draft stage. Yes, a big film corporation is on board, but the budget, my remuneration as an actor, dad’s remuneration as a technician and other aspects can only be talked about after it is put in black and white. Everything currently being said about Mausam is speculation,” Shahid insists.

Times

The chivalrous actor accompanied girlfriend Bipasha Basu and her mother to Ajay Devgn’s party and those who were present said, John played dutiful son-in-law to the hilt. He made sure Bips looking stunning in a black backexposing creation and her mom looking equally stunning in a sari were well looked after the entire evening.

Must say Bips is lucky to have such a concerned boyfriend. No wonder women within and outside the industry envy her.

Times

While in Pune, Kim Sharma was walking in the market when a stranger misbehaved with her friend. Kim could not take such absurd behaviour and it was then when she gave him a piece of her mind and raised her hand. In no time, there a huge crowd gathered at the scene. With so many people around the man was left pleading for apologies.

The feisty Punjabi kudi surely knows how to stand up for a friend and will not entertain injustice in any form!

Times

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By the end of its first day, the collections of the movie were almost at par with Imtiaz Ali’s Love Aaj Kal starring Saif Ali Khan. While LAK took in opening day collections of Rs 80 million (Rs 8 crore) with average occupancy of 85 – 90 per cent across multiplexes, APKGK’s average occupancy has been between 85 – 90 per cent. On the other hand, occupancy at single screen was approximately 60 – 65 per cent. Pertinent to note here is that the number of shows that LAK opened with was much higher than that of AGPGK.

According to estimates, in its opening weekend, APKGK is expected to cross the Rs 240 – 250 million (Rs 24 – 25 crore) mark. As was earlier reported by Businessofcinema.com Love Aaj Kal did a net business of Rs 270 million (Rs 27 crore) in its opening weekend.

Compared to APKGK, the other release this week – Madhur Bhandarka’s Jail starring Neil Nitin Mukesh – opened to poor collections. The movie’s occupancy at multiplexes was about 30 per cent. However, it remains to be seen how Jail fares over the next two days.

BOC

The film is based on July 2005 Mumbai deluge. Bhatt says, “The film did not turn out the way Kunal had visualised it. The film is not about the disaster, but the love story. I just toned down the disaster scenes to make it more viewer-friendly.”Commenting on the editing that Bhatt did, director Kunal Deshmukh says, “I was dead against cutting some portions of the flood scenes because I thought that they really stood out. Bhattsaab wanted to play up the love angle and I understood his point of view when I saw the film after 10 minutes had been chopped off. I loved the flow.”

Times

Follow the links below for more pictures.

Follow the links below for more pictures.

Follow the links below for more pictures.

Follow the links below for more pictures.

Follow the links below for more pictures.