The coming Friday will witness the release of Indra Kumar’s Rekha-Sharman starrer SUPER NANI and Abis Rizvi Films’ Kamal Sadanah directed ROAR. While the front runner will once again be the week old HAPPY NEW YEAR but given the strong intrinsic merits, the emotional and family content will surely help SUPER NANI find its audience, while ROAR will have to bank on its International standard VFX and niche audience. Interestingly, a film which goes by the name MAIN SHAHRUKH KHAN BANNA CHAHTA HOON is also listed for release!

Last Friday saw the release of Farah Khan’s Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Boman Irani, Sonu Sood and Vivaan Shah starrer, HAPPY NEW YEAR. As was expected and predicted, the film scorched the box-office (despite some negative publicity/reviews), setting a new first day, best single day as also the highest weekend record. Monday onwards the collections did fall (as is the norm after a big holiday) but not alarmingly. The film is on a record breaking run in the Mumbai-Gujarat sector. In fact HAPPY NEW YEAR is looking at a first week in the range of around 150 crore or more (including dubbed Tamil and Telugu versions). HAPPY NEW YEAR is also Shah Rukh Khan’s biggest overseas grosser (opening weekend) with $8m. While UK has grossed and#163;570,000, US is much higher at US$2,100,000, during the first weekend (24-25 October).

The major release of the week before HAPPY NEW YEAR, the horror genre MUMBAI 125 KM, saw a fair first day but collapsed after that as it collected 30 lakhs from Bombay, 6.50 lakhs from Ahmedabad, 3.15 lakhs from Surat, 3 lakhs from Baroda (collections from 5 cinemas unreceived), 3.15 lakhs from Pune, 2 lakhs from Nasik, 15 lakhs from Delhi city, 21.5 lakhs from Ghaziabad, 1.50 lakhs from Kanpur, 5 lakhs from Lucknow, 1.75 lakhs from Gurgaon, 1.50 lakhs from Chandigarh, 1 lakh from Jalandhar, 1 lakh from Amritsar, 1 lakh from Ludhiana, 1 lakh from Bhatinda, 1.50 lakhs from Bhubaneshwar, 2.50 lakhs from Nagpur, 1.75 lakhs from Jabalpur, 2.50 lakhs from Raipur, 3 lakhs from Indore (collections from 3 cinemas unreceived), 1 lakh from Gwalior (collections from 3 cinemas unreceived), 2 lakhs from Bhopal, 2 lakhs from Jaipur (collections from 5 cinemas unreceived), 1.50 lakhs from Hyderabad and 1.75 lakhs from Bangalore. Netting 1.75 crore during the opening week, MUMBAI 125 KMS has failed at the box-office.

The other release of the same week, SONALI CABLE, is a washout netting around a crore during the first week.

Meanwhile the Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif starrer, BANG BANG, took advantage of the absence of any major release collecting 75 lakhs from Bombay (collections from other cinemas unreceived), 30 lakhs from Ahmedabad, 7.15 lakhs from Surat, 5.50 lakhs from Baroda (collections from 4 cinemas unreceived), 5 lakhs from Rajkot, 15 lakhs from Pune, 3.15 lakhs from Nasik, 1.55 lakhs from Belgaum, 55 lakhs from Delhi city, 9 lakhs from Noida, 6 lakhs from Ghaziabad, 5.75 lakhs from Kanpur, 9.65 lakhs from Lucknow, 2 lakhs from Allahabad, 7.50 lakhs from Gurgaon, 2 lakhs from Faridabad, 5.15 lakhs from Chandigarh, 3.15 lakhs from Jalandhar, 2.50 lakhs from Amritsar, 3 lakhs from Ludhiana, 1.55 lakhs from Bhatinda, 20 lakhs from Calcutta, 2.65 lakhs from Siliguri, 1 lakh from Patna, 2.15 lakhs from Dhanbad, 1.15 lakhs from Ranchi, 3.50 lakhs from Bhubaneshwar, 5.65 lakhs from Nagpur, 3.25 lakhs from Jabalpur, 3.50 lakhs from Raipur, 7 lakhs from Indore (collections from 2 cinemas unreceived), 2 lakhs from Gwalior (collections from 3 cinemas unreceived), 3 lakhs from Bhopal (collections from 2 cinemas unreceived), 10 lakhs from Jaipur (collections from 8 cinemas unreceived), 2.65 lakhs from Kota, 3 lakhs from Udaipur, 25 lakhs from Hyderabad, 1.50 lakhs from Aurangabad, 30 lakhs from Bangalore, 2 lakhs from Mangalore, 1.75 lakhs from Visakhapatnam, 1.15 lakhs from Madras and 2.65 lakhs from Kochi. Adding another 6 crore BANG BANG has netted 151 crore in three weeks from India (Hindi version). Given the expected satellite price (35-40 crore), 6 crore from the dubbed versions and the great overseas run, the heavily priced BANG BANG is a semi-hit. The film is superb in the overseas grossing $13m with and#163;1,155,000 from UK and $2,580,000 from the US, till the fourth weekend (24-26 October).

Concluding with Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shahid Kapoor starrer, HAIDER, the film managed another decent week collecting 50 lakhs from Bombay (collections from other cinemas unreceived), 5.50 lakhs from Ahmedabad, 2.25 lakhs from Surat, 2 lakhs from Baroda (collections from 3 cinemas unreceived), 1.50 lakhs from Rajkot, 5 lakhs from Pune, 1.50 lakhs from Nasik, 1.55 lakhs from Goa, 50 lakhs from Delhi city, 9 lakhs from Noida, 4.50 lakhs from Ghaziabad, 3.50 lakhs from Kanpur, 5 lakhs from Lucknow, 1.25 lakhs from Allahabad, 10 lakhs from Gurgaon, 1.25 lakhs from Faridabad, 5 lakhs from Chandigarh, 2.50 lakhs from Jalandhar, 1.50 lakhs from Amritsar, 1.55 lakhs from Ludhiana, 20 lakhs from Calcutta, 1.65 lakhs from Siliguri, 2 lakhs from Bhubaneshwar, 3 lakhs from Nagpur, 1.75 lakhs from Raipur, 3.75 lakhs from Indore, 1 lakh from Gwalior. 2.50 lakhs from Bhopal, 5 lakhs from Jaipur (collections from 5 cinemas unreceived), 1.50 lakhs from Kota, 1.15 lakhs from Udaipur, 10 lakhs from Hyderabad, 20 lakhs from Bangalore, 1.25 lakhs from Mangalore and 1.15 lakhs from Kochi. Adding another 5 crore , HAIDER has netted 60 crore in three weeks from India. Given that HAIDER’s director Vishal and actor Shahid have forfeited their remuneration (resulting in a reasonable budget), as also the praiseworthy overseas performance, the film is an above average fare. HAIDER has done very well in the overseas (especially US) , grossing and#163;181,000 from the US.

Shekhar Kapur is all set to direct a fantasy adventure drama ‘Tiger’s Curse’ that is based on a series of best-selling novels by Colleen Houck

The story centers around a teenage girl, who, while working at a circus, encounters a white tiger named Ren, whose true identity is a prince under a 300-year curse, according to an international Hollywood news portal. They team up to unravel a prophecy that might be the key to breaking the curse.

Shekhar, best known for his films like ‘Masoom’, ‘Mr. India’, ‘Bandit Queen’ and ‘Elizabeth’, has also announced plans to direct ‘Paani’ for Yash Raj Films with Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead role.

Aditya Vikram Sengupta’s debut feature is all set for a world premiere at Venice Days, an independent sidebar of the Venice Film Festival, that runs from August 27 to September 6.

Aditya, who is a graduate of the National Institute of Design and dabbles in graphic design, animation and advertising, talks about his Labour of Love:

What is Labour of Love about?

Labour Of Love is set against the backdrop of a spiraling recession that has Calcutta in its grips. Several people are losing their sources of livelihood and faced with the uncertainty of losing their own jobs, the film’s two central characters are under constant pressure to sustain their livelihood. The film deals with their strained routines as well as the calmness they depict in dealing with the eventualities of their existence.

There are no dialogues in the film. What was the idea behind not having dialogues?

Well technically, there are no on-screen dialogues in the film. My idea was to engage the viewer as a participant in the proceedings of the film, rather than merely a spectator. Although my original screenplay did have dialogues, as I went on shooting the film, dialogues just seemed unnecessary and out of place and I let the film take its own course.

The first thing I asked the actors to not do is Act. I wanted them to behave normally in front of the camera. I wanted them to live the spaces, the silences and experience the moods. The character sketches were designed in a way that they do not become strong characters.

How did you finance the film? 

Like most independent films, it was challenging to raise money for the film. My wife Jonaki and I approached several producers regarding the film and after a few rejections, we decided to produce it ourselves under our company For Films. We invested our savings and also raised money from investors to finish the film.

Last year, I showed an assembly cut of the film to producer Sanjay Shah (Salaam Cinema) who had previously worked on Ashim Ahluwalia’s Miss Lovely. Although our film was in its early edit stages, he showed a lot of enthusiasm in the vision and expressed his interest in developing it and working on its marketing and distribution strategy.

Are you looking at a theatrical release for the film? Will it not be difficult to market a film without dialogues?

I am quite confident that we will find distribution for the film. I think the audiences from any part of the world can relate to it.

What kind of preparation did you demand from your actors, as the film relied majorly on their expressions?

The first thing I asked the actors to not do is Act. I wanted them to behave normally in front of the camera. I wanted them to live the spaces, the silences and experience the moods. The character sketches were designed in a way that they do not become strong characters. I didn’t want their thoughts to influence the viewers at all. We might get hints of how they could be feeling, but not exactly what they are feeling. In the film, the actors are merely bodies that allow us to live and experience their lives.

What kind of music have you used in the film?

We are using a few old Bengali songs in the film and the very talented Alokananda Dasgupta, who previously composed music for Fandry and B.A. Pass, has composed a theme track for the film.

Tell us about your background

My background is actually design. I studied Graphic Design at the National Institute of Design and spent all my free time making live-action and animation films. I worked with channel [v] as a promo director for 3 years and then quit to work on my own projects. I started painting and exhibiting my art works and eventually started freelancing as an ad filmmaker and animator to earn a living.

I decided to make Labour Of Love early last year as I always knew that films would allow me to combine my different interests…and that was exciting. The only challenge I faced was trying to find a producer to support the project. But I was determined to make the film and I had to make it happen. We managed to put the resources together, found amazing people to collaborate with and that’s how the film was made.

What kind of cinema inspires you?

I am inspired by a wide range of cinema and filmmakers. Amongst my favourites are Robert Bresson, Bengali filmmakers Satyajit Ray, Tapan Sinha and Tarun Majumdar and contemporary filmmakers Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Takashi Miike, Tsai Ming Liang and many, many more

Nandana Sen is known to be an actress, writer, and child activist.  She is the daughter of Nobel Laureate and Bharat Ratna economist Amartya Sen and Padma Shri winner Nabanita Dev Sen, one of the most prominent authors in the contemporary Bengali literature.  With such genes, the world of entertainment seemed destined in her future.  Sen attended Harvard University as an undergrad, and trained in theater at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, New York, as well as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London.   She was last seen in 2010 on the big screen, but will be returning this year (November 7th) in Ketan Mehta’s upcoming film ‘Rang Rasiya.’  The film is based on the life and times of the 19th century legendary painter, Raja Ravi Varma, which is essayed by Randeep Hooda.  Sen will be playing Sugandha, Raja Ravi Varma’s muse. Read on for an interview with Sen where she candidly speaks about returning to Indian cinema after a gap of six years, and much more!

Nandana who is actively involved in promoting the movie, said the following regarding the mood of the film,

“It feels just like Diwali should – a new and auspicious beginning for our film, a burst of music, a celebration of lights, color and love.”

When asked about the various controversies that surround the movie especially for its nude and intimate scenes, Nandana says,

“Rang Rasiya focuses on art and freedom, not sex and nudity. It would be so ironic to censor myself in a film that criticizes censorship, wouldn’t it?”

She further adds that Ketan Mehta is an extremely sensitive filmmaker and it was only after he reassured her that she finally overcame her apprehensions and said yes for the movie. The beautiful actress credits her hugely supportive family for always standing by the decisions she makes. “I took time to think it over and to discuss it with my family”.

Clearing the air about reports that said she has started taking her marriage more seriously after playing Goddesses Saraswati and Lakshmi, the Nandana quipped, “I have grown up worshiping both Goddesses, especially Saraswati who is our family deity. But I love being human, with all my flaws and follies!”

When asked whether the movie will be a box office success or not, the talented actress was confident that ‘Rang Rasiya’ is a unique film with strong story, stunning visuals and great music, perfect ingredients for a mega blockbuster.

Nandana has various other projects in the pipeline. Her next Bengali movie is based on a Tagore story. Here’s wishing the doe eyed beauty and the entire team of ‘Rang Rasiya’ all the very best! Presented by Jayantilal Gada (Pen), Rang Rasiya is directed by Ketan Mehta, produced by Deepa Sahi and Aanand Mahendroo. It stars Randeep Hooda, Nandana Sen and newcomer Triptha Parashar in lead roles.  Be sure to check it out when it releases November 7th, 2014!

Kolkata: Actress Raima Sen is excited to shoot her next Hindi project ‘Bollywood Diaries’ in the city of joy.

The 34-year-old Bengali beauty, who was last seen in Bollywood release ‘Children of War’, is expected to play a sex worker in red-light area Sonagachi, Kolkata.

“Start filming for my next hindi venture ‘Bollywood Diaries’ today! Need your support and love twitter world… Excited to end 2014 this way,” Raima posted on Twitter.

The actress will be seen opposite ‘Bombay Talkies’ actor Vineet Kumar Singh. The film has three parallel storylines.The grand daughter of Suchitra Sen was busy with her Bengali film projects.

Kolkata, Oct 30 (PTI) The Bengali film industry is likely to get a shot in the arm with West Bengal brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan promising to promote Bengali films.

“I really would like to participate not as an actor but as someone who has a little more reach because of the language that I make films in. I would like to bring that expertise here and take the culture, literature and intellectual inputs from Bengal because I truly believe that this is the cultural hub of our country,” the superstar told reporters when asked about what his plans for Tollywood.

He said films are his forte and would like to do something for films made in Bengal.

“I would just take some time but I would do it. It is not my duty, its my privilege to do it,” the Bollywood star said.

Khan, who is celebrating the record-breaking box office success of his latest release ‘Happy New Year’, said it is unfortunate that some people think of him as being repetitive.

“I often read articles about how I keep doing the same thing. It’s unfortunate because I can’t explain people that it’s not the same thing. I feel very deeply about what I do and I try to turn it around and make light of what I do because I don’t think everyone wants to know the process that I go through as an actor.

“I reinvent myself every time,” SRK said and asked his fans to expect the unexpected from him.

“Please expect the unexpected from me. I try my best every time and give the unexpected for the love of the people.

I always try to be a little different and try to be little unexpected so that people are intrigued and enjoy my work,” Khan said.

SRK said all he wants to do is to try to be an actor.

“That’s all. I just want to act.”

SRK, who built 8 pack abs for ‘Happy New Year’, is all praise for co-actor Sonu Sood, saying his physique inspires him.

“He is so disciplined about his eating, sleeping time.

He inspires me,” the superstar said.

New Delhi: Delhi boy Rohan Gandotra has been chosen to play the malelead in Ashotush Gowariker’s TV debut show ‘Everest’.
Rohan will play Aakash Joshi, a dare-devil journalist, on the show and will be seen making a documentary on the highest mountain range. The actor has been selected from over 200 people to play the role of Aakash Joshi and had to undergo around seven look tests along with an acting and rigorous mountaineering workshops.
“I was working in Delhi after completing my Bachelors in Computers and somewhere I was not enjoying doing what I was doing, that is when I decided to try my hand at modelling and started off doing print ads in Delhi.
“It was during this time that I was called for an audition by Ashutosh sir’s team and was later finalized to play the role of Aakaash Joshi. It has been a challenge for me and a lifetime opportunity too. It’s been almost one and half years that I have shifted base to Mumbai and there has been no looking back.” Rohan said in a statement. ‘Everest’ will air on Star Plus from November 3.

Nandana Sen on the film she’s returning to India to champion, her real life love story and more.
How does it feel to be back with Rang Rasiya, a film that has been in the cans for six years? It feels just like Diwali should – a new and auspicious beginning for our film, a burst of music, a celebration of lights, color and love. I will be cheering it on in person. It’s a very special and courageous film. And I will champion it in every way I can.

Buzz is, you told the filmmakers that they cannot release any publicity stills without your consent? No such thing. Ketan (director Ketan Mehta) and I have always been on the same page.(Laughs) We were both bewildered to read this fictitious news. Since I keep being asked about it, let me clear it once and for all– I’ve never asked to see the publicity content nor was any ever sent to me. I have complete confidence in the team and in our beautiful film.

Rang Rasiya has been in the news for its nude and intimate scenes. Are you comfortable with them coming out or do you want some deletions? It would be so ironic to censor myself in a film that criticises censorship, wouldn’t it? Rang Rasiya focuses on art and freedom, not sex and nudity. The moment for examining my comfort level came before I accepted the role. It was not an easy decision. I took time to think it over and to discuss it with my hugely supportive family. Ketan was extremely sensitive to my queries and needs. By the time I said yes, I had overcome all my fears . And I’m just as committed to Rang Rasiya and every scene in it now as I was then. It is an important and exceptional film. I am proud to be a part of it.

What do you think are its box-office prospects? I’m no box-office guru. I can’t pretend to understand its temperament. But I can confidently say that Rang Rasiya is a unique film, with a moving story, a strong conscience, stunning visuals, and fabulous music – all the stuff I look for when I go to the cinema!

People in the industry are saying that after playing Lakshmi and Saraswati, you’ve become a goddess for real following your marriage to Penguin CEO John Makinson… I have grown up worshipping both Goddesses, especially Saraswati who is our family deity. But I love being human, with all my flaws and follies!

All the world loves a love story, so tell us about John and yours? How about this: A perky bloke moved from London to New York to marry a cranky girl.

Those who know him say John has the same sharp intellect, warmth, dignity and humour as your father, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. Do the two of them get along well? I don’t see any resemblance there – John is poetic, nerdy and incurably goofy. Penguin publishes my father’s works, so they have known each other fondly for years.

You’re writing a children’s book, any plans for a memoir? The children’s book, Kangaroo Kiss, is inspired by my five-year-old niece Hiya. As for writing a memoir, my life has not been interesting or long enough to merit one yet. But I might do so one day.

You have written a number of scripts, one of them on a father-daughter relationship. Is it autobiographical? I believe everything we write is inspired and informed by our experiences in some way or form. But there is nothing directly autobiographical about the script.
Has Bollywood lost you or are you still open to offers? What about Bengali films? My next Bengali film is based on a Tagore story I love. I’d love to do more films – my kind of films – in India. Much has changed in the last few years. We have directors like Raju Hirani, Pradeep Sarkar and Rakeysh Mehra whose films captivate a wide audience, who are not afraid to break the mould. I’m drawn to their films because they change the way we look at ourselves without being preachy.

Everything India finds a connection to films. Be it festivals or life in general, we always take a leaf out of Hindi films. They perhaps keep us saner than life would let us. It is never wrong to find filmi references in real life and vice versa and so you find such inspirations in Diwali as well. The firecrackers of Bollywood truly become the most sought after firecrackers this festival as well. It seems here too Katrina Kaif has taken the first spot keeping Deepika Padukone behind.

Katrina Kaif is still the preferred choice for patakhas in Indian markets. Guess her connect with the masses is stronger than rest of the beauties. Close second is Deepika Padukone, who is also the second best thing to happen to the fireworks market. But it is the Deepika Padukone-Ranbir Kapoor 120-shots that are selling like hot cakes. Guess people still love to see them together. Together they are fire on ice! The shots are leaving shelves in a jiffy.

This year’s debutant is Sunny Leone sparkles that have brightened up many lives (pun intended). Others in the list are Kareena Kapoor Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra and Preity Zinta. Yes, you read right, it is Preity Zinta. She is still popular somewhere!

There is no evidence so far that a gunman who attacked Canada’s capital had links to Middle Eastern Islamist extremists, the government says.

Foreign Minister John Baird told the BBC that Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was “certainly radicalised” but not on a list of high-risk individuals.

Zehaf-Bibeau killed a soldier at Ottawa’s war memorial before being shot dead in the nearby parliament building.

Police have released video showing how the gunman stormed parliament.

It has also emerged that Prime Minister Stephen Harper hid in a cupboard in parliament for about 15 minutes during Wednesday’s attack as MPs sharpened flagpoles to use as spears against the gunman.

‘Huge concern’

Mr Baird told the BBC there were no substantiated claims yet that Zehaf-Bibeau was associated with Islamic State.

Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird: “I haven’t heard… he was associated to Isil”

Mr Baird said he was “tremendously concerned about the number of Canadians who are radicalised and are fighting in Syria or Iraq, but we don’t have any evidence to link the two at this stage”.

“Reports suggest that well in excess of 100 Canadians have gone to fight jihad in the Middle East and that’s a huge concern.”

Mr Baird also said Zehaf-Bibeau could have done much more damage than he did.

“For several minutes it was complete horror, complete terror, we didn’t know whether the door was going to be kicked in, whether there was one or a group of people.”

Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers was given a standing ovation in parliament

Daniel Lang, chairman of the Senate national defence and security committee, told the BBC: “It was an ordeal I would not recommend anybody endure – there was just a wall’s difference between where we were and where they were.”

He said the incident had “shown our vulnerability and the reality that life here has changed dramatically”.

Mr Lang said most parliamentarians had been calling for greater security and “this event proves there should be”.

The BBC’s Barbara Plett Usher also spoke to men at the homeless shelter in Ottawa where the gunmen had been staying.

One said: “He never said a lot about his history or family. He never talked about anything that would make you suspicious.”

More details have emerged of the attack.

One source told the Globe and Mail that MPs had flanked the doors of their meeting room, preparing to attack the gunman with sharpened flagpoles.

“These guys were up there holding these spears ready to impale anyone who came in,” the source said.

Mr Harper was placed in a cupboard – described as little more than a “cubbyhole” in the Centre Block after the gunfire rang out, the report said.

The Globe and Mail’s source said many MPs had no idea the prime minister was still in the building.

“Someone knew there was a closet there so they stuck him in there. So for a lot of people it was as though he was gone.”

The prime minister’s security the detail came to rescue him.

The video released by police shows various phases of Wednesday’s attack.

The gunman is first shown hijacking a minister’s car, then speeding off towards Centre Block, pursued by police.

At Centre Block he left the stolen car and ran into the building, exchanging gunfire with House of Commons security forces and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers.

He was ultimately shot dead by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, a former senior RCMP officer, who received a standing ovation in parliament on Thursday when he resumed his duties.

‘We are sorry’

Zehaf-Bibeau’s mother, Susan Bibeau, told AP she had lunch with her son last week – their first meeting in five years.

She said her son seemed lost and “did not fit in”.

“Can you ever explain something like this?” she said. “We are sorry.”

At a news conference on Thursday, RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson said Zehaf-Bibeau was not linked to the Muslim convert who on Monday killed a Canadian soldier in Quebec in a hit-and-run attack.

However, Zehaf-Bibeau was trying to get a passport to travel to Syria.

Mr Paulson said: “I think the passport figured prominently in his motives.