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New Delhi, Aug 23 (IANS) Anil Kapoor is going great guns. After the international acclaim following ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, the evergreen star is making his debut on international television with the final season of American series ’24′. He describes the action drama as ‘bigger than the biggest’ he has done in India.

‘This small screen (’24′) was bigger than the big screen that I have done in India. It was bigger than the biggest that I’ve ever done,’ Anil, who played a game show host in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ that fetched him international visibility, told IANS in a telephonic interview from Mumbai.

‘For example, the scale of every episode was bigger than any of the films I’ve done in the past. The entire series is worth $125-150 million. I’ve never done such a big show in my career. It was totally very special,’ added the 50-year-old.

Based in New York (shot in Los Angeles), the around-$150 million ’24′ is an action-drama series starring Kiefer Sutherland in the lead as special agent Jack Bauer. The show is presented in the semblance of real time, with each 24-episode season covering 24 hours in the life of Bauer. This is the eighth and final season of the show.

Anil plays Omar Hassan, president of a fictional Islamic Republic of Kamistan (IRK), who visits the US on a peace mission to meet the US president.

‘I am definitely the first mainstream star from India to have this kind of job opportunity on television there,’ he said. ‘There is a threat to my life and the story begins from there. I play one of the most pivotal leads of the show. I am there in most of the series.’

The series premieres Monday in India on AXN. This is the first time ’24′ will be aired here. It will be shown Monday to Thursday.

So how long was he in the US for the show?

‘I was there (LA) for six months. Basically I was coming and going. I was also shooting a film ‘No Problem’ in India and South Africa. So in between I shot two schedules of the film too,’ he said.

And how was his international experience?

‘The experience has been very enriching and educative – something which I’ve never had. It was wonderful and creatively very uplifting. It has given me tremendous exposure. Never in my 30-year career have I got this kind of appreciation.

‘It was almost as if I was some kind of ambassador from India and had made a difference to their lives. I was so overwhelmed. I think it went beyond professional respect,’ he said.

Anil doesn’t shy away from conceding too that ‘it was all because of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ ‘.

Rumours are rife that he is keen to move on from the ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ success.

Asked about it, he said: ‘You always have to attach and detach and that is the only way you can create more. I don’t get attached to it and start living in past glory. I don’t want to do that. I just want to move on and look at the future rather than looking at the past.’

Has Bollywood taken a backseat?

‘No. I can’t forget my roots. I am what I am because of that. I have moved on and I’ll do that also but I’ll keep on doing this,’ he said.

He is now waiting to know the reaction of his Indian fans to his transition.

‘There is no transition, because for me it was from big to bigger. But I am curious and anxious to know their reactions. I am waiting,’ he said.

Anil’s future projects include sequels to ‘Race’, ‘No Entry’, ‘Mr. India’ and he may star in Priyadarshan’s action movie.

He is also in talks with Sophia Loren’s son, Ben Stiller and Fox Television.

(Robin Bansal can be contacted at robin.b@ians.in)

Kolkata, Aug 22 (IANS) After yesteryear beauty Rekha and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan played Umrao Jaan in Bollywood, Miss India World Manasvi Mamgai says playing the famous Lucknow courtesan is her ‘dream role’.

‘Playing Umrao Jaan is my dream role. Bollywood is surely in my mind. But right now, I am concentrating on my Miss World 2010 pageant in China. That’s my first priority,’ Manasvi told IANS over phone.

Manasvi was crowned Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2010 earlier this year.

When asked whether she has been approached by directors and producers after winning the Miss India World crown, she said: ‘Yes, I was approached by a few directors and producers. But right now, I am concentrating on the Miss World pageant.’

The 22-year-old is not new to the fashion world. She has been a regular at Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WIFW) and has also appeared in several TV commercials. Moreover, she was crowned Miss Tourism International in 2008.

Currently, Manasvi is working hard on her wardrobe for the Miss World pageant.

‘My modelling background is helping me to a large extent. Currently I am working hard on my wardrobe as part of the preparation for the Miss World title,’ said the leggy lass.

The Delhi girl feels that her dancing and modelling background along with her stage presence will act as a plus point and provide her an edge over other contestants.

‘My stage presence along with my modelling background will help me a lot at the pageant. And, above all, I believe in myself and my dreams,’ she said.

After Priyanka Chopra, who won the Miss World title in 2000, no Indian beauty has brought home the international title and that’s the reason the mercury is soaring high with expectations as Manasvi takes on the stage in China.

Asked when she started weaving the dream to stand where she is at present today, Manasvi said: ‘When I was a small girl, I saw Aishwarya Rai winning the Miss World crown on television and at that moment only I decided that that’s my goal. My dream since childhood has been to become the Miss World.’

‘I don’t have any role model as such but I try to adopt good things from all the people I come across,’ she added.

The 60th Miss World Pageant will be held Oct 30 in China. Contestants from over 120 countries will compete for the prestigious crown.

–Indo- Asian News Service

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His last film, Jail, may not have been a box-office bumper, but Neil Nitin Mukesh is unfazed. He points out that while it’s important for a film to work commercially, he does not feel the need to go into a postmortem about how much his film earned. “Jail was a small budget film and did not lose money. It was well spoken about and I’ve been offered another film by the same production house for double the amount. After Johnny Gaddaar, people were calling me Johnny, after New York, I was Omar, and after Jail, Parag,” he smiles, adding that after Lafangey Parindey that opens on August 20, he’s hoping to be addressed as One Shot Nandu. Game for it Nandu is a biker boy who indulges in some dirty street fighting. The actor admits that boxing was never a sport that caught his fancy. “I’d rather watch cricket, tennis, badminton, basketball, volleyball or gymnastics,” says Neil. “Boxing is dangerous and one of the toughest sports. It requires plenty of strength, energy and will power.” Fortunately, since he wasn’t playing a professional in the ring, Neil who did most of the stunts himself did not need any kind of special training or expertise. “The fights are choreographed by action director Sham Kaushal and exude raw physical power. I wouldn’t advise young boys to imitate my bouts though. They have been executed professionally for your entertainment only,” he warns, adding that he is looking forward to his second Yashraj Film. Priyanka’s husband “New York was my first big hit and this is my first solo film. I’ve really slogged for it.” Neil has also recently completed Vishal Bhardwaj’s Saat Khoon Maaf in which he plays one of Priyanka Chopra’s seven husbands.

Neil recently broke up with his fiancee and is an eligible bachelor again. Has his fan mail tripled? “It’s gone up,” he admits, “but I don’t know if that has anything to do with my ‘single’ status. I’d like to believe it’s because of Omar, Parag and soon One Shot Nandu.”

New Delhi, Aug. 17 — After Katrina Kaif, Sneha Ullal, Zarine Khan and Sonakshi Sinha, seems like Sallu has found another pupil in Kangana. According to oneindia.com, the actress has been signed for the next untitled Being Human production opposite Sallu. Salman recommended her for his maiden production, which is to be directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. Buzz is that the Gangster girl left the success party of Once Upon A Time in Mumbai and was later seen leaving the actor’s apartment in the wee hours of morning.

The actor’s have never worked together in a film, it remains a mystery how and when they met. But one thing is clear, professional or personal, the duo’s friendship is blossoming with time.

Mumbai, Aug 18 (IANS) Bollywood actor Boman Irani is set to host a business game show ‘The Pitch’ that aims at encouraging budding entrepreneurs and which will earn the winner a whopping Rs.5 crore. He says he wants to experiment as much as possible as he started out only at age 44.

‘I don’t have time on this planet, I started at 44, I have to go ahead and do what I want. When Shankar (Mahadevan) said to sing a song with him, I joined him…it should excite me. I won’t do things for the sake of doing it. Something should strike a cord inside me… This (‘The Pitch’) did and I am on,’ Boman told IANS after UTV unveiled the reality show here Tuesday.

The show, which will be telecast on business news channel UTV Bloomberg, will shortlist 10 people with some entrepreneurial ideas. They will face challenges thrown by some of India’s prominent business leaders like Rahul Bajaj, Kishore Biyani, Nainalal Kidwai and filmmaker Karan Johar among others to win the show.

The 10-episode show will eliminate one contestant every day and the winner would be awarded Rs.5 crore to start his business.

Boman says he agreed for the show because he will get to learn a lot.

‘I am excited to be a part of this show as I am truly convinced with the philosophy of promoting entrepreneurship. ‘The Pitch’ will not only identify the next big idea in India but will also help the winner see the light of day- offering them the funding to make the idea come alive,’ Boman said.

‘I am eagerly waiting to learn from these bright and talented sparks of emerging India and test myself over the challenges set by the stalwarts of India,’ added the actor, who has worked in theatre before and is a professional photographer.

This is not the first time Boman is hosting a show. He had earlier quizzed people about their knowledge on ‘Bollywood Ka Boss’, which used to air on Sahara TV.

Asked how he would make a business reality show entertaining, he said: ‘Entertainment has different meanings. You can sing, you can cry…and people get entertained. Here you challenge people and see how they overcome the challenge.

‘And you are watching this drama in front of your eyes. That’s entertainment…This is to see how people go about fulfilling their dream of being an entrepreneur. That’s a story itself. Those 10 stories would be entertaining.’

Boman added: ‘The show doesn’t ends with a person winning Rs.5 crore and he celebrates with the family, it’s about continuing. After the show, what happens to him will be the story about the country.’

Kathmandu, Aug 18 (IANS) As the audience wonders whether Natha, the poor farmer from Peepli village, will kill himself to save his family and land in Aamir Khan’s latest hit production ‘Peepli Live’, it is much more than just a story in Nepal.

‘Peepli Live’ is alarmingly coming alive in the country, impoverished by centuries of exploitative kings and prime ministers, a series of failed governments and a 10-year civil war that has emptied out entire villages of young people.

As debutante director Anusha Rizvi’s accolade-winning film opened in Nepal’s theatres Aug 13, the nation, in a sombre coincidence, is mulling over two suicides that have shaken people already familiar with death, disaster and injustice.

The first occurred Aug 13 itself when a 35-year-old woman, abandoned by her husband and unable to provide for her two children, first threw them into a river to die and then set herself on fire.

The second suicide was still more stunning with the victim being the son of a peasant leader who had taken part in an earlier uprising in eastern Nepal.

Shambhu Rajbanshi killed himself in Nepal’s tea garden district of Jhapa Sunday after years of frustration. Four months ago, his father Digendra Rajbanshi had hanged himself in the headquarters of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, Nepal’s ruling party.

Digendra Rajbanshi, a member of the party, was a peasant leader who mobilised people during the popular uprising against Nepal’s oligarchical Rana rule in 1950. He had been arrested and jailed for almost a decade.

But despite his contribution, the peasant leader’s bitter complaint was that the party had abandoned him and others like him. He had been seeking a job for his son but to no avail.

While Nepal’s media hailed ‘Peepli Live’ as a film worth watching, veteran journalist and columnist Gunaraj Luitel said its message was meant for Nepal as well.

‘The crisis is not just (for) Indian farmers,’ Luitel wrote in his weekly column in the Nagarik daily.

‘The state of our farmers is no different. They work all through the year and yet their sweat doesn’t even bring them enough to eat. The peasant is losing his rights to the giant corporations and big investors. He can’t buy seeds and fertiliser at a subsidy and doesn’t get a fair price for his produce.’

‘Yet there is no one to speak on his behalf. There are many villages called Piple in Nepal too and many farmers there are in the same plight.’

(Sudeshna Sarkar can be contacted at sudeshna.s@ians.in)

Mumbai, Aug 12 (IANS) Raghuvir Yadav, who plays a pivotal role in Aamir Khan’s most talked-about production venture ‘Peepli Live’, is bowled over by his evolvement as a perfectionist filmmaker and actor.

‘In ‘Lagaan’, I found Aamir as a very sorted out personality. When I saw his ‘Taare Zameen Par’, he looked more matured. I wonder to what extent Aamir will evolve as a perfectionist. He will take Bollywood by storm,’ Yadav told IANS in an interview.

‘When you work in his production, you never feel that someone is big or small – everyone thinks it’s a unit and together you can make the film better. Finally, it turns out to be a fantastic film,’ he added.

Director Anusha Rizvi has put the spotlight on farmers’ suicides and how media and politicians react to such grave issues in her first directorial venture ‘Peepli Live’.

In the film, Raghuvir plays a farmer who is unable to repay the loan. As a result, his small piece of land is put under the hammer. What happens when he tries to save his only source of livelihood is the film all about.

The actor found neither of the roles – Bhura of ‘Lagaan’ or Budhiya in ‘Peepli Live’ -difficult as he lived the problems of rural India.

‘Neither of the roles were difficult for me because I am from rural India. I have the personal experience of living the problem of rural India, so both the characters were easy to portray,’ said Yadav.

The veteran theater actor, who is still remembered for playing Mungerilal in the hit television comedy show ‘Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne’, believes ‘Peepli Live’ has more than one message to convey.

‘Once you see the film you will understand that the film is filled with multiple messages. It says everyone has a social responsibility. If everyone takes his or her share of responsibility, there will be no problem in having a happy life. Government has the biggest responsibility in minimizing the problem. Until there is true equality, the rural India will keep facing problems,’ said Yadav.

One thing that disturbs the actor is the commercialization of the art of acting.

‘The emotional attachment with acting is highly missing in young actors. Commercialization of art disturbs me a lot. It seems you have become corrupted. Earlier people used to choose acting because they loved the art and weren’t bothered whether they were paid less or nothing at times. Now it seems that to make money people are endorsing the art of acting,’ said Yadav.

Asked if he is planning to direct a film, he said: ‘I have a script ready and would like to try my hand in direction as well. Let me see how soon I am able to bring it on floor.’

(Dibyojyoti Baksi can be contacted at dibyojyoti.b@ians.in)

New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) Juhi Babbar, who has been awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Rashtriya Puraskar of the Sangeet Natak Akademi for her contribution to Indian arts and theatre work, says it is an encouragement for the youngsters.

‘I have been doing theatre only for over 12 years and this award is for people who have given their entire life to theatre. Receiving it is very encouraging for the youth as these professions have no money but are passion driven,’ Juhi told IANS.

The award is meant for eminent artists under 35 years of age and the actress said she is eligible for the honour. However, she refused to reveal her age.

Juhi received the award from Ratan Thiyam, vice chairman and acting chairman of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Tuesday in the capital.

In 2001, Juhi’s mother Nadira Babbar bagged the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Juhi started her stage career in 1999 with her mother’s Ekjute Group.

Apart from her work on the stage, Juhi, who was seen in Shah Rukh Khan’s television series ‘Ghar Ki Baat Hai’, also has to her credit backstage contribution as costume designer for 35 plays.

New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan’s ‘Peepli Live’, which will perhaps be the first non-commercial Hindi film to hit over 600 screens when it releases Friday, has already recovered its investment by selling its satellite rights for Rs. 100 million.

Made on a budget of approximately Rs.100 million (including marketing costs), journalist-turned director Anusha Rizvi’s directorial debut is a satire on the farmers suicides and the subsequent political and media reaction.

It will hit 600 screens in India and 100 in overseas markets, except Britain.

‘In Britain we have partnered with Artificial Eye (again first for a Hindi Film), a premium distribution chain that looks into art house main stream release and own the largest art house exhibition chain called Curzon theatres. We will release ‘Peepli Live’ in Britain on September 24,’ said a source close to Aamir Khan Productions.

The cast of the film is a mixed bag – many actors are tribals from Bhadwai village in Madhya Pradesh, while other cast members are from late playwright Habib Tanvir’s theatre troupe Naya Theatre, including the main lead Omkar Das Manikpuri, who plays Natha in ‘Peepli Live’.

The film also stars Naseeruddin Shah, Malaika Shenoy, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Shalini Vatsa, Farrukh Jaffer, Vishal O. Sharma, Aamir Bashir, Sitaram Panchal and Yugal Kishore.

This is the fourth film from Aamir Khan Productions Ltd. after ‘Lagaan: Once Upon A Time In India’ (2001), ‘Taare Zameen Par’(2007) and ‘Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na’(2008).

If Aamir’s earlier three commercial films were blocbusters, ‘Peepli Live’ has earned a reputation for itself in the global film circuit. The movie recently won the Best First Feature Film award at the 31st Durban International Film Festival in South Africa.

‘Peepli Live’ also competed in the Sundance Film Festival, the first film from India to do so. The movie was picked up by specialty German distribution company, Rapid Eye Movies, for a special screening at the Berlin International Film Festival. It recently had its Melbourne premiere at the Melbourne International Film Festival MIFF 2010.

The film has also put the spotlight on over 1,000 villages across India that are called Peepli.

Thu, Aug 12 10:55 AM

Mumbai, Aug. 12 — If you are a fan of Indian cinema, then watch out for the government’s ambitious plan that will show case its history.

The state government-run Filmcity at Goregaon (East), will build a ‘Bollywood Museum’ of global standards, by next year. The museum will be located in Filmcity itself.

The process of appointing consultants started on Wednesday. Senior bureaucrat and Filmcity managing director, Shyam Tagde, told Hindustan Times that the authorities floated bids on Wednesday.

The Maharashtra Film, Theatre and Cultural Corporation runs the Filmcity, where production houses get indoor and outdoor shooting facilities, editing and recording rooms, and locations dotted with fountains, gardens, lakes, helipads and buildings on hire for shooting films. “As of now, we have a sketchy plan at hand.

We want to have galleries that will house everything that is related to Bollywood movies, including commercial films and parallel cinema. Bidders will be asked to make designs and only the best will be selected.

” Tagde said that the galleries will have cinema equipment (used in production and screening) on display. “We also plan to build a (film) science centre,” Tagde said.

The museum will be an added attraction for tourists and will help the government generate substantial revenue. Tagde said that he expected state-approved consultants to submit plans and its cost.

The consultants (individuals, organizations or joint ventures) need to have 10-year experience in building museums. The bidders need to have experts like architects, structural and civil engineers, physical planners, environment experts and experts in museums at their disposal.