Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara earns Rs.108 crore in 10 days

Zoya Akhtar's " Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara", a story of the adventurous road trip in Spain of three friends, is spinning magic at the box office - grossing Rs.108 crore in 10 days.

Released by Eros International, the film starring Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Kalki Koechlin and Katrina Kaif has earned Rs.86 crore at the domestic box office (net collection Rs.60 crore) and Rs.22 crore overseas.

The film released on over 1,800 screens.

"We are ecstatic with the audience as well as critics' reactions to 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'. The superb run of the film so far, especially across multiplexes, has superseded all expectations and we are expecting the film to continue its excellent performance in the coming week as well," Nandu Ahuja, senior vice president (Distribution), India, Eros International Media Ltd, said in a statement.

The film opened to rave reviews and raked in Rs.52.50 crores worldwide in the very first weekend.

New releases go unnoticed. Singham rules the box-office | Top 5 Hindi films of the week

Bubble Gum, Khap and Gandhi to Hitler went unnoticed

Small new releases like 'Bubble Gum', 'Khap' and 'Gandhi to Hitler' didn't get proper release since theatres preferred screening 'Singham' and 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'.

There really seems to be some kind of revolution happening at the box-office. In an industry when all that matters for any film is the first weekend collections, films are going on to earn crores even in their second and third weekend. Ajay Devgn's Singham seems to be on a roll and so does Hrithik-Farhan-Abhay's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara . With no big competition in their successive weeks, both the films are enjoying a steady run at the box office. Singham has collected Rs 14 crores in its second week and ZNMD is already a super-hit which continues to gain repeat audience in its third week.

The lack of competition in the form of big releases can be attributed to the start of the Ramzan period, which isn't considered a good period for movie business. So barring Aarakshan , one would have to wait for a month for the next big Bollywood release in the form of Salman Khan's Eid attraction Bodyguard .

But at the same time, this period is also a blessing in disguise for small films, which have no competition from bigger releases, thereby making it the safest time for them to come out. So you would see a string of small releases lined up for release and multiple releases clashing with each other every Friday. Only the ones decent on content and lucky enough to get public attention manage to survive the battle, while others are lost in oblivion.

Same was the case this week with three smallies releasing simultaneously. Bubble Gum , despite gaining decent reviews, couldn't get many screens across the city. So was the case with the issue-based Khap (Om Puri) and Gandhi To Hitler which had a very poor release and went unnoticed with almost nil audience.

The coming week sees more of such small releases. The National Award winning I Am Kalam which has already been screened at several film festivals across the world will make its theatrical release this Friday. Considering it's a quality product, the film should gain decent audience. Pankaj Kapoor's popular TV sitcom Office Office has been upgraded to a film version in the form of Chala Musaddi Office Office with the same cast and characters from the TV serial. It needs to be seen whether the satirical series, which was a huge hit on the small screen, works on the big screen as well.


Top 5 Films this Week


Film: Singham

Position: 1

Director: Rohit Shetty

Cast: Ajay Devgn, Kajal Aggarwal, Prakash Raj, Ashok Saraf

Upside: Ajay Devgn's authentic intensity, gripping fast-paced narrative

Downside: Dull romance track, cliched corruption plot, unrealistic heroism, sloppy pre-climax

Running Week: 2

Trade Comments: With no big opposition, Singham continued to rule the box-office in its second week also. The film collected a mind-blowing sum of Rs 14 crores in its second week. The gross collections have already crossed Rs 60 crores even before the second week ends. Ceratinly a Super Hit!


Film: Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Position: 2

Director: Zoya Akhtar

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin

Upside: Good performances, smart humour, riveting adventure sport moments, Spain beautifully captured on camera

Downside: Slow at times, long length, abrupt end

Running Week: 3

Box-Office Verdict: Super Hit


Film: Delhi Belly

Position: 3

Director: Abhinay Deo

Cast: Imran Khan, Vir Das, Kunaal Roy Kapoor, Poorna Jagganathan, Vijay Raaz

Upside: Superb humour, riveting story, good performances, authentic dark comedy feel

Downside: Practically nothing

Running Week: 5

Box-Office Verdict: Super Hit


Film: Murder 2

Position: 4

Director: Mohit Suri

Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Prashant Narayanan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sulagna

Upside: Interesting plot, Prashant Narayanan's abnormal characterization and performance, decent direction, good music

Downside: Stretched second half, cliched climax, unconnected romance track of Emraan-Jacqueline

Running Week: 4

Box-Office Verdict: Super Hit


Film: Bubble Gum

Position: 5

Director: Sanjeevan Lal

Cast: Delzad Hiravali, Sohail Lakhani, Suraj Singh, Apoorva Arora, Sachin Khedekar, Tanvi Azmi

Upside: Simplicity is story and direction, honest attempt at understanding child psyche, authentic revival of the 80s, good performances

Downside: Slow, long and repetitive

Running Week: 1

Trade Comments: Despite being decent on content, this small film, without the backing of any big banner, hardly got screens across the city. Most cinema-halls preferred playing Singham and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara over the new and negligible releases. So Bubble Gum went unnoticed. 

Source: TOI 

Box office report: New releases fall flat; Singham continues to roar!

The three new releases of this Friday fell flat at box office. Rather, it’s Singham and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara that continue to draw crowds.

Gandhi To Hitler, Khap and Bubble Gum -- this Friday’s three new releases -- saw a lukewarm response at box office on the very opening day. Gandhi To Hitler and Khap were expected to attract a few footfalls but failed to do so. Even the critics have panned all the three films. In comparison, the Hollywood releases Cowboys & Angels, The Smurfs and The Tree of Life saw a better response.

On the other hand, Singham completed its first week run at box office with a collection of a little over Rs. 50 crore nett, making the film a superhit. What’s more heartening is that the film continued to hold steady on Friday.

Likewise, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is still attracting movie buffs to theatres. The film rounded off its two-week run at theatres with a collection of Rs. 63.25 crore nett. It is expected to touch the Rs. 80 crore mark by the end of the coming week.

The coming Friday would again see the multiple release of small budget films. The next big release from Bollywood would be Aarakshan on August 12, which will be followed by a long four-day weekend because of two gazetted holidays. The movie is expected to open well.

Zindagi Na Milegi...: Box Office Collections Cross Rs 110 Crore

Mumbai, Jul 28: ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobbara’ (ZNMD), the movie directed by Zoya Akthar and released by Eros International, starring Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Kalki Koechlin, and Katrina Kaif, has so far grossed over Rs 110 crore (Rs 1100 million) in just 11 days since its release.

Jubilant with the figures, an Eros International official says, “ZNMD has seen excellent earnings nationwide as well as abroad, especially in multiplexes. An estimated Rs 800 million rupees gross collection is from the domestic market and the rest from across the globe. This is beyond our expectations, and we are jubilant about it.”

Earlier, it was reported that the movie was released on 1,800 screens worldwide. The initial response (during the first weekend) was indeed superb with both single screens and multiplexes running houseful. 

According to analysts, the movie is going to dominate the metro multiplexes for the next couple of weeks.

Zindagi Na Milege Dobara | Movie Review

Actors: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akthar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif

Director: Zoya Akhtar

Rating: ***1/2

First the good news. "Zindagi…" is one of the most nuanced, evenly paced and well executed films in commercial Indian cinema.

This cross between "Dil Chahta Hai" and "Sideways" is funny and honest, but it is marred by one fundamental flaw - it has nothing important to say.

Yes, to a select few, neo-rich one percent of its audience who find nirvana swimming under Spanish seas or for whom freedom is feeling the wind in your hand from a high speed car, the message is loud and clear - you only live once so live it full.

But one has to wonder, should a commercial film be made keeping just one percent of the audience in mind?

Yes, it is a message that everyone else needs as well, but should that message ride on a pleasure trip through Spanish landscape where there is beauty but no 'zindagi' or should it have been closer home, in the squalor and madness and 'life' of this nation.

Three old friends - Arjun (Hritik Roshan), Imran (Farhan Akthar) and Kabir (Abhay Deol) - go on a three-week bachelor's road trip through Spain before Kabir's marriage, only to come face to face with their own fears and insecurities.

Globally there are too many road-trip films for Zoya Akhtar to bring anything new to the cinematic table.

What she could have done was to have enough emotional pull for the viewer to empathise with the characters.

But would you empathise with the fatherly, marriage-related and heartbreak problems of three rich men who really have everything going for them? Besides its one percent audience, the rest would find the existential angst of these three men, a creation of their own vanity.

Yet, besides its many flaws, dishonesty is not one of them. It's an honest film about the type of people the filmmaker interacts with daily. Sadly, that is perhaps the only cross section of society that Zoya Akhtar has known in her urban living.

The problem with the film is thus the problem in the worldview of its maker, which is extremely limited in scope.

And that is a shame because Zoya is a nuanced and refined filmmaker. She could do wonders with a story that is real and about real men and women.

"Zindagi…" thus actually ends up being like a big-budget film with the heart and audience of a small-budget indie. And that mismatch will perhaps do the film in at the box office.

Cinematically though, Zoya does try desperately to transcend the obvious, to mean the message rather than say it, like say a "Sideways" or "Lost in Translation" does. And though she knocks on the door of this transcendence, she is unable to pass through.

Commercial filmmakers in the past, either came from the grassroots like a Mehboob or Guru Dutt, or were concerned about it like Raj Kapoor.

Their films hence reflected - sometimes directly - and often in the films written by Zoya's father Javed Akthar, allegorically, the angst, pain and the struggle for survival of the nation's teeming masses.

Sadly, as their world ended up becoming cocooned from life around, the connection their kids had with reality, became limited. The result are some really well made films, but ones with 'zindagi' only in their titles, not in their guts.

ZNMD with 3 girls would have been difficult: Katrina

It is a pleasant coincidence that Katrina Kaif's film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is releasing on the eve of her birthday. In an exclusive and extensive conversation with Gaurav Malani, Katrina Kaif speaks about her films, birthday plans and more.

Your last birthday was celebrated while shooting for this film in Spain
Yea! I was away from home with just the film's cast and crew. We went out for a dinner to a Spanish restaurant. And coincidentally the film is now releasing on the eve of my birthday.

Any special birthday plans this year?
It all depends on what happens to the film. I am really hoping and praying it does well.

What is your idea of living zindagi to the fullest?
Balancing what is the right thing to do and what you really want to do! Balancing what you want and what is expected out of you! I think a lot of us make decisions of what is expected from us and not from what we want. There is no point in working so hard and not being happy.

But you seem to have worked real hard on this film and mastered outdoor sports like dirt-biking and scuba diving.
I have ridden bikes before. But the bike in this film was much heavier and bigger. So I had to train in between the shooting days in Spain. For scuba- diving, I trained in the pool for 4-5 days but when we went on location, we were shooting in the sea which was very rough, choppy and a different experience. That's when I realized I hadn't trained enough.

Any moment of adventure that scared you?
On one of the diving days I went completely out of control, because you get pushed around under the water. You can't come up quickly to the top. That was probably the scariest moment for me.

Did you miss trying your hands at sky-diving that the boys do in the film?
I am very lucky and privileged that I was not required for sky-diving. I am not sure if I would have done that.

What happens to your plans of riding a bike across Mumbai streets?
I do want to ride a bike but riding in and around Mumbai would not be much fun because you don't want people to keep following you on the roads. But maybe I can find another place to ride and that would be fun.

How was the experience of getting dirty with tomatoes?
Oh, the Tomatina festival is exactly like what Holi is for us. It happens in Spain every year where everyone plays music on streets, there's water, there's dancing and there's this whole playing with the tomatoes thing. It took us three days to shoot the song and it felt kind of gross after a while. But it was fun.

What is the craziest thing that you would want to do in life?
Crazy doesn't have to mean jump out of an airplane. It doesn't mean Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara toh jump out of an airplane or go scuba-diving or do something crazy. It's also about the decisions you make in life. If you are under pressure to get married just because you are not going to live your life again, you shouldn't be doing that. If you are in a job you hate, you shouldn't be doing that. If you only think about money, you need to re-look at that a bit. It's not just about the adventure it's kind of a paradox.

Would you call ZNMD a road film?
I don't know what a road film means. Every film needs to have a setting the road trip is just incidental to the film. This film is shot in Spain where they are on a road journey.

With ZNMD primarily being a film about male-bonding, how much scope do you have in the film?
Well, the story is primarily about these three boys, their journey in their life and the decisions they make. It's like a coming-of-age film. What worked for me is that I absolutely loved the film and wanted to be a part of it. It doesn't matter if I am there in every scene or not.

And really hats off to Hrithik, Farhan and Abhay to do this film together. They are all stars in their own right and do different kinds of cinema. But they still came together and put aside things like who has more lines and who has more scenes. It would have been very difficult to get three girls to do a film like this.

So did you and Kalki have problems with each other?
It is so unfair on Kalki. She is such a sweet little girl and new in the industry. It's not right to picture her like that and throw her into the deep end.

Who, do you think, is the hottest amongst Hrithik, Abhay, Farhan?
Two of them are happily married and the third is happily taken, so I will save my opinion.

Is your screen-chemistry with Hrithik, the best you ever shared with an actor?
That is not for me to say. The audience's decision is always right in that context.

Finally which is the weirdest rumour you have heard about yourself?
I have lost count. And it doesn't matter anymore.

I was delighted to work with Katrina: Hrithik Roshan

Farhan Akhtar complained that he was only being asked questions that had one-word answers. "Please, guys, ask me other things – I want to talk!" he said.

Did you all have any bad experiences on the trip, or feel that this was a bad idea?
Farhan: No.

Some people say this film looks like it takes off from "Dil Chahta Hai". Is it like that?
Farhan: No.

Do you really believe life should be lived to the fullest, since we have only one life?
Farhan: Haan.
Katrina: Farhan's taught me a song that has only three chords, so now I can actually play a whole song on guitar.
Hrithik (on being asked about Katrina as a co-star): I hadn't seen any of her films before this, but I was delighted to work with her. What I've seen her do is not even 10% of what she's capable of.
Katrina: Thank you, Hrithik, for not seeing any of my films. I've seen all of his, by the way.
Hrithik (on the toll booth experience on the highway between Ahmedabad and Jaipur): I had to call out to people to make them look up at me, otherwise most of them were like, 'chal jaldi kar na'. But once they did, they were very happy, I'm sure, because our producer paid for all their cars!

On being asked what they want to do in this one life:
Ritesh: I want to do a film course next year.
Zoya: I want to do something for my city, Mumbai – the roads, cleanliness.
Farhan: Katrina will tell you what I want to do.
Kat: He wants to be part of a band, part of a skydiving competition club, and he wants to write a book. See how well I know my friends!
Abhay: I want to build houses for the poor.
Kat: And I want to help Abhay build houses for the poor.
Abhay: Promise? Seriously, let's shake on it. I'm going to call you up on that, you know!
Kat: OMG, everyone's answers are so emotional!
Kalki: Just to beat Abhay, I want to educate the poor, because education lasts a lifetime, but houses can be destroyed in a minute. Ha ha! And I wanna learn how to dance. I can't at all, and Hrithik is such a fabulous dancer.
Hrithik: Apart from teaching Kalki how to dance, I want the answer to this question!
Hrithik (on whether there were any funny moments): Yes, our mental boy, Abhay, usne kuch zyada kha liya aur uske pait mein visphot ho gaya. So while we went out to dinner that night, Abhay slept in the loo.
Aap Salman Khan aur Rahul Gandhi ko kya kahengi ki woh shaadi ke liye maan jayein, kyunki zindagi na milegi dobara?
Katrina: That's so mean – Abhay's not married either!

The Greek God and Barbie together for this film – how was the chemistry?
Abhay: Who? Ritesh-Zoya?

Farhan, do you believe zindagi milegi na dobara?
Farhan (after a second of surprised silence): Kya aap punarjanam ki baat kar rahe hain?

Rain washed away the dream to see Katrina, the stars left Udaipur

All hopes and anticipation to get a short glimpse of their favorite stars got washed away as the entire crew of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) unpredictably left Udaipur city without making any public appearance.

ZNMD star casts comprising of Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar checked-out from Hotel Shikarbadi after staying there overnight. The crew arrived last night at 11:30 from Ahmadabad and today they left for their next destination Jaipur at 12:00 p.m. They are  travelling by-road from Mumbai for promoting their upcoming movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

 Nothing was clear about the next plan and preparation of star casts but some unofficial sources assumed that the group might visit PVR Udaipur after a road show to some city areas. But it is also highly believed that the plan has suddenly changed due to rain and the entire team left without attending any meeting. Though there is no official announcement from the crew about why they didn’t stayed for long in the city.

The local media was on-its-toes since the news of Hrithik and Katrina’s arrival reached Udaipur on July 8, many reporters were seen waiting at night and early this morning outside Hotel Shikarbadi. Teams of tv news channels were accompanying the crew of ZNMD, however the crew has not entertained local Udaipur media who was waiting outside the Hotel since morning today.

Many fans also gathered outside Hotel Shikarbadi to take a look of Kat and Hrithik, some fortunate ones also got autograph from stars.

Katrina Kaif’s kiss-and-tell tale!

Mumbai: In Bollywood, on-screen kisses have always created huge ripples. And when the two stars are Katrina Kaif and Hrithik Roshan, then it is bond to generate quite a curiosity.

Katrina and Hrithik’s liplock in ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ reportedly is the longest ever smooches in the history of Bollywood. However, the actress is completely unperturbed.

Talking to a daily about her on-screen kiss, Kat said, “Why give it so much importance? I don’t feel the sequence is even worth talking about. People won’t watch the film only for the kiss, I can promise you that. Personally too, I don’t give it any attention. People will come only if they are interested in the film, like the promos, or if they like the vibe of the film. It’s part of an actor’s job.”

Apparently, this is not the first time the actress has locked lips in a flick. Katrina’s steamy kiss with Gulshan Grover in ‘Boom’ (2003) was deleted from its DVDs.

However, Katrina Kaif is excited to share screen space with Greek god Hrithik for the first time in her career. “He is an amazingly talented person. I always wanted to work with him and I’m happy to have got the opportunity now. You can really learn a lot about focus, concentration and dedication from him,” she said.

Hmm….we couldn’t agree more with Katrina!

Zoya Akhtar: I didn't know Katrina at all

While filmmaker Zoya Akhtar's debut flick LUCK BY CHANCE gained her enough critical acclaim and recognition, commercially it couldn't do well. Now, it seems her second outing ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA is eagerly awaited. Reason? ZNMD boasts of big stars and actors like Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol and Kalki Koechlin.

Zoya says, 'Hrithik Roshan is my favourite actor and he was a part of my first film LUCK BY CHANCE as well. Even if I was making a 1 crore film I would have approached Hrithik. Kalki is a very interesting actress and edgy. Farhan and Abhay are really intelligent actors and who wouldn't love to work with such talented lot?'

Quite surprisingly Katrina came in much later while rest of the cast was already finalised. In fact, Zoya even auditioned a lot of women before roping in the beautiful actress - Katrina Kaif. Reveals Zoya, 'Yes that's true we auditioned a lot of women before finalising Katrina. Actually we needed a half Indian and half Caucatian girl, who would be willing to ride a bike, scuba dive and one who is physically fit. I tested a lot of people from New york and London but nothing really interested me. Also, I didn't know Katrina at all, till I met her at a party. It was only at that time I realised 'Sh*t man. What am I doing. She is the one I was looking for'.'

Leaving aside the commercial aspect, ZNMD star cast is made up of actors, who come from different worlds. But Zoya considers it to be ideal combination of cast and quite elated to bring them together.

'Isn't it interesting to cast people that make a heady mix? When you put actors together who don't usually come together or who come from different school of acting there's new dynamic and a new energy formed. Though they come from different worlds and have a different sense and styles of working, they do look like they belong together on a poster. And I think it's quite fun and exciting to have them together. Someone should take initiative to attempt something new. So why not me?' says the excited Zoya.

Zoya Akhtar's ZNMD, which is touted as guys' flick, does have scope for women as well. She says, 'Of course they do. You take any example RANG DE BASANTI or DIL CHAHTA HAI or ROCK ON or any boys film the women have very pertinent parts. I mean I don't write bad characters for women.'

Zoya is quite fond of films on raod trips and from long time she was looking forward to do something on similar lines and then ZINDAGI happened. 'I love roadtrips. And I have always wanted to do a film on road trips. My first film LUCK BY CHANCE was very interior movie set in Mumbai. So this time around I wanted go outdoors. I wanted to do something visually completely different. Reema Kagti, my co-writer, and me started talking discussing about it and the idea just came in. It is the fastest script written - just 3 months,' concludes the filmmaker.

No issues with the kiss: Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif

Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, starring Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin has been in the limelight for various reasons, one being the hot and special scene between lead actors Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif. Recently there were reports that the scene may be toned down as it was too hot to handle.

However, after much deliberation, the producers, Excel Entertainment, have decided that the kiss will not be toned down. A source close to the film said, "Hrithik has no problems with the kiss. If he had, would he have done it? Ditto for Katrina. So why tone it down? Isn't today's youth bold in their actions? So why be squeamish?"

Added the source, "Yes, Excel Entertainment did have meetings in debating whether the kiss needs to be toned down. Some people in their circle even wanted it to be deleted as it is just too steamy. But majority of the members who participated in the debate were against tampering with the original draft."

So there we have it, after locking lips with Aishwarya Rai (Dhoom) and Barbara Mori (Kites), we will see Hrithik Roshan smooching Katrina too. For three steamy minutes.

Hrithik-Katrina on a nude beach

Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif had a tough time shooting on a nude beach for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

Imagine what happens when the hottest Indian stars, Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif, shoot on a nude beach! The duo had a tough time shooting on the Lloret De Mar, Costa Brava beach in Spain for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara . And before you assume anything... they were fully clothed!

When Hrithik and Katrina along with Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol were told by director Zoya Akhtar that they had to shoot on the beach for two days continuously, they were fine with it until they reached the location. It is Katrina's introductory shot. The three boys see her for the first time on the beach and Farhan walks up to strike a conversation with her.

When Zoya had done a recce for the film 6-8 months before the shoot, the beach was nearly empty. So she did not anticipate any problems. However the scene was being shot during vacation time when there were a lot of people roaming in nude on the nude and it became problematic to film the scene.

A unit-member from the film's crew says, "The beach is mesmerizing with white sand and Zoya Akhtar was sure she wanted to capture this in her film. But when the cast and crew reached on the location they felt awkward. They felt overtly clad and rather odd amongst the rest on the beach who were nude. Moreover the unit had to ensure that nobody comes into their frame".

"However within couple of hours the unit forgot where they were shooting and got down to work. It was really crazy at the beginning with no one knowing where to frame, where to sit and where to put things. But after shooting among the Adams and Eves for 12 hours, we all got used to the scenes in front of us."

Ask Zoya Akhtar about this particular scene and she reminisces, "It was a task to ensure that that no one else was in frame, as we did not want to go under the scanner of the censor board. So the entire crew was on high alert".

The unit-member adds, "It was a beautiful white sand beach and even though they could make-do by shooting elsewhere, logistically this beach was most convenient."

 

 Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara - Trailer [HQ]

 

 

Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara promotional event

Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif jazzed it up with song and dance at a concert to promote their upcoming film. Hrithik was a man on a mission as he performed before the huge crowd with a variety of dance steps as his other co-stars from the film joined in.

Abhay Deol performed a step imitating Dharmendra’s dancing style while Farhan Akhtar got Hrithik to do his famous moves from Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. Katrina in a Spanish skirt and co-ordinated blouse performed some ‘senorita’ steps that had fans screaming for more. Kalki Koechlin was in the centre of things but performed half-heartedly.

Ritesh Sidhwani and Zoya Akhtar who were onstage were introduced to the crowd as well. Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonca  provided the musical accompaniment as the stars joined in the singing.

 Abhay Deol, Katrina Kaif, Kalki Koechlin, Hrithik Roshan and Farhan Akhtar

Don't Say Tomato To Kat!

The mango may be Katrina Kaif's chosen fruit for endorsement, but we've heard the actress won't have anything to do with tomatoes, even if it means an endorsement deal worth millions.

Sources say the squishy-squashy time Kaif had at the Tomantino festival in Spain, while shooting for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, was enough to put her off tomatoes, much to the disappointment of a tomato ketchup brand.

Sources reveal that a ketchup company offered Kaif a three-year deal worth an eyebrow leaping amount, but Kaif politely turned down their offer. Said a source close to the actress, "They wanted to use her connection with kids to enlarge their customer base. Unfortunately, Katrina's stomach does somersaults at the thought of tomatoes. She just couldn't take up their offer."

Talking of tomatoes...

Famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda wrote of Spanish tomatoes in his poem, Ode to Tomatoes, which uses the fruit to paint an immensely visual picture of the country, in all its heat, beauty, sensuosness and colonial cruelty:The street filled with tomatoes, midday, summer, light is halved like a tomato, its juice runs through the streets.

Katrina Kaif: Simply Stunning at Etihad Presser

Katrina Kaif at Etihad Airways press conference to announce the winner of the Next Stop Bollywood Dance Competition on Friday noon, May 20 at Hotel Taj Palace in Colaba, Mumbai. Photo Credit: Sawfnews

May 20, 2011 - Katrina Kaif wore a fresh and frothy white halter dress at Etihad Airways press conference to announce the winner of the Next Stop Bollywood Dance Competition on Friday noon, May 20 at Hotel Taj Palace in Colaba, Mumbai.
Katrina's knee length swingy georgette Monisha Jaising dress had a black high neck and black swarovski floral accents in the front.
She paired her gorgeous dress with black lace overlay peep toes with a bow top.
The 26-year-old face of the UAE national airline looked endearing with her Barbie inspired hair styled in shoulder draping vertical curls and asymmetrical side parting.

She looked uncharacteristically flirtatious with the bright makeup: thick eyeliner, red eye shadow, eyelash extension, pink lipstick and pink blush. Red toe nails perfectly rounded her scorching hot looks.
Oh! Did you hear? Inspired by her biker's role in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Katrina plans to buy a bike to zip around Mumbai. So watch out for her and the potholes on Mumbai roads this Monsoon! Who knows, she and Gul Panag may form Mumbai's first female bike gang!
"Though I did get comfortable riding a Royal Enfield for the film, I'm looking to buy a medium-weight bike for the in-city travel," Kaif told HT.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) trailer gets 55 mn hits in 48 hours

Since we have information at our fingertips, Excel Media has set a trend in Bollywood with a digital launch of their Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara trailer, last Sunday. Within 48 hours of its launch, the trailer got over 55 million hits. That's an amazing 5.5 crore people.

Actors Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Farhan Akhtar and Abhay Deol viewed the launch live. Excited with the response and confident that the digital approach is the way ahead, Ritesh Sidhwani says, "This is an astounding number by any standards. And the audiences include ones on mobile phone, social media and You tube. The trailer on FB is receiving frequent 'likes'.

The entire driving force behind the digital platform is the transparency that it offers. Every view is direct, from across the world and immediately available for the filmmakers to see. To the extent that one can check viewers from which city are watching the trailer. As ZNMD dons the role of a trendsetter, let's wait and watch how many others toe the line.

Hrithik Roshan getting back at the media?

Dressed in blue casual t-shirt and jeans, Bollywood hunk Hrithik Roshan was out to have loads of fun and laugh at the trailer launch of Zoya Akhtar's much awaited road trip film 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'.

He was either giving smart-alec answers, or answering on other's behalf, or else poking fun at the media. Referring to Kalki Koechlin's marriage, when some one asked that who is the next to get married from the team, Hrithik retorted, "Kya main aapko pandit lagta hoon? (Do you think I am a pandit?) When asked the most dangerous stunt the crew members did in the film, on behalf of the film producer, Ritesh Sidhwani, Hrithik said, "Signing our cheques."

And whenever somebody praised him for his looks or body, Hrithik would look up and start giving a 'speech', "I would like to thank my mom, my dad, god..for making me look so lovely and keeping me in good shape.." Wonder if he was getting back at the media for giving him bad press. The film's promo on television can be seen from May 29 onwards.

Katrina: the biker Laila!

The trailer of Zoya Akhtar's much awaited road trip film 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' starring Abhay Deol, Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin was launched for digital channels today at a suburban five star hotel in Mumbai.

The trailer which is bound to remind you a lot of 'The Hangover' and Farhan's own 'Dil Chahta Hai', proved to be a revelation of sorts as far as Katrina Kaif is concerned.

The actress is not only seen showing off dare devilry by indulging in sky and scuba diving but also by riding a Harley Davidson for the first time! Also all you Sheila fans can move aside for the actress is now free-spirited Laila, who doesn't shy away from wearing leather jackets and pants.

In a chat with TOI, Katrina revealed, "My character's name is Laila in ZNMD and I play a diving instructor! I rode a bike too and learnt riding it within few days before I shot the scene which took around 3 hours. I am ready to ride a bike on the streets of Mumbai now and would love to take Hrithik Roshan for a ride!"

We saw Kareena Kapoor ride the bike in Golmaal, Minissha Lamba in Kidnap and now its Katrina.

Lets wait and watch if Katrina proves to be the most convincing biker babe, Bollywood will finally get to see.

ZNMD will release in July this year.

Abhay has taken off his pants: Hrithik

Hrithik Roshan jokes about the poster of his forthcoming film which sees him and Farhan topless but not Abhay.

Abhay Deol is the only actor in the poster of 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' who is fully clothed. His co-star Hrithik has gone topless while Farhan is seen wearing a ganji.

When asked as to why he didn't take off his clothes, Abhay grossed out the press and his co-stars by giving a detailed explanation.

"I have a lot of hair on my chest and there is a scene in the film where we have these tomatoes all over our bodies. I told my stylist that if the tomatoes stick to my chest hair the sight won't be pleasant. Otherwise, I have no issues with taking off my clothes" said Abhay evoking displeasure on everyone's face including Farhan and Hrithik's.

Hrithik added with a wink, "Abhay has in fact gone bottomless in the film. You will see him remove his clothes too."

Now, given the bachelor trip theme of the film, it is but expected boys.

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara | Movie Preview

Banner: Excel Entertainment
Producer: Ritesh Sidhwani & Farhan Akhtar
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Story & Screenplay: Reema Kagti & Zoya Akhtar
Dialogues: Farhan Akhtar
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Music Director: Shankar, Ehsaan, Loy
Cinematographer: Carlos Catalan
Editor: Chandan Arora
Choreography: Vaibhavi Merchant
Production Designer: Suzanne Caplan Merwanji
Costume: Arjun Bhasin
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif, Abhay Deol, Kalki Koechlin, Farhan Akhtar, Naseeruddin Shah
Genre: Drama
Release Date: May 2011

Synopsis 

It has an interesting ensemble cast and is made by a filmmaker who has shown depth and insight in her debut venture ( Luck By Chance ). In Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara she traverses through the landscapes of Spain. This is a Zoya Akhtar road movie that is sure to be peppered with quirks, slice of life nuggets and loads of drama