Anushka Sharma

Anushka Sharma, who debuted opposite Shah Rukh Khan in “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi”, says she would like her dream guy to be like Surinder Sahni or Suri, the middle-class nice guy played by the superstar in the film. She also says she never dreamt of becoming an actress.

“I would love to have someone like Suri. He should be a nice man. I believe in having a man who is beautiful and strong from inside… Inner beauty is most important. But I found Suri to be handsome and good-looking too, ” Anushka told in an interview.

Directed by Aditya Chopra, “Rab Ne…” is the story of a mismatched couple played by Shah Rukh and Anushka and how the two of them find love in the backdrop of a dance competition.

The model-turned-actress considers herself “fortunate” to have landed a debut with Yash Raj Films and, that too, opposite Shah Rukh, but Anushka says she had never planned to become a Bollywood heroine.

“I never dreamt of becoming an actress; so it is not a dream come true for me, ” she said.

Anushka, who is under a three-film contract with the Yash Raj banner, said she would be concentrating on those projects for now.

“I have signed a three-film contract with Yash Raj. But I am free to do any other project if I wish, ” she clarified.

Excerpts from the interview:

Q. How did “Rab Ne..” happen?
A. I started modelling from the age of 15. My photographs were with an agency and Yash Raj got them from it. I was called for an audition along with various other girls.

I was selected by the assistant director and then introduced to Adi (Aditya Chopra) for the second audition. He asked me to be as natural as I was in my first audition. I followed his instructions and was finally selected.

Q. So Shah Rukh was not there when you were selected?
A. No, I met him for the first time on the sets.

Q. How was the experience?
A. He was in the get-up of Suri and I couldn’t recognise him until he came to me and introduced himself. I was really surprised.

Q. Do you consider it a dream come true to be part of such a huge project?
A. Not really, as I never had the intention to be an actress. It happened out of luck and I consider myself very fortunate to be part of such a big banner in my debut film and to be working with a star like Shah Rukh and a director like Aditya Chopra.

Q. Are you an avid watcher of Yash Raj’s films?
A. Yes, I like their movies and the style in which they make them. My favourite films are “Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge” and “Chak De India”.

Q. Who are your favourite actors and actresses?
A. Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji.

Q. So what next after “Rab Ne..”? Are you bound by any contract?
A. Yes, I have signed a three- film contract with Yash Raj. But I’m free to do any other project if I wish.

Q. Can you give any details about your forthcoming films?
A. Right now I’ve no idea about any of the films as nothing has been finalised.

Q. You debuted with the biggest star and one of the biggest production houses of the country. Do you feel that you aren’t left with better options in future?
A. No, I think the industry is quite big and there are other big banners and people in the industry with whom I would love to work.

Q. Among the two characters of Suri and Raj played by Shah Rukh in “Rab De..”, which one did you like the most?
A. I liked Suri more because he had goodness in his character and was very true. I find those qualities enduring in a human being.

Q. How would you like your dream guy to be?
A. I would love to have someone like Suri. He should be a nice man. I believe in having a man who is beautiful and strong from inside… Inner beauty is most important. But I found Suri to be handsome and good-looking too.

Source: SB

Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor gets candid and emotional with Subhash K Jha

What are you doing in this guy-oriented cast of Raj Kumar Hirani’s 3 Idiots?
I’ve an effective role. And no power on this earth would’ve made me miss the chance of working with Raju Hirani. I’m a lucky girl. I’m being offered one film every day. I don’t have time to read scripts.

I’ll do so in March 2009 after I finish my current lot of films which includes Karan Johar’s film with Saif.

Normally a Bollywood actress does about forty days’ work. My directors are taking about a hundred days with me. I’ve already given Karan a hundred days for his film directed by Rensil d’Silva.

Looking back it has been a turbulent year for you?
I wouldn’t call it turbulent. It as an exciting phase in my life when so many things rushed down on me at the same time. The last year was a turning-point in my life. But the end-result is happy.

Both professionally and emotionally I think I’ve come out a winner. I’ve tried to be as dignified about my personal life as possible. As for my work, God has been kind.

Do you think you’re lucky?
It’s not just luck. I’ve worked really hard to get here. It’s my perseverance that has got me where I am. And I owe my success to no one else but myself.

Perseverence? Hmmmm….You’ve begun to sound like Saif.
Yes, my vocabulary has increased. He makes me memorize some pages of the Oxford dictionary every day, ha ha. That’s a joke. But seriously, he does speak very well. So I’m trying to catch up.

OK….a really difficult question. who’s your favourite Khan?
Ah-ha. Do I have to spell it out?

Is there anything you want?
I have it all. For me the journey as an actress has just begun. And I’m not going to shift focus from it for 4-5 years.

No marriage for 4-5 years?
I know I definitely want to. But not at least for three years. The work I’m doing is giving me so much satisfaction. No 27-year old can ask for more.

People gave your relationship with Saif no more than six months?
There’s absoloutely no room for such negativity in my life. I only have place for people who are positive and who make me happy by sharing in my happiness This is the best phase in my life.

And I feel I’m in a place where I’ve never been before. As an actress I feel everyone and that includes me, expects things from me that are not generally expected from Bollywood actresses except maybe a Kajol. Or my sister Karisma.

Do you get enough time with Saif?
He’s extremely loving and supportive. He knows how long it’s taken me to get the work that I’m getting now. In fact the best phase of my career started when Saif came into my life.

Now he’s enjoying this phase in my life along with me. That makes this phase even more special.

The only thing I miss is time with my family and Saif. When I finish this schedule I head straight to Venice for Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kambhakt Ishq.

Are you and Saif doing a lot of endorsements together?
We’re offered a lot of endorsements. But we are not doing any except a shampoo brand.

But we’ll soon be signing on for endorsements. And we’re doing another film for Asthvinayak. That starts in April 2009.

We want it to be a fast and furious action films. Something larger-than-life. Saif is working very closely with the producers. He’s trying to lock in on the script and director.

You’ve changed so much in appearance and behaviour?
Ha, that’s what you think. I’m still the same. It’s just that I’m so busy. I’ve been working constantly.

On top of that my house is being done up. There’re a dozen things demanding my attention. I get 300 sms-es a day. I can’t answer them personally.

Katrina Kaif

Brand ambassador for the Nakshatra brand, Katrina Kaif arrived at the launch of the new TV commercial which is quiet an achievement according to Bollywood standards.

The TV Commercial that was unveiled to the media has Katrina performing a cosmic ballet of sorts and controlling the cosmos.

Speaking about the ad shoot, Kat said, It was a little difficult for me to shoot this ad. I was in the US for three months shooting for the Yash Raj film with John and Neil. After I arrived back in Mumbai, I headed straight for Nakshatra’s shoot.

I basically had to do these weird hand moments and was surrounded by a blue screen all around for the special effects to be incorporated. My friend Ahmed Khan (choreographer) was a great help though. But when I saw the final result I felt it is simply awesome.

Aishwarya Rai was earlier the brand ambassador for Nakshatra. You replaced her?

Well I guess it’s the people who own any brand know better as in who suits for a particular product and who does not.

I have been seeing the Nakshatra ads featuring Aish since the time they came on air. I have loved them all. I now feel lucky to be a part of them. But I guess it’s a part of the industry that one replaces the other. Tomorrow someone else shall replace me too.

Mehul Chowksi, Chairman and MD Geetanjali gems pitched in between, “We felt she is the perfect representation of the young, trendy and fashionable woman that Nakshatra targets.”

We asked Mr. Chowksi how replacing Aish with Katrina how had it affected the brand?

“Our sales have improved considerably since we introduced Katrina as the new brand ambassador.” he revealed.

When asked Kat what was her criteria for selecting brands? She said, “So many offers come my way every time but I am very choosy. That’s why you see I feature in so less ad films. I lick to pick and choose.

I take my own decisions about selecting my brands and don’t consult anyone. I go by my gut feeling. If I zero down on a particular brand, I also do my own little research and if I feel satisfied then I go ahead with it.”

Having been voted the sexiest woman twice, what was her take on it?

“Any woman may feel nice to get compliments but you know what? When I am feeling very low and having a very bad day going on, it feels really nice when I realize that time, that hey I am the sexiest woman around! It makes me cheer up(smiles)” replied the beauty.

Akshay too was recently voted as Asia’s sexiest man, what did Katrina have to say about it? To which she said, “Well I hear everyone saying we both make a wonderful onscreen pair. Basically its fun working alongside him on and off the sets and our comfortablity perhaps reflects onscreen making it look so natural.”

Her recent release Yuvvraaj failed at the box office. Does she think her fans didn’t like her romantic pairing with Salman?

To which she replied with a smirk, “Well may be.”

When asked what her new year plans were and whether would she be performing?

She replied, “I have no plans as of now. But I definately won’t be performing on the New Year’s Eve after what has happened in Mumbai recently. I would also like to take this opportunity to tell all the women of India that they should not panic in situations like this.”

Source: SB

However, not many are aware that the soundtrack of ‘Raaz – The Mystery Continues’ hasn’t been composed by Pritam. It in fact sees an assortment of composers with Raju Singh coming up with two songs and Sharib-Toshi, Pranay M. Rijia and Gaurav Das contributing with a song apiece.

Now that’s surprising since it has been reliably learnt that after approaching Nadeem Shravan to compose music for ‘Raaz – The Mystery Continues’ [the duo had come up with a memorable score in Bipasha Basu-Dino Morea starrer 'Raaz'], Pritam was the next stop.

So why is Pritam no more a part of the project even after delivering multiple hits with Bhatts in the form of ‘Jannat’, ‘Awarapan’, ‘Woh Lamhe’ and ‘Gangster’? Joginder Tuteja investigates.

How come your name doesn’t feature in the soundtrack of ‘Raaz – The Mystery Continues’. After all you were almost finalized for the project, isn’t it?
Yes, I was all set to do the project after things didn’t work out between Bhatts and Nadeem-Shravan. I am not aware about what actually transpired but then they bounced off the idea to me and I was all set to begin work with them.

I was excited about the project and was looking forward to creating the soundtrack since Nadeem Shravan had come with an excellent score in ‘Raaz’.

I was a little scared because it was not easy to get close to the kind of standards that they had set. Still, it was a good enough challenge that I took up and even composed one song for the film.

What happened then? Why didn’t you complete the album?
I soon realized that they (Bhatts) had already composed two songs with Raju Singh. By this time I had decided that I didn’t want to work in a film which would have multiple music directors.

I shared my apprehensions with them and they understood as well. There was no bad blood, no controversy; it was all amicable.

I didn’t want them to drop Raju Singh and just have me on board since that would have been unprofessional. Also, he had done a good job with what he had composed and deserved to be retained.

But he too hasn’t composed for the entire album. There are others like Sharib-Toshi, Pranay M. Rijia and Gaurav Das as well who have come up with a song apiece.
Well, I can’t say anything on their behalf. To each his own. It’s their decision and I am sure each of them would have done a good job in the opportunity they got.

So what happens to the song that you had created for the film? Will that be retained in the film?
No, the entire point was to not have a song of mine in a movie where I am not a sole music composer. I have done number of such projects in the past where I have contributed with a song or two but I don’t wish to repeat the same in future.

I requested them to use this number in Kunal Deshmukh’s (director of ‘Jannat’) next film (tentatively titled ‘Tum Milein’) that stars Emraan Hashmi and Soha Ali Khan. They readily agreed and I am happy too since I am responsible for the entire score of the film.

On his part, Mukesh Bhatt too maintains that there is no unpleasantness around Pritam not being a part of the project. Over to the head honcho of Vishesh Films:

Don’t you regret Pritam not being on board for ‘Raaz – The Mystery Continues’?
Not at all, it’s okay since these things happen. He is anyways composing for our film with Kunal Deshmukh and has come up with a very good score. For ‘Raaz – The Mystery Continues’, instead of Nadeem Shravan or Pritam, I have four musicians who have given five songs in total.

Each of them has done a fantastic job.

Your choice of music has invariably paid. One can see the result in the sound of ‘Raaz – The Mystery Continues’ too.
I am not an easy nut to crack and the people who work with me clearly know that they have to do something extraordinary to find their tunes making it to the final list.

We all worked hard to ensure that the music turns out to be yet another milestone in the journey of not just Vishesh Films but also Bollywood music in general. The film’s music has surpassed all my expectations and has turned out to be even better than ‘Raaz’.

Really?
Yes, it is indeed 101% better than Raaz. I know it is a big statement to make but with an industry experience of more than a couple of decades, I guess the least I am capable of is ascertaining whether something will work with the audience or not.

Source: SB