My role required a lot of nudity: Sonam

After Ranbir, Abhishek Bachchan is Sonam's second co-star. And she's enjoying every bit of his company in Dilli 6.

"Abhishek and I are very well -matched, height-wise. And though he's very mischievous I find him very mature.

While Ranbir is someone I've grown up with, Abhishek is a someone I can look up to as a co-star. He's really cool. In fact, " she adds. "I'm learning so much from all my co-stars in Dilli 6. Abhishek and I, and our director Rakeysh Mehra are so much in awe of Waheeda Rehmanji.

During rehearsals every time she reads a scene there's pindrop silence for a few minutes. We're all busy staring at her. When people, including Waheedaji herself, said I look like her I feel I'll just faint with pride."

Sonam Kapoor is exhausted in Jaipur. She has been getting just about five hours of sleep per day to make up for lost time and for the absence of her co-star Abhishek.

Growing sad she sighs, "Abhishek lost his grandmom and I lost my grandfather. I was very very close to him. And my one regret is I couldn't meet him before he passed away. The last I saw him was about a fortnight before his death. My Nanaji was loads of fun."

The word's out. Sonam Kapoor has said no to a very big project with one of the industry's biggest stars for a topnotch banner.

"The role was extremely sensuous. That's fine, " opines the young eager and talented actress. "But it also required a lot of nudity and there was one major love-making scene.

It was a smashing opportunity for me to go beyond what I've done in Saawariya and my second film Dilli 6. But I can't do anything that I'm not comfortable with. "

Interestingly, both of Sonam's directors so far have been extremely protective of her. "Sanjay Sir would cover me up even when I walked from the set to my van. And now Rakeysh is worse! He wants to see me in nothing but salwar-kameez in Dilli 6." For a sequence Sonam had to get into chic attire. "When I came on the set Rakeysh looked at me, and said I should quickly revert to my salwar-kameez look.

Because of my dad everyone treats me like a child. I can't be doing any role which would make my father, mother and the rest of my family cringe at the premiere.

Call me a prude, but that's that way I am. My father has a 40-year reputation in the industry. And I'm not going to tarnish it."

Thought it's freezing cold in Jaipur, Sonam is swamped in the warmth of Rakeysh Mehra's unit of Dilli 6.

"Working on Saawariya was like being part of an extended family. I'll always look on Sanjay Bhansali as a parent beyond my parents.

Whatever I know about acting and cinema is because I was associated with him as an assistant and then an actress. Here with Rakeysh Mehra it's different, though equally enjoyable. I've been pampered silly during Saawariya. Now I'm learning to be much more professional."

Courtesy: santabanta.com

Rahman named best music director at IIFA

A.R. Rahman was named the best music director for his score in "Guru" at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) 2008 awards here Sunday night, while the Shah Rukh Khan starrer "Om Shanti Om" swept a number of technical awards.

Shreya Ghoshal won the honours for the best playback singer (female) for "Barso re" from Mani Ratnam's "Guru", which film also bagged awards for the best background score (Rahman) and best song recording (H. Sridhar).

The best playback singer (male) award was bagged by Shaan for "Jab se tere naina" from "Saawariya".

Veteran Javed Akhtar was named the best lyricist for "Om Shanti Om", which also garnered awards for best special effects (Red Chillies Entertainment), best art direction (Sabu Cyril), best costume design (Manish Malhotra, Karan Johar and Sanjeev Mulchandani) and best makeup.

The award for best screenplay was won jointly by Anurag Basu ("Life in a Metro") and Jaideep Sahni ("Chak De! India").

"Chak De! India" also took home the trophy for best cinematography.

Imtiyaz Ali was named the best dialogue writer for "Jab We Met".

Courtesy: indiainfo.com

Rakeysh Mehra ready with 'Dilli 6'

The public may be expecting a lot from 'Dilli 6', from the maverick director Rakeysh Mehra after the super success of his first film 'Rang De Basanti'.

The lead roles are played by Abhishek Bachan and Sonam Kapoor. The shooting was wrapped up last Friday. The film mostly shot in Rajasthan now enters the post production stage.

Sonam Kapoor will be hoping the film to be a big success after the bad fate of her first film 'Saawariya'.

Mehra had to spend much time to find the hero of this film. He had tried to get Hrithik Roshan for the main man, but eventually zeroed in for Abhishek. Sonam Kapoor is quite lucky to be cast as the heroine as a hit can do wonders for her in the B-town.

Rakeysh Mehra was not without his share of worries as his first assistant director during the shooting had to move out to U.S. due to personal reasons.

Aamir khan after knowing about Rakeysh's crisis wanted to be his assistant but could not because of his dates being taken by 'Gajini'. So Kiran Rao, Aamir's wife and an assistant director in 'Lagaan' went ahead and helped Mehra.

Rayeksh Mehra has been very much impressed by Kiran's work and was heard praising her work and initiative during his crisis.

Courtesy: Indiaglitz.com

UTV To Release 'Jodhaa Akbar' In 26 Countries

Ashutosh Gowariker's epic love story 'Jodhaa Akbar' is to get one of the biggest worldwide releases. UTV Motion Pictures will release the Hritik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai starrer in 26 countries on Friday.
Mumbai, Feb 12 Ashutosh Gowariker's epic love story 'Jodhaa Akbar' is to get one of the biggest worldwide releases. UTV Motion Pictures will release the Hritik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai starrer in 26 countries on Friday.

Earlier, Sony Pictures' first Indian venture, 'Saawariya', was one of the biggest releases of 2007. It was released in around 14 countries.

'Jodhaa Akbar' is dubbed in three languages - Hindi, Telugu and Tamil - and subtitled in English, Arabic and Dutch. It will be viewed across 1,500 screens worldwide.

In India alone the film is to be released in more than 1,300 screens, of which 500 will be digital and 825 physical prints. In the US, 122 prints will be released, the highest ever for an Indian film.

'The film is one of the most anticipated movies of the decade and in keeping with the unprecedented anticipation among audiences, our distribution strategy will ensure that it can be viewed by the maximum possible audience in the very week of its release,' said Siddharth Roy Kapoor, executive vice-president of marketing and distribution, Syndication UTV Motion Pictures, in a press statement.

The film may also be screened in Pakistan, but at a later date.

'We are definitely planning to release the film in Pakistan but it won't be on Feb 15. Most probably we will screen it in March,' Roy told IANS.

Set in the 16th century, this epic romance begins as a marriage of alliance between two cultures and religions, for political gain, with King Bharmal of Amer giving his daughter Jodha's hand to Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Akbar.

The music by maestro A.R. Rahman launched UTV's music label.

With this film, UTV is also reinventing its distribution in North America.

In Canada, it is the first time that a Hindi film is being released simultaneously in six provinces - British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Alberta.

Courtesy: newspostindia.com