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CONTENTS

Vision Asia wishes all its viewers a wonderful festive season. We have lined up great festive programmes for you this month. Moreover, we also tell you how your favourite stars are celebrating Eid and Diwali this season. Hope you enjoy reading this issue! Get ready to watch the fourth season of the exciting Nach Baliye on Star Plus this month. Sony has two new offerings — Bin Phere Hum Tere, a family drama set against the background of the Golden Temple and Hum Ladikyan, the story of four small-town girls. Grab the excitement and masti of emotions in Miley Jab Hum Tum on Star One, a story of six youngsters in college. On the occasion of Diwali, Star Gold is screening Jai Maa Vaishno Devi, Ramayan — Shri Ram Katha, Jai Santoshi Maa, SetMax is screening Hanuman and Return of Hanuman. Other big movies in the month include Aaja Nachle, Laga Chunari Mein Daag on Sony and Amitabh Specials on Zee Movies including Coolie, Andha Kanoon and Hum. Zee brings you a Sufi concert featuring the famed maestro Fateh Ali Khan on the occasion of Eid — something no music lover should miss. MTV and NDTV are receiving strong support from viewers in ANZ. Diwali is a time to spread happiness. This makes it a good time to get your friends and relatives connected to Vision Asia. Gift it some one you love. Australia moves to daylight saving time on 5th October. Please refer to our website for updated schedules. We would like to hear from you. Please write to [email protected] Sameer Goswami, CEO

Channel Talk

Film reviews Cover story Poster TV Guide Gossip

Dear Team Vision Asia, Let me start by saying it’s been a wonderful experience getting Vision Asia to our new home. You have been particularly helpful in getting it set up in our house and I would like to thank you for waiting patiently till my landlord’s permission came in. The installation was flawless and reception is good. Keep spreading the smiles. Anil Dear Anil, It is our endeavor to spread happiness through the Vision Asia bouquet. The feedback from our customers helps us to raise the performance bar and motivates the team. Here’s wishing you a great time Editor: Quanith Ilahi

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watching Vision Asia channels. Team Vision Asia Hello. How are you today? I like your programmes. They are very nice. Would it be possible for you to add one Punjabi channel to your bouquet. I love Punjabi programmes! Cheers Kulwinder Kaur

Travel Food

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Dear Kulwinder, We are glad that you are enjoying the Vision Asia programmes. You may be aware that Zee TV carries Gurbani from Golden Temple twice a day. We will try our best to get you more Punjabi programmes. Team Vision Asia

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LARA DUTTA ON DKD

LARA Dutta and Rani Mukherjee were the special guests on the Dus Ka Dum finale. Before the show, Lara spoke to us about DKD’s concept, Salman Khan and the one question she is desperate to ask the superstar — “When are you getting married?” She says, “It is a unique concept. The audience gets a chance to know how the participant thinks and what he feels about India. In this case, they will get a glimpse of the way Rani and I think. Most of the time, they see us in character. If you play a galmourous character, they think you are glamourous. So, this is our chance to show our jhalak.” Lara praised Salman’s

INDIAN IDOL IS BACK

INDIAN Idol’s fourth season began on September 19,

replacing Dus Ka Dum. Audiences can watch the show’s biggest season yet as it includes participants from India, UK, USA and Dubai. Niret Alva, the head of the Miditech production house, says, “This show is like no other. It’s going to be really special. The audience will have so many talented people to choose from.” However, though the scale is larger, the concept remains the same. When asked what is going to be different this year, he replied, “There is no need to be different because the format is already very popular.” About the hosts, he said, “Our anchors Deepali Kishore and Mayang Chang are fresh and absolutely fantastic. We have a very interesting combination of judges. They are very talented and we even have two new judges this season. One is a very good actress — Sonali Bendre — and the other is a very talented singer — Kailash Kher. More importantly, all of them believe in speaking their minds.”

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hosting skills, but when asked whether she would ever host a show, she said, “I do not think I can host. Only big names can host reality shows. No one has ever offered me one. You need a certain quality — Salman is very charismatic and Shah Rukh has a very positive charm too.” When quizzed about what she would like to ask Sallu, she immediately said, “Everyone wants to ask him the same question — When are you getting married?” Praising Salman further, she said, “Everyone knows that he is a very nice person at heart. If you don’t take panga with him, he will be very polite. And it’s not just him, his entire family is extremely nice.”

KAHAANI ACTRESS TURNS DIRECTOR

PRIYA Wal, who plays Aditi in Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki, has directed a documentary. An excited Priya told us, “I have made a short film. It won’t get a multiplex release. A group of people encouraged me to make the film. They are going to show it wherever they go — Pune, Kolkatta, Delhi. I am a creative person and have also written a fullfledged script, which I will make into a movie some time soon.” “The film is about two boys and two girls. It is the story of a young girl, who, like many other girls, hopes to meet a macho guy and get married to him. But she ends up marrying the next-door type. It is a six-minute film. I have written, directed and acted in it. My friends are also in the movie.” About Kahani, she says, “We are currently shooting a scene in which we are on a mission to save Parvati. Parvati has never been in this situation before and needs someone to rescue her.” Talking about her personal track on the show, she says, “For me, Aditi is definitely going to be very different than she was in the show earlier. She used to feel that her mother neglected her. At the time, she was vulnerable and emotional. But now that her mother has accepted her, she has become strong. Her character has matured.” Priya also said that she will not be seen on the big screen at all, but would like to direct a film.

YASH TONK TO ENTER KYUNKI...

YASH

Tonk, who plays Shiv in Karam Apna Apna, will star in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as Shiv Singhania. Yash, who began shooting in August, told us all about his character. Yash says, “I am playing a character called Shiv Singhania, a business tycoon and Ganga’s (Shilpa Sakhlani) obsessed lover. They were in love and shared some passionate moments, but she left him and got married to someone else. So he comes back into her life and tries to win her back. It is a negative role. I am excited about this because my character in Karam is very mellow. It is a two-month cameo.” Yash returned from a shoot in Australia a few days ago. “I am also doing a film called Main Aur Mrs Khanna. It was a monthand-a-half-long shoot. It was fun to be there with Salman bhai, Kareena and Sohail.” Yash also says that he is very busy with the two shows and the film, and does not have time to take up any new project. He says that the only reason he accepted the role in Kyunki Saas... was because it is another Balaji show. The company is managing his schedule for both the shows. October 2008

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DIVYANKA HAS A SLIPPED DISK

DIVYANKA Tripathi, who plays Divya in Banoo Main Teri Dulhann, has had a slipped disk. Divyanka told us how she is coping right now. She says, “It is improving slowly. I really need rest. But I can’t afford to. Even when I get an off, I have to go out to buy stuff because I live alone in Mumbai.” The star explains that the problem began while filming a sequence earlier this year. She says, “While filming the Holi sequence, I hurt my upper back. I could not rest as Sharad and I had many major scenes together. So, I had to bear the pain.” She adds, “My upper back pain turned into lower back pain. I do not know how that happened. Even the doctors could not diagnose it for a few days. Eventually, I was told that I had slipped disk. I am now taking homeopathic medicines.” Talking about the treatment, she says, “My physiotherapist comes to my place everyday. She is very supportive. While shooting, I don’t bend my back, I have to bend my knees if I want to pick something up. The doctor has also given me exercises to do.” Divyanka’s friends are also worried about her. She says, “Not just my mother, even my friends call me regularly to ask about my health. I cannot even go out as often as I used to. I can’t dance as much either. Recently, at a party, I was sitting alone while everyone was on the dance floor.”

JASVEER KAUR ON A REALITY TRIP

JASVEER Kaur, who plays Pavitra in Ghar Ki Laxmi Betiyaan, has just won the dance reality show Ek Se Badhkar Ek and has already taken on a new reality show Saas Vs Bahu. Talking about her shows, Jasveer says, “I’ve always wanted to become dancer and that’s why I joined the industry. Now I’m just going with the flow. My daily soap is also doing well. And though I would never leave the show, dance has always been my first love. Ek Se Bhadkar Ek was a very good opportunity for me to showcase my talent. I am still learning about dance though I am about to start my second show.” Jasveer’s competitor will be Vaishnavi, who played her saas on her first show. “We are best friends and though our show was wrapped up two years ago, we kept in touch. She is very talented. On screen, we have to show rivalry, but off screen, we help each other out and go to each other’s rehearsals. It was fun to work together after so long.” She adds, “Her first performance was so amazing and I was screaming so much, I got a tonsil problem. I am really happy for her. It is going to be a good competition. And surprisingly, all the saas are so good that we really have to work hard to compete.” October 2008

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DANCING FOR THE STARS WE

asked some Zara Nachke Dikha contestants how they felt about performing in front of Tusshar Kapoor and Raima Sen. Here’s what they had to say: Amit Tandon: “I don’t get nervous, no matter who is in front of me. There is nothing to be scared about. You are a contestant and have to do your best. It doesn’t make a difference who is judging. That’s how it works for me.” Gaurav Chopra: “It was good performing in front of them. I didn’t get nervous. I think they were very sincere. We, the contestants, didn’t get stressed out one bit, but Tusshar and Raima looked a bit frazzled.” Chaitanya Chowdhry: “Performing in front of them was fun. I was pretty sure I showed no sign of nervousness. According to the judges and the other contestants, it was my best performance till date. All the judges were happy and spoke well about my performance. This has boosted my morale. I am really charged up now. I never feel stressed out, even for a second, because I have performed in front of Amitabh Bachchan, Karan Johar and many other celebrities.”

LOTS OF LAUGHS, GUARANTEED

AN all-new sitcom, Paani Puri, showcases the lives of two families, hailing from different cultures, but living under one roof. A character-driven comedy, it is sure to have the audiences in splits. Vikas Puri is played by Sumeet Raghavan and Divya Paani is played by Smita Bansal in this unusual and distinctive sitcom. Paani Puri is essentially the love story of Vikas and Divya. True to the adage that opposites attract, cupid strikes these two diametrically opposite individuals. Vikas is a struggling actor from an over-the-top Punjabi family, which believes that the human voice must be used in variable octaves. Divya, who works for an MNC, comes from a refined Oriya family, which

October 2008

feels that the human voice must only be used when needed. Divya and Vikas have diverse personalities. While the former is a stickler for perfection, the latter takes pride in being messy. Bigger challenges lie ahead of the couple, as Vikas has to seek the approval of the Paani family for their alliance. Divya and Vikas do settle into marital bliss but little do they know what fate has in store for them. Circumstances force the two families, as different as chalk and cheese, to live under one roof. With no other choice, the Paani family moves into the Puri household. Needless to say, comic mayhem of the most chaotic order ensues.

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BOLLYWOOD ON THE BIG SCREEN!

N OW S C R E E N I N G AT QLD: BCC Brisbane City Regent , tel: (07) 3027-9999 BCC Garden City, tel: (07) 3849-0000 SA: GU Adelaide City , tel: (08) 8231-5961 VIC: GU Melbourne City Cinemas , tel: (03) 9654-8133 NSW: GU Burwood , tel: (02) 9715-2282, GU Castle Hill MEGAPLEX , tel: (02) 9894-6533 GU Liverpool , tel: (02) 9601-4611, GU Parramatta, tel: (02) 9407-2777

MTV WASSUP

GET your daily dose of news on the fresh, cool and instant 8-10 minute news bulletin from MTV’s newest brigade, which includes Gurbani Judge, Ayushmann Khurrana and Archana Jani from Mumbai, Parul Choudhary and Vineet Modi from Delhi and Soumya Ganesh from Bangalore. They will keep you updated on the news that you can use, in a language that you can use, in the format that you can use only on Pepsi & MTV Wassup! Don’t miss daily segments like Rightbackatcha, which covers national,international and local happenings with young consumers across cities. The Big Dope is a feature on youth and info-tainment. Wat Say Youngistan is a daily poll conducted on topics that affect, concern or irritate the youth. Also, get updated on the all the light-hearted news of the week with WTF. Get your fill on global happenings with weekly segments like WWW (Wassup Worldwide). E – Goss features apna Bollywood or Indian entertainment news. Catch MTV’s unique take on Hindi and English movie reviews with My Take and be in on all the hottest events across the country and get to know the hottest new gadgets with Wassapenin!

WHAT ARE THE

TWISTED EX- ROADIES UPTO LYRICS

MTV Lost in Translation is the

only show where ‘There was a cold day’ actually means ‘Darwaza khol de’. Here, MTV takes old and new songs, listens to them, and then writes whatever they hear. Like Daddy Yankee's ‘Gasolina’ has twisted lyrics like ‘Taali maar, ghaas oh lena’ and ‘Tumhare maa ko pakde, gaana same hai ro mat oye’. Singing these lyrics will not only elevate your social standing and your ability to grasp lyrics on the first listen, but it will also make you look like an idiot.

THERE is life after Roadies! After leaving the show

many of the contestants are still familiar faces on television. Rannvijay Singh from Season 1 is the most popular of them all. This Delhi boy is the host of MTV Hero Honda Roadies and Vodafone MTV Splitsvilla, among other shows. He just shot for his Bollywood debut film, TOSS, and signed up for Vipul Shah’s next film London Dreams, which also stars Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan. Roadie Shambhvi from Season 5 is also on her way to stardom. She is already shooting for Suneil Shetty’s next film under Popcorn Entertainment — The Little Godfather. This pale beauty has also been roped in to play a role in a South Indian flick. Roadie Anmol, also from Season 5, got noticed because of her attitude and this even got her a role in Ekta Kapoor’s serial Kuchh Is Tara. Another Season 5 contestant, Aashu, who won the hearts of many, is now one of the 14 participants on Bigg Boss Season 2. October 2008

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RETURN OF HANUMAN

NOT JUST FOR KIDS Director: Anurag Kashyap

HANUMAN decides to take human form and come down to Earth when he cannot bear to watch Minku, his little disciple, being bullied by his schoolmates every day. He is born in a family living in the same village as Minku and grows up to be a small schoolgoing kid in three months flat. Now called Maruti, he becomes friends with Minku and astonishes the bullies and the villagers with his crazy antics. Just around the same time, the centuriesold Gods vs Demons war raises its head again. It is up to Maruti to save planet earth from destruction and keep the Demons at bay. How he manages to do that is what the rest of the film is about. By mixing heavy duty mythology with all the popular entertainment formulas, Anurag Kashyap has ensured that his audience does not experience a single dull moment. Agreed the 2D animation quality cannot be compared to the hi-quality 3-D animated films kids get from the West these days. But the film has plenty of entertaining moments that will appeal to kids and the kid in you. With many characters in the film mimicking popular Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjeev Kumar and Shatrughan Sinha, it is added fun for all. The songs are fun to watch and have some innovative, humorous lines. Overall, Return of Hanuman is a good film for the kids to enjoy this holiday season. And adults will be pretty impressed too. Catch this film at 12:00 AEST on Oct 10 on Star Gold

WOODSTOCK VILLA

ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK

Cast: Sikandar Kher, Neha Uberoi, Arbaaz Khan Director: Hansal Mehta

THRILLERS have not done very well at the box office of late. Johnny Gaddar and Manorama Six Feet Under got critical acclaim but did little to make the producers happy. Woodstock Villa is not likely to do well on either front. Zara Kampani (Neha Uberoi) asks Samir (Sikandar Kher), a stranger she meets in a pub in Mumbai to kidnap her so that she can find out how much her husband Jatin (Arbaaz Khan) loves her. Samir can’t say no because he is in desperate need of money. But, he falls for Zara and lies to her husband that he has killed her when Jatin brings the police with him. When he goes back to the Villa, he finds Zara dead. Desperate to get away, he flees to Bangalore but receives another jolt when he sees Zara performing in a video. He immediately heads back to Mumbai to find out the truth. Woodstock Villa has made a genuine effort to concentrate on the script. But, there are way too many twists and turns. The events leading up to the climax are interesting, but they cannot salvage the film. On the whole, it’s not a bad film though a less complicated script could have made it a more thrilling ride. Catch this film at 13:30 AEST on Oct 27 on Star Gold October 2008

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FESTIVALS ARE A TIME OF GREAT FUN IN INDIA. FROM SHOPPING FOR NEW CLOTHES TO BUYING GIFTS FOR EACH OTHER, PEOPLE USE THEM AS EXCUSES FOR HAVING A WHOLE LOT OF FUN. THIS MONTH BRINGS US DIWALI, EID AND NAVRATRI. FROM THE COMMON MAN TO THE BIGGEST CELEBS, EVERYBODY IS IN THE FESTIVE MOOD. WE TELL YOU HOW SOME OF OUR BOLLYWOOD STARS LIKE TO SPEND THIS FESTIVE TIME.

Imran Khan: All

festivals are celebrated with a lot of fanfare at home. For Diwali, the whole house is lit up with diyas. But we never burst any firecrackers. I am completely against that because it simply adds to the pollution! Eid means dressing up traditionally and eating lots of biryani! My new film will release on Eid this year. I hope it does well and people enjoy it.

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Genelia D'Souza: For Diwali my family indulges in bursting crackers! And of course, we visit friends. This year, it’s going to be different as I will be shooting for It’s My Life with Harman. But I’m positive we will have a real blast on the sets too!

Ajay Devgan and Kajol:

From bursting crackers to lighting diyas, this Bollywood couple does it all. Their secretary reveals that this year the Devgans will be in London for Diwali as Ajay is shooting there. It’s a rocking international Diwali this year!

WHAT IS DIWALI?

Diwali is a major Indian festival. Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today, it is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the world as the Festival of Light, where the lights indicate the victory of good over the evil within every human being. This festival of lights comes either in the month of October or November. This year Diwali is on October 28. According to north Indian tradition, Diwali is celebrated as the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. This festival also includes Lakshmi puja. It is the most awaited festival for Indians across the globe. October 2008

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Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif: No matter what the occasion, everyone knows the Khans will throw a party! Eid, Diwali or Christmas, the party is always at Salman Khan’s sea-facing residence. The whole family including Sohail, Arbaaz and their wives, Katrina and friends like Sajid Wajid, Sajid Nadiadwala, Shirish Kunder, David Dhawan, Govinda are a part of the do. And, it’s no surprise that food is a big part of the Khan’s daavat. Guests are expected to feast on mouth-watering kebabs and biryani! VISION ASIA

Prachi Desai: Diwali means family time to me. Even though my dad lives in Gujarat, my sister in Pune and my mom and I in Mumbai, we make it a point to get together for Diwali. Even when I used to shoot for soaps, I used to have a blast with my friends during the breaks. Unfortunately this year, I will be in Cape Town shooting for Life Partner. Shah Rukh Khan

Hrithik Roshan is a

believes in celebrating all festivals at home. For Diwali, his close friends, the Moranis, bring sacks full of firecrackers to his Mannat garden where the Khan kids enjoy the show. Eid too is an equally big day at the Khan house as a big feast is prepared for family and friends who come to wish the star.

self-confessed Diwali enthusiast. When he is not busy travelling, he goes all out and celebrates with his family. Eid too is a time for celebration, especially in his wife Suzanne Khan’s home. So, soon after Diwali wraps up, it is time to head over to the in-laws for HR!

WHAT IS EID?

WHAT IS NAVRATRI?

Around the same time as Diwali, Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr. Eid is a joyous occasion as it is the day for forgiveness, moral victory, brotherhood and unity. Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, and thank God for the selfcontrol and strength that He gave them. It is a time of giving and sharing. October 2008

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This is a nine-day day festival. Along with Goddess Durga, Goddess Vijayashtami and Mahanavami are also worshipped. The dance forms of dandiya and garba are performed all over the country during these nine days. Bengalis celebrate this as Durga Pooja, while the rest of the country celebrates Dussera on the tenth day. VISION ASIA

IN CASE YOU PLAN TO STAY INDOORS ON DIWALI THIS YEAR, HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE ON THE TELLY. STAR

Like every year, channels are coming up with quite a few shows around Diwali. One of the promising ones is Nach Baliye, which will be back with its fourth season on October 10. Nach Baliye is a show where celebrity couples are pitted against each other in a dance competition. Big names in the television industry are given a platform to showcase another side of their persona. So far, the show has had three successful seasons. One judge, Farah Khan, has been finalized for the new season. The other two judges are likely to be an actress and a director. Last season's winners, Aamir Ali and Sanjeeda Sheikh, are expected to host this season. Couples likely to be part of the show are Ali Merchant-Sara Khan, Karan Singh Grover-Shradha Nigam, Yasir Shah-Mitika Sharma, Ravee Gupta-Manoj Bidwai, Reshmii Ghosh-Amit Gupta, Karn Vir Singh-Teejay Siddhu among others. Jaha Pe Basera Ho is another show expected to air during the noon slot on Star Plus. Jaha Pe is a story of family values and of a girl, who believes in her dream. She does not have any huge expectations from life but dreams of a good, caring and loving family and a supporting husband.

SONY

Bin Phere Hum Tere is a new show on Sony which will be aired during Diwali. The show will have a Punjabi background and is set around the grandeur of Golden Temple. This show will remind audiences of Punjabi marriages—dhol bajaana, mehndi ki rasam and a bride dressed in red will all be a part of the show. All the characters in the serial will have typical Punjabi names such as Preeto, the elder sister of Panchhi—the main female lead in the serial. The male lead will remind many of us of Akshay Kumar’s character in Namastey London. His name is Sukhi and he can be seen perpetually teasing the pind ki kudiyan. Other than Bin Phere, Sony has another serial coming up based in the holy city of Banaras. Titled Hum Ladkiyaan, the story revolves around four small town girls and their aspirations, which slowly convert into a social drama. It's the story of Saumya, Sapna, Pooja and Ajju who are best friends. They are parted because of some circumstances. Will these girls be able to reunite their families in the end? Will they achieve what they have dreamt? This is what Hum Ladkiyaan will show us on Sony.

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TAKE A BOW, MR BACHCHAN

AMITABH Bachchan’s latest release The Last Lear has him potraying the role of an actor. It starts with Siddharth Kumar’s (Arjun Rampal) film The Mask premiering on Diwali night. Sadly for him, the film’s two protagonists Harish Mishra (Amitabh Bachchan) and Shabnam (Preity Zinta) are absent. As the film moves on, you are told that Harish has met with an accident that has left him bedridden while Shabnam doesn’t want to be a part of the premiere. She wants to get away from her dominating husband and be by the side of the man who changed her attitude towards life. Now, you may be wondering what all of this has to do with The Last Lear or Shakespeare for that matter. The Shakespearean connect comes in through Harish Mishra who eats, breathes and lives Shakespeare and theatre. But, just as he was about to perform one of his dream roles — that of King Lear — he leaves the stage for good. Despite being a prolific actor on stage, he has never ventured onto the big screen — that is, till Siddharth comes knocking on his door. However, sadly for Harish and for the rest of the crew, the filming of the climax scene marks the end of Harry baba. All in all, The Last Lear is a good watch for all those who love Shakespeare. And, for all those who like what we in India call alternative cinema. And, for all those who want to see Big B at his finest!

ENTER THE HAUNTED HOUSE 1920 starts with two people being murdered by a vengeful spirit who does not want his lair to be demolished. The lair in question is a very old haveli, more like a castle. Arjun (Rajneesh Duggal) leaves his family and Hindu faith for Anglo-Indian Lisa ( Adah Sharma). The two go to Bombay and get married. But, strange things start happening to Lisa and she believes the palace they live in is haunted. Arjun is away for work when she gets possessed by the restless spirit. The second half reveals why Lisa is the spirit's chosen one. The movie has excellent production values and cinematography, but you cannot fully believe that Allerton Castle in Yorkshire is a haveli in Palanpur, a hill station in British India. The first half is especially spooky. It keeps you gripped, but the second half gets predictable. It is scary in parts though some parts appear comical. There is nothing we haven't seen before. 1920 is essentially a love story. The horror and period aspects are backdrops against which the love story develops. On the whole, it succeeds in scaring and entertaining you. Leave your brains at home and you will not be disappointed. October 2008

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RANBIR’S TO PLAY GRANDFATHER’S CHARACTER?

AFTER Bachna Ae Haseeno, Ranbir Kapoor is now shooting for Raj Kumar Santoshi’s Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani. In this film, Ranbir plays the depressed lover-boy hopelessly in love with the idea of being in love. It’s said that his character in this film is inspired by the one played by his grandfather Raj Kapoor in Mera Naam Joker and Charlie Chaplin in City Lights. A source reveals, “He plays Prem, an innocent guy. And yes, his character is similar to those played by Charlie Chaplin and Raj Kapoor. He is very excited about this role since he loves his grandfather’s style and wants to revive his humour.”

However, Ranbir’s character in Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani will be in sync with modern times. According to our source, Ranbir watched his grandfather's films such as Shri 420, Mera Naam Joker among others for this role. “His mother and father have also helped him a lot for the character. He is working very hard for this film and almost 25 per cent has already been shot.” Ranbir has been shooting for this film for almost four months now. The music of film has been composed by Pritam while Katrina Kaif plays Ranbir’s premika. Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani is expected to release in 2009.

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KEEP THE TISSUES WITHIN REACH

Cast : Rani Mukherjee, Konkona Sen, Jaya Bachchan, Kunal Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan. Director: Pradeep Sarkar

SETTLED in Benaras, Shivshankar Sahay (Anupam Kher) and his family — wife Savitri (Jaya Bachchan) and daughters Badki (Rani Mukherjee) and Chutki (Konkona Sen) — are facing tough times. Badki sets off to Mumbai, telling everyone that she has found a job. But, to survive and help her family, she gives in to trading her body and becomes a high-society escort girl who calls herself Natasha. Badki starts sending money back home regularly and happiness engulfs the Sahay household. On one 'assignment' abroad, Badki meets Rohan (Abhishek Bachchan) and both start liking each other. But before Rohan can make a move, Badki leaves. Time passes, Chutki secures a job in Mumbai and surprises Badki by her arrival. Chutki's senior at work, Vivaan (Kunal Kapoor) falls for her and they decide to get married. The rest of the film deals with what happens when Badki’s double life is exposed to Chutki. Rani is excellent and Abhishek, in a small role, leaves his mark. The rest of the cast too is simply superb. A must watch! Catch this film at 19:00 AEST on Oct 20 on Sony

AAJA NACHLE

MADHURI ROCKS

Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Konkona Sen, Kunal Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna and Irrfan Khan Director: Anil Mehta DIA (Madhuri Dixit) returns to her small hometown Shamli from New York to attend to her ailing dance guru. But, it’s too late. He passes away just before her arrival and Ajanta, the institution where she learnt dancing under him, is now under threat of demolition. With the help of Doctor (Raghubir Yadav), the caretaker of Ajanta, Dia sets out on a mission to save it. She is challenged by Rajasaab aka Uday (Akshaye Khanna), the local MP who believes that Ajanta has no takers and therefore, its demolition to construct a shopping mall is the right thing to do. When Dia confronts him, he throws her a challenge. She has to arrange a theatre production which will include only the locals and its success will decide the fate of Ajanta. Dia accepts his near impossible challenge with only two months in hand. The cast is varied and the actors all do a brilliant job. Madhuri is at her best and we can clearly see why! Her performance and sheer charisma is outstanding. Catch this film at 19:00 AEST on Oct 27 on Sony October 2008

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SHREYAS IS A TERRIBLE BAWARCHI SHREYAS

Talpade, who plays a cook in Paying Guest, a film similar to Rajesh Khanna’s famous comedy Bawarchi, says he is no master in the kitchen. He says, “I’m a terrible cook. My wife laughed when she heard I was doing this role. She couldn’t wait to see how I would play a cook. I can only make tea and omelettes. While shooting, I once made tea for all my co-stars, and it was all right.” On his role, he reveals, “In Paying Guest, I play Ramu, who has to become a cook if he has to have a roof over his head. It was a great experience learning to cook. I still remember making rotis. It took me around two-and-a-half days, but I learnt it. Overall, it was great shooting for this role. This is not the first time I’ve worked with Mukta Arts. I accepted this role because I’m a great fan of Kaka (Rajesh Khanna) and he was amazing in Bawarchi. I have watched it at least five times.” About the film, he adds, “It is a romantic comedy — the story of four friends who are in desperate need of a home. It has been shot in Dubai.” When asked about his upcoming films, he said, “I have done Welcome to Sajjanpur, Golmaal Returns and Click. I am doing everything, from comedy to horror. I want to try out different roles now.”

AMRITA RAO ON WELCOME TO SAJJANPUR

AMRITA Rao will next be seen in Shyam Benegal’s Welcome to

Sajjanpur as the gaon ki chokri Kamla. We spoke with Amrita about her role and working with the legendary director.  What’s Welcome to Sajjanpur all about? The film is set in a village. There are villages where the literacy rate is very low. With this film, we hope to spread the message of education. While shooting, I was reminded of the old serial Malgudi Days. This is the new Malgudi days.  Tell us about your character Kamla. She is an illiterate girl from Sajjanpur. You could say that she is very dumb. Yet, she loves Mahadev, the only educated man in the whole of Sajjanpur.  How was it shooting with Shreyas Talpade? He is a wonderful actor and I was very comfortable working with him. He is such a professional. Despite his Maharashtrian upbringing, he speaks Hindi without a hint of the Marathi accent.  And working with director Shyam Benegal? I never imagined I would get a chance to work with a great director like Shyam babu. While talking, we realised that our villages in Bengal are very close to each other. He knows Konkani, so we would talk in the same language, which made me very comfortable on the set. October 2008

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SRK FINDS PEACE AT GOLDEN TEMPLE SHAH Rukh Khan is currently in Amritsar filming at the Golden Temple for Aditya Chopra’s Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. His look for the film — with a moustache and head covered — makes SRK look quite serious and unlike his normal jovial self. While many believe his sombreness was for his role, a close associate tells us that SRK has in fact been upset for the last few days. Coming to the Golden Temple has brought back a lot of childhood memories for the superstar. “Every time he comes here, he remembers happy times when he had visited the holy place with his parents. However, because of the stress he has been under for the last couple of months, with his ill-health and work commitments, going there made him a bit melancholy,” says our source.

SRK was unusually quiet and didn’t even interact much with the cast and crew — something that almost never happens with the King Khan. He would come out of his van, finish the shot and go back in. At one point, he even turned to the crowds and asked them to let them get on with the shot. Everybody thought he was in a hurry to fly back to Mumbai. But that wasn’t the case. “After everyone packed up, SRK went back in to pay his respects. He was inside the temple for 20 minutes. He spoke to the heads in the temple and paid his respects,” says the source. When the media asked him about his prayers, Khan said he had prayed for his kids and for the betterment of India and the world.

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THE MERCHANTS OF BOLLYWOOD

WITNESS THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF THE MERCHANTS OF BOLLYWOOD AN

By RAMA GAIND

exhilarating musical — The Merchants of Bollywood — revealing the glitz, gloss, glamour and opulence associated with Hindi cinema is on show at Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast until October 19. After successful seasons in London and Europe, this international smash hit brings you the essence of India, its rich, colourful, diverse culture and its people in a world of technicolour brilliance. It reveals the part cinema plays in the heart and soul of Indian society through an extraordinary evening of music and dance. At the heart of it lies a genuine story of a young girl, her grandfather and their love for dance. The energetic celebration features 40 actors, who dance and sing their way through the fest. The show has been choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant, the granddaughter of Harilal Merchant, one of the founding fathers of classic Bollywood cinema. On stage, the pivotal performer is Ayesha (Carol Furtado) who looks back on the traditional start to her career and her separation from her mentor-grandfather when she goes to Bollywood and makes her name as the Princess of Romance. Her grandfather, Shantilal (Arif Zakaria), rejects Bollywood’s style and distances himself from Ayesha — until she returns to October 2008

her birthplace and meets her former boyfriend Uday (Deepak Rawat). This sets the scene for dance that reflects the style of the most popular of the 800 films made every year in Mumbai. Lip-synching their way through the songs, they perform steps linked mostly to recent movies, but also to a clutch of classics, naming legendary actors from 1955 to 1974. From disco and hiphop to classical, they look like they're having a fabulous time and their vivacity carries the audience on a collective surge of harmonious clapping and foot-tapping. It’s a trip down memory lane with some numbers from Rang de Basanti, Devdas, Dhoom, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and Kal Ho Naa Ho. After the intense opening with the Natraja in the Temple of Shiva, some of the singing highlights include blockbuster songs such as Rang de Basanti, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, Nach Baliye, Kajra Re, Say Shava Shava, Dhoom Machale Dhoom and Rock and Roll Soniye. What’s more, there’s also some comic relief with antics from Pramod Pathak and Romi Jaspal, who play Tony Bakshi and Happy Singh. The show is the brainchild of writer-director Toby Gough and the music — written by Salim and Sulaiman — has an irresistible beat. Shimming costumes, sensational lighting and frenetic flow add to the razzle-dazzle, resulting in a totally electrifying experience.

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AADESH-ADNAN KA JHAGDA

YET another jhagada in Bollywood! But no superstars this time. It’s musicians Aadesh Sirvastav and Adnan Sami who got into an argument recently. Our source reveals, “They had a fight during Richa Sharma’s birthday party. We never imagined that Aadesh and Adnan would fight with each other.” On the reason behind the fight, the source adds, “Aadesh accused Adnan of being a bad singer. ‘You don’t know how to sing,’ he said. The spat became worse when Aadesh, who was drunk, went a step further and told him, ‘You are not a singer, so please don’t sing’. It all began when Richa Sharma asked her guests to sing. The argument lasted for almost half an hour.” When contacted, Aadesh confirmed the news, saying, “Yes, Adnan and I did argue. Whatever I said was true. He thinks he is a wonderful singer but, as a musician, I don’t find his voice effective. Also, Adnan was not happy when he was not selected as a member of the Cine Music Directors Association as he was not able to furnish all the required documents.” A source close to Adnan said he does not wish to comment on the matter.

AMRITA CONFIDENT ABOUT GOLMAAL RETURNS

AMRITA Arora, whose last film Red bombed at the box-office, is now hoping to set the record straight with her performance in Golmaal Returns. Playing Ajay Devgan's sister Esha in the film, Amu is dropping her sexy avatar and going for the plain Jane look. And Amrita says that she hopes this role will appeal to her fans. "For the first time, I will be wearing specs and very light make-up. I will also be wearing checked shirts and trousers in the film, so the audiences can relate to the simplicity of my character. Vikram Phadnis has worked on my look and we went mad about small details such as the right frame for my specs and whether my hairstyle should be a ponytail or a small choti." says Amrita. The actress says director Rohit Shetty has kept the promise he made her during the shooting of Dilli Ki Sardi. “He had promised me a great role. Everybody thinks I got the role because of my friendship with Kareena but that was just a coincidence,” she says. The actress says that working with her best mate was lots of fun. Golmaal Returns hits the screens this month. October 2008

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JACKIE CHAN TO DIRECT AKSHAY? RECENTLY,

Bollywood was abuzz with the news that Akshay Kumar will be sharing screen space with Jackie Chan. While the news of the two stars getting together is true, sources involved with the project say that V. Ravichandran, the producer of Kamal Hassan’s Dashaavtaram, will be producing the film. “Jackie flew down to Chennai for the music launch of Dashaavtaram and that’s when the talks between Ravichandran and him took place. Jackie has expressed his desire to direct the film,” says a source. “The budget is pegged at Rs. 550 crore. The script is presently being worked on, after which Jackie will fly down to Chennai to work out the technicalities and locales for filming. Akshay Kumar has already had preliminary discussions with the producer about his dates and availability,” informs the source. Describing the plot of the film, the source adds that it will be an all-out action movie. “Jackie and Akshay will be playing the lead roles. Obviously, considering both their backgrounds, there will be a lot of martial arts-based stunts and fight sequences. The film will be shot in the US, and major technicians and fight masters from Hollywood will be collaborating,” adds the source.

TWINKLE DOESN’T WANT A COMEBACK

TWINKLE Khanna, whose last film Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega was released in 2001, says she is happy being an interior designer. The co-owner of The White Window store, Twinkle says she has no intentions of making a comeback and has her hands full with her business and helping her mom in the waxmaking business. Twinkle says, “I’m enjoying the outer world of Bollywood as I’m busy with my interior work. Recently, I designed interiors for actresses such as Rani Mukherjee. I do not want to come back to Bollywood. I’m not interested in it and I’m quite happy managing my family and my business. I have to look after Aarav and his studies, and Akshay, who is working harder and harder, and has reached the top in Bollywood.” She explains, “It’s important for me to look after my family rather than my filmi career. My mother did the same when we were born, so I’m happy with my family life.” Twinkle Khanna married Akshay Kumar in 2001 and decided to quit films immediately after that. October 2008

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