Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi to shoot after 18 years

Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi to shoot after 18 years

Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi, who were last seen together on screen in the 1993 blockbusterKhuda Gawah, will share screen space in R Balki's wife Gauri Shinde's debut film English Vinglish.

'Shooting today with the effervescent Sri Devi after eternity almost .. for R Balki's wife's directed film 'English Vinglish".. Sri Devi still the same .. spontaneous and lovely ..!! Gauri, R Balki's wife .. directing film .. woman power at peak .. my second experience .. eventually women will take over the world !' Bachchan tweeted.

Sridevi plays a housewife, who meets Bachchan's character on a flight. The latter has a cameo in the film, not a full-fledged role.

Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi share their lunch

Amitabh Bachchan, Sridevi share their lunch



They both won accolades for their last film together. And now, 18 years later, the actors, Sridevi and Amitabh Bachchan, who were seen on screen in the 1993 superhit Khuda Gawah, will share screen space in Balki's wife Gauri Shinde's debut venture English Vinglish. 


In fact, on Monday, the two actors spent some time together on the sets after almost two decades and even shared their meal. 


Balki, the director of Big B starrer Cheeni Kum and Paa, informed Mumbai Mirror, "It's actually a two-day cameo for Mr Bachchan, and not an after-thought. Gauri had written the cameo with Mr Bachchan in mind. We were to shoot last week. But then the blasts happened. So now we have shot on Monday and will have to find another day for this dream team to come together." 


Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi had worked in films like Inquilaab and Akhree Rasta before they paired up for Khuda Gawah, which at the time was rumoured to be Bachchan's last venture. While, the film did extremely well, fetching Filmfare nominations for both the lead actors, Big B surely did not move away from the silver screen after that. 


While the Big B continued his stint in Bollywood, Sridevi moved on to marriage and motherhood. And now, when the lady is ready to make her comeback to the silver screen, the Big B is more than happy to be a part of it. 


Apparently Mr Bachchan said yes to the cameo without hesitation. It is the role of a fellow-passenger that Sridevi meets on a flight. "It's actually a very funny mid-air cameo. And only Mr Bachchan could do it. My wife and I are grateful he agreed," said Balki. 


While the Big B was happy to be a part of Sridevi's comeback venture, his Khuda Gawah lady did her part to keep the actor happy on the sets of the film. She got home-cooked food for the entire cast and crew. 


Dancing all the way 


Sridevi plays the role of a housewife in the film, who in order to please her husband and family, enrolls for an English speaking course. Speech however, is not proving to be the only challenging part of the film. The actress had to shoot for a rather difficult dance step at the YRF Studios, which made even Sri, a trained dancer herself nervous. And that was exactly when she called up choreographer Ganesh Hegde to help through the scene. 


A source revealed, "It was not a song. It was a scene where Sridevi had to demonstrate a few dance steps to her kids. Being a perfectionist, she wanted the steps to be just right. That's when she thought about calling Ganesh since she knew him well. Thankfully, Ganesh was also around and he immediately came to YRF and helped Sridevi finish the scene." 


When contacted Ganesh Hegde confirmed the news and said, "Yes, Srideviji called me and she wanted some break dance steps. She had to do Michael Jackson's famous moonwalk. I have known Srideviji and Boneyji for a long time now. I am glad she called me when she needed help." 


Speaking about the dance steps, Hegde added, "Srideviji did some break dance in the song Na Jaane Kahaan Se Aayi Hai from Chaalbaaz. So she knew the stuff. I just helped her a little bit."

Aarakshan Gets Clean Chit from Censor Board

Aarakshan Gets Clean Chit from Censor Board


Filmmaker Prakash Jha's upcoming Amitabh Bachchan starrer 'Aarakshan', which deals with the sensitive issue of reservation, has been passed by the Censor Board with a U/A certificate.

The film was embroiled in controversy after the National Commission for Minorities and National Commission of Scheduled Castes and Dalit bodies had sought a special screening to confirm the film did not misinterpret the constitutional provision for reservations of the socially backward classes.

The certificate was awarded after an examining committee, set up with representatives from the Dalit, OBC, SC and ST community reviewed the movie, said an I&B Ministry official, addding "they unanimously agreed to clear it."

"Aarakshan" gets a clean chit from the Censor Board: Silences the critics. 'Aarakshan' seen by Censors today and gets a UA Certificate without a single cut... (sic)," Bachchan said on micro-blogging site Twitter.

"This speaks volumes about the responsibility and sensitivity with which the film has been written and directed. This certification should silence all critics who thought the film will upset sentiments of people from backward castes.

"National Commission for Scheduled Castes sent notice to Censor Board that the film should not be cleared by Censor Board without the approval of the Commission. However, Censor Board did not comply with this notice. Instead, it formulated an expert panel of its own to review the film," Bachchan said.

Member of Central Board of Film Certification Pankaj Sharma was the chairperson of the examining committee.

"The examining committee had a total of nine members and two officials. Retired Justice Mr Mukul Mudgal, Chairperson of Censor Board Ms Leela Samson, Mr Pankaj Sharma, Dalit activist, Ms Rajni Tilak were expert committee members who came from Delhi. Examining committee comprised of members drawn from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled tribes and Other Backward castes," Big B said.

"Drawing on people who specialize in issues related to backward castes, and taking people from community itself to examine the film, is a very unusual and unprecedented move on the part of the Censor Board," he added.

The August 12 release starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone, is a drama based on the policies of caste-based reservation system in educational institutions and government jobs.

Earlier, 'Aarakshan' had to face the wrath of civic administration in Bhopal, when they bulldozed the sets of the film because it was erected on a disputed land.

Then, a pro-Dalit group in Kanpur protested against the casting of 'royal' Saif Ali Khan as a Dalit in the film.

Dalit Suraksha Samiti had sent a letter to Jha, saying that getting someone like Saif, a blue blood, to play a Dalit, is an insult to their community.

The Bachchans First Families

The Bachchans

The Bachchan family is considered to be the first family of Bollywood despite not having a huge line-up of Bollywood stars like the Kapoors. The Bachchan family, initially, comprised of actors Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and their son, Abhishek Bachchan. However, this family got a huge boost after Aishwarya Rai became a part of this clan after her marriage to Abhishek Bachchan.

Now, with the announcement of her pregnancy, we're guessing that another generation of the Bachchan family is on its way to take Bollywood by storm.

Up early and looking into the mirror at a horror mornings when young and fresh and excited are so much better to watch

Jalsa , Mumbai      July  19 ,  2011    Tue  11 : 39 PM

Up early and looking into the mirror at a horror .. mornings when young and fresh and excited are so much better to watch .. age is a struggle out of bed, getting the body mobile … stiff in parts, twisted in other .. but with mobility comes a fluidity that lasts the day … somehow .. !! And once on the tread mill with the drinks and health fluids, life suddenly seems bright, even though the sun does not put in its presence .. yet !!

There is a quickness in the step and mind, early hours .. all things creative and to do seem to appear the best in that morning hour .. the blog , the computer, the Vog … those important phone calls, the decisions for the office .. responses to well wishers, management, letters … and then finally on the road .. wet and crowded and traffic jammed …

Driving to Film City to the fresh new and extremely well structured Reliance Media Works studio where there is the need to participate in X Factor - the talent contest for singers !! Judges of eminence - Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Shreya Ghoshal and Sonu Nigam and then the contestants specially turned out to perform old songs of mine, dressed in similar costume … such a humbling experience ! Walking back to my seat miss the step and stumble, almost crashing my face onto the judges table … dear me .. looked so foolish .. but ..

Its pouring through out the day .. it is grey and dark and moist and delightful .. Tv programming has become such an arduous exacting job .. hundreds of people working for that one hour of broadcast .. incredible .. management, control, aesthetics everything that can go to make the show look good ..

I fear to judge .. swore I would never do it after I was a judge on the panel that selected Miss World in South Africa .. feel so bad and helpless when you have to put one above the other .. just cannot cannot do that … and so at X Factor I leave it to the better judgement of the panel .. the three S’s - SanjayShreyaSonu …

The performers all from small towns and so full of devotion to the arts and the craft … emotions running high as each group comes along and performs to a well seated audience of over a 1000 .. there is a sense of remorse when the judges pull up a contestant, tell him he did not perform well .. heart wrenching moment that for the poor contestant as he/she stand alone on stage to face the negative.

But the spark in their talent and the desire to achieve so strong that it passes by .. ready to do their best another day before the finals .. and then ..

In office meeting up with that small little power house Harsh, the star of the film ” I am Kalam ” produced by the Smile Foundation that works tirelessly for the underprivileged, providing them with opportunities and hope for a better future .. to excel and achieve ..

Harsh a confident alert and most vocal little fellow .. has won the National Award this year as the best child artist and now has travelled in to Mumbai from Delhi to meet me and then go back.. simply admire these qualities of amateurs finding their way into the industry and so savvy with all the necessary and required equipment for film .. !!! And then …

Komal Nahata brings in a project which he and I have been discussing for a while and we get down to working out the modalities with a fresh director and perhaps a recognized corporate house … a most interesting subject .. lets see where that goes .. should have some screen play and script in place for me to read and comment .. have heard the story idea and liked it .. so .. another film another production another challenge and another opportunity to get to the audience …

One reads and watches on the box the whole saga of the Murdock empire .. some interesting facets some not so .. some interesting faces, read Rebekah Brooks, and some not so  … but getting back to Rebekah, one senses a mysterious quality in her being, a half smile desperately trying to pierce the forest of red hair that falls carelessly over her face .. there has been a debate of some importance in the British Parliament with the Murdocks and one is anxious to see it .. as soon as I get over this blog, this connect this reason for my restlessness through out the night …

There is nothing quite as disturbing than media going wrong. They are the custodians of propriety honesty and sincere reportage and information … to find them at the receiving end is not a happy sight to behold .. no failure is !! But to see media fail, and accept it, is a sight that most of us would never have seen or would want to … its like watching that treasured object of desire fall and crack into a thousand pieces … never to be fixed again …

Where all this would lead us to is unknown .. would this affect the media and how it functioned in our country .. would this be the end of all that is corrupt in the media … funny that we should use the ‘corrupt’ word for an institution that has always believed that ” the truth involves us all …. ”

Would the Murdock episode give a handle to other elements in the media world our end .. would they be accused of trying to fix Governments and influence politicians and the police .. or am I being too naive !!

Time to find out what transpired .. my love to all

Amitabh Bachchan