Taking a huge risk with romantic comedy: Madhur Bhandarkar

Mumbai, Jan 16 – It’s not easy to come out of your comfort zone and helm a film in a completely new genre. But Madhur Bhandarkar has done just that and admits that he’s taken a ‘huge risk’ by doing romantic comedy ‘Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji’ instead of his trademark movies on contemporary issues.

‘I’ve taken a huge risk with this film, but I feel proud of it. I’m sure people will appreciate (it). They have given me love and liked my work all these years,’ Bhandarkar told IANS in an interview.

‘Some didn’t even do well at the box office, but they were critically acclaimed and got the respect they needed. So I’m sure they (audiences) will shower the same love for ‘Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Ji’ because when they see the film they will feel Madhur Bhandarkar’s stamp and signature style is very evident in the film. It is very much in my parameters,’ the National Award winning director said.

After being a part of the industry for a decade and making path-breaking films like ‘Chandni Bar’, ‘Satta’, ‘Page 3′ and ‘Fashion’ among others, Bhandarkar said some of his colleagues had suggested that he try his hand at comedy as well.

‘People who know me closely always thought that I have a good sense of humour…in fact all the people I’ve worked with said ‘why don’t you make a comedy’. Even during ‘Chandni Bar’ days, Tabu used to tell me to foray into comedy.

‘I always felt that one day I will do it, but then there were so many other subjects that were intriguing and I got busy with that, so I didn’t have time…but after ‘Jail’ I thought that now I should make a comedy,’ said the 42-year-old.

The film, slated to hit screens Jan 26, stars Ajay Devgn, Omi Vaidya and Emraan Hashmi in the lead. And it revolves around the different experiences that these three men go through in love.

While the film is from men’s point of view, actresses Shruti Hassan, Shraddha Das and Shahzan Padamsee play pivotal roles.

But what made Bhandakar, whose cinema is usually women-oriented, shift his focus to men this time?

‘I never plan a film gender-based. I wanted to make this film so I did and there are women characters in this film too with very well etched out roles, but definitely it is dominated by male point of view. Let’s see if people realise that Madhur can give a very good male point of view as well,’ the filmmaker said.

‘Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji’ has a tagline that reads ‘Love grows…but men don’t’. Does Bhandarkar agree with this statement?

‘I believe in this totally because I feel the same way,’ he quipped.

‘I still have a childlike innocence and same is the case with a lot of people I know. You do grow and become mature but somewhere in your mind you are still a kid. In fact this holds a meaning for a lot of girls as well,’ Bhandarkar said.

IANS

When Pammie, Van Morrison’s diva-like demands drove hotel staff crazy

London, Jan 16 – Rocker Van Morrison and Hollywood bombshell Pamela Anderson struck up an unlikely friendship when they met during the festive season at the Bath Spa hotel.

The two were spotted enjoying walks together and drove the hotel staff crazy with their bizarre demands.

Sources say that the notoriously grumpy 65-year-old rocker Van – who is married and has an apartment in the Georgian city – checked into the hotel when the former Baywatch star was staying there.

“They walked together a couple of times and seemed to get along rather well but they were checked into different rooms,” the Daily Mail quoted a source as saying.

While staying at the hotel, the diva-like demands of the pair caused staff headaches.

“All Pamela wanted to eat was asparagus and mushroom Cup-a-Soups,” said one worker.

“We didn’t have any in the hotel so my colleagues had to go to the shops for her. She’d eat them in her room.

“Van was different. He’d ring down from his room and tell us what he wanted and where from. It was always Italian food and it always had to be from one of the local restaurants. We had to go out in our cars and pick his food up, then take it up to his room,” the worker said.

Pamela also indulged in a bizarre beauty routine – taking ice baths. Staff had to carry ice up to her room twice a day.

“Pamela drove us mad with her constant demands for ice baths. She told us it stopped her aching and kept her feeling young,” said the staff member.

“Van, on the other hand, spent an hour a day in the gym. He didn’t use the personal trainer, he worked out alone,” the source added. (ANI)

Kelly Brook says her assets are disappointing

London, Jan 16 – Curvy model Kelly Brook doesn’t think her famous breasts are as impressive as people think, because in her words ‘they hang a bit’.

Femalefirst.co.uk quoted the 31-year-old star as saying: ‘Well, they’re mine so that’s nice. They’re not fake, but they hang a bit.’

‘They’re not super-perky because they’re so big. That’s always a big disappointment, I think. Like when you take your top off and they go flop,’ she added. 

IANS

Kristen Stewart hides from fans

London, Jan 16 – Actress Kristen Stewart gets so overwhelmed by teenage fans of movie franchise ‘Twilight Saga’ she has taken to hiding when she sees them.

The 20-year-old actress, who plays Bella Swan in the ‘Twilight Saga’ movie series opposite boyfriend Robert Pattinson, finds herself in a uneasy position while dealing with hysterical fans, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

‘There’s no way to eloquently put this. I just can’t go to the mall. It bothers me that I can’t be outside very often. And also to not ever be ’some girl’ again. Just being some chick at some place, that’s gone,’ she said.

‘Masses of girls identified with Bella in a really profound way, for want of a better world. The connection that I’ve seen people have. I’ve seen it physically. It’s the characters they’re flipping for. So I try to avoid the attention,’ she added. 

IANS

Awards don’t matter much to me: Kareena Kapoor

Mumbai, Jan 15 – Actress Kareena Kapoor says she prefers to be on holiday with friends and in Switzerland during the award season here as awards don’t matter much to her since they are mostly offered to undeserving candidates.

‘Awards doesn’t matter much to me. Lot of award functions requested me to attend them but I chose to go to Switzerland because that’s the only time in the year that I get to spend with my family and loved ones,’ Kareena told reporters after the launch of her dietician Rujuta Diwekar’s book

‘Women and the Weight Loss Tamasha’ at Taj Lands End Hotel here Saturday.

Asked if she believes that the awards are rigged, she said: ‘I am not sure but it’s seems so because who don’t attend, their names are never declared in award ceremonies. Those who don’t deserve, they get the awards and those who deserve, they land up enjoying pizzas at home.’

Kareena has written a chapter in Rujuta’s book on her request.

‘When Rujuta asked me to write something for her book, first I thought that I am not a professional writer, but then why don’t I just write something so that when readers read it, they get to know more about Kareena Kapoor. What is her basic, genuine kind of nature comes out across from the chapter because I have written it straight from the heart,’ she said.

Kareena is set to start shooting for ‘Bodyguard’ Sunday where she plays the female lead opposite Salman Khan.

‘Tomorrow (Sunday) I am going to start shooting ‘Bodyguard’. It’s a remake of a South Indian film. I think there the girl’s character is very performance oriented so they approached me,’ said Kareena.

IANS