Fashion is important for all : Alia Bhatt

Actress Alia Bhatt doesn't feel like a star despite being in news for her line up of films and brand endorsements. Post her debut film 'Student Of The Year', Alia will next be seen in Imtiaz Ali's 'Highway', Karan Johar's '2 States' and a film with Varun Dhawan.

"I don't have much acting experience. I am not a star. I am learning... there is a long way to go. As of now I am dependent on my directors," she told PTI.
Alia was nervous before shooting for 'Highway', an intense road movie, as 'Student Of The Year' was a light hearted film. She says her 'Highway' co-star Randeep Hooda helped her.

"He is a great actor and helped me a lot, he made me feel comfortable. Though he is senior, he is as young as I am. It is just a perception that he is older. Rather, there were times when I was acting older and saying don't do this or that," she said.

Alia, who would be seen opposite Arjun Kapoor in '2 States', finds him extremely supportive. "He is a great actor, I loved him in 'Ishaqzaade'. He is an amazing person. He helped me in preparing for the role," the actress said who plays a South Indian girl in the film.

The actress, who is also the ambassador of cosmetic brand Maybelline, feels it's good to be trendy. "Fashion is important for all... It is the way of depicting yourself. People should groom themselves," she said.

Sonu Nigam lodges police complaint alleging Chhota Shakeel threatening him!!

Playback singer Sonu Nigam, who has been popular for his romantic voice, is reportedly receiving threat calls from the underworld. He has also filed a complaint with the police accusing underworld don Chhota Shakeel of giving him threats through phone calls and text messages.

He has complained that multiple calls have been made and several text messages have been sent by now since last month asking him to cancel his partnership with an event management company and sign the deal with another one as per the gangster’s choice. Nigam has been threatened that if he doesn’t agree with the don’s choice his public image will be tarnished as his proximity with an influential woman in Mumbai will be exposed by the gangsters. Recently the underworld’s hit-list included names like producers Boney Kapoor and Karan Johar.

THE LUNCHBOX has great chance of winning at Oscars : Karan Johar

Ritesh Batra's THE LUNCHBOX has a great chance of being nominated for the Best Film in a Foreign Language category of the Academy Awards and also winning the Oscar statuette according to Karan Johar, the co-producer and Indian presenter of the film. However, this can only happen if the film gets the nod of those who form the selection committee of the Film Federation of India (FFI) and the umbrella body finally picks up THE LUNCHBOX as India's official Oscar entry.

Karan Johar is quite gung-ho about the film's prospects for the fact that it is a Cannes Critics' Week selection and has big brands of global sales and distribution like The Match Factory. It will also be supported by previous Oscar winners like Marc Baschet and Danis Tanovic who are its co-producers. However, the most crucial factor from Oscar perspective is that the North American distribution rights of THE LUNCHBOX have been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and they are also looking at the film as a potential Oscar winner and will do their best to publicize and promote it to the voting members of the Academy according to Karan and Guneet Monga.

As a feel-good romantic comedy and a low budget independent film involving common people, the film suits the sensibilities of the Academy members if we go by the list of foreign language Oscar winning films of the past. The reactions to the film after its Cannes Critics' week premiere were quite enthusiastic as well. The Critics' Week director Charles Tesson had described it to a reporter as a film that 'marks a departure from traditional Bollywood melodramas that make up the bulk of Indian production. It's a refreshing and utterly charming comedy that could have been made in Hollywood.'

The reviewers of the leading American film trade magazines had also appreciated it. Michael Barker and Tom Bernard of Sony Pictures Classics had paid glowing tributes to the film and had said, ''THE LUNCHBOX is one of those enchanting movies that will have audiences and critics floating on air. We are so happy to be bringing this movie to the American public. This movie represents the birth of a major international filmmaker.''

Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma off to Sri Lanka!!!

 anurag kashyap is all charged to begin his magnum opus Bombay Velvet in Sri Lanka, where he will recreate Bombay of 1960s. Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, along with the crew and other members of the cast are off to Sri Lanka for the shooting of the film. 

Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma play lovers in the film, whose lives intermingle with the evolution of the city of Bombay through the 50s to early 70s. Anurag has nourished the dream of making this film for nine long years, and finally he is living his dream. 

The director tweeted, “Leaving For Srilanka.. Bombay Velvet begins, finally, for real, 9 years after we began work on it @Prakashzone @Vasan_Bala @FuhSePhantom.” 

The movie boasts of an amazing star cast with Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma coming together for the first time. Also, Anurag Kashyap has cast Karan Johar as the antagonist. 

Now, coming to Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, a lot has already been reported about their crackling chemistry at TOIFA, 2013, in Vancouver. The two looked superb, and seeing them together, Ranbir’s real-life girlfriend Katrina Kaif apparently went green with envy. 

As per sources, Katrina was so upset that she even skipped the entire show and appeared only for her performance. Later, Ranbir had to pacify her. 

A lot can happen on the sets of a film, and Katrina Kaif knows it pretty well because her love affair with Ranbir allegedly started on the sets of Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. 

Now, when Ranbir and Anushka are off to Sri Lanka, does this ring a bell for Kat? 

Karan Johar Blows War Trumpet Against Shahid Kapoor?

Karan Johar is certainly one filmmaker who doesn't easily forgets and forgives and it seems that chocolate boy Shahid Kapoor has to face his wrath this time. Shahid and KJo's differences go back a long way. Shahid refused to be a part of Karan's 2005 release Kaal, the filmmaker however decided to reunite with Kapoor and roped him in for his upcoming film Gori Tere Pyaar Mein however, Shahid walked out of the project at the last minute and was then replaced by Imran Khan. Interestingly, Shahid's former flame Kareena Kapoor is the leading lady of the movie. But Karan it seems is quite miffed with the actor and sources reveal that Johar wants to give Shahid some tough competition at the box-office and has therefore deliberately decided to shift his film Ungli and now it will clash with Kapoor's Phata Poster Nikla Hero. However, sources close to Johar have refuted the rumours and have been quoted saying that it has been postponed because the film will not be ready by then. Both the films will hit the theatre on September 20, this year and it would be interesting to see who'll be the winner of this box-office battle. 

Abhishek Bachchan, Karan tweets about Shahrukh's baby AbRam!

It seems that the whole Bollywood is celebrating the arrival of Shahrukh Khan's baby boy AbRam. Recently, Karan Johar and Abhishek Bachchan welcomed the new born child on micro blogging site Twitter. Shahrukh Khan on Wednesday announced the birth of his surrogate baby AbRam. Talking about Shahrukh's bundle of joy, Karan Johar posted on Twitter, "AbRam is the most beautiful child i have ever laid my eyes on...he is to the Mannat born and has made the home even more beautiful..."

Karan Johar, Gauri Khan Meet Hrithik Roshan Post His Brain Surgery.

A host of Bollywood celebrities visited actor Hrithik Roshan, who underwent a brain surgery at a suburban hospital. 

Hrithik successfully underwent a brain surgery yesterday to remove a two-month-old clot.

Celebrities including Karan Johar, director Karan Malhotra and director Abhishek Kapoor, Uday Chopra, actor Sanjay Kapoor with wife Maheep, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, Sharman Joshi visited Hrithik.

Hrithik is doing fine and will be discharged in three days. The actor has been advised 4-week bed rest after which he can resume shooting, hospital sources said.

The 39-year-old actor, while performing stunts for his upcoming film Bang Bang two months back, had suffered an injury to his head.

The Krrish star has been suffering from Subdural Hematoma, which is often caused by bleeding of veins in the brain as a result of a blow to the head.

Hrithik's much awaited super-hero film Krrish 3 will release on November 4. The shooting of his upcoming film Bang Bang has been postponed till he recuperates.

Shraddha Kapoor to do an item song for Karan Johar

Mumbai: Newbie Shraddha Kapoor will be seen doing an item number in Karan Johar`s upcoming project `Ungli`.

Shraddha made her debut with `Aashiqui 2`, which was a hit at the box office. `Ungli` is being directed by Rensil D`Silva.
"Yes, she is doing an item song for `Ungli`. We are yet to shoot the song," sources close to the project told reporters.

Despite repeated attempts, Shraddha could not be reached for a comment. It is reported that the hero of the film, Emraan Hashmi, will also be a part of this special song.

This is not her first association with Johar, as Shraddha will be seen in his yet another production venture, titled `Gori Tere Pyaar Mein`, with Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan. This film is directed by Punit Malhotra.

She will also be seen in Mohit Suri`s next directorial venture `The Villain` with Siddharth Malhotra.

`Ungli` also stars Sanjay Dutt, Kangana Ranaut, Randeep Hooda and Neha Dhupia and is slated to release later this year. 

Aamir: My parents did not want me to become an actor.

Director Karan Johar invitedAamir Khan, for a special episode of Bollywood@100, History TV18’s tribute to the 100 years of Indian cinema. 

In this chat, the director persuaded the actor to reveal some of the lesser known incidents and decisions in his life.

Aamir then revealed the story behind his Oscar-nominated film Lagaan. 

When director Ashutosh Gowariker narrated the script to him for the first time, he dismissed the story by calling it ‘stupid’. 

It was only during the second narration, four months later, that Aamir somewhat liked the plot. But he wasn't entirely convinced yet. 

It took a year and four-five narrations for Ashutosh to finally convince Aamir. 

Lagaan eventually went on to become one of the most critically acclaimed blockbusters of its time.

Very few people know that Aamir’s parents did not want him to become an actor, despite his father being a filmmaker himself. 

To satiate his passion, he worked in his classmate’s short film, which however was never released. Narrating the same to Karan, he states, “I guess only 10-12 people watched the film, and one of them was Shabanaji (Azmi) and she liked my act. When she came to know that I’m Tahir Hussain’s son, she really wanted to meet him and praise him about my work. I had no choice but to stop her from doing so, as I knew my parents won’t appreciate me acting discreetly.” 

Varun Dhawan signs second movie with Karan Johar

Filmmaker Karan Johar has signed actor Varun Dhawan, whom he had launched last year with Student of the Year, for his next untitled film.

"Varun is a doing a film with us. The script has been finalised. It is an exciting, fun film. We are producing it," Karan said.

With this yet-to-be-titled film, Karan is set to launch two more newcomers.

"We will be launching a new girl with this film and a new director as well," he said without divulging any further details about the project.

Karan had launched Varun, son of filmmaker David Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, daughter of Mahesh Bhatt and model Siddharth Malhotra, in his directorial venture Student of the Year.

Karan Johar's upcoming home production Hasee Toh Phasee will see model-actor Siddharth romancing Parineeti Chopra and is

scheduled to release next year.

Whereas, Alia will be seen opposite Arjun Kapoor in 2 States, which is jointly produced by Karan and Sajid Nadiadwala.

Siddharth, Varun and Alia are still part of Karan's Dharma Productions. And Karan says he keeps advising and nurturing

them.

"They are part of Dharma family and they are bound to us. We represent them as well," Karan said.

Karan is also getting charged up to direct a film, which is a period drama. And he will begin work on it next year.

"I am still in the process of writing. I have no idea what it is. It is a period piece and I am working on it. It is the film my father had researched and I am taking it ahead. We might change a few things," said Karan Johar.

Meanwhile, the filmmaker is quite excited to judge dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa yet again.

"I love the show and its format. I got familiar with the show soon. I love song and dance as it is an integral part of our films. I felt comfortable fitting into the scheme of things. And I feel fortunate to share the platform with Remo and Madhuri," Karan said.