After `Dabangg`, Sonakshi Sinha more excited for `Dabangg 2`

Mumbai: She made her Bollywood debut with the blockbuster ‘Dabangg’ in 2010, and now actress Sonakshi Sinha, who is also a part of ‘Dabangg 2’, says she is upbeat about being a part of the franchise.

"I am very excited. When a film gets a good response, it feels good. I started with `Dabangg` and now doing `Dabangg 2` is very exciting for me," the 25-year-old said on the sidelines of an event here Sunday.

Sonakshi was joined at the event by director Milan Luthria, who is working with her in the sequel to ‘Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai’.

In the movie, Sonakshi features opposite Akshay Kumar, who plays don Shoaib Khan. But she refuses to call her own part negative.

"It`s negative? No. It`s a very interesting character. For me, as an actor it is a very challenging role and the film is set in a very interesting premise. It is a great role, that`s all I can say now," Sonakshi said.

The film also features Imran Khan and Sonali Bendre. It is to release around Eid next year.

Bodyguard smashes all records

Everyone was forecasting " Bodyguard" to open to big box-office collections, but no one anticipated the massive response the movie ended up generating. The film, which opened on Eid on Wednesday, ran to packed houses in the country, with trade analysts predicting the collections to be in the range of `18-20 crore.

During the last couple of years, it was Salman's other big ticket release, "Dabangg" (`14.35 crore), and Aamir Khan's "3 Idiots" (`12.5 crore), which had shown the biggest openings.

Says trade analyst Taran Adarsh, "Salman is something else now. I think the movie has earned almost `20 crore on day one and over the weekend, it will cross `85-90 crore." Komal Nahta is more conservative in his estimates and pegs the weekend collection at `65-70 crore. However, Nahta says the film has broken all international records too. Says Nahta, "In Dubai, the movie opened on Tuesday because that's when Eid was celebrated. While "Dabangg" had opened with 7 lakh dirhams (`87 lakh), "Bodyguard" made 11 lakh dirhams (`1.36 crore). In London, the movie opened with a collection of 60,000 pounds (`44.4 lakh) on Tuesday, which too is unheard of. It has broken all previous records for any Bollywood film."

While analysts hail Salman and the film as a box office miracle, multiplex and single screen officials tell us that various strategies have come together to help the film. Says Tinku Singh, group president, SRS group, "In NCR, we ran 53 shows in Faridabad, and 22 and 30 shows in Gurgaon and Indirapuram. The total collection on day one was `24 lakh. It is houseful across the country. After the "Aarakshan" fiasco, everyone's rejoicing with this movie. And the thing to remember here is that the movie opened on a Wednesday, so it will have five days, plus two more weekends at least, to make a lot more money."

Also, "Boduguard" opened to weekend pricing across most multiplexes, giving them much more revenue. However, PVR Cinemas chose to go ahead with weekday pricing for Wednesday, and reported 95% occupancy in the morning shows, and 100% occupancy towards the evening. Out of 550 shows in PVR halls, approximately 325 were played in Delhi and Punjab. Says Deepa Menon, vice president, corporate communications for PVR Cinemas, "The movie saw an excellent opening in Delhi-NCR, ending the day with nearly 95% occupancy, which is quite phenomenal. This definitely is one of the biggest openings on day one that we've seen."

Even in single-screen theatres, the film has done record-breaking business in Delhi-NCR. While Vishal in Rajouri Garden reported a total of `4.5 lakh in four shows, all four shows were houseful in Delite, said Sunil Parashar, media coordinator for Dellite. Sheila Cinema in Paharganj too, saw four full shows, totalling a collection of over `3 lakh. Says Parashar, "During "Ready", ticket prices had been increased by 20% even in single-screen halls. But for "Bodyguard", even at normal single-screen prices, the movie has broken all records. Most single screens are houseful till Sunday."

Biggest opening days
Bodyguard: `20 cr
Dabangg (2010): `14.35 cr
3 Idiots (2009): `12.5 cr

Paisa vasool: 'Bodyguard' Salman wows box office home & abroad

He is Bollywood's biggest paisa vasool star today. That's what theatre-owner Rachit Malhotra thinks of Salman Khan. Malhotra owns Agra's Jwala cinema, a single-screen theatre with an abundant 1,139 seats. Yet on Wednesday (Eid) and Thursday, they weren't enough to accommodate the frenzied fans who queued outside for a ticket. Every show of Bodyguard, Salman's latest release, was houseful.

"For the audience, Salman is the film. Everything else is secondary. They aren't just whistling when he bares his chest. They are even dancing outside the hall. They know a Sallu bhai movie is always tension-free, with entertainment guaranteed," says Malhotra.

It's a similar tale in each of the four single-screen theatres and the three multiplexes in the city of the Taj. "Combined, there are about 60 shows of Bodyguard every day in Agra. Most are houseful. That's staggering," he says.

The success story is being replicated across India, even abroad. Trade expert Komal Nahta says the film raked in a record-breaking 11 lakh dirham (about Rs 1.36 crore) on Tuesday, the opening day in Dubai. Even in UK, the first-day collection of £60,000 (about Rs 44 lakh) was equally impressive.

"The movie could cross Rs 85 crore in the first nine days. Overall, it could end up netting around Rs 125 crore," says Nahta, editor, Film Information. Bodyguard's box-office figures - his third major recent hit along with Dabangg (2010) and Ready (2011) - might bring a smile on the lips of India's most famous bachelor. Smiling won't be easy though. Salman has trigeminal neuralgia, a condition that causes acute pain in the jaw. He is currently undergoing treatment in the US.

Like Bodyguard, Dabangg and Wanted (2009) were also released during Eid. "He has a huge following among the Muslim youth. With an Eid release he is able to capitalize on it," says Nahta. That's correct but not the full truth. The 45-year-old actor is equally popular among urban lower-middle class youth and the underclass across communities.

Social scientist Shiv Viswanathan believes the secret of Salman's popularity lies in his ability to combine machismo and irreverence, innocence and mischievousness. "He combines opposites effortlessly," he says.

Distributor Sanjay Mehta puts the second surge in the star's popularity in perspective. In the past 10 years, Bollywood was dominated by feel-good family dramas, love stories and naughty comedies. "Salman was the first to spot the shortage of action films. and its possible demand. With Wanted and Dabangg, he reinvented himself as an all-action hero who also delivers one-liners, makes people laugh. With a few changes, Bodyguard continues in the same vein," he says.

Salman's bulging biceps in Veergati (1995) spurred the 'bodybuilding' craze in small town India. Almost two decades later, he continues to be every neighbourhood gym's No. 1 poster boy. Yet, his major early hits were either romantic comedies or emotional dramas: Maine Pyaar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam .

The actor's reinvention as an action star became possible after the regular men of muscle -- Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgun and Akshay Kumar -- recast themselves as funny-face comics and uneasy romantics. The new Salman filled that gap. True, he was always at home in action flicks (Garv, 2003). But with Wanted and Dabangg, he repositioned himself as Bollywood's top action man.

Viswanathan says that part of Salman's charm lies in the fact that he makes no claims of being an intellectual. "He is just normal and healthy, a child of nature, the boy next door. And he is sheer entertainment. He is non-problematic intellectually. And that works in an age where everybody seems to be into problem solving," he says. Mehta says that Salman's rebellious streak has also endeared him to the masses. "They find him more human," he says.

In recent years, the actor has matured in real life. Salman doesn't make headlines any more for allegedly shooting black bucks or breaking glass panes of his girlfriend's home or reportedly driving over people sleeping on the pavement. Now he makes news primarily for breaking box-office records, for being able to figure out the people's pulse unerringly. Time and again. There is something about Salman Khan.

Sonu Sood reveals his 'Maximum' look

After flaunting his six-pack abs in " Dabangg", Sonu Sood dons a new look which seems to be modelled on the styles popularised in the 1950s and 1960s, for the action-thriller "Maximum". 

Sonu who played a cop in "Bbuddah...Hoga Terra Baap", will once again be seen as a police officer in director Kabir Kaushik's underworld drama, which also stars Tabu and Naseeruddin Shah. The actor posted a picture revealing his new look on social networking site Twitter. The picture shows him sporting a moustache and a side parting with neatly combed hair. This look is indeed different from the way he actually looks.

'Dabangg' dominates Bollywood awards with 6 prizes

From left to right, Diya Mirza, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma, and Shah Rukh Khan acknowledge the fans while on stage at the end of the 2011 International Indian Film Academy Awards in Toronto early Sunday morning, June 26, 2011.

TORONTO—"Dabangg," a tale about a corrupt police officer, dominated the 12th International Indian Film Academy awards, snagging six prizes including best picture at the star-studded event in Toronto—held on North American soil for the first time. 

"My Name is Khan" also scooped up several top honors at the five-hour award bash that started Saturday night and rolled over into early Sunday. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan took the prize for leading male role for the film, about the treatment of Muslims in a world of heightened suspicions following the Sept. 11 attacks.
Khan played the family's Muslim patriarch who suffers from Asperger's syndrome. The film, nominated in seven categories, also took home the prize for best direction and best story. Khan was handed his award by Bollywood superstar Anil Kapoor and two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank, who congratulated Bollywood for helping to unite the world through film. 

Lisa Ray arrives on the green carpet at the 2011 International Indian Film Academy Awards, Saturday, June 25, 2011, in Toronto.

"Hollywood and Indian cinema must bring the world closer together," said Swank, draped in a glittering sleeveless deep red gown. "I believe in IIFA's vision—one people, one world." 

Another Academy Award winner, Cuba Gooding Jr. presented the best director award to Karan Johar for "My Name is Khan," declaring that he was impressed by the power of Indian films around the world. 

"I think it's absolutely wonderful how India has traveled the world of entertainment and I would love to play and be a part of a Bollywood movie myself," said Gooding, who broke out into a few dance moves. 


"Dabangg" led the awards tally sweeping trophies in the music category in Toronto's packed Rogers Centre, filled with more than 22,000 Bollywood fans and stars. The hit took the prize for best playback singer female, best playback singer male and best music director. A playback singer pre-records songs so Bollywood actors can lip sync to them in their films. "Dabangg" star Sonu Sood won for best performance in a negative role. The film also garnered the awards for best screenplay and for best female debut which went to Sonakshi Sinha for her role in the film as Sood's love interest. 

Anil Kapoor and Hilary Swank wave to fans as they arrive on the green carpet at the 2011 International Indian Film Academy Awards, Saturday, June 25, 2011, in Toronto.

Anushka Sharma won the best female lead for her role as an assistant to a wedding planner in "Band Baaja Baaraat," a film about the world of wedding planning. Arjun Rampal took home the best male supporting prize for the political thriller "Raajneeti," and best supporting female role award went to Prachi Desai for "Once Upon a Time in Mumbai." 

Kangana Ranaut, the model turned actress, gave the night's first performance with her fellow "Double Dhamaal" actors Arshad Warsi, Javeed Jaffrey and Ashish Chaudry. The film was one of several that premiered during the IIFA weekend. 


A lifetime achievement award was given to Dharmendra Deol, patriarch of the Deol dynasty, who received the special award for his 55-year-long career. Dharmendra's sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, Bollywood stars in their own right, performed with their father for the first time on stage to a song from their film "Yamla, Pagla, Deewane." 

Outstanding achievement in Indian cinema went to Sharmila Tagore, who has starred in such films as "Mera Sapnon Ki Rani," "Namkeen," and "Chingari," and has spent 52 years in the industry. Tagore's son is the popular Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan. She said her son wanted to attend the weekend festivities, but couldn't because they are both finishing films. 

Ontario Premier  

Dalton McGuinty gave a speech at the ceremony, which also saw a number of energy-packed Bollywood dance numbers and tributes, capping the three days of festivities. McGuinty lured the IIFA to the city by pledging $12.25 million. 


Roughly 16,000 of the 22,000 tickets to the awards ceremony available to the public sold out in minutes. Those lucky enough to get seats were charged between $49 and $126, while resellers offered last-minute tickets online for more than $1,500 each. 

Launched in 2000 at the Millennium Dome in London, the annual IIFA awards have traveled around the world in the hopes of exposing the genre to various audiences and opening trade markets. 

Holding the event in Toronto was a strategic move as India's cinematic royalty makes a bid for a piece of the North American box office. Held previously in Amsterdam, Sri Lanka, Macau, London, Malaysia, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok and Johannesburg, IIFA is capitalizing on the already huge Bollywood following in Toronto, which has an estimated population of nearly 700,000 South Asians. 


"For the first time in its 12-year history, IIFA makes its North American debut, and its biggest stars are you," Kapoor said in a mix of English, Hindi and Punjabi while pointing to the audience. "Thank you Ontario. Thank you so much for making us feel the warmth in Canada." 


Organizers say more than 200 filmmakers and actors came from overseas in the bid to gain inroads into the North American market and build production partnerships. 

The awards gala is considered India's biggest media event and one of world's most-watched televised spectacles, with hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in.

Ready fails to match up to Dabangg

Even before its release, Ready was expected to take a big opening. It netted Rs 13.15 crore across India on Day One. Trade experts attribute it to Salman Khan. “Wanted, followed by Dabangg, has helped Ready open to full houses,” says  trade analyst, Amod Mehra , who’s expecting the film to make over Rs 40 crore in the first three days.

Manoj Desai, executive director of Maratha Mandir and G-7 Cineplex, adds that it has broken the jinx of big films failing to take off. “Ready will ensure full houses at my theatres till Monday,” he exults but declines to comment on why it did not match up to Dabangg that netted Rs 14.50 crore on the opening day. 

Mehra attributes this to the lack of content: “The story is typically South Indian cinema. And it’s hard for audiences in the Hindi belt to accept cousins getting married. For us such a union is incestuous.”

A veteran distributor, on condition of anonymity asserts that Ready will, at the most, net as much s Golmaal 3 (Rs 117 crore). “It’s opened big like Welcome (2009) and Singh Is Kinng (2008), but it’s not as good as Dabangg,” he rues.  

The vacation period has helped the film take a start, along with the lack of family entertainers in recent times. Observes Sunil Punjabi, CEO, Cinemax, “With schools and colleges to re-open in a week, people are flocking to theatres. The weekend should see 100 per cent occupancy but audience response is mixed. The first half is fantastic but the second half is slow and disappointing. Tuesday will be the acid test.”

Salman's Ready sells for fancy price

There is tremendous hype surrounding Salman Khan's Ready, his next big offering post last year's biggest hit
Dabangg.

The film that is the first big ticket Bollywood release post the long drawn out cricket season is being awaited by
the trade and the junta. Hence the prices it has got from the various territories is huge.

A trade source says, ``Ready has been reportedly sold for 11.61 cr for Maharashtra excluding Mumbai city; West Bengal territory for 2.25 cr; Mysore 2 cr, 2.25 Nizam/Hyderabad and overseas has fetched 9 cr--the highest for a Salman film.''

Salman's father Salim Khan has retained the distribution rights for CPCI and Rajasthan because he is one of the big players in this territory.

It is being said that Wave Cinemas will exploit the Mumbai city distribution themselves. No big star cast will release at least for a fortnight after Ready, so the film gets a clear run.

Katrina's dumb act!

Katrina Kaif pretended like she didn't know Dabangg won the National Award for Best Film.

At a recent media event when questioned about her reaction to the news she feigned ignorance and said, "Oh is it ? I didn't know!." But soon changed her tone and congratulated the team adding that Rajneeti too was a prime contendor for the spot! In fact she went on to add that the jury should start a new category for item songs and Sheila should definitely win it. After all these reports of Salman-Kat patching up surfacing, we wonder if it's just a façade for their next film or have they genuinely put their differences aside.

National Award fills me with gratitude: Salman

A leaner looking Salman Khan dressed in jeans and a black tee, the latter flattering those rippling biceps, greets us affably at his hotel suite.

Looking handsome sitting at the dinner table, he invites us to join in, even as he mulls over digging into the kebab platter that's laid out for him. After a hint of an indecisive moment, he says, "I'll have it later!" While we apologise for intruding (on his dinner) he says with a phew, "That's okay. I've just worked out so I don't want to have anything right away."

Fitness Freak
Salman had landed in the city two hours ago, in which time he had visited a college, addressed its students, watched their dance performance and then headed back to his suite! So just when and for how long did he work out, we ask rather perplexed. He says, "I don't know for how long, but I've done around 2000 pushups!" As our jaws drop on hearing this, he continues rather nonchalantly, "Actually, when on tour it's difficult to find a gym. But, I have my hands and feet to help me do my pushups and that's what I do. My film Bodyguard requires a leaner look, so I have to work out like this!" We regain our composure and carrry on with the interview.

Award Functions
Dabangg's to get the National Award in the popular category. Will Salman, who's chosen not to collect a single award for this film till date, be present for this one at least? He smiles and says, "Arbaaz will collect it, all dressed in a sherwani I guess!" But, why is he shying away from awards? He says, "I was just an actor in the film. It was Arbaaz's film all the way and I feel happy that people have loved Dabangg and respect that. I feel very happy for Arbaaz too as now we've got this National Award. But, even before this award, we've been awarded by the whole nation at the BO. It fills me with gratitude."

Paisa Vasool Films
All set with his next film Ready, directed by Anees Bazmee, ask Salman how different it is from his last few releases Wanted and Dabangg and he says, "It's a film that's high on comic action. It's like a naughty Hum Aapke Hai Kaun with the Prem of No Entry in it. Even Anees Bazmee has not done this kind of a film before." So, are promotions of the film tiring him out? He says, "I do promote films, but it's not like I overdo it. Even for Dabangg we had a two-city tour, which included Nagpur. I feel if a film's made well, just the promos work. It's the reason why we reworked on the Character Dheela and Dhinka Chika song. See, people spend lots of money when they come to watch a film and they wanna have a blast. I for one wouldn't want to see a gyaani or boring film."

Item Song
While on the subject of songs tell Salman that after Munni and Sheila, Character Dheela is the next chartbuster and it's been picturised on a male star after a long time and he quips mischievously, 'Uske liye character dheela chahiye!' So, is he the next item boy? "Oh no," he says, adding, "Doing an item song is way too difficult and only Helen and Malaika do justice to item numbers! We actors get dialogues, a special role etc to show our acting skills. But look at Helen aunty - people would go to theatres to just see her song! This requires amazing talent. Ditto for Malaika. She's married and has a child and doesn't want to do films. So, she takes off for 3-4 days, shoots a song and as far as I know, all her songs are hits. This is a tough job." So did he find it tough to do Character Dheela? "Zarine being in it helped a great deal," he says.

Bring back heroism
His spate of recent films have a lot of action in them. Did Salman choose these films by design? "Actually, yes," he says, adding, "In past 8-10 years I found that real heroism has gone missing in the movies. I want to bring it back - the heroism in romance, drama, comedy. These kind of films were run down and got dated." And what does he feel about not many younger B-town heroes doing action? He says, "They will in time, they are too young for it." But, he was doing action in his younger days, you tell him. He says, "We were brought up on those kind of films and it was natural choice that we did them too. And talking about age, I was young then, but I am younger now!" Seeing his dapper persona, you couldn't agree more.

Salman's been controversy's favourite child, but with every passing one, he seems to get better at handling them. He says, "Remember the last time when I was in Nagpur, we had discussed the Eid release of my film that was made into controversy? Well, this time it's an IPL release that's got the buzz going. Over time I've realized there'll be people who'll put you on their shoulders, keep you on a pedestal and also pull you down. If you're a nobody, who will care as to what you're doing. But, once you're a mass person, this is bound to happen." Does this mean that questions on his bachelor boy status have stopped riling him? He says with a smile, "I guess people who ask me this find some humour in it!"

National Award for Salman's 'Dabangg' | Video News

Conspiracy against Sonakshi?

Sonakshi Sinha has enough battles to fight...

Actress Sonakshi Sinha may be basking in the success of Dabangg, and the promos of Joker may look promising. But the actress isn't very popular for absolutely no fault of hers. The girl, it has been reported, has already fought with many an actress and is being haild as 'Cat woman' simply for the number of cat fights she has managed to get tangled in.

Friends close to the actress are convinced that someone is playing dirty. However, when we bumped into Sonakshi recently, she seemed as cheerful as ever. "Me fighting with people isn't news anymore. According to the media, I do it every other day," she laughs. "On a more serious note, I'm here to work. And I'm happy with the opportunities I'm getting."

So does she feel people are conspiring against her? "'Conspiring' is too serious a word. I doubt anybody has the time for that," says the optimistic Sinha.

Ask her about Salman and the girl says she is still in touch with him. "He guided me well, and gave me a breakthrough I couldn't have dreamed of." Refusing to say too much about the SMS she sent Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi believes that the Bollywood pie is big enough to feed all.

Sohail over Arbaaz for Salman

Salman was recently caught in a quandry having to choose between his filmmaker brothers Arbaaz and Sohail.

The actor, who was slated to work with Arbaaz on Dabangg 2 and with Sohail on Sher Khan, could accommodate only one of the two projects this year.

After some thought, Sallu has made his decision and it seems to be working in Sohail's favour.

Unfortunately, Arbaaz's Dabangg 2, which was to go on floors in January 2012, will be postponed to June as Salman and Sohail start filming Sher Khan by the end of this year.

When asked how Salman made his decision, a source told us, "Right now Salman has to start shooting for YRF's film, which will be directed by Kabir Khan.

His schedule is currently choc-a-bloc. Sher Khan has developed very well in terms of the script and so he is very excited to play the lead character."

Considering Arbaaz's Dabangg was a blockbuster, Sallu's decision to work with Sohail first came as a surprise. However, a source close to Salman quickly defended, "Well, that's the schedule for now."

Salman's decision not only affects Arbaaz but Sonakshi too, who has been very eager to get started on the sequel. We can only wonder how she will react.

SRK praised Salman: Abhinav

Abhinav Kashyap a.k.a. Dabangg director and brother of Anurag Kashyap, only recently visited Shah Rukh Khan at his residence and all hell broke loose. There were talks that Abhinav had left the Salman camp for Shah Rukh's. However, Abhinav Kashyap denied all of this when we put him in the hot seat.

He told us, "Yes, I did go to Shah Rukh's house. He saw Dabangg, thought it to be a good movie, and share the appreciation with me. He's an actor, I'm a director, we are a part of the same industry, there was no reason why I shouldn't have met him. I didn't meet him in hinding, I told Arbaaz that Shah Rukh had called me home and that I intended to meet him," he said.

Abhinav further added, "SRK spoke a great deal about Dabangg. He praised Salman's performance in it. He applauded Arbaaz' production efforts. He congratulated me on a job well done as well. That was really all that happened when I visited Shah Rukh."

About Abhinav's next project, it's going to be backed by Viacom 18. Nothing else has been decided yet. A film with SRK? "Well, if fate has it that we work together, we will. Nothing has been talked about so far."

Viacom18, Movie Temple Productions to produce Kashyap’s next

New Delhi, March 11 – Viacom18 Motion Pictures have teamed up with Movie Temple Productions to produce ‘Dabangg’ director Abhinav Kashyap’s second directorial venture, which is tentatively titled ‘Project 18′. 

The film is being written by Kashyap and is slated to go on floors in the last quarter of the year.

‘I am impressed with their (Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Movie Temple Productions) approach to focus on high-quality content which connects with the audience and their ability to execute and market films innovatively. Together, we should be able to deliver a film that is high in appeal for the audience,’ he said.

Movie Temple Productions Pvt Ltd is co-promoted by Sanjeev Gupta, a Saharanpur-based textiles businessman, and Himanshu Mehra, chief assistant director to Kashyap for ‘Dabangg’.

‘We have been able to identify a lot of young and enthusiastic talent to support us in our endeavour and we hope to live up to everyone’s expectations,’ said Mehra.

Vikram Malhotra, COO Viacom18 Motion Pictures, said: ‘We are proud to have Abhinav join the Viacom18 Motion Pictures family. Abhinav is not just a rare writing and directing talent but also possesses an uncanny and stylish approach to filmmaking that puts him in the top league of young directors today. We also plan to further build on our relationship with Mr. Sanjeev Gupta and Mr. Himanshu Mehra’s company Movie Temple Productions.’ 

IANS

Acting with Kamal is difficult: Sonakshi

Sonakshi Sinha does not believe her 33-year age difference with Kamal Haasan will deter her from playing his wife in Tamil and Telugu director Selvaraghavan's film

I will be respectful but an equal on the sets with Kamal Haasan," says Sonakshi Sinha, who is gearing up to star as Haasan's wife, in the Tamil-Telugu director Selvaraghavan's film.

When asked if the 33-year age difference between Haasan and her will be an obstacle, Sinha tells us, "Why should that be a problem? Once you are on the sets in front of the camera, your age should not matter.

I never felt like a child while working with Salman in Dabangg (2010) and now with Akshay in Joker. In real life, age makes no difference in a marriage.

On screen too, your biological age is of no consequence. Salman and Akshay are a lot older than me so it's not as if I am suddenly going from teenybopper co-stars to a co-star of another generation."

Apart from the co-stars age difference, the movie has also reportedly garnered attention for being a remake of Hollywood director Ridley Scott's Hannibal (2001).

However, the actress quickly squashes all the rumours saying, "I don't know where these speculations started from. No this film is a complete original. When I heard the script, I was blown away."

Currently, Sinha is busy making all the efforts to get into character. She plans to watch Haasan's film, Hey Ram(2000), where the actor is married to Vasundhara Das, who is at least 25 years his junior, so as to see how they enacted a convincing on-screen chemistry.

In order to effectively portray Haasan's on-screen wife, Sinha wants to establish an off-screen rapport with him first, as she tells us, "I need to establish a comfort level with him. I certainly feel an initial nervousness, since Kamalji is legendary.

Acting with him is difficult enough. Playing his wife will require me to have a lot more guts."

To eliminate the language barrier, Sinha is taking cues from her father, Shatrughan, to learn how to read Tamil and Telugu, without making it obvious.

She adds, "It is impossible for me to get a grip on Tamil and Telugu in such a short time.

My father couldn't speak either language when he did Rakht Charitra (2010). He read out the lines from cue cards but no one could make it out and so now he is teaching me this trick of the trade."

Abhinav to direct an action thriller

Finally all the rumours and speculations over what Abhinav Kashyap will do after opting out of Dabangg 2 can come to a rest.

Kashyap, who directed the biggest hit in Dabangg last year has now turned a producer and will be making a hard-core action thriller for Viacom 18.

The production company will co-produce the film, along with Kashyap, and if rumours are to be believed then talks are on with none other than King Khan SRK.

A couple of days back, Kashyap has said that he had not signed the film with Viacom 18. This development has reportedly happened in the last 48 hours. Our source said, "It was Kashyap's friend Sunil Bohra who intervened and made things possible for Kashyap.

Bohra has been a close associated with the Studio 18 and has been involved in a couple of films with them. After Kashyap left Dabangg 2, he immediately a film with Viacom 18. He has already met SRK and expressed his desire to work with him.

SRK too told him that he would love to work with him on an action thriller that he has in mind. Kashyap has channelled all his energies into getting the script right and it will be ready by May.

Meanwhile Kashyap will be a partner on the film and will not be charging anything as director's fees. He will instead share the profits as well as the negative rights along with the production house."

In spite of repeated calls, Abhinav Kashyap and Vikram Malhotra of Viacom 18 remained unavailable for comments.

Arbaaz to direct Dabangg 2

Abhinav Kashyap is not directing Dabangg 2 and it will be Arbaaz Khan who will be helming it. This will be Arbaaz's debut as a director.

Abhinav, it turns out walked out around 10 days ago after differences with producer Arbaaz Khan turned into an all-out spat. At 9.30 one evening, Arbaaz received an SMS from Kashyap saying that he was not going to direct the sequel.

Following this, Arbaaz, who has been eyeing the director's cap for some time now, grabbed the opportunity and took over. He even flew to Bangkok to convince brother Sallu of the musical chairs that had ensued in his absence. Dabangg was Abhinav's debut film as a director.

Our source said, "It is strange considering that Dabangg was the biggest hit of 2010. Abhinav walked out of the film and Arbaaz decided to step in, not a surprise considering he's been harbouring directorial ambitions for some time now. So Abhinav walking out is a blessing in disguise. He is now confident that he will give Dabangg 2 a special zing.

Arbaaz was also unhappy that Abhinav sent him a message so abruptly at 9.30 pm one evening saying that he doesn't wish to direct the film. He didn't even come and tell him. Arbaaz felt that certain professionalism or decorum should have been maintained."

When contacted Arbaaz Khan said, "Yes, there have been issues and Abhinav is no longer directing the film. I don't want to get in to details of what happened between us, but this has happened over the last two weeks.

He didn't want to direct it, and, fair enough, it is his choice. We have to move on. I don't know his reasons but I am happy that he is no longer doing the film after what transpired. It was strange how he shot me an SMS and didn't even bother to meet me personally. I wish him all the very best. I just hope that whatever decision he has made is the right decision."

So who will be directing it? Will he take the plunge? Arbaaz said, "Yes, I am directing it and the process has begun. I was involved in every aspect of Dabangg as producer. We have started work on the script and in the next 2-3 months I will have the first draft ready as well. But I don't want to say anything more about the film and it subject."

When finally asked if he went to Bangkok to inform Salman about this blockbuster development, Arbaaz said, "No, that's not true. I had gone to Bangkok to do a cameo in the film." Let's hope it's not a cameo in the director's role too. Abhinav Kashyap, for his part, remained unavailable for comment.

Salman Khan jumps from 10,000 feet

New Delhi, Feb 23 – Bollywood’s “Dabangg” actor Salman Khan will be seen doing a daredevil stunt in PepsiCo’s new Mountain Dew ad – he jumps from 10,000 feet in a “wingsuit” from which a parachute springs open.

 

“Everyone is afraid of something or the other at some point of his or her life. But if you try to run away from fear, you’d be tired and eventually fear will win. So the best way to overcome fear is to face it, run through it because ‘Darr Ke Aage Jeet Hai’,” Salman said in a statement.

Salman was initially not so sure about the stunt but he eventually did it. Wingsuit flying is a new sport of flying through the air in a special jumpsuit and pulling the parachute’s ripcord as one apporaches the ground.

He is said to be the first celebrity brand ambassador roped in by Mountain Dew.

Alpana Titus, category marketing director (flavoured carbonated drinks), PepsiCo India Beverages, says the new campaign is quite big in terms of quality and budget.

“Salman has jumped from a mountain which was 10,000 feet high. He did have jitters initially but was confident it would work out well and he would be able to overcome his fears in turn,” she said.

When asked why Salman was chosen out of all the known faces, Titus said: “Salman was our first choice because he embodies our (Mountain Dew’s) tagline ‘Darr Ke Aage Jeet Hai’ accurately and he also has a nationwide fan following. People in not only the metros but also the remote areas follow him.”

The 45-second TV commercial will air from Friday and a 60-second commercial will be shown in theatres.

Dabangg director picks Salman over SRK

Abhinav Kashyap had not expected the success of Dabangg to have a flip side too. The director was caught in a Bollywood crossfire - that between the industry's biggest rivals, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, as both actors were eager to work with him in their next projects. 

Salman wished Kashyap would start work on Dabangg 2 while Khan wanted him to start a film for Red Chillies Entertainment.

Kashyap reportedly went for a hush-hush meeting with SRK at his residence to discuss the proposition of making a new film and that's where Kashyap's dilemma began.

SRK asked the director to pen a mainstream potboiler. He told Kashyap that he would produce the film and act in it too.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Mirror reported on February 9, 2011 that Kashyap and Salman had patched up and had plans of working on Dabangg 2.

What happened in the interim is unknown. What made Kashyap choose one Khan over the other?

Speculations say that Kashyap decided to prioritise his commitments to Salman, the actor who made his debut film a super hit.

The issues Kashyap reportedly had with Sallu obviously went out of the window, we presume. Others suggest that Salman put his foot down in this matter and categorically told Kashyap, "It's my way or the highway".

Though Kashyap remained unavailable for comment, the million-dollar question is: how will SRK take to his marked preference for Salman? A source revealed, "The shooting of Dabangg 2 starts in December 2011.

As for SRK's film, he has still not been able to lock the script. The SRK project is still far away."
But then again, we all know the tortoise and hare story...

Sonakshi, Akshay pair up for Bhansali’s next

Offers are showering on the newbie Sonaskhi Sinha. After signing Abbas Mustan’s ‘Race’, Shirish Kunder’s ‘Joker’, the ‘Dabangg’ actress has bagged another interesting project opposite Akshay Kumar in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s home production to be directed by Prabhu Deva.

‘Dabangg’ has made veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha’s daughter Sonakshi an overnight star and she has bagged ‘Best Debutante award’ in almost all the award events.

Farah Khan has promised a sizzling item number to the actress and now-a-days Sonakshi is into fitness regime to shed her extra flab for her upcoming films.