Can’t do stand-up comedy: Mahima Chaudhary

By Hindustan Times

After engaged on the film Gumnaam, in 2008, actor Mahima Chaudhary had nearly disappeared from the industry and public memory. However, she made a comeback of varieties last Saturday as Sachin Pilgaonkar’s co-judge at the kiddie stand-up show, Chote Miyan Season Three on Colors.

“Domestic responsibilities kept me away. My daughter is five years old now. Back then, she was too tiny for me to go away her with someone. Now, she’s a large girl, and that i know I WILL BE ABLE TO take day off to do my very own thing,” says Mahima, adding, “The reason I took up this show is as it doesn’t have a crazy schedule. And being at work doesn’t look like work. I’m surrounded by children. and it’s fun.”

She admits she has received offers from many reality shows, but explains that she didn’t accept any, either for the reason that concepts didn’t work or the schedules were too demanding. Here, she doesn’t shoot for greater than two or three days in a week.

“I know nothing about comedy. These kids can provide anyone a run for his or her money. Their acts blew my socks off,” she says, adding, “I’m a motherly judge. I can’t chop off their marks cunningly. So, I usually mark the youngsters with help from Sachinji. He has helped me develop better perspective.” So, does she plan to hop directly to the ha-ha brigade and join a reality show as a contestant? “I’m not cut out for that,” Mahima giggles. “Before I BEGAN judging this show, I BELIEVED I'LL pull of comedy. But after seeing them, I MUST admit, I’ve lost the arrogance to place a stand-up act together.”

Sonam most influential on Twitter!

By Hindustan Times

Sonam Kapoor may need less followers than Amitabh Bachchan, SRK and Priyanka Chopra, however the fashion icon remains to be most influential on Twitter, if an internet poll conducted by Pinstorm India is to be believed.

The actor has bagged the highest fit in the list of most influential Indians on Twitter beating Shashi Tharoor, Ram Gopal Varma and Hrithik Roshan among others.

Sonam Kapoor has 1 million followers and over five thousand tweets.

The rankings of the poll keep changing on daily basis.

Many congratulations to Sonam!

Some of probably the most influential people on Twitter:
Sonam Kapoor
Priyanka Chopra
Shashi Tharoor
Amitabh Bachchan
Ram Gopal Varma
Hrithik Roshan
Kiran Bedi
Farhan Akhtar
Akshay Kumar
Siddharth
Salman Khan
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Preity zinta
Madhuri Dixit-Nene
Riteish Deshmukh
Shah Rukh Khan

WATCH: Ranbir Kapoor's latest advert!

By Hindustan Times

If it had not has been showbiz for Ranbir Kapoor, it might definitely was football, says the actor, who's endorsing a campaign at the sport.

"Football is life for me and if not an actor, I MIGHT have loved to be a footballer. It teaches team work, determination and discipline except being such an exhilarating sport," Ranbir said in a press statement.

The 29-year-old is the face of a brand new campaign by Pepsi. The campaign begins with a football-themed ad featuring Ranbir.

"I am thrilled that Pepsi is bringing the enjoyment of football to India and am delighted to join this campaign," he added.

The television commercial, to move on air Saturday, will see a tender football enthusiast giving a cheeky respond to Ranbir, who questions his passion for football. It ends with a lovely take of Ranbir displaying his football skills, with hilarious results.

"Football is gaining immense popularity in India and being a real youth soul-mate, Pepsi is proud to be related to the sport," said Deepika Warrier, executive director (Marketing), PepsiCo Beverages, India.

Kathryn Bigelow in India for Osama film

By Hindustan Times

The city of Chandigarh is getting its share of Hollywood flavour at the present time. The Hurt Locker-fame Hollywood director Kathryn Bigelow is within the Punjab capital to shoot some scenes for her much-anticipated film in keeping with Al-Qaeda chief, Osama Bin Laden’s killing.

For the shoot, some markets within the city has been made to appear like a bazaar in Rawalpindi or Islamabad in Pakistan. The film will relive the operation led by American Navy SEALs to kill Bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan in 2011. While the production team plans to reportedly recreate Abbottabad in Rajasthan, Chandigarh will feature extensively within the film, that is said to be titled, Zero Dark 30.

The unit will shoot scenes at various locations in Chandigarh for roughly a month, and the locals are eager about the Hollywood crew stationed within the city. One of the vital stores in Sector 15, one of the most popular shopping areas within the city, got urdu nameplates for the shoot. Some local artists too, got a possibility to be part of the shoot as a neighborhood production company gathered about 140 junior artists for “the crowd” scene.

“The make-up artist took over an hour to present me a Pakistani makeover,” said Girdhari Lal, who got an opportunity to join the scene. “It is a challenging job to create Pakistan in India but we're doing our best,” said a member of the unit, wishing to not be named.

The production companies from Mumbai and Delhi have also been roped within the. crew of the film, including Kathryn, didn't speak to the media, but there have been reports that Hollywood actors, including Jessica Chastain, are expected to be on the town for the film, with a view to even be shot in Patiala.

No ‘pitt’ stop
The ongoing shoot for Bigelow’s movie took an amusing turn when a rumour spread that Hollywood actor Brad Pitt is shooting for the movie in Chandigarh. A unit member later confirmed that Pitt doesn't star within the film, and was not within the city.

London Paris.. is a Hitchcock love story: Aditi Rao Hydari

By Hindustan Times

Actress Aditi Rao Hydari says her upcoming film London Paris Ny is a romantic tale told in filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock's thrilling style. Aditi was paired opposite Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar and she or he says that the film has many twists and turns like all typical Hitchcock film, which have been suspense thrillers.

"There are such a lot of twists and turns to the story that you'd never know what's going to happen next. There's this constant push and pull between the characters played by Ali and me that brings at the suspense element.

"I understand that even if I USED TO BE reading the script, I hurriedly turned pages as I WISHED to grasp what would happen next. I called up my director Anu Menon and told her that she has managed to drag of a Hitchcock styled narrative for a love story," said Aditi.

The film is spread across three years where two absolute strangers meet for an afternoon each in London, Paris and The big apple and Aditi said that since she and Ali were strangers in real life as well, it helped them portray their characters within the right manner on screen.

"The film is set two unknown people or even though they arrive into one another way as a result of an opportunity encounter, there may be an inexplicable connection that builds between them. Strangely the similar held true for Ali and me in addition; we connected almost immediately," she said.

The actress, who has played supporting characters in films like Delhi 6, Yeh Saali Zindagi and Rockstar, can be seen in a lead role for the primary time.

"Lead parts are what I always desired to do. After all, you must play your complete part that is replete with songs, dances and the stuff alike. But I USED TO BE getting supporting roles which have been decent enough and gave me a possibility to work with great people.

"As for the supporting part factor then well available in the market in Hollywood, even much known actors like Julia Roberts and Natalie Portman started out as a supporting roles. I'M happy that things are changing in Bollywood too today," she said.

London, Paris, Ny hits the theatres on March 2.

Preity Zinta and her crew shoot at minus 21 degrees without complain

Preity Zinta has shown her calibre both as an actress and a business woman and in the case of dedication and toughness, there is not any Bollywood lady like Miss Zinta. As Preity Zinta works on her debut production ‘Ishq in Paris’, she faced harsh weather conditions as little as minus 21 degrees Celsius at the side of the French and Indian crew members.

Ishq in Paris is an Indo-French venture directed by Prem Soni. Preity plays the role of a a half-Indian half-French girl who finds her love in Paris. She has already completed the primary schedule of the film and says that she enjoyed each piece of the shoot.

Here is what Preity tweeted on her social networking site, “I’d love to thank the French crew for all their effort and difficult work and the entire wonderful fans who came to the shoot and were so co-operative! Big thanks to Indian crew for shooting in -21 degrees and not complaining. Its amazing how we don’t realise our own toughness sometimes! Ting.”

John Abraham to work in ‘Jaffna’, a movie in response to LTTE in Sri Lanka

John Abraham is an avid newspaper reader and quite conscious about political conditions world wide. Now, he has signed a project in accordance with the sensitive issue of LTTE’s activities in Sri Lanka. John could be co-producing this flick which was titled Jaffna. He's going to even be travelling to Sri Lanka to get a hang of the political condition of the rustic. Director Sircar refused to divulge in much information about John’s character within the film but said that it was a troublesome role to essay and that the actor should work very hard to live upto the film’s story.

“John is a politically aware actor. He reads the newspaper every morning, knows what’s occurring on the planet. He's clued in to the dynamics of the separatist strife in Sri Lanka. The minute I told him about my film ‘Jaffna’, he was on board,” said Sircar adding,

“I am no stranger to themes of separatism and extremist violence. My first film ‘Yahaan’ was about Kashmiri separatism. And now ‘Jaffna’ could be carrying the theme of extremism to a different extreme.”

Dharam, the icon!

Veteran actor Dharmendra, in his speech post receiving the award for the Icon of Punjab, recently said, "Maine zindagi mein kaam bhi bahut kiya hai, naam bhi bahut kamaya hai aur sharaab bhi bahut pee hai."

Angelina's leg still going strong on Twitter!

Angelina Jolie's right leg has not just carved out its own identity on Twitter, its followers are increasing with each passing hour. The profile that attracted 4000 followers in 3 hours of its creation has now reached 27,190 mark. Way to this, the leg is trending heavily on Twitter since yesterday's Oscars ceremony.

RK turns footballer!

Sports are suddenly within the air, beams Candy. He says that once endorsing some outdoor sports for some news channel, Ranbir Kapoor is now going to be seen as a footballer in a single of his upcoming ad films.

Krrish involves Mumbai?

Hrithik Roshan, whose Agneepath has created new box office records not only in India but in addition overseas, was shooting a slew of action scenes in Hyderabad for Krrish 3 with papa Rakesh Roshan's aashirwaad.

Department may be RGV's most classy film: Rana Daggubati

Ram Gopal Varma's past few projects have didn't rock the box office, but actor Rana Daggubati, who has teamed up with the director in Department, is confident that the film will change into one among his most classy movies.

Ajay Devgn my lucky charm: Tusshar Kapoor

Actor Tusshar Kapoor says Ajay Devgn is his lucky charm and that is the reason why he roped him in to do the voiceover in his forthcoming movie Chaar Din Ki Chandni.

R3.5 lakh hung off movie hoarding!

For those who were walking around Juhu yesterday, you'll have realised that money doesn't grow on trees it hangs off billboards. To advertise their upcoming release Paan Singh Tomar, production house UTV Films risked losing R3.5 lakh in cash, which they strung up on a prominent hoarding opposite a Juhu coffee shop.

New 'Sridevi' for Ajay's 'Jeetendra'!

Ajay Devgan will soon begin work in Sajid Khan's ext, which consistent with the director, is predicated" at the" cult Jeetendra film, Himmatwala (1983). While the actor prepares to shoot for the action flick, the makers continue their hunt for a 'new Sridevi' to cast opposite him.