Thursday, January 28, 2010

Did Zarine Khan replace Katrina Kaif?

Photo of actress Zarine Khan
Zarine Khan (10), originally uploaded by Saradaga.com.

If the ongoing buzz is to be believed, after her debut in VEER, Bollywood actress Zarine Khan seems to have replaced Katrina Kaif from the sequel to the 2007 movie ‘Partner’, which was directed by David Dhawan, who cast Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Govinda, Lara Dutta, Aarti Chabria in the movie. It is now reported that her resemblance to Katrina Kaif is working in her favour in bagging the role in the sequel. Some critics even opined that she even dresses and behaves like Kaif and emulates her mannerisms. However, Zarine Khan is silent about the offer and according to director David Dhawan, it is too early to talk about the cast of the movie.

Her debut film ‘Veer’, an epic set in 1825 when the British were ruling India, is about the warrior Veer (Salman Khan) of the Pindari tribe who plots to overthrow British rule in Madhavgarh, and the warrior falls in love with princess Yashodhara (Zarine Khan), daughter of the king who as a prince years before had betrayed the Pindari tribe. Interestingly, Zarine Khan gained eight kilos for her role in the film ‘in order to be more convincing as a 19th century princess’ (reportedly, when she was in college she weighed almost 100 kg, and had to struggle to lose the flab).

Salman Khan spotted her when she was visiting the sets of Yuvraaj and he decided to cast her for his film Veer because "she looks the character - the sweet princess she is playing in Veer". After a screen test, Zarine Khan was confirmed for the role of Princess Yashodhara. Since the promos of Veer were aired Zarine has been a hot topic of discussion among critics and viewers, as her resemblance to Katrina Kaif is hard to brush away.

Another look-alike actress promoted by Salman Khan is Sneha Ullal, who caught his attention for her uncanny resemblance to Aishwarya Rai. While studying at MMK College, Sneha befriended Arpita Khan, her college mate and the younger stepsister of Salman Khan, eventually leading to her meeting with Khan. As a result, Sneha, then 18, had her debut movie ‘Lucky: No Time For Love’ with Salman Khan as the hero.

Zarine Khan said, “I am a pucca Mumbai girl. I used to be a very good student in school. In fact my mom wanted me to become a doctor. However, due to certain personal problems, I couldn’t complete my education and took to modelling to support my family”, and about the film she said, “I hope film does well. I’m pretty much confident that it will.”

Zarine Khan, born on 25 May 1984 in Mumbai (India), was born in a Muslim Pathan family. As she weighed about 100 kg, she began to focus on losing weight and getting into shape. Khan began working as a model to overcome the financial troubles of her family. She did a few modeling assignments before she got the chance to act in Veer.

Actress Zarine Khan

Katrina Kaif look-alike Zarine Khan
Zarine Khan, originally uploaded by Bollyfame.

Does Zarine Khan look like Katrina Kaif?

Saturday, January 16, 2010

3 Idiots Star R Madhavan

photo of R Madhavan
r-madhavan-8245-maddy_photo1, originally uploaded by azi.ok.

The popular film actor, producer and TV personality R Madhavan, also known as Maddy, is ecstatic after scoring a huge hit with his latest Bollywood film ‘3 Idiots’ based on the novel ‘Five Point Someone’ by Chetan Bhagat. The movie, in which he played a supporting lead role, was produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and directed by Rajkumar Hirani. He co-starred with stars such as Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Omi Vaidya, Parikshit Sahni, Javed Jaffrey, Mona Singh and Boman Irani.

As of 8 January 2010, 3 Idiots was the "the highest grossing Bollywood movie of all time." It was released in 40 countries and is also "the highest grossing Indian film ever to release in the US, Middle East, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Kenya and Fiji."

Most of the shooting was done in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Ladakh, Chail, Shimla and at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore. As reported and according to Rajkumar Hirani, ‘the biggest joke while filming was that he was called the most idiotic director, as he had asked the heroine of the film to gain weight and the heroes to lose weight.’

The film ‘3 Idiots’ tells the story of Farhan Qureshi (R Madhavan), Raju Rastogi (Sharman Joshi) and Rancchoddas "Rancho" Shyamaldas Chanchad (Aamir Khan) who are engineering college students. While Farhan and Raju are students from modest backgrounds who want to lift their families out of poverty, Rancho is a wealthy genius who studies for the sheer joy of it. Kareena Kapoor plays the role of the medical student Pia, the love interest of Rancho. The film shows all types of college politics and hilarious situations, trials and tribulations, the problems the students face and in a way inspires students to overcome the problems. There are many funny scenes and many more to make people think about day-to-day problems.

The 39-year-old popular actor Madhavan is not new to Bollywood or Hindi film viewers as he had already starred in Hindi movies such as Dil Vil Pyar Vyar, Ramji Londonwaley, Mumbai Meri Jaan, 13 B (simultaneously made in Tamil as Yavarum Nalam), Sikandar and Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein (remake of the 2001 Tamil film Minnale), marking his debut in Bollywood, for which he was nominated for Zee Cine Award Best Male Debut and nominated for Star Screen Award for Most Promising Male Newcomer. His successful Bollywood films are blockbusters such as Rang De Basanti (2006), Guru (2007) and the latest being 3 Idiots (Dec 2009).

Born in Jamshedpur, the steel city in Jharkhand, India, Madhavan started his film career with Fred Olen Ray's English film ‘Inferno’ (1998) alongside Don Wilson, followed by the Kannada language film “Shanti Shanti Shanti” (1999) and the Tamil film Alaipayuthey (2000). So far he has acted in films of seven languages. He has received several awards for his acting in various categories. He was a very popular actor on television before starting acting in films. He has played major roles in Hindi TV serials such Saaya, Sea Hawks, Banegi Apni Baat, Tol Mol Ke Bol and Ghar Jamai.

Some of his memorable Tamil language films include Alaipayuthey (2000), Minnale (2001), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002 movie for which he was the winner, Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actor), Run (2002), Anbe Sivam (2003 Tamil movie for which he won the ITFA Best Supporting Actor Award), Aayutha Ezhuthu (2004 movie for which he was the winner of Filmfare Best Tamil Supporting Actor Award), Evano Oruvan (produced and written by him in 2007 and he won the ITFA Best Actor Award), Rendu (his first dual role and one of his biggest successes), Yavarum Nalam (2009, bilingual horror film, simultaneously made in Hindi as 13 B). Some of his female co-stars include Simran Bagga, Meera Jasmine, Trisha Krishnan, Sadha, Jyothika Saravanan, Bhavana Balachandran, Reema Sen, Soha Ali Khan, Esha Deol and Vidya Balan.

Madhavan is expected to have four releases in 2010 with the long-delayed Naan Aval Adhu, Teen Patti (in which he shares screen space with internationally celebrated actors such as Sir Ben Kingsley -- English actor who has won Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards in his career, known for starring as Mohandas Gandhi in the film Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor -- and Amitabh Bachchan, another delayed Hindi-Bengali bilingual Sunglass directed by Rituparno Ghosh and Tanu Weds Manu with Kangana Ranaut. Some other projects announced include a film on the life of the legendary Indian painter Raja Ravi Verma, a sequel to 13 B and an English film with Deepa Mehta as the director.

In 2007 Madhavan set up his own production company, ‘Leukos Films’. He is also associated with various social causes such as PETA, and he is a staunch vegetarian. In July 2006 he was voted the "cutest male vegetarian" in an online poll conducted by PETA, along with Kareena Kapoor who won the female award. He is also a popular star in mobile games.

R Madhavan, Aamir Khan and Sharman Joshi


India Bollywood, originally uploaded by mian546.

Bollywood actors R Madhavan, Aamir Khan and Sharman Joshi pose for photographs during the promotion of the all-time Bollywood Box Office hit movie "3 Idiots" in Ahmadabad, India on Sunday, January 3, 2010. (AP Photo by Ajit Solanki)

3 Idiots: Sharman Joshi, Aamir Khan and R. Madhavan

3 idiots photos; Aamir Khan & Kareena Kapoor

3 Idiots - Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor

Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor in all-time Bollywood hit 3 Idiots
3-idiots-21e, originally uploaded by rishi1235.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Lisa Lazarus in a sexy black outfit

Bollywood actress Lisa Lazarus sexy photo
lisa_lazarus_03, originally uploaded by ilovebolly.com.

Lisa Lazarus - the Veer star

Lisa Lazarus sexy photo
lisa_lazarus_09, originally uploaded by ilovebolly.com.

Miss Universe UK 2008 Lisa Lazarus

UK model and actress Lisa Lazarus
Lisa-Lazarus-veer-11, originally uploaded by ilovebolly.com.

Other than her appearances after winning the Miss Universe UK title in 2008 and some modeling assignments and other photo shoots and minor ad campaigns, Veer, the much publicised Salman Khan film is her major assignment is films. With this, Lisa may be trying her luck in Bollywood, and will be joining other foreign actresses such as Barbara Mori (yet to be released KITES with Hritik Roshan), and of course, Katrina Kaif and others.

The Veer star Lisa Lazarus

Lisa Lazarus sexy bikini photo
Lisa-Lazarus-veer-1, originally uploaded by ilovebolly.com.

Lisa Lazarus, better known for her title as the Miss Universe UK 2008, and a Welsh model and actress, is pairing up with Salman Khan in the Bollywood period film “Veer”.

Lazarus, born in Swansea, Wales in 1987, as the daughter of journalist Diane Lazarus - winner of Channel 5’s Psychic Challenge and resident clairvoyant with That’s Life magazine - has previously won Miss Bikini Great Britain 2006. Lisa, of Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire, impressed the judges in London’s Café de Paris where 39 finalists took part in three catwalk rounds. Lisa was studying radiography at Hertfordshire University, but never completed her degree in Diagnostic Radiography. Lazarus has dated FC Barcelona footballer, and Spanish international Gerard Piqué.

Veer - the comeback film of Salman Khan?


Veer, originally uploaded by jaaneman.

The Bollywood film Veer, slated for release this month, directed by Anil Sharma of ‘Gadar: Ek Prem Katha’ fame, stars Salman Khan, Mithun Chakraborty, Sohail Khan, Jackie Shroff, Zarine Khan, Lisa Lazarus, Neena Gupta and others. The screen play, written by Salman Khan, is an epic film set in 1820s. It is the love story of the warrior Veer of the Pindari clan of rulers who fight against the British forces. The trailer of Veer was released in November 2009 at the screening of Priyadarshan's De Dana Dan. The trailer was released worldwide and the first song promo ‘Salaam Aaya’ was released in December 2009. The music was composed by Sajid-Wajid and the lyrics written by Gulzar.

The year 2009 was not so good for Bollywood from the point of view of box office hits, excepting some films like the Aamir Khan starrer ‘3 Idiots’ that has been declared a super success. Some of the major Bollywood productions like KITES, Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming flick ‘My Name Is Khan’ are awaiting release this year. But most critics feel that ‘3 Idiots’ that surpassed the success of ‘Ghajini’ only because of Aamir’s ‘super marketing strategies’, and Salman Khan is also following similar tactics to market Veer by organizing contests to select the ‘brave people from the real life’ from all over the country, and honouring them at a special function in Mumbai. Salman, who did not have any big hits recently and had to be contented with average releases, is surely looking for a come back to the BIG HITS trail with Veer.