Saturday, May 30, 2009

Amitabh Bachchan has turned down Australian honour

Amitabh turns down Australian honour after racial attacks

New Delhi, May 30 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has turned down an honorary doctorate from anAustralian university for his contribution to the world of entertainment following a string of racial attacks on Indian students there, the actor said on his blog.

The 66-year-old last week agreed to accept the honour from the Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, but has now reconsidered his decision. He was to receive the doctorate in July as a part of celebrations to commemorate a retrospective of his films to be inaugurated in the city. 

"I mean no disrespect to the institution that honours me, but under the present circumstances, where citizens of my own country are subjected to such acts of inhuman horror, my conscience does not permit me to accept this decoration from a country that perpetrates such indignity to my fellow countrymen," Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.

The actor has asked his "extended family (EF)" - members of his blog - to decide if his move was justified or not.

"Am I right in thinking so? And if yes, then is my act of refusing the honour justified or not? I shall put this up as my poll question and shall feel obliged if EF can indicate to me their opinion, for me to be able to take the correct action," he said.

Australia has seen a series of racial attacks on Indian students.

The most horrific case was that of Shravan Kumar, an automobile engineering student from Andhra Pradesh who is battling for life after being attacked by two youths Sunday afternoon in Melbourne.

On Sunday night, hospitality graduate Rajesh Kumar received 30 percent burns after a petrol bomb was flung into his home in Sydney that he shared with other Indians.

Yadu Singh, a cardiologist and community leader in Sydney, said there have been at least 20 incidents of "curry bashing" in his city in the past month but most attacks on Indian students went unreported out of fear.

Friday, May 29, 2009

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

What went wrong with Dosti No1

Printed from

What went wrong with Dosti No1?

17 Oct 2004, 1951 hrs IST, TNN
At a recent election meeting, Jaya Bachchan said: "Those who brought us into politics left us midway. They left us when we were in a crisis. They are known to betray people.” The reference is more than obvious.
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Subsequently, Rahul Gandhi retaliated: "The Bachchans are lying. Why are they levelling the charge now after so many years? Amitabh was introduced to politics two decades ago. They have changed loyalties. Those who know the Gandhi family know we've have never betrayed anyone. People know better about who betrayed whom. People also know who their loyalties are with."

On Friday, Amitabh Bachchan aired his views: "They (the Gandhi family) are the rajas (rulers) and we (the Bachchans) are runk (subjects). Any continuation of the relationship depends on the rulers' mood. Now, they accuse my family of lying."

What's gone wrong in this Dosti No 1? Delhi Times traces the highs and lows of the Gandhi-Bachchan friendship which dates back to the Jawaharlal Nehru-Harivansh Rai era. 

Amitabh Bachchan entered politics on Rajiv's request. Later, he resigned from politics after he faced charges of receiving kickbacks in the Bofors case. However, the relationship between the Bachchans and Gandhis came under strain nearly six years after Rajiv's assassination in 1991. Till then, Sonia Gandhi and her children reportedly relied on Amitabh and Captain Satish Sharma for every major decision, political as well as non-political.
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The rift between the Bachchans and Gandhis widened as the Bachchans grew close to Amar Singh who, it is believed, was never in the good books of the Gandhis. However, the two families maintained a respectable distance and never uttered a word about each other in public. The only time that Amitabh spoke on the cracks in the relationship was when he admitted in an interview to a private news channel that things were no longer the same between the two families.

Says Amar Singh, "The Bachchan-Gandhi relationship dates back to a time before I was born. I have no authority or competence to comment on the ties of two great families. Only they are competent to comment on each other. All I know about Amitji is that he is a man of great dignity, depth and emotion and he's convinced that there's respect only for utility and no place for emotion."


In a biography, Amitabh says: "Rajiv and Sanjay studied in Doon School, Ajitabh and I were in Nainital... but our holidays fell around the same months. We'd hang out and swim every day at the pool of Rashtrapati Bhawan. The friendship continued. After schooling, Rajiv went off to Cambridge. Whenever he would be back home, we'd get together and exchange notes... When he started flying, I'd go with him to provide ballast at the Flying Club of Delhi. I'd glide there for hours... Panditji died. Mrs Gandhi became PM and the family moved to 1, Safdarjung Road, which was close to our home at 13, Willingdon Crescent. Rajiv, Sanjay, Ajitabh and I formed a closely knit group of friends."

In the same biography, Amitabh explains how he entered politics: "The induction was because of the tragic assassination of Mrs Gandhi. I wanted to stand by Rajiv. When he asked me to contest the elections, I told him that I didn't know the 'p' of politics. He said the party would help me. I plunged into the fray..."

Speaking on the Bofors issue, Amitabh says: "The Bofors accusations were aimed at me and my family like poison arrows. It was insinuated that I would come out of the accusations unscathed because of my friendship with Rajiv. I wanted to ask: Protected from what?"

Reacting to Rajiv's death, Amitabh has said: "Rajiv was a very noble, very decent human being. His commitment was resolute and one admired him for it."

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First meeting between the Bachchan seniors and Indira Gandhi took place in Allahabad. Sarojini Naidu invited Harivansh Rai and Teji to Anand Bhawan, the Nehru family home where she was staying. "This led to the beginning of a close and lifelong friendship between Teji and Indira, who was still unmarried. Mrs Naidu introduced the pair of us very dramatically as 'the poet and the poem', a phrase which Indira was long to remember, alluding to it frequently when introducing Teji to foreign visitors," reminisces Harivansh Rai in his autobiography.


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Bonds grew fast. Within a month, the Bachchans were invited to Indira's wedding, where they sang in front of the assembled guests, including dignitaries and national leaders. "We sang our duet again at the wedding of Indira's eldest son Rajiv, though our voices were no longer what they had been in the old days," says Bachchan Sr.


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They moved to Delhi, Nehru invited the family for breakfast. "We arrived at Teen Murti punctually at 8... We had tutored Amit and Ajit for this breakfast, showing how to say 'namaste' to Panditji and Indiraji, how to sit and reach for things... Panditji sat Bunty and Sanjay on his right and Amit and Rajiv on his left... After breakfast, Panditji took them to the garden," writes Bachchan Sr.


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"It began with a very happy event, writes Harivansh Rai. Rajiv Gandhi's fiancee Sonia, visiting from Italy, was put up at our house, where she had an introduction to the Indian ways of life. She was so taken with our friendly openness that she began to look on Teji as a mother and Amit and Bunty as brothers. Rajiv and Sonia were married in February, with some part of the ceremony being held at our house," he recalls. The day before the Rajiv-Sonia wedding, a mehendi (henna) ceremony was held at the house of the Bachchans, where Sonia was staying. On the occasion, reveals Sonia in her book on Rajiv, she wore a simple lehnga (skirt) and odhni (veil) given to Indira by the banjaras (gypsies) of Andhra, and the traditional floral jewellery of Kashmiri brides.


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When he was being awarded the Padmabhushan, Bachchan Sr decided to take Amitabh along for the Presidential awards ceremony. Amitabh found his specially-stitched suit too small: Jaya had packed Ajitabh's suit by mistake. Amitabh rang up Rajiv to borrow a churidar pyjama, kurta and shawl. "It was perhaps the first time he'd worn that outfit which became his favourite clothing," writes his dad.

Amitabh met with an accident on the sets of Coolie , Rajiv was in America with his family. But as soon as he read about it in the foreign papers, he flew back to Mumbai, drove straight to the hospital from the airport at midnight. Indira Gandhi too came to visit him. "While her arrival underlined the seriousness of the situation, it was also a source of strength to us; nothing that could be done for Amitabh would be left undone so long as life remained," writes Harisvansh.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

PETA requests IIFA Amitabh Bachchan to promote vegetarian food

PETA requests IIFA, Bachchan to promote vegetarian food

New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) Animal welfare organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has urged members of the India International Film Academy (IIFA) and its brand ambassador, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, to avoid non-vegetarian meals at the forthcoming event to be held in Macau, China next month.

On behalf of PETA, its chief functionary Anuradha Sawhney sent a letter in this regard to Sabbas Joseph, one of the directors of Wizcraft that organises IIFA, and its vegetarian celebrity face Amitabh after learning that the event will have a 'Go-Green' theme, said a press release.

"We were thrilled to hear that this year's IIFA Awards are going to have a 'Go Green' theme, and we commend you for helping to once again draw attention to the global climate crisis. On behalf of PETA India and all our members and supporters, we respectfully ask you to serve only green (vegetarian) food at the event.

"By doing so, you will send a strong message that people can save the planet simply by changing their dietary habits," Sawhney stated in the letter sent Tuesday morning.

IIFA, in its 10th edition this year, will be held from June 11-13 at The Venetian Macau-Resort. It will also present a special 'Green IIFA' award to a film personality who has been working in the area of creating environment awareness.

IIFA has been addressing the issue of global warming since 2007 and this year too they will take their concern forward. It has been hosting an eco-friendly award function by rolling out a green carpet instead of the conventional red.

"Kicking the meat habit is the best thing that anyone can do for animals, their health and the earth," Sawhney said.

Amitabh eyes said it all Kannada actor Sudeep

Amitabh's eyes said it all: Kannada actor Sudeep

By R.G.Vijayasarathy

Bangalore, May 24 (IANS) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan says more with his eyes and body language than the dialogues in Ram Gopal Varma's "Rann", says co-star and Kannada actor Sudeep.

"There are many sequences in the film which feature me and Bachchan sir. The sequence starts with him asking me "Yeh kya hai, Jai (What's happening, Jai)' and I had to defend my actions. I had lot of dialogues in the film, but Bachchan sir would be expressive just through his eyes and body language.

"I had to see his eyes directly in many sequences of the film and see the intensity of his expressions. Somehow I'm happy that I was able to pull it off well," Sudeep told IANS.

With "Rann", Varma is attempting to expose the media industry and has cast Amitabh as a media baron. Apart from Amitabh and Sudeep, the film also stars Riteish Deshmukh, Paresh Rawal, Gul Panag and Neetu Chandra.

Talking about the film's theme, Sudeep said: "The film has some media related situations, but majority of the sequences have emotions and sentiments and relate to our everyday life. And the performances will be so natural that the audience would be able to identify each of the characters in the film," said Sudeep.

The film has also been in the news for the controversial song "Jana gana mana 'Rann' hai", where Varma has twisted words of the national anthem.

Sudeep refused to comment on the song controversy saying "I think RGV sir is talking about it and it is best to leave it to him."

Sudeep is currently shooting in Bangalore for the film "Kichcha Huchcha", which is being produced by K. Manju and directed by Gurudatt. Ramya is playing his love interest in the film.

Sudeep has also finished shooting a song sequence for his own directorial venture "Just Maath Maathanalli" in Hyderabad.

First look Teen Patti

First look Teen Patti

Sarkars of cinema: In Teen Patti,
Amitabh plays the professor who tutors five of his brightest protegees, played by Madhavan, Siddharth Kher, and newcomers Dhruv Ganesh, Vaibhav Talwar and Shraddha Kapoor(daughter of Shakti Kapoor) for high-stake gambling, but with a cause.

Monday, May 25, 2009

BigB Reid and Taylar

Amitabh Bachchan 
BigB Reid & Taylar Photo


Prateeksha, Mumbai           May 24, 2009              Sun/Mon  2:12 AM

  

Where does the energy come from when time constraints push you to perform and execute at break neck speed. Where does an old man of 67, a senior citizen rustle, up the courage to go through the prosthetics for 4 hours and step out into the wide world of heat and unreal temperatures. Where ?

Its the desire to fulfill, to follow commitment, to keep to the time limits prescribed by the location, to help out in home production and above all to be able to enjoy being and doing what we like doing.

The location was the tarmac at the Chhatrapati Sivaji Maharaj domestic airport. KingFisher Airlines graciously gave us the facility of the use of their aircraft and staff and they were marvelous at that. Soon after wards we shifted to the mock up at their academy for training cabin crew. A couple of dress changes in a cramped up set without air conditioning and finally the end of the day around 9 pm. There were meetings lined up thereafter and they have just finished. So even if it is late, there is desire to communicate to the EF that they are not forgotten.

 In between all this hustle and bustle there was the IPL and the final tonight. So Deccan Chargers won !! Could not see all of it, but it seemed like a close call for either team. Deccan were fancied winners, but the progress that Bangalore made had been phenomenal too. And this over we now get into the T20 world cup in England starting in a week. More cricket, more television and many more nail bitten fingers, because now its the world in competition.

We shot this morning at the tarmac of the airport. You go through a special gate and security. And you drive right up to the aircraft parked in a distant corner and you cannot but wonder and be amazed at the parking bay of the private jets. There must be over 50 of them. 50 private jets !! All belonging to individuals or their corporate companies. This is a remarkable sight. A couple of years ago there were hardly a couple of turbo prop King Air at the most. But now… every make of private jet in line - the GulfStreams and Bombadiers and many more, whose name I cannot give. India develops.. and fast !!

The endeavor to make this be with the reader soon is compelling me to write faster than normal. Time clicks away, an early morning call tomorrow for PAA and I must hit the bed soon. So….

Good night !! And may these quotes fill your life with laughter and happiness..

 

 1. The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.
 2. Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail.
 3. If you don’t have a sense of humor, you probably don’t have any sense at all.
 4. Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.
 5. A good time to keep your mouth shut is when you’re in deep water.
 6. How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid
     of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?

 7. Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many
     people a company can operate without.

 8. Why is it that at class reunions you feel younger than everyone else looks?
 9. Scratch a cat and you will have a permanent job.
 10. No one has more driving ambition than the boy who wants  to buy a car.
 11. There are no new sins; the old ones just get more publicity.
 12. There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong  number at 4 AM. It could
        be a right number.

 13. No one ever says ‘It’s only a game.’ when their team is winning.
 14. I’ve reached the age where the happy hour is a nap.
 15. Be careful reading the fine print. There’s no way you’re going to like it.
 16. The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size
       bucket.

 17. Do you realize that in about 40 years, we’ll have thousands of old  ladies
       running around with tattoos?  (And rap music will be the Golden Oldies!)
 18. Money can’t buy happiness — but somehow it’s more comfortable to cry
       in a Corvette than in a Yugo.

 19. After 50, if you don’t wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead!!
 20. Always be yourself because the people that matter don’t mind, and the ones   
       who mind, don’t matter .

 

Love to all 

Amitabh Bachchan

Friday, May 22, 2009

Amitbah Bachchan I don't have as much money as Shah Rukh

I don't have as much money as Shah Rukh: Amitabh

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) Bollywood megastar Amitbah Bachchan says he couldn't bid for an Indian Premier League (IPL) team because he doesn't have "as much money as (Kolkata Knight Riders owner) Shah Rukh Khan".

"I don't have as much money as Shah Rukh. He has money and so he owns a team," Amitabh said on Zee News' celebrity chat show "Kahiye Janab" to be aired on Saturday.

Amitabh sent a congratulatory SMS to skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for his Padma Shri and didn't get a response. But he says he holds no grudge against the cricket star.

"He must have been busy, there's no need to make an issue out of this."

The sexagenarian otherwise makes for an avid viewer of the IPL and says he watches "almost all the matches".

Big B completes Aladdin', busy with last schedule of Paa

Big B completes 'Aladdin', busy with last schedule of 'Paa'

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) Fans of Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan may be in for a double treat since the actor has completed "Aladdin" and is now working on the last schedule of "Paa". He says the two movies might release in close succession.

"The dubbing for ?Aladdin' is almost over. We have managed a fair amount of work already. Perhaps tomorrow we shall be able to complete it entirely. The promos shall be starting soon," the actor posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com.

The next in line is R. Balakrishnan's "Paa", in which he has teamed up with son Abhishek.

"'Paa' starts tomorrow again after a long gap. They have been doing extensive work with Abhishek. This is the last schedule," he added.

Amitabh's last release was last year's "The Last Lear".

-*-

Farah Khan - a doting mother

Choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan, who is currently scripting for her next project "Happy New Year", says that in spite of her professional commitments, she spends maximum time with her kids.

"I try and give maximum time to my kids and my husband. I give 75 percent of my time to my family and 25 percent of my time to my work. I've learn't to strike this balance," Farah told IANS.

Farah who married Shirish Kunder, the editor of her debut film "Main Hoon Na", gave birth to triplets - Anya, Diva and Czar last year.

-*-

Shruti Hassan unwinds in the kitchen

Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan's daughter Shruti Haasan, who will soon be seen in "Luck", loves to don a chef's cap when she wants to unwind.

"When I want to relax, I just call my friends over at home and we enjoy digging into the food. Even if occasionally the food isn't that great, my friends are too sweet to say anything," said the actress.

"Luck" is an action thriller being produced by Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd. It also stars Imraan Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Mithun Chakraborty, Danny Denzongpa and Rati Agnihotri.

Madame Tussauds New York unveils Amitabh Bachchan wax figure

Madame Tussauds New York unveils Amitabh Bachchan wax figure

New York, May 22 (IANS) A wax figure of Indian film star Amitabh Bachchan was unveiled at Madame Tussauds New York with a "Bollywood Bash" being held at Times Square here.

"We are thrilled to welcome Amitabh Bachchan to his new home in Madame Tussauds," said a statement quoting Janine DiGioacchino, general manager of Madame Tussauds New York.

"Bachchan is a Bollywood film legend and we could think of no better figure to open the new Bollywood Zone, which is an exciting addition to our Times Square attraction."

Five Bollywood dancers, dressed in colourful Lehenga skirts, performed and taught 20 middle school students traditional Indian dance at the "Bollywood Bash", the statement said Friday.

Bachchan's figure is dressed in a traditional black Sherwani suit with a gold and black scarf draped around his neck.

It is the first figure to be part of Madame Tussauds New York's all-new Bollywood Zone.

The brightly-coloured, fully-interactive area includes the "Taj Mahal", videos of authentic Indian dancers and a photo area where visitors can pose as Bollywood stars - all designed to re-create the experience of being on a Bollywood film set with Bachchan.

Over the coming years, Madame Tussauds plans to expand the area to include figures of other prominent Bollywood stars.

Bachchan has starred in more than 150 films and once held a seat in Indian Parliament.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

अमिताभ जितना लम्बा है उनका कुत्ता


अमिताभ जितना लम्बा है उनका कुत्ता

मुम्बई। हिन्दी सिनेमा जगत के बादशाह शाहरुख खान और ‘मिस्टर परफेक्शनिस्ट’ आमिर खान अपने-अपने पालतू कुत्तों को लेकर विवादों में  घिरे रहे हैं और लड़ते भी रहे हैं, लेकिन सदी के महानायक अमिताभ बच्चन की बात ही कुछ और है।

बच्चन तो इन सबसे परे अपने कुत्ते के साथ काफी मस्ती मार रहे  हैं। वैसे अगर कुत्ता ‘बिग बी’ का है, तो जाहिर है ‘बिग’ ही होगा। जी हां,  उनका कुत्ता भी उन्हीं की तरह लंबा-चौड़ा है।

अमिताभ बच्चन का कुत्ता जब दो पैरों पर खड़ा हो जाता है तो उन्हीं की ऊंचाई तक  पहुंच जाता है। बच्चन ने अपने कुत्ते का नाम ‘शनॉक’ रखा है। 

बच्चन का यह कुत्ता उनके परिवार का एक महत्वपूर्ण सदस्य बन गया है, हालांकि उसे मीडिया की नजरों से दूर ही रखा जाता है।

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Monday, May 18, 2009

BigB Prakash Mehra used to call me Lalla

Prakash Mehra used to call me 'Lalla': Big B

Mumbai, May 18 (IANS) Filmmaker Prakash Mehra's death filled megastar Amitabh Bachchan with memories of the man who lovingly called him 'Lalla' and gave him his first hit "Zanjeer".

The actor says that Mehra was a "true mark of excellence".

"An entire era of cinema and my association with him passed away with him," Amitabh posted on his blog www.bigb.bigadda.com Monday.

Earlier, Amitabh went to visit Mehra at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, where the latter was admitted due to prolonged illness. The prolific filmmaker passed away at the hospital Sunday. He was 69.

"He was repairing well in hospital and was to be removed from the ICU to a general room. A sudden infection resulted in multiple organ failure and he breathed his last," Amitabh wrote.

Amitabh recalled the "long, fruitful and incredible period of his remarkable films" that the filmmaker did with him.

"His first meeting with me at RajKamal studio where he had come to cast me in 'Zanjeer' in 1971 right through to the mid 80's, year after year of unbelievable successes - 'Zanjeer', 'Hera Pheri', 'Khoon Paseena', 'Laawaris', 'Muqaddar Ka Sikander', 'Sharabi', 'Namak Halal'. What a huge bank of amazing films, right down to his last with me, 'Jaadugar'. The only one that did not work.

"I still remember his phone call to me in Bangalore after the release. ?Lalla', as he endearingly called me ?gadbad ho gayee hai!' (things have gone wrong) he said. (He was) honest and straight. He had always maintained that the day I cannot make a successful film with you I shall stop working with you. He never did anything after 'Jaadugar'," he added.

Amitabh acknowledges the fact that Mehra offered him some of the most challenging roles he has done in his career.

"A writer, a lyricist, a musician, he added all these qualities to his creativity behind the camera and gave me some of my most challenging roles. A simple man who had the capacity to narrate great stories through the medium of cinema in the most simple manner. His films have lived longer than him. (He was) a true mark of excellence," said Amitabh.

BigB Abhishek in French director film

Big B, Abhishek in French director's film?
By Saibal Chatterjee

Cannes, May 18 (IANS) French director Jan Kounen, whose latest film will be screened on the closing night of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, is headed to India for his next project that may star Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan in the main leads.

Paris-based Manuel de la Roche, the producer of the proposed film, "The Secret History of the Dalai Lamas", has Amitabh and Abhishek on his wish list and hopes to pull off a casting coup.

The father-son duo were earlier seen together in the Bollywood movies "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna" and the "Sarkar" series. Their next is R. Balakrishnan's "Pa".

"The film will trace the history of the Dalai Lamas all the way from the 14th century. It will blend dramatised re-enactments involving the earlier incarnations with excerpts from an interview with the current Dalai Lama," de la Roche told IANS.

He also indicated that the producers would soon be approaching both Amitabh and Abhishek with acting offers for the upcoming production.

"We are very keen to cast the father and son duo in key roles in the film. Sharon Stone (who is a practising Tibetan Buddhist) will step in as the narrator, while Hollywood star Richard Gere will also be involved with the project," added Roche.

Manuel de la Roche had also produced Kounen's film on the life and work of Mata Amritanandamayi, "Darshan - L'Entreinte" ("Darshan - The Embrace"). It was screened Out of Competition in Cannes in 2005.

De la Roche's company Movie Sphere has joined hands with Berlin-based Integral Films for "The Secret History of the Dalai Lamas".

Both the Dalai Lama film and the feature-length documentary on Mata Amritanandamayi, who is popularly known simply as Amma, are offshoots of "Another Reality" - the television series on the diversity of world culture that Kounen and de la Roche had earlier collaborated on.

According to de la Roche, "The Secret History of the Dalai Lamas" will be shot later this year in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and other parts of the Indian subcontinent.

It will be ready for release in the second half of 2010.

Dutch-born Kounen's "Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky" is being screened as the closing night film at the Cannes.

Amitabh Bachchan Director Prakash Mehra funeral

Director Prakash Mehra's funeral 

Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan






















Abhishek Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan


Prakash Mehra reel journey

Sharaabi was Prakash Mehra's last hit and sixth in a row with Amitabh, the other five beingZanjeer, Hera Pheri, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris and Namak Halaal. He did subsequently make Jaadugar with Amitabh

















Sharaabi was Prakash Mehra's last hit and sixth in a row with Amitabh, the other five being Zanjeer, Hera Pheri, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris and Namak Halaal. He did subsequently make Jaadugar with Amitabh 















Namak Halal is an action packed comedy film that stars Amitabh Bachchan, Waheeda Rehman, Om Prakash, Shashi Kapoor, Smita Patil, Parveen Babi, Ranjeet, Satyan Kappu, Suresh Oberoi and Ram Sethi.















Produced and directed by Prakash Mehra, Muqaddar Ka Sikander stars Amitabh Bachchan along with Vinod Khanna, Raakhee Gulzar, Rekha and Amjad Khan.















जंजीर

Contributing to his angry young man image were his portrayals as cop in various movies















ara Kya Kaam Hai starred Amitabh Bachchan, Amjad Khan, Zeenat Aman and Raakhee Gulzar. The story of Laawaris revolves around an orphan who stumbles over reality in search for his parents.
















Zanjeer

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Amitabh Bachchan refrain excessive commentary

I refrain from excessive commentary on films: Amitabh

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) He has been part of the Hindi film industry for four decades now but Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he refrains from "excessive commentary on films" as his knowledge of the medium is "beyond zero".

"I have prevented myself from excessive commentary on films after they are ready, primarily because my knowledge of the medium is beyond zero and secondly because each time I have, the film has crashed at the box office. So much for the 40 years of my so called association with the business," Amitabh posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com.

Big B, as he is fondly called, raised the topic while recalling a incident when he first saw his 1981 film "Laawaris" in Bangalore before it was sent to distributors and exhibitors for release.

Dejected at some of the "technical" glitches, the 66-year-old had then wanted to bring about changes in the Prakash Mehra movie.

"Disappointed at some of the final technical results of the film...lamenting the glitches and waiting for the morning to appear so I could speak to Prakash Mehra and express my anguish and hope that he would give in to my suggestions of the changes I had in mind.

"Apart from the fact that technically it was impossible to change anything...it was the calm and confident persuasion of my director that kept me from further despair. And more than that it was the massive success of the film that conveyed to me that I knew absolutely nothing and was completely out of sync with direction and the making of films," Amitabh wrote on his blog.

Apart from Amitabh, "Laawaris" also starred Zeenat Aman, Amjad Khan and Raakhee.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Rann director to move apex court againsts

'Rann' director to move apex court against censor ruling
By Subhash K. Jha

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Director Ram Gopal Varma and producers of his film "Rann", which stars Amitabh Bachchan as a media baron, will to go to the Supreme Court to appeal against censor board's ruling to remove the song "Jana Gann Mana Rann hai" from the movie as well as the promos.

The censor board has objected to "Jana Gann Mana Rann hai" because it feels that the song violates the law governing the national anthem.

Varma and producers Madhu Mantena and Sheetal Talwar were supposed to go to the High Court Wednesday to fight the censor board's ruling. But Tuesday afternoon there was a change of plan. The "Rann" team has now decided to go straight to the apex court to challenge for what they think to be their fundamental right to expression.

"There has been a change of plan. We were earlier to go to the High Court. We're now moving into the Supreme Court because our lawyers Naik & Naik feel we've a very strong case," Mantena told IANS.

"The censor board has prevented us from using the song in the film and for the promotions. They've cited the rule that applies to national emblems and symbols, not the national anthem. So we feel that rule cannot be applicable to our song. As far as we know, the rule regarding the national anthem is that no one can be stopped from singing it."

Mantena and his co-producer Talwar have registered a civil case in the Mumbai High Court against the censor board's ruling. The "Rann" team is determined to fight it out to the last.

"We've time on our side. We're releasing 'Rann' in October," said Mantena confidently.

With "Rann" Varma is attempting to expose media industry. Apart from Amitabh, Riteish Deshmukh, Paresh Rawal, Gul Panag and Neetu Chandra form the cast of the movie.

Many feels that Varma should have desisted from creating a controversial situation.

"When it's Mr. Bachchan, you've got to be very careful with what goes into his projects because there are political elements waiting to pick holes in what he does. It's an unnecessary burden on his over-burdened sense of commitment to his projects," said a filmmaker who's making a movie with the Big B.

Interestingly, Amitabh was supposed to sing a song in "Rann", but that's no longer happening.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Amitabh Bachchan visits Venetian

Amitabh Bachchan visits Venetian

Friday, May 8, 2009

Rann Movie

RANN movie in Bigb

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan

Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, the first couple of Bollywood, defy the conventional definition of power. Power to them lies in humility and simplicity

Resul Pookutty receives an award from BigB

Resul Pookutty receives an award from Amitabh Bachchan, for his contribution to sound industry during an award function in Mumbai.




Powered by BollywoodSARGAM Amitabh Bachchan felicitates Resul Pookutty Photo API

Monday, May 4, 2009

Amitabh Bachchan miffed at rising budget of Teen Patti

Amitabh miffed at rising budget of 'Teen Patti'

London, May 3 (IANS) Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is miffed with the soaring budget of his latest film "Teen Patti" and has slammed the crew and unit of the movie.

Big B, as he is fondly called, was recently in London filming alongside Sir Ben Kingsley for the film, but apparently wasn't happy to see the unprepared unit in the last shooting stint of the film, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"When the film first went on the sets, the budget of the film was a mere Rs. 12 crore and now after shooting for over a year the film has crossed the budget of Rs.20 crore," said a source.

"Big B is perhaps unhappy with the prospects of his film going over budget as no star would like to be in such a situation where his film is finding it difficult to recover its huge making cost especially in the present times of recession," the source added.

Directed by Leena Yadav, "Teen Patti" is a movie on high-stake gambling.

Amitabh plays a professor who tutors the art of the game, but with a cause, to five of his brightest proteges - played by R. Madhavan and newcomers Siddharth Kher, Dhruv Ganesh, Vaibhav Talwar and Shraddha Kapoor.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Amitabh Bachchan at the promotion


Amitabh Bachchan at the promotion of his forthcoming film ‘Aladin’ in MUmbai.

Amitabh Bachchan displays IIFA in Mumbai


Amitabh Bachchan displays a mask presented to him by a representative from Macau, during press conference organized by the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) in Mumbai.

Amitabh Bachchan along with family members

Amitabh Bachchan along with family members wife Jaya, son Abhishek daughter- in- law Aishwarya pose after casting their votes outside the polling booth at Juhu, in Mumbai .