One more success for Aamir

After the resounding success of his last movie (both critical and commercial) Taare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan has gone and added one more achievement to his list. That is a victory over smoking. He has been writing on his blog for some time now that he is trying to kick the butt but it hasn't happened so far.

But he has finally managed to kick the habit which is really commendable because I know of many friends who have tried umpteen times and have failed. They had tried all techniques, going turkey, reducing slowly, smoking on scheduled days- all ending in failure. In fact some guys ended smoking more than normal.

So it is great that a role model like Aamir has managed to defeat the cigarette. In fact Shahrukh has been in the news for his smoking in public places and for his attempts to give up smoking too. But he has failed and is keen to give it up as he has kids of an impressionable age at home. Also to show his fans and the public that such battles can be won.

Even the health ministry is after the stars as quite a few recent movies have shown stars smoking and this definitely glamorizes the act. So after having a great last two years with a lot of hits (Taare Zameen Par, Fanaa, Dil Chahta Hai) and rare flops (Mangal Pandey - The Rising)

Who is this new Sardarji on the block?

Check out this hunk Sardarji who is starring in Sameer Karnik's latest movie. If you can't recognise him, too bad for your Bollywood knowledge. It's one of the big stars from the Khan club.

Well if you still aren't sure who it is, let me tell you. It's Salman Khan who will be seen playing a Sardar for the first time in his upcoming film Heroes.

The movie Heroes also stars Sohail Khan, Vatsal Seth, Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Preity Zinta, Amrita Arora, Riya Sen and Mithun Chakraborty. Whew! That is one compact starcast! Salman plays a military official in this road movie which is reportedly inspired by the cult classic The Motorcycle Diaries.

After Jaan-E-Mann and Salaam-E-Ishq this will be another movie where Salman will be sharing screen presence with quite a few stars.

The photo is just a photoshopped impression of how Salman would like like a Sardar.

Ashutosh's labor of love...Jodhaa Akbar

I was reading about the making of Jodhaa Akbar and I feel vindicated about the vision and meticulousness of Ashutosh Gowariker. Apparently the writer Haidar Ali had researched about the life and times of Akbar quite thoroughly with a Rajasthani historian. In spite of this Ashutosh later had the story checked for factual accuracy and authenticity. So we can be rest assured of seeing a beautiful and accurate movie without extra embellishments to juice up the era.

He is according to me one of the finest directors in our Industry. Not only because of Lagaan but because of Swades. I found Swades (Shahrukh Khan)so much more topical, contemporary and meaningful, if not a wee bit idealistic. But that movie made me a Gowariker fan for life. I am looking forward to Jodhaa Akbar and I will see it, even if the reviews are not too good; because I feel it will be a thoughtful bit of cinema. Bring it on Hrithik and Aishwarya Rai. :-)

Bollywood's lucky streak continues...Welcome and Taare...both big hits

It happened years ago, when Aamir and Sunny Deol went head to head with Dil and Ghayal. The trend was generally to avoid a clash as the hits ratio was as low as it is. But surprisingly both movies went on to become big hits. Later producers went back to the old system and avoided clashes as it was assumed that it would hurt both parties.

It was only rare cases of movies that released together. Aamir and Sunny did it again with Raja Hindustani and Gadar and again they went on to be huge hits. But that isn't the rule and the latest case of two big releases is OSO and Saawariya where OSO did well and Saawariya got a luke warm response. One case I felt where both films sufefred was Don (new- Shahrukh) and Jaanemann, where Jaanemann flopped big time and Don didn't do too well. Shahrukh and camp did manage to pass it off as a hit and even a sequel is being talked of, but the truth is the movie did not do as well as SRK's movies generally do. And if you consider that the music was superb (love Shaan number and the Aaj Ki Raat) and the story was stylishly told and had a unexpected twist and yet it didn't do great business.

Thats why its amazing that Welcome and Taare Zameen Par are both big hits. In fact Welcome got of to a scorcher of a start and has reportedly earned 110 crores so far. TZP was a steady starter and now has got immense word of mouth and great reviews. It is also touted as being possibly ending up as a bigger hit than the hype monster of Shahrukh Khan, Om Shanti Om, and thats some achievement. Bollywood is lucky and may the golden touch continue.

Darsheel new actor in tinseltown - in crackling form in Taare Zameen Par

The child actor Darsheel Safary who stars in Taare Zameen Par has made a confident and likeable attempt at playing the troubles Ishaant Awasthi. The film belongs to him and he is the principal character in the film and even Aamir Khan the big draw of the movie appears only at the half time of the movie. In fact if you take away Aamirs portion in the movie it appers an out and out Darsheel movie.

One never gets bored as the story is engrossing and audiences immediately sympathise with the child as he is impish, fragile and yet brilliant at the same time. But one needed a strong and firm character to play Ram Shankar Nikumbh and Aamir Khan plays it without a false step.

One realy can't be sure who to credit Darsheels acting to - the director, assitant directors, creative directors (Amole Gupte) or to the lad himself. It is a role of a lifetime and one wonders if such a role wil be written again and if it is, will it be enacted so wel again. And there is the factor that Darsheel is from a reputedly well off family, so this might be the last film in some time. We might have to wait till he has goten his studies and graduation out of the way.

Here's wishing him all the success in life and a thanks to him, Aamir and the team of Taare Zameen Par who enteratined us so splendidly.

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To get access to the latest and most popular Bollywood DVDs you can visit the Eros DVD mall. The latest DVD available is Partner the film starring Salman Khan, Govinda, Katrina Kaif, Lara Dutta.

After Halla Bol, looking forward to U me aur Hum

After Halla Bol, Ajays next movie in the pipeline is U me aur Hum which also features his wife Kajol. This will be really interesting as they have come together earlier and have had good results to show for it. Pyar toh Hona hi tha and Ishq were big hits while a couple of others didn't do that well especially Raju Chacha.

I really liked Halla Bol as it was a well made movie. Though I think a lot of people including me were expecting a lot more from Raj Kumar Santoshi. The movie is not that gripping or engrossing like say for instance Ghayal or Damini. Not that Ajay is any less of a performer, but its just that the movie had great potential for being a classic.

Funny scenes were inserted in to scenes where the seriousness should have been maintained. For instance the conversations with the powerful politician. His side kick acts silly and this messes up the important scenes.

Even Vidya Balan has a much smaller role than her talent deserved.
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To get access to the latest and most popular Bollywood DVDs you can visit the Eros DVD Store. The latest DVD available is Heyy Babyy the film starring Vidya Balan, Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh and Fardeen Khan.

Ajay Devgun's Halla Bol is a pretty good flick

I watched Halla Bol yesterday and found it to be a pretty decent movie. Ajay has acted competently as usual and the movie is an accurate portrayal of the Hindi film industry also called Bollywood. It shows Ajay as a small town boy moving from the street theatre group of Pankaj Kapur and trying his luck in Bollywood. He strikes it big and then starts his metamorphis. From a middle class morally upright citizen to a weak, money seeking shallow superstar.

Vidya Balan plays his wife and she has a small role which she does competently. I really wanted to see more of her as would many of her fans. She is a beautiful woman in every sense of the word and is a fine actress. So it was kinda disappointing to see that she had a smallish role in the film.

If fact one can say after Ajay, it is Pankaj Kapur who has the meatiest role. In fact he also has a decent amout of the 'hit' dialogues as one calls it. Hats off to Ajay Devgun for doing such a role where unlike in the earlier era, the stars were insecure if a fellow actor got better lines or scenes. He is following the path taken by Akshay Kumar who is working in multi-starrers or ensemble movies and delivering hits due to a superior product being dished out.

I think this movie may cause a lot of controversy as it has taken a few potshots at the reigning biggies like Shahrukh Khan and Aamir. Watch it and find out!

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To get access to the latest and most popular Bollywood DVDs you can visit the Eros DVD Store. The latest DVD available is Manorama Six Feet Under the film starring Abhay Deol.

Rajnikanth to star in Shankar's Robot

It has been made official that Superstar Rajnikant has agreed to play the main role in Robot. The movie is supposed to be directed by hot-shot director Shankar. This is indeed big news as two of the biggest names in tamil cinema have come together and the result will have cine fans licks their chops in anticipation.

Check out this article in rediff for more details.

Shankar has been trying for years to start this project and announcing the casting of this film in the press for years now. He started with Kamal Haasan, but the Tamil star had a box office fiasco in Alavandaan and, also had creative differences with a director who is very firm about what he wants. Later Shahrukh Khan was supposed to do it. and the last star pencilled in was Aamir Khan.

And now finally it has been Rajnikanth who has been finalised, which will be good as the two are both from the same industry and this will help in the smooth production of the movie.

Here's looking for a lively Robot from Shankar and Rajnikanth, the Boss.

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How many guys have seen Johnny Gaddar?

Hey! I was recently watching Johnny Gaddar at home and found it to be quite a good movie. The main lead (or young hero), Neil Mukesh is quite decent, but needs to tighten up on his acting. He is also very fair. Almost alabaster. Go out in the sun dude and get some Vitamin D. Right now you look like you stay cooped up in a freezer all day.

Well the movie was pacy, well shot and interesting. I think multi-star or ensemble casts are here to stay. The producers are ensured that the audience comes in seeing multiple stars for the price of one and the stars are more secure in sharing the blame if the movie flops. Rimi Sen looks hot as usual. I did miss the part of the start and also bits in between (channel surfing is a weakness). So I need to see the entire movie in one go to have a fairer idea of of the movie is in an entirety. Another movie that has got good publicity is Manorama - Six feet Under. And a couple of stories of Dus Kahaniyaan are supposed to be good, especially the Rice Plate.

One disappointing movie is Buddha Mar Gaya which inspite of good stars didn't too that well.

Waiting for Sunday!!!!

The advertising schedules for movies must be longer than earlier now, because I noticed that Sunday the movie has been on air for some time now. But the movie has not been released yet. What I am trying to say is that the producers are releasing their promos and trailers and the rest of the marketing material even earlier than usual.

Of course Om Shanti Om (OSO) and Saawariya were a bit unique due to the cat fight the makers of the two movies got into. But nevertheless it is obvious the marketing cycles of movies have increased drastically and so have the budgets. That means that even though movies are a lucrative business they are forking out that little just to ensure that their movie is in the public eye.

Anyway Sunday is scheduled for Jan 25 according to the official Sunday website. So will watch it and let you guys know. I am also supposed to see Bombay to Bangkok (if I get the tickets...i love freebies), so will give you the dope on that one too. Ciao.

I like the indie films like Bheja Fry coming out, which allow newer fresher stars to shine on the big screen.