Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Angry young man is back in Shamitabh Movie

 Angry young man is back: Amitabh Bachchan in Shamitabh

Big B recently took to Twitter to unveil his look in his upcoming movie,  R Balki's Shamitabh. The actor can be seen in an intense look sporting a beard amidst Hollywood movie posters and a picture of Woody Allen. Senior Bachchan tweeted the pic saying, " Shamitabh’ in the day .. its quite an effort to live with that hair all day !!”

From the grungy look with scruffy beard to dark kohl eyes, Amitabh Bachchan's expressions in the pic sure remind us of his 'angry young' days. The actor has been teasing the look of the film on social media sites of late.  He earlier posted this pic on Facebook, from the sets of the movie.

The 71 year old actor, however,  has admitted that it has become increasingly difficult to preserve the look of the film, posting on his blog, "............It is getting exceedingly difficult to preserve a look for a film or occasion when we have millions of mobile cameras following us and immortalising us... Thank you." The film, which is Amitabh's third time collaboration with R Balki, will see him and Dhanush in the lead. Reportedly, Dhanush is playing a deaf and dumb character in the film. The film will also mark the debut of Kamal Haasan and Sarika's younger daughter Akshara.
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source HT

Monday, July 21, 2014

Amitabh Bachchan shares Shamitabh, says difficult | Shamitabh First look

 Amitabh Bachchan shares Shamitabh look, says difficult

Amitabh Bachchan has shared his intense look for his upcoming film ‘Shamitabh’.  The 71-year-old actor, who will be seen in a rugged look with grey unkempt moustaches and beard, said it has become difficult to hide the get-up of a film from paparazzi.  

that be the pensiveness from 'Shamitabh'... It is getting exceedingly difficult to preserve a look for a film or occasion when we have millions of mobile cameras following us and immortalising us... Thank you," Bachchan posted on his blog.

Bachchan's look in the R Balki's directed film was already out on the social media last month.

The Bhoothnath Returns star said it was tough to maintain the look."'Shamitabh' in the day... It's quite an effort to live with that hair all day!!," Bachchan, who is also lending his voice in the film, said.


Shamitabh will be Bachchan's third collaboration with director Balki after hits like Cheeni Kum and Paa, which also earned him his third National award. The film, is shot in Goa and Tamil Nadu. It also stars Dhanush and Kamal Haasan's younger daughter Akshara.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Amitabh Bachchan likely to be the chief guest for 45th IFFI in Goa 2014

Amitabh Bachchan likely to be the chief guest for 45th IFFI in Goa


Indian cinema legend AmitabhBachchan is likely to be the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the 45th Indian film festival of India (IFFI) scheduled to be held in Goa from November 20 to 30.

Briefing the media on Saturday, Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar said that Amitabh Bachchan's name is on top of the list of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), the Goa government's nodal agency for IFFI. Goa has been hosting the IFFI from 2003 and has been declared a permanent venue for the IFFI.

Parrikar however said that Bachchan's name as chief guest for the IFFI inaugural has to be approved by the directorate of film festivals, government of India and only then would the ESG formally request Bachchan to be the chief guest.

Incidentally Parrikar was the chief minister of Goa when the state hosted IFFI for the first time in Goa in 2003. He is credited with creating some of the crucial infrastructure for the film festival including the Inox in Panaji.

Stating that the government is making profits from the Inox, he said his government will now draw up plans to boosting more film infrastructure since Goa has been declared the IFFI's permanent venue in India. For example, the government will earmark funds to improve the acoustics at the newly-built Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium on the Taleigao plateau. The stadium will then be utilized for IFFI-related programmes.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Amitabh Bachchan enjoys crusader anchor role on Kaun Banega Crorepati 8 proma

Amitabh Bachchan enjoys crusader anchor role on KBC 8

Kaun Banega Crorepati 8 is all set to start in August on Sony and the show's host and Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan says if through the show they can bring a positive change in a participant's life, it gives them great satisfaction.

"Yes, I do," Big B said when asked does he enjoy the role of a crusader-anchor on KBC.
There are many contestants that come to the game show with great aspirations and expectations and if through the show and the game, we can give them an opportunity to become a game-changer in their life, it gives all of us great satisfaction," he said.
"Kyunki yahan sirf paise hi nahin ... dil bhi jeete jaate hain," added the 71-year-old who bowls over the contestants with his compassion and warmth.

Amitabh, who has been associated with the show since its inception, took a break in 2007 and Shah Rukh Khan stepped in to host KBC 3.

How would the new season be different from the earlier seasons?

"KBC starts in August and preparations are on for that as well, and it would not be prudent of me to disclose just yet what the changes are. But suffice to say that the basic format shall obviously remain the same. The dressings will project the difference," he said.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Zohra Sehgal lovable co-star : Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan remembers Zohra Sehgal: An immensely lovable co-star

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday mourned the death of Indian cinema and theatre doyenne Zohra Sehgal, remembering her as an immensely lovable co-star, who lived a journey of 102 years.

“Zohra Sehgal passes away at 102 yrs… what a journey and what an immensely loveable co star! Prayers for her blessed soul!!” Amitabh tweeted after the news of Sehgal’s death in New Delhi.

The actor had played a chilled-out mother to Big B’s character in the critically acclaimed 2007 film Cheeni Kum, but his memories of her go way back in time, when he was a child. Once earlier, Amitabh had shared how he had met Zohra as a child when she visited his hometown Allahabad. “My family has a special relationship with Zohra Sehgal. Zohraji used to work with Prithvi Raj Kapoor in Prithvi Theatre. Prithvi Raj Kapoor had a cordial relationship with my father and whenever the Prithvi group visited Allahabad, we used to meet Zohraji,” he had said before the actor turned 100 in 2012.

The actor’s zest for life and charm continued to inspire generations. A tireless performer, she used to stay in New Delhi with her daughter, renowned Odissi danseuse Kiran Sehgal.

Each of Balki’s films with me has been novel: Bigb

 Amitabh Bachchan says all his movies with filmmaker Balki have been out of the ordinary.

Amitabh Bachchan and R. Balki have had a fruitful association with the unique love story Cheeni Kum and Paa, a film on progeria.

Now they have teamed up for Shamitabh and the megastar says that like their previous projects this one is also something different.

“Each one of Balki’s films with me have been novel, out of the ordinary and most challenging. Shamitabh is no different,” said Bachchan when asked about his experience working with the filmmaker in Shamitabh.

They are currently shooting in Europe and the 71-year-old said that it has so far been “exhilarating”.

When asked if it was a coincidence that the film’s title Shamitabh so closely resembles his own name, he said: “I do not have the liberty or the permission to reveal that yet, but on seeing the film there shall be greater clarity.”

Shamitabh also marks the film debut of Kamal Haasan and Sarika’s daughter Akshara. Southern star Dhanush, who is a big fan of Bachchan, also features in the movie.

This will be Dhanush’s second Hindi film after the hit Raanjhanaa and Big B describes his young co-star as “an exceptional artist”.

“He enjoys a huge fan and star following in his own territory in South, as well as in the project that he did in Hindi in Mumbai. I am not aware of him being an unabashed fan of mine, quite the contrary.

“Akshara’s is a first effort, which does not look like a first,” he said.

Apart from Shamitabh, Bachchan has said yes to Shoojit Sircar’s Piku.

“Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s production directed by Bejoy Nambiar, and a few others have been green lighted. Once I get closer to their schedules, I shall be in a better position to talk of them,” Bachchan said.

Amitabh Bachchan feels about his next flick 'Shamitabh'!


Mumbai: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan finds ace director R Balki’s upcoming venture ‘Shamitabh’ ‘out of the ordinary’ and ‘challenging’ like his earlier projects – Cheeni Kum and Paa. 

When asked to share his experience working with Mr. Balki, Big B said, “Each one of Balki's films with me have been novel, out of the ordinary and most challenging. Shamitabh is no different."

Over film’s title Shamitabh, which is every close to Big B’s name, he said, “I do not have the liberty or the permission to reveal that yet, but on seeing the film there shall be greater clarity."

Amitabh is currently shooting in Europe for the film which also marks the debut of Kamal Haasan and Sarika's daughter Akshara. Southern star Dhanush also will be seen in Shamitabh.

Apart from Shamitabh, Mr Bachchan has said yes to Shoojit Sircar's Piku. 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Fwd: Amitabh Bachchan BigB talks about his TV show Yudh

 Amitabh Bachchan BigB talks about his TV show Yudh






 Amitabh Bachchan, currently shooting in Europe for R Balki's 
Shamitabh, is geared up for his first fiction show on television. He discusses the expectations that the home medium generates.

Your first fiction serial Yudh starts telecast this month. How was the experience of shooting on television, and how was it different from shooting for feature films? 
Apart from the fact that we shoot for television, I would imagine the technique and the creativity relate entirely to film. Because Yudh from its very inception has been designed to be one that shall be finite in nature, a beginning, a middle and an end, it was perhaps comfortable to know which direction we were going and to be not making an attempt to keep the serial alive, endlessly. 

How different was it shooting a serial as compared with feature films? 
There was the liberty of time in compiling a story or an incident or a scene. Cinema is restricted to 3 hrs.Yudh shall, depending on the channel broadcast decisions, be on for 20 one-hour episodes, or 40 half-hour episodes. As a performer, this gave us a wider bandwidth in getting greatly more involved in the character and having the convenience of time to execute it. 

You are paired with Sarikaji in Yudh. You have earlier done a film with her that never got released. How is the experience of working with her? 
The one with Sarika, that has not been released is with UTV and they have not given us an indication as yet on its release, despite the fact that it has been in a state of readiness for some years now. But, with Sarika, this is not the only film that we have worked together in. There have been at least three. She is an accomplished artist, a national award winner and a joy to work with. 

And what about the rest of the Yudh cast? Do you feel that the acting talent on television equals its large-screen counter-part? 
By asking this you seem to unjustifiably indicate, that those that perform for television are lesser in talent! With due respect, may I just state that a larger screen does not necessarily validate a larger performance. Television may have been sized down technically, but the performers on them should never be looked upon as being lesser. 

I agree. The acting talent on television is impressive. 
Look at it this way. Haven't performers from TV gone on to film with similar talent and excelled? And has not the reversal been equally constructive and acceptable? The cast of Yudh, hand-picked by the creative team, headed by Anurag Kashyap, generally associated with the larger screen, are all exceptionally talented artists. It has been a learning experience for me to be in their company and their ability. 

Amitji, how would you describe your role in Yuddh
Yudh is the short form for Yudhistir. He is a real-estate and construction company head and owner. He faces the obvious business competitiveness as do all businesses, there is a complicated family situation which he has to deal with, politics naturally falls into this malaise, and he is dealing with a debilitating disease which could turn out to be terminal. How he shall deal with all these situations is what the serial is about. There are several interesting tributaries to the story, which hopefully, shall make each episode leave a lasting impression on the audience. 

Do you think the serial has the potential to stretch itself out for another season? If so, where would you find the time to accommodate it? 
Whether the serial has the potential to stretch itself out, is for the makers to decide. If there is potential, we shall certainly give it due consideration. And if the due consideration fructifies, time shall be found to accommodate it. 

Do you watch Indian television? What are the shows that you enjoy? 
Yes I do. News, sports and some of the reality shows, the serials, all find an audience in me. 

You are also getting ready for another season of KBC. How would the new season be different from the earlier seasons? 
Yes KBC starts in August and preparations are on for that as well, and it would not be prudent of me to disclose just yet what the changes are. But suffice to say that the basic format shall obviously remain the same. The dressings will project the difference. 

Do you enjoy the role of crusader-anchor on KBC, as it gives you a chance to help the needy? 
Yes, I do. There are many contestants that come to the game show with great aspirations and expectations and if through the show and the game, we can give them an opportunity to become a game-changer in their life, it gives all of us great satisfaction. Kyunki yahan sirf paise hi nahin ... Dil bhi jeete jaate hain

In the meanwhile you are in Europe shooting for Balki's film. How has the experience been so far? 
It has been exhilarating!! 

The film is named Shamitabh, which is very close to your own good name. Is that a coincidence? 
I do not have the liberty or the permission to reveal that yet, but on seeing the film there shall be greater clarity. 

How different is this experience of working with Balki as compared with Cheeni Kum and Paa
Each one of Balki's films with me has been novel, out of the ordinary and most challenging. Shamitabh is no different. 

Dhanush is an unabashed fan of yours (as we all are). How would you describe his and Akshara's ability as an actor and a co-star? 
Dhanush is an exceptional artist who enjoys huge fan and star following in his own territory in the South, as well as in the project that he did in Hindi in Mumbai. I am not aware of him being an unabashed fan of mine; quite the contrary. Akshara's is a first effort, which does not look like a first. 

What other movie assignments have you said yes to? 
Shoojit Sircar's Piku, Vidhu Vinod Chopra's production directed by Bejoy Nambiar, and a few others have been green lighted. Once I get closer to their schedules I shall be in a better position to talk of them.





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Mahendra Gorele